Advice needed. This isn't how we usually tour!

[eeyoresmom]

We are going Memorial Day weekend and will be in the parks at rope drop until fireworks Sat at Epcot, Sun at MK and leaving for the airport from AK on Mon around 7:00 PM. We usually go for a week and do afternoon breaks at the resort and we usually visit at cooler times of the year. It's myself and 3 young adults. One is a first time visitor to WDW which is why we are attempting the open through fireworks, she wants to experience as much as possible. We do have the deluxe ddp and will be having sit down meals at brunch or early lunch and dinners are planned for just before night time shows. We have fastpasses for the headliners for late morning into early afternoon then planning on shows for the mid afternoon, hottest hours. Any other advice for us? How is Memorial Day weekend usually?

 

[Ben E N]

My only advice is to get park hoppers. My wife and I did a rope drop to close day once and hit everything at MK by 3 pm. Luckily she sweet talked us into getting a park hopper upgrade and we then did 2 headliners and dinner at HS before returning to MK for a couple rerides and fireworks. Going without elderly or young people allows you to blow through the parks.

 

[Shanti]

We are going Memorial Day weekend and will be in the parks at rope drop until fireworks Sat at Epcot, Sun at MK and leaving for the airport from AK on Mon around 7:00 PM. We usually go for a week and do afternoon breaks at the resort and we usually visit at cooler times of the year. It's myself and 3 young adults. One is a first time visitor to WDW which is why we are attempting the open through fireworks, she wants to experience as much as possible. We do have the deluxe ddp and will be having sit down meals at brunch or early lunch and dinners are planned for just before night time shows. We have fastpasses for the headliners for late morning into early afternoon then planning on shows for the mid afternoon, hottest hours. Any other advice for us? How is Memorial Day weekend usually?

I advise you to revise your expectations a bit in preparation for the hot and wet weather that is likely to greet you at WDW. Resort breaks are a good idea.

 

[Cloe Colton]

I was in MK on Memorial Day weekend last year and tbh it wasn't very busy at all. Almost felt like people had stayed away from MK for fear that something could happen on a holiday. It will be a hotter trip but just dont try to squeeze everything in. Hit your headliners and must do rides but remember you've been many times before and you dont need to do everything.

Have fun!!

 

[ghtx]

Memorial Day isn't crazy crowded usually, but it will be pretty hot (and wet) and exhausting if you are used to cooler times and mid-day breaks. Luckily you will have long sit-down meals in air-conditioned restaurants, so that will help. But you might want to plan some downtime in the afternoons, even if you don't leave the park (e.g. just sit on a bench in Innovations for 30 minutes chilling out).

 

[JennyDrake]

It is too late, but I'd suggest dropping the DDP - you are going to spend/waste a lot of time eating and getting to/from eateries during a very busy time and with friends who want to "see everything." I agree with getting park hoppers!

 

[sharonabe]

Any other advice for us?

Invest in some of those cooling towels to put around your necks.

DRINK water. Every QS will have FREE cups of ice water sitting on their counters. If there aren't any, just ask one of the CMs filling orders for some.

I think your plan for sit down meals coupled with shows in the afternoon is a great idea for being able to go all day without a resort break. It's only two and half days; you can do that easily!!

 

[dachsie]

One thing I sometimes do for a break is go to one of the nearest hotels to the park I am visiting and sit in the lobby for an a hour or so. This way, I am not wasting more time going back to my hotel but can still have a rest. I love the GF lobby. If near Epcot go to BC/YC/BW

 

[KelNChrisKYDis]

Invest in some of those cooling towels to put around your necks.

We're heading down next Tuesday - Tuesday, and we bought some of those. Do they actually work!?!? I'm paranoid about the heat, haha. I'm originally from Michigan and anything over 74 is hot for me, ha!

 

[Stephy811]

My only advice is to get park hoppers...Going without elderly or young people allows you to blow through the parks.

This. My husband and I were at MK for rope drop (park open was at 9) just the two of us and did all 3 mountains, 7dmt, pp, potc and a few other rides...all before lunch...with no fps (we hopped to second park and used fps there where crowds were busier later in the day). If you aren’t spending time meeting characters you will have no problem.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Thanks everyone. If we get tired at Epcot we can use the DVC lounge or head out the IG to the Beach Club for a break. Our MK day we will do all the shows after our Crystal Palace early lunch. Our last day is AK, not many places to rest there but we do have a lunch adr at Saana, may enjoy the lobby for a bit there. I usually enjoy the quick service places but we will need the breaks anyway and i dont want to deal with possible outdoor seating etc. I did tell everyone that if they are really tired going back to the resort is always an option. We are staying onsite and have a car. I know for myself the few times I've done this, usually on our check out day with a late flight home, i get really tired for about an hour after lunch then i get a second wind and am fine for the rest of the day and night.

 

[SouloTravlr]

You're going to waste a lot of time dining on such a short trip.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Do they actually work!?!?

The way my kids fought over them, I'd say, yes they do, lol.


And, OP, keep in mind, you don't have to go back to the resort to take breaks. A couple air conditioned shows or rides in the hottest part of the afternoon also does wonders.

 

[StacyStrong]

I did 2.5 days at AK,MK, and HS Memorial Weekend in 2016.

It was definitely crowded and we ended up waiting a lot. But we got A LOT done with Hoppers. It was a lot of fun.

Give yourself time to back out of the crowds. Ride CoP to get out of the heat and crowds. Don't feel like you need to do every single thing there is to do. Drink lots of water.

Also I love HM, but it's the worst queue to wait in when its crowded. I hate those "fat" lines where CMs just pack you in and everyone is elbowing to get in front of someone else when there is a slight shift in the line. Ugh.

 

[firefly_ris]

One positive way to look at the time spent on the DDP is those sit down meals are effectively their breaks. So they can be well rested during an open to close park day. It will be busy and it will probably also be a good way to mentally break from the crowds and not worry about potentially insane quick service lines etc.

 

[sharonabe]

We're heading down next Tuesday - Tuesday, and we bought some of those. Do they actually work!?!? I'm paranoid about the heat, haha. I'm originally from Michigan and anything over 74 is hot for me, ha!

To be honest, we've never had to use them. We have them, but it never seems hot enough to need them. Everything I've read about them says they DO work. My son and I are going to try them out next week when we go to the gym. Our gym doesn't feel very cool when we first get there even, so I'm hoping they will help us stay cooler there.

You're going to waste a lot of time dining on such a short trip.

I will respectfully disagree. They have to eat somewhere, and on holiday, crowded weekends, the wait for QS can be just as long as going to a sit down. And if you want to sit inside, the wait could be even longer. The signature dinners in the evening will take longer than a QS meal, but it's still less time than trying to get back to the resort for a rest AND still needing to eat dinner somewhere.

 

[Ben E N]

You're going to waste a lot of time dining on such a short trip.

Many of the dining experiences at Disney World are the best part of being there. If I had to choose between riding rides all day or doing a resort and dining tour, I would choose the latter.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We went on an unusually quick trip back in February and I was very happy I didn't cancel our adrs. It was nice to have a scheduled sit down break, not have to wait on lines or search for a table at a counter service. I don't think it really took any more time out of our day but was much more pleasant.

 

[SouloTravlr]

Many of the dining experiences at Disney World are the best part of being there. If I had to choose between riding rides all day or doing a resort and dining tour, I would choose the latter.

I agree, but I don't go on a holiday weekend for two and a half days, with someone who has never been there before wanting to do everything.

 

[Ben E N]

I agree, but I don't go on a holiday weekend for two and a half days, with someone who has never been there before wanting to do everything.

Yeah I agree with you there. Places like 1900 park fare or crystal palace help to double the fun though by eating when you have to anyway, and allowing fun and personal interaction with characters, something you can't get elsewhere without tons of time and effort.