I put off planning, now I need HELP.

[PDXmouse]

I need help from the masters at DisBoards!
I booked our flights and hotels a while back and have done nothing else. I need to get the rest sorted out. Everything has changed so much since we last visited in 2018.

Questions I need to answer:
1) Best way to get from the airport to RPR? 2 adults, 2 teens.
2) Best place to buy tickets to Universal?
3) Best tour company to get from RPR to Kennedy Space Station then return to the SWAN (so drop off and pickup are different)
4) How do I figure out what days each park will have extended evening theme park hours?? (We will be there late June, early July so the Disney site calendar doesn't go out that far yet. Do I assume it will be the same as now with EEH for Epcot on Monday and MK on Wed? Will there be no EEH for AK or DHS at all?)
5) It looks like there is Early Entry every single day for all four parks, is this right? (We are staying at the Swan.)
6) What park is best for July 4th? MK or Epcot? Any special strategies - like maybe booking a dessert party?
7) The Swan is completely booked for the days we are there. What are the odds we will be able to see Disney Fireworks from our room? We are Marriot Gold if it matters, not that it carries much weight these days. Our room is "resort view."
8) Am I correct in understanding that I can make dining and other reservations on 4/24? (We check in at the Swan on 6/23.)
9) Do we need to bother with park hoppers at all? Last time we bought passes with park hoppers and never used them. We just did one park a day.
10) Right now we've scheduled two days at each park. If we choose ONE park where we do a third day, which would you recommend?
11) Best way to get from the Swan to the airport?

Here's the *very* tentative plan. I am completely open to suggestions!

6/20 - travel day - fly in head to Lowes RPR. (Coming from the west coast so it's a long day.)
6/21 - Universal
6/22 - Universal
6/23 - DH & Kids head to Kennedy Space Station, while I transfer all our luggage to the Swan and then meet up with some friends
6/24 - AK
6/25 - HS
6/26 - Epcot (Late Start & use EEH)
6/27 - OFF day (no parks)
6/28 - MK (using EEH)
6/29 - OFF day (no parks)
6/30 - HS
7/1 - AK
7/2 – OFF day (no parks)
7/3 - MK with dessert party? (Do we stand a chance at getting spots?)
7/4 - Epcot
7/5 - Flex day?? Not sure. Recommendations from anyone...?
7/6 - Relax during day, fly home late afternoon

I'd love input from anyone! I want to get our park reservations booked, and then decide on restaurants so I'm ready to book dining reservations when our window opens.

 

[fla4fun]

As far as MK or Epcot on the 4th, MK typically does their show on the 3rd and 4th, so you can see both by going to MK on the 3rd and Epcot on the 4th. There won’t be a huge difference in the crowds either way.

All the parks open a half hour early for on site guests. You should be able to find out all the information you need regarding early and late hours on the Disney website. If you click Park Hours, and then under today’s date click More Hours, the five day schedule shows the evening extended hours.

 

[MammaMia 80s Kid]

The only input I have is that your trip looks fantastic, on-site guests have Early Entry access every day, I read that Uber is like $36 one way and Lyft is closer fo $40 (and I think you all can ride in the one vehicle and get direct transport to your destination), Mears and Sunshine Flyers are more expensive and take longer for you at $16 pp (with a current $12 pp deal at Subshine that may or may not extend to your dates) and may involve waiting for other resort drop offs, and, given all the days and time you have, I don’t think you need PH. If the money isn’t an issue for you, though, maybe it’s worth it to go from EP to HS or vice versa.

I don’t know much, as a I’ve been obsessively planning for months, changing our resort and days due to outside factors (my daughter’s swim meet date, which wasn’t set until about a month and a half ago and shortened our trip, my parents’ desire to join us and health, which expanded my party from 5 -7) and have been learning about all of the changes since we last visited in 2013.

Also, the ADR’s require park reservations for that location that day (but maybe not for acter 2 pm with PH passes) and become available/change a lot. There are a lot of QS options, too!

I hope you and your family have a spectacular time!

 

[PDXmouse]

As far as MK or Epcot on the 4th, MK typically does their show on the 3rd and 4th, so you can see both by going to MK on the 3rd and Epcot on the 4th. There won’t be a huge difference in the crowds either way.

Thank you! I think I remember that but had forgotten! I will rearrange to go to MK on 7/3 and Epcot on 7/4.

 

[kylenne]

Sorry I can't help you with Uni.

5) It looks like there is Early Entry every single day for all four parks, is this right? (We are staying at the Swan.)

Yes. There will be two separate areas for Early Entry and regular guests, CMs will check to make sure you're eligible. Swolphin guests can show your room key iirc.

6) What park is best for July 4th? MK or Epcot? Any special strategies - like maybe booking a dessert party?

Crowds will be deep regardless. Note MK shows fireworks on the 3rd and 4th so you can see both at each park. If you want a MK dessert party make sure to book asap when your window opens up, they go fast for holidays. Epcot dessert parties have not come back since the closures but there are dining packages for Rose & Crown and Spice Road Table. They're unnecessary imo, Epcot Forever (the temporary show running now) does not require any real camping to get a decent spot since the show is pretty much all fireworks and can be viewed from anywhere. I like viewing from Japan though people have found out about my favorite spot (outside Tokyo Dining).

7) The Swan is completely booked for the days we are there. What are the odds we will be able to see Disney Fireworks from our room? We are Marriot Gold if it matters, not that it carries much weight these days. Our room is "resort view."

Depends on what room you end up in, but you may want to ask on the dedicated Swan & Dolphin thread on the Resorts board.

8) Am I correct in understanding that I can make dining and other reservations on 4/24? (We check in at the Swan on 6/23.)

Yes. Link your reservation number in MDE if you haven't already, but make sure to keep checking the app to make sure it's still there. People regularly report Swan and Dolphin stays dropping off the app and needing to re-link.

9) Do we need to bother with park hoppers at all? Last time we bought passes with park hoppers and never used them. We just did one park a day.

This is entirely up to you tbh. I have always had either an AP or hoppers because I get bored being in the same park all day and like to mix it up, but they are extra nice to have when staying at Crescent Lake. So nice to be able to hop into World Showcase after midday break for an ADR or festival food regardless of where I went in the morning.

10) Right now we've scheduled two days at each park. If we choose ONE park where we do a third day, which would you recommend?

Honestly, if your group is into the rides at HS, I would say HS. It's a very challenging park right now in heavy crowds with RNRC being down for major refurbs (it may be back up by your trip, but we don't have an ETA other than "summer"). More days there will make it easier to ride the headliners.

11) Best way to get from the Swan to the airport?

Probably rideshare. You should be past the peak surge pricing days by the time of your departure.

 

[PDXmouse]

Thank you Kylenne! You are amazing and I appreciate the time you took to answer some of my questions! Mwah!!