Help with Which Park Which Days/Hopping First Timer

[JJ2017]

I'd appreciate anyone's advice!!!!

I am meeting up with a friend this Thursday to discuss our November vacation. We will be overlapping some park days and would like to plan some meals together. So, trying to figure out a tentative plan since we book ADRs in a little over a month. We are park hopping for the first time and also plan to have CL extra fast passes (assuming the pilot program is still running). So, not necessarily worried about order of the parks for booking FPs. I'm more concerned about how to hop best with a 5 and 7 year old, while staying at Dolphin. Goal would be to END the nights at Epcot or HS as much as possible since we always like to "walk" back to resort.

Jersey Week

We want to visit a park on each day - Wednesday - Sunday. Sunday is short lived - must leave for airport, Uber, by 1:00.

Arrive super late on a Tuesday - probably won't check in until midnight.

Wednesday - maybe sleep in, then Epcot for the whole day? Use CL FPs here and see "everything?" Also possibly book an Akershus lunch and then F&W for snacks/drinks for dinner? Illuminations reserved viewing. Or, do we use this day at HS?

Thursday - MK party day (not going to party) - not sure which parks to do. Maybe MK morning/end at AK? Use CL FPs and split both parks? Or we could do AK most of the day and end at Epcot for dinner.

Friday - MK party day - most likely will do MK only this day (past two years opened at 7 and we were there - awesome). Maybe last until 1 or and head back to resort to rest/swim. Epcot in evening for dinner (but F&W will be CRAZY).

Saturday - not sure which parks, but Jedi Training is a priority, so maybe this is our HS day and can book CL FPs and stay for Fantasmic? (no matter what - we will avoid MK and EP on this day)

Sunday - EP or HS - maybe we will want to do Toy Story stuff again? HS should have EMH morning hours so gives us more time).

 

[JJ2017]

Anyone interested in taking a stab??? Is there a different forum I should post this on for more responses? Thanks!

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I'd appreciate anyone's advice!!!!

I am meeting up with a friend this Thursday to discuss our November vacation. We will be overlapping some park days and would like to plan some meals together. So, trying to figure out a tentative plan since we book ADRs in a little over a month. We are park hopping for the first time and also plan to have CL extra fast passes (assuming the pilot program is still running). So, not necessarily worried about order of the parks for booking FPs. I'm more concerned about how to hop best with a 5 and 7 year old, while staying at Dolphin. Goal would be to END the nights at Epcot or HS as much as possible since we always like to "walk" back to resort.

Jersey Week

We want to visit a park on each day - Wednesday - Sunday. Sunday is short lived - must leave for airport, Uber, by 1:00.

Arrive super late on a Tuesday - probably won't check in until midnight.

Wednesday - maybe sleep in, then Epcot for the whole day? Use CL FPs here and see "everything?" Also possibly book an Akershus lunch and then F&W for snacks/drinks for dinner? Illuminations reserved viewing. Or, do we use this day at HS?

Thursday - MK party day (not going to party) - not sure which parks to do. Maybe MK morning/end at AK? Use CL FPs and split both parks? Or we could do AK most of the day and end at Epcot for dinner.

Friday - MK party day - most likely will do MK only this day (past two years opened at 7 and we were there - awesome). Maybe last until 1 or and head back to resort to rest/swim. Epcot in evening for dinner (but F&W will be CRAZY).

Saturday - not sure which parks, but Jedi Training is a priority, so maybe this is our HS day and can book CL FPs and stay for Fantasmic? (no matter what - we will avoid MK and EP on this day)

Sunday - EP or HS - maybe we will want to do Toy Story stuff again? HS should have EMH morning hours so gives us more time).

Hmm-

What dates in November are you there? I am 100% on board with your MK day plans as Thursdays are great MK days and since Thursday and Friday are party days, I'd do my best to be out of there early if I'm not going to the party. I would put whichever park is your priority to see on Wednesday. IMO,I feel like it might be a toss up between DHS and Epcot with Toy Story Land and F&W as far as crowd levels. Maybe look at the park hours and see if either has EMH on one of those days. I would likely look at a few crowd calendars but as usual, take that with a grain of salt since they are not usually on point. I like the Sunday plan of seeing what you might miss earlier in the week since it will be a short day. That's a good idea.

 

[tannerandcatesmom]

We always park hop! During F & W you want to avoid Epcot during Friday night and Saturday if possible - the crush of people who are partaking in adult beverages just doesn’t mix well with kids IMHO. Don’t get me wrong the adult beverages are fabulous during F&W but on the weekends there are big groups who drink around the world and can be unruly, lol! Going to MK on party days is a good idea but you definitely want to get there as early as you can and go to another park or resort for lunch. Animal Kingdom in the evenings is lovely so we usually do MK early and then AK. DHS will be totally different than my experiences because of Toy Story Land, so I am not much help there.

My best advice would be to decide where you want to eat, then plan around the restaurant location. Remember to plan extra time for transportation between parks! Hope you have a great time!

 

[JJ2017]

OK - so I had some time today and sketched out some loose plans. I'm seeing my friend Thursday to discuss in detail. She is a newbie and has no care to plan, so I am hoping to make things a bit more clear for her. I feel like we aren't taking advantage of the hoppers (already purchased). Any glaring mistakes?

Wednesday:

Epcot all day - Use CL FPs - so can do all Tier 1s at EP

Later Start - late breakfast at Akershus (meal we will eat with the other family)

Food and Wine in early evening (maybe even drop kids at Camp Dolphin)

Illuminations or hop to see HEA - with reserved viewing

Thursday (use CL FPs at AK):

MK morning/AK afternoon-evening

BOG early lunch (meal do together)

Rivers of Light with reserved viewing or go back to sleep?

Friday:

MK until we are done and pool day - dinner at Epcot (scary with F&W) or walk around HS/Fantasmic?

Saturday (use CL FPs):

HS all day

PPO H&V (meal together)
JTA

Fantasmic or end at MK with HEA - with reserved viewing (but crowds will be SCARY if it's the same as last year)

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I think this schedule looks great, my DH never plans and defers it all to me but he's not a newbie so he knows it takes a village. I love the schedule and think your PH are great, not too lofty at all. I think the CL FP+ will be amazing and really help you maximize your time.