Critique my plan (please!!)

[Pharmgirl123]

Hello everyone! My family of 7 will be in Orlando Dec. 15-26th. We are 4 adults, 2 teens, and a toddler. Here is our current plan. I would love any and all feedback!!

Dec. 15- Drive from NC to Universal; stay at Royal Pacific; depending on what time we arrive, we will probably end up hitting the parks for a few hours in the evening.

Dec. 16 to 18- Universal

Dec. 19- Leave Universal and check in to OKW. Head to HS by 12pm.

• Dining: Grab a quick service meal and eat it while waiting for Fantasmic to start
  
• Fast passes: ToT @ 1; Toy Story @ 2:30; Star tours @ 3:30

Dec. 20- MK

• BOG reservation @ 12pm
• Fast passes: Space mountain @ 9am; 7DMT @ 10am; Peter Pan @ 11am. Continue to make fast passes throughout the day.

Dec. 21- Epcot

• Napoli reservation @ 3pm
• Fast passes: Soarin' @ 10am; SS Earth @ 11am; Mission Space @ 12pm

Dec. 22- MK (leaving before the party starts)

• Trail's End reservation @ 7:30pm
• Fast Passes: Big Thunder @ 10am; Haunted Mansion @ 11:15; Splash Mountain @ 12:15pm

Dec. 23- Animal Kingdom

• Tusker House @ 2:20pm
• Fast Passes: Dinosaur @ 11am; Kali River Rapid @ 1:30pm; Kilimanjaro Safari @ 4:00pm

Dec. 24- Leave OKW and Check in to POP Century; Visit MK after breakfast

• 1900 Park Fare @ 9:15am
• Fast Passes: 7DMT @ 10am; Big Thunder @ 11am; Space Mountain @ 12pm.

Dec. 25- Rest day before going home; Probably tour other resorts and go to Disney Springs

Dec. 26- Cry on the drive back to NC

 

[AllyGirl_79]

I think that sounds like a lovely plan. My only thought is in regards to AK. Everyone gets drenched on Kali - you'll likely still be soaked for your lunch reservation. Especially if it's a chilly day, it might be uncomfortable. Frankly, if it is chilly, the line will be shorter. I'd rather get a FP for Everest, Lion King or meeting Mickey and Minnie.

 

[Roobear77]

I have 2 thoughts. The first is On Dec 20th your FPs are very early, during a time when you likely wouldn't need them. You may be better off moving them later and banging out a bunch of rides early. Not sure how the level of business will affect your ability to get 4+ FPs as the day goes on.

The second is on Dec 24th, I don't think you will make your 10am FP if you are planning on on seeing characters at 1900 PF. I would try to move that 10 am FP later.

Sounds like a great trip, have fun!

 

[kwdw]

On the 23rd - I'd cancel the FP for Kali and pick something else. If the weather is warm enough to ride Kali in the first place - you don't want to be wet during a reservation at Tusker House. That time of year - I don't think you need a FP for Kali in the first place - I'd swap that out.

On the 20th - what time does the park open??? If the park opens at 9am - you don't need a FP for Space Mountain then. If the park opens at 7 or 8 am - then I'm okay with this plan.

On the 24th - you can't eat at 9:15 and make a FP at 10. Not enough time. The 11 am one is realistic - but that's almost pushing it, too. Move the 7DMT one to later in the day.

I'd STRONGLY suggest you try to decide on a TS meal on the 25th now - and make a reservation. You can cancel it - but it'd be nice to know you had something lined up. It's hard to seat a party of 7 - and that's going to be a VERY popular day for sit-down meals.

 

[Pharmgirl123]

Thank you so much for the replies!!! I made a mistake on the 24th- I'm hoping to schedule 7DMT and big thunder sometime after 2pm. Sorry about that!

On the 20th, the park opens at 8am, unless Disney changes it to 7 since it's Christmas week. Do you still think my times are still too early? The only reason I put them in the morning is so I can get more fastpasses.

For the 23rd- I think I'll switch Kali for the Lion King. We'll make Kali the last ride before we head back to the resort.

For the 25th- I have a reservation at the new Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs. Super excited to try it out!

 

[Goonie139]

Maybe someone can clarify--I thought big thunder mountain was being refurbished and wasn't functional? We're visiting at the same time.

The only other suggestion I have is to try and see what characters are visiting Wilderness Lodge and when on Christmas Eve so you can try and see them before or after your Trails End reservations.

 

[deltadisney]

Thank you so much for the replies!!! I made a mistake on the 24th- I'm hoping to schedule 7DMT and big thunder sometime after 2pm. Sorry about that!

On the 20th, the park opens at 8am, unless Disney changes it to 7 since it's Christmas week. Do you still think my times are still too early? The only reason I put them in the morning is so I can get more fastpasses.

For the 23rd- I think I'll switch Kali for the Lion King. We'll make Kali the last ride before we head back to the resort.

For the 25th- I have a reservation at the new Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs. Super excited to try it out!

We have been the past few years during this time and will be again this year. As for Dec. 20, I would expect Disney to change MK to open at 7. We have found that the 7-10 window is a good time to get a lot done with short waits and lines. You start noticing the crowds and lines by 10. Just a thought, but I would move the first FP up to 10 or move SM to later. If it's like in the past, you can't enter frontierland and adventure land early, so if you rope drop you will start in tomorrowland or fantasyland. By the time you finish up with the headliners there, you are then ahead of the crowd when frontierland and adventure land open. With your FP starting at 9, you will then be backtracking to fantasyland and tomorrowland for your FPs. By the time you get back to frontierland and adventure, the lines for headliners would have built up. Sorry for the long post, just a thought. But at the end of the day, who cares, you are at the most special place on earth during the best time of the year.

 

[sharonabe]

Maybe someone can clarify--I thought big thunder mountain was being refurbished and wasn't functional? We're visiting at the same time.

The only other suggestion I have is to try and see what characters are visiting Wilderness Lodge and when on Christmas Eve so you can try and see them before or after your Trails End reservations.

It is supposed to come out of reburb Nov 19. You should be seeing FP+ for it if you're staying onsite and have that availability.

For the 23rd- I think I'll switch Kali for the Lion King. We'll make Kali the last ride before we head back to the resort.

Are you using Disney transportation? Being completely wet and on an air conditioned bus may not be a good idea either.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

I think you might not "need" the Space Mountain fast pass at 9:00 am on 12-20. But if you get there, you can always change it on the spot, if you have a smart phone.

I would suggest maybe a ride or two for the toddler... Winnie the Pooh ride is great for toddlers, and usually has a long line. And the ride is VERY short. If you think your toddler would like that ride, I would suggest a fast pass for that... Or the Tomorrowland Speedway. Younger kids love it. (I personally hate it) But it's why I suggest a fastpass. It's not worth the wait but a fastpass makes it tollerable.

Not sure if your toddler is a boy or girl but Enchanted tales with Belle is another one, that the wait can be kind of long. But it def should be missed!

Someone mentioned that Kali River Rapids, you might not need fast passes due to the whether. I would say the same about Splash Mountain. Both could be short waits. For Animal Kingdom, I would suggest The Nemo Show. The Lion King show really doesn't have a bad seat in the theater. Nemo you can make do, but you can be far back. It's a big thearter.

 

[KCValerie1]

On the 25 if you are touring other resorts, it's fun to see the giant gingerbread houses. Several of the resorts have them in the past they have been at Boardwalk, Beach Club, Contemporary, Grand Floridian and Animal Kingdom Lodge. They are very impressive, this might be a fun festive way to spend the day!

 

[Tammi67]

I would move your MK FPs to 10 and later as well. That being said, however, don't plan on being able to get a 4th FP for anything worthwhile during the high season. We've been Christmas week during the past 2 years and any additional available FPs were ones that weren't really needed, or wanted.

 

[Pharmgirl123]

On the 25 if you are touring other resorts, it's fun to see the giant gingerbread houses. Several of the resorts have them in the past they have been at Boardwalk, Beach Club, Contemporary, Grand Floridian and Animal Kingdom Lodge. They are very impressive, this might be a fun festive way to spend the day!

The gingerbread houses are one of the main things I'm looking forward to seeing! On the 25th, we plan to first tour all the hotels and then head over to Disney Springs.

 

[Pharmgirl123]

Thank you guys so much for all your help! I booked all my fastpasses and none of them are before 10. Thank you!