Is my AK/HS plan possible?

[Happyinwonerland]

We are trying to plan a date night next week while at Disney World. DD(6) wants to spend time at Pixar Play Zone, so we have from 6pm to 10:30 pm to ourselves.

We'd like to do some things that DD is too scared to do. DH really likes Fantasmic and would like to see the Star Wars fireworks. I have my heart set on Avatar Flight of Passage.

Do you think it would be possible ylto drop DD off, book it to AK, ride Kali with a FP then stand in line for FOP. After FOP, we would head to HS and try to be there by 9 for the star wars fireworks. After Star Wars we could ride some things in Toy Story and then make our way back to the contemporary. We have our car and can drive ourselves, so that should save time on travel. Crowd Levels are predicted to be a 1.


If you were to plan a date night, what would you use the 4.5 hours for?

 

[StacyStrong]

I do not think so. The FOP standby line could be significant.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I do not think so. The FOP standby line could be significant.

According to touring plans, FOP is currently a 56 min wait, with a crowd level of 6. I was hoping when we get to a 1 it will be a bit less, maybe 45 or so.

 

[StacyStrong]

According to touring plans, FOP is currently a 56 min wait, with a crowd level of 6. I was hoping when we get to a 1 it will be a bit less, maybe 45 or so.

It's possible, but I wouldn't count on it personally. Even if you drop your DD off right at 6, I'm sure you won't be out of there right at 6. With a car, it'll still take time to get to your car, drive over, park, walk to Kali, hope there's no FP backup, ride it, walk to FOP, hope there's a 45 minute wait, the long preshow and ride, walk back to your car, drive over, park, etc etc.

I'm not trying to be a downer, I just think that's really really tight and every single thing would have to go perfectly.

 

[StacyStrong]

I would still put commute times at 20-25 minutes and that's not including the time it takes to get to your car.

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

We are trying to plan a date night next week while at Disney World. DD(6) wants to spend time at Pixar Play Zone, so we have from 6pm to 10:30 pm to ourselves.

We'd like to do some things that DD is too scared to do. DH really likes Fantasmic and would like to see the Star Wars fireworks. I have my heart set on Avatar Flight of Passage.

Do you think it would be possible ylto drop DD off, book it to AK, ride Kali with a FP then stand in line for FOP. After FOP, we would head to HS and try to be there by 9 for the star wars fireworks. After Star Wars we could ride some things in Toy Story and then make our way back to the contemporary. We have our car and can drive ourselves, so that should save time on travel. Crowd Levels are predicted to be a 1.


If you were to plan a date night, what would you use the 4.5 hours for?

That wouldn’t be my choice for a date night but that’s because without my kids I’d rather relax and enjoy than try to be rushing. Even if DD is too scared for FOP you both can ride it, just book FPs separately and you can wait with DD while DH rides and vice versa. I like Fantasmic but not enough to rush from contemporary to HS. Once both of my kids are old enough to do Pixar Play Zone, I think I’d go to California Grill and then do MK or id head to Epcot, dinner and then go around the World Showcase. If you really want to stick with your original ideas I’d do HS- tower of terror, rock n roller coaster then fantastmic. Fop is possible during your AK day even if DD sits out.

 

[Disneylover99]

We are trying to plan a date night next week while at Disney World. DD(6) wants to spend time at Pixar Play Zone, so we have from 6pm to 10:30 pm to ourselves.

We'd like to do some things that DD is too scared to do. DH really likes Fantasmic and would like to see the Star Wars fireworks. I have my heart set on Avatar Flight of Passage.

Do you think it would be possible ylto drop DD off, book it to AK, ride Kali with a FP then stand in line for FOP. After FOP, we would head to HS and try to be there by 9 for the star wars fireworks. After Star Wars we could ride some things in Toy Story and then make our way back to the contemporary. We have our car and can drive ourselves, so that should save time on travel. Crowd Levels are predicted to be a 1.


If you were to plan a date night, what would you use the 4.5 hours for?

Date night at Disney? I'd book a nice restaurant and maybe hit a bar or two and call it a night.

 

[Timmerica]

This is a ‘date night?’ I would certainly skip Fantasmic for ‘time in the room.’ I think going to two parks in 4.5 hours is too ambitious. If you do go for it use Uber instead of driving.

 

[Artygal90]

What evening next week are you considering? Looking at park hours for September 9th - 15th, I see AK and HS both closing at 8:30 every night, except for HS closing at 9 pm on the 15th. So I don't think you'd be able to ride anything at HS after the Star Wars fireworks.

I think MAYBE you could book it to AK and get there by 6:30 at the earliest, hope for a short FOP standby line, and then book it back to HS to get in just before they close at 8:30 and then see the Star Wars spectacular. But if it were me I'd pick AK or HS and stick with it.

For HS, I'd plan to ride the Toy Story rides and then watch the Star Wars fireworks (since they are later than Fantasmic), then head back to the Contemporary and maybe grab a drink at the Wave (if you have time and won't be driving) before picking up your daughter.

For AK, I'd ride Kali with FP and then enjoy Pandora at night, with dinner at Satuli Canteen, and then get in line for FOP right before closing for a short wait (I've read it's about half the posted wait time at the end of the night). That should give you enough time to get back to the Contemporary by 10:30.

 

[tobikaye]

I am seeing 85 minutes with an "expected" 60 minute wait 5:27 pm for FOP. I actually think the attractions that people consider the "top" attractions at each park getting just as long lines as when the park is a 4-6 since everyone goes to that park that day.\

I have been at many parks on a 2 or 3 and you can walk on about everything, but the top 3-4 attractions in a park. I still think you can do both parks, but you might want to not over plan. Maybe just decide on FOP based on what the wait time shows when you get there or just try all day to try and get a FP for near the time you want to ride. Then head to the car and head to DHS and see what you can do before it is time to leave to get your kid.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Our date nights at home are always a dinner out at a nice restaurant, so I don't want to do that. We'll be spending a lot of time at Epcot F&W, so that probably won't be what we do.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

This is a ‘date night?’ I would certainly skip Fantasmic for ‘time in the room.’ I think going to two parks in 4.5 hours is too ambitious. If you do go for it use Uber instead of driving.

Ha, we're staying at WBC, so I'm not sure if "time in room" is a good use.

Interesting point about Uber- will that save time over driving?

 

[Artygal90]

Another thought: is your daughter definitely not interested in FOP? I ask because as long as she isn't too short, I don't think it would necessarily be too scary for a 6 y.o. There were a few kids that age in our room when we rode it. I thought Soarin' was definitely more frightening in terms of heights/swooping sensations. Perhaps you could do it together in standby or do rider swap another day? Of course, you know your kid best, but I thought I'd mention it if that takes some pressure off your touring plans.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Another thought: is your daughter definitely not interested in FOP? I ask because as long as she isn't too short, I don't think it would necessarily be too scary for a 6 y.o. There were a few kids that age in our room when we rode it. I thought Soarin' was definitely more frightening in terms of heights/swooping sensations. Perhaps you could do it together in standby or do rider swap another day? Of course, you know your kid best, but I thought I'd mention it if that takes some pressure off your touring plans.

Dd gets freaked out by the 3D stuff on rides. She rode FOP back in April and cried, she refuses to go again.
We'll figure something out, I just thought it would be fun to do some of the rides she won't do, since she will be living it up at Pixar Play Time.

 

[MSPeeler]

Our date nights at home are always a dinner out at a nice restaurant, so I don't want to do that. We'll be spending a lot of time at Epcot F&W, so that probably won't be what we do.

I'm with you, I'd take a day in the parks alone with DH over a nice dinner and quiet time. My 4 year old cries at Fantasmic...
Prioritize what you want to do, and if you can't get it all in, that's ok. Set real expectations.

 

[monica9]

I'm with you, I'd take a day in the parks alone with DH over a nice dinner and quiet time. My 4 year old cries at Fantasmic...
Prioritize what you want to do, and if you can't get it all in, that's ok. Set real expectations.

Me too! I’d rather have fun with my hubby than sit and drink alcohol and spend money on a fancy restaurant any day!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Me too! I’d rather have fun with my hubby than sit and drink alcohol and spend money on a fancy restaurant any day!

Yep. Don't get me wrong, I love to be wined and dined, but we have some amazing restaurants at home and not very much in the way of entertaimment. So when we are at WDW, I want to play!

 

[sharonabe]

Our date nights at home are always a dinner out at a nice restaurant, so I don't want to do that. We'll be spending a lot of time at Epcot F&W, so that probably won't be what we do.

I'm with you on this one too. Rushing around with DH trying to make this work would be a challenge to the both of us, and we'd go for it, probably laughing all the way.

Interesting point about Uber- will that save time over driving?

Uber would save you the time it would take to get to your car and then from the car back to the front of the park. That could be significant.

Personally, I'd skip Kali and just do FoP. You might get totally soaked on Kali and then be in the cold air conditioning of FoP. AND skipping Kali gives you a better chance of getting through FoP in time to get to HS for whichever show you decide to see there.

GO FOR IT!! (But make sure DH is okay with possibly missing HS in order for you to get to do FoP).

 

[gharter]

A simple answer is no. Trying to do 2 parks and popular rides, besides travel time in 4/5 hours is really pushing it. Doing one park, absolutely. i would be surprised if the crowd level is a 1. I put very little faith in crowd level predictions.
I would be surprised if you spend under 90 minutes in line at FoP, unless you are within 30 minutes of closing.
Timeline:
Drop dd at 6 pm. Drive to AK. Best case, park and through security by 6:30 at AK. Walk to kali for FP.
In line for FoP 7 at the best. Expect a 60-90 minute wait.
You are now at 8:30 or later.
Unless the hours change, the Disney site says AK and HS both close at 8:30.
Without a huge hour change, i don't see how it works.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I'm with you on this one too. Rushing around with DH trying to make this work would be a challenge to the both of us, and we'd go for it, probably laughing all the way.



Uber would save you the time it would take to get to your car and then from the car back to the front of the park. That could be significant.

Personally, I'd skip Kali and just do FoP. You might get totally soaked on Kali and then be in the cold air conditioning of FoP. AND skipping Kali gives you a better chance of getting through FoP in time to get to HS for whichever show you decide to see there.

GO FOR IT!! (But make sure DH is okay with possibly missing HS in order for you to get to do FoP).

Yes, we would both have fun trying to get it done. Neither of us are die-hard "must-do-this" type of people, so if the night doesn't go as planned then we will be ok. The point is just to have fun together.

You're right about Kali- I didn't think about getting soaked/freezing.