Artygal90
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2017
- Messages
- 945
I need advice on where to Park Hop when! My dad and I will be at WDW Friday 12/6 - Sunday 12/8, leaving for the airport at 6 p.m. Sunday. We're staying offsite, so no Early Entry, and with no budget for extras like party tickets, LLMP, LLSP, or dining packages. Our priorities are Star Wars, holiday experiences, and anything that is new since 2018 (except Remy...I can't figure out how to fit him into our days).
We're going to MK on Friday because it's a party day, and will plan to leave around 4 once the Christmas party crowds arrive. After that I see two options. Tell me which is better:
Plan A - the obvious one is to hop to Epcot via the monorail and do the Future World rides before watching the Candlelight Processional + fireworks. On Saturday morning we would rope-drop Hollywood Studios at 9 a.m., do Galaxy's Edge first (admittedly behind the whole Early Entry crowd), and hang around until Fantasmic at 6:30 p.m. HS closes at 7 p.m. for Jollywood Nights, so the rest of the evening is free for us to go to another park, see some local family, or go back to the hotel for an early night.
Pros of Plan A - easier transportation for hopping to EP, slightly lower crowds at EP than Saturday(?), lets us have an earlier evening on Saturday but also see Fantasmic. Maybe could take advantage of party effect at HS due to Jollywood Nights, but I won't know if that actually impacts wait times until the party starts up in mid-November.
Cons of Plan A - Would only have a guaranteed hour or two max of low waits at HS on Saturday morning, might miss out on afternoon entertainment at Epcot.
Plan B - Per advice on Disney Tourist Blog, we would hop to Hollywood Studios on Friday night via Uber from the Contemporary and focus on getting all the Star Wars stuff done as wait times at the park are slowly dropping from about 5-8:30 p.m, before heading to the 9:30 showing of Fantasmic. On Saturday morning we could sleep in a bit, meet up with our family, or rope-drop a different section of HS before tapping into Epcot in time for the 1 p.m. Guardians VQ. Saturday evening, we would do Candlelight Processional + Epcot fireworks.
Pros of Plan B - 4-ish hours at HS while wait times are declining, would see Fantasmic after park close with less competition for seats
Cons of Plan B - Saturday Epcot crowds!, missing out on the iconic monorail ride into Epcot from MK, we would have two late nights out in a row followed by an early morning and travel day on Sunday.
Sunday I'm planning an 8 a.m. rope drop of Animal Kingdom, followed by "dealer's choice" of going back to whatever park we feel like we missed out on the previous two days. Or maybe I'll actually make it to Disney Springs this trip.
I wouldn't be so anxious about this except that I *really* want to treat my dad to Savi's lightsaber building experience as my one splurge, and it now requires prepayment when you book the appointment. So I'd like to pick a day sooner rather than later and secure that reservation.
Edited to add: I guess if I want to go *crazy* we could do Fantasmic at 6:30 on Saturday, followed by the 8:30 Candlelight Processional and the 9:30 Epcot fireworks! That leaves Friday night free for Oga's and lightsaber pictures in front of the Millennium Falcon
What do you think?
We're going to MK on Friday because it's a party day, and will plan to leave around 4 once the Christmas party crowds arrive. After that I see two options. Tell me which is better:
Plan A - the obvious one is to hop to Epcot via the monorail and do the Future World rides before watching the Candlelight Processional + fireworks. On Saturday morning we would rope-drop Hollywood Studios at 9 a.m., do Galaxy's Edge first (admittedly behind the whole Early Entry crowd), and hang around until Fantasmic at 6:30 p.m. HS closes at 7 p.m. for Jollywood Nights, so the rest of the evening is free for us to go to another park, see some local family, or go back to the hotel for an early night.
Pros of Plan A - easier transportation for hopping to EP, slightly lower crowds at EP than Saturday(?), lets us have an earlier evening on Saturday but also see Fantasmic. Maybe could take advantage of party effect at HS due to Jollywood Nights, but I won't know if that actually impacts wait times until the party starts up in mid-November.
Cons of Plan A - Would only have a guaranteed hour or two max of low waits at HS on Saturday morning, might miss out on afternoon entertainment at Epcot.
Plan B - Per advice on Disney Tourist Blog, we would hop to Hollywood Studios on Friday night via Uber from the Contemporary and focus on getting all the Star Wars stuff done as wait times at the park are slowly dropping from about 5-8:30 p.m, before heading to the 9:30 showing of Fantasmic. On Saturday morning we could sleep in a bit, meet up with our family, or rope-drop a different section of HS before tapping into Epcot in time for the 1 p.m. Guardians VQ. Saturday evening, we would do Candlelight Processional + Epcot fireworks.
Pros of Plan B - 4-ish hours at HS while wait times are declining, would see Fantasmic after park close with less competition for seats
Cons of Plan B - Saturday Epcot crowds!, missing out on the iconic monorail ride into Epcot from MK, we would have two late nights out in a row followed by an early morning and travel day on Sunday.
Sunday I'm planning an 8 a.m. rope drop of Animal Kingdom, followed by "dealer's choice" of going back to whatever park we feel like we missed out on the previous two days. Or maybe I'll actually make it to Disney Springs this trip.
I wouldn't be so anxious about this except that I *really* want to treat my dad to Savi's lightsaber building experience as my one splurge, and it now requires prepayment when you book the appointment. So I'd like to pick a day sooner rather than later and secure that reservation.
Edited to add: I guess if I want to go *crazy* we could do Fantasmic at 6:30 on Saturday, followed by the 8:30 Candlelight Processional and the 9:30 Epcot fireworks! That leaves Friday night free for Oga's and lightsaber pictures in front of the Millennium Falcon
What do you think?
