Arriving today--need help with change of park plans!

[100acreHiker]

Hello! We are WDW vets, but today we are beginning a special trip: we are taking my sister-in-law who has Down Syndrome and my parents-in-law, all traveling from Alaska to see WDW and the grandkids. We are staying at BWI. There are 7 of us arriving today, and everyone is counting on me to be the guide. My SIL (38) is a huge Disney fan and they have never been to WDW. In classic form, I am rethinking our plans for our first full day, partly because we've determined that MVMCP is too much money and my kids always tire out by 9. Here are our two touring plan options for our first day tomorrow (Thursday). Can anyone here help me figure out what makes the most sense?

Option 1: sleep in a bit (they are likely to be exhausted from the flights) and go to HS at 10:30. Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Lunch at Brown Derby, Toy Story Mania, Frozen Sing along (SIL will love this, my boys, not so much!), then shuttle to MK to go on a few rides with whatever fastpasses we can get at that hour, stay to see the Castle light up (Frozen Holiday Wish), leave as the party starts, and then hop a boat to Grand Floridian for dinner at Citricos, see the gingerbread house, and listen to the jazz band.

Option 2: Spend the entire day (from 11 am on) at HS mostly to see the Jingle Bell Jingle Bam show, which I think she'd like. We'd have dinner at Brown Derby.

Downside to option 1 is there's no nighttime spectacular (other than seeing the castle light up) and downside to option 2 is the in-laws don't go to MK until the last day of our 4 day trip.

Thoughts? Is Jingle Bam! worth missing an evening in MK and dinner at GF?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Allison]

First question for you-Do you have ADRs at either of the restaurants you mention?

 

[100acreHiker]

yes-- ADRs are covered for both options

 

[Allison]

Hmmm...I haven't seen the Jingle Bam show yet so it is hard for me to decide. But time in Magic Kingdom and at the Grand Floridian during the holidays would be pretty cool.

 

[emmabelle]

I don't know that there is enough to do at the studios all day? But then it is a lot to do both parks and go to the GF. I would probably do both though because I love to be on the move, getting the most accomplished that I can.

 

[100acreHiker]

I think that's what we're settling on: both parks and dinner at GF (found a reservation for GFC instead of Citricos since it appeals more to the kids and my SIL and we're having a fancy lunch already at Brown Derby). HS is only half operational, and we don't do ToT or RnR, so a full day might feel like too much, and this is they're first time to WDW, so seeing the castle is important. I do wish we could see the Jingle Bam show. I wish it' weren't at 6:45 and later, instead! And I do hope that we can grab some fastpasses after we use up our HS ones. What do you think the chances are for us finding any rides (even some like Pirates or Little Mermaid, etc) after 3pm for 7 people?

 

[emmabelle]

I've gotten Dumbo at a really busy time in July for six people at 7pm. Hahaha

As soon as you check in for your last FP start searching MDE. If your last FP+ is early enough there may be some good ones still left. I feel that Pirates and Haunted Mansion are the first to sell out after Space, Splash, Peter, 7D, BTTM and the character experiences.



Edited-

I just checked for today for 2 because my husband and I have annual passes. Haunted Mansion, Peter, 7D and most of character experiences are gone.

They still have a lot of availability for everything else.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would do option 1. If you are still at GF at fireworks time, you can see the fireworks from the boat dock or the marina.

 

[scrapquitler]

Hello! We are WDW vets, but today we are beginning a special trip: we are taking my sister-in-law who has Down Syndrome and my parents-in-law, all traveling from Alaska to see WDW and the grandkids. We are staying at BWI. There are 7 of us arriving today, and everyone is counting on me to be the guide. My SIL (38) is a huge Disney fan and they have never been to WDW. In classic form, I am rethinking our plans for our first full day, partly because we've determined that MVMCP is too much money and my kids always tire out by 9. Here are our two touring plan options for our first day tomorrow (Thursday). Can anyone here help me figure out what makes the most sense?

Option 1: sleep in a bit (they are likely to be exhausted from the flights) and go to HS at 10:30. Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Lunch at Brown Derby, Toy Story Mania, Frozen Sing along (SIL will love this, my boys, not so much!), then shuttle to MK to go on a few rides with whatever fastpasses we can get at that hour, stay to see the Castle light up (Frozen Holiday Wish), leave as the party starts, and then hop a boat to Grand Floridian for dinner at Citricos, see the gingerbread house, and listen to the jazz band.

Option 2: Spend the entire day (from 11 am on) at HS mostly to see the Jingle Bell Jingle Bam show, which I think she'd like. We'd have dinner at Brown Derby.

Downside to option 1 is there's no nighttime spectacular (other than seeing the castle light up) and downside to option 2 is the in-laws don't go to MK until the last day of our 4 day trip.

Thoughts? Is Jingle Bam! worth missing an evening in MK and dinner at GF?

Thanks in advance!

Given that they are first timers, and that they are traveling a long distance before arriving, I think taking a fairly slow easy first day would be a good idea. All that travel time might be exhausting the first day, and if you stay in one park, they will have time to soak it in and enjoy whatever they choose to take extra time with in HS, so I would go with option 2.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

If I were you, I would do option 1. If you are around the lake at the right time, you can still see the fireworks around the lagoon (maybe walkway from GF to Poly). The finale of the Christmas fireworks show consists of 180-degree fireworks, which is awesome to view from outside the park.

If you were to do option 2, I would see Fantasmic instead of seeing Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam. I have only seen video of that show, but after seeing video, I changed my plans for the night I was going to see it later in December.

I hope you have a great vacation!

 

[Hopefully]

Another vote for option 1. And play the afternoon and evening by ear. If they are too tired, call it an early evening.
I think waiting until day 4 of your visit to go to the MK with your sister in law might be a challenge
Good Luck and have a wonderful trip

 

[chris benton]

Seconding trying to catch Fantasmic at HS instead of JBJB - especially for first timers, unless you are trying to avoid it.

 

[xlsm]

What if you reversed plan one and started at MK? Crowds could be lower since it's a party night...then you could go to DHS for evening entertainment. You could arrive whenever everyone is up and around, hang out and enjoy until castle lighting, and then do dinner at Citricos (or see if there is an ADR for Brown Derby if you went straight to DHS)

Just throwing that out there. Your SIL and inlaws could get more MK time, and it would be a thrill to see the castle on the first park day, right away.


Regarding your original question, between the two, I think I'd pick option one.

Good luck, and have fun!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Your location mentions New York, so I assume it's the extended family coming in from Alaska? I'm not sure of what time they'll get in, but remember there's a decent time difference that's going to make late nights feel much better to them than to you for a few days. And early mornings are going to be HARD.

my kids always tire out by 9.

But if your kids are on eastern time and the relatives are on Alaskan time, it might be worth it *for them* in the first days of the trip. Heck, today i'd likely do something night-time-ish, because tonight's going to be one of the easiest nights to stay up late for them. Since it won't feel late.

sleep in a bit (they are likely to be exhausted from the flights) and go to HS at 10:30.

Leaving the room at 10:30 means 6:30 for their bodies tomorrow. For us, and we're closer in time to FL than Alaska is, I'm either getting up EARLY to be on eastern time immediately and just get going OR I'm sleeping until noon that first full day (aka 9am). What are their normal waking habits?

 

[MommaBerd]

Two quick thoughts:
1) You may be surprised to find your boys enjoy Frozen Sing-Along. It's pretty funny! My three youngest all enjoyed it!
2) JBJB is cute, but for their sakes, I would go to Fantasmic. BUT, having said that, I would still vote for Option 1.

 

[crazylady]

I would start at MK and end at HS. I would plan to eat at the resort and get to MK around 1230/1. If you plan to end at HS, your in-laws can stay late to see Fantasmic and you can get your boys to bed on time since it is so close to your hotel. I would only do one sit down meal on the first day.