Am I crazy- trying to do too much on arrival day???

[rdheds]

We are arriving @ MCO around 12:50 pm for a 6 day/5 night vacation at the Wilderness lodge. Currently we have an ADR at Whispering Canyons at 5:20 and then I thinking we go to MK after we finish dinner(We being DH, DS(7) and DS(6 days shy of 4)). I am hoping to meet Mickey at town hall and then ride Pirates(Fp+), Haunted Mansion, Big thunder Mt(FP+) and Splash mt.(Fp+) and maybe anything else we have time for and then try and leave before or during wishes .Given that we are going to MK all day the next starting w/ an 8:05 at CP I am thinking staying for wishes will be a bit much So questions

1) Based my 5:20 ADR what time do you think I will get to MK
2) Also how long will it take me to do what is listed above on my first evening.
3) Anything else in Adventure land or Frontier Land that we should try and do that first night as I am thinking we will focus on fanstasy land and tomorrow land with a stop BBB mid-afternoon(1:50 reservation).
4) what is the best use of FP+ the first night.

Thank you in advance!!!

 

[Micca]

Welcome to the Dis Rdheds You have some good questions and you'll get some excellent advice here. But until the experts come along, I'll share some thoughts

You don't say when your trip is planned, so we can't tell how late MK will be open. Also it would be helpful to know if you'll be using Disney transportation or if you'll have a car.

In the best case you have a good 2-3 hours of activities, and depending on how busy the park is, perhaps quite a bit more. I'd guess you could get to MK from WL around 7pm following your WC ADR.

That's a start. Give us a bit more info and you'll be amazed at the great advice here.

 

[rdheds]

Thanks for the welcome. We are arriving on 8/17 and using Disney transportation.

 

[grimley1968]

I may be in the minority, but I wouldn't use a day of your park tickets just to go to MK that night.

a) You will probably not be completely energetic, having flown already that day, and not being able to even begin getting to a park until that evening, and considering the age of your kids.
b) Based on a 5:20 ADR at WCC, then about 1 hour to eat and enjoy the restaurant, then about a 20 minute commute to MK via boat, you're looking at not getting into MK until around 7 or later. I don't know how late MK is open the day you arrive, but I wouldn't burn a ticket day getting there that late.
c) I may be out of date, but I "think" FP+'s have to be one hour apart, so the FP's you outlined, if you could get them, would take 2-3 hours to complete (depending on how soon after park arrival your first FP+ is). And timing these after seeing Mickey might be difficult.

If your goal really is to see Wishes, you could see that some other day or even at Contemporary or Poly without having to use a park ticket day.

 

[Micca]

Looks like MK is open until 11pm (there's an MSEP at 9 & 11). Grimley brings up a good point about burning park passes for 4 hours. I didn't think of that because we have APs so we don't worry about burning park passes.

I think you can get to MK 7-ish by via the boat from WL, so that works in your favor.

If you were able to get to those specific item on your list I wouldn't think there'd be any time for any extras. And your point about not staying too late with an early start the following morning is also valid.

 

[IamJBo]

As stated above - how many days do you have on your tickets? 6-day tickets?

If so since it spans over the course of your stay you might as well use it right?

I think Grimley hit it on the head with a 7pm arrival.

I think time is against you as I do believe your limited on the time frame with your FP+.

If I were you - and not knowing the time frames - I would schedule the FP+ for Splash Mtn, BTMRR, then Haunted Mansion in that order.

You honestly might be lucky with most of the Frontierland rides because most may make their way to get ready for the parade and wishes.

The thing with that though is you might get trapped there during the parade.

Since you planned on leaving before / during Wishes - I would try and hop on either Haunted Mansion/ Pirates (whichever you didn't FP+) since the lines will be drastically smaller then head out.

 

[amym2]

I agree that it will likely be 7pm by the time you make it to MK. If you think it's worth it for a few hours, go for it. The cost of 6 days over 5 is minimal. I think your FP+ sound good. I'd probably make them for 7, 8, and 9pm, knowing that you might not make it for the last one. I definitely wouldn't push it for Wishes and having to get out of the park after, considering you'll have to be up very early the next morning. However, if you're planning a full day at MK the next day with Wishes at 10pm, I'm not sure I'd do the late night on arrival night. If you can plan in an afternoon break or do Wishes another night, I think you'll be fine.

 

[rdheds]

Thanks you for all the responses! We do have 6 day tickets w/o hoppers so I wanted to maximize time in MK without killing ourselves. I do have fast passes for 7,8,9 at pirates(my favorite), Big thunder and splash in that order. Does it make sense to change them as the IamJBO suggested. I am also keeping my eye for an earlier WC reservation (5ish). Goal is to make it before or during wishes. We have an early day the next day but 3 of us are night owls so its not like we will be going to sleep at 8pm and that might actually help us sleep earlier than normal.

 

[MrInfinity]

We are arriving @ MCO around 12:50 pm for a 6 day/5 night vacation at the Wilderness lodge. Currently we have an ADR at Whispering Canyons at 5:20 and then I thinking we go to MK after we finish dinner(We being DH, DS(7) and DS(6 days shy of 4)). I am hoping to meet Mickey at town hall and then ride Pirates(Fp+), Haunted Mansion, Big thunder Mt(FP+) and Splash mt.(Fp+) and maybe anything else we have time for and then try and leave before or during wishes .Given that we are going to MK all day the next starting w/ an 8:05 at CP I am thinking staying for wishes will be a bit much So questions

1) Based my 5:20 ADR what time do you think I will get to MK
2) Also how long will it take me to do what is listed above on my first evening.
3) Anything else in Adventure land or Frontier Land that we should try and do that first night as I am thinking we will focus on fanstasy land and tomorrow land with a stop BBB mid-afternoon(1:50 reservation).
4) what is the best use of FP+ the first night.

Thank you in advance!!!

Obviously there's pros and cons here! I would not do this, but we tend to have a few more days. With only 6 days which includes your arrival and departure day, I think the extra park bit would be good. Plus you'll get 3 FP+'s to use. Plug those in for around 7- 8- and 9- and go for it. On the other hand, getting a relaxing start to a trip can set it off on the right foot, simply hanging out by the beach and watching the Water Pageant can be good too. But I think in your case if otherwise you only have 1 MK day, a 2nd short evening would be good.

Also I don't feel there's any significance to changing the order of the FP's. You have them fine... The only thing you wouldn't want is Pirates in the middle cuz of the doubling back. You'll be on the BTMRR/Splash side of the parade route well before the parade comes thru.

 

[ldymcbth]

I think it sounds like a great plan, provided it won't throw your kids off being up late that first night. We did a similar thing on our first trip out to Disneyland and it was great being able to check stuff off of our list that first night - felt like an added bonus.

 

[cattywampus]

Another couple of things to consider:

1) What time zone are you coming from? If anything west, your kids will still be on that time zone making staying later easier? Getting up may be harder, but I wouldn't kid yourself that they are going to fall asleep early in a hotel room at Disney! I would go to MK.

2) Will you have a stroller(s) that 4yo (or both) can nap in and go out of the park and back to hotel (aka not a Disney stroller)?

3) one thing I have done, is watch fireworks on main street with kids in stroller from as far back as possible. Then, I just turn stroller around and exit. Kid is asleep before I get it turned around. He gets an extra 30 mins or so of sleep as we get back to hotel. Generally doesn't wake up til morning.

4) Consider changing 4yo into something you can leave on him to sleep. Not necessarily Jammie's but stretch shorts and a tee, in case he falls asleep. That way, you can transfer directly from stroller to bed and not wake him or try to wrestle Jammie on sleeping child. Extra sleep.

5) lay out clothes the night before for Morning. Wake kids at last possible minute, toss them in the stroller with a small snack and juice and be on your way.

In case you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of strollers at Disney, long after they are retired every other place. They really give a lot of flexibility to stay out late and get going in the am because child (ren) don't have to be fully awake and functioning during transportation times. Also can stash snacks to bridge tired times.

My husband was hesitant at first to use a stroller for an older kid at the parks, until we were way back in one of the parks while a small mom was struggling to carry a tired 3yo who had melted down. I said to him "*THAT* is why I will use a stroller at Disney as long as child is willing to ride in it. Well over 20 multiple day trips and zero meltdowns. Better to plan ahead to avoid them. Now husband wants to ride in the rolling snack seat-a-rama with entertainment, as he calls it!

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Another couple of things to consider:

1) What time zone are you coming from? If anything west, your kids will still be on that time zone making staying later easier? Getting up may be harder, but I wouldn't kid yourself that they are going to fall asleep early in a hotel room at Disney! I would go to MK.

2) Will you have a stroller(s) that 4yo (or both) can nap in and go out of the park and back to hotel (aka not a Disney stroller)?

3) one thing I have done, is watch fireworks on main street with kids in stroller from as far back as possible. Then, I just turn stroller around and exit. Kid is asleep before I get it turned around. He gets an extra 30 mins or so of sleep as we get back to hotel. Generally doesn't wake up til morning.

4) Consider changing 4yo into something you can leave on him to sleep. Not necessarily Jammie's but stretch shorts and a tee, in case he falls asleep. That way, you can transfer directly from stroller to bed and not wake him or try to wrestle Jammie on sleeping child. Extra sleep.

5) lay out clothes the night before for Morning. Wake kids at last possible minute, toss them in the stroller with a small snack and juice and be on your way.

In case you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of strollers at Disney, long after they are retired every other place. They really give a lot of flexibility to stay out late and get going in the am because child (ren) don't have to be fully awake and functioning during transportation times. Also can stash snacks to bridge tired times.

My husband was hesitant at first to use a stroller for an older kid at the parks, until we were way back in one of the parks while a small mom was struggling to carry a tired 3yo who had melted down. I said to him "*THAT* is why I will use a stroller at Disney as long as child is willing to ride in it. Well over 20 multiple day trips and zero meltdowns. Better to plan ahead to avoid them. Now husband wants to ride in the rolling snack seat-a-rama with entertainment, as he calls it!

I completely agree about the stroller.

 

[mom2rtk]

As long as you don't have rope drop planned for the next morning, I say go for it. Cost on a 6 day ticket for that extra day is $10 a head. That's well worth it to get 3 additional FP rides in a short order of time. As much as I'm not a fan of FP+, I do think that FP for late arrival the day you arrive is one of the silver linings.

Go for it. Have a great time!

 

[minnie mum]

Thanks you for all the responses! We do have 6 day tickets w/o hoppers so I wanted to maximize time in MK without killing ourselves. I do have fast passes for 7,8,9 at pirates(my favorite), Big thunder and splash in that order. Does it make sense to change them as the IamJBO suggested. I am also keeping my eye for an earlier WC reservation (5ish). Goal is to make it before or during wishes. We have an early day the next day but 3 of us are night owls so its not like we will be going to sleep at 8pm and that might actually help us sleep earlier than normal.

If you want to leave before or during Wishes, then I'd reverse the order of your FPs. As they stand now you would likely be trapped on the Splash side by the parade. If you end with Pirates, you'll be away from the parade and can work your way towards the park entrance by going through the shops until you get down to the square in front of the train station.

IMO, if you start in MK at 7:00, you can get in your FP rides and maybe one or 2 more in Adventureland, but that's it. I'd leave HM for another day - too far away from your FP rides, especially with the parade crowds.

 

[bookluvingbabe]

Except she is rope dropping the next am--with an expensive to miss ADR at crystal palace.

Why not eat at MK and get more time there that night and try to get back to the resort earlier?

 

[mom2rtk]

Except she is rope dropping the next am--with an expensive to miss ADR at crystal palace.

Why not eat at MK and get more time there that night and try to get back to the resort earlier?

Yep, I skipped over that.

Hmmmm....... Something has to give. And what a shame. It would have been a great way to kick off a trip.