Father Son Trip

[njcoach24]

Making a quick trip next weekend with my 4 yr old. Arriving late Saturday, full day in the park(s) on Sunday, leaving Monday. Have the park hopper & Genie+ (still don't really understand what I paid the extra $15 bucks for...I have research to do) but plan to hit up MK at 2 PM. Thoughts on park in the AM? Last 2 times we visited we skipped out on Epcot but did everything else, his favorites seem to be HS (SW & Toy Story are his jam) and MK. I have Epcot reserved right now but thinking about switching it to Hollywood. Thoughts on this for a 4 year old?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I would make 2 quick recommendations before getting into any specifics. Make sure you will even have an option to change your park reservation next weekend. Park reservations are getting tighter over the Christmas season, and some parks might not be available anymore. Also, make sure you know from a height requirement what your son can and cannot ride on - you certainly don't want to talk up Star Wars, but find out he's too short to actually ride something. Sorry if you have already looked into that - just trying to minimize disappointment!

Definitely get educated on G+, especially if you have bought it already. There are a number of very educational posts out here that could help. Your best use might actually be to make G+/Lightning Lane (formerly Fast Pass!) reservations for later in the day at MK, knowing you'll be hopping there. Know that you cannot pick a specific time slot for Lightning Lane - you'll get the next available slot. But the system is smart enough to schedule LL after 2:00 at a park you might hop to. Good luck - sounds like a great time.

 

[njcoach24]

I would make 2 quick recommendations before getting into any specifics. Make sure you will even have an option to change your park reservation next weekend. Park reservations are getting tighter over the Christmas season, and some parks might not be available anymore. Also, make sure you know from a height requirement what your son can and cannot ride on - you certainly don't want to talk up Star Wars, but find out he's too short to actually ride something. Sorry if you have already looked into that - just trying to minimize disappointment!

Definitely get educated on G+, especially if you have bought it already. There are a number of very educational posts out here that could help. Your best use might actually be to make G+/Lightning Lane (formerly Fast Pass!) reservations for later in the day at MK, knowing you'll be hopping there. Know that you cannot pick a specific time slot for Lightning Lane - you'll get the next available slot. But the system is smart enough to schedule LL after 2:00 at a park you might hop to. Good luck - sounds like a great time.

Actually, when I booked a week ago the only park that was available was Epcot. Today everything is available expect Magic Kingdom. He did both Star Wars rides in June... I guess I'm wondering if I'm doing too much Hollywood Studios since he's been twice in the last year and not once to Epcot. And if Epcot is more special at Christmas time. I've done the Rataouille ride in Paris and I think he would like it if we can get one. When he was much younger we did Frozen and he liked it but doesn't remember. I gotta check the height requirements for Soarin and Test Track, last time he was too small.

The G+ Lighting Lane thing if it works for a park I might hop to would be pretty awesome. Am I correct that you can make the reservations the day prior? Or can I do it now? But everything is a reservation right...its not like a walk up thing?

Thanks for your reply!

 

[stephk1981]

I might be inclined to try Epcot if hasn't done Test Track yet. Since Genie plus has implemented, we have have only gotten Slinky Dog Dash once for a 7:05 p.m.return time, with me trying at least once per week to try to get an a.m. time, so that we can park hop to epcot later, but haven't had luck.So for us using genie plus at HS hasn't been worth it. By the 2 hour after park opening then most test track genie passes are gone until evening time. My 4 year old loves test track, soaring, mission space, frozen, ratatouille and even turtle talk with crush; so if you've done HS I'd do Epcot. It is beautiful right now, and the festival of the holiday booths around are fun to try treats at too! Have a great trip.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Actually, when I booked a week ago the only park that was available was Epcot. Today everything is available expect Magic Kingdom. He did both Star Wars rides in June... I guess I'm wondering if I'm doing too much Hollywood Studios since he's been twice in the last year and not once to Epcot. And if Epcot is more special at Christmas time. I've done the Rataouille ride in Paris and I think he would like it if we can get one. When he was much younger we did Frozen and he liked it but doesn't remember. I gotta check the height requirements for Soarin and Test Track, last time he was too small.

The G+ Lighting Lane thing if it works for a park I might hop to would be pretty awesome. Am I correct that you can make the reservations the day prior? Or can I do it now? But everything is a reservation right...its not like a walk up thing?

Thanks for your reply!

You can only make G+ Lightning Lane reservations the day OF, not before. You can make your first reservation at 7AM (and for some of the attractions, you need to be on at 7AM exactly). Then you can make a second LL reservation 2 hours after park opening. That's a down-side to EPCOT being your first park, since it only opens at 10/11AM. After that, you can make LL reservations every 2 hours. If you only have a single LL reservation at some point, you can also make another after you use that particular pass and ride that ride. I'm probably making this worse, not better for you!

The only attraction at all of WDW that does not have a normal walk-up standby line is Remy's Ratatouille at EPCOT. That requires a Boarding Group/Virtual Queue to even stand in line to wait. And 2 attractions at each park allow you to pay separate to ride. At HS, it's Rise of the Resistance and Mickey's RRR. Those are not available through the Genie+ process. ROTR you can pay extra to ride (while they last - and they go fast), or you can wait a long time in standby. Last I looked, I thought ROTR was about $15 per person extra to ride. And those spots go fast. If you are a Disney resort guest, you can purchase ROTR at 7AM. If not, you need to wait until 9AM.

 

[CarolynFH]

The cost of the individually paid rides like Remy varies between weekdays and weekends. The list of those rides (2 per park) and their prices is HERE. As above, as an alternative you can book a VQ for Remy (some guests book both so they can ride twice).