Help me with logistiics and itinerary

[Jennasis]

Dh and I were not planning on getting the park hopping option added for our upcoming trip as we only planned to be in one park on one day. We'll be there for 5 days. My sister (who is there on a conference and is allowing us to share her room) wants to go on Expedition:Everest really badly (and we do too), but the day we had planned to do AK is a dy she'll be busy at conferences all day. I would feel so guilty for not going on Everest once with her, especially since she was so generous in letting us share her room (for free!). Would you get park hoppers just to jump over to AK once, for one ride?

I thought about rearranging our schedule to hit Ak on a day she could do it with us (Sat/Sun), but I've got all our ADR's set too and I'm worried about losing them and not being able to replace them.

Could we upgrade to park hoppers once we are there? We'll be buying our tix from AAA.

I love my big sis so much that I really am willing to turn the whole scheudle around to accomodate her need to try EE for the first time. What would you do? Here's our schedule so far:

Thursday: MGM with an 8:30pm ADR at Spoodles (we want to see Fantasmic and my sis is in meetings until 5pm anyway. She'll meet us for dinenr)

Friday: AK with a 6:20 ADR at Boma. (sis can meet us for dinner, but can't get away from her conference to ride anything with us)

Saturday: Epcot with an 8:00pm ADR at Rose and Crown (hoping for a seat on the water for Illuminations...sis will be able to spend all day with us)

Sunday: MK with a 5:45 ADR at LTT as an early Thanksgiving dinner, trip is Nov 9-13. (This could be a day we could hop to Ak if we had hoppers. We'd do it in the am and return to MK after, and sis will be with us all day)

Monday: Back to whatever park we might've missed. Sis will be back in meetings.

$70 seems like a big chunk to spend on an hour in another park, but it's priceless compared to spending time with my sis, who I adore! Would you buy hoppers, or rearrange your schedule???

 

[followme2disney]

I would rearrange my schedule. To me planning and re-planning is half the fun. If I couldn't rearrange my schedule I would spend the $70.00. You may find other times when you can use the Hopper option during your trip. When are you going?

 

[rlovew]

I would try to rearrange your schedule. Check with reservations and before they cancel one reservation make sure they have another for you to replace it. You can upgrade at the parks if you decide and if you do you can go back to all the parks on the last day and hit your favorite rides.

 

[GEM]

I'd probably just suck it up and spend the extra money to add park hopping . . .

but you're talking to someone who added "hopping" to our tickets on the very last day of our last trip - just so I could take DS back to see his much beloved miniature trains in Germany after spending a last morning at the Magic Kingdom. So, obviously, I'm a softie.

 

[Karnak]

Thursday: MGM with an 8:30pm ADR at Spoodles (we want to see Fantasmic and my sis is in meetings until 5pm anyway. She'll meet us for dinenr)

You are spending the day at the Studios, but have a reservation at Spoodles on the Boardwalk at 8:30, and want to be back at the Studios for Fantasmic? I'm not even sure that's possible. What time is Fantasmic on the day you plan to be there? If it's early in evening, there's still a problem as it takes a long time to get out of that huge theater after the show, and you would need time to travel from the Studios to the Boardwalk.

Just wondering.

 

[Jennasis]

Fantasmic is at 7pm. Plenty of time for us to head over to Spoodles afterwards.

We will be there Nov 9-13. My sister also just informed me that she may (or may not) be bringing her "guy friend". So all of the ressies I've made for us may have to be changed anyway. Boy oh boy, it's tough to be the planner!

 

[Karnak]

Fantasmic is at 7pm. Plenty of time for us to head over to Spoodles afterwards.

Interesting planning there. You just might make it work at that, but with "plenty of time?" I don't see how ...

Fantasmic is listed in the Unofficial Guide as being 25 minutes long. Assuming the show starts no more than five minutes late (which has been the norm when I've seen the show in the past), we can probably make the total time more like 30 minutes.

If the show ends at 7:30 pm, and if you sit near the back on the right side facing the stage so as to get out as quickly as possible, and beat most of the crowd that will be exiting the Studios following the show, you might be able to catch the Boardwalk bus by about 8:00. (Or clear the Studio's parking lot by 8:00 if you are driving.)

Arriving at Boardwalk's bus stop (or parking lot), by about 8:20, assuming no traffic problems, you can probably sprint to Spoodles by 8:30. (I like to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes early for a dinner reservation, but that's just me I guess.)

If it were me, I would rearrange my schedule; but in any case I wish y'all luck on that evening. (This old man has a tendency to play it probably too safe in terms of allowing time from one thing to another when planning a personal daily itinerary, and, I guess I waste some time because of it.)

Enjoy.

 

[karebear1]

Interesting planning there. You just might make it work at that, but with "plenty of time?" I don't see how ...

Fantasmic is listed in the Unofficial Guide as being 25 minutes long. Assuming the show starts no more than five minutes late (which has been the norm when I've seen the show in the past), we can probably make the total time more like 30 minutes.

If the show ends at 7:30 pm, and if you sit near the back on the right side facing the stage so as to get out as quickly as possible, and beat most of the crowd that will be exiting the Studios following the show, you might be able to catch the Boardwalk bus by about 8:00. (Or clear the Studio's parking lot by 8:00 if you are driving.)

Arriving at Boardwalk's bus stop (or parking lot), by about 8:20, assuming no traffic problems, you can probably sprint to Spoodles by 8:30. (I like to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes early for a dinner reservation, but that's just me I guess.)

If it were me, I would rearrange my schedule; but in any case I wish y'all luck on that evening. (This old man has a tendency to play it probably too safe in terms of allowing time from one thing to another when planning a personal daily itinerary, and, I guess I waste some time because of it.)

Enjoy.

She could walkover to Spoodles. It would definetly be faster then taking the bus or the boat! Only takes about 20 minutes- if you're a slow walker.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I say always getting the hopping....you NEVER know when you'll want to hop...even if it's not in the plans!

 

[MyZoeJane]

Get the hoppers! Not having to option to hop makes me feel so trapped! You never know if you'll see something at a park one day that you just missed or you don't have time for... Knowing you can zip back over for it makes it so you don't have to feel disappointed!


It's so thoughtful of you to do this for your sister, too! Especially since she's saving youa bundle on hotel costs!

 

[tjmw2727]

We like hoppers but in your case I would wait. Start out with the MYW one park per day and then if it looks like you need/want to hop you can add the feature at that point. This way if you end up in a position where you can go to AK you can add the hopper and do it. If your sister ends up to where she can't get to AK or dosen't want to get the hopper either you won't have wasted the extra $$. Especially now that there is a 4th person involved.

Interesting planning there. You just might make it work at that, but with "plenty of time?" I don't see how .... >> snip

There is no bus from the studios to BW, they have the friendship boats or a walking path to choose from. IMHO the OP can easily be out of the studios by 8pm and even a slow walker (like my 9yo) can make it to the boardwalk in 20 minutes. We usually walk and often arrive before the boat especially if one isn't at the dock when we leave.

TJ

 

[Karnak]

She could walkover to Spoodles. It would definetly be faster then taking the bus or the boat! Only takes about 20 minutes- if you're a slow walker.

You are, of course, quite right. I completely forgot about the fact that the Studios are within walking distance of Boardwalk. One would still have to get out of the crush of people leaving the show; but no problem at all getting to Spoodles on time.

My error.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Most of us here are hoppers. Since you don't have to pay for a room, I would go ahead and spring for the hoppers.

 

[brandt79]

You could also just switch your park days on Friday and Saturday. With your ADR so late on Saturday, you could spend the day at AK (which that time of year, which is when I'm going also, is only open until 5 or 7 at the latest) and still get to Epcot for Rose and Crown in time. Maybe you could push back Boma a bit later on Friday to spend more time at Epcot. I haven't had too much trouble changing around times on my ADRs for just a week and a half later than you're going. It'd definitely save you some money, and I completely understand wanting to spend time with your sister! Have fun!

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I too vote for hopping for many of the reasons already mentioned.

I like the feature because even if I plan based on the site that lists volumn predictions (shoot! I can't think of the URL), occasionally we'll end up in a park that is just crazy packed. Also if it should end up being a rainey day, you can move onto a park that has more indoor attractions (Epcot is good for that).

Have a great time!