Moving a DLR Trip to Walt Disney World- Let’s Talk!

[Cal-Pie]

However one thing to consider is your first morning, if you are coming from Pacific or Mountain time. On our trip, Epcot opened later (11:00 I think).

Good advice, we are coming from MST. Our flight gets in around 4:30pm, and I'm hoping to get groceries and get settled into the hotel early that night. Regardless, I'm sure the next morning will be brutal.

I agree with SeaDis about making dining reservations ahead of time just in case. You can always cancel. It’s easier than waiting until the last minute and trying to get a reservation.

I think I'll make a few just in case.

You've all been so helpful, I'm starting to feel less intimidated as I do my homework, watch videos, and look at the maps. I'm still looking for an answer to this question over on the WDW side, but thought I'd also ask here, too. Can you make changes to your park reservations after your tickets are activated on your first day? Riding ROTR twice is not a priority, but riding once definitely is. I'll do everything I can to get a boarding group (I'm practicing), but I'm wondering about making a second reservation at HS, just in case we don't get a boarding group on our first day. If we are successful on our first day, then I would want to change the 2nd reservation to a different park (assuming availability, of course). Is this possible?

 

[SeaDis]

Good advice, we are coming from MST. Our flight gets in around 4:30pm, and I'm hoping to get groceries and get settled into the hotel early that night. Regardless, I'm sure the next morning will be brutal.


I think I'll make a few just in case.

You've all been so helpful, I'm starting to feel less intimidated as I do my homework, watch videos, and look at the maps. I'm still looking for an answer to this question over on the WDW side, but thought I'd also ask here, too. Can you make changes to your park reservations after your tickets are activated on your first day? Riding ROTR twice is not a priority, but riding once definitely is. I'll do everything I can to get a boarding group (I'm practicing), but I'm wondering about making a second reservation at HS, just in case we don't get a boarding group on our first day. If we are successful on our first day, then I would want to change the 2nd reservation to a different park (assuming availability, of course). Is this possible?

Yes you can change your Park Pass days after activation and before scanning into the park that day. I think once you are scanned in, you are limited to parkhopping after 2:00 PM, which is too late to try for a 1:00 boarding pass (and that's why they moved the time up to 1:00).

Funny I was going to write about this because we used the same strategy. We used DHS and AK days interchangeably, in case we didn't get boarding group, we planned to pivot to AK that first or second DHS day. but in the end, we didn't have to because we were successful both days with ROTR at 7:00 AM. They key is just be prepared and connected and I think it will happen. As mentioned, test both wifi and data at your hotel. If you have a good signal, I would lean toward data.

Keep in mind like you said, it's Memorial Day weekend. There are "tiers" of Park Passes (right now) for On-site guests, APs, and Ticket holders. I think they move capacity between the three, and who knows what they will do in May. But your risk is you have two days for DHS booked, and the other parks fillup before you can switch your second day. You can be sure I was watching the availability like a hawk. It appeared to me that AK was the last to fill up during our trip, so we chose that as the "pivot park" (it only filled up the last two days of our trip but we had already done DHS-2 and AK-1 by then). Hope that makes sense!

 

[midnight star]

Good advice, we are coming from MST. Our flight gets in around 4:30pm, and I'm hoping to get groceries and get settled into the hotel early that night. Regardless, I'm sure the next morning will be brutal.

Good advice about the time zones.
Last year we did a red eye from California to Florida. Arrived a 6am and was in MK by 9am (we dropped luggage off at the hotel). By midday we were STRUGGLING. I don't think I would do that again, or recommend it unless you can't help it. The only reason why I think we made it through the day was because we were both 26 and had no kids with us haha.

 

[Cal-Pie]

Yes you can change your Park Pass days after activation and before scanning into the park that day. I think once you are scanned in, you are limited to parkhopping after 2:00 PM, which is too late to try for a 1:00 boarding pass (and that's why they moved the time up to 1:00).

Funny I was going to write about this because we used the same strategy. We used DHS and AK days interchangeably, in case we didn't get boarding group, we planned to pivot to AK that first or second DHS day. but in the end, we didn't have to because we were successful both days with ROTR at 7:00 AM. They key is just be prepared and connected and I think it will happen. As mentioned, test both wifi and data at your hotel. If you have a good signal, I would lean toward data.

Keep in mind like you said, it's Memorial Day weekend. There are "tiers" of Park Passes (right now) for On-site guests, APs, and Ticket holders. I think they move capacity between the three, and who knows what they will do in May. But your risk is you have two days for DHS booked, and the other parks fillup before you can switch your second day. You can be sure I was watching the availability like a hawk. It appeared to me that AK was the last to fill up during our trip, so we chose that as the "pivot park" (it only filled up the last two days of our trip but we had already done DHS-2 and AK-1 by then). Hope that makes sense!

It does make sense, thank you! We'll be trying with 5 different phones, 2 different carriers, so I think our chances are good, but it's hard not to fret.

 

[Cal-Pie]

Good advice about the time zones.
Last year we did a red eye from California to Florida. Arrived a 6am and was in MK by 9am (we dropped luggage off at the hotel). By midday we were STRUGGLING. I don't think I would do that again, or recommend it unless you can't help it. The only reason why I think we made it through the day was because we were both 26 and had no kids with us haha.

The prices of the red eye flights were really appealing, but I'm 26 (+20) and I know I just don't have it in me anymore!

 

[KPeterso]

Good advice about the time zones.
Last year we did a red eye from California to Florida. Arrived a 6am and was in MK by 9am (we dropped luggage off at the hotel). By midday we were STRUGGLING. I don't think I would do that again, or recommend it unless you can't help it. The only reason why I think we made it through the day was because we were both 26 and had no kids with us haha.

I agree! I did the red eye the first 2 times I flew CA to FL. The first time our room was ready when we arrived, so we went to a park for awhile and then came back for a nap in the afternoon. The second time our room was not ready until quite a bit later and by 1 PM we were exhausted and just wanted a nap. I called and begged the hotel for any room at that point. Since then, I pay the extra for the morning flight (or the afternoon too, just arriving super late) so I know I will have a room when I arrive and be able to settle right in. No more parks on arrival for me.

 

[bassgirl]

Hello!,

Good advice about the time zones.
Last year we did a red eye from California to Florida. Arrived a 6am and was in MK by 9am (we dropped luggage off at the hotel). By midday we were STRUGGLING. I don't think I would do that again, or recommend it unless you can't help it. The only reason why I think we made it through the day was because we were both 26 and had no kids with us haha.

We have MK on the first day as well. BUT, we are arriving on Sunday and then doing the park on Monday. That way we can get a good nights sleep. (Even though we probably won't sleep that well because of being so excited!!)

 

[SeaDis]

It does make sense, thank you! We'll be trying with 5 different phones, 2 different carriers, so I think our chances are good, but it's hard not to fret.

I totally understand. I really don't think the speed (unless really slow) or the fastest fingers is what trips most people up. I think it's issues with tickets, family/group not being setup properly, etc. Another pitfall is coming to the first screen and not everyone is checked. Everyone should be practiced in the "Select All" at the top of that screen.

Lastly, I read on many of the blogs that you should open the App 5-7 seconds before 7:00 AM. We never had luck with this and it kept tripping us up in our practice runs. The different phones would load the splash screen of the app at different rates. If you start frantically scrolling before all the images load, the App scroll can skip around and you get lost trying to find the ROTR button. We MUCH preferred having the app open to the ROTR section and using the "Pull Down" refresh instead. This worked much better for us on all 4 or 5 iPhones of different models (7 was the oldest).

Anyways, there is no shortage of ROTR advice out there. Just our experience on that one issue.

 

[crystal1313]

This thread was amazingly helpful for ROTR help.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/r...planning-and-information-no-spoilers.3782822/

 

[VandVsmama]

We leave for WDW 2 weeks from Saturday! Our ADRs are mostly at lunch time in case we decide that we want to park hop. I'm salivating over the Epcot art & food festival food pics.

 

[bassgirl]

Question about masks. I have been getting my masks from Old Navy and Costco. Do you think those would be acceptable? I'm just double checking.

 

[SeaDis]

Question about masks. I have been getting my masks from Old Navy and Costco. Do you think those would be acceptable? I'm just double checking.

You can find the official mask policy/updates on the Web site. I think the major points are: must cover nose/mouth completely, no bandanas, neck gaitors, or valves of any kind.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

I came with all these masks and then ended up buying a bunch of Disney masks when we arrived because they were so cute haha! So keep that in mind- you can buy them everywhere. The new material they make them with now is much more comfortable.

 

[bassgirl]

You can find the official mask policy/updates on the Web site. I think the major points are: must cover nose/mouth completely, no bandanas, neck gaitors, or valves of any kind.

Thank you! I just don't want to show up and they say they won't work for some weird reason.

 

[bassgirl]

I came with all these masks and then ended up buying a bunch of Disney masks when we arrived because they were so cute haha! So keep that in mind- you can buy them everywhere. The new material they make them with now is much more comfortable.

That's funny! It's just me and the kid's. Hubby is staying home this time. So, I'm sure that I'm just a little worried about things I probably don't need to worry about. Thanks again!!

 

[Cal-Pie]

If we're staying off site, not hopping and likely not doing memory maker, is there any reason we should buy magic bands?

 

[bassgirl]

If we're staying off site, not hopping and likely not doing memory maker, is there any reason we should buy magic bands?

I'm still waiting for mine in the mail. I ordered them before Christmas. I read somewhere they are having some challenges for some reason. I'm not sure if that would change your mind or not. Although. We are staying on site, we are not doing memory maker or park hopping either. It will be our first time there and challenging enough to get through the parks as it is without hopping . I hope you have a great trip!

 

[BGinCali]

If we're staying off site, not hopping and likely not doing memory maker, is there any reason we should buy magic bands?

I wouldn’t in that situation. Even if you change your mind on memory maker, you wouldn’t have to buy one (though I find them convenient, easy to save a bit of money and use park ticket, etc in lieu of magic band).

 

[dina444444]

I wouldn’t in that situation. Even if you change your mind on memory maker, you wouldn’t have to buy one (though I find them convenient, easy to save a bit of money and use park ticket, etc in lieu of magic band).

Some ride photos are only available if you have a magic band. Certain rides don’t have the photo displays at the end anymore so the photos automatically link via the long distance RFID battery in the magic band.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/01/a-look-ahead-at-walt-disney-world-resort/
Early entry (30 mins...) returning later this year.

No more Magical Express starting 2022.