Four day stragegy for 1st timer

[RatherBeGolfing]

Hi,
We're going to WDW in early April (Tuesday thru Friday: 8, 9, 10, 11) and will have 4 full days available. Staying at BCV. Two adults and two 9 year old girls. We're working on strategies to see at least 3 of the major parks, will probably NOT try to do a water park since we'll have Stormalong Bay.

Any advice on which parks to visit on which days of the week. The books (Birnbaum & Passporter) differ on MK - one says Monday is a busy day, the other says Monday is the best day to go?

We'll probably hit the character breakfast in the BC.

Anyone have good links to sites that help you plan a 4 day trip. We're not expecting to "do it all" or even half of it. We want to get some relation time in also - figuring maybe a 2 hour break mid-day to head back to BC for a swim.

Has anyone ever used TravelGuideMike.com - reviews?

Thanks in advance,
Larry

 

[lisareneeo]

make a list of things you really want to do in each park and go from there. I don't know what the park hours will be but you might consider doing a character meal or a meal in the park near closing (or after closing time) so you don't waste park time. It is also neat to leave the park when it is empty.
Have a great time!!

 

[kilee]

To help maximize your time. If you are going to do counter service for any of your meals, try to do it at the "off meal time". We made the mistake on our first trip of trying to get lunch at noon. We waited 45 minutes to get to order. We were all so miserable. Now, we wait until around 2:00 pm and there is usually no more than 2-3 people ahead of us.
Also, if you take advantage of EE or get to the parks right when they open you can do several major rides. We went to Epcot on a non-EE day. We were there 10 minutes before opening. When they opened we spent about 10 minutes getting the character autographs and then we headed straight for test track. We waited less than 2 minutes to get on. We walked by the area about a 1/2 hour later and the wait was already 45 minutes long and the fastpass return time was already past noon. We did the same thing w/ TOT at MGM.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

my advice would be definately use EE and that way you get the extra hour and we use the BIRNBAUMS GUIDE and went pretty much by what it said and you will get the most of your time also during that time that you are going the park hours may be a bit longer also.take advantage of fast passes.
misty

 

[apagano]

Definitely get up early and take advantage of the "Extra Magic Hour." That will give you a heads up on the crowds, and you'll be able to take a nice afternoon nap while everybody else is standing in line. You can see so much more from 8am-Noon than you can from noon-4pm.

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says................................ Take advantage of any early entry you can get. This plans works anytime as long as you are early. Run to fantasyland, hit dumbo first, then go right to left for the rest of the rides. You will be done with fantasyland in less than an hour! Maybe hit MK on extra hour and go to Splash, Space, Big Thunder, I'm not sure what is open. Then come back on a non early entry and do the fantasyland blitz. Put MK with EPCOT, as in blitz fantasyland get on the mono and you can be to the World Showcase before it opens. Or finish MK and go to EPCOT that stays open later. I would skip MGM, and I love that park. It sets up the reason for your second trip! Gotta do RnRC, ToT,Star Wars, Indy, Great Movie Ride, Millionaire, Back lot tour, etc, making this park the star of your second trip!

 

[Pig Pen]

Definitely use EE and Fastpass.

Our touring plans usually put us at MK in the mornings, back to hotel for a snack and pool break in the afternoon, then we return to either Epcot or MGM in the pm. We enjoy Illuminations and Fantasmic more than the fireworks at MK. We save AKL for longer trips.

Meals - Either eat a big breakfast before you go, or plan to eat a light counter-style breakfast in the park. Then we try to grab a very late lunch at Epcot after our break to take advantage of the $$ savings. Some restaurants serve lunch till 4:30. Beaches and Cream, located at the BC/YC is supposed to be very good. There are several other places on the boardwalk that may be good for lunch. Eating just 2 meals saves $ and time for us. We will grab a snack later in the pm either at hotel or in park.

BC is a great location so you will save lots of travel time to and from Epcot and MGM - NO CROWDED BUSES AT CLOSING!

 

[anne60]

We have always done the EE at MK, stay until around 10 am, then take the monorail over to EPCOT for the rest of the day. Then we do another non-EE full day at MK.