A little planning help...

[Lynzer4]

So I had to change my dates a little to save $$ on airfare. So now my plans have to change a little. Traveling is me and my Nephew who is 8 and travel is sept 9-16

So I need some advice/thoughts. I arrive at MCO at 5pm. I will be renting a car so I figure I can be at the resort POR by 6:30. Does that seem reasonable.

The next questions is what to do. My options.

1. had originally thought Epcot with an ADR at Coral at 8pm. And fireworks
2.Then thought just do do Epcot with FP for Soarin and fireworks. Eating QS
3. Or now thinking about just DTD to eat and DisneyQuest for a little and call it an early night. (We don't leave home until 2 so it won't be an early morning but the rest of the week will)


Any thoughts or suggestions? Something I didn't think of that would be better.

 

[Alesia]

1. You won't be out of the restaurant in time to see illumiNationw.
2. This is what I would pick.
3. That's an option as well.

 

[tink9702]

I'd do #2 or #3. #1 is too much time sitting after traveling for me.

 

[sharonabe]

I like #2 as well, however, with an 8 yr old boy, I'd FP+ Test Trak over Soarin'. He will LOVE it. Then you can FP+ Soarin' on your EP morning day.

 

[Lucius Best]

Agreed with previous, if you are only there for a few hours, skip the long sit-down meal. With a rental car, should be no problem getting to POR by 6:30pm. Book your 3 FP+ for 6-7pm/7-8pm/8-9pm, but make the first FP for something you don't care about because you probably won't make it (although you can supposedly return for your FP up to 15 minutes late, or 5 minutes early).

 

[Disneyfan421]

Considering the fact that you're renting a car...yes you'll definitely make it to the resort by 6:30. From the airport, it's about a 45 minute drive until you reach Disney property.
However, I wouldn't use the car to get to Epcot or any park that night. Why pay for parking when you'll only be able to stay there for 2 hours. Assuming you're going this September, the posted hours for Epcot that day are 9am-9pm. Honestly, By the time you check-in (TIP: check-in online if you haven't already planned on it. This can be done 60 days in advance and saves lots of time) , get your luggage up to your room, and travel to Epcot (either car or shuttle) you'd be lucky if you got in the park at 7. You could realistically get 2 attractions and QS in, also depends on the rides. Rides like Journey Into Imagination with Figment should have little to- most likely -no wait, especially at those hours.

On the flipside, most of Downtown will be open till 11. The hours say 12 but that's mostly for nightlife restaurants. You'll get much more out of visiting downtown because you won't feel as rushed. Sure, you'll miss out on rides the first night but there's plenty that Downtown has to offer, especially with the new expansion and re-theming going on. Plus it'll give you a chance to stretch your legs and walk around. Also, by visiting the first night you will have fit downtown into your itinerary so if you don't make it back the rest of the week then you won't feel like you missed out. But DisneyQuest would be a great idea! As far as parking goes- according to the disney website...Parking is free for the first 3 hours in the Downtown Disney District parking lot. An additional 2 free hours can be added with validation at AMC Theatres or at select table-service dining restaurants. Each additional hour costs $6, charged in 20-minute increments. The maximum parking fee is $30.00.

All in all I'd skip the park idea. You'll be too rushed.

 

[Alesia]

However, I wouldn't use the car to get to Epcot or any park that night. Why pay for parking when you'll only be able to stay there for 2 hours.

Parking is free for on-site guests.

Assuming you're going this September, the posted hours for Epcot that day are 9am-9pm. Honestly, By the time you check-in (TIP: check-in online if you haven't already planned on it. This can be done 60 days in advance and saves lots of time) , get your luggage up to your room, and travel to Epcot (either car or shuttle) you'd be lucky if you got in the park at 7. You could realistically get 2 attractions and QS in, also depends on the rides. Rides like Journey Into Imagination with Figment should have little to- most likely -no wait, especially at those hours.

Or, just go directly to Epcot from the airport and leave the bags in the trunk.

 

[Lucius Best]

Why pay for parking when you'll only be able to stay there for 2 hours. Assuming you're going this September, the posted hours for Epcot that day are 9am-9pm. Honestly, By the time you check-in (TIP: check-in online if you haven't already planned on it. This can be done 60 days in advance and saves lots of time) , get your luggage up to your room, and travel to Epcot (either car or shuttle) you'd be lucky if you got in the park at 7.

If you're staying at a WDW resort, there is NO fee to park at the theme parks. In fact, if it were me, I would drive straight from the airport to Epcot. With 3 FP+ reserved at 6pm/7pm/8pm, you can get in three FP rides before fireworks. I don't know if I would do that with 8yo, might be good to have luggage in the room so when you get back from Epcot, can get to bed quicker. Personally my goal at Disney is to spend as much time as possible in the parks. We'll sometimes go to DTD to eat if we're done with parks for the day, but we completely avoided it this year with the construction going on.