Need advice - trip planning

[sirvin12]

So I have a trip coming up soon! We will be driving from Phoenix on October 10th - 14th. I plan on leaving my house ay 5 am. The trip should take about 6 hours. We are planning on going to the beach for an hour or two before heading to our hotel. After a little rest I am trying to decide what to do next. DD's are 5 and 21 months. I was just planning on hanging out in Downtown Disney and having dinner there. I just realized that getting a 4 day park hopper instead of a 3 day is not much more. Is it worth it for only a few hours (we have 0710 ressies for Minnie and Friends the 11th so won't be staying until midnight). What would you do?

 

[Butterfly123]

I would get the 4 day park hopper. We usually do a half day on the day we arrive. You can get a lot done in a half day, and for the small amount of extra cost, I think it is a real bargain. Even if it is just a few hours, I would still go for it. We think of it as a "bonus", and just take our time, enjoy the rides with short lines, and do some evening entertainment, like fireworks, or a show.

 

[smiles33]

I agree! We arrived Thurs afternoon in the parks last week around 3:15 or so and left at 7:30 and it was TOTALLY worth it. You can read details in my TR (post #20 talks about Thurs PM and what we accomplished).

I have 2 and 5 year olds and we did a bunch of FL rides and 2 of the Meet-n-greets (Pixie Hollow and Tangled).

 

[sirvin12]

Thx for your replies! What do you think about trying to see WOC with preferred dining, or do you think it would be better to wait for Wednesday without PD (already doing Ariel's Grotto that day)? It is Columbus day so the crowds will be worse. Decisions, Decisions!!!!

 

[Butterfly123]

My kids are teenagers now, but I don't think I would have had a evening "planned" activity scheduled for a travel day when my kids were the ages yours are. Too many variables to predict how tired and cranky they may be! We like to keep our arrival day at the park very loose, so we can just go with whatever the crowds seem to warrent. Fireworks are always great because there is so little planning for them. We didn't have preferred seating for WOC, but the logistics alone made it a bigger deal, and a little more stressful.

 

[rramstad]

I'd definitely add the day.

We had an arrival in July where by the time we got into the park it was 6 PM. That would sound like a disaster, but in four hours, we did most of Adventureland, Critter Country, rode BTMRR, and saw the fireworks. It was great!

We still got to bed early enough to make it to magic morning the next day, no problem...

 

[sirvin12]

Butterfly very good point. I was concerned about that. I think you are right. I think i will add the day but not make any plans. Thanks everyone!