Help for a 1st Timer Please!

[MHofeners]

I've been working on planning our 1st trip and its now just around the corner! We'll be traveling with our 3 little boys and are just doing MK this trip (2 days with a day of rest in between), then we are headed to the beach for a work conference. We figure this will give us the feel for things so we can plan a longer more extensive trip. So here goes! I'd love advice on this "schedule" (realizing that we are super-laid back and totally ok if things don't go according to this, but don't want to be all over the place with no clue what to do next - we struggle with indecisiveness enough as it is! lol).

Arrive Wed 7/29 @ Contemporary
swim, explore
Dinner (either DTD including Lego Store & T-rex OR an onsite TS meal like Aloha Dinner Show or Hoop Dee Doo Revue or open to suggestions)
Water Parade from Bay? or Fireworks from balcony in room?

Thurs MK
We have EARLY risers, looks to be EMH day and we plan to be there at opening
Try to do Big Thunder/Splash Mountain first (even though the little guy cannot ride?)
Back down to Jungle Cruise/Magic Carpets
Haunted Mansion
Liberty Square Riverboat/Tom Sawyer's Island?
Lunch (or lunch before boat ride & island - which we can skip if needed/wanted)
It’s a small World
Peter Pan FP 12:20-1:20
Mickey's Philharmagic?
Prince Charming Carousel?
7 Dwarf Mine Train FP 2:20-3:30
REST in room or swim for a bit
Dinner on our way back to park or once we get back in
Ride railroad when we come back early evening & get off near Barnstormer/Pete's Silly Side Show
Barnstormer
Pete Silly Side Show?
Dumbo
Mad Tea Party
Winnie the Pooh
(circle around past BOG, maybe stop at Gaston's Tavern)
Under the Sea/Little Mermaid
Main St. Electrical Parade FP 8:30

Fri Rest Day
Character Bfast, Cape May
ride monorail and explore as we see fit
swim
NAPS
Dinner (whatever we did not do on arrival day- either DTD including Lego Store & T-rex OR an onsite TS meal like Aloha Dinner Show or Hoop Dee Doo Revue or open to suggestions)

Saturday MK
Space Mountain for biggest boy & hubs/Speedway for Me & littles (can I ride with 2 passengers???)
Astro Orbiter
People mover
Stitch's Great Escape
Monster Inc Laugh Floor
Lunch?
Buzz FP 12:10
Big Thunder FP 1:10 (really 2nd guessing this FP as littlest guy is too short to ride)
Splash Mountain FP 2:15 (again, same as above :/ )
REST or swim
*unsure about afternoon and thinking I should maybe do THURS's afternoon plan here because we hace a Character Dinner at BOG at 8ish...
OR just do whatever FP's we can secure after using ours earlier in the day and maybe fit in
Tikki room/Swiss Family Trehouse/Country Bear jamboree type stuff

Sunday
Chef Mickey Bfast
depart for beach/conference

SO appreciate any help you can offer!!

 

[Tomh]

Arrive Wed 7/29 @ Contemporary
swim, explore
Dinner (either DTD including Lego Store & T-rex OR an onsite TS meal like Aloha Dinner Show or Hoop Dee Doo Revue or open to suggestions)
Water Parade from Bay? or Fireworks from balcony in room?

I just did a quick search for Hoop De Do, and Aloha Dinner show for 5 people on the 29th. Aloha had an opening at 5:15, Hoop De Doo at 4:00 and 6:15. I would imagine those will fill up pretty soon, so I would make a decision, and book and ADR sooner rather than later.

Thurs MK
We have EARLY risers, looks to be EMH day and we plan to be there at opening
Try to do Big Thunder/Splash Mountain first (even though the little guy cannot ride?)

Rider swap, get them out of the way quick

Back down to Jungle Cruise/Magic Carpets
Haunted Mansion
Liberty Square Riverboat/Tom Sawyer's Island?
Lunch (or lunch before boat ride & island - which we can skip if needed/wanted)
It’s a small World

I'm not confident that you will get all of that done before your Peter Pan window. I would probably put a snack in there, and wait until after Peter Pan for lunch

Peter Pan FP 12:20-1:20

If you've done Pan right at 12:20, and did a fairly quick lunch, you should be done by 1, or just a bit after. Philharmagic and the carousel should fit in quite nicely before your FP+ for 7 Dwarves.

Mickey's Philharmagic?
Prince Charming Carousel?
7 Dwarf Mine Train FP 2:20-3:30
REST in room or swim for a bit
Dinner on our way back to park or once we get back in
Ride railroad when we come back early evening & get off near Barnstormer/Pete's Silly Side Show
Barnstormer
Pete Silly Side Show?
Dumbo
Mad Tea Party
Winnie the Pooh
(circle around past BOG, maybe stop at Gaston's Tavern)
Under the Sea/Little Mermaid

Here, I am afraid you are being VERY optimistic about what can be accomplished. The park will be crowded, lines will be significant. Assuming that by early evening you mean entering the park around 6, that only leaves you two and a half hours to get this all done, and get to FP+ location for parade. Figure 20 minutes to get on the railroad, and ride around to Fantasy Land. Barnstormer can have a line. Dumbo will take some time. Tea party is pretty quick, but there could be upwards of a 40 minute or even longer wait for Pooh by this point, and you could encounter a line for Under the Sea as well.

Main St. Electrical Parade FP 8:30

Fri Rest Day
Character Bfast, Cape May
ride monorail and explore as we see fit
swim
NAPS
Dinner (whatever we did not do on arrival day- either DTD including Lego Store & T-rex OR an onsite TS meal like Aloha Dinner Show or Hoop Dee Doo Revue or open to suggestions)

I would stay onsite for arrival day, then sleep in this day, and head to DTD in the afternoon / early evening.

Saturday MK
Space Mountain for biggest boy & hubs/Speedway for Me & littles (can I ride with 2 passengers???)

Two riders per car only.

Astro Orbiter
People mover
Stitch's Great Escape
Monster Inc Laugh Floor
Lunch?
Buzz FP 12:10
Big Thunder FP 1:10 (really 2nd guessing this FP as littlest guy is too short to ride)
Splash Mountain FP 2:15 (again, same as above :/ )
REST or swim
*unsure about afternoon and thinking I should maybe do THURS's afternoon plan here because we hace a Character Dinner at BOG at 8ish...
OR just do whatever FP's we can secure after using ours earlier in the day and maybe fit in
Tikki room/Swiss Family Trehouse/Country Bear jamboree type stuff

Sunday
Chef Mickey Bfast
depart for beach/conference

SO appreciate any help you can offer!!

I would go ahead with Thursdays plan on Thursday, then on Saturday afternoon / evening you can revisit anything the kids REALLY loved, and / or make sure you hit up Country Bears, Tiki Room, or stuff that simply did not fit on on Thursday. The most important thing is to NOT be upset if you can't get it all done. Remember you are there to have fun!!!

 

[MHofeners]

You all are SO helpful!! Thank YOU!

I realize that much of this is optimistic, but I am going for more of an outline to try to keep rides close and whatnot...

A FEW MORE QUESTIONS IF YOU WILL

When my 7 yr old rides Space Mtn with 1 adult, suggestions for a ride that the other adult could do with 2 & 4 yr old? I was thinking Tomorrowland Speedway would work like a charm, but I guess not since only 2 per car. Could the 4 yr old drive his own car?? He is on the tall side - i think right at 44in.

For rides that the littlest does not meet the height requirements: I have FPs to some of these, which I feel like is somewhat of a waste for 1 adult and the little guy. Can someone walk me thru this? For example, Splash Mtn, if 2 older boys meet height requirement but littlest doesn't how should I work that? Should we do Hubs & older boys FP and then I take the littlest guy and we do a separate FP so that everyone is utilizing their FPs? Should we utilize the rider swap first so that I can ride Splash and then use mine & the little guys FP elsewhere later? If we do rider swap, I would not need to use my FP - correct? When I get on, can I take a kid with me? Only 1 kid? It all seems a little too confusing, so at this point, I have the whole family's FP's scheduled together even if one member is too short (but doesn't that exclude 1 adults and the little man's FP - is this a total waste???)...

 

[Mom2Minnie]

For your Thursday plan, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Frontier land and Adventure land are open for morning EMH. I believe only Tomorrow land and Fantasy land are open early.

 

[taythecray]

Thurs MK
We have EARLY risers, looks to be EMH day and we plan to be there at opening
Try to do Big Thunder/Splash Mountain first (even though the little guy cannot ride?)
Back down to Jungle Cruise/Magic Carpets
Haunted Mansion
Liberty Square Riverboat/Tom Sawyer's Island?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I think only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open during EMH mornings. So if it was an AM EMH that you were looking at doing, just know Big Thunder/Splash etc won't be open until an hour later.

Edit: Posted at the same time XD I thought that as well and went to check the crowd calendar. ^^

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I think only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open during EMH mornings. So if it was an AM EMH that you were looking at doing, just know Big Thunder/Splash etc won't be open until an hour later.

Edit: Posted at the same time XD I thought that as well and went to check the crowd calendar. ^^

The following attractions are open during Morning EMH at Magic Kingdom:
Ariel's Grotto
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Carousel of Progress
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
"it's a small world"
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Peter Pan's Flight
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

 

[Ermise]

You all are SO helpful!! Thank YOU!

I realize that much of this is optimistic, but I am going for more of an outline to try to keep rides close and whatnot...

A FEW MORE QUESTIONS IF YOU WILL

When my 7 yr old rides Space Mtn with 1 adult, suggestions for a ride that the other adult could do with 2 & 4 yr old? I was thinking Tomorrowland Speedway would work like a charm, but I guess not since only 2 per car. Could the 4 yr old drive his own car?? He is on the tall side - i think right at 44in.

For rides that the littlest does not meet the height requirements: I have FPs to some of these, which I feel like is somewhat of a waste for 1 adult and the little guy. Can someone walk me thru this? For example, Splash Mtn, if 2 older boys meet height requirement but littlest doesn't how should I work that? Should we do Hubs & older boys FP and then I take the littlest guy and we do a separate FP so that everyone is utilizing their FPs? Should we utilize the rider swap first so that I can ride Splash and then use mine & the little guys FP elsewhere later? If we do rider swap, I would not need to use my FP - correct? When I get on, can I take a kid with me? Only 1 kid? It all seems a little too confusing, so at this point, I have the whole family's FP's scheduled together even if one member is too short (but doesn't that exclude 1 adults and the little man's FP - is this a total waste???)...

I have three boys as well and when we would use FastPass+ for rides like Space Mountain we would use the rider swap. So one of us (say my wife) would take the two boys who could ride on Space Mountain through the ride, while I would ride TTA or something nearby that the smallest could do. When they were done with Space Mountain, I would then take the kids on Space Mountain again (the kids get to ride again), while she would do something with the little guy. It worked really well.

Also, for the Tomorrowland Speedway, you can fit three in car with one adult and two kids. So you can sit in the middle and let the 4-year old "drive" (really just steer while you held the pedal down).

 

[bbjunkie]

For your Thursday plan, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Frontier land and Adventure land are open for morning EMH. I believe only Tomorrow land and Fantasy land are open early.

This is correct. Only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland open for EMH.

Still worth going and getting some things done at Fantasyland, then head over to the rope by the Rapunzel bathrooms about 15 minutes before that rope drop, and you will be able to walk around and walk on to BTMRR with no wait, then hit Splash after waiting minimally. (Less than 10 minutes)

 

[amomma23]

Buzz would be good with the littles while the other two on are Space Mountain. You could sit in the middle and "steer" while the kiddos work the guns.

BOG isn't a character meal per say. The Beast is there, but he doesn't visit tables like at Chef Mickeys. Don't want you to be disappointed.

 

[laughinplace199]

My thoughts in red...

I've been working on planning our 1st trip and its now just around the corner! We'll be traveling with our 3 little boys and are just doing MK this trip (2 days with a day of rest in between), then we are headed to the beach for a work conference. We figure this will give us the feel for things so we can plan a longer more extensive trip. So here goes! I'd love advice on this "schedule" (realizing that we are super-laid back and totally ok if things don't go according to this, but don't want to be all over the place with no clue what to do next - we struggle with indecisiveness enough as it is! lol).

Arrive Wed 7/29 @ Contemporary
swim, explore
Dinner (either DTD including Lego Store & T-rex OR an onsite TS meal like Aloha Dinner Show or Hoop Dee Doo Revue or open to suggestions) I'm not sure a dinner show would hold the attention of a 2 yr old. What about dinner at Chef Mickey's?
Water Parade from Bay? or Fireworks from balcony in room? What time would these end? Will a late bed time work for your early risers?

Thurs MK
We have EARLY risers, looks to be EMH day and we plan to be there at opening
Try to do Big Thunder/Splash Mountain first (even though the little guy cannot ride?)
Back down to Jungle Cruise/Magic Carpets
Haunted Mansion
Liberty Square Riverboat/Tom Sawyer's Island?
Lunch (or lunch before boat ride & island - which we can skip if needed/wanted)
It’s a small World
Peter Pan FP 12:20-1:20
Mickey's Philharmagic?
Prince Charming Carousel?
7 Dwarf Mine Train FP 2:20-3:30
REST in room or swim for a bit
Dinner on our way back to park or once we get back in
Ride railroad when we come back early evening & get off near Barnstormer/Pete's Silly Side Show
Barnstormer
Pete Silly Side Show?
Dumbo
Mad Tea Party
Winnie the Pooh
(circle around past BOG, maybe stop at Gaston's Tavern)
Under the Sea/Little Mermaid
Main St. Electrical Parade FP 8:30
As others have mentioned, you won't get all of this done, but since you're laid-back, just go with the flow and ride what you have time for.

Fri Rest Day
Character Bfast, Cape May
ride monorail and explore as we see fit
swim
NAPS
Dinner (whatever we did not do on arrival day- either DTD including Lego Store & T-rex OR an onsite TS meal like Aloha Dinner Show or Hoop Dee Doo Revue or open to suggestions)

Saturday MK
Space Mountain for biggest boy & hubs/Speedway for Me & littles (can I ride with 2 passengers???) Unless things have changed in the past couple of years, one adult can ride with two little kids.
Astro Orbiter
People mover
Stitch's Great Escape
Monster Inc Laugh Floor
Lunch?
Buzz FP 12:10
Big Thunder FP 1:10 (really 2nd guessing this FP as littlest guy is too short to ride)
Splash Mountain FP 2:15 (again, same as above :/ )
REST or swim
*unsure about afternoon and thinking I should maybe do THURS's afternoon plan here because we hace a Character Dinner at BOG at 8ish...
OR just do whatever FP's we can secure after using ours earlier in the day and maybe fit in
Tikki room/Swiss Family Trehouse/Country Bear jamboree type stuff

Sunday
Chef Mickey Bfast
depart for beach/conference

SO appreciate any help you can offer!!

Have fun!

 

[Frozen2014]

For rides that the littlest does not meet the height requirements: I have FPs to some of these, which I feel like is somewhat of a waste for 1 adult and the little guy. Can someone walk me thru this? For example, Splash Mtn, if 2 older boys meet height requirement but littlest doesn't how should I work that? Should we do Hubs & older boys FP and then I take the littlest guy and we do a separate FP so that everyone is utilizing their FPs? Should we utilize the rider swap first so that I can ride Splash and then use mine & the little guys FP elsewhere later? If we do rider swap, I would not need to use my FP - correct? When I get on, can I take a kid with me? Only 1 kid? It all seems a little too confusing, so at this point, I have the whole family's FP's scheduled together even if one member is too short (but doesn't that exclude 1 adults and the little man's FP - is this a total waste???)...

I don't know much about rider swap, but I wouldn't waste a FP. I would select something else for your little one and yourself or your husband while the other goes on with your older boys. If it's just a one off ride, then see what other rides are nearby in the same area that interest you and then you can meet up again afterwards.

 

[nanni]

For the Thursday EMH, I'd go for Fantasyland rides with little ones. We've gotten through all of the rides there quickly and even multiple times during early EMH.

 

[MHofeners]

well the whole EMH kinda messes with my plan! Grrr! Really need some insight!

Do you all think it would make more sense to rearrange day 1 due to the EMHs?? Maybe starting with Barnstormer, Little Mermaid, Dumbo or something over that way and scratch starting with Big Thunder/Splash since we have FPs for them on day 2? Maybe try to do the following:
Barnstormer, Dumbo, Mad Tea Party, Winnie the Pooh, Under the Sea/Little Mermaid (or another suggested order over there) then head to Haunted Mansion and resume our day one schedule (riverboat/tom sawyer maybe then Small World and one to our FPs)? Not sure where I would fit in Jungle Cruise/Magic Carpets in this case - maybe when we come back in the evening? And if so, should i try to get FPs for these once we use our others earlier in the day?
Or if it were you, would you just head to do 1-2 things during EMHs and then still stick to this plan about (heading straight to the mountains when that area of the park opens at 9am)?

So glad to hear I can ride Tomorrowland speedway with my littles - this will really simplify things!

Still unsure if I should keep the FPs as they are with the whole family having the same ones even though the littlest maynot be able to ride and the other adults seems wasted since they could just use the Rider Swap (if I am correctly understanding the way that works). Suggestions as far as that goes?

 

[MHofeners]

Anyone ^^^? Pretty please

 

[WooPigScientist]

Keep the Space Mountain FP for your husband and older boys. Change (not delete, NEVER delete!) the FP for you and youngest to Speedway. Go as a family to Space Mountain, get rider swap pass (CM has to actually see the child unable to ride to give a rider swap). Then hubs and boys go on Space Mountain and you and little proceed to Speedway. After, the rider swap can be used with either adult to ride with the boys again while remaining adult does something else with little. People Mover would be a good option this time, I don't think it has long waits.

Repeat this process for any other rides the older boys want to do but little can't ride. As a fun bonus to make up for all the shuffling, the older boys will get do all the rider swap rides twice!

 

[MHofeners]

Keep the Space Mountain FP for your husband and older boys. Change (not delete, NEVER delete!) the FP for you and youngest to Speedway. Go as a family to Space Mountain, get rider swap pass (CM has to actually see the child unable to ride to give a rider swap). Then hubs and boys go on Space Mountain and you and little proceed to Speedway. After, the rider swap can be used with either adult to ride with the boys again while remaining adult does something else with little. People Mover would be a good option this time, I don't think it has long waits.

Repeat this process for any other rides the older boys want to do but little can't ride. As a fun bonus to make up for all the shuffling, the older boys will get do all the rider swap rides twice!

So when we do this - they ride and I leave with the little and go do our own thing - what happens when I come back? I dont wait in line? I'm a little confused bc I was under the impression that I was there waiting the whole time and once they got off, I got on. Help a newbie out! Oh and when I do get on - I can take a kid with me is my understanding, but can I take 2 kids on with me??

Thanks so so much for your all's help!!!!

 

[WooPigScientist]

Took me a bit to find it, but here is a helpful article that explains rider swap and has a list of alternate rides for the little one when the rest of the family is on a headliner. Obviously, there are more options, but I found this to be a good starting point (I'm dealing with same planning issue right now, as it's up in the air whether my daughter will be 40" by our Jan trip)

http://wdwprepschool.com/how-to-child-swap-at-disney-world/#childswaprides

 

[LoveThatMouse!]

I love your idea of just doing MK and doing it twice!
There is something to be said about not eating the whole elephant in one sitting.
Have a wonderful time!