Experts - Critique my plans please?

[Lm3js]

Hi,

I am looking for advice on which parks to visit each day, Fp+ and dining ideas, can't miss shows/rides/attractions, and given our days, best plan to beat heat and crowds. NOTE: I'm only looking for WDW advice, but have added my US info for reference.

Background on us: We are regular Disneyland goers and only 1 of us (me) has been the world parks. None of us have ever been to US. We are a family of four from California -- 2 sons ages 12 and 7. We all love everything Disney and also all thrill rides (we are all tall enough). My sons will even smile with princesses and interact with characters when we find them in nature, but character meals and princess stuff does not need to be on the agenda. However, Star Wars is a different story...they are all star wars all the time.

I am coming up on times to make ADRs and am looking to have my park plans and Fp+ sketched out so that we aren't crisscrossing parks. At DL, we are park commandos, starting EMH and leaving close to park close and only take breaks in the park. I want to try to take this trip a little slower due to crowds and heat (easywdw says my park days are 8s and 7s). We typically like to eat sit down for dinners and generally snack and do QS for lunches. We are not afraid to split and do single riders.

I am thinking this will be the only time we make it to the Florida parks since DL is so close so want to make it special for us all.

Date and # of days: Note, these dates and duration can't change, but I can shift things around a bit. Airfare has not been purchased so do not know what time we'll arrive/leave yet.

July 23 - Arrive Orlando
July 23 - 29 POR
July 29 - transfer hotels
July 29 - Aug 2 Pacific Royal US
Aug 2 - Depart Orlando

5 day ParkHoppers
3 day US

My current thoughts on a plan:

• Arrival Day - check in hotel, pool time and dinner at Disney Springs (maybe T-Rex or Raglan Road)
• July 24 - MK - do this first because, well it is Disney! HS has early emh. Which Fp+? 7DMT, Splash, Big Thunder, Space? Dinner BOG ?
• July 25 - either AK (early EMH) or Epcot - I did early emh at AK 2 years ago and got to see/do a lot. I'm a little afraid that we won't be able to get up that early with 4 of us since we are 3 hour timezone different. Must do EE and must do TT. If Epcot Day, dinner at Biergarten? Eat snack around world? If AK, unsure? Do we think Rivers will be on here during this time?
• July 26 - HS (epcot has late eeh) - must do R&R, ToT and probably Star Tours. I think my kids would like the stunt shows too. Dinner at Sci Fi?
• July 27 -AK or Epcot (depending on July 25). MK has late eeh. If AK, hop over to MK after hours
• July 28 - Any combo park or resort day?? have no idea
• July 29 - change hotel and rest day at US resort
• July 30 - Aug 1 - US

Should we plan on breaks back at resort during part of day? Should we try to be at all parks and plan fp+ around road drop times? Anything new that we should avoid or can't miss? Shows that we should book special viewings?

Thanks in advance for any advice. I am overwhelmed by the amount of planning.

 

[BrianL]

You sound like you commando DL all the time so I wouldn't worry about breaks. Your itinerary is good. I usually hop out of AK, but if Rivers of Light does start, you may want to hang around. I don't plan FP+ around Rope Drop times, but rather a little later. Also, if you are going to hop to a second park, it's usually better to make the FP for that park since you'll have the rope drop time. Remember than EMH can make a park more crowded that day, however with Hoppers you can escape the madness.

At MK, FP is valuable for so much. Check out MesaBoy's thread for all FP planning priorities. 7DMT is a must though.

For ADRs, Biergarten and Si-Fi are both great choices. Prepare to EAT at Biergarten as it is a buffet and all heavy, German food. The boys should LOVE it! BoG is a wonderful but expensive dinner, though I do recommend it. If not dinner at least try for lunch just to see the place (it's amazing!).

 

[tink9702]

Not an expert but here's my advice!

Arrival Day - We liked TRex but I've never eaten at Raglan Road.

MK - I'd plan FP+ for 7DMT, Space & Buzz and RopeDrop Big Thunder & Splash for multiple rides of each! Or switch that around, and FP Thunder & Splash and RD Buzz & Space.

AK - FP+ Safari, Dinosaur & Primeval Whirl, Ropedrop Everest and ride multiple times. Don't miss Lion King show, even with boys that age it's great. Rivers of Light should be open by July. Dinner at Flametree, Yak&Yeti or Tusker House. We like to take a photo with Mickey/Minnie here since it's the only place you can get one with BOTH in the photo at the same time (at least in Florida!!)

Epcot - FP+ Test Track, Mission Space & Spaceship Earth. You could either eat at Biergarten, snack around or the boys might like Via Napoli for pizza.

HS - FP+ ToT, Star Tours & Toy Story, Ropedrop RnRC and ride twice or if you don't want Toy Story at all then also FP+ RnRC but still ropedrop it! Sci Fi is a good choice. Visit Darth & Chewy. Lights, Motor, Action show.

last day - I'd plan for two parks. Since you go to Disneyland often maybe Epcot & HS???

Should we plan on breaks back at resort during part of day? it will be hot, but you can just plan indoor rides/shows during the hot afternoons instead.

Should we try to be at all parks and plan fp+ around road drop times? I'd plan on RD every day personally and would schedule FP+ for 11, 12 & 1 so you can leave by 1:30 for a break if you decide you need one.

Anything new that we should avoid or can't miss? Meeting Darth Vader, Chewbacca. Rivers of Light at AK. RnRC at HS & Everest at AK.

Shows that we should book special viewings? Not special viewing, but the boys would probably love the Lights,Motor,Action show at HS. I'd also make sure to see Lion King show at AK.

Have Fun!!!!

 

[Lm3js]

@BrianL @tink9702 - Thank you so much! Great suggestions! Will update plans accordingly.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I agree with Tink about splitting your last day. You can walk or boat between DHS and Epcot.

Rope drop one park and plan on FPs for the 2nd park.

You may want to try to fit in Fantasmic in DHS as it's quite different from DL's. Plus, DL's is down until next year.

Your kids might also like 50's Prime Time in DHS. We are DL vets and whenever we are in the parks with first-time visitors from Cali, we go to SciFi and Prime Time.

On your AK day, you can bus over to AKL for lunch at Sanaa and watch the animals on the savanna.