Need help with MK days

[mastermind307]

We will be doing 2 days at MK, 1 day it will be me, DH and DD9. The second day it will be us 3 and my in-laws. I'm having a difficult time planning these days because normally we spend 2 days at MK just split the park and do 1/2 one day and the other 1/2 the other. But this time since my in-laws won't be with us for the first day and there are things they want to do in all the lands, planning is much more difficult. The park will be open till 7 because of the Halloween party, which we will not be attending.

The plan is to have a prepark opening breakfast at Crystal Palace and be done in time for park opening at 9:00. Not sure if we should begin in Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Frontierland, or Fantastyland.

In Tomorrowland we want to:
Ride SM (me and mother-in-law)
Ride Buzz (DH and DD9) while we're riding SM
Astro Orbiter

Adventureland
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean (DD also wants to do Pirates League and need to figure out when to schedule this as well)
Tree House
Counrty Bears

Frontierland
BTMRR
Tom Sawyer Island
Liberty Riverboat
Haunted Mansion

Fantasyland
7DMT
Peter Pan
Winnie the Pooh
Little Mermaid Ride
Carousel
Mickey's Philharmagic

I think we can get it all done. I'm just unsure of what order to do it in. I would to do all the rides/attractions in one area before moving on to avoid crisscrossing the park. I also need to figure out FPs. I know I will try to get 7DMT and the others I'm considering depending on timing are Jungle Cruise, BTMRR, Haunted Mansion, SM, and Peter Pan.

What's my best plan of attack?

 

[StirlingSilver83]

First off for your FPs I would do 7DMT, Peter Pan, and Buzz for 1 day and on the other day I would do Jungle Cruise, POTC, and Haunted Mansion. Try and get you FPs for after 11 AM. You can do Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid, Small World, Mickey's Philharmagic, Carousel, and Astro Orbiter which are all in the general same location from 9-11 with little waiting time. I would do those rides on the day you have your FPs scheduled for Peter Pan, Buzz, and 7DMT. The next day for when you have Jungle Cruise, POTC, and Haunted Mansion I would do the Tree House, Tom Sawyer Island, River boat, and Country Bears.

I realize your inlaws might want to see certain stuff but I would go in sections of the park. Magic Kingdom really isn't that big of a park. You need to get an idea of what your inlaws want to do before you plan your days. I usually try to do things by sections in the park instead of walking back and forth between sections.

 

[mastermind307]

First off for your FPs I would do 7DMT, Peter Pan, and Buzz for 1 day and on the other day I would do Jungle Cruise, POTC, and Haunted Mansion. Try and get you FPs for after 11 AM. You can do Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid, Small World, Mickey's Philharmagic, Carousel, and Astro Orbiter which are all in the general same location from 9-11 with little waiting time. I would do those rides on the day you have your FPs scheduled for Peter Pan, Buzz, and 7DMT. The next day for when you have Jungle Cruise, POTC, and Haunted Mansion I would do the Tree House, Tom Sawyer Island, River boat, and Country Bears.

I realize your inlaws might want to see certain stuff but I would go in sections of the park. Magic Kingdom really isn't that big of a park. You need to get an idea of what your inlaws want to do before you plan your days. I usually try to do things by sections in the park instead of walking back and forth between sections.

All the things listed are what my in-laws want to do and we will be doing all of them in one day. On the other day, we will be doing other things. Sorry that I wasn't clear on that. I was actually thinking about trying to get earlier FPs so that I could try and get a 4th after we use the 3. Or would trying to get as much done as possible early be better?

 

[BillyBoy1304]

OP, You might want to start preparing your DD for POTC; it's going down in May for a lengthy refurb. Not sure when you're going, but it might not be back up by then.

 

[mastermind307]

OP, You might want to start preparing your DD for POTC; it's going down in May for a lengthy refurb. Not sure when you're going, but it might not be back up by then.

We will be going in October.. I know I still have 6 months, but I have to make ADRs in 3 weeks and like to have at least an idea of what our schedule will be.

 

[MainMom]

I think I would start in Fantasyland with Peter Pan and work your way around it to SDMT with a FP+. I would then go to Haunted Mansion SB & BTMRR FP. We don't to Liberty Boat or Tom Sawyer so no idea how long those will take. They might be nice for an afternoon break after lunch? Then do Adventureland & Tomorrowland with FP for SM. You could get 3 early (SDMT, HM, & BTMRR) and then try for 4th & 5th for JC &/or SM/Buzz.

This would be what I would try to do. I haven't used FP+ yet so just going by my gut from previous trips. Good luck!

 

[mastermind307]

I think I would start in Fantasyland with Peter Pan and work your way around it to SDMT with a FP+. I would then go to Haunted Mansion SB & BTMRR FP. We don't to Liberty Boat or Tom Sawyer so no idea how long those will take. They might be nice for an afternoon break after lunch? Then do Adventureland & Tomorrowland with FP for SM. You could get 3 early (SDMT, HM, & BTMRR) and then try for 4th & 5th for JC &/or SM/Buzz.

This would be what I would try to do. I haven't used FP+ yet so just going by my gut from previous trips. Good luck!

I'm thinking about doing SM first and then Astro Orbiter, to get them out of the way. Then use a FP for Peter Pan, 7DMT, and Haunted Mansion. Fill in the other fantasyland rides between the FP times. After doing Haunted Mansion, get a 4th FP for either BTMRR or Jungle Cruise. We can ride the other SB or maybe get a 5th FP depending on times. Then we can spend the rest of our time doing the less popular attractions in Frontierland and Adventureland.

 

[JessicaW1234]

I'm thinking about doing SM first and then Astro Orbiter, to get them out of the way. Then use a FP for Peter Pan, 7DMT, and Haunted Mansion. Fill in the other fantasyland rides between the FP times. After doing Haunted Mansion, get a 4th FP for either BTMRR or Jungle Cruise. We can ride the other SB or maybe get a 5th FP depending on times. Then we can spend the rest of our time doing the less popular attractions in Frontierland and Adventureland.

I would consider using a FP for BTMRR after lunch instead of HM. I'm not sure you would be able to get over there later and get a 4th FP; there is always a long line there.
Also, PP always builds a long line- we usually do PP at rope drop (although I've read they have built a really neat line cue)
I have been able to get a 4th FP for jungle cruise

 

[mesaboy2]

For some help with FP selections, see the green link in my signature.

 

[cjparker0110]

I would consider talking with in-laws about their exact plans. Find out which attractions are on their "must do" list. Those are ones you could plan for the second day. Anything that you know they will not want to do can be done on the first day. Any extra time on the first day might allow for you to do some attractions on both days (especially if you use your FPs wisely). You don't necessarily have to crisscross the park over and over. Just plan the way you normally would for going around the lands, but with the intent of doing each land twice. It won't be as easy, but I honestly have hit every land in every trip to MK no matter what. I have certain rides I always hit when I'm there (even if it's a second or third day).

 

[BillyBoy1304]

I know I still have 6 months, but I have to make ADRs in 3 weeks and like to have at least an idea of what our schedule will be.

No problem, I'm a compulsive planner myself. My wife just heard the news that POTC was going to be down for our trip in May and was really bummed out. Just wanted to make sure you'd seen the news since it's still only a "rumor".

 

[mastermind307]

I would consider using a FP for BTMRR after lunch instead of HM. I'm not sure you would be able to get over there later and get a 4th FP; there is always a long line there.
Also, PP always builds a long line- we usually do PP at rope drop (although I've read they have built a really neat line cue)
I have been able to get a 4th FP for jungle cruise

I wasn't sure if I should get a FP for HM or BTMRR, when I check the lines app, HM seems to have longer waits than BTMRR. Good to know that it might be possible to get a 4th FP for Jungle Cruise.

I would consider talking with in-laws about their exact plans. Find out which attractions are on their "must do" list. Those are ones you could plan for the second day. Anything that you know they will not want to do can be done on the first day. Any extra time on the first day might allow for you to do some attractions on both days (especially if you use your FPs wisely). You don't necessarily have to crisscross the park over and over. Just plan the way you normally would for going around the lands, but with the intent of doing each land twice. It won't be as easy, but I honestly have hit every land in every trip to MK no matter what. I have certain rides I always hit when I'm there (even if it's a second or third day).

There are something we want to do both days (BTMRR and 7DMT) if it works out. I'm sure it will all work out, I tend to overthink things quite a bit.