Last Minute 4 Park Challenge Advice

[DiggityDog]

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I are headed to Jamaica for our 10 year Anniversary and noticed we will be connecting through MCO to get there. Well, that got us thinking (always dangerous) and we decided to change up the flights a bit so that we can arrive in MCO a day early before we continue on to Jamaica!

Some of the quick facts:

• Our flight arrives in MCO at 7:40am, Saturday March 31st (leaving the next day, flight out at 10:30am)
  
• Renting a car from the airport
• We have 1 day park hoppers and would like to see all 4 parks
• First Adults Only Trip, We took the kids last March during F&G, but Avatar wasn't open then
• Staying Offsite (pts, Hampton Inn Buena Vista)

Our plan was to grab out bags and car and head straight to AK. Unfortunately for us, AK has EMH that morning from 7-8am, and we fully expect it to be packed. In a perfect, but highly unlikely, world it would be awesome to pick up a FP for FOP, or maybe Navi, but would at least like to do Safari and walk through Pandora. Everest single rider is another option. I'd like to be at AK by 9am from MCO, and start heading to HS by 11:30.

Planning on driving to HS after that with the intent to do RR and Tower of Terror only. If it's looking like there isn't anything worthwhile for FP at AK, we may just go ahead and book RR and Tower of Terror (if available). Either way, we plan on trying to book Test Track or Soarin as soon as we check into our first FP for the early afternoon. We want to be out of HS by 1pm.

Ideally at this point it would be nice to drop off the car at the hotel, so that we are free to have some drinks at Epcot. We would need to utilize the Hotel shuttle or Uber to get to Epcot. Try and do Soarin or TT, and then dedicate most of the evening to leisurely walking through the countries. Epcot closes at 9pm, and MK is open to 11pm. We would like to stay for Illuminations, but may head out of Epcot a little early to beat the crowd to the Monorail over to MK. The plan is to hit up a few staples at MK, hopefully with some additional FP. Its definitely a very busy schedule! We do want to enjoy ourselves, but also plan enough to visit some of our favorites (and new areas like Pandora).

Some questions:

1. How soon do you think we can realistically get into AK from the airport?
2. Should we dedicate more time to AK, and try and do lunch in Pandora?
3. Overall, how can I make this plan better? Either timing for FP, park order, etc

Thanks!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Do you have a membership with the car rental company so that you can go straight to the vehicle and bypass the counter? We use Dollar Express which can save some time. On our last visit, we were at the DHS gate 50 minutes after the plane landed. We did have to wait a few minutes for checked bags, so you may be able to make it quicker if you only have carry-ons.

 

[Tigerlulu]

How far is your hotel since you want to drop it off between HS and Epcot?

If it’s not close by, I’d drop it off before HS. Since HS and Epcot are neighbors. You’ll want to be as efficient as possible.

 

[LizGirl]

1. after you get your bags, you could be at AK in less than an hour.
2. I don't think I'd waste precious time on any meal - I think I'd be grabbing and going wherever happens to be convenient when you get hungry. Keep moving!
3. IMO, I think trying to achieve headliners at all parks on the Saturday of Easter weekend is not the most enjoyable approach. You'll be spending the bulk of your day in line waiting 60+ min per ride. I'm a fan of hitting all four parks in one day and I've done it a couple of times! I just don't have the patience to wait like that.

I would prioritize your parks based on what you must see, go there first with three FP+ reservations and wing it the rest of the day. I also would hang on to the car and not waste time parking at your off site hotel. If anything, park at TTC and then monorail back to epcot. You should be okay to drive after MK closes at 11, right?

 

[DiggityDog]

The car rental is through Enterprise. We are plus members, and I hear that they sometimes allow plus to check in at the counter in the shorter business line (but not guaranteed). Either way, it does require stopping at a counter. We will have checked bags for the rest of the trip. I'm pretty sure one is just full of my wife's shoes

 

[DiggityDog]

How far is your hotel since you want to drop it off between HS and Epcot?

If it’s not close by, I’d drop it off before HS. Since HS and Epcot are neighbors. You’ll want to be as efficient as possible.

It's just outside Disney Springs, near 1-4. We'll easily lose an hr roundtrip so not ideal, but was thinking long term.

 

[DiggityDog]

1. after you get your bags, you could be at AK in less than an hour.
2. I don't think I'd waste precious time on any meal - I think I'd be grabbing and going wherever happens to be convenient when you get hungry. Keep moving!
3. IMO, I think trying to achieve headliners at all parks on the Saturday of Easter weekend is not the most enjoyable approach. You'll be spending the bulk of your day in line waiting 60+ min per ride. I'm a fan of hitting all four parks in one day and I've done it a couple of times! I just don't have the patience to wait like that.

I would prioritize your parks based on what you must see, go there first with three FP+ reservations and wing it the rest of the day. I also would hang on to the car and not waste time parking at your off site hotel. If anything, park at TTC and then monorail back to epcot. You should be okay to drive after MK closes at 11, right?

Thanks! Parking at TTC did cross my mind, but I couldn't remember how the monorail loop worked to see if it would take forever to get to Epcot. I'd still drive from AK to HS in that scenario, right?

 

[LizGirl]

Thanks! Parking at TTC did cross my mind, but I couldn't remember how the monorail loop worked to see if it would take forever to get to Epcot. I'd still drive from AK to HS in that scenario, right?

Yep! Another option would be to park at TTC first thing, monorail to MK and then use the Disney buses to park hop, but that can be very time consuming. Minnie Vans or Uber might be useful in this scenario....

Forgot to say Happy Anniversary!

 

[Tigerlulu]

Thanks! Parking at TTC did cross my mind, but I couldn't remember how the monorail loop worked to see if it would take forever to get to Epcot. I'd still drive from AK to HS in that scenario, right?

I’d park at TTC and take the monorail to Epcot. At the very least it’ll likely be quicker than the hotel car drop off and shuttle back.

 

[GillianP1301]

4 parks in one day doing a few attractions in each is normally not that rushed or stressful. I've done it with 2 TS meals and an AK tour and still getting on at least 1 attraction at each park. However that was Labour Day weekend which is nowhere near the crowds you're going to be encountering on Easter Weekend. The likelihood of getting any same day FP for a headliner is pretty close to nil.

In your shoes, I would expect to be in the front gate of AK about 9:30 (my average from wheels down to rental car into my resort parking lot is just under 2 hours). I think your plan to be out of there by 11:30 is good. FOP FP is highly unlikely, but always worth trying and even if not, you can walk through Pandora. I would do the Safari and single rider on Everest and then head out.

Once you're at HS, just grab whatever FP you can find, will likely be slim pickings and if that doesn't work out, pick your #1 fave and tough it out in standby. I'd probably grab a snack at this point as well and that may be all you have time for if you want to be out of there in less than 2 hours.

Not sure where you are staying or how much time you need to take your car back to hotel and then transport back to EP, but I can see that easily taking up to an hour to accomplish which gets you to EP probably between 2:00 and 3:00 and if you are planning to stay until Illuminations, that's lots of time to get a few attractions in. I personally would book a meal and sit and relex for an hour or so around 6:00. I would definitely skip Illuminations because by the time you watch that and get the monorail to MK it's going to be pushing 10:30. I would skip out after dinner and head to MK and be there for the HEA there. MK is also your best bet for picking up at least mid tier type same day fastpasses, so you'll probably be able to cover a bit of ground there from 8:00ish to closing.

 

[DiggityDog]

4 parks in one day doing a few attractions in each is normally not that rushed or stressful. I've done it with 2 TS meals and an AK tour and still getting on at least 1 attraction at each park. However that was Labour Day weekend which is nowhere near the crowds you're going to be encountering on Easter Weekend. The likelihood of getting any same day FP for a headliner is pretty close to nil.

In your shoes, I would expect to be in the front gate of AK about 9:30 (my average from wheels down to rental car into my resort parking lot is just under 2 hours). I think your plan to be out of there by 11:30 is good. FOP FP is highly unlikely, but always worth trying and even if not, you can walk through Pandora. I would do the Safari and single rider on Everest and then head out.

Once you're at HS, just grab whatever FP you can find, will likely be slim pickings and if that doesn't work out, pick your #1 fave and tough it out in standby. I'd probably grab a snack at this point as well and that may be all you have time for if you want to be out of there in less than 2 hours.

Not sure where you are staying or how much time you need to take your car back to hotel and then transport back to EP, but I can see that easily taking up to an hour to accomplish which gets you to EP probably between 2:00 and 3:00 and if you are planning to stay until Illuminations, that's lots of time to get a few attractions in. I personally would book a meal and sit and relex for an hour or so around 6:00. I would definitely skip Illuminations because by the time you watch that and get the monorail to MK it's going to be pushing 10:30. I would skip out after dinner and head to MK and be there for the HEA there. MK is also your best bet for picking up at least mid tier type same day fastpasses, so you'll probably be able to cover a bit of ground there from 8:00ish to closing.

Thanks for the info and tips! We'll be able to book advanced FP at 30 days out, do you think I should shoot for RR and Tower of Terror at HS (stop 2)? Of course, I'll peak at AK and see if there is anything, but I don't expect much to be there. I'm not even sure if I could get RR and Tower of Terror at 30 days, but it seems possible.

 

[GillianP1301]

Thanks for the info and tips! We'll be able to book advanced FP at 30 days out, do you think I should shoot for RR and Tower of Terror at HS (stop 2)? Of course, I'll peak at AK and see if there is anything, but I don't expect much to be there. I'm not even sure if I could get RR and Tower of Terror at 30 days, but it seems possible.

I think ToT at 30 days is very possible and RR has a shot too. I would go with those as your 30 day out bookings, unless of course you get really lucky and find a FOP at 30 days... never know until you try! I think EP is going to be really challenging because I've gone on less busy days and had no luck with 4+ FP bookings for Soarin' and TT. You can always do the single rider on TT though, so that gets you at least one of those rides. Then since it's an anniversary trip, I think strolling WS and having a drink or two or maybe a meal would be a really nice way to spend the rest of your EP time.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

If you are really looking to save some time (but incur extra cost), pack separate bags for Jamaica only. Mail them ahead of time to the hotel you are staying at, and then just bring a carry-on with you on the plane. That way you can head straight off the plane to the rental car place.

 

[DiggityDog]

My other thought was to go straight to HS first, instead of AK, and try and get there by park opening (9AM). Try to hit up RR and ToT without FP, and then go over AK. Not really a traditional 4 park plan, but would it be a better use of time since we could possibly be at HS at park opening based on our flight?

 

[ajh88]

First, happy anniversary!
Second, I love that you are doing this! It sounds like exactly something my DH and I would try to do too!

I think that no matter what you end up doing, as long as you can stay relaxed and go with the flow, you'll be great.

If you haven't seen Pandora yet and really *want* to try to get on Flights of Passage (oh yes, I think you should try), my only suggestion would be to flip everything.

You already recognized that you might be better served to get to a park closer to rope drop vs heading to AK 2 to 2.5 hours after they open. I would drive to DHS and hit your highlights - boat or walk to EPCOT (I know, earlier in the day than you anticipated), enter via IG - drink and/or snack if you're wanting something from World Showcase, stroll up toward Future World and hit Soarin' and/or Test Track (single rider if necessary, or FastPass) - monorail to MK to spend your time there - Uber back to DHS to pick up car and drive to AK - Pandora in the evening/night - AK is open until 10 pm, so you could try getting in line near closing time for a bearable wait (I do not have first hand experience with this, but there are threads on it).

Of course, you would miss pretty much all night time shows with this plan, so it doesn't work if Illuminations is a deal breaker and/or if EPCOT is your absolute favorite and you want to spend the lion's share of time there. But it might work so you could experience Pandora at night, hopefully with a slightly smaller crowd than if you went first thing. And you could have dinner at Sauli Canteen.

A long, busy day - but a fun one too!

 

[DiggityDog]

First, happy anniversary!
Second, I love that you are doing this! It sounds like exactly something my DH and I would try to do too!

I think that no matter what you end up doing, as long as you can stay relaxed and go with the flow, you'll be great.

If you haven't seen Pandora yet and really *want* to try to get on Flights of Passage (oh yes, I think you should try), my only suggestion would be to flip everything.

You already recognized that you might be better served to get to a park closer to rope drop vs heading to AK 2 to 2.5 hours after they open. I would drive to DHS and hit your highlights - boat or walk to EPCOT (I know, earlier in the day than you anticipated), enter via IG - drink and/or snack if you're wanting something from World Showcase, stroll up toward Future World and hit Soarin' and/or Test Track (single rider if necessary, or FastPass) - monorail to MK to spend your time there - Uber back to DHS to pick up car and drive to AK - Pandora in the evening/night - AK is open until 10 pm, so you could try getting in line near closing time for a bearable wait (I do not have first hand experience with this, but there are threads on it).

Of course, you would miss pretty much all night time shows with this plan, so it doesn't work if Illuminations is a deal breaker and/or if EPCOT is your absolute favorite and you want to spend the lion's share of time there. But it might work so you could experience Pandora at night, hopefully with a slightly smaller crowd than if you went first thing. And you could have dinner at Sauli Canteen.

A long, busy day - but a fun one too!

Thanks for the suggestions! I've heard FOP is worth the wait, but wasn't sure if there really was much chance based on our flight and the fact we can only book FP 30 days out. I'll do a search on here and see what kind of waits people are seeing right before close.

I'm still scratching my brain on what rides I should initially target for FP at 30 days. I've been "testing" it the last few days, and at 30 it seems like pretty much everything is available besides FOP. If I were to go with one of the original plans and end up going to AK park one or two, is Navi worth spending a FP on? The original plan (seems like a million plans ago haha) was just to go to Epcot and spend all evening at WS, so I think we would still like to place emphasis on spending the bulk of the evening time in EP even though we're now adding the other 3 parks.

 

[ajh88]

When it comes to Pandora, if you can't get FOP, I would try to get Navi. For me, it was just an OK ride but it is beautiful and breathtaking in spots. And if Pandora is the focus of your AK time, you might as well ride at least one of the rides! The only downside to that is you end up rolling the dice on FP for the other parks for the rest of the day, which you already know.

If your original plan was an evening at EPCOT, I would go with your second plan (DHS--> AK--> MK--> EPCOT) and shoot for FP at AK and just see what pops up - you never know! You have so many options on your transportation - I would be tempted to bus or Uber to AK, then to MK, monorail to EPCOT, and then either boat or walk back to DHS to retrieve car at the end of the night - unless you really want to make it back to MK. I'm weird like that though - I hate schlepping through the AK parking lot!

Is it possible they might extend hours before then? Being Easter weekend, I thought they might, but perhaps they already would have announced it.

Have a great time no matter what you end up doing!