Didn’t know about park reservation system. Was able to book 2 days of Epcot park hopper. Please help me plan. Thank you in advance.

[VeryBerry]

3 people in our party (myself and my 2 kids (10 and 13yo)), traveling in two weeks. Last time visited Disney 6 years ago.

I HAD NO IDEA how much Disney system has changed. Was talking to another mom, she mentioned reservations, I ran home, found the website, and the only park available for our dates was Epcot, so I booked 2 days of park hopper tickets right away.

My questions:
What should I do next to maximize our experience? Genie+?
What is the difference between ILL and LL+?
I haven’t booked anything for our last day in Orlando. Our flight is at 9pm, should I book another Epcot park hopper (day 3 and I have a feeling we’ll be pretty tired of Epcot by then) while it’s available or take my kids to the water park instead? Or perhaps there are other options I am not aware of?

Last time we went they issued us a disability pass for my child, I’ve been trying to connect with them this time via zoom and the wait is unbelievably long, tried twice and after hours of wait had to exit the chat window. Should I just purchase Genie+ now? Or should I try to get the disability pass from Guest Relations at Epcot? — will we waste the precious time to book rides if we do it this way?

Is there any way to score a full day reservation at HS or MK?

Thank you in advance.

edit: staying offsite

 

[coolbrook]

I'm glad you were able to get Park Pass reservations for Epcot. I would recommend Genie + for you. You can start getting G+ rides scheduled for your second park starting in the morning before you even go to that park. This will be very helpful for an afternoon arrival for MK and HS. If you buy and reserve a third day on your hopper for an Epcot morning you would be able to hit all 4 parks. You could divide you Epcot touring into the two or three days so you save some of the "good rides" for the 2nd or 3rd days. Maybe one morning you do the left side with Mission Space, Test Track, Frozen, and the countries up to Italy and the second day do the right side with Soarin', Figment, Remy, and the countries from Canada to America. You could plan a fun Epcot lunch each day in a country like Germany which has entertainment and is themed like an outdoor beer garden at night. You can hop to your second park as early as 2pm. If your kids like water parks that might be a good option for your last day; might depend on the weather.

I'm sorry, but I don't know enough about the disability pass to give you any advice there. You might ask that question on the disabilities board.

As far as the possibility of changing your park pass to a different park, you could try periodically to modify your pass and see if it works. I suppose people cancel sometimes and something could become available. I wouldn't hold my breath though; I would make a plan that breaks Epcot into a couple days with a good mix of rides, food, and entertainment in each day. Tell yourself this is going to be great! I hope you have a fun trip!

 

[Wayland10]

Whoops, wrong thread! (Not sure how that happened?)

 

[ak517]

In case you didn't get answers elsewhere, I thought I would help with the disability pass or DAS. You can still get one at guest relations at the parks on the first day of your visit. You will not be able to pre-book DAS return times for rides in advance this way, however as soon as your child and the rest of your party are updated in the system you will be able to make a DAS return time for the ride of your choice in the My Disney Experience app. I am not sure if you can manage them directly or if your child needs their own log-in, which might be something you want to ask at Guest Relations when you ask about DAS. DAS return times can only be booked for the park you are currently in, so you won't be able to reserve return times at Magic Kingdom while you're at Epcot, but as soon as you tap into Magic Kingdom at the front gates you can get a return time for a ride there. DAS is valid for 60 days and you will be able to get a return time immediately after your party has tapped into the parks on the remaining days of your visit.

 

[Nabas]

I’m unclear from your post if you already have them but one (expensive) solution is to buy park hopper tickets.

With a park hopper, at 2 pm (sometimes at about 1:45), you’ll be able to enter another theme park.

What does this mean to you?

You’ll spend both mornings at Epcot but be able to hop to a different theme park in the afternoon.

How will this work for you?

Plan to be at Epcot both mornings.

Spend one morning in the front of Epcot.

Spend the other morning in the back of Epcot (called the World Showcase).

Have lunch around noon to 1 pm at Epcot.

On the day you are in the World Showcase, at about 1 pm, make your way to the Skyliner (which is located at the International Gateway in the World Showcase) to go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

On the day you are in the front of Epcot, at about 1 pm, walk to the buses at the front of Epcot and go to either the Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Depending on how well the Skyliner or the buses are running, you’ll probably get to the parks before 2 pm. Depending on the Cast Member, they may or may not let you in before 2 pm. But this approach maximizes your time in parks other than Epcot.

FYI, we sometimes have park hopped in about 15-20 minutes, sometimes it’s taken over an hour. There is no definite pattern. It really depends on if the Skyliner has an issue (we’ve been stranded by the Skyliner more than once) or how lucky you get with the timing of the bus. (For example, is the bus pulling away just as you get there?)

No matter what you do, prepare yourself mentally for very heavy crowds. Post COVID, there’s a lot of pent up demand and the parks are crowded!

 

[VeryBerry]

I'm glad you were able to get Park Pass reservations for Epcot. I would recommend Genie + for you. You can start getting G+ rides scheduled for your second park starting in the morning before you even go to that park. This will be very helpful for an afternoon arrival for MK and HS. If you buy and reserve a third day on your hopper for an Epcot morning you would be able to hit all 4 parks. You could divide you Epcot touring into the two or three days so you save some of the "good rides" for the 2nd or 3rd days. Maybe one morning you do the left side with Mission Space, Test Track, Frozen, and the countries up to Italy and the second day do the right side with Soarin', Figment, Remy, and the countries from Canada to America. You could plan a fun Epcot lunch each day in a country like Germany which has entertainment and is themed like an outdoor beer garden at night. You can hop to your second park as early as 2pm. If your kids like water parks that might be a good option for your last day; might depend on the weather.

I'm sorry, but I don't know enough about the disability pass to give you any advice there. You might ask that question on the disabilities board.

As far as the possibility of changing your park pass to a different park, you could try periodically to modify your pass and see if it works. I suppose people cancel sometimes and something could become available. I wouldn't hold my breath though; I would make a plan that breaks Epcot into a couple days with a good mix of rides, food, and entertainment in each day. Tell yourself this is going to be great! I hope you have a fun trip!

Yes, the more I read about this new system the more I am inclined to get Genie+. Thank you for the Epcot ride recommendations - they look fun! We're definitely doing Epcot on both days, I really hope a reservation to different park opens up on our third day. Otherwise, we'll do the water park (Disney or Universal).

 

[VeryBerry]

In case you didn't get answers elsewhere, I thought I would help with the disability pass or DAS. You can still get one at guest relations at the parks on the first day of your visit. You will not be able to pre-book DAS return times for rides in advance this way, however as soon as your child and the rest of your party are updated in the system you will be able to make a DAS return time for the ride of your choice in the My Disney Experience app. I am not sure if you can manage them directly or if your child needs their own log-in, which might be something you want to ask at Guest Relations when you ask about DAS. DAS return times can only be booked for the park you are currently in, so you won't be able to reserve return times at Magic Kingdom while you're at Epcot, but as soon as you tap into Magic Kingdom at the front gates you can get a return time for a ride there. DAS is valid for 60 days and you will be able to get a return time immediately after your party has tapped into the parks on the remaining days of your visit.

Thank you for your response. Could you please clarify: "You will not be able to pre-book DAS return times for rides in advance this way, however as soon as your child and the rest of your party are updated in the system you will be able to make a DAS return time for the ride of your choice in the My Disney Experience app." My understanding is that DAS "lives" in the My Disney Experience app. If we get DAS activated in the app, what happens next?

 

[VeryBerry]

I’m unclear from your post if you already have them but one (expensive) solution is to buy park hopper tickets.

With a park hopper, at 2 pm (sometimes at about 1:45), you’ll be able to enter another theme park.

What does this mean to you?

You’ll spend both mornings at Epcot but be able to hop to a different theme park in the afternoon.

How will this work for you?

Plan to be at Epcot both mornings.

Spend one morning in the front of Epcot.

Spend the other morning in the back of Epcot (called the World Showcase).

Have lunch around noon to 1 pm at Epcot.

On the day you are in the World Showcase, at about 1 pm, make your way to the Skyliner (which is located at the International Gateway in the World Showcase) to go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

On the day you are in the front of Epcot, at about 1 pm, walk to the buses at the front of Epcot and go to either the Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Depending on how well the Skyliner or the buses are running, you’ll probably get to the parks before 2 pm. Depending on the Cast Member, they may or may not let you in before 2 pm. But this approach maximizes your time in parks other than Epcot.

FYI, we sometimes have park hopped in about 15-20 minutes, sometimes it’s taken over an hour. There is no definite pattern. It really depends on if the Skyliner has an issue (we’ve been stranded by the Skyliner more than once) or how lucky you get with the timing of the bus. (For example, is the bus pulling away just as you get there?)

No matter what you do, prepare yourself mentally for very heavy crowds. Post COVID, there’s a lot of pent up demand and the parks are crowded!

Already have the park hopper tickets. I like the 1pm lunch idea, only I don't have reservations and nothing is available. Are there grab and go types of places at Epcot? I appreciate the Skyliner and the bus tips to get to other parks. This is very helpful.
I am remaining hopeful that a park other than Epcot opens up on our third day.

 

[Nabas]

Already have the park hopper tickets. I like the 1pm lunch idea, only I don't have reservations and nothing is available. Are there grab and go types of places at Epcot? I appreciate the Skyliner and the bus tips to get to other parks. This is very helpful.
I am remaining hopeful that a park other than Epcot opens up on our third day.

In terms of “quick service” restaurants (what Disney calls them), our favorite in the front of Epcot is Sunshine Seasons, located in the building that has Soarin'. It's a good variety of food and easier than most to find a seat.

The menu is here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/sunshine-seasons/menus/





When you are in the back (i.e. World Showcase), most pavilions (a.k.a. "countries") have a quick service option. Our favorites for a meal are the United Kingdom (outdoor fish 'n chips, not the best option if it's hot), France (inside & air conditioned but very limited seating), the United States (outdoors BBQ), and China.

France and the U.K. are the closest to the Skyliner.

 

[ak517]

Thank you for your response. Could you please clarify: "You will not be able to pre-book DAS return times for rides in advance this way, however as soon as your child and the rest of your party are updated in the system you will be able to make a DAS return time for the ride of your choice in the My Disney Experience app." My understanding is that DAS "lives" in the My Disney Experience app. If we get DAS activated in the app, what happens next?

When you do the DAS pre-registration, you’re able to reserve rides for all your park days in advance. If you request DAS at guest services, you won’t have any rides pre-loaded, and instead you will be able to select rides one and a time after your child and the rest of the party taps into the park. But yes, once registered for DAS, it lives in MDE and you will be able to book rides one at a time directly from there for the park that you’re currently in.

 

[VeryBerry]

When you do the DAS pre-registration, you’re able to reserve rides for all your park days in advance. If you request DAS at guest services, you won’t have any rides pre-loaded, and instead you will be able to select rides one and a time after your child and the rest of the party taps into the park. But yes, once registered for DAS, it lives in MDE and you will be able to book rides one at a time directly from there for the park that you’re currently in.

Thank you, I understand now. I think because we are hopping parks on both days, they will probably pre-load only the ones in Epcot. I will try the DAS chat again this week.

 

[mouschievous]

You don't say your dates, but you can keep looking. Occasionally Disney releases more reservations, or people cancel and you can pick up those canceled reservations. If that doesn't happen, I like the plan of the previous poster - split Epcot into 2 days (I could easily spend an entire day in World Showcase!), grab lunch about noon in Epcot (lots of quick service places, or I bet you can find a reservation for someplace in World Showcase; Biergarten seems to always have reservations available!), then hop after that.

One great thing about starting both days in Epcot is you can chow down on the maple popcorn in the Canada pavilion. My favorite WDW snack! We got 3 refills in one day. It's a relatively reasonably priced snack, too, since you buy the refillable bucket for $13-15 depending on where you buy it, and then the refills are $2.25. You can only buy one refill at a time, but they didn't put any time limit on when we could repurchase, so I would buy one, then get back in line and get another one a couple minutes later.

 

[SealedSeven]

If you already paid for the 3rd day, recommend using it anyway. can do 3rd day HS and just show up to Epcot at 1pm, then take skyliner to HS to get in at 2pm. (must scan at front park), Can always change reservation if it opens elsewhere / not use it, but if epcot is gone later, cant use 3rd day.

 

[DL1WDW2]

You did not mention transportation from offsite property ?
Personal car, resort bus, Uber, …How far away is your resort?
Also plans for UniversalStudios, etc.
Not trying to be too inquisitive just want to help with advance planning and making your trip great ! Just need a little more info!
Thanks!

 

[VeryBerry]

You did not mention transportation from offsite property ?
Personal car, resort bus, Uber, …How far away is your resort?
Also plans for UniversalStudios, etc.
Not trying to be too inquisitive just want to help with advance planning and making your trip great ! Just need a little more info!
Thanks!

Hi, my initial plan was to stay off property; however, being that we have only two days of parks booked, I changed my hotel reservation to on property with access to buses and the skyliner. If our third day at Disney remains unplanned due to parks being fully booked, we are considering going to a water park (Disney or Universal, haven't decided which) or one of the Universal parks with express pass.

 

[VeryBerry]

If you already paid for the 3rd day, recommend using it anyway. can do 3rd day HS and just show up to Epcot at 1pm, then take skyliner to HS to get in at 2pm. (must scan at front park), Can always change reservation if it opens elsewhere / not use it, but if epcot is gone later, cant use 3rd day.

I didn't. The third day was also Epcot park hopper, so I decided not to book as we have to leave parks around 6pm to be at the airport for our evening flight home. So the only for us to take advantage of the third day is to be at HS or MK or AK at the open and leave at 6pm. I really hope something opens up. Otherwise, we'll go to a water park or Universal.

 

[VeryBerry]

You don't say your dates, but you can keep looking. Occasionally Disney releases more reservations, or people cancel and you can pick up those canceled reservations. If that doesn't happen, I like the plan of the previous poster - split Epcot into 2 days (I could easily spend an entire day in World Showcase!), grab lunch about noon in Epcot (lots of quick service places, or I bet you can find a reservation for someplace in World Showcase; Biergarten seems to always have reservations available!), then hop after that.

One great thing about starting both days in Epcot is you can chow down on the maple popcorn in the Canada pavilion. My favorite WDW snack! We got 3 refills in one day. It's a relatively reasonably priced snack, too, since you buy the refillable bucket for $13-15 depending on where you buy it, and then the refills are $2.25. You can only buy one refill at a time, but they didn't put any time limit on when we could repurchase, so I would buy one, then get back in line and get another one a couple minutes later.

LOL, thanks!! We love popcorn. As an earlier poster suggested, we'll try to have lunch between noon and 1pm at Epcot, then park hop at 1:30. Or, we could eat after hopping, but that would cut into our time at the second park. Not sure what's the best course here. I guess it will all depends on how busy the parks will be and how long are the wait times for rides.