Looking for alternate plan for Disney After Dark evening

[ElsasFan]

We will be at WDW in May, and will be celebrating my daughter's seventh birthday at the MK on May 8. We have 5:30 dinner planned at 1900 Park Fare, and had planned to go back to the MK afterwards. Since Disney After Dark is scheduled for that date, though, I'm thinking that we should consider making alternate plans. Any suggestions? Disney Springs? Hop to another park? We have another MK day planned later on, and have days planned at all of the other parks, so I'm not worried about missing out on anything, just planning the most fun day for her that I can.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The park doesn't close early for Disney After Dark. Would your concern be possible crowds? I'd wait and see how the first parties go, there are several before your date.

 

[ElsasFan]

The park doesn't close early for Disney After Dark. Would your concern be possible crowds? I'd wait and see how the first parties go, there are several before your date.

Yes, my concern is possible crowds. We have been there on party days before and it has been super-crowded. I figure that people will start arriving as soon as they can get in, at 7:00. You are right about watching the crowd levels on previous days, though.

 

[sharonabe]

If it's not a surprise, I think I would ask her what she wants to do.

The campfire over at Ft Wilderness might be fun.

 

[yulilin3]

if she likes bowling you could do Splitsville or mini golf

 

[Minnesota!]

My kid picked Splitzville for his birthday, so...maybe that?

 

[leebee]

Here are a couple of thoughts:

If you want to spend money, you could go see La Nouba. Cirque du Soleil is not my cup of tea, but my daughter loves it!

If you are looking for something that doesn't cost more than you're already spending, I'd hop to a park with fireworks- maybe to Epcot to see Illuminations? Or, if your kids enjoy the monorail, you could always just ride it to Epcot and back, get off at the Poly, watch the Electric Water Pageant, and then Wishes. Not sure what your actual timing would be, but you get the idea.

We don't enjoy Disney Springs- it's just a giant shopping mall for us- but lots of people like walking around, going in and out of the stores, etc. You could finish off the evening with birthday sundaes at Ghirardelli!

Take the bus from Poly to DHS, then boat over to the Boardwalk. Stroll around, make an ADR (or use the walk-up window) for ice cream at Beaches and Cream, or go into Epcot; you could have a birthday celebration with pastries from France and then watch Illuminations.

 

[loves to dive]

I agree with asking her if it's not a surprise. You could even just play it by ear, I know a sin on these boards, and just go with the flow. If she's tired of MK that day, hop to another park, spend the evening at the pool, Dolphin has a cool ice cream/soda fountain and it's not as crowded at Beaches and Cream.

 

[ElsasFan]

These are all good suggestions. Because our trips are always so choreographed, I feel like I need to plan that night too, but maybe going with the flow and playing it by ear would be a nice change. We've never seen Illuminations, or used the resort pool(!), both would be fun. Or the campfire! I think I'll make a list of suggestions and we can decide what we feel like that day. I would love to do Beaches and Cream or the French bakery, but we are having a buffet, plus I am hoping to order a cake, so we probably will be stuffed! Those will have to wait.

Thanks for the good ideas!