Feedback on 4/14-4/19 plan

[Hali55DIS]

Fastpass day coming up this Monday, looking for feedback on our plan before booking FP - I know it’s subjective based on everyone’s interests, but hoping to catch any fatal logistical flaws or big things we’re missing out on …


Going 4/13 – 4/19, staying at WL, 4 Day park tickets (MK x2, EP, DS), no PH. Myself, DH, DD7, DS5. Kids first (possibly only) trip to Disney.


Not planning riderswitch etc for any rides the kids can’t (DS5 42”) or won’t (DS7 scares easily) do, so skipping some big attractions (Space,ToT, RNR etc). DS7 into princesses, DS5 star wars, both kids love Frozen. Skipping AK, DH and I decided our kids would enjoy a 2nd MK day over AK.


Kids are early risers and don’t do well with late nights, so have limited evening plans and need both nap day-of and rest day after any late nights.


4/14 – MK Day 1 (9:00 open)
8:00 explore Main St and watch opening show.
RD Fantasyland – WP, Carousel, etc (not really “RD” b/c we don’t want to race the kids first day ever at MK!)
9:00-10:00 FP – PP
10:00 am BBB res (both kids)
10:30 -11:30 FP – SDMT
11:30- 12:30 FP - Enchanted Tales Belle
QS lunch (CH) then back to WL for nap
4:30pm CRT ADR - after dinner, whichever Fantasyland/Tomorrowland rides we can get FP or have shortest wait
9:00 pm HEA


4/15
Resort/pool day at WL with Chef Mickey late brunch and O’Hana dinner ADRs


4/16- Epcot (9:00 open)
RD Soarin and maybe TT (not sure this is feasible w/o FP?)
FW including:
9:30-10:30 FP- Character spot
11:00-12:00 FP - Spaceship Earth (debating this - is it really claustrophobic?)
QS lunch (Sunshine)
1-4pm WS start in Canada making our way to Norway for 4:30pm (nothing specific we plan to see/do in WS, maybe do Agent P)
4:00-5:00 FP - FEA
5:10 Akershus ADR
Back to resort


4/17 – HS (9:00 open)
Arrive 7:45 am to line up for Jedi training sign-up, after sign up head to
TTSM (no FP booking in April)
Disney Jr, and Frozen shows
11:00-12:00 FP- ST
11:40 JTA (fingers crossed for this timeslot)
QS lunch (Backlot)then back to WL for nap
4pm BB show
Star Wars Launch bay
5:50 Primetime ADR
6:40 Voyage of the little mermaid
9:15 SWGS (time just changed from 9 to 9:15 – could we now fit 8:30 Fantasmic??)


4/18
Resort/pool day. Maybe TL (have free pass). Whispering canyon dinner ADR


4/19 MK 2 (9:00 open)
8:30 am BOG ADR
Fantasyland/Tomorrowland (Barnstormer, Dumbo, Speedway, Astro, buzz lightyear, barnstormer, dumbo)
9:30-10:30 FP –Town Square Mickey
Over to Frontierland
FP 10:30 AM Splash Mountain
FP 11:30 AM BTM
QS lunch (Peco)
PTC, HM, Magic Carpets, Tom Sawyer etc. Will try for additional FP+ for some of these (before or after parade) and watch 3:00 FOF from frontierland.
Leave park by 5pm.

Thoughts? Any fatal flaws? Am trying to balance getting in as much as possible with not trying to do too much...

Would it be better to switch EP and MK Day 2 to take advantage of EP EMH on 4/19? Thought it would be nice to finish the week at MK, but are we missing out by not taking advantage of EMH? We have Akershus dinner ADR on both 4/17 and 4/19 (will cancel one) so switching is an option.

In MK, is there a better way to fit in Town Square Mickey?? Really want to do this for sentimental reasons, but logistically seems out of the way from everything else and that we definitely need FP for this?

this board has been so informative, thank you!!!

 

[sharonabe]

Thoughts? Any fatal flaws? Am trying to balance getting in as much as possible with not trying to do too much...

Would it be better to switch EP and MK Day 2 to take advantage of EP EMH on 4/19? Thought it would be nice to finish the week at MK, but are we missing out by not taking advantage of EMH? We have Akershus dinner ADR on both 4/17 and 4/19 (will cancel one) so switching is an option.

I think it looks pretty good.

One thing I would switch is your Soarin and TT. Do TT first and then go to Soarin'. The wait time does not build as quickly at Soarin' so you should be able to do that without too much wait.

Spaceship Earth is not claustrophobic at all. SE is the ride in the "golf ball" and very enjoyable. Mission Space is the claustrophobic ride.

I wouldn't switch your EP and MK days. Begin and end with MK sounds like a great plan and the morning EMH at EP doesn't buy you that much.

Oh and the F! and SWS timing. You MIGHT be able to get over to SWS, but to do so, you need to sit towards the top of F! close to the exit and be ready to walk FAST back to SWS. However, since you said your little one scares easily, you might want to wait until the next trip for F!. I know most kids are okay with it, but I knew my kids would not be, so they didn't see it until they were 10 or 11.

 

[g-dad66]

11:00-12:00 FP - Spaceship Earth (debating this - is it really claustrophobic?)

Do you mean Mission Space? It is confining and probably not a good choice for someone who is claustrophobic.

But Spaceship Earth is not claustrophobic at all.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

If this will be your only trip to WDW, I’d see illuminations on your Epcot day. Also, if it were me I’d cut out one of the two rest days and do AK. It’s not too much more money going from 4 to 5 days, and if this will be your only trip I think you’d enjoy it. Hope you guys have a great trip, you’re kids will have fun regardless of what you do or don’t do.

 

[focusondisney]

Couple of things:
It can take quite awhile to get around WDW. So the days you are planning to go back to the resort, make sure you are factoring in at least an hour travel time each way. You may be lucky that a boat or bus will pull up just as you get there, but you could also be waiting up to 20 minutes for one. Factor in travel time, security getting back into the park & walking to the restaurant. So for the CRT, I would be leaving the room no later than 3:15 for the 4:30 adr. Gives you time to walk to boat dock, wait up to 20 minutes for a boat, 10-15 minutes to MK,time for security & admission. Main Street is usually crowded in the afternoon & if there is a castle show scheduled, you'll have to walk around to get to the restaurant. Plus you should check in about 10 minutes early too. So plan to check in at 4:20.

Same thing with getting back to DS for the Beauty & the Beast show. I was just at WDW last week in January. The 4 pm show was full to capacity & was closed to more guests by 4 pm. So you will need to be there early & line up to ensure you get in.

So looks like you might have about 2 hours at the resort. Is that enough for your kids to settle down & nap? Will they be cranky & miserable if you have to wake them up to get back to park?


Other things you didn’t mention that your kids might like: Philharmagic & Mupets history shows at MK, the Pixar show , Journey into Imagination & boat ride in Mexico at Epcot & Muppet Vision 3 D at DS. And the Star Wars stage show & March of the 3rd Order will thrill your SW fan. Heck, I am a 60 year old woman & I stop to watch the March whenever I hear the music.

So that’s just my thoughts. We will be there the same week, so I’m hoping we have nice warm weather & not horrendous crowds!

 

[CanuckGirl78]

4/14 – MK Day 1 (9:00 open)
8:00 explore Main St and watch opening show.
RD Fantasyland – WP, Carousel, etc (not really “RD” b/c we don’t want to race the kids first day ever at MK!)
9:00-10:00 FP – PP
10:00 am BBB res (both kids)
10:30 -11:30 FP – SDMT
11:30- 12:30 FP - Enchanted Tales Belle
QS lunch (CH) then back to WL for nap
4:30pm CRT ADR - after dinner, whichever Fantasyland/Tomorrowland rides we can get FP or have shortest wait
9:00 pm HEA

If you’re going early to watch the opening show, you can easily get close to the castle on the left side (where the ramp is to go through the castle). Most of the crowd is going to RD SDMT, so if you wanted, you could RD PP in the morning and not have to race to get there. So between 9am-10am, I would do PP, WtP, and maybe the meet & greet with Cinderella, Tiana, Rapunzel, etc. since your DD is so into princesses. I would also move your lunch at CHH earlier to 11am or 11:30am, and then FP ETwB at 12:30 to avoid the lines at CHH (unless your were mobile ordering, the. It’s a non-issue). Then take your 3rd FP to see Mickey on your way out of the park for their nap (& then try to snag a 4th FP at that time!). PS, are you sure they will nap while at WDW? My 5yo never once did as he was so excited!!! Go on the carousel between FPs or in the afternoon...use the morning to get the rides where lines can be long.

4/17 – HS (9:00 open)
Arrive 7:45 am to line up for Jedi training sign-up, after sign up head to
TTSM (no FP booking in April)
Disney Jr, and Frozen shows
11:00-12:00 FP- ST
11:40 JTA (fingers crossed for this timeslot)
QS lunch (Backlot)then back to WL for nap
4pm BB show
Star Wars Launch bay
5:50 Primetime ADR
6:40 Voyage of the little mermaid
9:15 SWGS (time just changed from 9 to 9:15 – could we now fit 8:30 Fantasmic??)


4/18
Resort/pool day.

Doubt you could do both Fantasmic & SWGS. And I would really consider adding a 5th park day. It’s not expensive and your kids might want to go to a park vs. spending another day at the resort. If anything, it gives you some flexibility on what you want to do that day.

 

[Hali55DIS]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Do you mean Mission Space? It is confining and probably not a good choice for someone who is claustrophobic.
But Spaceship Earth is not claustrophobic at all.

Spaceship Earth is not claustrophobic at all. SE is the ride in the "golf ball" and very enjoyable. Mission Space is the claustrophobic ride.

Yes, I definitely had these two mixed up! (too many attractions with the word 'Space' in them!)

If this will be your only trip to WDW, I’d see illuminations on your Epcot day. Also, if it were me I’d cut out one of the two rest days and do AK. It’s not too much more money going from 4 to 5 days, and if this will be your only trip I think you’d enjoy it. Hope you guys have a great trip, you’re kids will have fun regardless of what you do or don’t do.

And I would really consider adding a 5th park day. It’s not expensive and your kids might want to go to a park vs. spending another day at the resort. If anything, it gives you some flexibility on what you want to do that day.

Cost isn't the prohibitive factor to adding a 5th day, it's the kids (and DH's) stamina, lol. While I personally could handle a 5th park day (and a 6th, and 7th...) the kids and DH need that downtime... I know it's a lot of money to go and not maximize park time, but I think we'll all leave with happier memories and a happier family with that extra day off.

If you’re going early to watch the opening show, you can easily get close to the castle on the left side (where the ramp is to go through the castle). Most of the crowd is going to RD SDMT, so if you wanted, you could RD PP in the morning and not have to race to get there. So between 9am-10am, I would do PP, WtP, and maybe the meet & greet with Cinderella, Tiana, Rapunzel, etc. since your DD is so into princesses. I would also move your lunch at CHH earlier to 11am or 11:30am, and then FP ETwB at 12:30 to avoid the lines at CHH (unless your were mobile ordering, the. It’s a non-issue). Then take your 3rd FP to see Mickey on your way out of the park for their nap (& then try to snag a 4th FP at that time!). PS, are you sure they will nap while at WDW? My 5yo never once did as he was so excited!!! Go on the carousel between FPs or in the afternoon...use the morning to get the rides where lines can be long.

Awesome, thanks for this suggestion - I like fitting Mickey in here better and have heard the standby line for PP is actually quite enjoyable and wondered about skipping that.

Re: naps, we're not sure if they will/won't actually nap... but figured it would at least be a 'mental' rest away from the crowds... i'm more concerned about the back and forth between HS and WL, so we may play that day by ear and if the kids aren't melting down by lunch, just take it easy within the park that afternoon. But wanted to make sure we could fit in what we wanted around a break if needed.

 

[Hali55DIS]

So that’s just my thoughts. We will be there the same week, so I’m hoping we have nice warm weather & not horrendous crowds!

Yes, fingers crossed!! We are staring at several feet of snow that i'm sure won't all be melted by April, so cannot wait!!

 

[EsmeCullen]

I suggest visiting Animal Kingdom. It is a wonderful park with tons for the little ones to do and see.

 

[BlueSuitDonald]

I would definitely add AK into one of your rest days and just make it an early finish day if you are worried about resting. It is my favorite park and I wouldn’t want to skip it!

 

[ChristineOH]

I agree that if it's your only visit, I'd try to do a half day at AK... but since your kids won't do FoP or EE or probably Dinosaur, I wouldn't fee too bad about skipping it. But you seem to have a good mix of down time and touring.

I like the suggestions by previous posters. One thing I'd add that I would probably rope drop Soarin' on your Epcot day, then tour the Land and Seas while you're over there. Then once you tap in for FEA, look for a 4th FP for Test Track to use on your way out. You'll be able to check periodically through dinner. If it's a MUST do, then yeah, do it at rope drop and head to Soarin'. It's a lot more intense than 7DMT, so you can see how that one goes first. BTMRR would be a better indicator, but that comes after in your itinerary. Have fun!