And You Say DHS is a 1/2 Day Park ...

[PrincessWithABlaster]

This is the first time for our kids and I can't even come close to fitting everything in and we don't even have time planned for any character M&Gs. So please help me. Hubby and I have seen Indiana Jones so we know what that show is about. DS7 wants to do Jedi Academy so that takes a lot of time in both signing up and attending. I thought the Disney Junior show would be an easy skip, but they tell me they want to see it (mind you they have never seen Jake and only an episode or 2 of Sophia, sigh) and it does have a limited shelf life. Elsa and Anna Sing Along is a must do. I'm leaning towards leaving out Indy (because if the show lasts in the park, it will keep until they're older) and Muppets (because they don't know who most of them are) but this is not taking into account overall quality of any of the shows. So which of the following would you consider a must do, and which would you leave out? I probably need to ditch at least 2 to be able to get everything in.

Jouney of the Little Mermaid
Muppets 3D
Beauty and the Beast
Indiana Jones

 

[leebee]

Depends on the ages and gender of your kids. There is NO WAY we would have skipped any of these shows when the kids in my family were younger, except maybe Indy, but we have all girls. First trips are hard because character meet and greets compete with attraction times. Is there any chance you can schedule some character meals, to avoid the M&G lines? If you have daughters, there's no way I'd skip Mermaid and Beauty/Beast. The Muppets is cute and funny, but if your kids are under age 5 they probably will miss much of the humor. Our kids found Disney Junior to be a one-time experience, and that was back in the days of Bear in the Big Blue House, and they were all fans- but none of them really enjoyed the Disney Junior experience. I guess you could probably skip Muppets and Indy... unless your son wants to see Indy, which he MIGHT... Maybe split your group so whoever wants to see Indy goes with Dad, whoever wants to see Mermaid goes with Mom? Good luck sorting through it all!

 

[jon18uk]

Personally I would rather skip Beauty and Mermaid than Indy. But I'm an adult male. I would expect boys to prefer Indy to Mermaid for sure though.

 

[Jrits]

You can fit it all in, we have. We do every show in the park plus muppets, star tours, TSM & character meet & greets. Trick is picking your show times and then fitting in the rides and untimed shows (muppets, little mermaid) in between.

 

[minniemous]

I would not skip Indy that is a truly unique experience and your Son will love it. I thought Mermaid was better than Beauty and the Beast. Beauty and the Beast was a fast paced show to encompass the story in a short amount of time. It was enjoyable... but out of those three that is the one I would skip.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

You can fit it all in, we have. We do every show in the park plus muppets, star tours, TSM & character meet & greets. Trick is picking your show times and then fitting in the rides and untimed shows (muppets, little mermaid) in between.

Really? I can't seem to make that work. Do your kids participate in Jedi Academy? That seems to be making things difficult with both sign up and having to be there half an hour before.

For reference the kids are DD7, DD6 and DS3.

I guess another complicating factor I didn't bring up is that DS3 will have to go back to the resort for a nap if we have any hope of making it through Fantasmic. There are some rides and shows he'll definitely want to see (or both of us parents will). I was already planning to fit in one princess show and something else while he's gone. I have some room in the afternoon so maybe I can add back in the Muppets then since he may be too young to get the humor.

I do have ADRs already with the Fantasmic package so I don't know that I can do a character meal. I also don't have FPs factored into the touring plan yet, which I know will save some time but I'm just not sure how much. This is definitely shaping up to be the most frenetic, over scheduled day of our vacation. At least the park is small.

 

[mshanson3121]

This is the first time for our kids and I can't even come close to fitting everything in and we don't even have time planned for any character M&Gs. So please help me. Hubby and I have seen Indiana Jones so we know what that show is about. DS7 wants to do Jedi Academy so that takes a lot of time in both signing up and attending. I thought the Disney Junior show would be an easy skip, but they tell me they want to see it (mind you they have never seen Jake and only an episode or 2 of Sophia, sigh) and it does have a limited shelf life. Elsa and Anna Sing Along is a must do. I'm leaning towards leaving out Indy (because if the show lasts in the park, it will keep until they're older) and Muppets (because they don't know who most of them are) but this is not taking into account overall quality of any of the shows. So which of the following would you consider a must do, and which would you leave out? I probably need to ditch at least 2 to be able to get everything in.

Jouney of the Little Mermaid
Muppets 3D
Beauty and the Beast
Indiana Jones

Haha, I wouldn't want to leave any out and would find a way to spend more time there if possible. But, I know that's probably not possible, so I would definitely do Little Mermaid and Muppets.

 

[mshanson3121]

Really? I can't seem to make that work. Do your kids participate in Jedi Academy? That seems to be making things difficult with both sign up and having to be there half an hour before.

For reference the kids are DD7, DD6 and DS3.

I guess another complicating factor I didn't bring up is that DS3 will have to go back to the resort for a nap if we have any hope of making it through Fantasmic. There are some rides and shows he'll definitely want to see (or both of us parents will). I was already planning to fit in one princess show and something else while he's gone. I have some room in the afternoon so maybe I can add back in the Muppets then since he may be too young to get the humor.

I do have ADRs already with the Fantasmic package so I don't know that I can do a character meal. I also don't have FPs factored into the touring plan yet, which I know will save some time but I'm just not sure how much. This is definitely shaping up to be the most frenetic, over scheduled day of our vacation. At least the park is small.

With this added info, I would probably say skip Indiana Jones. It's great, but it's extremely loud and I could see it being too scary for your 3 year old. Unless you wanted to do IJ while he's gone for a nap?

 

[BlueFairy]

Just have to say I totally agree with you. We are having similar issues. Not sure I have great advice. Quality-wise I would say that Muppets can be skipped. The technology is old and needs an update. The humor is fun though.

Also, Mermaid is in a darkened theater and gets pretty loud. I've seen toddlers freak out a bit at the sight of Ursula. That might be a good one for nap time, but BATB is longer.

Check easy wdw . com for his touring plans. He'll give you an idea of when to line up before the shows and that will help you plan.

 

[showers2flowers]

We ended up in a similar situation-I had planned to skip Disney Jr., Indy, and Muppets, figuring my son wouldn't miss them. I was informed in no uncertain terms that he felt otherwise. ;-) Despite that, we managed to fit it all in (except Fantasmic, as we had the dessert party booked instead). Not gonna lie, it was a long day (12 hours-and we didn't have any littles who needed naps, so that is certainly a complicating factor). We did split up a few times, which really helped...is that an option for you? For ex, my DH took the boys to see Indy while the rest of us went over to ToT and RnRC, which saved us time. JTA does eat up a lot of time, but it's still doable.

 

[gypsicat]

We are in a similar situation.

I started working on my HS touring plan first before the other parks because I figured it would be the easiest. I mean, it's a half day park...right? LOL, not so easy once I started factoring everything that everyone wanted to do and show times. I managed to get it figured out but it took a while. OF COURSE, my extremely shy DD THEN told me that she really, really wants to do the jedi training. That really messes with my plan now, lol. Not knowing where I will eventually have to fit in the Jedi thing is throwing me for a loop.

I guess DD, grandma and I will head over to sign her up first thing while the rest of the group goes to ride something. Then depending on what time she gets, we will adjust from there, probably by skipping a show. Also, I think I will change my plan from one long day to two half days (one morning one evening to catch Fantasmic) since we have a long stay and hoppers.

I think that if it weren't our first visit, then we would totally be able to do one half day but since we want to do pretty much everything and I know the kids will want to repeat rides and see the shows, one half day just won't be possible for us this trip. Plus we NEED a midday break for my mom.

 

[caroline1851]

I think it's only a 1/2 day park if you've been there many times and/or are not interested in many things. We spent 4 hours there in June and only 4 because we did all we wanted to: RRC, TSM, TOT, GMR, ST, Muppets and lunch. But i'm trying to plan for a friend and they want to see Frozen sing a long, beauty and beast, little mermaid, anything star wars, disney jr live, etc. so there is TONS to do. Plus, trying to work in all those shows is HARD. Def full day if you havne't been and/or the group you have of people have varied interests.

 

[cmarsh31]

We did most of it (we had done Disney JR before), plus H&V breakfast (right after Jedi sign-ups) and Fantasmic. We did split and DD(6 at the time) and I did Little Mermaid while DH and DS (9 at the time) did Indian Jones. We still had too much time before Fantasmic... and after a late QS lunch, nothing appealed to us for dinner. It was by far DH & DS's favorite park.

 

[BlueFairy]

Happy to share our plan with you if it might help.

Btw, when is your trip. It may have just gotten more complicated with this announcement: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...e-park-history/?CMP=SOC-TWITTER20160219163000

 

[dlavender]

I guess another complicating factor I didn't bring up is that DS3 will have to go back to the resort for a nap if we have any hope of making it through Fantasmic

We let ours nap in the stroller. It lays down flat and works out great. That saved us three hours, when you factor in travel back and forth plus the nap....Just a thought.....

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Happy to share our plan with you if it might help.

Btw, when is your trip. It may have just gotten more complicated with this announcement: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...e-park-history/?CMP=SOC-TWITTER20160219163000

Yes!!! This just got a LOT harder!!! But as a Star Wars fan, I'm ok with that.

Thanks for the TP offer Blue Fairy. I'll take a look at my TP with the new SW and PM you if that works.

We have a half day at MK that I may have to consider switching to DHS but I have to give up BOG dinner to do it. Decisions, decisions. I may try to move my Fantasmic package to lunch to get it out of the way of better JTA times. We have a Mama Melrose reservation at 5:35.
Would it be too tight to get to the 7:10 JTA with kids in it? We could have one parent leave with them while the other paid the bill but it's the package so its app, entre, and dessert.

The kids may go for the new SW show over Disney Jr. We'll see. I'll do at least one princess show while the boy is napping. I think Muppets and Indy are a lost cause at this point. But last year we didn't see Festival of the Lion King and even failed to make it to Peter Pan. The earth is still turning, no one had a bad time because of it, so we'll probably survive.

We let ours nap in the stroller. It lays down flat and works out great. That saved us three hours, when you factor in travel back and forth plus the nap....Just a thought.....

I wish that were likely. As a 2 yo last year he was not about to do that. And now that I'm guessing SitS is likely to continue into May, it's going to be an even later night - I have toyed with having him skip it this day but I just don't see that working out. Argh. It's later in our trip. Maybe he'll just collapse in the stroller from exhaustion. This is going to the hardest park for us to get to/from so maybe it's worth it. Will try to convince hubby (he's militantly pro nap).

 

[BlueFairy]

Sure PM me if you like. Love your screen name, btw. Fits my oldest DD to a T.

You might want to check out this thread since you are Star Wars crazy. They seem to be on top of things like JTA and character greets. I think they'll have the new show schedule pinned down pretty early on. The thread has morphed to discuss way more than just a dessert party.
http://disboards.com/threads/update...-review-pg-251.3439569/page-289#post-55203211

I think your timing is too tight on MM's and 7:10 JTA. They need to line up 30 minutes prior. That's an hour to eat IF you get seated on time.

 

[dlavender]

I wish that were likely. As a 2 yo last year he was not about to do that. And now that I'm guessing SitS is likely to continue into May, it's going to be an even later night - I have toyed with having him skip it this day but I just don't see that working out. Argh. It's later in our trip. Maybe he'll just collapse in the stroller from exhaustion. This is going to the hardest park for us to get to/from so maybe it's worth it. Will try to convince hubby (he's militantly pro nap).

I'm with you. We have three kids, and all have been different nappers. We were unsure last year if our 3 year old would nap in the stroller or not, but he just passed out on his own and slept for his normal amount of time. We tried the go back to the resort and rest routine one time, and just found it to be such a time suck. Some people swear by it though, so either way it will be fine. Good luck!

 

[tlmadden73]

Exactly .. it is only a half day park IF you have been there several times and IF you have already done everything. I have gone there several times and there is still a show (Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid) that I have never found the time for. This past year (thanks to FP+) was the first year I found time for TSMM).

Personally .. Indiana Jones is pretty cool for all ages. And Muppets is just quick and fun for all ages as well.

I would skip either LIttle Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast unless ther eis a big fan of either of those. PLus you are limited on the Beauty and the Beast shows.

 

[MamaMaleficent2016]

If I could only do two... It would be Mermaid and Muppets. They don't have to know the characters. It is just a great show!

Edited: and for the record I don't think any of the parks are 1/2 day parks.