Feeling lost-questions for a quick Disney visit

[KarenB]

A little background: We are DVC owners have visited Disney at least 30 times since the first park has opened. My husband and I had trip planning down to a science. We had plans to go in April 2020 and we all know what happened then. We currently have some DVC points to use, there is a room available April (check in on Friday 4/15-check out Mon 4/18) and found fairly cheap flights. Our thought is to hangout at the resort and walk to Disney Springs Friday, a park Saturday, not a clue about Sunday, fly back Monday. We just want to get away and find some warm weather. However, I feel completely lost on planning and have a few questions. Well that is a fib as I have a lot of questions!

1. Is it possible to reserve a park for Saturday and just walk on to rides? We thought about Epcot since we have always enjoyed the flower and garden event in the past or maybe get a one day park hopper and spend the evening at Animal Kingdom?
2. Can we leave the park, go back to the pool, and reenter the park on the same day?
2. We have water park passes from years ago. Are they open and can we walk in with our old tickets? This could be an option for Sunday. Or maybe reserve another park day?
3. Are Disney Springs bars and restaurants open for reservations or walk ins? We have no problem eating at the bar and better yet, eating outside.
4. How do we even get to the resort from the airport anymore?
5. Is this a ridiculous plan and should we postpone a trip?

I feel so lost any more as I was once the go to person for park advice. Thanks for any simple and honest tips and hints!

 

[Jml813]

Animal Kingdom typically closes early so you're not going to get an evening visit in there. They usually are closed prior to dusk. So if you want to go to Animal Kingdom, I would rope drop or plan an afternoon visit.

You can enter and leave the same park. You can absolutely take a break, go hang out at the pool, go check something else out etc and come back.

Disney springs restaurants are open. They do take reservations or walk-ins. Plenty of options for inside seating or outside.

Traveling from the airport to Disney, you can do Uber, Lyft or book the Mears service. Personally, I would go Uber or Lyft.

You can absolutely book a park reservation and just walk on rides.

I can't speak for the water parks tickets but I know at least one park is open right now.

I wouldn't say cancel, I would say go have a good time

 

[Rm4OneMore]

We purchased some no expiration tickets back in the day that had the park hopper and the water parks option and all that. When we went in June 2021, we went to the Disney customer service center at Disney springs. They take your old cards or tickets and add them to you account for you. Just don't expect to get the physical key to the kingdom card back because they keep those.

 

[Marionnette]

A little background: We are DVC owners have visited Disney at least 30 times since the first park has opened. My husband and I had trip planning down to a science. We had plans to go in April 2020 and we all know what happened then. We currently have some DVC points to use, there is a room available April (check in on Friday 4/15-check out Mon 4/18) and found fairly cheap flights. Our thought is to hangout at the resort and walk to Disney Springs Friday, a park Saturday, not a clue about Sunday, fly back Monday. We just want to get away and find some warm weather. However, I feel completely lost on planning and have a few questions. Well that is a fib as I have a lot of questions!

1. Is it possible to reserve a park for Saturday and just walk on to rides? We thought about Epcot since we have always enjoyed the flower and garden event in the past or maybe get a one day park hopper and spend the evening at Animal Kingdom?
2. Can we leave the park, go back to the pool, and reenter the park on the same day?
2. We have water park passes from years ago. Are they open and can we walk in with our old tickets? This could be an option for Sunday. Or maybe reserve another park day?
3. Are Disney Springs bars and restaurants open for reservations or walk ins? We have no problem eating at the bar and better yet, eating outside.
4. How do we even get to the resort from the airport anymore?
5. Is this a ridiculous plan and should we postpone a trip?

I feel so lost any more as I was once the go to person for park advice. Thanks for any simple and honest tips and hints!

1. It is virtually impossible to just walk onto rides anymore. But you must have a park reservation. Just having a ticket isn't good enough
2. Blizzard Beach is closed for refurb with no re-opening date. TL is open.
3. Disney Springs restaurants are open but still operating with limited menus and seating. The seating restrictions are due to staffing issues and not social distancing. You can make dining reservations for a lot of them on Open Table, as well as walk ups. Walks up lists can get closed to new names on a busy night and can be long waits. A reservation is recommended even if you make it the evening that you're eating.
4. You can Uber/Lyft from the airport. There are private town car and shuttle services. And there are a couple of bus services which are similar to Magical Express without the luggage service.
5. Cheap airfare and DVC points to burn. Sounds like a valid excuse for a trip. Nothing ridiculous about heading to a warmer climate for a few days to chase the winter blues away.

 

[Lady Hiss]

Not sure what your tolerance is for wait times but my recent experience was that there’s no such thing as just walking onto rides anymore. Expect 30+ minute waits for even the non-headliners (including rides like Tomorrowland People Mover ). We found the new rules of Genie+ limited any spontaneous fun and flexibility. Very diminished experience but the weather was glorious so Mother Nature saved the trip.

 

[AshClan]

You should go, for sure. But I want to point out that the weekend you are looking at is Easter weekend, so it will be VERY busy. My recommendation, if you are up for it, would be to buy your one day park hopper in advance. You may want to consider buying Genie+ for the day, though I don’t normally recommend that for Epcot or AK. If you are staying at a DVC resort, you will be able to enter the park early, so that could help for one or two of your priorities.

if you are able to be flexible with your timing, though, you might want to consider moving your days…maybe to the following weekend? Either way, I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

 

[Carol_]

I’m kind of excited about the Sunshine Flyer…
https://mickeyblog.com/2021/12/20/n...y-called-the-sunshine-flyer-starting-in-2022/

 

[wiggy500]

It's not too ridiculous at all!

I think people are reading different ways what you mean by "just walk on to rides." I think what you mean is if you see a ride can you just hop into the line and wait your turn. Currently you can do this for every ride and that should be true in April.

Some are reading that you are wondering if you can see a ride that you're walking past and immediately go on the ride with no wait. That might be possible if you are there early, there late, going on an unpopular ride, or using the new paid version of Fastpass, which is Genie+.

 

[KarenB]

Hey Wiggy! You are right in what I mean about walking on a ride. Waiting in line without any special genie or lightning.

 

[TaurusNYY]

You should go, for sure. But I want to point out that the weekend you are looking at is Easter weekend, so it will be VERY busy. My recommendation, if you are up for it, would be to buy your one day park hopper in advance. You may want to consider buying Genie+ for the day, though I don’t normally recommend that for Epcot or AK. If you are staying at a DVC resort, you will be able to enter the park early, so that could help for one or two of your priorities.

if you are able to be flexible with your timing, though, you might want to consider moving your days…maybe to the following weekend? Either way, I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

Does the Easter crowd also leak over to the weekday after-Easter Sunday 17th, meaning the 18th onward?

 

[CarolynFH]

Does the Easter crowd also leak over to the weekday after-Easter Sunday 17th, meaning the 18th onward?

I've read repeatedly that the two weeks around Easter (the week before and the week after) are second only to the Christmas-New Years week in terms of crowds.

 

[AshClan]

Does the Easter crowd also leak over to the weekday after-Easter Sunday 17th, meaning the 18th onward?

Yes, in fact, based on past experience, I would expect the post-Easter week to be an even heavier crowd than the previous week. The following weekend should start to ease up, though.

 

[Cjett]

We purchased some no expiration tickets back in the day that had the park hopper and the water parks option and all that. When we went in June 2021, we went to the Disney customer service center at Disney springs. They take your old cards or tickets and add them to you account for you. Just don't expect to get the physical key to the kingdom card back because they keep those.

were you able to make reservations prior to getting your old cards added to your account? I need old tickets added to my account. I was told I could only do this in person. is there a way to reserve your days? what if I fly to orlando, get the tickets added and then there are no available reservations?