Ideas for MK, arriving at 11:00 am :(

[surfer_ed]

Hi all, looking for some tips for a plan for the MK on May 10th.

Here is the story:
>Bringing a not-for-profit group of diasadvanatged kids, flying in early that morning but do not extpect to reach MK until 11:00 am.
>Party includes 12 kids average age is 11, three adults.
>Staying until after the fireworks and then heading home

I am really excited about being able to expereince the MK with these truly deserving children and want to be able to maximize their expereince.

I have been to MK many times and am pretty good at avoiding the crowds but usually I use the mornings to my advanatge...this time I can't get there until 11:00 am. I know we can't do everything and so our approach is to pick and choose to make it the best day ever.

Thinking of heading first to Space Mountain/Buzz then doing a few things at Fantasyland (Philharmagic) and then on to the other 2 mountains. Back track during the parade and hit Fantasyland agian. The kids usually vote to skip the parade and do rides instead.


Any suggestions...

 

[grimley1968]

I'm glad the kids probably prefer attractions to parades, because a) that saves much time waiting on parades and b) some of the shortest lines are when everyone else in the park hustles to the parade routes.

Also, May 10 is probably a good time to go crowds-wise. Most kids are still in school, and you're going on a Wednesday. You might check to see if EMH evening is on for that night.

Even though crowds will probably not be so bad, I'd still make use of Fastpass as needed. But try to determine which lines have the absolute longest wait that day and only do FP's for those rides. I doubt there will be many you'd need FP's for. Some rides that might still have more than 10-minute lines that day: Splash, BTMRR, Space Mountain and maybe Buzz.

If you were going the middle of June on a weekday and were getting there at 11, I'd be a little worried. But you are going in early May, when all but some college students are still in school and you're going on a school day. You can't time it much better than that in warm weather season.

Kids that age usually don't care for sit-down meals, versus just eating quickly and getting to the next ride. So I'd make sure just to do snacks and one or two counter service meals to minimize waiting around for food.

Those kids will have a blast! to you for doing this for them.

 

[Baloo]

First off Ed I want to commend you on a wonderful thing you're doing for these kids!



Now turn that around because so what you'll be getting there after 11am...YOU'RE STILL AT WDW!!!



I'm thinking May 10 shouldn't be that crowded of a day as it's mid week and schools haven't let out for Summer Break yet.



I really don't have a touring suggetion but I think I might just get FP while going through Fantasyland onto Splash and BTMRR as Fanatsyland can get unbearable crowded in the afternoon.

Wishing you and the kids a magical trip!

 

[gigi1313]

last year we arrived on a thursday around 11am and were pleasantly surprised (i had considered doing our non-park day that day, hitting DTD and maybe going to a park for an evening show 'cause i was so afraid of lines in the afternoon)... i would suggest having lunch before you get to the park, so you can take advantage of the time when everyone else is lunching, 'cause the last thing you want is *one more* line to wait on!

i would probably recommend FP'ing space while waiting for Buzz... same strategy w/the two mountains... also, to get back to tomorrow/fantasy-lands, consider the train... it leaves you in toontown and we totally lucked into a big group of characters signing autographs and posing for photos in the little cement area just next to the train station/next to the judge's tent... some really rare characters... it was GREAT (and there were no lines... there were about 2 dozen people and a dozen characters!)

ENJOY

 

[David R]

Use fast passes - send a runner for them if possible.