AK-HS-MK. Too much?

[monkeybug]

I plan on doing a split day between AK/HS, not getting FPs for AK and scheduling them for HS later that afternoon. I have a Tusker House ADR at 3:00 and we plan on heading over to HS after that. The only things we plan on doing in HS that night (we'll be back another night, but with no fps) is TSMM, TT, and Star Tours. Do you think it would be too much to leave HS and head to MK to see the parade and fireworks? It's only happening two times during our trip and I'm reluctant to wait until the next day in case of bad weather.

ETA- We will have a car, if that makes a difference.

 

[Robo]

I plan on doing a split day between AK/HS, not getting FPs for AK and scheduling them for HS later that afternoon. I have a Tusker House ADR at 3:00 and we plan on heading over to HS after that. The only things we plan on doing in HS that night (we'll be back another night, but with no fps) is TSMM, TT, and Star Tours.


Do you think it would be too much to leave HS and head to MK to see the parade and fireworks? It's only happening two times during our trip and I'm reluctant to wait until the next day in case of bad weather.

ETA- We will have a car, if that makes a difference.

I don't see how your timing could work for that.

And, driving to MK would not help at all.
You'd still have to get to the MK gates (via monorail or ferry) once you parked and made it to TTC from the MK lot.

 

[TinkSassy]

Depends on the times at MK - when is the parade that day? If it is at 9pm you "might" make it but with driving/parking, etc. it will be really tight.

 

[monkeybug]

Oops, no parade that night, so we'd just be trying to make it to Wishes at 10pm.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Its kinda doable, but really really tight and very stressful. It is likely you wouldn't make the parade.

Keep in mind having a car at MK, means very little since you still have to take the monorail or ferry.

 

[Robo]

Oops, no parade that night, so we'd just be trying to make it to Wishes at 10pm.

You can likely get into MK in time to see Wishes.
But, "from WHERE" is the question.

Maybe you can just shoot for getting to TTC and watching Wishes from there.
Much easier to achieve, and much easier to depart afterwards.
(Great audio from the fireworks show at TTC, too.)

 

[monkeybug]

You can likely get into MK in time to see Wishes.
But, "from WHERE" is the question.

Maybe you can just shoot for getting to TTC and watching Wishes from there.
Much easier to achieve, and much easier to depart afterwards.

Yes, probably not going to be the best view! This is my parents first trip and I was really hoping that they could experience it from within the park.
The other night Wishes is showing we have an 'Ohana reservation 2 hours before. Last time we ate there we waited quite a while to get seated, so I think I'd be in the same predicament that night, but at least if all else fails we can watch it from the beach of the Poly. Maybe I'll convince my husband that 'ohana isn't really the must-do he thinks it is!

 

[Robo]

Yes, probably not going to be the best view! This is my parents first trip and I was really hoping that they could experience it from within the park.
The other night Wishes is showing we have an 'Ohana reservation 2 hours before. Last time we ate there we waited quite a while to get seated,


1. so I think I'd be in the same predicament that night, but

2. at least if all else fails we can watch it from the beach of the Poly.

3. Maybe I'll convince my husband that 'ohana isn't really the must-do he thinks it is!

1. Yes. Be sure and show up at 'Ohana at least 30-45 minutes before your ADR time in hope of being seated earlier or at least closer to on-time.

2. The Poly beach is kind of in a mess right now (with DVC construction and Pool renovation.)
If that's your situation, I'd head over to the Luau Cove area to watch (Map below.)
(Audio is likely nonexistent there, however.)

3. We LOVE 'Ohana.

 

[monkeybug]

1. Yes. Be sure and show up at 'Ohana at least 30-45 minutes before your ADR time in hope of being seated earlier or at least closer to on-time.

2. The Poly beach is kind of in a mess right now (with DVC construction and Pool renovation.)
If that's your situation, I'd head over to the Luau Cove area to watch (Map below.)
(Audio is likely nonexistent there, however.)

3. We LOVE 'Ohana.

Thank you! We love 'Ohana too and have done it on every trip we've been on. I guess I might end up having to pick between it and watching Wishes inside the park.

 

[emij]

Robo, your maps are AMAZING and SO helpful!

 

[Robo]

Robo, your maps are AMAZING and SO helpful!

Thank you for the kind words, emij!

 

[ktlm]

Wishes is possible. What time are your FP+ for at HS? Figure if you get to HS by no later than 5:30 or 6, and had FP kicking in at 5:30; 6:30; and 7:30. If you get in line for the last one right at 7:30 and then head straight out of the park, you should hit MK around 9 and could see the 10:00 p.m. wishes.

We've done 3 parks in a day once though to pick up some nighttime entertainment that had been rained out one of our nights. It was a bit much for us. Felt like we spent a lot of the day waiting for and in transporation.

FYI- we have watched Wishes from the TTC before near the ferry dock and really enjoyed it from there. We had the luck of coming back from EPCOT and getting off at the TTC to walk to our room at the Poly right as Wishes was starting.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

As an avid park hopper, I think 3 parks is doable but I am not sure the timing of your fast passes. Do you have them reserved yet or is it still too early? (I didn't see a mention of your dates.) If you could manage to get out of HS by at least 8pm I think you will have enough time to get over to MK and get situated to see Wishes. If you have little ones with you, this could complicate things further and they may not handle the shuffling around well.

The Poly beach backup certainly won't be the same as in the park, and a little downgraded because of the construction, but still nice. Definitely get to the ADR early, but I have never had an Ohana ADR that lasted under two hours (and I only ever travel as a party of 2).

 

[monkeybug]

Wishes is possible. What time are your FP+ for at HS? Figure if you get to HS by no later than 5:30 or 6, and had FP kicking in at 5:30; 6:30; and 7:30. If you get in line for the last one right at 7:30 and then head straight out of the park, you should hit MK around 9 and could see the 10:00 p.m. wishes.

We've done 3 parks in a day once though to pick up some nighttime entertainment that had been rained out one of our nights. It was a bit much for us. Felt like we spent a lot of the day waiting for and in transporation.

We don't have fp+ reservations made yet, we are waiting for military tickets to arrive at the base and there is no way around that. I'm hoping that won't mean that the only times available for things are super late at night.
I'm worried that it will be too much stress and waiting too! It will be our first day, and I don't want it to feel rushed and hurried.

I think what I'll do instead is switch our Epcot night so that we can RD that and then head to the MK on the monorail for fireworks. That means that I'll have to give up Tusker House, and it's our only character meal so far, but I've noticed that lots of people cancel breakfasts, so I should hopefully be able to pick something up for a different day.

If we park at Epcot in the morning (EMH day) and ride the monorail to MK, will we be able to ride the monorail back to our car even though Epcot will be closed by then?

 

[Robo]

If we park at Epcot in the morning (EMH day) and ride the monorail to MK, will we be able to ride the monorail back to our car even though Epcot will be closed by then?

Unlikely.

If the monorail is shut down, they will provide special buses to get back to Epcot.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I've done a very similar day, and would highly recommend hitting DHS first then AK. You could schedule your FP+ for late morning/early afternoon then have plenty of time to make it to the Tusker.

AK empties out significantly in the afternoon, so you should have limited wait times for the attractions that you want to visit.

If you arrive at MK in the evening, it's likely that the parking attendants will be done for the day and you will be able to choose any parking area you like. There are usually plenty of empty spaces up front from folks that got tired and left early. This will save you the time it takes to ride the tram as you can park within walking distance of the TTC.

I think you'll have plenty of time.

 

[monkeybug]

I've done a very similar day, and would highly recommend hitting DHS first then AK. You could schedule your FP+ for late morning/early afternoon then have plenty of time to make it to the Tusker.

AK empties out significantly in the afternoon, so you should have limited wait times for the attractions that you want to visit.

If you arrive at MK in the evening, it's likely that the parking attendants will be done for the day and you will be able to choose any parking area you like. There are usually plenty of empty spaces up front from folks that got tired and left early. This will save you the time it takes to ride the tram as you can park within walking distance of the TTC.

I think you'll have plenty of time.

That's a great idea! I didn't think of switching and going to HS in the morning because I figured I would have long waits at AK if I did that. That might give us a shot at Jedi training as well.
That has been our experience with parking in the evening at parks too! In fact we've never had to take a tram when parking. (we arrive at RD usually and end up hoping in the evening)

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

That's a great idea! I didn't think of switching and going to HS in the morning because I figured I would have long waits at AK if I did that. That might give us a shot at Jedi training as well.
That has been our experience with parking in the evening at parks too! In fact we've never had to take a tram when parking. (we arrive at RD usually and end up hoping in the evening)

The only thing you might find a long line for is Kali, as many visitors like to wait until the end of the day to get that wet. Everything else is probably going to be a walkon after 4 pm or so. Earlier this summer, we had to wait about 10 minutes at the Safari for enough guests to show up to fill the truck.

 

[lroger01]

I'm planning on doing the same exact scenario you are - except I'm not doing Tusker House. I'm also going on an AM EMH day.

My plan is to hit my must do's at AK starting at 8am, eat lunch at Flame Tree at 11ish, and hop to DHS around noon. From there hit my 3 FP+ attractions plus a few more, finishing there around 5ish. After that go back to the resort if I have time, and then on to MK just to see Wishes - or go straight to MK if I'm running late.

I don't mind the travel time since I'll need some breaks anyway. The following day I'm going to MNSSHP and will sleep in and have an easy morning.

Can you start the day at an AM EMH park?

 

[monkeybug]

The only thing you might find a long line for is Kali, as many visitors like to wait until the end of the day to get that wet. Everything else is probably going to be a walkon after 4 pm or so. Earlier this summer, we had to wait about 10 minutes at the Safari for enough guests to show up to fill the truck.

Oh wow! It's so ingrained in my head that mornings are always less busy that I never even considered swapping. Kali really isn't a must-do for us, we want to ride EE, the Safari, Dinosaur, and see Lion King.