First time -help plan parks and FP

[thor369]

Ok, so I need to buy tickets soon before the 60 day FP opens for us.

I will be travelling with kids 2 and 5, so need help on planning parks and FP.

nov 20th (arrive, mid afternoon), grab lunch and maybe use pool, wait to get checked in, fresh up and then go to MK in the evening around 7pm (EMH day and also fireworks at 9pm) (FP suggestions?)
nov21st - MK (FP suggestions), come back to hotel (naps), go to Disney springs ( I think its a special event and park will close early)
nov 22nd - HS, (nap), HS for fantastic show at 9pm?
nov23rd - AK (EMH) FOP? , Navi river? safari?, (nap in hotel). go back in the evening for pandora at night and some other rides maybe?
nov 24th - MK or AK, depending on which park the kids want to do.

I am learning a lot of planning is required to make sure about shows, FP etc.

I want to hear from the experts if this look like a good plan, I am totally open to new ideas to plan the park and the days.

 

[Daisy7425]

Is this your first trip and are you staying on site? I ask because everyone has a different touring style. You mention going back to hotel for naps. If you have been before and that works for you, great. That didn't work for our family because of the amount of time transportation takes. From the middle of a park to your hotel room door can take a very long time, sometimes an hour. We would usually do rope drop and stay until around 4.

For FP suggestions for 11/21, I would suggest googling FP priority list. It'll tell you which rides have the longest wait times (mine train) and which attractions you really don't have to have a FP for (philharmagic).

For your 11/24 day, I would just make the decision now considering your kids are 2 and 5 (if I let it up to my kids one would pick one park and the other would purposely pick the other) mainly just so you can get the FP arranged. If you want to change later or leave it up to them, then that will work too, but if you make them now you will have a back up plan. Waiting until the day of will leave you with very few choices.

Do you have any dining reservations yet? If you plan on doing character meals or sit down restaurants, reservations should be made before going to the park if you have specific times or characters you want.

 

[skippytx]

How many adults in your party?

Everyone tours the parks differently. We like a mid day break even though the kids don't "need" naps anymore. Helps break up the long days.

Daisy brought up a few good points. Transportation time is something to consider when scheduling things. It can be an easy 30 to 45 minutes each way to the resort depending on where you're staying. A 2 hour nap and 90 minutes of travel is almost a 4 hour break in the middle of the day.

Not sure what you're wanting to do on the trip either. If it's 100% kid focused you'll probably care more about rides the children can go on, and character meets and shows.

 

[wilbret]

Naps didn't work for us, either. The theory is sound, but the practice is not always. Time to exit the park, get to transport, drive time, walk to room, get ready for nap, nap, try to wake everyone up (sometimes naps are hard to recover from!) to get ready, walk to car or bus stop, drive, walk to park... a quick break turns into several hours. We just POWER THRU it, LOL. I'm not ashamed to say that in addition to propel packets for water, I keep some caffeinated versions if I need them.

Now, I'm all about the CHILL out in the park. Sit down to eat somewhere. Picnic if you want. Goto a ride like Carousel of Progress and catch a nap yourself, lol.

 

[thor369]

This will be our first time and will be staying at the swan and dolphin. Uber/Lyft rides show as 10min. But that’s from MK parking lot and not outside the park.

We may power through, but will we miss anything in the evening.

No dining plans, we will eat what ever is close by to us at the time when we get hungry.

We want to get on some of the popular rides but also meet the characters and watch shows.

I can’t find any information on the shows.

Doesn’t the MK fireworks gets very packed. The day we arrive we plan to go in the evening and see fireworks.

Given all this information. Do you guys think the plans and the parks days look good.

 

[mrd7896]

Fastpass suggestions for MK based on ages:
in no particular order
-Princess Fairytale Hall-if you have daughters that would like to meet some featured princesses with minimal wait or another character meet and greet to guarantee you will get some pictures!
-Peter Pan's Flight (VERY popular)
-Mad Tea Party
-Jungle Cruise
-Dumbo/Magic Carpets

The other popular items for FP's are Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion

Depending on your touring style..if you DON'T take breaks i would highly recommend reserving a table service restaurant or taking a lot more time out for dining

Fireworks do get pretty crowded and people may start seeking out spots to view about 45-60 minutes before they begin. Assuming you are tracking back through Main street USA, i usually play it by ear if i think we should stop and camp out for a spot or go to another attraction and come back a little bit later.

If you think you are going to set up shop for a bit at a spot for the fireworks you can also take that time (assuming there is another adult travelling) to go get some food on Main Street, shop, etc.

I don't have children so I'm not the most qualified with advice when touring with little ones but take notice to wanting to see fireworks/night time shows and then the next morning either rope dropping or even earlier EMH...that may be a lot!
Leaving parks after a show or fireworks can take a bit of time before you even get to your bus or back to your hotel and hit the pillow!