Help! Last minute trip with 1 day park hopper. Planning Tips?

[akaDaddy]

Last minute trip to Orlando at the end of July, arrive on July 29th and depart August 3rd. We have a lot of Disney Bucks to cover the hotel and several meals. Leftover 1 day park hopper tickets, which we plan to be our only day in the Parks. Looking for advise in two areas...

1. Planning for the 1 day at the parks to get the most out of it. I realize all the good fast-passes are taken, so what can I do to make the most of the day.

2. Ideas for the other days, both inside Disney and outside.

Other than the day in the parks, I'm looking for a slow paced week. Time to relax. Party of four including my wife and two teenage daughters.

Thanks for any advise!

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

Look for same-day FPs, chances are the big rides will have same-day availability at least once. What park(s) are you wanting to do?

 

[Bjkandma]

I 'd suggest for non park days, spending an evening at Disney Springs. You will find shopping, eating and free entertainment (music). Look for "living statues". We have spent over an hour with the statues. For dinner at Disney Springs you have a wide range from counter service to "signature" dining. (Two recommendations: Art Smith Homecoming. Raglan Pub)

another evening i would recommend doing the Hoop De Doo review(if you can get reservations). It is a dinner show. (ribs, chicken), all you care to drink (sangria), coke products, strawberry type desert. Price includes all you care to eat and drink. Price you pay includes tip.

there is Also two mini golf courses in property. You can also do a monorail trip (enjoy three resorts Contemporary, Grand Floridian and Poly. You cannot use pools, but can shop and "tour resorts". Ok I'm partial to chocolate and cupcakes and quick service have excellent ones!!! Know that minors are allowed in lounges, except for a few. If you take this as advice and find yourself during the evening, the Contemporary has a fourth floor observation deck to view fireworks (MK) not castle display. Or on the beaches of Grand Flordian. Also check timing for water electric parade from these hotel beaches.

Finally no trip would be complete without a character meal (at least in my eyes). 1900 Park Fare at Grand Floidian (breakfast has as Mary Poppins, Pooh and Mad Hatter. Dinner step sisters and queen - a hoot). Characters are subject to change.

All table service meals will require reservations. These can be made 180 days out. If you find no availabilty, keep trying. People cancel reservations all the time, and especially 24 to 48 hours out. (There is a $10 charge for "no shows" or not cancelling 24 hours before.)

Would be more than willing to help with park day, if you'd like to share which parks you would like to explore.

 

[akaDaddy]

Look for same-day FPs, chances are the big rides will have same-day availability at least once. What park(s) are you wanting to do?

Looking at MK and AK for rides and EPCOT for some time in the World Showcase. I’m thinking rope drop MK until lunch, monorail to EPCOT and then finish the day at AK, saving the Fast Passes for AK. Thoughts???

 

[MomOTwins]

Looking at MK and AK for rides and EPCOT for some time in the World Showcase. I’m thinking rope drop MK until lunch, monorail to EPCOT and then finish the day at AK, saving the Fast Passes for AK. Thoughts???

There is no point to holding off on fastpasses until the evening, especially since the Pandora rides are likely unavailable to book in advance. Get FPs for your first park the morning so you can get 4th/5th/6th etc. fastpasses at the other parks when you are done in MK.

Also, I might be inclined to do AK in the morning and end the day in MK, for a couple of reasons. First, AK has fewer attractions so seems to "sell out" of fastpasses by the evening, whereas there still should be plenty of fastpass available in MK if you get there in the afternoon. Second, Rivers of Light is garbage and Happily Ever After is amazing, so I'd rather be at MK for the evening entertainment. Third, looking at the week you will be there, MK is open later on most nights than AK (10pm vs 9pm) so going to MK last means you will maximize your time in the park.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

....Rivers of Light is garbage and Happily Ever After is amazing, so I'd rather be at MK for the evening entertainment....

I agree with ending at MK for times but 100% disagree on RoL being garbage. It is a beautiful show and my family’s absolute favorite nighttime spectacular. I would offer both sides to RoL before passing a personal opinion as something seemingly fact or agreed upon by all.

 

[MomOTwins]

I agree with ending at MK for times but 100% disagree on RoL being garbage. It is a beautiful show and my family’s absolute favorite nighttime spectacular. I would offer both sides to RoL before passing a personal opinion as something seemingly fact or agreed upon by all.

I dunno, that it is garbage seems to be the consensus on these boards. The fact that Disney pulled all live actors from the show last fall, and just last month “reimagined the show” seems to corroborate that they viewed it as a flop. Regardless, I’m sure OP can tell I am expressing my opinion and not everyone will agree. Just as Country Bears is very unpopular and yet has a few die-hard devotees.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Looking at MK and AK for rides and EPCOT for some time in the World Showcase. I’m thinking rope drop MK until lunch, monorail to EPCOT and then finish the day at AK, saving the Fast Passes for AK. Thoughts???

That could work, but I would also consider which park closes the latest and which nighttime show you want to see. MK typically stays open later than the other parks, so I would be inclined to end there. I would probably make 3 FP+ for AK in the am and RD there to try to do Flights of Passage first thing. Then when you are done with your 3 AK FP+, immediately try for a 4th FP+ at MK for later in the day if you aren’t riding anything in EP. Then hop to EP, do WS, then hop to MK.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I dunno, that it is garbage seems to be the consensus on these boards. The fact that Disney pulled all live actors from the show last fall, and just last month “reimagined the show” seems to corroborate that they viewed it as a flop. Regardless, I’m sure OP can tell I am expressing my opinion and not everyone will agree. Just as Country Bears is very unpopular and yet has a few die-hard devotees.

Not sure about the consensus on the boards but alright.

 

[akaDaddy]

That could work, but I would also consider which park closes the latest and which nighttime show you want to see. MK typically stays open later than the other parks, so I would be inclined to end there. I would probably make 3 FP+ for AK in the am and RD there to try to do Flights of Passage first thing. Then when you are done with your 3 AK FP+, immediately try for a 4th FP+ at MK for later in the day if you aren’t riding anything in EP. Then hop to EP, do WS, then hop to MK.

Thanks, I think you are correct about starting in AK

 

[PrincessVi]

On a non park day I'd sleep in a little and then go to a late breakfast at the Board Walk at Trattoria Al Forno. My twenty something girls loved meeting Arial, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, and Prince Eric. My husband and I had one of the best steaks we've ever had there and we aren't spring chickens. Then I'd hop a bus from there to Disney Springs and let the girls shop.

I second the vote for Ragland Road at Disney Springs, great entertainment and delicious food although it's hard not to find good food at Disney Spring these days.

This is off the beaten path but I'll throw it out there. We loved Cirque du Soliel La Nouba which has closed, but I've heard there is an interim show near the mall. I would venture off property for Cirque.

Another possibility is going to Animal Kingdom Lodge the lobby is amazing. There is African art, animals on the safari, cast members from Africa that love talking about their homeland and three restaurants offering African cuisine. I wish we could have stayed longer the last time we we're there a cast member was going to show a slide show about her village. You could call and see what activities will be going on during your visit.

 

[akaDaddy]

On a non park day I'd sleep in a little and then go to a late breakfast at the Board Walk at Trattoria Al Forno. My twenty something girls loved meeting Arial, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, and Prince Eric. My husband and I had one of the best steaks we've ever had there and we aren't spring chickens. Then I'd hop a bus from there to Disney Springs and let the girls shop.

I second the vote for Ragland Road at Disney Springs, great entertainment and delicious food although it's hard not to find good food at Disney Spring these days.

This is off the beaten path but I'll throw it out there. We loved Cirque du Soliel La Nouba which has closed, but I've heard there is an interim show near the mall. I would venture off property for Cirque.

Another possibility is going to Animal Kingdom Lodge the lobby is amazing. There is African art, animals on the safari, cast members from Africa that love talking about their homeland and three restaurants offering African cuisine. I wish we could have stayed longer the last time we we're there a cast member was going to show a slide show about her village. You could call and see what activities will be going on during your visit.

Definitely going to spend some time at AKL, planning a meal at Sanaa. We love both the resort and all their restaurants.

I’ve heard good things about Ragland Road as well. It’s on the short list.