How do you tackle a 3 day trip?

[jarrdisney]

We are wdw veterans but will be taking our first really short trip early Feb. We've basically done everything and don't want to go commando. I am interested in your input however. We will be arriving at WL around 6PM Fri Feb 2nd and will be departing 330PM on Mon Feb 5th. Have any of you done a quick trip like this without running yourself down? What do you suggest we do? thanks

 

[disnut8]

We've done short trips quite often. Usually for three day weekends. We've even done shorter trips.

What we would do in the this situation is to go to start in Animal Kingdom one day and MGM the other day. Do those until we feel we are "done". We don't do everything, just our favorites and maybe a few things we haven't done in a while. Then we end up in Epcot for the rest of the day. Since we usually go during a holiday three day weekend, we avoid Magic Kingdom all together.

I suggest that for your two days, you break it up into four different "areas". Saturday morning/afternoon, Saturday afternoon/night, Sunday morning/afternoon, and Sunday afternoon/night. We don't list what we want to do, just go with the flow. Like at MGM - if we can fit Rock N Roller Coaster and Twilight Zone in there, great. If not, we try for Rock N Roller Coaster first and Twilight Zone second. Then we just fill our time in with other stuff. Mission:Space is a must at Epcot. Flights of Wonder is a must at Animal Kingdom. Everything else is on the fly.

We might make one ADR, usually for a lunch.

 

[The Mick]

Disnut has some great ideas.

Also, if you have an absolutely favorite park (say for example EPCOT), spend one entire day there, then split day 3 between 2 other parks, and dedicate the morning of day 4 to a third park before you have to leave. Also pay attention to Extra Magic Hours and take advantage of them, leaving you more time at other parks.

I might do something like this:

Friday Night (after settling down at WL at 6pm): Downtown Disney or Boardwalk (this is also EMH night at EPCOT...so you could take advantage of that)
Saturday: Epcot all day
Sunday: AK until early afternoon (get FP for Everest first thing upon entering), MK rest of day (Sunday is EMH for MK)
Day 4: MGM until you have to leave for the airport.

 

[The Mick]

Or, another option:

Friday Night: EPCOT (extra magic hours that night)
Saturday: AK until early afternoon, MGM rest of day (MGM extra magic hours that night)
Sunday: MK all day (including extra magic hours if you want)
Monday: EPCOT until you have to leave

I'd like this - beginning and ending with EPCOT.

 

[CathrynRose]

We're pulling a 4 day trip in January....

I figure any time at Disney is better than no time at Disney.

And like you, we're veterans - so, Im not going to concern myself if I dont "see everything" - we'll be back again.

We do have a bit more time than you, arrive Thursday 9am - depart Sunday 7pm - makes it a tad easier - but you'll enjoy yourself either way!

 

[DisneyWorldWisher]

If we had three days...

Day One:
Magic Kingdom
Day Two:
Epcot
Day Three:
Magic Kingdom

We like those two parks the best...

 

[The Mick]

On these short trips, extra magic hours can be very important because it lengthens the day, enabling you to do more if you want.

More than anything, like I said above, I'd take advantage of these nights and cater your schedule around them.

 

[jarrdisney]

Thanks so much for the info. We will definatley be applying it to our trip. I definatley agree a short trip to wdw is better than no trip at all. We just returned from a nice holiday trip mid december. I figured we had an AP rate to take advantage of, and I definatley couldn't wait until april to go again!

 

[TDC Nala]

Not trying to see everything, and not being averse to skipping a park. I usually skip AK or MK. I am almost always in Epcot and MGM on all my trips. I'll roll into MK on my last day before ME pickup, ride the Haunted Mansion, and leave.

My main pursuits right now are eating dinner, drinking, and visiting PI. I'll do that both nights of a 3 day trip and not really worry about the parks, which are pretty much something to do until the Adventurers Club opens at this point. I hardly ever mess with Extra Magic hours, morning or evening.

 

[ploto]

just remember in 3 days there is no possible way you could see everything, so just be happy with what you got done and don't worry about what you didn't get to do.

 

[engle]

Here is what we are doing...and we have done quite a bit before as well...looking for a more relaxing trip...

Half Day One...Dinner at Victoria and Alberts
Day Two...KTTK tour, Dinner in Italy
Day Three...Massage at the Spa at SSR then onto MK to do a coupla faves
Half Day Four...Breakfast at Kona Cafe then onto AK to do a coupla faves