Critique My October Trip!

[jwmob91]

Looks like a great trip! I do a lot of planning myself and like to get a general "feel" for the day. I usually start with the ADRs and FP+ reservations and fill in the gaps with nearby attractions and such! Of course fluidity and adaptation shakes it up a little, but I never stress if we miss one or two attractions. Sounds like we share a smiliar planning strategy. And I always have to tell everyone that I really am not planning every second

As for advice/critiquing, here's a few ideas (although yours are great as is!)

Sunday-Maybe switching FP+ for Kilimanjaro Safaris during dusk hours. Anytime we've gone on it around noon the animals are usually not as active because of heat/nap time! Also, since AK has few worthwhile FP+ opportunities, it won't hurt having it later in the day. And although I've never used ME, switching FP+ for KS to later in the afternoon may allow for the extra time mentioned by others.

Monday-Although Epcot's FP+ tier system is just brutal (3 way battle between Soarin, Frozen, and Test Track), if Frozen is of interest, you may want to book for it or go first thing in the morning. Of the three, times are usually worst for Frozen, then Test Track, and lastly Soarin. Of course if Frozen isn't of interest, or you really enjoy Soarin', the above plan should work! If you arrive at rope drop, you can usually squeeze in a couple rides before long lines start forming.

Tuesday-We are going earlier in October for our Honeymoon and are attending MNSSHP as well. The only piece of advice might be to see the second parade viewing as it is usually less crowded. Also glad to see Welcome Show and Kiss Goodnight included. Those are two of my top 5 faves and are way underrated experiences!

Thursday-Arriving later may help with your long day as you said. It just seems that breaking out of the "Disney Bubble" wears us out so quickly! However, I also sympathize in being an early riser and wanting to get out and enjoy the day, especially since Universal is not cheap!

Sorry for the novel! But all in all, you've planned a great looking trip! Hope you all have tons of fun!!!! Hope to read a post about how it all went.

 

[Chant124]

I schedule fast passes in the afternoon. Too many times there is little to no wait in the mornings and it's better not to wait in the late hot afternoon sun. I'm going for 10 days in October as well...can't wait.

 

[PrincessNelly]

omg what a total pain in the butt for you guys! sorry you had to go through all of that, i would've been super frustrated esp with them questioning if you had the right resort like come on!

Yeah it was quite an experience. The first CM I dealt with was obviously not having a magical day lol. He almost made me feel stupid, like I didn't know where I was staying. But all the other CMs I dealt with were eager to fix it and get us on our way. Apparently its a policy & safety issue to let us on without the proper documentation that we belong there. So I understood and tried to not get upset.

 

[jbee]

Another update on that RnR Fastpass+! Looks like there may be some truth to those rumors because I just got the below email from Disney:

"There has been an unexpected change in the operating schedule of an attraction or show during your upcoming Walt Disney World® visit. Your FastPass+ selection for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith from 11:05 AM to 12:05 PM on 10/28/2016 is no longer available."

I'm super upset! They made a FP+ reservation for me at TSMM instead... not till 3:20pm so that kinda stinks because I wasn't planning on sticking around that late but oh well, change of touring plans!

 

[goldie09]

Another update on that RnR Fastpass+! Looks like there may be some truth to those rumors because I just got the below email from Disney:

"There has been an unexpected change in the operating schedule of an attraction or show during your upcoming Walt Disney World® visit. Your FastPass+ selection for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith from 11:05 AM to 12:05 PM on 10/28/2016 is no longer available."

I'm super upset! They made a FP+ reservation for me at TSMM instead... not till 3:20pm so that kinda stinks because I wasn't planning on sticking around that late but oh well, change of touring plans!

This adds some more support to the rumour that RnR is going to be down in late October/early November. Darn.

 

[jbee]

Looks like a great trip! I do a lot of planning myself and like to get a general "feel" for the day. I usually start with the ADRs and FP+ reservations and fill in the gaps with nearby attractions and such! Of course fluidity and adaptation shakes it up a little, but I never stress if we miss one or two attractions. Sounds like we share a smiliar planning strategy. And I always have to tell everyone that I really am not planning every second

We definitely have similar strategies! I love planning things in general so my touring plans are always a little over the top by nature but I know flexibility is key in Disney. I won't even show anyone my planning spreadsheet because it looks so freaking scary I'm afraid people won't want to go with me! hahaha

As for advice/critiquing, here's a few ideas (although yours are great as is!)

Sunday-Maybe switching FP+ for Kilimanjaro Safaris during dusk hours. Anytime we've gone on it around noon the animals are usually not as active because of heat/nap time! Also, since AK has few worthwhile FP+ opportunities, it won't hurt having it later in the day. And although I've never used ME, switching FP+ for KS to later in the afternoon may allow for the extra time mentioned by others.

I was thinking the exact thing about animals not being so active in the afternoon, I may actually push that FP+ back so I have more flexibility in our arrival time so good call!

Monday-Although Epcot's FP+ tier system is just brutal (3 way battle between Soarin, Frozen, and Test Track), if Frozen is of interest, you may want to book for it or go first thing in the morning. Of the three, times are usually worst for Frozen, then Test Track, and lastly Soarin. Of course if Frozen isn't of interest, or you really enjoy Soarin', the above plan should work! If you arrive at rope drop, you can usually squeeze in a couple rides before long lines start forming.

I have zero interest in Frozen so it works out well for me If by some miracle the wait time was 20 minutes or less when we walked by I'd stop in for a ride but other than that I can skip it.

Tuesday-We are going earlier in October for our Honeymoon and are attending MNSSHP as well. The only piece of advice might be to see the second parade viewing as it is usually less crowded. Also glad to see Welcome Show and Kiss Goodnight included. Those are two of my top 5 faves and are way underrated experiences!

Welcome show is my favoriteeee! I'm really excited to see the Kiss Goodnight and actually be in the park that late. The reason I'm going to the first parade is because I skipped the first one when we went to MVMCP back in December '14 and the second one got rained out so I missed it completely, I was devastated! (I'm not ashamed to admit I teared up a bit and had to be consoled by my future in-laws and now fiance, they still love making fun of me for that and how it literally rained on my parade! LOL). Also, congrats on an awesome honeymoon choice! When is the big day?!

Thursday-Arriving later may help with your long day as you said. It just seems that breaking out of the "Disney Bubble" wears us out so quickly! However, I also sympathize in being an early riser and wanting to get out and enjoy the day, especially since Universal is not cheap!

Ugh yes I know my body will appreciate a day to sleep in but my mind just can't forget that we're only in Disney for a little while... the struggle is real.

Sorry for the novel! But all in all, you've planned a great looking trip! Hope you all have tons of fun!!!! Hope to read a post about how it all went.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments and taking the time to read over my plans! Have an AMAZING honeymoon!

 

[LoKiHB]

Wow, and I thought we planned a lot! Your plan looks solid, and action packed, just be sure to take some time to enjoy the parks while you're in them. There have been times when I'd turn around and we'd be packing up to leave and I realize we never slowed down. Sounds like you've got a nice take it easy day on Wednesday (highly recommended), so you'll be ready for your big Universal Day. I know this may sound silly, but on that rest day... what I would do, would be to pick a park- and this depends on how many times you've been and what your favorite park is- and just go and enjoy the scenery. I would pick MK myself, because it's so easy to get lost in all the details. You'd be surprised how much you see when you're not worried about lines or FP+. If you happen to walk past an attraction and the line is short, head on in! Bonus. The crowds are looking like 3's and 4's all week, so far from crazy.

Looks like you'll be at MNSSHP the same night we will be! We're there the same week

Let's pool our resources and make sure the weather is great and the trip is extra magical!

 

[jwmob91]

We definitely have similar strategies! I love planning things in general so my touring plans are always a little over the top by nature but I know flexibility is key in Disney. I won't even show anyone my planning spreadsheet because it looks so freaking scary I'm afraid people won't want to go with me! hahaha


I was thinking the exact thing about animals not being so active in the afternoon, I may actually push that FP+ back so I have more flexibility in our arrival time so good call!


I have zero interest in Frozen so it works out well for me If by some miracle the wait time was 20 minutes or less when we walked by I'd stop in for a ride but other than that I can skip it.


Welcome show is my favoriteeee! I'm really excited to see the Kiss Goodnight and actually be in the park that late. The reason I'm going to the first parade is because I skipped the first one when we went to MVMCP back in December '14 and the second one got rained out so I missed it completely, I was devastated! (I'm not ashamed to admit I teared up a bit and had to be consoled by my future in-laws and now fiance, they still love making fun of me for that and how it literally rained on my parade! LOL). Also, congrats on an awesome honeymoon choice! When is the big day?!


Ugh yes I know my body will appreciate a day to sleep in but my mind just can't forget that we're only in Disney for a little while... the struggle is real.


Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments and taking the time to read over my plans! Have an AMAZING honeymoon!

It's been a busy week, so I'm just now able to reply, but thank you!!! Our date is October 2nd (4 weeks from today) and we will be heading out the following Friday for our trip! Truly can't wait!

Also, you're very welcome! Two brains are better than one when it comes to WDW planning. I myself have a spreadsheet too, but I guard it closely but it's mostly a guide as you say!

I think the AK idea is great, KS really let me down the first time we rode it because of that, but when we rode early in the morning or later in the evening, it really helped reshape my opinion!

We were thinking about skipping Frozen as well. We didn't want to use FP on it so our plan is to go at rope drop and jump on it. Only problem is that we will go ALL the way from the entrance to Norway and then ALL the way back to Soarin to try to knock it out early. We aren't huge fans of Frozen, but the animatronics are similar to 7DMT (or so I hear) and those are my faves! So we are going to give it a shot!

And I would have been right there with you! Especially since it was a party parade and they are almost once in a lifetime chances (unless you live in the area). My fiancé and I (both of us guys in our mid to lower 20's mind you!) get misty eyed when we watch FoF parade and if we had to go a trip not seeing that, Wishes, or Fantasmic, I'd be one huge pouting baby!

The struggle is SO real! Especially since the excitement probably wakes you up early (as it does us!). I can only "relax" in the room so long before I start going stir crazy!

Hope you all have a great trip, and please post your review if you plan on doing one! I'm anxious to see if I need to make any last minute changes in planning based on your experience!