Major 1st World problems...my dilemma...

[ilovecraigandcooper]

We're only going to have 3 days total in disney and I am FREAKING OUT about what to do...

-We're going to be getting there really late wednesday night. For thursday I have us sleeping in, lunch ressies at Whispering Canyon Cafe and then we plan to go to MNSSHP that afternoon/night. I'm pretty set on Thursday, I'm happy with this day. This day seems good. This day does not give me anxiety.

That leaves us with Friday and Saturday. Here-in is where my problem lies. Crown calendars show friday as low crowds (but the magic kindgom closes at 7). Crowd calendars show Saturday as high crowds (but the magic kingdom closes at 10)...I had *kinda* wanted to do Hollywood studios one day. HOWEVER I'm reading that everyone would recommend doing the MK on Friday even though theres shorter hours, since the crowds should be low. And after looking at the attractions/shows at Hollywood studios I just don't know that it would be an all day park for us (so it would make sense to do this friday with shorter hours BUT I don't want to waste my 'low crowd' day on a park that we're not quite as excited about as the mk...

I really want to maximize our time since we have so little of it. This is my son's first visit (he's 7) and it will be us, my hubby, my sister and my parents and mother in law. In an ideal world I guess I would do the park hoppers so we could go to hollywood for half a day saturday and then finish up our vacay at mk BUT I feel that $50 per ticket for ONE DAY is crazy!!! That seems like a total waste of money...if we were staying and hopping more than one day then absolutely but one day? I feel like I can't really justify that...

SO! Do we just stick with the MK for MNSSHP, and then 2 full days or do I bite the bullet and get the hoppers or do you think one full day at mk, one full day at hollywood (and in that case which day would you do MK)?

ANY thoughts, opinions, comments welcome! I'm at a loss!!!

 

[Accident]

It's really easy to just add on hoppers or more days if needed. Just budget in case you decide it's worth the cost while there. Save some money if you don't need it.

 

[afinnteach]

My first choice would be to get the hoppers - I prefer being in one park in the morning, taking a break and then finishing up the evening in another. In this case, I would want to go to HS and still have plenty of time in MK for my 7 year old. That being said, if I went with your 1 day one park option I would need some more information like - is your family an early morning or late night crew? Will they want to go commando all day or take a break? Have you made ADR's that might effect your choice?

Without more information I would say MK on Friday - then maybe pool or DTD Friday evening and then HS on Saturday. Those crowd calendars have never led me astray!

Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be a great trip! Good luck.

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

So without deciding on the hoppers one way or another, would you tentatively plan for 2 days at the mk or 1 day mk/1 day hs?

 

[Brenda Kim]

To me it would depending on what you would ride at HS and which shows. If you want to see all 6 shows (Indy, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Muppets, Lights Motor Action and the Frozen one) and all of the rides: TS, Great Movie Ride, ToT, Rockin Roller Coaster and Star Tours then finish with Fantasmic, it can be a full day easy especially if you throw in any character meet n greets. MK is a 2-3 day park to see and do it all. I would play it by ear and if you are having a great time at MK and still haven't seen it all, then forgo HS and stay at MK. If you have seemed to have done it all at MK then use your ticket for HS. Unless you don't want to see most of the shows or ride some of the rides at HS you can make this a full day.

 

[SA-TX]

I agree that HS is a half day park and I'm just wondering...why not do HS on Thursday, since you plan on doing a half day anyway, and do MK on Friday and Saturday? Is the issue that you don't want to do two full days at MK?

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

Well I thought about doing hs on thursday but we're going to be getting to the resort very late on wednesday (like 12-1 am) and we're planning to go to MNSSHP thursday so we'll be up super late then too (and I'm all burning the midnight oil) but I don't know that I can do it both nights AND manage to get up early to do rp too...

 

[supersnoop]

So, you'll have one party ticket and a two-day base ticket? The cost to add hopping to a two day ticket isn't bad, so I'd budget for that if and when it comes down to it. There's no reason to do it in advance.

 

[nkereina]

Unless you're dead set on seeing MK's PM entertainment, I would avoid MK on Saturday. We've done MK on a Saturday during MNSSHP season and it's packed. If you want more time at MK other than MNSSHP, I would do MK on Friday and DHS on Saturday. DHS should have lower crowds on Saturday as more people will file over to MK since there's no party that night.

 

[kwdw]

So - I agree with that crowd calendar that says Saturday is going to be busy at MK. There are so few long days when a party is going on, so folks flock to those for the same reasons you are considering it. If you think you can put in a LONG day = get there at RD = and be there LATE - you can still get alot done on a high crowd day. The trick is to have a plan. Go commando first thing in the morning to get in some rides. Then - hit some lower tier attractions mid- morning to late lunch - Mickey's Philharmonic, Country Bears, Hall of Presidents, CoP, PeopleMover, Riverboat, Tom Sawyer's Island, Treehouse. Do a late lunch reservation. Have lunch dessert while waiting for the parade without FP (find a seat early, get a snack). Consider playing SOTMK. Get your FP's for late afternoon/early evening. Late evening - Fantasyland will start to open up in terms of lines again as little ones go home to bed. And if you plan this - just plan for the crowded walkways, slow-going.

I do think you can have a full day at HS with your crowd, esp if you have one table service meal (which I would recommend at that park). People who says it's not a full day park are usually skipping some shows or major rides. I find it nearly impossible to get all the shows and all the rides in during one day - and you kinda have to pre-plan to get in most of them. We did a pretty good job last time we were there - but we still missed Indy, Muppets, ToT, and RnR. With 7 people, you aren't going to move fast. Bathroom breaks, snacks breaks, shop breaks.

 

[DizDaD7]

We're only going to have 3 days total in disney and I am FREAKING OUT about what to do...

-We're going to be getting there really late wednesday night. For thursday I have us sleeping in, lunch ressies at Whispering Canyon Cafe and then we plan to go to MNSSHP that afternoon/night. I'm pretty set on Thursday, I'm happy with this day. This day seems good. This day does not give me anxiety.

That leaves us with Friday and Saturday. Here-in is where my problem lies. Crown calendars show friday as low crowds (but the magic kindgom closes at 7). Crowd calendars show Saturday as high crowds (but the magic kingdom closes at 10)...I had *kinda* wanted to do Hollywood studios one day. HOWEVER I'm reading that everyone would recommend doing the MK on Friday even though theres shorter hours, since the crowds should be low. And after looking at the attractions/shows at Hollywood studios I just don't know that it would be an all day park for us (so it would make sense to do this friday with shorter hours BUT I don't want to waste my 'low crowd' day on a park that we're not quite as excited about as the mk...

I really want to maximize our time since we have so little of it. This is my son's first visit (he's 7) and it will be us, my hubby, my sister and my parents and mother in law. In an ideal world I guess I would do the park hoppers so we could go to hollywood for half a day saturday and then finish up our vacay at mk BUT I feel that $50 per ticket for ONE DAY is crazy!!! That seems like a total waste of money...if we were staying and hopping more than one day then absolutely but one day? I feel like I can't really justify that...

SO! Do we just stick with the MK for MNSSHP, and then 2 full days or do I bite the bullet and get the hoppers or do you think one full day at mk, one full day at hollywood (and in that case which day would you do MK)?

ANY thoughts, opinions, comments welcome! I'm at a loss!!!

I'd stick w/ MK on Friday if the Crowd Cal. numbers are significant....Saturdays are usually always high for MK. because it's the usual check in day for most peoples vacay, and they usually end up going to that park on the arrival day.

Thursday- is fine
Friday is MK Fine
Saturday ( I'd say splurge for the hopper and do HS1/2 day & try our AK maybe for the other 1/2 or back to MK.... You'll probably have everything dome at least once on Friday, and you might get to re visit some that day too , so you may not need a return trip to MK.

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

You guys are so awesome!!! I feel my blood pressure going down and my breathing becoming more normal, bahahahaha!

 

[tinkfan160]

I would also not recommend following the crowd charts as if they are make or break. I have never visited the time of year you are going, but we went against the charts and went to the "red" park a couple of times two weeks ago and didn't think the crowds were that bad, especially for summer! I say just go with your gut and what feels right, but with that said we would never do a trip for more than a day without the hopper option!

 

[To the honeypots]

We have been to early close day at MK on Fridays during September two years in a row. We have walked on/or near walk on a lot of rides including splash mountain. I therefore would vote for MK on Friday with maybe dinner at DTD in the evening and then HS on Saturday.

 

[rtilner]

If you have a limited time at Disney why are you sleeping in. Don't waste your money by going and sleeping in. Stay home and sleep in.

 

[thr33boys]

We're only going to have 3 days total in disney and I am FREAKING OUT about what to do...

-We're going to be getting there really late wednesday night. For thursday I have us sleeping in, lunch ressies at Whispering Canyon Cafe and then we plan to go to MNSSHP that afternoon/night. I'm pretty set on Thursday, I'm happy with this day. This day seems good. This day does not give me anxiety.

That leaves us with Friday and Saturday. Here-in is where my problem lies. Crown calendars show friday as low crowds (but the magic kindgom closes at 7). Crowd calendars show Saturday as high crowds (but the magic kingdom closes at 10)...I had *kinda* wanted to do Hollywood studios one day. HOWEVER I'm reading that everyone would recommend doing the MK on Friday even though theres shorter hours, since the crowds should be low. And after looking at the attractions/shows at Hollywood studios I just don't know that it would be an all day park for us (so it would make sense to do this friday with shorter hours BUT I don't want to waste my 'low crowd' day on a park that we're not quite as excited about as the mk...

I really want to maximize our time since we have so little of it. This is my son's first visit (he's 7) and it will be us, my hubby, my sister and my parents and mother in law. In an ideal world I guess I would do the park hoppers so we could go to hollywood for half a day saturday and then finish up our vacay at mk BUT I feel that $50 per ticket for ONE DAY is crazy!!! That seems like a total waste of money...if we were staying and hopping more than one day then absolutely but one day? I feel like I can't really justify that...

SO! Do we just stick with the MK for MNSSHP, and then 2 full days or do I bite the bullet and get the hoppers or do you think one full day at mk, one full day at hollywood (and in that case which day would you do MK)?

ANY thoughts, opinions, comments welcome! I'm at a loss!!!

I will add my .02 in the mix.

I would not use up time on the Thurs for a TS meal when you are pressed for time. I realize you like the look of your Thurs, but in reality, you, especially the 7 year old will be wanting to hit the rides.

The biggest benefit to fp+ is not having to get up early if you don't want to. Why not plan Epcot for the afternoon on Thurs. book your fp's for noon-3, then monorail it over to MK in time for the 4 o'clock party?

Go to MK on Friday and then hop to HS for F! Or Epcot for Illuminations (Not sure what your dates are and what time each park closes)

Head to AK on Sat and spend the morning there, then hop to HS with your fp's already booked.

I know this means increasing a day and adding hoppers but at least you'll hop 2 out of your 3 days and experience so much more.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Honestly I'd add a third day instead of doing park hoppers. I'd go to the MK before the party as a regular ticket day and skip the TS. While it seems like a great plan to sleep in I know my kids nor I would be able to sleep in while in Orlando on the first day there. My husband may be able to but not us. Don't set the alarm but get up when you do and head straight to the park.

 

[MischaOz]

Not sure if ill be much help since my advice is different from the others', but what the heck, I'll throw it out there. It sounds like the only two parks you're really interested in on this trip are MK and HS, and I think it's really smart to limit your parks on a short trip like this. I also think at 7 your son is young enough that you'll want a lot of MK time.

Now, that being said, crowd calendars are important, but sometimes on a shorter trip you just can't go by the crowd calendars. If I was in your position, I would prob do MK on Sat even though it's predicted to have higher crowds, just because I love MK at night. You could get there early, take a mid-day break if necessary, and then stay later, and of course you have your FPs. I also love to start and end a trip with MK, so you would be breaking things up nicely with MK, HS, MK in that order.

Also, rather than doing a hopper, maybe consider adding a 3rd day to your ticket and do MK on Thursday before the party. Kids usually want to hit the rides first thing when they get there, so that would save you from "wasting" too much of your party time on rides. If you do rides earlier in the day then you can concentrate on party stuff at the party.

Good luck deciding!!

 

[mummabear]

So I agree that $50 per person for a single hop is a waste of money.
I think even with the closures you can get a lot done at DHS, I would do a day at DHS and a day at MK.
Personally I would take the longer hours and do MK on the Saturday because that way you will also see Wishes which you wouldn't on the Friday. However another option if you do choose to go to DHS on the Saturday is to watch wishes from somewhere like Poly beach or even use that $50 to go on he pirates and pals cruise instead of hopping

 

[thr33boys]

So I agree that $50 per person for a single hop is a waste of money.
I think even with the closures you can get a lot done at DHS, I would do a day at DHS and a day at MK.
Personally I would take the longer hours and do MK on the Saturday because that way you will also see Wishes which you wouldn't on the Friday. However another option if you do choose to go to DHS on the Saturday is to watch wishes from somewhere like Poly beach or even use that $50 to go on he pirates and pals cruise instead of hopping

Just want to point out that the OP will see Hallowishes during MNSSHP. $50/ticket to hop is a lot of money and takes time to do but something OP will have to weigh and see if it's right for them.