I forgot how to schedule a trip. lol

[Chili327]

So I usually feel pretty good about knowing which parks I want to go to each day, so booking dining is usually pretty simple, but looking at crowd calendars, & event dates/times, etc. I'm so lost, I have no idea where I want to be, except glad to be at Boardwalk for EEH at Epcot, & DHS (if the schedule stays the same thru the end of Oct).

How do you go about this process... my 60 day dining window is going to open in a couple weeks, & I feel like I have no plan.?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Look at the hours and events schedule and see if that helps you narrow it down. Keep in mind the new rule for park hopping on the weekends at MK due to the new parade. I will see if I can find a link about it

 

[VGCgroupie]

https://thatparkplace.com/disney-dr...s-blocking-for-cast-members-at-magic-kingdom/

 

[Chili327]

Look at the hours and events schedule and see if that helps you narrow it down.

Unfortunately they don't have EEH posted thru end of Oct yet.

Keep in mind the new rule for park hopping on the weekends at MK due to the new parade. I will see if I can find a link about it

Does that affect me if I'm not a pass holder? (probably wouldn't visit MK on the weekend anyway. lol)

 

[MICKIMINI]

*Print a free blank month calendar (print several so you can have a clean final copy)
*Park hours and MK party days play a factor. Pencil in park hours on each day of your trip. Color coding helps. Neatness counts LOL!
*Consider potential "free" water park day(s) and pencil in on your calendar if it interests you (may fill in a half day)
*List all ADR's your party is interested in on a clean piece of paper noting breakfast, lunch, dinner or brunch etc. (yes, I LIKE paper!)
*At 60 days, target your most sought after ADR's and MAKE A RESERVATION knowing you can cancel later
*Back up and match parks with ADR's
*Sort through your calendar and cross out anything that doesn't "fit" just right making a note to cancel any ADR's
*AP holders need to book a first park each day corresponding with ADR's
*Complete a neat and pretty final copy and don't forget to bring a couple fine point Sharpie's ($ store) to cross out and change plans on the fly

At some point, you have sifted through the info you need to have a tentative calendar for each day, noting pool days (maybe coordinating with laundry etc), Disney Springs trips and other activities

Take a pic of your "final" calendar and text to each member of your party. Plans change, it rains and all can be modified, but you have a place to start.

I am just working on early stages of this process by looking up menus for ADR's even if I am familiar with the venue. I make a note for DVC, AP or DIS VISA discounts. If there are no discounts, I pull out my handy dandy gift cards bought with deals...

We booked a last minute October trip and have two studios for our party coming in on different days. I don't believe we have ever stuck to a calendar completely, but it sure does get everyone on the same page as far as where we can meet, who gets the car (we use Alamo and put our son on as a driver at the Disney location) and where the important ADR's are and when. We are at the same resort this year OKW Turtle Pond, so it makes car sharing much easier.

Happy planning!!

 

[Chili327]

*List all ADR's your party is interested in on a clean piece of paper noting breakfast, lunch, dinner or brunch etc. (yes, I LIKE paper!)
*At 60 days, target your most sought after ADR's and MAKE A RESERVATION knowing you can cancel later
*Back up and match parks with ADR's
*Sort through your calendar and cross out anything that doesn't "fit" just right making a note to cancel any ADR's

This is where i'm getting stuck... I know the places i want to go, but not sure which days i want to be in which parks or locations. I don't want to book Skipper Canteen if im going to be at AK all day, ya know.

Also, i use Google Calendar, so all that paper isn't necessary.

 

[Mouseforward]

I’m all about convenience when making ADRs

I don’t book restaurants that are not in the park or near the park that I’m at for the day.

I also don’t split stay. So my next trip is a magic Kingdom trip so my ADRs reflect that.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Does that affect me if I'm not a pass holder? (probably wouldn't visit MK on the weekend anyway. lol)

ahh thats true. I guess it wouldnt. I was no help.. so you are just as lost

 

[Mouseforward]

This is where i'm getting stuck... I know the places i want to go, but not sure which days i want to be in which parks or locations. I don't want to book Skipper Canteen if im going to be at AK all day, ya know.

Also, i use Google Calendar, so all that paper isn't necessary.

I lost all faith and crowd calendars - they change 30 days out. So I just basically make park reservations with Magic Kingdom on the weekend days since that’s the one park that might sell out. For the other parks, I just placed them wherever during the week.

 

[Chili327]

I’m all about convenience when making ADRs

I don’t book restaurants that are not in the park or near the park that I’m at for the day.

I also don’t split stay. So my next trip is a magic Kingdom trip so my ADRs reflect that.

Yea, that is my issue, I don't know which park I will be in on which days, I only know 2 EEH parks i will end days in.

ahh thats true. I guess it wouldnt. I was no help.. so you are just as lost

No worries, i definitely appreciate the effort, you never know it could have been a big help!

 

[Chili327]

I lost all faith and crowd calendars - they change 30 days out. So I just basically make park reservations with Magic Kingdom on the weekend days since that’s the one park that might sell out. For the other parks, I just placed them wherever during the week.

Park reservations aren't needed anymore... but I do agree it seems the crowd calendars have gone to the birds. lol

 

[Mouseforward]

Yea, that is my issue, I don't know which park I will be in on which days, I only know 2 EEH parks i will end days in.

I think you’re worrying too much, if you’re not an annual passholder just randomly place your parks on days during the week. Granted, if you’re trying to save money by not getting a park hopper, you may wanna look at the extended hours.

However, I stopped looking at the extended hours because I go multiple times a year and chances are I’m in bed. I’m a morning person. Once I’ve seen the fireworks once I don’t really stay for them.

Let’s face it, the weather forecast is the real issue and if you figure out a way to predict Florida weather, please post back cause I’m sure we’d all love that.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase that we plan and God laughs.

 

[bdrex28]

Unfortunately they don't have EEH posted thru end of Oct yet.


Does that affect me if I'm not a pass holder? (probably wouldn't visit MK on the weekend anyway. lol)

I do wish they'd post their After Hours nights more in advance.

 

[Chili327]

To clarify, my issue isn't ADR's, that I can figure out, once I know which park i will be in... I just feel like either crowd calendars used to be more helpful, or there was another way i used to make that decision.

 

[Chili327]

I think you’re worrying too much, if you’re not an annual passholder just randomly place your parks on days during the week. Granted, if you’re trying to save money by not getting a park hopper, you may wanna look at the extended hours.

Oh, i definitely have Park Hoppers.!!

I do wish they'd post their After Hours nights more in advance.

For sure, especially when you make ADR's 60 days in advance.

 

[eticketplease]

10/13 is showing but that is 60 days out. Are you going after that day?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/c...ingdom,hollywood-studios,epcot,magic-kingdom/

Try changing the number to your day "2025-10-13" and it might work

 

[Mouseforward]

Crowd calendars used to be more helpful

They use data that goes back too many years.

1. More schools go back earlier now than years ago ( Minnesota and Michigan and New Jersey are the holdouts)
2. Schools have shifted any non holiday bound vacation days.
3 The price of Disney has more people doing shorter trips.

 

[bdrex28]

Typically our trip planning is based off crowd calendar average predictions. However, those are becoming much more inaccurate than they once were. We generally go Sunday through Thursday, do park hopper and use the crowd calendars to guestimate where we'll be and when. We'll schedule basics and go from there as time gets closer. We always do at least one breakfast at Boma so we schedule that, often on our day of departure as it's a great way to kill time between checking out and heading to the airport. Typically we end up arriving Orlando around 2pm, and we've kind of started going to MK after getting our room since it's open later. We go to Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner since we've been traveling and we're hungry. then we hit up MK until close.

so, for us, that's two "given ADR's" first night and last morning.

 

[atthebeachclub]

To clarify, my issue isn't ADR's, that I can figure out, once I know which park i will be in... I just feel like either crowd calendars used to be more helpful, or there was another way i used to make that decision.

I just look at which park has evening hours, and when. Since I like evening hours and don’t like to park hop that much, I just choose my pick based on getting evening hours, then fit the other parks on other days. Magic Kingdom should always be a weekday or it will be very crowded. I prefer Animal Kingdom on weekends. I’d go any time, but it doesn’t get as crowded as the others, and I can always have a great day there.

 

[MICKIMINI]

This is where i'm getting stuck... I know the places i want to go, but not sure which days i want to be in which parks or locations. I don't want to book Skipper Canteen if im going to be at AK all day, ya know.

Also, i use Google Calendar, so all that paper isn't necessary.

Google what??? I'm old school ha, ha!!