Advice on adding a beach day on 7/2 & Changing FP 2 week out glitches??

[calablovedisney]

A relative has suggested meeting us at Siesta Key for a day during our trip in 2 weeks. They live in Fl and offering to take us jet skiing for the day which sounds really nice. However, it means changing some things around, which we all know is not easy at this point. The dates we are considering are July 1 & 2nd. The 2nd is our AK day with FoP FP, so really don't want to give that up. We are there from 6/27-7/7 (leaving at 6 a.m. so just a travel day on last one). We arrive at 4:00 p.m. and I have 9 day ph park passes. I have FP planned for everyday the 28th-the 6th with plenty of open time. I could cancel my FP for the 2nd and book a few for the night of the 27th instead, or give up a day. So, I am searching for answers and advice for the following:
1. I am trying to find out if I will lose any FP on the 2nd if I cancel to try to see availability on the 27th. I can't even search the 27th since I have booked all 9 days. So, I clicked around on my July 2nd FP reservations to see if modifications are available to see if there are still slots open. When I select TSM, I can see plenty of times I can switch to, but it says Star Tours are unavailable (which is another FP we have). Then, when I go back and select Star Tours, it shows times available. So, I am nervous that if I cancel that day to check out the 27th, then decide I want the 2nd back, they won't be available anymore. Does anyone know why it shows like this-unavailable when looking to rebook another ride, but then available when looking to modify it?

2. Opinions on driving to the beach on Saturday July 1st. If someone asked me if they should drive to a beach up here-NH or Maine, let's say, on a Saturday before the 4th, I would be saying only if you want to sit in traffic for hours. We would be driving there and back on the same day. Will traffic be insane?
I would love to see my relative and enjoy a day at the beach, but just not sure if it's worth adjusting my trip for at this late point.
Appreciate any thoughts.. oh, and my family has mixed reviews. DH says he doesn't want to drive anywhere 2 hours away, but dds both showed interested, which he did not anticipate, so he would go with majority.

 

[ktate82]

I can't answer your beach question, but as far as your FP question, I believe it shows unavailable since you already have Star Tours as a FP reservation. The system won't let you double book attractions. If you go in to modify it and still see times that would work for you, I would cancel your FP. Then quickly look the 27th, and if times didn't work, go back and book the 2nd.

 

[erionm]

I just logged on and checked and all attractions at DHS have FP+ selections available for 6/27.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Traffic is variable - it will be busy in and around WDW at all times on I-4, especially a holiday weekend. Driving to Sarasota can be pretty painless, unless there is an accident on I-4 or I-75. It is about 1.5 - 1.75 hours to get there from WDW. Siesta Key will be a madhouse that day. If you can get there early (before 11) you might not hit the crazyness, but from then on the island will be mobbed. You will definitely be impacted by traffic the last part of the trip back to WDW if it is between 11:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Enjoy your trip!

 

[calablovedisney]

I can't answer your beach question, but as far as your FP question, I believe it shows unavailable since you already have Star Tours as a FP reservation. The system won't let you double book attractions. If you go in to modify it and still see times that would work for you, I would cancel your FP. Then quickly look the 27th, and if times didn't work, go back and book the 2nd.

THIS....Why did I not figure that out?? LOL Makes perfect sense. Thank you!!

I just logged on and checked and all attractions at DHS have FP+ selections available for 6/27.

Oh wow, that was super nice. Thanks If you want to check out more...Any availability for Animal Kingdom on the 27th?

Traffic is variable - it will be busy in and around WDW at all times on I-4, especially a holiday weekend. Driving to Sarasota can be pretty painless, unless there is an accident on I-4 or I-75. It is about 1.5 - 1.75 hours to get there from WDW. Siesta Key will be a madhouse that day. If you can get there early (before 11) you might not hit the crazyness, but from then on the island will be mobbed. You will definitely be impacted by traffic the last part of the trip back to WDW if it is between 11:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Enjoy your trip!

Good info, Thank You!!

 

[chaoskids]

It may have been a typo but op stated ......driving to the beach on Saturday July 2nd.....

We will be there too and Saturday is July 1st. Just an FYI

 

[calablovedisney]

It may have been a typo but op stated ......driving to the beach on Saturday July 2nd.....

We will be there too and Saturday is July 1st. Just an FYI

woops, yes, Saturday the 1st. We were debating 1st or 2nd. Are you driving over from Orlando, or just a beach trip?

 

[erionm]

Any availability for Animal Kingdom on the 27th?

Everything except for Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey.

 

[calablovedisney]

Everything except for Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey.

Thank you!! I would really have preferred making the night of the 27th an AK visit, but I don't want to give up either of the other 2 days I planned there with FP since I have Navi River one day and FoP another. It may not be a great idea to try to rush into DHS after arriving. Flight lands around 4, get a rental car, stop at a store to buy water and maybe a few snacks, head to resort. I don't think we will get to the resort until 6 maybe. DHS is open until 9:30. so we could maybe be there by 7, get in a couple FP, maybe see fireworks, although may want to head to bed since along day is planned for the 28th. I could just let go of a day altogether, and then I hear the voice in my head reminding me how much I paid for those 9 day PH passes. Boy, something like this really makes this FP+ system much harder to work with than the paper one.

So, I am clearly struggling with this decision as I would like to see my cousin and a day at the beach sounds nice and my 2 teen dds have never seen a FL beach, not that they won't have more opportunities to. But, Dh says he really doesn't love the idea of spending 3+ hours in a car and giving up a roughly $400 day at Disney(in his mind he is breaking the whole trip down and dividing by number of days). And I get that too. Our trip is pretty much paid with his overtime and he had to work a ton to save it as we have had many other added expenses with one off to college very soon.
decisions decisions. I have had enough of them at this point.
thanks for all the replies