Advice needed for scheduling our park days

[Fratthouse]

It's 10 days until our trip, and I need help!!! Here's the situation:

The trip will be myself, my 3 yr old DS, my mom, and my mother-in-law. It is my mom & MIL's first (and possibly only) trip, so I really want to make it extra special. We will be there the 14 - 21. In planning the trip, my one major disappointment was that I was unable to get BOG dinner reservations - they were gone at 6 am at the 180 day window. Then I missed the window for the BOG lunch FP+ due to being out of town for a funeral, and there was no availability when I checked a few days later. So I let it go and just planned the trip with no BOG.

I have all my park days planned out based on easywdw recommendations, booked my dining reservations and all the FP+ for our group. I had planned on spending our first day, 11/15 at AK then popping over to MK that night for Spectromagic / Wishes. Then planned on spending the next 2 days at MK on party nights when the days will be less crowded. BUT I was just able to get a BOG FP+ for the 15th!

We could swap days around and go to MK on the 15th for BOG - but it's probably going to be REALLY crowded. It's a Saturday, with evening EMH, and the 2 days before and 2 days after the park is closing at 7 pm for MVMCP. So I think the crowds are probably going to be crazy. I don't want to go to AK, hop to MK for lunch, go back to AK, then hop back to MK. That's way too much time travelling between parks. So it's kind of all or nothing.

My other dilemma is that AK is open until 7 pm on Saturday, and I was really hoping to be there during the the late night hours - I love AK at night and how empty it is!

So what would you do? Would you stick to low crowds, or brave the crowds to get to eat at BOG?

 

[cincystamper]

Personally, I'd stick to the low crowds. And that's coming from someone who loves BOG, for what it's worth.

(You could always check the app on the days you're already at MK to see if a dinner spot has opened up....)

 

[ScrampShopper]

I would go to MK in the morning, have lunch at BOG, then go to AK. AK will be emptying out as you get there. See the shows you want first, then worry about rides at AK. If you don't want to go back to MK again that evening, can you find another day to fit in the parade and Wishes?

Have fun

 

[HatboxHaint]

BOG is interesting, but really nothing special at lunch. I wouldn't reschedule my trip around it. Is it really that important to eat a quick service faux french cuisine? I believe that you can walk in and look around, which is worth doing....the eating well it was alright at lunch but I could take it or leave it.

 

[minnie mum]

As much as I enjoy BOG , I definitely would not rearrange my plans and mess with my FPs just for lunch. Especially considering Saturday crowds. I'd keep to your existing plans. I'm sure that both your DM and DMILwill still have a wonderful time. If they've never been to BOG before, then they won't miss it. Just don't mention it to them.

On one of your MK days, if you still haven't snagged a BOG FP, head over there around 10:30 and see if you can get a standby meal.

 

[Nancyg56]

I love BOG lunch, but not so much I would rearrange my plans. If you want to keep looking for dinner or FP availability, do that, but if yu change your days, you mess your attraction FP. Not worth it IMO

 

[Fratthouse]

Thanks everyone! I think I agree with all your advice - we'll stick to our original plan and then take our chances at being able to get in to BOG for lunch on one of the days we are in MK. If we don't get in, no worries - we've still got some great reservations planned It's just easy to get caught up in the BOG hype and start thinking the entire trip rests on whether or not we get to eat there. Must. Keep. Perpective.