MK itinerary

[Soupermom]

Hello! I'm hoping some of you veterans can give me some suggestions on the following...My family and I will be going to WDW in June...first time for the two kids and the first time for the grown ups in decades. We will arrive late in the morning on a Monday (just driving over from sister's in Tampa)and after checking in at the All-Stars, I hope to hit the MK by noon. It is not a EMH day, but I know we will be hitting during peak visitors hours. I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a plan of action for our afternoon/evening? Thanks!!

 

[tcfdick]

How old are your kids? That will make a big difference in the planning for the afternoon.

 

[disney4us2002]

Everything you can read strongly advises against MK on a Monday as many people start their vacations on Mondays and most visitors begin with MK. Honestly, I would probably not start at MK if you can't be there til noon, especially if you are talking any time after the first week of June (as crowds really pick up by the middle of the month). Since you are only driving from Tampa, can you arrive earlier? You can check in anytime although your room may not be ready.

Now, having said that, we have in fact arrived and gone straight to MK after noon. We soaked up the sites, had lunch and a snack, watched the afternoon parade (2 or 3 o'clock usually) and then eventually headed to Fantasyland to try some rides. Expect long waits until at least the parade ends when some will leave the park.

 

[Soupermom]

Ooops...sorry...my kids will be 7 (DS) and 10 (DD). Thanks!

 

[cleo]

If you would like to enjoy Magic Kingdom your first day, make the best possible use of FastPass. For example, if you go to Tomorrowland first, see which queue is shorter..... Space Mountain or Buzz Lightyear. Get a FastPass for the longer wait, then enjoy the attraction that has the shorter queue. If you head to Frontierland first, do the same with Splash Mt. and Big Thunder Mt.

If there is more than one showing of Spectromagic/WISHES during your trip, make the most of the shorter queues by staking out a spot for the night-time entertainment one night, then enjoy the attractions another night during your trip.

Dine off hours, enjoy the busiest part of the day at your resort pool rather than in the park, and be sure to have some time NOT rushing around, whether you remain in the parks or not. More than anything, slow down enough to allow the Magic to catch up with you. The attractions are wonderful, but don't miss the 'feel' you get when you're in Walt Disney World.

Enjoy! You're in for a truly spectacular vacation.

 

[Soupermom]

I'm hoping to leave Tampa by 8 or so, and I think it's about 1 1/2 hours to drive. We get our passes when we check in (VISA package) so I guess we could be ready to go as early as 10 am, if all goes well. I'm open for suggestions on going to a different park, but since it's the first time I opted for MK. The date will be June 7th I think. I'm guessing the weekend before will have been crowded due to Gay week, so maybe the crowds will now be gone and it will be less crowded?

 

[tcfdick]

You can do a lot more from 9:00 pm and after because most people are watching the fireworks and parade. If your two kids can last until 10:00 or 11:00 you'll be able to quite a few rides in that time period.

 

[Soupermom]

Not sure if I can make it until 11pm. But the time difference is on our side. (We live in Illinois, flying into Tampa to get sister's car!) I prefer to have an earlier night and start EARLY in the morning....How late do the fireworks show/s begin in the summer?

 

[tcfdick]

Usually 9:00 pm is the first parade and then at 10:00 pm is the fireworks show. I am an early riser too and find it hard to stay awake. If you get to the park a bit before opening, you'll be able to do lots of rides before there begins to be waits. Make sure to get fastpasses! Last year I went in July and we never waited at anything more than 20-30 minutes because of fastpass. It definitely is the best thing Disney has done to help with cutting down on lines!