Hey gang, would love any critique or suggestions on my itinerary for my upcoming trip. I know I already have at least one suboptimal choice here. For background, I'm a WDW regular, but for various reasons my last visit was 2017 so my focus this trip is all the new stuff since 2017.
I'll be staying at Bay Lake Tower last week of September. I'm flying in early with an arrival time at MCO around 9 a.m. I am considering just doing Uber/Lyft instead of MearsConnect. Note - all my plans have me in the parks in the evenings as I am not a morning person and I have never been to rope drop. I enjoy the after dark atmosphere at the parks the most.
Saturday
Magic Kingdom later in the day - Originally I was not going to do any park days on the weekend as I usually don't and just hang around the resorts, but since I am staying at Bay Lake I decided to go to Magic Kingdom later in the day just as a "Welcome back" to Disney since it's been five years since my last visit. I've booked Steakhouse 71 for lunch at 1 p.m. which should give me plenty of time to get to the resort and either check in to my room or leave my luggage with Bell Services. I booked dinner at Skipper's Cantina at 8:40 p.m. Originally I wasn't going to bother with a dinner reservation, but I'm not fond of the quick service at MK and I've never been to Skipper's so there you go.
My plan is to stack LL since my flight is early. If I'm able to connect on the plane (should do, it's Jetblue), I'll book Jungle Cruise for anytime after 3 p.m. and then LL for Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain and Pirates after that as I'm able. Since I'm going to MNSSHP on Tuesday night, I'm not going to get an ILL for Seven Dwarves as I figure I can do that during MNSSHP.
Sunday
Hollywood Studios-- I have a reservation for Oga's Cantina at 9:30 p.m. I intend to do Droid Depot as well, but would like to avoid booking in advance for it as I don't want to hassle with trying to work LL ride times around that schedule. I understand that booking Droid Depot in advance is not really necessary. Is that correct? I figure once I have some of my rides booked, I could then book Droid Depot on the app. Would that work?
Priority Ride plans - ILL For Rise, then LL for Mickey's Runaway Railway and maybe Smuggler's Run (but I can single rider that, right?). I am back and forth about Slinky Dog Dash. It's more intense than 7 Dwarves, right? I don't normally do coasters with the exception of Space Mountain which beats me up pretty badly physically but I can handle the "fear" because it's dark. For the record, I've never been on Everest or the Aerosmith ride and never will. I occasionally psych myself up enough to do Tower of Terror, but not always. I don't always do Space Mountain, depends if I feel up for it. So I'm not sure about Slinky Dog.
Monday
Epcot - I planned Epcot originally because of Extended Evening Hours so I wasn't going to bother with Genie+, but it looks like EEH at Epcot is underwhelming based on other reports. My plan was to do just head over to Epcot whenever I feel like it and stroll the Food & Wine booths, then do Remy during EEH, but if you think I'd be better off booking a LL earlier in the day, I may do that. I don't think I will be doing Cosmic Rewind as it sounds too intense for me. All I really care about at Epcot is Remy, Soarin', Test Track (which I can do single rider) and Harmonious. Do you think it is worth staying for EEH to hit the three rides. I could position myself near Remy for Harmonious maybe?? Not sure what the best plan is. I used to always positions myself near Mexico for Illuminations so I could just head out pretty quickly afterwards. Not sure what the best strategy is here. If you think I'm better off just coming earlier in the day and doing LL for the attractions, let me know.
Tuesday
MNSSHP at MK - Will make a beeline for Seven Dwarves when they start ushering the day guests out, aside from that, will just wing it. I had booked Skipper Canteen around 5:30 p.m. for this day in case I really enjoy it on Saturday, but may just cancel it. For those who have already attended MNSSHP, how was the line for Seven Dwarves. Does this plan seem feasible?
Wednesday
Moonlight Magic at AK - Plan to arrive at the park right at 7 pm. to see if I can get on the safari before it closes for the night, and then make a beeline to Flight of Passage, then do Navi's River, then Dinosaur, then wander around enjoying the evening atmostphere.
Thursday
Relaxation day -- dinner at California Grill around 7ish. Will probably spend the day going to the pool and/or resort hopping around the monorail. Maybe Trader Sams?
Friday
Hollywood Studios -- plan to ILL Rise again, and then just do whatever. Will probably get Genie+ again because I hate lines and will pay 15 to save 15 minutes in a line lol
Saturday
Epcot - originally I had not intention of doing park days on the weekend, but this was the only day I could book Space 220 lounge. That's around 6 p.m. so I thought I'd just head over to Epcot whenever. Maybe do some LL, but maybe not. Maybe just walk around World Showcase and drink and eat, but I know the weekends are crazy there with locals all doing the same thing so this is a suboptimal day. I do have a reservation finder on TouringPlans for the lounge earlier in the week, but I'm not expecting success. I really do want to experience Space 220 and I figure it will probably be a "one and done" for me so I thought I'd suck it up and just deal with the weekend crowds at Epcot. Any thoughts for this day, let me know.
Sunday
Relax and take it easy. Steakhouse 71 for breakfast and then Grand Floridian Cafe for dinner. Try and get into Trader Sams. Maybe head over to Disney Springs, but honestly I will probably skip it this trip.
Monday Fly home in the morning. Will probably just Uber/Lyft.
Let me know what you think!
I'll be staying at Bay Lake Tower last week of September. I'm flying in early with an arrival time at MCO around 9 a.m. I am considering just doing Uber/Lyft instead of MearsConnect. Note - all my plans have me in the parks in the evenings as I am not a morning person and I have never been to rope drop. I enjoy the after dark atmosphere at the parks the most.
Saturday
Magic Kingdom later in the day - Originally I was not going to do any park days on the weekend as I usually don't and just hang around the resorts, but since I am staying at Bay Lake I decided to go to Magic Kingdom later in the day just as a "Welcome back" to Disney since it's been five years since my last visit. I've booked Steakhouse 71 for lunch at 1 p.m. which should give me plenty of time to get to the resort and either check in to my room or leave my luggage with Bell Services. I booked dinner at Skipper's Cantina at 8:40 p.m. Originally I wasn't going to bother with a dinner reservation, but I'm not fond of the quick service at MK and I've never been to Skipper's so there you go.
My plan is to stack LL since my flight is early. If I'm able to connect on the plane (should do, it's Jetblue), I'll book Jungle Cruise for anytime after 3 p.m. and then LL for Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain and Pirates after that as I'm able. Since I'm going to MNSSHP on Tuesday night, I'm not going to get an ILL for Seven Dwarves as I figure I can do that during MNSSHP.
Sunday
Hollywood Studios-- I have a reservation for Oga's Cantina at 9:30 p.m. I intend to do Droid Depot as well, but would like to avoid booking in advance for it as I don't want to hassle with trying to work LL ride times around that schedule. I understand that booking Droid Depot in advance is not really necessary. Is that correct? I figure once I have some of my rides booked, I could then book Droid Depot on the app. Would that work?
Priority Ride plans - ILL For Rise, then LL for Mickey's Runaway Railway and maybe Smuggler's Run (but I can single rider that, right?). I am back and forth about Slinky Dog Dash. It's more intense than 7 Dwarves, right? I don't normally do coasters with the exception of Space Mountain which beats me up pretty badly physically but I can handle the "fear" because it's dark. For the record, I've never been on Everest or the Aerosmith ride and never will. I occasionally psych myself up enough to do Tower of Terror, but not always. I don't always do Space Mountain, depends if I feel up for it. So I'm not sure about Slinky Dog.
Monday
Epcot - I planned Epcot originally because of Extended Evening Hours so I wasn't going to bother with Genie+, but it looks like EEH at Epcot is underwhelming based on other reports. My plan was to do just head over to Epcot whenever I feel like it and stroll the Food & Wine booths, then do Remy during EEH, but if you think I'd be better off booking a LL earlier in the day, I may do that. I don't think I will be doing Cosmic Rewind as it sounds too intense for me. All I really care about at Epcot is Remy, Soarin', Test Track (which I can do single rider) and Harmonious. Do you think it is worth staying for EEH to hit the three rides. I could position myself near Remy for Harmonious maybe?? Not sure what the best plan is. I used to always positions myself near Mexico for Illuminations so I could just head out pretty quickly afterwards. Not sure what the best strategy is here. If you think I'm better off just coming earlier in the day and doing LL for the attractions, let me know.
Tuesday
MNSSHP at MK - Will make a beeline for Seven Dwarves when they start ushering the day guests out, aside from that, will just wing it. I had booked Skipper Canteen around 5:30 p.m. for this day in case I really enjoy it on Saturday, but may just cancel it. For those who have already attended MNSSHP, how was the line for Seven Dwarves. Does this plan seem feasible?
Wednesday
Moonlight Magic at AK - Plan to arrive at the park right at 7 pm. to see if I can get on the safari before it closes for the night, and then make a beeline to Flight of Passage, then do Navi's River, then Dinosaur, then wander around enjoying the evening atmostphere.
Thursday
Relaxation day -- dinner at California Grill around 7ish. Will probably spend the day going to the pool and/or resort hopping around the monorail. Maybe Trader Sams?
Friday
Hollywood Studios -- plan to ILL Rise again, and then just do whatever. Will probably get Genie+ again because I hate lines and will pay 15 to save 15 minutes in a line lol
Saturday
Epcot - originally I had not intention of doing park days on the weekend, but this was the only day I could book Space 220 lounge. That's around 6 p.m. so I thought I'd just head over to Epcot whenever. Maybe do some LL, but maybe not. Maybe just walk around World Showcase and drink and eat, but I know the weekends are crazy there with locals all doing the same thing so this is a suboptimal day. I do have a reservation finder on TouringPlans for the lounge earlier in the week, but I'm not expecting success. I really do want to experience Space 220 and I figure it will probably be a "one and done" for me so I thought I'd suck it up and just deal with the weekend crowds at Epcot. Any thoughts for this day, let me know.
Sunday
Relax and take it easy. Steakhouse 71 for breakfast and then Grand Floridian Cafe for dinner. Try and get into Trader Sams. Maybe head over to Disney Springs, but honestly I will probably skip it this trip.
Monday Fly home in the morning. Will probably just Uber/Lyft.
Let me know what you think!
I'm not too worried about Saturday at MK. I know it will be crazy busy, but it will be nice just to be back at Disney World. I can't believe it's been five years since I've been there! I was used to going at least once a year or more. I hope the EMH at Epcot is good!
