Need advice planning our week from experienced WDW'ers

[AuntMinnie]

I have been to WDW 3 times . Once as a teen, once with a friend where we did hyper-comando 3 parks in 2 days, once with DH where we didn't worry about PS . we did everything comando too.

I wanted to slow it down for the girls this trip, but I'm starting to get crosseyed from looking at all of our options.

!

We have 7 1/2 days for parks, water parks, DQ.

Do we visit all the parks first then try a water park?

Will the waterparks be so crowded in Oct. that we can't get in in the afternoon? (we don't care about lounge chairs at water parks, we play and leave our towles in the stroller)

Will I be totally out of luck if I wait until we get down there for lunch PS in the parks?

I'm thinking we won't find out the weather until a few days before we go. I might need to switch a MGM day for a waterpark day due to weather for example.



I didn't want to go overboard with PS, just 1 a day, but it looks like I have to make them all soon.


Any and all advice welcome.

 

[freediverdude]

Wow, yes 7 1/2 days should be plenty to see most things. What I would do is alternate a park day with a waterpark or DisneyQuest day, so that you're not trying to do 4 park days in a row. By the 4th park day I think you'd be pretty tired. Then I would plan on doing DisneyQuest during the day one of the days, except not on Saturday, which is their busy day. If I were going to do say a mon-sunday, here's what I would do and why:
Monday: MGM studios (not an early entry day, so won't be crowded)

Tuesday: Waterpark or DisneyQuest, with SpectroMagic and fireworks at Magic Kingdom in the evening lately as the schedule (just go to see those and leave)

Wednesday: Magic Kingdom (best day to do this park, it's not Early entry, it's not a Spectromagic and fireworks day, it's not Monday or Saturday when Magic Kingdom gets crowded)

Thursday: Animal Kingdom (again, not early entry, good chance of not being crowded)

Friday: Waterpark or DisneyQuest

Saturday: Epcot (this is the best park for Saturday, because it's early entry for MGM, and Magic Kingdom is always mobbed on Saturdays, plus Epcot can handle larger crowds with the larger sidewalks)

Sunday: Waterpark, or DisneyQuest, or whatever

With the priority seatings, the ones you really have to worry about making right now would be the really popular ones if you want those, such as Cinderella's Royal Table, Crystal Palace, Hoop de Doo Revue, and the Polynesian Luau. Most of the others, though, you could make the week that you are going, or even the morning of, with not much problem in my experience, especially the time of year you're going isn't the absolute busiest.
These are just my recommendations based on my experiences, but I know other people have different experiences, so do what you think is best for you. Hope this helps!

 

[WDWAurora]

Another restaurant that fills up for lunch is the Plaza Restaurant in MK. If you want to eat there (it's reasonably priced, and serves sandwiches, soups, salads, and a wide variety of ice cream) make a PS before leaving, as they do turn away many many people. But this restaurant is not a must do or anything, but if you want to eat there, get the PS prior. I hope that made sense, I don't want you to think you're missing out if you don't eat there or anything.

 

[AuntMinnie]

Thanks!

alternate a park day with a waterpark or DisneyQuest day, so that you're not trying to do 4 park days in a row.

I am starting to get nervous thinking that we have to see all 4 parks before we do anything else. I don't know where that idea came from .

It's also starting to stress me out about the CRT. I wish they had all PS available at the same time. I'll probabbly have to refigure our schedule when I get/don't get CRT.

Would it be worth it to go to BB or TL at 2 or 3 PM?

I don't want you to think you're missing out if you don't eat there or anything.

Thanks because I'm already worried about everything else we are going to miss Actually I don't think (in my limited MK experience) I have ever eaten at Main St. because I was always on my way in or out. This trip, wit DD4 and DD5 we will most likely be spending much time in MK, so is it a hassle to get back to Plaza Resturant ?

 

[WDWAurora]

I'm not quite sure what you mean about getting back to it...the location is nice, as it's not on the main drag of Main Street, it's off to the side a little, which makes it nice and quiet, and it's small, so there aren't a ton of people inside. I find it very relaxing. The only time it would be difficult to actually get to would be during parade time, but if you're on the Tomorrowland side of the park, that shouldn't be a problem.