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

[wdwpracticalprincess]

Hi Lovely DISers!

First time WDW family trip planner here. Would you be so kind as to look as these plans for a MK day on Saturday, Oct 3? Plan A seems to work getting more FPs later in the day, but Plan B seems to work better geographically. ***EDIT: Took out ride times to accommodate the Disney gods.***

Throwing in another kink, we're staying off-site and thus can only book FP+ 30 days out.

We are small, nimble family at the park this day (me, DH, DD8.5).

If neither of these seem to work, suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[rtbreneman]

Hmm... I would switch PP and Winnie the Pooh, as PP will probably build up faster. I'd skip Astro Orbiter until after lunch, and see if you could squeeze Haunted Mansion in before lunch as well so you wouldn't be backtracking, and everthing after lunch would be in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland. Just my two cents.. I think that's more B, then?

Ok, so I've edited my response like three times now.. I would go with Plan B, set your FP at 10,11, and 12-ish, and look for after lunch FP for Space Mountain immediately after your 3rd was used.

 

[Pkltm]

I agree on the Peter Pan, that line gets crazy long. We are there that day too!!

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

Ok, so I've edited my response like three times now.. I would go with Plan B, set your FP at 10,11, and 12-ish, and look for after lunch FP for Space Mountain immediately after your 3rd was used.

I've edited my plans like a million times! LOL! Thanks for the advice! My concern is how likely will we be able to secure a 4th FP+ for Space? I definitely like Plan B better in terms of avoiding crisscrossing, but I feel I'm giving up key FP+ opportunities.

We are there that day too!!

See you there!!!

I'm definitely going to switch PP and Pooh. Thanks!

 

[Alesia]

I don't really like either plan, to be honest, but B may be a smidge better than A.

You need to do peter pan right after 7DMT.

You are not allowing nearly enough time for Astro Orbiter in either plan.

 

[iona]

I'd go for SDMT, PP, WtP, Space Mountain FP+ (move IASW to the afternoon), HM, Big Thunder FP+ and Splash FP+. It involves more walking but gets those three rides in and allows you to pick up a 4th FP+ earlier in the day.

 

[robndani]

I wouldn't FP Jungle Cruise or Small World. I WOULD FP 7DMT, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

I don't really like either plan, to be honest

Would you be willing to share how you'd re-order? I'd really appreciate it! We're total WDW newbies...obviously.

I wouldn't FP Jungle Cruise or Small World. I WOULD FP 7DMT, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan

Not sure if we'll be able to secure FP for 7DMT at only 30-days out. That's why we're trying for first thing in the morning.

 

[robndani]

Aaaah, got it!

Then I would rush there first, try to FP Peter Pan next (around 10:00), then Splash Mountain and BTMR for the next two (maybe both in before 1:00), then grab another FP for after lunch, eat lunch and go from there. That's more what I'd do based on what usually has the longest wait times.

That's my favorite time of year to go. We're going on 10/18 for a week! The crowds aren't super crazy, so I wouldn't stress TOO much!

Have fun!

 

[hydrotony]

I look at those two plans created so far in advance and all I can imagine hearing is God laughing. (That's a paraphrase of an age-old saying if you didn't get it)

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

The crowds aren't super crazy, so I wouldn't stress TOO much!

I hope you are right!

Just trying to come up with a smart plan SO i can stress LESS. Plan A is based loosely on Josh's easywdw cheat sheet for MK for one day. Plan B is my own based on geography and touringplans estimated times. I'm so confused.

To complicate matters, we are going to MK on Friday, Oct 9, AS WELL with grandparents this time, so trying to work on THAT plan simultaneously. ACK!

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

I look at those two plans created so far in advance and all I can imagine hearing is God laughing. (That's a paraphrase of an age-old saying if you didn't get it)

yes...i know, i know. my extreme planning gene is a curse...except when it's a blessing.

FWIW, i'm simply trying to get the "best" plan in place, knowing FULL well we'll have to jettison it all if it stops being fun.

 

[robndani]

I'm an extreme planner too, but only with ADRs and FP. I can't plan the rides that we don't FP because 1) the weather could change everything 2) people's moods change 3) rides close 4) waits can be way more or less than expected 5) mostly because my family would ignore me anyway (sometimes my husband just NEEDS that turkey leg in Frontierland - lol)

At least you have 2 MK days in case you miss stuff the first time. Are you going to MNSSHP?

 

[dja14]

I'm a big planner too! I think it looks pretty good except I agree I would do Peter Pan after the seven dwarfs. I think it loads slower or had a lower capacity (I don't remember what I have read for my reason) and every time we have been the lines are there early. We have never done Astro Orbiter but I think it tends to be crowded mid day because low capacity/slow loading as well. If I was following your plan and got there and it was crowded we would decided if we wanted to wait or not (which is why it is once again on our next list)

I have always gone with a plan like this with the idea we could/would switch after lunch if we needed too. Now with FP+ I am going to plan the am and our 3 FP+ and then a list for the afternoon for things with low crowds usually and for things to try and get additional FP for. Our family have been the ones sitting in the hot sun, trying to figure out what to do, all that did was make my kids whiny and my husband grouchy. We are much better with a pretty detailed plan that I know we can drop and then pick back up.

 

[Disneyliscious]

You wont need a FP+ for Jungle Cruise (as shown in your Plan A).

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

At least you have 2 MK days in case you miss stuff the first time. Are you going to MNSSHP?

Unfortunately no MNSSHP. Doing 1 full MK, just our small family and another MK day with grandparents. DD is not really a night owl (even though we are). Would be absolutely lovely to walk on rides between 11pm-midnight! Right now, I'm just hoping we make it to Wishes!

I'm a big planner too! I think it looks pretty good

Sorry - which plan looks pretty good? Point taken about Astro Orbiter (Dumbo, Aladdin, too, for that matter). I never really rode those as a kid either (DLR was my park growing up) for the same reason. Looong load time/little payoff. For some reason, I thought WDW might be different and DD might like it?

Our family have been the ones sitting in the hot sun, trying to figure out what to do

Yes, THIS! If I could do something to mitigate this, I am going to do it!

You wont need a FP+ for Jungle Cruise (as shown in your Plan A).

Yes! I think I meant this FP+ to go for BTMRR. Thank you!

 

[JZCubed]

Hi Lovely DISers!



Thanks for your help!!!

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+.

Getting FP+ for 7Dwarfs and the 'Mountains' allows you to do much more of your 'Must-Do's' immediately following BOG. Which ever FP+ you don't get at 30-days, those are rides to do immediately following BOG. 4th, 5th, etc. FP+ might only be available for 2nd Tier attractions like Small World, but you cannot plan that until know what's actually available….and that is unknown until you're in the MK.

And with 8.5 y.o. - you can probably skip both Pooh & Peter Pan. But if you must - riding Peter Pan immediately following BOG because the queue makes the ride feel longer. And if you must, Peter Pan can be FP+, but you miss the interactive queue….which may be better than the ride.

Maybe this helps:
http://www.easywdw.com/cheatsheets/mk_cheatsheet_v3.pdf

 

[dja14]

I'm sorry. I don't remember now which one I liked best (I'm an airhead tonight) but now I think A. My kids are older now so we wouldn't prioritize some of those but your are younger and we did then. I like your FP are mid day, that is what I am going to try for--after the morning (when times are generally low) and early enough we might have a shot at 4th FP, 5th, etc. The only thing I might change is stop at haunted mansion w/o FP on the way to Big Thunder. You will walk right by it I think, if the wait is not too long it will save you a walk back
The way you have it now is how I do it, general times, with a list in the order we want to do them. It is never exactly like a touring plan from any certain place but I try and apply the same ideas.

 

[harrowgirl]

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

 

[krsb09]

I'd suggest plan B, but you're really underestimating how much you'll be able to do before lunch. You should be able to get through most of what you want to do in Fantasyland before heading over to your first Fastpass at BTMR.