How do these plans sound? Need some input please.

[mshanson3121]

Sort of in a spin off of my other thread. Kids will be basically 12 and 9 when we go (both just weeks shy of their birthdays). Both have special needs, so down time is important to us, on the other hand, they typically handle 8 hour days in theme parks without any issue as long as we have a stroller for DD. They also do well with late nights, as long as it's not followed by too early of a morning the next day. This time around they want to hit up every late night show possible (other than we're skipping IllumiNations). We just added another day to our tickets, so we can try and see both night time attractions at HS, so had to adjust previous plans a bit, and I'm just wondering if it sounds okay. Also want some input on our AK day.

May 14: plane lands at 2:00. We are going to play this evening by ear, but, as long as we're not too tired, the plan is to go into Hollywood Studios this evening, planning a 6 or 7 pm entry. We got a FP+ for Frozen, TSMM and Fantasmic. If there's time, we'll plan on meeting Mickey & Minnie, and Olaf. My son is a huge Sorcerer Mickey fan, so we figure meeting Sorcerer Mickey and then watching F! is a great kick off to vacation!

May 15: Epcot. We'll sleep in a bit, and plan to be in Epcot between 10 or 11. Stay till we're done, which I imagine will be around 4 or 5. Evening at the resort.

May 16: Magic Kingdom. We do plan to try and rope drop MK (but we'll see how it goes). Will stay for the parade, then head back to the resort.

May 17: Animal Kingdom. I'm torn on what to do here. We definitely want to see AK at night, so, we either plan on A) spending the morning at the resort resting/swimming, and then we'll head into AK around 1 or 2 or B ) doing morning/afternoon break/evening. We all definitely prefer option A, but how miserable will it be walking the trails in the afternoon/early evening compared to morning? The trails/animals are definitely important to us. Thoughts?

May 18: Hollywood Studios. Plan on spending most of the day at the resort resting/swimming. Plan to enter HS late afternoon, between 3-4. Star Wars Fireworks tonight. However, if we were too tired to do HS on arrival night, we'll just enter the park earlier this day, right after lunch. My FIL will take DS to see F! and DD and I will watch the fireworks.

May 19: Magic Kingdom. Plan on spending the morning at the resort resting/swimming. Entering MK around 1. Staying for fireworks. We have Garden Plaza Dessert Party booked.

May 20: Full resort day. 11:30 ressie at 1900 Park Fare. Will probably go for some mini golf after, then back to resort. We have an early flight out so need to be in bed early.


So, thoughts? The kids really want a full resort day in there somewhere, and I figured putting it on the last day lets us rest up before our long day traveling home (have a 3.5 hour flight that leaves at 6:30 am, meaning we'll be up at 2:45, and then we still have a 4.5 drive home after we land). It also does give us some flexibility, as if necessary, we could always use the resort day if need be for a shorter park day if something happens earlier in the week. My only concern is if 5 full park days in a row is going to be too much?? Do you think we have enough down time built into each day? Or should we just plan on an early rest day now? Which would make our schedule more:

1: arrival day with HS
2: AK (afternoon arrival, stay for evening)
3: MK (late morning arrival, leave after parade)
4: HS (same plan as above)
5: rest day with 1900 PF
6: MK (same plan as above)
7: EP (short day, enter around 11 and leave around 4 or 5)

For comparison, last time we did 4 days in a row, and we were bushed by the 5th day (when we finally took a full resort day). Said we wouldn't do 4 days in a row again, lol. And now here I am planning 5-6.... But, the kids were only (just turned) 5 and 8, and our schedule was fuller (Day 1: EP from 9-4 Day 2: MK from 9-4 then went to HDDR for a 6:00 show Day 3: AK from 9-4 Day 4: HS 9-2, quick break at house, then back from 5-10).

Honest thoughts?

 

[Sara_H]

Honestly, to me it sounds like you won't actually be spending much time in the parks. However, you know what your family can handle and what works best and you have been there before so you probably know what you can skip and what you must do. I say, if this plan is what makes you happy and will provide a great trip for all, then go for it!

 

[mshanson3121]

Honestly, to me it sounds like you won't actually be spending much time in the parks. However, you know what your family can handle and what works best and you have been there before so you probably know what you can skip and what you must do. I say, if this plan is what makes you happy and will provide a great trip for all, then go for it!

We'll have 8 hours each day in park?? Other than HS which would be 3 days on one day and 5-6 the other.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Your plan really sounds great, with some of your days you are leaving early or coming late that will really help. We we tired after 3 days in a row but we did open to close. We also have a child with special needs. We just remembered to not go go go at the parks. All that money spent and my kids remember playing checkers at mk. If you can you should go to Disney Springs. My kids really liked the t rex cafe for dinner

 

[Sara_H]

We'll have 8 hours each day in park?? Other than HS which would be 3 days on one day and 5-6 the other.

I was not trying to be rude at all, I'm just very used to being at the parks from open to close or almost close.

Like said above, I was also going to add maybe trying to add in some time at Disney Springs.

 

[mshanson3121]

I was not trying to be rude at all, I'm just very used to being at the parks from open to close or almost close.

Like said above, I was also going to add maybe trying to add in some time at Disney Springs.

No no, it wasn't rude, lol. I guess I just didn't think 8 hours was a short day lol

 

[Sara_H]

No no, it wasn't rude, lol. I guess I just didn't think 8 hours was a short day lol

8 hours is crazy long at work but short to me at Disney. Probably also due to the cost...I want to get every last penny out of it.

 

[siren0119]

8 hours is crazy long at work but short to me at Disney. Probably also due to the cost...I want to get every last penny out of it.

LOL I'm in the same boat - we are park commandos and with the ticket prices I just want to squeeze every minute out of it I can! But my kids are also pretty good with long days, and we make sure to build in a resort day in the middle to sleep in and recharge.

As far as the AK question - you are actually going to see a lot more from the animals later in the day, when the heat of the afternoon has died down. I feel like I get more out of a 5 or 6pm Kilimanjaro Safari ride than I do at 10am.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

8 hours is crazy long at work but short to me at Disney. Probably also due to the cost...I want to get every last penny out of it.

Especially when you spend an hour in transport getting to the park.....