Calling all FP+ Experts, please help! October MK Plan A or Plan B?

[wdwpracticalprincess]

So you're awaking at 5:30am and expect your 8.5 y.o. to stay out all day and night in the Parks before getting back to your car and off-site hotel?

You hopefully have no plans for the next day, because even adults will still be exhausted.

But, if you're in MK all day, ordering your rides now is meaningless until you have FP+.

Well, I was thinking about rolling out of bed and driving over around 6:30am. I am rethinking stamina issues -- for all of us. Most likely, DD being an early bird, we will end up missing the evening shows. We do have AK planned for next day, but late arrival and leaving at 4pm. You bring up an excellent point about not knowing what FP+ I'll be able to get 30 days out. I was hoping to have some semblance of a ride order so I know when/what to go for. Thanks for the cheat sheet. I did ever so loosely base Plan A on Josh's one-day plan.

Too funny! I'm at magic kingdom October 3 and October 9 as well

Awesome! I would love to know how your plan is shaping up!

I'd suggest plan B, but you're really underestimating how much you'll be able to do before lunch.

Seriously?! I thought I was trying to cram in too much. Please suggest what attractions to fill. DD not super into Princess M&Gs and we've crossed Buzz off the list because I've read not nearly as great as TSMM, desperate need of refurb, also we're not good with spinning. Tea Party off list, too. Tiki, Country Bears, FOF parade, Tom Sawyer, Philharmagic, Laugh Factory, etc. we're sorta saving for our MK day with grandparents.

 

[krsb09]

Seriously?! I thought I was trying to cram in too much. Please suggest what attractions to fill. DD not super into Princess M&Gs and we've crossed Buzz off the list because I've read not nearly as great as TSMM, desperate need of refurb, also we're not good with spinning. Tea Party off list, too. Tiki, Country Bears, FOF parade, Tom Sawyer, Philharmagic, Laugh Factory, etc. we're sorta saving for our MK day with grandparents.

You shouldn't have any problem doing Little Mermaid, Dumbo, and Barnstormer along with everything else on your list before you head over to BTMRR. The lines to those are very short early in the morning. I was able to do all of that plus more after a pre-opening BOG during 4th of July week last month before heading to the mountains. Do Buzz! The spinning is minimal and you'll still have fun. You shouldn't have a problem grabbing it as a 4th/5th/6th FP. If you're planning on spending open to close in the park, you'll be able to hit all of the big rides plus more.

 

[ilovedisneymm]

We do rope drop every time for MK and lengthy trips for the past three years.

You can do the following and in this order without much of a line (if any) and do so in this order...

SDMT
Peter Pan
You have Pooh but if you are staying later in the evening do this later after wishes, this is a kiddy ride and will have no line or very little after 830/900 pm.
Same for Little Mermaid

So we are back to...
SDMT
Peter Pan
Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
Pirates

You can do the above in that order without any FP and probably within the first hour and a half.

If you are planning on being there all day and evening you will likely walk through each land anyway twice so don't get caught up so much with that. You really can make it from one land to the next within just a couple minutes.

Fantasy land is very calm after fireworks!!!! The mountains and other thrill rides have the heavier traffic in the evening.

Astro is always a long wait no matter what it just seems like that ride takes forever to get through.

TIP - If wanting a second trip on TM or SM (maybe depending on crowd) head over and watch the light parade over by Frontier Land on the side of the mountains. Once the parade has passed you can dash over and get in line with little to no wait

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

Do Buzz! The spinning is minimal and you'll still have fun.

I'll add it to the list! I was afraid I was squeezing too much in, but if you think we'll have time, I think we'll try it. LOVE Toy Story, so I had a little FOMO already.

So we are back to...
SDMT
Peter Pan
Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
Pirates

You can do the above in that order without any FP and probably within the first hour and a half.

If you are planning on being there all day and evening you will likely walk through each land anyway twice so don't get caught up so much with that. You really can make it from one land to the next within just a couple minutes.

Fantasy land is very calm after fireworks!!!! The mountains and other thrill rides have the heavier traffic in the evening.

Astro is always a long wait no matter what it just seems like that ride takes forever to get through.

TIP - If wanting a second trip on TM or SM (maybe depending on crowd) head over and watch the light parade over by Frontier Land on the side of the mountains. Once the parade has passed you can dash over and get in line with little to no wait

You are AWESOME! Thank you so much for taking the time to re-order and make recommendations. Based on your tip, do you think I should cancel Plaza ressie? My original thought was to have ice cream dinner, then try to secure spot by the restaurant to watch MSEP, CTM, and Wishes from same spot. I think you are right though...being on Main Street in the crush of the evening entertainment crowds IS EXHAUSTING. Seems more fun to watch MSEP in Frontierland, get in some quick rides, dash over to Fantasyland and catch the fireworks. What do you recommend for arrival times for shows and locations? I've read by shooting arcade is good for parades and by silly sideshow for fireworks.

Thanks again!!! Your help is so appreciated!!!

 

[ilovedisneymm]

I really wouldn't plan out too much cause that can really take away from the magic, I think anyway. Just have an idea of what you want to do and go with the flow, whatever happens happens.

Know that when it comes time to select your fast passes and depending on the times you get will most likely change everything you currently have. So I really would wait until you finalize those fast passes.

We have done the ice cream dinner before on Main Street while holding our spot for parade and wishes so that might be an option for you if wanting to do both and crunch time. Crowds are crazy on Main Street

We have done wishes from all areas of the park in prior trips and our favorite part to watch wishes is from our campsite (beach area) at Fort Wilderness or just outside the gates of MK.

Love love the Electrical Light Parade and the area I am referring to is the opposite side of the shooting range. If you are on the side of Country Bears, Shooting Range, then you have to wait until the full parade has passed in order to cross the street. You want to be on the side closest to the bridge of Splash Mountain. I line up early but that is because we are there for many days at a time so when we stay for a parade we like to get the best seating so I don't mind lining up 40 minutes before the parade. There are always those that slide in right next to you 10 minutes before the show and that annoys me but our double stroller usually helps give us enough space But this area that I am speaking of is by Frontier Land not Fantasy Land. If staying late it would be easy to hop over to the mountains and ride both directly after the parade and then over to Fantasy Land for anything you missed or wanted to do twice. Barn Stormer is empty before park closing and we have rode that over and over and over without getting off. You can catch a decent view from Fantasy Land for fireworks but not the best. But I prefer an ok view with hardly any crowds to a good view with an ipad in my face and crazy crowds any day of the week and twice on Sunday!

I'll add it to the list! I was afraid I was squeezing too much in, but if you think we'll have time, I think we'll try it. LOVE Toy Story, so I had a little FOMO already.



You are AWESOME! Thank you so much for taking the time to re-order and make recommendations. Based on your tip, do you think I should cancel Plaza ressie? My original thought was to have ice cream dinner, then try to secure spot by the restaurant to watch MSEP, CTM, and Wishes from same spot. I think you are right though...being on Main Street in the crush of the evening entertainment crowds IS EXHAUSTING. Seems more fun to watch MSEP in Frontierland, get in some quick rides, dash over to Fantasyland and catch the fireworks. What do you recommend for arrival times for shows and locations? I've read by shooting arcade is good for parades and by silly sideshow for fireworks.

Thanks again!!! Your help is so appreciated!!!

 

[ilovedisneymm]

I went back and read some of the other posts. When we do Disney we book things in duplicate and triplicate because plans just don't always work out and there are too many conflicts that come about and then change the plans around completely.

I would no matter what get a fast passes for SDMT. Do not count on getting to ride right after Be Our Guest, if you do then FANTASTIC. But what if the ride is down for repair or just not open yet or a craptastic CM is working and holds you back. Guess what? Going to get in line for that ride will totally through off your entire morning plan. IF you get to ride then cancel that fast pass and book something else down the line.

If you are at rope drop and the mountains are on your to do list and you get your SDMT ride before the rope drops then you have no problem riding Peter Pan, Thunder, and Splash without a FP and again, without much of a line. You can go from there to Pirates & Jungle Cruise or make your way back to Haunted Mansion but I would go towards Pirates & Jungle after that.

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

ilovedisneymm, you ROCK!!! thanks so much for the thoughtful and super helpful advice! I owe you a drink!

 

[ilovedisneymm]

We will be there January 4 - January 29th. Looks like you'll have to extend your stay a bit

Good luck and don't stress!!!

ilovedisneymm, you ROCK!!! thanks so much for the thoughtful and super helpful advice! I owe you a drink!

 

[vinotinto]

Both of those plans look very tiring to me. We'll also be at MK on Oct 9. My 60 FP+ window was last night and I had 1 option for 7DMT. I took it and tried to modify and there were no other times. So, expect large crowds for those dates. I would do a late start, an early end, or a break in the middle.