Critique my FP plan please

[musika]

My eyes are starting to cross from reading FAQs so hoping someone can tell me if this makes sense. We are traveling as a family of 4 - DH, me, DD6 (46-47 inches) and DS2 (36 inches). I'm aiming for a "loosely planned" type of day - have our 3 FPs, but be flexible enough to go slow for our kids' interests/abilities. No park hoppers.

Our FP day is Sunday so would like to have a sense of what we want before then to ensure I'm prepared... Any comments on how long it will take to get from point A to point B would be greatly appreciated, as well as what order to put them in (best case scenario). Now on to the novel...I've listed my choices in priority order

Animal Kingdom
*This is our first day, and after arriving late the night before it's a toss-up how early we will get to this park, so RD plans may not work.*

1. Tier 1 - FoP (Going to try for FoP but if none available in AM will go to NRJ.)
2. Tier 2 - Expedition Everest (DD has been on rollercoasters near home before and loved them, so I think she will be OK).
3. Tier 3 - Kilimanjaro Safaris (Unless by some miracle DS grows 2 inches in the next 60 days, Kali River Rapids is going to be out for him)

Magic Kingdom
*Going to try for 7DMT on both days, but will likely choose one or the other and revise plans according to what we can get. Intending to RD both days.*

Day 1 (EMH) - This will be our longest park day - we have the fireworks dessert party booked. Thinking we will RD EMH, skip the parade this day and go back to our resort for a mid-day break, then return early evening.

1. 7DMT (Hoping DS magically grows lol)
2. Splash Mtn - ride swap
3. Big Thunder - ride swap
4. Peter Pan (If we can't get #1)

Day 2 - The park closes at 6 on this day. Seeing the parade will be a priority. Likely will not take a mid-day break, though DS will probably nap in stroller.

1. 7DMT
2. Space Mtn - ride swap
3. (Open to suggestion? Peter Pan or Winnie the Pooh?)

Epcot
*Intending to RD, take an afternoon break once we finish our FPs, and potentially go back for fireworks depending on how everyone feels
1. FEA
2. Turtle Talk
3. Spaceship earth? (I'm not sold on Mission:Space)

Hollywood Studios
*TSMM will not be available for FP during our trip. Probably won't RD - this will be a slower paced resting type day.

1. RNRC - rideswap with both kids (Don't think DD will be tall enough)
2. ToT - Ride swap
3. Frozen show? (no real preference)

 

[wdw&sonny]

Overall, a good plan.
At AK, unlikely to get FOP on day 1 of trip. If that is high priority, may need to move AK day to later in trip.
At MK, do PP at rope drop of EMH or get FP (over WP).
At EP, won't need FP for Turtle Talk (but I know your options are limited). Go to Test Track at rope drop. Try for Soarin as 4th FP.
At HS, FP for Frozen show is worthless.

 

[Alesia]

If you fastpass Peter Pan, you'll miss the interactive queue, which is actually better than the ride itself.

 

[loman112]

How about a FP for Splash Mountain on Day 2.

 

[Danimal]

Couple of thoughts in general, before any specific critiques. I'm sure I'll get flamed for a couple of these suggestions, but whatever .

Don't know how often you plan on going to Disney in the future,but if this is a "once in a lifetime" trip, there may be lifts you can buy on Amazon or other related sites that can give your kid an inch and a half or two. Easy to slip them on and off during the day as needed. Just saying is all but he'll need a bit of practice with them before he gets there. Ask me how I know!

Also, if you're planning on using a FP for rides where neither of your kids can ride, go ahead and make one FP reservation for each adult, as the RS will function as an extra FP. Using your HS itinerary specifically, if you reserve one FP for ToT and your husband another for RnRC, and then use the RS option, you can save yourself a FP each to use later on (maybe for a character meet with the kids or something?)

Also, if you haven't figured out from reading the boards, once you burn through your 3 FPs, refresh the MDE app religiously and just keep adding FP throughout the day.

As to your specifics, as the other poster added, move your AK day if you can. The FOP ride is the best at Disney. Have your husband grab and daughter grab EE FP and use RS so that you can ride it with your daughter afterwards. Use your extra FP for a meet and greet with Dug and Russell your son can do (maybe while your husband is on EE so as not to upset the daughter!!). Safaris, FOP and EE are your best uses of FP there.

At MK, I'd use your FP on 7DMT and Peter Pan for sure. I'd probably lean towards Splash Mountain for a 3rd as Big Thunder Mountain's lines aren't terrible if you hit it within the 1st hour. Winnie the Pooh or Buzz Lightyear would be my choices for a 3rd FP on your 2nd day. Again, I'd take advantage of RS and only have one of you get a FP for Space Mountain while the other does a FP for Astro Orbiter with your son. You can use RS to catch up later.

Epcot doesn't have much in the way of choices for FP. I'd use FEA and Spaceship Earth like you have, and probably the Epcot Character Spot for my 3rd. Keep checking the app the rest of the day for Soarin' or Test Track.

HS is tough without TSMM. Your choices are as good as any, but like I said, use RS to get a meet and greet for your son.

Best of luck and have fun!!!!!!

 

[Alesia]

Couple of thoughts in general, before any specific critiques. I'm sure I'll get flamed for a couple of these suggestions, but whatever .

I'm not going to flame you, but since your first suggestion is specifically against the disboards rules, it would be a courtesy to the OP to remove it. She's asking for help, and a thread that gets shut down isn't helpful.

 

[Bete]

The order you listed your fastpasses is hopefully not the order you will reserve them. You are not logistic with your plans. You don't want to back track through the parks. That wastes time.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

If you want FoP in AK you should push back your AK day till your 3rd or 4th day.

I only scheduled FP that needed rider swap during my son's nap time when he would sleep in the stroller, otherwise we pretty much all stuck together and went on what he could also do. Most of the time we got a rider swap pass we didn't end up using it, it takes time and gets old to split up and wait around.

 

[musika]

The order you listed your fastpasses is hopefully not the order you will reserve them. You are not logistic with your plans. You don't want to back track through the parks. That wastes time.

This is where I need help. I know FEA I'd want as the 3rd time-wise in Epcot because it's not near the others... I thought the MK ones were ok? How would you align them time-wise?

 

[musika]

If you want FoP in AK you should push back your AK day till your 3rd or 4th day.

I only scheduled FP that needed rider swap during my son's nap time when he would sleep in the stroller, otherwise we pretty much all stuck together and went on what he could also do. Most of the time we got a rider swap pass we didn't end up using it, it takes time and gets old to split up and wait around.

Good point on the AK day swap. Here's my problem, though - Epcot is the only day I'd swap for... if I do that swap, it's an Epcot AM EMH day and I am just not sure if we would make it there for 8am to take advantage since we fly in the night before. The previous wisdom of the boards was that if you can't make it for RD, don't bother... so I dunno. I'm torn about that one.

 

[Bete]

AK: FOP, Safari, then EE or EE, Safari, then FOP

MK: Need to keep 7DMT and Peter Pan together, same with Splash and Thunder. They are close to each other.

Epcot: FEA is located in Norway in World Showcase. World Showcase opens at 11am and is at the back of the park. Spaceship Earth is the first attraction as you enter the park. I would give consideration to doing Soarin'.

Hollywood Studios is okay. TOT and RNRC are close to one another.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Good point on the AK day swap. Here's my problem, though - Epcot is the only day I'd swap for... if I do that swap, it's an Epcot AM EMH day and I am just not sure if we would make it there for 8am to take advantage since we fly in the night before. The previous wisdom of the boards was that if you can't make it for RD, don't bother... so I dunno. I'm torn about that one.

Your best bet for FoP FP is to swap with your DHS day.

 

[musika]

Still working on my other FPs but got FOP for 60+1 at 3:55 pm!!

 

[musika]

Also, all kinds of availability for 7DMT. Now to figure out Ride Swap.

 

[10CJ]

Also, all kinds of availability for 7DMT. Now to figure out Ride Swap.

We split our group and get a nearby FP for Winnie the Pooh or a Princess M&G when we do Mine Train.

 

[musika]

K, here we go. Someone please comment on whether these timeframes are do-able with 2 kids in tow - keeping in mind they have never been here before so expect lots of oohing and aahing and dawdling along the way. I've noted our (minimal) ADRs for reference

AK 4/12
RD NRJ? (not sure if we will get there in time, not busting my butt the first day)
EE 10:35-11:35
Safari 12:55-1:55
FOP 3:50-4:50 (earliest I could get)

MK 4/13 - EMH, aiming to be there for 8am
Splash 9:30-10:30
Thunder 10:30-11:30
7DMT 11:55-12:55 (will likely drop this)
<DH has to go pick up our rental car at the CCC at 12pm, I will be staying in the park to poke around with both kids until he is back, maybe grab QS lunch>
Any suggestions for a 3rd FP? We will be taking a pm break and returning for Fireworks dessert party at 7:45.

HS 4/15 (after my waffling, decided to keep the day - might RD for TSMM but not sure how I feel about that yet. Planning on staying late for F! so otherwise not going to be there early hence the later FPs)
Star Tours 12:55-1:55
RNRC 2:10-3:10
<Sci Fi 3:45>
ToT 5:25-6:25
F!

Ep 4/16
Meet Disney Pals 9:30 (Yes I know would be better to RD Soarin' or TT... but not sure how that works time wise?)
<Garden Grill 10:10>
Turtle Talk 11-12
FEA 3:05-4:05 (Is this late enough to leisurely walk/explore our way there?)
(Probably skipping Illuminations)

MK Day 2 4/17 (Park close 6pm)
<BOG 8:25am - currently PPO but hours could still change>
7DMT 9:20-10:20
PP 10:30-11:30
<DH has to return rental car @12pm, same as before kids and I will stay in park>
Space 1:50-2:50

Final comment, currently all set up as a ride party of 3 (DD6, DH, me) but I know I need to look into Ride swap and potentially dropping some of those to a party of 2 so the other person can take DS2 on something nearby.

 

[bootlord9000]

K, here we go. Someone please comment on whether these timeframes are do-able with 2 kids in tow - keeping in mind they have never been here before so expect lots of oohing and aahing and dawdling along the way. I've noted our (minimal) ADRs for reference

AK 4/12
RD NRJ? (not sure if we will get there in time, not busting my butt the first day)
EE 10:35-11:35
Safari 12:55-1:55
FOP 3:50-4:50 (earliest I could get)

MK 4/13 - EMH, aiming to be there for 8am
Splash 9:30-10:30
Thunder 10:30-11:30
7DMT 11:55-12:55 (will likely drop this)
<DH has to go pick up our rental car at the CCC at 12pm, I will be staying in the park to poke around with both kids until he is back, maybe grab QS lunch>
Any suggestions for a 3rd FP? We will be taking a pm break and returning for Fireworks dessert party at 7:45.

HS 4/15 (after my waffling, decided to keep the day - might RD for TSMM but not sure how I feel about that yet. Planning on staying late for F! so otherwise not going to be there early hence the later FPs)
Star Tours 12:55-1:55
RNRC 2:10-3:10
<Sci Fi 3:45>
ToT 5:25-6:25
F!

Ep 4/16
Meet Disney Pals 9:30 (Yes I know would be better to RD Soarin' or TT... but not sure how that works time wise?)
<Garden Grill 10:10>
Turtle Talk 11-12
FEA 3:05-4:05 (Is this late enough to leisurely walk/explore our way there?)
(Probably skipping Illuminations)

MK Day 2 4/17 (Park close 6pm)
<BOG 8:25am - currently PPO but hours could still change>
7DMT 9:20-10:20
PP 10:30-11:30
<DH has to return rental car @12pm, same as before kids and I will stay in park>
Space 1:50-2:50

Final comment, currently all set up as a ride party of 3 (DD6, DH, me) but I know I need to look into Ride swap and potentially dropping some of those to a party of 2 so the other person can take DS2 on something nearby.

AK: I'd swap EE and Safari since the animals are supposed to be more active in the morning. I'm horrible at navigating AK, but I think you have to walk past it anyways.
MK: Looks good to me. If you drop 7DMT, I'd pick up PP since it's harder to get the day-of. That way if you decide you only want to ride it once this trip, then you can change your other PP FP on the second MK day to something else (that would probably have availability at the time of your PP fast pass).
HS: If you don't RD TSMM, I'd swap ToT and Star Tours if you can. ToT and RNRC are right next to each other, and Sci Fi is a little closer to Star Tours.
EP: I think that's plenty of time to make it to FEA.
MK: These look good to me. If you're only eating at BOG for PPO, you probably don't need it since you grabbed the two hardest FPs for that morning. However, I really like eating an early breakfast in the parks since it's a more relaxing RD experience (take this with a grain of salt because we're totally not RD people).