Help me find time to get to Disney Springs!

[tracynicole21]

The title says it all. We will be at WDW for 5 nights/4.5 days. Arriving on Sunday at around noon, leaving Friday morning. Here are the plans we have made so far:

Sunday afternoon after check in- DHS (closes at 10) but not sure how tired we will be to head to DS afterwards, so this day may be out.

Monday- MK (open until midnight) this is my favorite park so definitely don't want to leave early.

Tuesday- Epcot (open until 11)

Wednesday- Universal Studios (closes at 9 so we are planning to head back to MK afterwards which is open until 1 AM)

Thursday- AK (I originally planned to go to DS after leaving AK, but with ROL premiering, I would really like to see it)

I know the schedule doesn't have much flexibility, but maybe I'm looking at it too hard and need another perspective. Does anyone see any time to fit in DS? I also don't know how late DS will be open, so that may affect timing, but I really just wanna go to DS for some shopping.

 

[OKW Lover]

Rather than trying to find time to get to Disney Springs, I'd suggest you remain concentrated on your theme park experience. I assume that's why you are visiting WDW in the first place.

Even if you are all about shopping, there is much of that you can do in the parks.

 

[mort1331]

NOt sure what time ROL is on till, but if the park is closing around 9 then head down after. Go all night, you can sleep on the plane.

 

[tracynicole21]

NOt sure what time ROL is on till, but if the park is closing around 9 then head down after. Go all night, you can sleep on the plane.

That's the kind of attitude I like!

 

[DisMommyTX]

For shopping, Tuesday or Thursday morning. Most shops open at 9 or 10. Have breakfast, do some shopping, then still have 10+ hours at EPCOT or 8+ at AK, including all the evening activities. If you are going to DS for the nightlife rather than shopping, then after ROL on Thursday many places will stay until midnight-ish.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with OKW Lover I would not stress about fitting DS in to such a short trip. I would concentrate on the parks you are paying to visit. DS is, IMHO, a glorified mall and restaurant area that becomes very crowded in the evening.
Also I have never seen Epcot open until 11. Where did you find that hour?

 

[katt789]

The title says it all. We will be at WDW for 5 nights/4.5 days. Arriving on Sunday at around noon, leaving Friday morning. Here are the plans we have made so far:

Sunday afternoon after check in- DHS (closes at 10) but not sure how tired we will be to head to DS afterwards, so this day may be out.

Monday- MK (open until midnight) this is my favorite park so definitely don't want to leave early.

Tuesday- Epcot (open until 11)

Wednesday- Universal Studios (closes at 9 so we are planning to head back to MK afterwards which is open until 1 AM)

Thursday- AK (I originally planned to go to DS after leaving AK, but with ROL premiering, I would really like to see it)

I know the schedule doesn't have much flexibility, but maybe I'm looking at it too hard and need another perspective. Does anyone see any time to fit in DS? I also don't know how late DS will be open, so that may affect timing, but I really just wanna go to DS for some shopping.

Just do theme parks this go around
On a Sunday, if you're leaving DHS at closing, you'd probably get to a bus around 10:30, then have to go to a resort, then another bus to DS, or walk to the boardwalk and then bus, everything would be closed.
I'd say if you start to get a little bored on your Epcot day, you could hop to DS to explore a bit in the afternoon & head back after for Illuminations, but just focus on the parks and you'll have a great time!

 

[Baptist]

Downtown Disney has always been my least favorite. The shopping is not that good and it's crowded (at least on our recent trips). If you did not have a park ticket for the day, then I could see going.

Squeezing in a Disney Springs could mean two things. Either trying to fit in into your plans or trying to get through the crowds.

 

[tracynicole21]

I agree with OKW Lover I would not stress about fitting DS in to such a short trip. I would concentrate on the parks you are paying to visit. DS is, IMHO, a glorified mall and restaurant area that becomes very crowded in the evening.
Also I have never seen Epcot open until 11. Where did you find that hour?

Not sure how to include a pic, but let me try. Hopefully that worked. 9-11 is EMH.

 

[AllieBoo]

If you are planning to stay for ROL on your AK day, I would go to Disney Springs that morning and head to AK after. AK is usually not a full day park for us, so if it is open late, I think getting there around lunchtime would be plenty. That being said, I agree with some of the previous posters who said Disney Springs is just a glorified mall and is overly crowded. We have skipped going there our last couple of trips.

 

[marchingstar]

Is your trip around the opening of ROL (this April/May)? I ask because right now Future World (one half of Epcot) is kinda gutted at the present. DP and I are only planning on half a day in Epcot during our April trip (enough time to walk around World Showcase, in my experience). I really don't think Epcot needs a whole day, especially with evening hours. So like a previous poster said, if your goal at DS is shopping, I would go there in the morning on your Epcot day. if it's a mix, I would go to Epcot in the morning, take a cab to DS in the early afternoon (bussing to DS from a park is a pain, and will eat up time), then head back to Epcot for dinner/illuminations/late night rides.

 

[Hopefully]

Not sure how to include a pic, but let me try. Hopefully that worked. 9-11 is EMH.

Of course. The way you worded it I thought you meant "normal" hours. Sorry

 

[tracynicole21]

Of course. The way you worded it I thought you meant "normal" hours. Sorry

No problem! I should have specified!

 

[tracynicole21]

Is your trip around the opening of ROL (this April/May)? I ask because right now Future World (one half of Epcot) is kinda gutted at the present. DP and I are only planning on half a day in Epcot during our April trip (enough time to walk around World Showcase, in my experience). I really don't think Epcot needs a whole day, especially with evening hours. So like a previous poster said, if your goal at DS is shopping, I would go there in the morning on your Epcot day. if it's a mix, I would go to Epcot in the morning, take a cab to DS in the early afternoon (bussing to DS from a park is a pain, and will eat up time), then head back to Epcot for dinner/illuminations/late night rides.

Yes, I'm going towards the end of May. I guess we will go to Epcot and see what there is to see and if we want to leave early we can come back later in the evening. Though, I'm not getting the impression that DS can't be missed, so… maybe I'll just hang around the parks and ride some stuff twice!