Epcot vs. AK evening dilemma

[DizBelle]

We are going to WDW in November. I know that AK evenings are up in the air but I want to allow time in the plan to spend an evening at AK.

But I have to coordinate it with the evening at Epcot. For the Epcot evening, I want to book the Illuminations dessert party. Unfortunately, bookings for the dessert party are not available for after November 14.

I want to go to Epcot in the evening on November 15 and then AK on November 16. However, if the dessert party isn't going to be scheduled on November 15 but will be on November 16, I'll swap the evenings. If I remember correctly, the dessert party was only on specific days and it was a Wednesday last year. This year, November 16 is a Wednesday.

The problem is that I need to decide where I'm going to be on which evening so I can make my fastpass reservations (on Monday). But I can't know where I'm going to be until I can get the dessert party reservation.

How would you suggest I proceed?

 

[DizBelle]

No one has any suggestions?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I think it really depends on which rides you want to FP in each park. I, personally, would make FP+ in EP for each of those days as they are harder to come by (FEA, in particular, is incredibly difficult). I would schedule FP+ for EP for each of those days, then when the dessert party info is released, adjust your FP+ from there. That's just my personal opinion.

 

[ktlm]

It is a mess right now with Disney changing schedules right and left at the last minute. Planning is a near impossibility. WDW wants you to lock in all your plans at least 60 days in advance (and your dining reservations before that), but then they change the park hours, entertainment schedules, etc., less than a month before your trip. AK didn't even have evening hours at all in October until less than a week ago. The Star Wars Fireworks and dessert party weren't on the schedule at all after October 1st, and then less than two weeks ago the fireworks were put in, but only on certain days, and the dessert party didn't show up until days later. It is wreaking havoc on everyone's trip plans and causing a lot of unnecessary stress. If the Frozen ride is a FP+ priority, I agree with the PP that I would book EPCOT FP+ for both days. AK is much easier to manage without FP+ and it usually is not too hard to get FP+ booked there on a later date. If you don't book Frozen at your 60 day mark, you probably won't get it later. The other alternative if you have hoppers is to book your FP+ in the mornings for the parks where you really want to be those days, and then if your evenings get messed up with the schedule, you can split both days. Start your day in the FP+ park and then hop to the other mid-afternoon for the evening experience and entertainment. Of course, all this is going to go out the window if they set a schedule for Rivers of Light (and the rumors are it is coming soon) and then you undoubtedly need to us a FP+ on that if they load them into the system since the viewing area is low capacity. The way WDW is handling things right now, there just aren't really any good options, unless you have an accurate crystal ball. Just keep your fingers crossed that the Illuminations dessert party dates get loaded into the system (assuming it is continuing) before they announce the opening of Rivers of Light and load those FP+ as available.

 

[DizBelle]

I think it really depends on which rides you want to FP in each park. I, personally, would make FP+ in EP for each of those days as they are harder to come by (FEA, in particular, is incredibly difficult). I would schedule FP+ for EP for each of those days, then when the dessert party info is released, adjust your FP+ from there. That's just my personal opinion.

Excellent suggestion! That's what I'll do. I do want FEA FP on the EP day and I don't think I'll have trouble getting the AK FP I want later on (EE, FOTL and KS).

 

[GaryDis]

My suggestion is to give up on the Epcot dessert party. Most reviews are meh at best, and even the good reviews don't do enough to sell me on the idea. There are plenty of good locations to see Illuminations, and much better desserts around WS.

 

[saskdw]

We are going to WDW in November. I know that AK evenings are up in the air but I want to allow time in the plan to spend an evening at AK.

But I have to coordinate it with the evening at Epcot. For the Epcot evening, I want to book the Illuminations dessert party. Unfortunately, bookings for the dessert party are not available for after November 14.

I want to go to Epcot in the evening on November 15 and then AK on November 16. However, if the dessert party isn't going to be scheduled on November 15 but will be on November 16, I'll swap the evenings. If I remember correctly, the dessert party was only on specific days and it was a Wednesday last year. This year, November 16 is a Wednesday.

The problem is that I need to decide where I'm going to be on which evening so I can make my fastpass reservations (on Monday). But I can't know where I'm going to be until I can get the dessert party reservation.

How would you suggest I proceed?

From everything I've read, AK evenings haven't been that busy so ride lines should be manageable. Where as the EPCOT headliners will have long rides. I would follow the advice above and go with EPCOT FP for both nights to start with.

 

[Accident]

I haven't really needed AK fastpasses during after hours and many times the wait to get on is shorter than your wait for the fp+ to start. Fastpass both days as epcot and adjust when you know which changes to AK. Safari might be the exception at AK but i've picked up a fastpass the same day in the afternoon on 5 different nights so far.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

My suggestion is to give up on the Epcot dessert party. Most reviews are meh at best, and even the good reviews don't do enough to sell me on the idea. There are plenty of good locations to see Illuminations, and much better desserts around WS.

I agree with this statement. I have not too many dessert parties, but the ones that I have done have really impressed for the price. Illuminations is one of the easiest shows to find a good spot to view it.

 

[DizBelle]

My suggestion is to give up on the Epcot dessert party. Most reviews are meh at best, and even the good reviews don't do enough to sell me on the idea. There are plenty of good locations to see Illuminations, and much better desserts around WS.

We did the dessert party last year and liked it enough to want to do it again this year.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Another vote for giving up the dessert party. That sounds like the real complicating factor. Without it, your plans at Epcot and scheduling-wise become a lot freer.