Motley Assortment of Random Planning Questions

[WooPigScientist]

I've been working on a soft agenda for FP+ planning purposes . . . and because I can be a bit of a control freak. For whatever reason, if I get my planning fix in now, I don't care if we go completely off the plan during our trip. Here are a few questions I was hoping I could get some help on. We will be visiting 1/2-1/9/16 with two preschoolers (3 and 5), if any of that information is pertinent to the answers.

General
1. Can you get copies of park maps/times guides at the resorts (or somewhere other than at the park entrances)?

Epcot
2. How long does the Visa Meet and Greet usually take? We are planning to go 1:00 - 1:30 on a 4 crowd level day. I'm hoping lines won't be too bad since it will have just started - planning to head into WS after with dinner at Akershus, so won't be back before it closes. Which leads to another question . . .
3. Do we have to pick up our picture before 7:00 as well? Can you get it immediately after the M&G?

Animal Kingdom
4. How much time should I estimate for the Wildlife Express Train? The biggest draw for my kids will be just riding the train, so I was planning on us riding out to Rafiki's, getting off and meeting Rafiki and Chip & Dale, and riding the train back. I was thinking an hour, but that might be a bit optimistic.

DHS
5. How far walk is it across DHS? For example, Beauty and the Beast to Lights, Motor, Action show? Minutes or distance either one would be very helpful.
6. Silly question, but can you walk "thru" Studio Catering? When I look at a park map and EasyWDW's map, it looks like there might be a covered walkthrough at Studio Catering, but really hard to tell. Does this make sense? For example, if I wanted to walk from TSMM to Muppets, could we go around by Studio Catering or do we have to walk the long way around by ABC Commisary, Sci-Fi, etc.?

Magic Kingdom
7. How long is the ride if you take the railroad all the way around the park without getting off?
8. Does a FP+ for Haunted Mansion bypass the stretching room? This has been my understanding, but I'm not 100% on it. Boo if it does - I love that part!
9. I see lots of stories about not getting seated close to your ADR time, etc. What is this like at BOG lunch? Since it's QS, do you tend to get in "on time?" My plan was to arrive about 15 minutes before our ADR, same as I would for TS.

Thank you for any help! Sorry it's so long and with so many questions! I thought this might be better than 83 separate threads

 

[mesaboy2]

1. Yes.
2. Figure 20 minutes, maybe more, often less.
3a. I don't think so.
3b. It takes a little time before it will show up, I would expect 30 minutes or more after.
4. One hour sounds good, if spending little to no time at Rafiki's Planet Watch.
5. Ten minutes or so.
6. Yes, you can.
7. About 20-25 minutes once boarded.
8. No.
9. That will probably be fine.

 

[WooPigScientist]

Thank you mesaboy2! Very helpful - now I can continue with my crazytown-level planning which will promptly derail once my kids have seen, well, anything.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Just to clarify on #1, pretty much any merchandise location should have park maps if you need to get one while you're in a park!

 

[kangamama]

Thank you mesaboy2! Very helpful - now I can continue with my crazytown-level planning which will promptly derail once my kids have seen, well, anything.

I feel your pain!!!

 

[Disneymom1126]

Animal Kingdom
4. How much time should I estimate for the Wildlife Express Train? The biggest draw for my kids will be just riding the train, so I was planning on us riding out to Rafiki's, getting off and meeting Rafiki and Chip & Dale, and riding the train back. I was thinking an hour, but that might be a bit optimistic.

Just wanted to add our experience on this -- I thought this would be the biggest draw for my DD as well...until we got over there and she saw the petting zoo. We ended up spending about 45 minutes walking around petting sheep and goats -- so like other things on your Disney vacation I would just prepare to be flexible and go with the flow (which I acknowledge is difficult in the time of scheduling everything from meals to FP+!!!!). It's really hard to resist being that person saying come on we can't spend all this time enjoying this because we have to be at XYZ in the next 10 minutes or we'll miss our reservation with the whining child saying, but I just want to pet the sheep one more time! (not that I'm talking from personal experience or anything... )

 

[DisneyMandC]

Just wanted to add that Rafiki's Planet Watch is LOADED with Hidden Mickeys in the mural when you walk inside! Most of them are simple enough for kids to find, if they're into that sort of thing.

 

[WooPigScientist]

Just wanted to add our experience on this -- I thought this would be the biggest draw for my DD as well...until we got over there and she saw the petting zoo. We ended up spending about 45 minutes walking around petting sheep and goats -- so like other things on your Disney vacation I would just prepare to be flexible and go with the flow (which I acknowledge is difficult in the time of scheduling everything from meals to FP+!!!!). It's really hard to resist being that person saying come on we can't spend all this time enjoying this because we have to be at XYZ in the next 10 minutes or we'll miss our reservation with the whining child saying, but I just want to pet the sheep one more time! (not that I'm talking from personal experience or anything... )

There is a chance the kids might see the petting zoo and really be into it, but I'm not sure it will happen. While they love animals, they often love them more from afar Lately, they've been pretty weird about getting close to animals, so for the moment I'm planning on little to no time at the petting zoo. Of course, that could change - I'm putting Rafiki's later in the day after we've done our must-dos, so if the kids get caught up in it, no biggie! Although I'm doing all this planning, I don't really expect/intend for us to stick to it faithfully. While it will be pretty detailed, its more to give us something to fall back on - have an idea of how long things take, travel time, etc. Otherwise we will just stand there going "What do you want to do? I don't know, what do you want to do? . . . Oh crap, we're not going to make our ADR!"

My son had a Stage 3 meltdown at Grant's Farm when a baby goat put its feet on him - the kind of meltdown where everyone within hearing range stops and stares because they're sure he must have been horribly maimed and employees come running over to help. The fact that Disney's is a petting only zoo with no feeding should help with that kind of stuff, but he may not be interested after that little debacle Heck, I may not be up to it!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Rafiki's Planet Watch has a lot to do/keep kids interested in besides the petting zoo. Not sure how old your kids are, but if you pick up the Wilderness Explorers book and work to complete badges, that really helps you slow down and really enjoy the park. There are several badges you can earn at Rafiki's Planet Watch.

Also note that once you get off the train there is a bit of a hike until you get to most of the "stuff" at Rafiki's Planet Watch. I always forget how far of a walk it is.

 

[WooPigScientist]

Rafiki's Planet Watch has a lot to do/keep kids interested in besides the petting zoo. Not sure how old your kids are, but if you pick up the Wilderness Explorers book and work to complete badges, that really helps you slow down and really enjoy the park. There are several badges you can earn at Rafiki's Planet Watch.

Also note that once you get off the train there is a bit of a hike until you get to most of the "stuff" at Rafiki's Planet Watch. I always forget how far of a walk it is.

Thanks for the heads up! I've thought about Wilderness Explorers and my kids LOVE anything that they get stamped, etc, at stations, but I think they may be a bit young for the program? They will have just turned 3 and 5 when we go. We are definitely doing the passports at Epcot though!

 

[only hope]

It is about a three-four minute walk from the train to the building. You can wait up to ten minutes for a train, and the ride itself is a little less than ten minutes. In addition to the petting zoo, characters, and mural, there are a few small animals to look at. They now have a short show outside too that is fairly entertaining, though not a must see. There's an area where you can control cameras looking onto various areas of the park, some of it backstage. The kids may enjoy that. You can do Planet Watch fairly quickly, but it is possible to spend an hour there not counting the train rides, especially if you are waiting in line for characters. Meeting two characters can alone take an hour.