FP at Epcot or DHS???

[DisneyStarWisher]

My DH and I are going to WDW in October. We will be there only three days. I have one day left on my 10-day PH (w/NE) ticket, so the plans were to go to the parks one day, go to MNSSHP another day, and have a day to relax at the resort (my DH's favorite activity) another day + signature meals each night. On our park day, we were planning to go to AK, DHS, and Epcot in that order. Now that FP+ is in effect, I'm having a hard time planning that day. I know not to FP attractions in AK since that's my first park, but my problem is I desperately want to do Toy Story Mania AND Test Track. Which park should I choose for my FPs??? There are no other attractions we would even want to FP due to the tiers. The only other rides we might want to ride is Rock n Roller Coaster and Soarin' but can't because of the tiers. What would you do?

 

[g-dad66]

If you're willing to do the single-rider lane at Test Track, then I would get the FP+ for Toy Story Mania if I were you.

Rock n Roller Coaster also has a single-rider lane.

If single-rider doesn't work for you, then how about doing Hollywood Studios first before Animal Kingdom (Everest and Safari waits might not be unbearable) and then using FP+ for Test Track?

 

[momto3jboys]

Is there a chance you could change the order you visit the parks? We've had several experiences at AK late in the afternoon (after the parade) when the park clears out and you can ride multiple times on EE and KRR without waiting. I personally would hit Epcot at rope drop, go straight to soaring, then ride TT single rider. You'd then have time to ride some of the other non headliner rides before heading to either HS where you have your FP+ scheduled or AK where depending on the time, the crowds have diminished.

Hope this makes sense and you have a magical trip!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Thanks for the great suggestions. I have thought about rearranging the order of the parks. The only problem is we want to hit Epcot twice--once at lunch to snack on Food and Wine and then again later that night to try out Monsieur Paul. The reason I had Epcot after DHS was the easy transportation between the two. We will also take an afternoon break--a must for us! So I'm not sure AK in the afternoon will work. I would also not want to miss out on the Safari. We have been to WDW multiple times and know what we want to ride, and it's usually only a couple of rides in each park. I just wish FP+ allowed you to choose rides in different parks. But I don't want to turn this thread into a FP+ debate. I just want to figure out how to best make use of it. I'm really thinking of just skipping DHS since this is going to be more of an adult trip, and we can do DHS when our kids join us next time. Thanks for the input though. Keep the ideas coming. I'm still not 100% sure what I want to do.

 

[1 DISNEY FAN]

From what I have read I would fp hs.
I would be at Epcot 30 mins at least before rope drop and walk fast/run to soarin and then do tt single rider straight after (abit of walking though).
Then fp tsmm and 2 other rides you want and do RnRC single rider queue too.

 

[JimmyV]

The only problem is we want to hit Epcot twice--once at lunch to snack on Food and Wine and then again later that night to try out Monsieur Paul. ... We will also take an afternoon break--a must for us!

Honestly? I don't think it is possible to do what you are trying to do. Epcot for lunch. Afternoon break. Epcot for dinner. And still do the Safari, Everest, TSM, Test Track, Soarin' and Rock-n-Roller Coaster in the same day without much of a wait? I'm not feeling it. Any idea if there will be late hours or evening EMHs at any of these parks? Or maybe morning EMHs?

This may not mesh with your goals, but here is what I would do:

Get to DHS at Rope Drop. Go straight to TSM upon opening. When done, go straight to RnR. If the SB wait is tolerble, ride together. Otherwise, use the single rider line. If there is really nothing else that you want to do there, then take the bus to AK. You should be on the bus by 10:00 or so.

Go to AK. Go straight to the Safari. Don't know when you are going, but I picked 10/15 as a random date and Touring Plans predicts a 25 minute wait at 10:50 for the Safari. Very doable. Then head over to Everest. Predicted wait time there is around 20-25 minutes. When done, take the bus to Epcot for lunch.

At Epcot, use your FP+ for Test Track. Enjoy touring World Showcase during F&W as your afternoon break. Force yourself not to do anything strenuous and truly treat it as a break. Go to Gusto and have a glass (or two) of wine. Sit. Relax. Then, when "breaktime" is over, get back on the horse and do some more stuff. (You still have 2 more FP+ to use up). Then have dinner at MP. You might even be able to squeeze in a ride on Soarin' after dinner with about a half hour wait. If you really feel that you must leave Epcot and have an afternoon break, then that's fine. But it seems like more trouble than its worth given what you are hoping to accomplish in a single day.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Honestly? I don't think it is possible to do what you are trying to do. Epcot for lunch. Afternoon break. Epcot for dinner. And still do the Safari, Everest, TSM, Test Track, Soarin' and Rock-n-Roller Coaster in the same day without much of a wait? I'm not feeling it. Any idea if there will be late hours or evening EMHs at any of these parks? Or maybe morning EMHs?

This may not mesh with your goals, but here is what I would do:

Get to DHS at Rope Drop. Go straight to TSM upon opening. When done, go straight to RnR. If the SB wait is tolerble, ride together. Otherwise, use the single rider line. If there is really nothing else that you want to do there, then take the bus to AK. You should be on the bus by 10:00 or so.

Go to AK. Go straight to the Safari. Don't know when you are going, but I picked 10/15 as a random date and Touring Plans predicts a 25 minute wait at 10:50 for the Safari. Very doable. Then head over to Everest. Predicted wait time there is around 20-25 minutes. When done, take the bus to Epcot for lunch.

At Epcot, use your FP+ for Test Track. Enjoy touring World Showcase during F&W as your afternoon break. Force yourself not to do anything strenuous and truly treat it as a break. Go to Gusto and have a glass (or two) of wine. Sit. Relax. Then, when "breaktime" is over, get back on the horse and do some more stuff. (You still have 2 more FP+ to use up). Then have dinner at MP. You might even be able to squeeze in a ride on Soarin' after dinner with about a half hour wait. If you really feel that you must leave Epcot and have an afternoon break, then that's fine. But it seems like more trouble than its worth given what you are hoping to accomplish in a single day.

I appreciate your concern, but I didn't think we were trying to accomplish much. We have been to WDW many times. We know what we like, and we know what can be accomplished. On my 40th birthday, we did AK (Safari, EE, ITtbaB, PW), DHS (Star Tours, GMR), Epcot (Test Track, WS), afternoon break, back to DHS (TSM), and MK (too many to mention). We had lots of short waits, and that was in the middle of June with the crowd calendar showing 6-8 for the parks. October is much slower. Rides are not a priority. We don't drink alcohol, so no wine for us. And we will NEVER take a "break" from the park in the park. We enjoy our resort time too much. We are DVC and have learned to enjoy relaxing at the resorts. The only thing I'm having a hard time figuring out right now is how FP+ affects our plans since we haven't been there since it began. We usually go into the parks only 1-2 days each trip and go to at least 3 parks when we do. FP+ doesn't seem to work for those who do 3 parks in a day.

I think this will be our plan:
AK--ride Safari and maybe EE, stroll around the trails and take in the awesome atmosphere
Epcot--ride Test Track (using FP+) and enjoy food at the Food and Wine kiosks for lunch
Afternoon Break at the Resort
Back to Epcot for dinner, a stroll around World Showcase, and IllumiNations

I can ride Toy Story Mania and Rock 'n Roller Coaster next time when my kids are with me. That will eliminate having to park at DHS and walk in to only ride 1-2 rides. That's probably not worth it.

 

[JimmyV]

I can ride Toy Story Mania and Rock 'n Roller Coaster next time when my kids are with me. That will eliminate having to park at DHS and walk in to only ride 1-2 rides. That's probably not worth it.

I'm not quite sure what to make of your post. You seem to be scolding me for trying to explain that I don't think you can do what you are trying to do under the new system, and then you plot out a day that, in the end, does not do everything you set out to do, which is all I was saying. You can pretty much toss out all of your previous experiences at WDW. What you used to be able to do is no longer what you are able to do. The game has changed. That is all I was trying to get across. If your priorities include leaving the parks for your break, that is fine. But it ensures that you won't tick off every box on your wish list. I was simply trying to provide kind advice on how you could tick off every box. But if that is not your priority, then so be it. I did preface my plan with the comment that "this may not mesh with your goals..." All you needed to do was say so and ask if there was a "Plan B" that would definitively include an out-of-the-park break. I could try to come up with one, but not knowing where you are staying or if you will have a car, it becomes difficult to do the calculus.

 

[kidd_freeper]

TSM
do single rider line for TT

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I'm not quite sure what to make of your post. You seem to be scolding me for trying to explain that I don't think you can do what you are trying to do under the new system, and then you plot out a day that, in the end, does not do everything you set out to do, which is all I was saying. You can pretty much toss out all of your previous experiences at WDW. What you used to be able to do is no longer what you are able to do. The game has changed. That is all I was trying to get across. If your priorities include leaving the parks for your break, that is fine. But it ensures that you won't tick off every box on your wish list. I was simply trying to provide kind advice on how you could tick off every box. But if that is not your priority, then so be it. I did preface my plan with the comment that "this may not mesh with your goals..." All you needed to do was say so and ask if there was a "Plan B" that would definitively include an out-of-the-park break. I could try to come up with one, but not knowing where you are staying or if you will have a car, it becomes difficult to do the calculus.

Sorry if it seemed like I was scolding you. That was not the intention. Even with FP+, I don't feel like I had too much planned.
AK--Safari and maybe EE
DHS--TSM and maybe RnRC
Epcot--Test Track and World Showcase
Resort Break
Epcot--Dinner
I was just stating that I think that is totally doable. My question was whether I should FP TSM or Test Track. That's really all I needed help with.

 

[JimmyV]

Sorry if it seemed like I was scolding you. That was not the intention. Even with FP+, I don't feel like I had too much planned.
AK--Safari and maybe EE
DHS--TSM and maybe RnRC
Epcot--Test Track and World Showcase
Resort Break
Epcot--Dinner
I was just stating that I think that is totally doable. My question was whether I should FP TSM or Test Track. That's really all I needed help with.

Test Track, but you really should make TSM your first stop instead of going to AK.