TexanInBrazilandBackAgain
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2018
We're a family of 5 -- me, DH, and 3 boys, ages 21, 18 and almost 14 at time of travel.
Due to college schedules, we are extremely limited in our time frame, so will be in Orlando Dec 16 to 21 or 22.
I've used Undercover Tourist to check the crowd calendar and plan our "what day for what park" accordingly; we are planning on hitting Universal as well, because we have some Harry Potter fans.
We are NOT staying on site either place. Yes, I know the benefits. Yes, I realize we're missing out on some magic and perks. But cost (due in large part to the make-up of our family, plus timing of the trip) is just insane. So, PLEASE, no "well, if you splurge and stay on site, then...." type stuff. It's just.not.feasible.
That said -- UNIVERSAL: How much time is needed for seeing both sides of Harry Potter? If we do a single-day, park-hopper ticket.....would we be able to see all the HP stuff (both parks)? Assume we are there open to close. And if so, would we then *also* have time to see anything else in either park? Or it would be strictly a HP day?
We would NOT splurge on the Express Pass, either; not staying on site, it's $$$ to add it on.
Over to WDW -- after thoroughly exploring the website, reading about every attraction in every park (and I do mean *every*), we feel comfortable doing only 3-day, single park tickets and skipping AK. (I know, I know....) Would someone look over my "what we plan to do" list for each park and give me a general "Yes, you'll have time for those things" or "no, not a chance"? Pretty please?
We haven't bought tix yet, and aren't w/in 30 days yet to get FP, so this is not a schedule (and I will consult maps to plan when to do what), just a "we'd like to hit....." list. I *think* it's more than reasonable, with maybe MK being too packed.
Hollywood Studios --
FP for Rock-n-Roller
FP for Slinky Dog Dash (skip if we can't get the FP/line is too long)
FP Star Tours ride
see the SW: Galaxy Far Far Away Show
explore the Launch Bay area
*trying to talk the family into Indiana Jones, they are not on board
eat somewhere in the park
Magic Kingdom --
FP for 7DMT (skip this if we can't get FP/line is too long)
FP for BTM
FP for Space Mountain
? Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean
Mickey's PhilharMagic Show
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
?Haunted Mansion
?check out Swiss Family Tree House
*really trying to talk family into Small World, they are not on board
eat in the park
I have a feeling some of that will have to go, yes? We aren't staying on site, and we're not doing MVMCP, so it's an "out by 6 pm" day. The stuff w/? can be dropped if need be. Thoughts?? How similar are 7DMT and BTM?
Epcot --
lunch/dinner reservations (not decided which one yet) so we can do Candelight Processional
FP Test Track (family is undecided on either)
FP: Mission Space (green)
Figment
explore the Norway Stave Church area/museum
wander world showcase before/after the lunch/dinner reservation and before CP
FP: IllumiNations
Questions -- the whole family says "Unless the cars are *fast*, Test Track doesn't sound worth it..." -- can anyone comment? And, how exactly does it work, 6 people to a car, but you customize the vehicle stats.....? Would the 5 of us have a 6th random person? Would all 6 need to agree on the vehicle stats? I'm not 100% clear on how this ride/experience works....?
General Question -- can I make dining reservations *before* we buy our tickets? (thinking mainly of the Candlelight Processional experience)?? Or only once we've bought the park tix? Remember, not staying on site....(and, if not staying on site, can we still make res right away?) Because we're already inside the 180 day window, some of those are already booking up.....
Thanks for any suggestions, tips, feedback, etc. I'm trying to research the heck out of this (I did go to WDW as a teen some 30-ish years ago), but not overplan us either....I know the days of "just walk the park, get in line, ride what you want" are basically over but trying to evoke that feel a little bit by scheduling the few FPs and then meandering between them, vs. trying to hit every.last.thing. in the park.
Due to college schedules, we are extremely limited in our time frame, so will be in Orlando Dec 16 to 21 or 22.
I've used Undercover Tourist to check the crowd calendar and plan our "what day for what park" accordingly; we are planning on hitting Universal as well, because we have some Harry Potter fans.
We are NOT staying on site either place. Yes, I know the benefits. Yes, I realize we're missing out on some magic and perks. But cost (due in large part to the make-up of our family, plus timing of the trip) is just insane. So, PLEASE, no "well, if you splurge and stay on site, then...." type stuff. It's just.not.feasible.
That said -- UNIVERSAL: How much time is needed for seeing both sides of Harry Potter? If we do a single-day, park-hopper ticket.....would we be able to see all the HP stuff (both parks)? Assume we are there open to close. And if so, would we then *also* have time to see anything else in either park? Or it would be strictly a HP day?
We would NOT splurge on the Express Pass, either; not staying on site, it's $$$ to add it on.
Over to WDW -- after thoroughly exploring the website, reading about every attraction in every park (and I do mean *every*), we feel comfortable doing only 3-day, single park tickets and skipping AK. (I know, I know....) Would someone look over my "what we plan to do" list for each park and give me a general "Yes, you'll have time for those things" or "no, not a chance"? Pretty please?
We haven't bought tix yet, and aren't w/in 30 days yet to get FP, so this is not a schedule (and I will consult maps to plan when to do what), just a "we'd like to hit....." list. I *think* it's more than reasonable, with maybe MK being too packed.
Hollywood Studios --
FP for Rock-n-Roller
FP for Slinky Dog Dash (skip if we can't get the FP/line is too long)
FP Star Tours ride
see the SW: Galaxy Far Far Away Show
explore the Launch Bay area
*trying to talk the family into Indiana Jones, they are not on board
eat somewhere in the park
Magic Kingdom --
FP for 7DMT (skip this if we can't get FP/line is too long)
FP for BTM
FP for Space Mountain
? Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean
Mickey's PhilharMagic Show
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
?Haunted Mansion
?check out Swiss Family Tree House
*really trying to talk family into Small World, they are not on board
eat in the park
I have a feeling some of that will have to go, yes? We aren't staying on site, and we're not doing MVMCP, so it's an "out by 6 pm" day. The stuff w/? can be dropped if need be. Thoughts?? How similar are 7DMT and BTM?
Epcot --
lunch/dinner reservations (not decided which one yet) so we can do Candelight Processional
FP Test Track (family is undecided on either)
FP: Mission Space (green)
Figment
explore the Norway Stave Church area/museum
wander world showcase before/after the lunch/dinner reservation and before CP
FP: IllumiNations
Questions -- the whole family says "Unless the cars are *fast*, Test Track doesn't sound worth it..." -- can anyone comment? And, how exactly does it work, 6 people to a car, but you customize the vehicle stats.....? Would the 5 of us have a 6th random person? Would all 6 need to agree on the vehicle stats? I'm not 100% clear on how this ride/experience works....?
General Question -- can I make dining reservations *before* we buy our tickets? (thinking mainly of the Candlelight Processional experience)?? Or only once we've bought the park tix? Remember, not staying on site....(and, if not staying on site, can we still make res right away?) Because we're already inside the 180 day window, some of those are already booking up.....
Thanks for any suggestions, tips, feedback, etc. I'm trying to research the heck out of this (I did go to WDW as a teen some 30-ish years ago), but not overplan us either....I know the days of "just walk the park, get in line, ride what you want" are basically over but trying to evoke that feel a little bit by scheduling the few FPs and then meandering between them, vs. trying to hit every.last.thing. in the park.