How hard is it to take impromptu trips these days?

[mjallemand]

I mentioned to the wife last night that I was starting to suffer from Epcot withdrawal, and she suggested we take a weekend trip someday. At the moment it's too hot and with school still out for the summer, assuredly too crowded, so it's not something I'd want to try to pull off at the moment.

The last three trips we took to WDW (Nov 2010, Oct 2012, Nov 2015) were all planned over at least a year in advance with meticulous scheduling and booking hotel rooms and other amenities way ahead of time. How hard is it to just jump in a car and go to WDW these days?

Since it's been close to two years since I've done any trip planning, I need a good refresher. Is late October and Early November still a good time to drop in or should I try for another period? Ideally I'd love to go for Epcot's 35th anniversary but with October 1st being in the midst of Food & Wine and on a Sunday, I would imagine the park's gonna be a madhouse. I guess if I show up later in the month I could still nab some merch anyway.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I mentioned to the wife last night that I was starting to suffer from Epcot withdrawal, and she suggested we take a weekend trip someday. At the moment it's too hot and with school still out for the summer, assuredly too crowded, so it's not something I'd want to try to pull off at the moment.

The last three trips we took to WDW (Nov 2010, Oct 2012, Nov 2015) were all planned over at least a year in advance with meticulous scheduling and booking hotel rooms and other amenities way ahead of time. How hard is it to just jump in a car and go to WDW these days?

Since it's been close to two years since I've done any trip planning, I need a good refresher. Is late October and Early November still a good time to drop in or should I try for another period? Ideally I'd love to go for Epcot's 35th anniversary but with October 1st being in the midst of Food & Wine and on a Sunday, I would imagine the park's gonna be a madhouse. I guess if I show up later in the month I could still nab some merch anyway.

I'd say it depends on what you'd be happy with. Impromptu trips are definitely manageable, but are there certain elements you'd be disappoint if you couldn't do? Are you flexible on where you want to stay? Are you okay if you can't get an ADR for the exact restaurant and time you wanted? Are you okay with waiting in a standby line because you couldn't get a fastpass for the one ride you want to do? If yes, then go for it! You can still have fun!

It's been many years since I've been there in October/November so I'll let someone else tackle those questions. DD was an infant the last time I was there in November and she's 13 now.

 

[mjallemand]

I'd say it depends on what you'd be happy with. Impromptu trips are definitely manageable, but are there certain elements you'd be disappoint if you couldn't do? Are you flexible on where you want to stay? Are you okay if you can't get an ADR for the exact restaurant and time you wanted? Are you okay with waiting in a standby line because you couldn't get a fastpass for the one ride you want to do? If yes, then go for it! You can still have fun!

It's been many years since I've been there in October/November so I'll let someone else tackle those questions. DD was an infant the last time I was there in November and she's 13 now.

I don't think we'd be doing any table dining outside of maybe a visit to Raglan Road in Disney Springs. We're good with quick-service for practically everything, especially since we'd probably be there for two park days.

I don't think I'd sweat missing out on any attractions. The two or three that come to mind that I'd definitely want to hit are fairly high capacity so waits shouldn't be too bad assuming I'm not there during peak crowd times (Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, etc.)

I honestly just kinda want to wander around Epcot as a whole and just soak up the atmosphere. Epcot's not what it used to be but it's still my happy place.

 

[Micca]

Food & Wine at Epcot runs through Nov. 13. During F&W Epcot is slammed on evenings and all day on weekends. Daytime during the weekdays it's not bad. If you're thinking of MK at all you'll want to consider the Halloween parties going on there (over by the end of October of course.) You might find a sweet spot after Nov 13 & Thanksgiving. None of this means you shouldn't go when you wish, just be prepared to deal with busy parks.

 

[mjallemand]

That's what I was afraid of. As much as I love the idea of being in Epcot on the 35th anniversary, the one-two-three punch of F&W Crowds, 35th Anniversary Crowds, and Weekend Crowds seems like it might not be the best idea.

 

[fractalpotato]

Several times a year I take a trip with a CM friend for a few days here or there, it is rarely planned more than a few days out and we usually get all the headliners in no problem, eat QS/CS mostly, though we've done TS with the less popular (i.e. not BoG) restaurants on a whim. It's totally feasible, though I wouldn't expect to ride FoP or NRJ.

Matt

 

[minniegirl19]

I met a family this past weekend that decided they were going the previous Saturday and showed up Wednesday so a 4 day prep time. I asked if it was hard to plan in such a short time and they said they had such a great time and would do it again in a heartbeat. They ended up getting chef Mickey ohana and other big adrs as well. Going in oct or nov you will have plenty of time to plan

 

[mjallemand]

Several times a year I take a trip with a CM friend for a few days here or there, it is rarely planned more than a few days out and we usually get all the headliners in no problem, eat QS/CS mostly, though we've done TS with the less popular (i.e. not BoG) restaurants on a whim. It's totally feasible, though I wouldn't expect to ride FoP or NRJ.

Matt

We'd probably just be sticking to Epcot and Magic Kingdom anyway. Heck even Magic Kingdom will likely be a half-day excursion with a day and a half of Epcot.

I met a family this past weekend that decided they were going the previous Saturday and showed up Wednesday so a 4 day prep time. I asked if it was hard to plan in such a short time and they said they had such a great time and would do it again in a heartbeat. They ended up getting chef Mickey ohana and other big adrs as well. Going in oct or nov you will have plenty of time to plan

ADRs likely won't be a concern, my biggest worry would be crowd levels around Food & Wine. I'm not terrible with crowds but if I feel like there's so many people that I'm not having a good time it may not be worth it.

 

[fractalpotato]

We'd probably just be sticking to Epcot and Magic Kingdom anyway. Heck even Magic Kingdom will likely be a half-day excursion with a day and a half of Epcot.

ADRs likely won't be a concern, my biggest worry would be crowd levels around Food & Wine. I'm not terrible with crowds but if I feel like there's so many people that I'm not having a good time it may not be worth it.

I'd probably say a day in each, hit up Epcot early for the WS and move to FW as F&W gets in to full swing. MK the next day, you'll do great!

Matt

 

[mjallemand]

I'd probably say a day in each, hit up Epcot early for the WS and move to FW as F&W gets in to full swing. MK the next day, you'll do great!

Matt

If it's September 29th and October 1st as I'm currently planning, I'm thinking maybe a 9AM to 2PM Epcot visit on the 29th, with the rest of the day at MK (So we can peep the new castle show as well) and all of the 1st at Epcot.

 

[fractalpotato]

I think the planning mentality and the "<latest headliner> or bust" attitude on the boards can be disconcerting. So many people seem to hinge their trip on the most exclusive things at WDW. I think with FP+ and MDE taking a trip on a whim is easier than ever. I can book tickets and hotel online and grab several great FastPasses on my way to the airport. I've gotten great day of FPs when using CM guest passes, plus I just waited in lines sometimes. I've never had a trip feel ruined because it wasn't planned six months out. No, I haven't ridden FoP yet, but I will in September, and otherwise I've had a great time.

Matt

 

[HopperFan]

Very common for us, it really depends on you. How you like to travel, expectations, flexibility etc.

 

[otten]

We did a last minute one day trip 2 years ago after a cruise. We were traveling with a 3 year old and 10 month old and weren't out to do the big rides and had a great time. So much so that that's the day that stands out the most from that trip, not the 7 night cruise. It was early May which I've since learned is not a very high crowd time.

 

[msk]

I just came back in June from a quick trip. I was able to book my dining and fast passes but no Fast Passes for my grandchildren because they had group tickets. We got great same day FP+. We had a marvelous very relaxing time in MK and EP It was fun to just be able to go with the flow. I have also planned a last minute 3 day trip. We leave this Sat. with more granddaughters and their mother. Yesterday I was able to get Fast Passes for everything except the Pandora rides (we plan to hit those during extra magic hours) and 7DMT and all the dining we wanted including BOG before park opening I'm looking forward to a relaxing time just enjoying WDW.

I think you will have plenty of time to get the reservations and FP+ you want. - Have a great time!

 

[srwarden1928]

It looks to me that the only REALLY necessary and difficult FP are 7DMT, FEA, FOP, and NRJ. Even the headliners have been having some very reasonable lines recently.
If you like some of the less popular restaurants, some of which are excellent, and are willing to eat at off times, which I happen to prefer, even ADRs at the last minute seem possible.
I did however run into a resort issue when I considered a May trip and looked in February. POP, ASMO, ASMU, ASSP were all completely full. AOA was more expensive than the moderates. I was considering whether to bump up to a moderate, but decided to save money and go in the fall.
IMO, if you can get into the resort you want, or one you find acceptable, a last minute trip could be a lot of fun.
BTW, in my previous experience with F&W, the crowds are in World Showcase walking around for the most part. The lines for the attractions in Future World didn't seem to be excessively lengthened. Of course that wasn't during Epcot's 35th. I have no idea how that will increase crowds.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I just booked a trip yesterday for my wife and daughter to go 7/25 - 7/30. Room only reservation and airfare cost a little over $1k (great discount on airfare).

Booked all my FP+ and the only attraction I couldnt get was Flight of Passage. We didnt book any table service dining but saw plenty of availability for the places we did look at.

Resort, airfare and FP+ all booked just yesterday for a trip in less than 2 weeks during the summer.

 

[IvyWinter]

Not hard at all; just booked a trip 2 days ago for this month, 24th-27th. if you are flexible, playing around with dates can yield some great resort deals and availability. Granted i am going solo, so FP availability was great for me (minus flight of passage but thats OK iwant to see the queue!). I used Jetblue points and easily found flights with seats. not MANY seats, but not sold out either.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think that it depends entirely on how flexible you are and what your expectations are.

Clearly, if your Disney trip would not be complete without FP for FoP and FEA, and ADRs for BOG and 'Ohana, then that would very likely be a problem! All depends...

 

[jina]

we went the week before Thanksgiving in 2014 - EPCOT wasn't bad except for evenings where World Showcase was wall to wall people. If you go on a weekday you should be fine.

 

[Micca]

the one-two-three punch of F&W Crowds, 35th Anniversary Crowds, and Weekend Crowds

I'm not aware that the Epcot 35th Anniversary is even a thing. I know 2021 is going to be HUGE for all of WDW due to the 50th, and 2022 will be big for Epcot's 40th, but this year???