Easter Week plan feedback wanted!

[gzmtlock]

So I swore several years ago that I would never return Easter week, especially if we had to drive. Well, you know what they say about using the word "never"! We will be going in 2016, for the only people in the world I would drive I95 for that week - our grandkids!

It's me, DH, DGS13 and DGD9. DGD has been in love with all things Disney for many years. Her parents finally took her this past summer - but they don't have any idea how to do it "right." When I asked DGD what princesses she got to meet, she said, "None. The lines were too long." Right then, I knew DH and I had to take her ourselves! We're booked in a 1BR at Kidani, Easter Sunday through the following Friday. (We've taken DGS before, but DGD wasn't ready to leave her momma for that trip.)

Our time to make ADRs is rapidly approaching, so I've developed a rough plan. I'd welcome any feedback!

Sunday
arrive at WDW about 10 am
lunch at Sanaa or Mara
grocery shop, settle in, kids at pool

Monday
RD MK, maximize ride time prior to crowds arriving
early lunch at BOG
afternoon at resort
early dinner in room
HS for the evening

Tuesday
EP late arrival, do FW
lunch at Biergarten
afternoon in WS
dinner in room
for those who have energy, return to EP for IllumiNations

Wednesday
RD HS
lunch at 50s PT
head back to resort when tired
early dinner in room
evening at AK, if Rivers of Light has started

Thursday
RD AK
Tusker House brunch
resort afternoon, pack car
dinner at 1900 PF
TotWL for Wishes

Friday
RD MK
lunch at Plaza
leave by 3 pm

edited based on feedback - thanks!

So what have I got wrong? Or what can I do better?

 

[sharonabe]

You don't have much time at EP. Is that by design?

 

[skuttle]

We were at WDW this past Easter. Loved it! Took lots of planning but we had a great time. Weather was perfect. We were able to swim each day!

I'd add more Epcot time. It'll be flower and garden festival. We spent more time at Epcot than normal checking out the flower displays and the food booths!

We did rope every other day. Early EMH was 7am!! Super early but SO worth it. We got tons done by getting at the parks at 7am, which freed up our FP's for other things.

Love kidani! Sanaa is fabulous!

 

[gzmtlock]

I totally forgot about F&G - thanks, skuttle! That's one of my favorite times to be at EP! I hadn't planned much there, as I find FW to be pretty boring at this point and not worth a whole lot of time. DH and I love WS, but not sure how much the GKs will. They haven't been raised to naturally appreciate other cultures - but maybe we can start to change that.

I also like the idea of not RD'ing every day, but not sure how to plan the remainder of the day. Maybe a "late" (10 am-ish) start at EP with FP+s for TT, do a few more things in FW, lunch at Biergarten, then wander WS. That could fit in nicely on Tuesday, just move TH brunch to Thursday.

Keep the suggestions coming!!

 

[mom4fun]

We will be there during that same time period. We haven't been since fp+ has been implemented. I am hoping we won't have to do RD or emh morning, more than one time. Also, I am hoping with the new fp+ system we would be able to arrive later. Maybe that's unrealistic during spring break. We are not park hopping. I prefer to stay at one park for the day.

 

[Lsyves]

We will be there during that same time period. We haven't been since fp+ has been implemented. I am hoping we won't have to do RD or emh morning, more than one time. Also, I am hoping with the new fp+ system we would be able to arrive later. Maybe that's unrealistic during spring break. We are not park hopping. I prefer to stay at one park for the day.

We go at Easter and never do rope drop because we just can't get going early enough for that. Because of that, we book fast passes in the morning when most people would do rope drop, SB rides, and wait for early afternoon fast passes. It all depends on your touring style We just love being at Disney in general so if we don't get on every single ride every single time, we aren't upset. We do pool afternoons and can always get on a few rides if we do a late night or two in the parks. Life for us is so stressful (as I'm sure it is for most people) that even though we pick Disney for vacations, we need it to be low stress so we don't pack our days...

 

[gzmtlock]

My approach is to overplan, then drop things as needed. We do not commando! As much as I want to show DGD everything, we've been enough times I know that's impossible. And no one enjoys themselves when exhausted!

7 am RD is rough! DH and I can do it; it remains to be seen if the GKs feel it's worth it. If not, we'll modify our plan accordingly.

 

[skuttle]

Surprisingly, 7am rope drop worked well for us. Our kids (11, 4, 2.5) didn't complain at all and actually got a kick out being at MK before sunrise! LOL! We got double use out of those lightup toys. We were able to knock out tomorrowland during one EMH morning, and most of Fantasyland another EMH morning and not use any FP for attractions in those areas. It was great! We did the same thing at DHS, which worked well since they have the tiering over there for FP.

We, too, go often so didn't feel the need to do and see everything possible. We usually left the parks early afternoon and went swimming. Sometimes we went back, sometimes we didn't. However, there was one day we were at MK from 7am to after 7pm...kids were having fun and in a good mood so we stayed! MK was often open really late at night, but with our younger two kids we didn't bother with the late hours. However, with the age of your grandkids, late hours may work, but be prepared that late hours are generally more crowded than early.

 

[1983DisneyFanatic]

Have you thought of doing Akershus for the princesses? Maybe instead of Biergarten. That way you would only need fp+ for Anna and Elsa and she would get to see almost every princess.

 

[gzmtlock]

Have you thought of doing Akershus for the princesses? Maybe instead of Biergarten. That way you would only need fp+ for Anna and Elsa and she would get to see almost every princess.

I've actually been trying to resist this thought - Akershus is basically twice the cost of Biergarten. And we're trying to keep the cost down (relatively - it is WDW!) on food. But if only DGD and I go, that would add only about $55. And I seriously doubt DGS13 would have any fun at all with the princesses. . .

Thanks for enabling me!

 

[wisblue]

We are regular visitors over Easter and love the 7 AM EMH at MK.

Looking at your proposed schedule, I would definitely recommend trying to get to the MK for the 7 AM opening on Monday. Because you will be arriving early on Sunday and have plenty of time to settle in, you will have the chance to get to bed early to be ready for the early wake up call on Monday. When we get on the buses in the dark, we see plenty of bleary eyed kids leaning on parents, but they really perk up when they reach the MK.

If you know the grandkids could not stand getting up that early, don't force it. Otherwise, I think it's worth a try. If you aren't planning to join the opening crush to 7DMT or A&E (and there is one even at 7 AM) you don't have to be there before 7. Even if you enter at 7:15-7:30 you will be able to enjoy several attractions with little or no wait before your early lunch. And, with the break you already have planned for the afternoon, the kids (and you) will have a chance to regroup.

 

[gzmtlock]

We are regular visitors over Easter and love the 7 AM EMH at MK.

Looking at your proposed schedule, I would definitely recommend trying to get to the MK for the 7 AM opening on Monday. Because you will be arriving early on Sunday and have plenty of time to settle in, you will have the chance to get to bed early to be ready for the early wake up call on Monday. When we get on the buses in the dark, we see plenty of bleary eyed kids leaning on parents, but they really perk up when they reach the MK.

If you know the grandkids could not stand getting up that early, don't force it. Otherwise, I think it's worth a try. If you aren't planning to join the opening crush to 7DMT or A&E (and there is one even at 7 AM) you don't have to be there before 7. Even if you enter at 7:15-7:30 you will be able to enjoy several attractions with little or no wait before your early lunch. And, with the break you already have planned for the afternoon, the kids (and you) will have a chance to regroup.

Yea, we will definitely try for 7 am on Monday. We've done it (with our teenagers) at the other super-busy time of year - Christmas week - and they said it was worth the effort, as long as we didn't try to do it every day. We'll find out how the grandkids do with it! And adapt for the rest of the week, if needed.

 

[mcfina]

Will they change the EMH to 7am the week of Easter? I see that it is 8am on 3/27 (Easter) as well as other days that week.