Help with FP strategy and overall plan! Party of 6, multiple generations

[Afabena]

Hi there-I am approaching my FP window on Sept 3 and looking for strategies on what to book first, as well as what you all do when you have multiple generations going with some people not wanting to ride certain attractions? Also if anyone wants to critique my current plans that’s welcome too! We have 5 day park hoppers and the plan is to start in one park in the morning, go back to the room/pool on some days and hop to a different park for the evening. Our group is myself (mid 30’s decent shape, my DH, 40 in ok shape, 2 kids who are 6 (one is 42” and the other 48” tall), and my parents who are pushing 70. My mom is in good shape for her age, I’m worried about my dad standing in lines and all the walking.

My husband loves all rides and has no fear, my daughter is the same. My son is like me and is more cautious. I have been on BTMRR, Splash, and Space so I am okay with certain things. My dad will ride coasters and my mom has already said she’s not sure about the above 3 rides as well as some others.

We are staying at BLT so want to maximize our time at MK and proximity to the resort but we also want to go to all parks. My daughter is into the princesses and son loves dinosaurs, he’s not that into Star Wars but I have a feeling he will like GE.

Current plans:
Arrival day Sun: no parks, chef mickeys at 6

Monday: PPO at BOG, plan is to ride SDMT right after - looking for FP strategies in MK after SDMT? What are my best bets for 60+1 FPS at MK? Also, hoping not to zig zag through the park too much.
Monday lunch-prob QS at the BLT pool
Monday around 4-Head to Epcot, Via Napoli ADR at 5:30, will try to get same day FPs for Epcot after we use MK FPs. Best chance of evening FPs in Epcot?

Tuesday AM: HS but I need serious help strategizing here. We want to do toy story land and SWGE will be open without the EEMH (we arrive Nov 3). I have no desire to ride TOT or RNRC and I think my parents feel the same. I think TOT will be too scary in terms of the theming for my daughter and I’m not sure if she’s tall enough for RNRC. Help!
Tuesday PM - AK - not sure if we will go back to the hotel this day. I think right now AK closes at 8. We have the restaurantasaurus burgers and sundaes booked as our dinner. What are chances of a same day dinosaur FP for 6? What’s best to do at AK in later afternoon/evening.

Wednesday - AM right now PPO at Akershus though I may drop it. Was hoping for a PPO at Garden grill but nothing yet. If I keep Akershus, we will go to Frozen right after but can we also meet Anna and Elsa right after the ride? My daughter is obsessed so this is a must at some point. If I keep the PPO what is the rest of my strategy since WS will be closed? I know Epcot doesn’t have a ton of rides. Also hoping to get out of Epcot by or before lunch.

Wednesday afternoon - hopefully pool time at BLT if we can make good use of our morning in Epcot. What are good same day FPs at MK for the night?

Wednesday PM-back to MK. Both kids have an appt at BBB at 4 and we have an ADR at CRT at 7. Hoping to push that earlier but no luck right now. Right now MK has EMH from 9-11 and we plan to stay for that.

Thursday - AM AK, do I dare rope drop FOP? Not sure I want to ride honestly, But my DH prob will. If we do FOP first, what’s the strategy for the rest of the morning? Or do we try to FP FOP and rope drop a different section of the park?
Thursday PM- HS - whatever we didn’t do on Tues morning we will try to get done this day. Suggestions?? We have an ADR around 6 at H&V with the Fantasmic package.
Not sure about the pool on Thursday, will see how it goes but I think might be too much back and forth.

Friday - last park day! AM MK for EMH. First night of MNSSHP (not going) so hoping park is emptier. Strategy and FP for this day with an expected EMH? We have lunch scheduled at Liberty Tree Tavern at noon and also an ADR at CRT at 1 though I will probably drop that. My kids also have BBB booked at 10am at the MK but that also might get dropped. We don’t have any plans for the afternoon or evening. I am hoping we can do the pool one last time and possibly go to Epcot at night. F&W is going on this week too.
Saturday we leave and we may not even be able to get one last time at the pool.

Apologies for the long post! I’m feeling overwhelmed! Also to note: this is DH and kids first time, me and my parents have not been since I was kid. Appreciate any suggestions.

 

[JPKnapp]

With multiple generations, assuming this is considered "a big trip", I'd get a FP for a Meet and Greet with Mickey. Nice keepsake and something everyone easily does together.

 

[radev104]

Sorry my reply is going to be pretty long.

I first would suggest that if you are worried about all the walking and standing in line with your dad maybe rent a wheelchair or ECV. If he wants to walk he could switch off with your mom. That might make it easier on him and possibly everyone else.

With you MK FPs I would suggest anything in Fantasyland since you are starting at BOG. Maybe see the princesses, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, or the Little Mermaid. I would try to get all the first three FPs for Fantasyland then use the extra ones to finish it up and pick a side to head to for the rest of the morning if there is time. That way you have only the other half of the park and whatever you didn't get done for your next day there. I always try to get FPs for any rides that are around me when I get the extra ones. You might have to wait a little for them to become active but it gives you some time to head to the bathroom, get a drink or rest a little.

I'm not sure what FPs you might be able to snag for EP after MK but you can always check while at the pool. You might even be able to get one for FEA that day. But I think I would try to get some of FW done the first time and save WS for your breakfast day.

You might have to skip hopping on your HS day. I don't know how the crowds will be for EEMH but doing both TSL and SWGE might take up a good chunk of time. Maybe stay a little later then head back for an early night instead of hopping. I would try to get whatever FPs you can in tier 1 then pick your other two on what attracts you.

Epcot in the morning could be your WS day. Depending on how much you get done in FW the first time you go and how much you want to do in FW you could make your FPs for MK in the evening instead of EP. I think that's what I would do especially if I got everything I wanted to get done in FW.

MK EMH at night are wonderful. You could score some pretty good FPs even if you use the first three at EP. Again start at the part where you left off the first day then continue working around.

AK rope drop is a must. We did that for FOP and the line was still all the way over the bridge to lion king but it moved pretty fast. We didn't get FPs for it and it was a must for us. If you all don't want to do it whoever wants to do can go while everyone else checks out some of the animals around the Oasis or Discovery Island. If you don't do FOP rope drop the safari. Those are our two options for morning AK. Also try to get a FP for dinosaur if its not to scary for your son.

I would drop the second BBB and CRT and stick with Liberty Tree Tavern. Finish whatever you didn't do and really want to do and start to do anything you want to do again.

F&W is wonderful and a perfect way to try new things. Instead of a big meal try to get little things from each country and share.

If you do not have a car I wouldn't go back to the room from HS or AK. Since the monorail goes from TTC to MK and EP that should be fine although the time to get from one place to another could be an hour. HS and EP have a boat that goes between the parks and of course the skyliners. so if you want to hop from HS I would suggest EP not AK.

My other suggestions are get memory maker and try to get a picture as a group with Mickey. He's in every park so that should be easy to get. And stop at as many photographers as you can. Always a great memory. They even have some magic shots they can sneak into the photos.

 

[hes122]

Monday: PPO at BOG, plan is to ride SDMT right after - looking for FP strategies in MK after SDMT? What are my best bets for 60+1 FPS at MK? Also, hoping not to zig zag through the park too much.
Monday lunch-prob QS at the BLT pool
Monday around 4-Head to Epcot, Via Napoli ADR at 5:30, will try to get same day FPs for Epcot after we use MK FPs. Best chance of evening FPs in Epcot?

I would plan on FP's for Peter Pan, Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear. Soarin is often the easiest of the Tier 1 attractions to pick up a 4th FP for in Epcot. Most if not all of the Tier 2 attractions should be available.

Tuesday AM: HS but I need serious help strategizing here. We want to do toy story land and SWGE will be open without the EEMH (we arrive Nov 3). I have no desire to ride TOT or RNRC and I think my parents feel the same. I think TOT will be too scary in terms of the theming for my daughter and I’m not sure if she’s tall enough for RNRC. Help!
Tuesday PM - AK - not sure if we will go back to the hotel this day. I think right now AK closes at 8. We have the restaurantasaurus burgers and sundaes booked as our dinner. What are chances of a same day dinosaur FP for 6? What’s best to do at AK in later afternoon/evening.

I would plan for either TSMM or Slinky Dog Dash for your Tier 1. You'll have to grab 2 otherwise meaningless FPs for Tier 2 attractions. I'd personally go with Star Tours and Muppets 3D:Vision, but if your daughter likes Frozen, I'd perhaps swap one of those for that. I don't have any advice on what might be available at AK as a 4th FP, but I would think that Dinosaur might be possible.

Wednesday - AM right now PPO at Akershus though I may drop it. Was hoping for a PPO at Garden grill but nothing yet. If I keep Akershus, we will go to Frozen right after but can we also meet Anna and Elsa right after the ride? My daughter is obsessed so this is a must at some point. If I keep the PPO what is the rest of my strategy since WS will be closed? I know Epcot doesn’t have a ton of rides. Also hoping to get out of Epcot by or before lunch.
Wednesday PM-back to MK. Both kids have an appt at BBB at 4 and we have an ADR at CRT at 7. Hoping to push that earlier but no luck right now. Right now MK has EMH from 9-11 and we plan to stay for that.

You should be able to meet Anna & Elsa right after FEA if you keep your PPO. I'd either save my FPs for MK (if you weren't be to get on 7DMTR for instance) or use my Tier 1 on Track and grab 2 random Tier 2 ones that interest you.

Thursday - AM AK, do I dare rope drop FOP? Not sure I want to ride honestly, But my DH prob will. If we do FOP first, what’s the strategy for the rest of the morning? Or do we try to FP FOP and rope drop a different section of the park?
Thursday PM- HS - whatever we didn’t do on Tues morning we will try to get done this day. Suggestions?? We have an ADR around 6 at H&V with the Fantasmic package.
Not sure about the pool on Thursday, will see how it goes but I think might be too much back and forth.

If your H is the only 1 who wants FOP, the rest of you could do Navi River Journey while he does that (either as a FP or rope drop). I'm a huge fan of the Lion King show and while you don't need a FP for it, but I don't mind using one for it. I would also recommend Kilimanjaro Safaris or Kali River Rapids if that weather is favorable.

Friday - last park day! AM MK for EMH. First night of MNSSHP (not going) so hoping park is emptier. Strategy and FP for this day with an expected EMH? We have lunch scheduled at Liberty Tree Tavern at noon and also an ADR at CRT at 1 though I will probably drop that. My kids also have BBB booked at 10am at the MK but that also might get dropped. We don’t have any plans for the afternoon or evening. I am hoping we can do the pool one last time and possibly go to Epcot at night. F&W is going on this week too.

If you're going to utilize the AM EMH, only Fantasyland will be open, so I'd use my FPs in Frontierland and Adventureland.

 

[jo-jo]

PP made a suggestion of a wheelchair/ECV. If Dad doesn't want to go that route, maybe a rollator. My DH always feel better holding onto a stroller or shopping cart. And although he'll be walking the whole time, if you're stopping to watch a show , he'll always have a seat.

 

[cjlong88]

For same day FP's in the evening, I think you will find some good options depending on how busy the park is. If you are having problems finding some good rides, try splitting up your party and book overlapping times.

AK - You will (probably) have a good chance of finding FP's for Dinosaur.
EP - This will really vary depending on how busy it is. I have found Soarin' and FEA last minute. Never had much luck with TT at night.
MK - This will REALLY vary depending on how busy it is. A lot of the outdoor rides are SUPER fun at night. BTMRR and Splash are both my favorite rides to ride at night. I have hopped in line last minute for both and usually don't wait longer than 20 minutes or so.
HS - Good Lord Almighty - literally no one can predict what this is going to be like with the new tier system. With that said, I may be in the minority when I say that TSM is one of my favorite HS rides.

Since HS closes at 10pm everyday during our stay, our current HS strategy is to hit the park in the last 30 minutes each day and get in line for one ride at park close (ToT, RnRC, TSM, and SDD). We know that will take some extra time, but HS has some of our favorite rides, and it's not a Disney trip without riding them! We are also picking one morning to get to HS SUPER early to RD SWGE, then nap, then FP at another park, then hit up HS one last time to hop in line.

Good luck!