Looking for 1 day advice

[tmonferdini]

We retired to FL in Jan and just bought an AP. We have family coming to visit on the 22nd and don't have to pick them up at MCO until 9pm. Looking to hit some parks but we have always done rope drop-break-park evening and with no hotel to "break" at, not sure how to conquer a day and not be worn out. Any suggestions? We can hop and might purchase LL. Is there an order to the parks you would recommend (and we're not big into AK). Thanks!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Sorry, what time are you planning to arrive at your first park or, is it a typo and they arrive at 9AM?

 

[Rory607]

I would plan to go grab lunch at a resort close by whichever park you’re at in the afternoon. You could relax in the lobby afterwards for a break.

 

[tmonferdini]

Sorry, what time are you planning to arrive at your first park or, is it a typo and they arrive at 9AM?

No they are arriving at 9pm and after we pick them up at the airport, are headed to our house with them. They aren't going to Disney

 

[DisneyMom93]

So you’re going to Disney for the day and then picking them up at MCO at 9pm?

I don’t know why people feel they have to leave the park to take a break to relax. I feel that kills so much time. I find the transportation back and forth not so relaxing anyway.

Why not just enjoy a nice relaxing sit down lunch at a table service restaurant?

Unless you’re looking to spend time at a pool during a hot day I don’t see a reason to leave the parks.

 

[Marthasor]

If you just bought APs and live in FL, I'm assuming you plan on going to the parks fairly regularly? If so, I don't think I would make this an all-out, get-as-much-as-you-can-done kind of day. I would either do one park and make it very leisurely with a break at a hotel during the day - meaning, have lunch at a resort and chill in the lobby or in the general vicinity just to get a sensory break from the parks. This can easily be done in the EP resort area if you visit EP and/or DHS or in the MK area if you go to MK. If you really want to park hop, I would either park at TTC, start at MK, take an afternoon break at a monorail resort, head to EP from there and then monorail back to TTC when it's time to go to MCO. Or park at DHS, visit that park, Skyliner over to EP resort area for a break, go to EP and then Skyliner back to your car.

 

[erinch]

Since you have APs now, and assuming you live relatively close by, why not have a slow day and luxuriate in imagineering and details?

Watch a secrets video, look for hidden mickeys, have a lingering lunch, see the shows, give my favorite park, Animal kingdom , another shot and wander all the trails? Visit every country in Epcot. Enjoy the AP freedom!

 

[ars0525]

In January since you have flexibility I'd see how the weather is that day. No reason to commit now unless there is something requiring an ADR you have to make. We were there around that time this year & it was freezing cold rain I have become a FL weather wimp so I was miserable even with multiple layers & rain gear.

How far a drive do you have from MCO to home? How tired will you be? You could roll into your first park at noon & still have a full day before you head to MCO. I do day trips mostly & have to account for that 1.5-2 hr drive each way also. I make sure to stay hydrated & snacks to avoid "crashing" during the day. You'll find spots in each park that you can rest up at along the way. Welcome to being an AP!

 

[Brian Noble]

not sure how to conquer a day and not be worn out. Any suggestions?

My advice: Don't try to make a full day of it. I don't want to drive to the airport and then back home after being exhausted by a full day in the parks. If they land at 9PM, they won't be out of the airport until almost 9:30, and it will be closer to 10 if they checked luggage. Depending on how far from the airport you live, you won't be getting home until 11 or maybe later. I don't know about you but that is well past my normal bedtime already. Add in a day of Park Exhaustion, and I'm liable to fall asleep on the road.

Instead, I'd think about which ONE park I wanted to spend an afternoon/evening, and go there. I'd want to be walking out towards my car no later than about 7:45, since I figure it always takes me about a half hour to reach my car by the time I decide to leave. That is more like 7:30 at MK, or maybe even a little earlier.

Working backwards from there, I'd like to spend maybe four hours in the park, so target an arrival at the parking lot at about 3PM or so---and again, maybe a smidge earlier if the park is MK. Now that you own APs, it is totally reasonable to just duck into the parks for a few hours. It's one of the great things about owning a pass!