Just Hubby and I for 5 days, need suggestions

[Disneyforus]

Ok, so this is the dirt:
We are commando park goers for most of our trips....we love to see and experience as much as possible while we are on vacation...that is just how we roll. We are not looking for down time to relax, we can do that at home for a lot less money.

So this is my dilemma:
We have mostly traveled with our kids and just done one park each day no hopping. This time, we feel like there are lots of things we would like to do in each of the parks, but not "everything". I just can't get my head around a touring plan for park hoppers and coordinating our one sit down meal of the day.

We will have 3 park hopper days, the other 2 days we are going to Night of Joy at MK and can enter the park at 4pm and visit attractions before the show starts at 7pm...and even then...some of the main attractions stay open until 12:30 that night.

Magic hours that we could take take advantage of the days we are there, are AK staying open 3 hours later.

I would like to see Illuminations at Epcot at least once if not twice and Wishes at least once. Wishes is only offered for one night that we will be there because it isn't offered during NoJ. If we could do the Wishes Dessert party that would be awesome, I will call in the AM and see if there is availabilty. We want to spend a nice evening at Epcot to stroll around world showcase. We want to visit the boardwalk and downtown disney. (we could do our two days we won't go into MK until 4) I also want to see the Water parade and visit the wedding pavilion.

So, does anyone have a "way" that works well to organize touring parks.

My Touring Plans has expired and I plan on renewing it, but not sure if that will help me out or not.

Thans for any ideas or suggestions for this "newbie" park hopper!

 

[Johnny Quest]

I'd gladly help you map it out. Sept shouldn't be a bad crowd month which will be a bonus. It really depends on several things: where are you staying? what attractions do you favor? what are your must do's? how do you want to approach your park days - ie rope drop early?

Since you're going to the MK two nights, you may not need to hop there.

When we park hop we usually do any park in the am for E ticket attractions followed with any park in the afternoon for shows and attractions with minimal wait times.

 

[Disneyforus]

Thanks for your help/offer. I told DH to make a list of every must do for each park. I already have mine. We'll see what extras he comes up with.

I feel ridiculous asking for help about this, as I am an obsessive planner most times. My brain is just on overload right now.

 

[com_op_2000]

1. Do not try and do more that 2 parks per day. (Once did all 4 parks in one, spent more time traveling that anything thing else.
2. Pair the parks, I find it best to pair EPCOT and MGM. Use the International Gateway/boats to travel between the two.
3. Since you want to see WDW twice at night, do AK real early one of the days, hit the KS 1st and then the other must do attractions, go back to your hotel for lunch/rest period, and then head over to WDW for the evening.

 

[crazik]

If you are not able to go to a park and don't have a hopper. You can go to dinner at Ohana or kona cafe at the polynesian. Then go out the beach afterwards and you can see wishes from the polynesian. We've done it a few times and it fun, and you can save some $ without going into the park.