JillShari
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2013
- Messages
- 452
First of all, the advice I received on here was so useful. It really helped me strategize/and get FP+ before we went and then once we were in the parks it was amazing what the voices in my head kept saying!
We got to the parks... only once at rope drop and other times within 15 minutes of park openings. I found that since my party was a 4 year old, an 8 year old and us parents who aren't thrill seekers, we weren't after the really long wait attractions like Thunder Mountain, Rock n Roller Coaster, TOT, etc.
I'll give you a snapshot of one of our amazingly productive days....
Day #1 started in HS- already had FP for TSMM for later, so went right to Star Tours which was 5 minute wait, then went to visit Lightning McQueen and did Muppetvision 3D, then FP for TSMM, then the Walt Disney Story, then Playhouse Disney, then reservations for lunch at 50's Prime Time. Then we left to go back to AOA for naps. (note... we rode everything on our must do list and only used one FP)
After nap and dinner, decided to head to EPCOT. Got there around 6pm. We got right on Spaceship Earth, then Seas with Nemo, Turtle Talk, Character Spot to take pics with Minnie, Mickey and Goofy and then rode Soarin with a 10 minute wait (we pretty much missed illuminations, but getting a good seat to that isn't something my kids are patient for). All of that was done without any FP in EPCOT and within 3 hours.
What I learned was:
-in any park, it did get busier around 11 and taking that break was good
- we used apps to help us with wait times which was great
- we hit the rides we knew would have the longest lines as soon as we got there (we went to Buzz Lightyear first one day and rode it in 5 minutes, the kids didn't want to do again, but we could have for 10 min wait and we also had a FP we didn't use), also another day rode Peter Pan for 10 min wait
- You can rearrange FP while there on the app, but the availability was not usually there for day of, but a day ahead you could change things
- Staying off site at this point is crazy as if you want to use FP, the lines weren't INSANE... but still to waste time standing in that line didn't make sense to me
- FutureWorld was empty at night... except Test Track!
-As much as I had a plan... you had to plan some and have flexibility especially with the group I had. I knew they wouldn't want to wait 45 mins or more for any ride....so we didn't.
- I was one person who used 1 FP per day and still rode the attractions we wanted with reasonable wait times...at a busy time of year.
- We still enjoyed the resort, the pool, the arcade etc....
- Mickey bars are very yummy....
- And it was worth setting aside naptime so that my DS could be awake for 2 longer nights.... seeing their faces while watching the MSEP and the castle projection show and the fireworks were priceless.
I know we didn't see everything, but that is ok. I picked a few must do's.... changed a few along the way according with the kids wants... and turned out to be one of our best vacations ever.
Oh....and the best tip I have to pass on.... if you want a front row seat in the MK for the MSEP, to the left side facing the castle they have a roped off FP area. Stand all the way at the end near frontier/liberty square. They will extend the rope straight across the road before the parade where you can see it round the corner and move into liberty square. Excellent seats. Then for the rest of the displays, the cast member told me to move at least behind the Walt and Mickey statue to be able to see all of the low fireworks.
We got to the parks... only once at rope drop and other times within 15 minutes of park openings. I found that since my party was a 4 year old, an 8 year old and us parents who aren't thrill seekers, we weren't after the really long wait attractions like Thunder Mountain, Rock n Roller Coaster, TOT, etc.
I'll give you a snapshot of one of our amazingly productive days....
Day #1 started in HS- already had FP for TSMM for later, so went right to Star Tours which was 5 minute wait, then went to visit Lightning McQueen and did Muppetvision 3D, then FP for TSMM, then the Walt Disney Story, then Playhouse Disney, then reservations for lunch at 50's Prime Time. Then we left to go back to AOA for naps. (note... we rode everything on our must do list and only used one FP)
After nap and dinner, decided to head to EPCOT. Got there around 6pm. We got right on Spaceship Earth, then Seas with Nemo, Turtle Talk, Character Spot to take pics with Minnie, Mickey and Goofy and then rode Soarin with a 10 minute wait (we pretty much missed illuminations, but getting a good seat to that isn't something my kids are patient for). All of that was done without any FP in EPCOT and within 3 hours.
What I learned was:
-in any park, it did get busier around 11 and taking that break was good
- we used apps to help us with wait times which was great
- we hit the rides we knew would have the longest lines as soon as we got there (we went to Buzz Lightyear first one day and rode it in 5 minutes, the kids didn't want to do again, but we could have for 10 min wait and we also had a FP we didn't use), also another day rode Peter Pan for 10 min wait
- You can rearrange FP while there on the app, but the availability was not usually there for day of, but a day ahead you could change things
- Staying off site at this point is crazy as if you want to use FP, the lines weren't INSANE... but still to waste time standing in that line didn't make sense to me
- FutureWorld was empty at night... except Test Track!
-As much as I had a plan... you had to plan some and have flexibility especially with the group I had. I knew they wouldn't want to wait 45 mins or more for any ride....so we didn't.
- I was one person who used 1 FP per day and still rode the attractions we wanted with reasonable wait times...at a busy time of year.
- We still enjoyed the resort, the pool, the arcade etc....
- Mickey bars are very yummy....
- And it was worth setting aside naptime so that my DS could be awake for 2 longer nights.... seeing their faces while watching the MSEP and the castle projection show and the fireworks were priceless.
I know we didn't see everything, but that is ok. I picked a few must do's.... changed a few along the way according with the kids wants... and turned out to be one of our best vacations ever.
Oh....and the best tip I have to pass on.... if you want a front row seat in the MK for the MSEP, to the left side facing the castle they have a roped off FP area. Stand all the way at the end near frontier/liberty square. They will extend the rope straight across the road before the parade where you can see it round the corner and move into liberty square. Excellent seats. Then for the rest of the displays, the cast member told me to move at least behind the Walt and Mickey statue to be able to see all of the low fireworks.
