Can't decide. Which option would you do?

[seobaina]

Hi all


I could really do with your thoughts on my plans for a 5 day trip this sept. FP opens in less than 2 weeks so I'm trying to get it locked down. We're a group of 5 adults (all in 20s except me)...four of whom have never been to WDW or haven't been since they were kids. We are happy to do very long days - we did last year in DL California...there from morning til close. My 'don't miss' is Fantasmic! We're staying onsite at ALL Star Sports and will have a car. And we have hopper tickets.

The options are at the bottom but I thought I should give all the info I'm dealing with first...


Here's the info I've found out/booked/etc:

26th Sept
Forum says HS recommended, then MK or Epcot, least AK
Opening Hours:
MK 9-9 3pm Parade, 8pm MSE, 9pm Wishes
EP 9(11)-9 9pm Illuminations
AK 9-7:30 (EMH 8am)
HS 9-7:30 8pm Fantasmic!

ADR's possible are: Mama Melrose Fantasmic package.
NB:

• We have a late arrival (driving down to Orlando) and poss Chef Mickey's at 9pm the night before
• We have to change rooms this day (diff bookings) but within same hotel. If we can't leave stuff at the hotel, we can just leave our stuff in the car and check in after.

27th Sept
AK recommended, then MK or HS, least Epcot
MK 9-8 Sp event opening morning 3pm Parade, 8pm Wishes (No MSE)
EP 9-9 (EMH 11pm) 9pm Illuminations
AK 9-7:30
HS 9-7:30 8pm Fantasmic!

Meals: BOG 8:30am, H&V 2:50 Fant!


28th Sept
Epcot recommended, then AK or HS, least MK
MK 9-9 (EMH til 11) 3pm Parade, 8pm MSE, 9pm Wishes
EP 9-9 9pm Illuminations
AK 9-7:30
HS 9-7:30 8pm Fantasmic!

Meals: Akersus 8:10am (or lunch at 1:25), H&V 2:50 Fant!


29th Sept - ONLY in for the Halloween party so MK


30th Sept
Epcot recommended, then AK, least MK or HS
MK 9-7 (EMH 8am, Halloween in evening) 3pm Parade no evening
EP 9-10 10pm Illuminations
AK 9-7:30
HS 9-7:30 (EMH 9:30pm) 8pm Fantasmic! (poss second show?)

Meals: Crystal Palace 8:05, BOG 1:30
Notes:

• Late night night before.
• Chef Mickey's back up meal next morning if we don't arrive in time 25th.
• I prefer lunch menu at BOG to breakfast and it's cheaper.
• CP is JUST after park EMH so dunno if I'd get the quiet main street, which we were hoping for

SO...that's the info I'm working with.


Here's my thinking...

• 26th - HS all day. Poss DTD in evening til later or if tired, back to hotel.
• 27th - Either
  1. MK Morning (til after parade so approx 4pm), Epcot in evening (5pm-11pm). Makes most of EMH without being in busiest park all day.
  2. AK in morning, Epcot in evening. If no ROL then we can leave when we've had enough in AK so anywhere from 3-5hrs in Epcot to make most of EMH without being in busiest park all day. IF ROL is on then couple of hours)
• 28th - Epcot in morning (til 4pm), MK in evening (til 11 so parades, etc) To make most of the EMH but not be in the busiest park all day
• 29th - Halloween Party MK til midnight
• 30th -
  1. AK all day. Poss pop to HS in late afternoon/evening for Fantasmic (second show) or Epcot for EMH. Depending on ROL
  2. MK in the morning til after the parade (when it will start getting busy for Halloween) then either EPCOT or HS for the evening. Or AK for that matter.

It's difficult cause we don't know about ROL or the SW Fireworks.

Assuming everything else is ok then it's basically:

Option 1: MK on 27th and AK on 30th
Benefits - Crystal Palace breakfast and BOG lunch (cheaper and better than b'fst). MK on last day.
Disadvantage - poss less time in Epcot on ? Poss less time AK in morning due to late night on 29th. Less flexibility on 30th anything in evening IF ROL is on.

Option 2: AK on 27th and MK on 30th
Benefits - more flexibility over ROL planning. More flexibility/time on last evening to do what we want - ie SW Fireworks or Fantasmic! if they are rained off or we miss them. Also could pop to EPCOT.
Disadvantage: Slightly less sleep if we keep CP breakfast. Means we have to watch the 3pm parade on last day around time halloweeners could start arriving.No CP Breakfast and BOG Lunch not breakfast so more expensive.


Hope that all makes sense. Thoughts? Which would you chose? Option 1 or 2?

 

[Cynister]

I wouldn't use ROL as a deciding factor for plans. It is not likely to be open in September. You could do the JB show if you want, but that's probably it.

 

[seobaina]

Oh really? I thought there was a chance still for rol? Esp as they've not extended jb

 

[Cynister]

There's no official date that's been announced but most discussion seems to lean that a Sept start isn't likely. I'm going in Oct & while I hope I'm wrong, everything I've read seems to indicate not to get my hopes up.

 

[seobaina]

Oh that's sad I'm going back in April *touch wood* so I'm fortunate but the rest of my party this time aren't gonna be with me x

 

[wdw4rfam]

I wouldn't use ROL as a deciding factor for plans. It is not likely to be open in September. You could do the JB show if you want, but that's probably it.

Isn't jungle book only through sept. 5?

 

[hammie59]

I would also take the park "recommended days" with a grain of salt. We've been burned many times when it predicted a green day and it turned out to be a red. It's hit and miss, so now we just plan the park that best fits our schedule, etc...

We did the MM pkg for F! and it was the best thing we did all trip.

 

[Cynister]

Isn't jungle book only through sept. 5?

Yep, so far. I'd anticipate that being extended though before ROL gets released. Again, I hope I'm wrong, but there doesn't seem to be any reassuring news there.

 

[seobaina]

Yep, so far. I'd anticipate that being extended though before ROL gets released. Again, I hope I'm wrong, but there doesn't seem to be any reassuring news there.

Argh I've heard jungle book isn't very good. I guess it might still be worth doing option 1 if only to see if Star Wars is extended. I've heard it's difficult to do Fantasmic and sw fireworks in same night?

 

[Cynister]

I'd take a look over on the SW thread, but I believe you are right. A friend of mine just came back & said the JB show is good if you like dancing & Indian music. If you aren't into that then you may be disappointed. She said the projections on the water couldn't really be seen. However, she did say that the tree awakenings are awesome & so is the SW show in DHS.

 

[seobaina]

I'd take a look over on the SW thread, but I believe you are right. A friend of mine just came back & said the JB show is good if you like dancing & Indian music. If you aren't into that then you may be disappointed. She said the projections on the water couldn't really be seen. However, she did say that the tree awakenings are awesome & so is the SW show in DHS.

Thank you

 

[thepicklebee]

As someone who drives down (usually) I wouldn't want to do a huge meal at 9 pm after being in the car all day, and needing to get up early the next morning- and where it's a buffet it's not like you can decide to just get an app or split a meal, etc. just a thought.

 

[seobaina]

As someone who drives down (usually) I wouldn't want to do a huge meal at 9 pm after being in the car all day, and needing to get up early the next morning- and where it's a buffet it's not like you can decide to just get an app or split a meal, etc. just a thought.

Yeah I'm not sure either. It's why I have a back up on our last morning. Thank you

 

[amycakes]

I would pick option 2 because it is more flexible. You can see how tired you are and decide the day before whether or not to keep your CP breakfast... but I think you will make it! That being said, if I was getting up that early I would rather maximize that time at the attractions during EMH and grab a breakfast on the go... that would take the sting out of paying for BOG at lunch The lunch is close to parade time but I have heard that Frontierland has some good spots to watch from if you can't line up an hour before.

I would definitely try to plan the Star wars fireworks (maybe on the 30th) and Fantasmic! on different nights.

 

[seobaina]

Thank you