Arriving in the middle of the day on Friday---strategy suggestions?

[drcmk]

Our plane lands at 9:30 am and we are taking the Magical Express to Coronado Springs and then on to MK. How would you plan your day? MK is open until midnight that day and it is not EMH. We haven't been to Disney since 2009, so we are interested in the new Fantasyland attractions and we do want to ride Space Mountain and BTMRR. I'd love lunch at BOG, but don't know how realistic it is. We are a family of four with two adults and two teens.

Should I plan to eat lunch at our resort or go right to the park for lunch? What times would you suggest I try to schedule fast passes? What would your touring strategy be? I do have an ADR at 8:30 pm at The Plaza Restaurant, although I'm not sure if we will want dinner that late or just ice cream (and we could always cancel it).

 

[soar2014]

You will no doubt be tired, but full of excitement! Have you thought about not buying tickets that day and going to DTD?
Just thinking of saving money!
If you're set on MK, then I'd make my fastpasses beginning at one and have a slow first day to soak in the new Fantasyland.
See if the standby line for BOG lunch is do-able.

 

[Newsies]

You will no doubt be tired, but full of excitement! Have you thought about not buying tickets that day and going to DTD?
Just thinking of saving money!
If you're set on MK, then I'd make my fastpasses beginning at one and have a slow first day to soak in the new Fantasyland.
See if the standby line for BOG lunch is do-able.

I totally agree with soar!! If you do decide to go to MK, I would go later in the evening, take it easy (dinner, no FP+, just relaxing and fitting in whatever is nice), retreat to your hotel early, and then have a full-on MK touring day the next day!

 

[sharonabe]

We had an early arrival at MCO on our last WDW trip. Even though we were only traveling from Baltimore, we were still pretty tired that day. We went to AK for lunch, the safari, Lion King, and one of the trails. We then went to HS just to see Osborne Lights. At that point, we were exhausted and headed back to CSR and bed. There was no way we could've made it to midnight anywhere.

My suggestion is to cancel that ADR (you'll be charged if you wait until the day of) and then wing it. You may be able to get in your room upon arrival and rest a bit and then make it until midnight. Your room may not be ready, and you'll need to head somewhere for a bite to eat. Do what you have energy for and then call it a day.

 

[Thing 1]

Be sure to first, get your FP+ reservation on the first day that it become available. Second, be sure to leave enough time to make it to your first FP because if you skip or miss it, you will not be able to get a fourth FP later in the day. Look at the top choices you want and grab what you can as soon as you can. Allow at least an hour and a half to arrive at the resort, another hour and a half from there to the park....lunch not included. Maybe make them for 1, 2 and 3:00 if you can get that and then you can add as you are able. Maybe later when you factor in lunch. We have done BOG as a walk up but at the start of lunch. Maybe try an end of lunch time frame, remembering you FP times. Maybe take a heavy snack/late breakfast to eat on the plane to hold you to you could try for a late lunch at BOG or somewhere else if that does not work out. Bagels are GREAT for breakfast on the plane. Just play The Plaza by ear to see if you want a meal. ice cream or nothing.

 

[pigletgirl]

I would take it easy. Maybe an afternoon at the pool with dinner at DTD? Save your stamina for a full park day.

 

[soniam]

You can still get additional/4+ FP+, subject to availability, even if you don't do your FPs. Once time has passed, they are considered done. I did this in late July. I blame the Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party

 

[drcmk]

Thank you for your ideas. I neglected to mention that we are in Florida for just five days and one of them is devoted to the Kennedy Space Center. So I don't have a day for relaxing. I plan to visit one park each day. Friday is my primary day for visiting MK (although we'll have hoppers so we can come back another day if we choose).

I'm not expecting our rooms to be ready, but I am hoping that our luggage can be stored when we arrive so we can zip over to MK. Is that realistic?

If we get worn out early, we can have our sundaes at The Plaza at 8:30 and call it a night. No pressure to stay until midnight--just the option.

But once I'm in the park, assuming I have my three FPs (ideally for the roller coasters, my teens aren't interested in meeting characters any more), how would you approach the rest of the park? Which land would you head to?

 

[tobikaye]

I think the earliest I would feel comfortable making a FP reservation at MK would be 1-1:30. You may not get to CSR until almost 11:00. Then by the time you check in and drop your luggage off either in your room or with bell service, it could be noon.

I think you should be fine going to MK that day, you can focus on specific attractions and anything else is a bonus. Nothing says you have to stay until midnight.

 

[drcmk]

I think the earliest I would feel comfortable making a FP reservation at MK would be 1-1:30. You may not get to CSR until almost 11:00. Then by the time you check in and drop your luggage off either in your room or with bell service, it could be noon.

I think you should be fine going to MK that day, you can focus on specific attractions and anything else is a bonus. Nothing says you have to stay until midnight.

Thank you. That is very helpful.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We always go to MK on arrival day and stay through Wishes and the parade. I can't imagine being at WDW and not hitting MK first thing.

This trip will be our first time doing ME. I hope to land around 830-9. My plan is to make our first FP for 12 or 1. We will have dinner at Chef Mickey's around 6 then back to our resort (Poly) for Wishes and MSEP on the beach. I think this will be easier and less stressful than trying to get out of MK after Wishes or getting back too late after waiting for the park to clear out.

The next day we will hit Epcot for rope drop and then MK in the PM again.