Advice on 2 MK Day Plans Please?

[mrsjoannh13]

Hello, all -

I'll start by saying I've been to Disney a couple of times in the past but always just me and the hubby and for "non-fun reasons" (once for a convention, the second time for the marathon). So when we went to the parks we just flew by the seat of our pants. No real plan, advance fast passes, etc.

In November, we are going for the first time since the 2006 marathon and taking our DD who will turn 3 on the trip as well as my parents (one with a bad back, the other who will be in an ECV - just noting that for mobility purposes and assuming it will take us longer to get around). I have the following plans kind of plotted out for our 2 MK days and wondering if it's too ambitious or just about right. We will try to squeeze in a couple of other meet and greets for favorite characters, like Gaston - time permitting. But I have tried to get most of our characters in with meals over our 6 day stay.

I appreciate any input to make Magic Kingdom a little more magical. Thanks!!!!

Day 1 in MK

• Breakfast TBD - trying for pre-park opening CP or CRT (HA!). May just grab something quick at hotel.
• Plan to be in park by 9 or 9:30 (latest)
• Rides / attractions planned for the morning:
  • Peter Pan
  • Enchanted Tales with Belle
  • Journey of the Little Mermaid
  • Winnie the Pooh
• Lunch 11:30 Crystal Palace - may cancel and just do QS to have more park time since we have CP pre-park opening breakfast on MK day #2
• Back to Contemporary for nap
• Rides / attractions planned for afternoon:
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Mickey's Philharmagic
  • Mad Tea Party
• Dinner 5:50 Narcossee's

Day 2 in MK

• 8:20 breakfast at Crystal Palace
• Rides / attractions planned for the morning:
  • Meet Anna + Elsa in Fairytale Hall - I plan to scarf down a Mickey waffle at CP and run out to get in line before the rest of the park crowds get in
  • Buzz Lightyear
  • Haunted Mansion
  • It's a Small World
• Lunch 12:05 Cinderella's Table
• Back to Contemporary for nap
• Rides / attractions planned for the afternoon:
  • Barnstormer
  • Astro Orbiter
  • Other rides TBD based on lines and what we weren't able to accomplish earlier
• Dinner 7p at 1900 Park Fare

 

[Smbmoyers]

What fast passes are you selecting? I'm planning on my trip to get there at rope drop ride as much as possible And then schedule my three fast passes for the evening when we return from a nap.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

What fast passes are you selecting? I'm planning on my trip to get there at rope drop ride as much as possible And then schedule my three fast passes for the evening when we return from a nap.

I am unsure what we'll actually wind up with, but my plan is to try for Fast Passes to Peter Pan, Tales with Belle and maybe Pirates for the third on day 1. We're not going to do any of the most popular rides since DD is only about 35". Of course I say that now, and DH might want to ride every coaster in MK before the day is done! We'll see. Day 2 FP plan is to try for Anna & Elsa, Buzz Lightyear and Haunted Mansion so we can possibly avoid a line with A&E and maybe ride Buzz Lightyear and HM again later in the day when it's crowded. We'll see what the lovely Disney website has in store for us 60 days out! If the FP+ process is anything like our ADR experience I'll be lucky to get a FP to It's a Small World! But we'll make do with whatever we get I went through so much trouble to get decent ADR's for 5 people, I would not give them up for a FP.

 

[Smbmoyers]

I am unsure what we'll actually wind up with, but my plan is to try for Fast Passes to Peter Pan, Tales with Belle and maybe Pirates for the third on day 1. We're not going to do any of the most popular rides since DD is only about 35". Of course I say that now, and DH might want to ride every coaster in MK before the day is done! We'll see. Day 2 FP plan is to try for Anna & Elsa, Buzz Lightyear and Haunted Mansion so we can possibly avoid a line with A&E and maybe ride Buzz Lightyear and HM again later in the day when it's crowded. We'll see what the lovely Disney website has in store for us 60 days out! If the FP+ process is anything like our ADR experience I'll be lucky to get a FP to It's a Small World! But we'll make do with whatever we get I went through so much trouble to get decent ADR's for 5 people, I would not give them up for a FP.

That sounds like a good idea! My little one will only be 2 but were planning on taking advantage of rider swap and I actually kind of mapped out every playground in the parks just in case he needs to blow off some energy.

 

[Smbmoyers]

That and I have my mom and possibly my brother coming as well so we'll definitely book our adrs at the 180 day Mark to try And secure everything! It sounds like a great plan!

And if you don't get fp for Anna and Elsa don't panic, from what I hear that line isn't as bad as it used to be

 

[loutoo]

It doesn't look like you are trying to do too much, not knowing your little one's nap time and length. It looks like you are staying on site at the CR. I would be booking FP+ for Peter Pan and A&E for sure. the lines for either of them will eat up your time even that early in the day. With so few attractions listed, I also question your choice of Barnstormer. I don't know your DD, but a just turned 3 year old might balk at even a small coaster such as that, plus it is can be hard on adults, especially those with back problems. I also noticed omissions of both Dumbo and the People Mover. I would choose both of them well ahead of barnstormer and Astro Orbiter for your traveling party.

Keep in mind that you will need 20-30 minutes to get into and out of the park from your room at the CR (regardless of whether you are walking or riding the monorail), and want to be departing for ADR's at GF with 45-60 minutes to spare.

Your afternoon schedule on day 1 does seem a little crowded. Assuming this is correct:
11:30 ADR at CP
12:30 finish lunch
1:00 arrive back at CR
3:30Depart CR for MK (Assuming 1 1/2 hour nap with a 1/2 hour on each side to settle in, get ready to depart, etc)
4:00 Arrive at MK first after noon attraction
5:00 depart MK for Narcossee's ADR
That only gives you one actual hour in the park and there is no way you can fit all four of those attractions in that time.

Having just done a very similar trip with DW, DD5, DD3, mother in wheel chair and father, this would be my plan for those days:

MK day 1

9:15 Mad tea party
9:30 Dumbo
9:50 Enchanted tales w/ Belle FP+
10:15 Little Mermaid
10:45 It's a small World
11:15 Lunch at Pinocchio's
12:00 Peter Pan FP+
12:30 Mickey's Philharmagic
1:00 Pooh FP+
1:30 Return to CR for nap and rest until ADR for dinner
5:50 ADR at GF
(return to MK for main street electrical parade if offered)

MK day 2

8:20 ADR CP
9:20 Jungle Cruise FP+
10:00 POTC
10:30 Haunted Mansion FP+
11:20 A&E FP+
12:05 CRT ADR
1:00 Return to CR for Nap (Stopping at FP+ kiosk by Philharmagic to get fourth FP+ Buzz)
4:30 People Mover
5:00 Buzz (fourth FP+)
5:30 Astro Orbiter (check for FP+ avail at kiosk. I would do Monster's Inc over astro orbiter though, for us it is a must do)
6:00 depart for ADR at GF


Just my 2 cents. This plan minimizes walking, and I know the morning of day 1 might look busy, but it is easily doable in Nov, even at the slow pace your traveling party might need to go.

Hope that is helpful

 

[mrsjoannh13]

It doesn't look like you are trying to do too much, not knowing your little one's nap time and length. It looks like you are staying on site at the CR. I would be booking FP+ for Peter Pan and A&E for sure. the lines for either of them will eat up your time even that early in the day. With so few attractions listed, I also question your choice of Barnstormer. I don't know your DD, but a just turned 3 year old might balk at even a small coaster such as that, plus it is can be hard on adults, especially those with back problems. I also noticed omissions of both Dumbo and the People Mover. I would choose both of them well ahead of barnstormer and Astro Orbiter for your traveling party.

Keep in mind that you will need 20-30 minutes to get into and out of the park from your room at the CR (regardless of whether you are walking or riding the monorail), and want to be departing for ADR's at GF with 45-60 minutes to spare.

Your afternoon schedule on day 1 does seem a little crowded. Assuming this is correct:
11:30 ADR at CP
12:30 finish lunch
1:00 arrive back at CR
3:30Depart CR for MK (Assuming 1 1/2 hour nap with a 1/2 hour on each side to settle in, get ready to depart, etc)
4:00 Arrive at MK first after noon attraction
5:00 depart MK for Narcossee's ADR
That only gives you one actual hour in the park and there is no way you can fit all four of those attractions in that time.

Having just done a very similar trip with DW, DD5, DD3, mother in wheel chair and father, this would be my plan for those days:

MK day 1

9:15 Mad tea party
9:30 Dumbo
9:50 Enchanted tales w/ Belle FP+
10:15 Little Mermaid
10:45 It's a small World
11:15 Lunch at Pinocchio's
12:00 Peter Pan FP+
12:30 Mickey's Philharmagic
1:00 Pooh FP+
1:30 Return to CR for nap and rest until ADR for dinner
5:50 ADR at GF
(return to MK for main street electrical parade if offered)

MK day 2

8:20 ADR CP
9:20 Jungle Cruise FP+
10:00 POTC
10:30 Haunted Mansion FP+
11:20 A&E FP+
12:05 CRT ADR
1:00 Return to CR for Nap (Stopping at FP+ kiosk by Philharmagic to get fourth FP+ Buzz)
4:30 People Mover
5:00 Buzz (fourth FP+)
5:30 Astro Orbiter (check for FP+ avail at kiosk. I would do Monster's Inc over astro orbiter though, for us it is a must do)
6:00 depart for ADR at GF


Just my 2 cents. This plan minimizes walking, and I know the morning of day 1 might look busy, but it is easily doable in Nov, even at the slow pace your traveling party might need to go.

Hope that is helpful

This was very helpful - thanks so much! Dumbo was a typo omission - she loves Dumbo so we'll definitely squeeze that in.