Critique my plan so far please! 9/10-9/16

[b1234]

Hello,
We will be visiting Disney 9/10-9/16, me, DH, DS 8 and DD almost 3, plus mother-in-law. Staying at Saratoga Springs with DVC points, and will have a car.

Sunday - arrival, try to check into room as early as we can - MNNSHP
Monday - HS
Tuesday - AK - Sanaa 5:25
Wednesday - Epcot - Via Napoli Lunch 11:50
Thursday - MK - BOG 2:20
Friday - Universal
Saturday - breakfast at Kona Cafe at 8:30 then leave for home

My main questions - do we have a decent chance of getting into our room by early afternoon or is it usually closer to the time they say of 4:00? Is MNNSHP a crazy idea for arrival day? We are planning to drive the majority Saturday so Sunday should be a low-key day. Also, planning to book FP so that we can take an afternoon break any day if needed. Any tips would be appreciated! First time planning a trip for everyone!

 

[sharonabe]

My main questions - do we have a decent chance of getting into our room by early afternoon or is it usually closer to the time they say of 4:00?

It will probably be ready before 4 pm, but no guarantees. I would do online check in from the road; that may help speed things along a bit.

 

[stink]

Your plan looks good. I have found getting into DVC villas before 4PM is hit or miss. I would not count on it.

Last trip, I did online check in at AKV and got a text with villa number at 12:30 PM saying it was ready, I was just boarding my flight to Orlando. Trip prior to Wilderness Lodge, villas was not ready until 5 PM . Hope you get sprinkled with some

We will be at WDW same week ! Sat to Sat stay. Our plans revolve around Food N Wine, experience new Pandora attractions, see the new Magic Kingdom Fireworks and hopefully Star Wars Fireworks. Along with our old & newer favorites, TSM, Soar'in, the Mtns and Mine Train. With lots of resort pool time.

 

[VAfamily1998]

In previous years, we have been allowed into hard ticket parties like MNSSHP and MVMCP at 4 pm with our party ticket. So if you are waiting until 4 pm to check into your resort room, you will miss out on a little of the the potential party time.

 

[scrapquitler]

Hello,
We will be visiting Disney 9/10-9/16, me, DH, DS 8 and DD almost 3, plus mother-in-law. Staying at Saratoga Springs with DVC points, and will have a car.

Sunday - arrival, try to check into room as early as we can - MNNSHP
Monday - HS
Tuesday - AK - Sanaa 5:25
Wednesday - Epcot - Via Napoli Lunch 11:50
Thursday - MK - BOG 2:20
Friday - Universal
Saturday - breakfast at Kona Cafe at 8:30 then leave for home

My main questions - do we have a decent chance of getting into our room by early afternoon or is it usually closer to the time they say of 4:00? Is MNNSHP a crazy idea for arrival day? We are planning to drive the majority Saturday so Sunday should be a low-key day. Also, planning to book FP so that we can take an afternoon break any day if needed. Any tips would be appreciated! First time planning a trip for everyone!

I would do online check in ahead of time, tell them that you are arriving earlier in the day (maybe noon?) and when you set your room requests, you can choose one that says something like 'having my room ready early is a higher priority than my other requests' if you really want your room ready early. That has always (except once) meant that my room was ready when I arrived at the resort by noon, but I don't do DVC, that might work differently.

That said, I'd be planning to arrive at MK just about 4:00 on the party day. Every time we've ever gone to a party, they have let us in right at 4, and if seeing the 7Dwarfs is a priority for you, getting in line early should be one of your goals upon party arrival.

 

[b1234]

Thanks for all of the info! I wasn't connecting that if I checked in online I didn't have to go to the resort also for them to text us so that is good to know. I will try the request!

 

[b1234]

Your plan looks good. I have found getting into DVC villas before 4PM is hit or miss. I would not count on it.

Last trip, I did online check in at AKV and got a text with villa number at 12:30 PM saying it was ready, I was just boarding my flight to Orlando. Trip prior to Wilderness Lodge, villas was not ready until 5 PM . Hope you get sprinkled with some

We will be at WDW same week ! Sat to Sat stay. Our plans revolve around Food N Wine, experience new Pandora attractions, see the new Magic Kingdom Fireworks and hopefully Star Wars Fireworks. Along with our old & newer favorites, TSM, Soar'in, the Mtns and Mine Train. With lots of resort pool time.

Have they released the dates for the Star Wars Fireworks yet, or are they every night?

 

[stink]

Have they released the dates for the Star Wars Fireworks yet, or are they every night?

No dates have been released for Star Wars Fireworks. I am hoping they have them. Fantastic dates are released and I believe Fantasmic is scheduled every night.

 

[mom2travel]

I've never stayed DVC so can't comment on how likely early check-in may be, but agree to put a noon arrival and early check-in as top priority when you check in online from home. Looks like a good plan. We've done MNSSHP on arrival day and thought it was a great way to start our trip. Have fun!

 

[Davey Jones II]

Will your kids be able to stay up late for the Halloween Party? And are you planning to rope drop the next day? That will be tough.

Also, be aware that you can only book FP+ reservations for one Pandora ride per day. So I would plan to go to AK on two separate days, even if you don't spend all day there. It's safe to assume that the Pandora rides will be mobbed, and hard to access without FP+.