DLR vet clueless on last minute trip to WDW

[DisMike]

Been to DLR several times and am quite familiar with how to strategize for a trip there. Found out yesterday that we're going to WDW the last week of April and I'm clueless about how to plan.

I'm familiar with fp+ but don't really know how to use it for reserving fp's, don't know whether park hoppers are worth it, which resorts are the best (like to stay moderate to value, don't want to take out a second mortgage) etc.

I went to WDW in 2002 for 1 day on a side trip and did Epcot. Other than that, I have no idea what I'm doing.

Going with DW, 3 teenagers and married DW and SIL with 2 toddler grandkids. ANY advise would be most welcome. I know that 45 days out is not a lot of time to plan for WDW. It's plenty of time for DLR.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Robo]

Been to DLR several times and am quite familiar with how to strategize for a trip there. Found out yesterday that we're going to WDW the last week of April and I'm clueless about how to plan.

I'm familiar with fp+ but don't really know how to use it for reserving fp's, don't know whether park hoppers are worth it, which resorts are the best (like to stay moderate to value, don't want to take out a second mortgage) etc.

I went to WDW in 2002 for 1 day on a side trip and did Epcot. Other than that, I have no idea what I'm doing.

Going with DW, 3 teenagers and married DW and SIL with 2 toddler grandkids. ANY advise would be most welcome. I know that 45 days out is not a lot of time to plan for WDW. It's plenty of time for DLR.

Thanks in advance.

Many details, logistics of advance booking, and FP+ priorities found HERE.

------------------------
We nearly always park-hop... virtually every single day.

But YOU may not NEED to.
How do you know?
What should you do?

Simple:
You don't need to buy the "Hopper Option" UNLESS and UNTIL you need it.

If you are already at one park and decide that you'd like to "hop" to another... right then,

just walk up to a ticket window, add on the Hopper option (costs the same price if you buy it before or DURING your trip) and you're ready to hop (that day, and any others, for the rest of your trip.) You must make this and all other upgrade choices within the first 14 day of when the ticket was first used and no later than on the day that you use the ticket's last asset.

If you go and NEVER need to hop, don't buy the upgrade, and you can then spend all those "extra" bucks on more WDW souvenirs!

 

[Angel Ariel]

In addition to the FP+ thread Robo linked, I would suggest checking out HydroGuy's An Introduction to WDW for DLR Vets

 

[DisMike]

In addition to the FP+ thread Robo linked, I would suggest checking out HydroGuy's An Introduction to WDW for DLR Vets

Ah, Hydroguy. I should have known he'd have one.

Thanks.

 

[mesaboy2]

Ah, Hydroguy. I should have known he'd have one.

Thanks.

Note the FP info in that link is now out-of-date. I'm sure HG would update it if he could, but the new 10K character per post limit will prevent that.

 

[disnut8]

I think the one thing that surprises many first timers (in my opinion, you are a first timer) is the size of Disney World over other theme parks and even Disneyland. For example, you can walk between Epcot and Hollywood Studios but you will need to take a "back entrance" and then about a twenty minute walk to the Studios. There is a boat but that will take about thirty minutes since it stops at three resort spots along the way. Magic Kingdom and Epcot are connected by monorail but that's a longer ride than what is used at Disneyland. Everything else is by bus or private car. Thanks something I would advise you to look at for the park hoppers.

My husband and I use park hoppers all the time but it's just the two of us. With your group, would you all be happy in one park all day and no option to go to another one? So, if some of you decided to do Magic Kingdom one day and the others Epcot, you wouldn't be able to meet up INSIDE a park. Or, if you all went to Magic Kingdom and it just wasn't for some members of the party, would they be happy doing non park things since the only park they could do that day would be Magic Kingdom?

As Robo said, if you have a five day pass and you are fine the first three days with a single park and then want to do a park hopper for the last two days, you still have to pay for all five days.

That is something only your group can determine.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

I hope you are staying on property...in California we stayed close enough to easily walk to the park, but at DW it is a huge benefit to stay on property. The buses, early admission, etc. for us are priceless. Plus with the makeup of your group some will definitely be up for longer days and the toddlers may need to go back for down time and a nap. Happy reading of the wonderful threads above. Our best hint is to do rope drop and get an early start on the day before things get crazy crowded!

 

[sharona]

I suggest a look at easywdw.com for some planning and touring tips. It's free and there is a ton of info there including crowd calendars, suggested touring plans, estimated wait times at certain times of day for each ride etc. A very well organized site.

 

[larryz]

Remember that transportation between venues (hotel to park, park to park, park to DTD, DTD to hotel) will take longer than you planned. I always double the time I'd expect it to take -- for example, the boat from WL to MK should take about 15 minutes, so I give it 30.