Need Opinions on Park Plans Please

[Dis703]

I am headed to WDW next month with one of my 3 boys for a mommy and me trip. My original plan was just 3 park days but with Toy Story Land open we added a 4th day so we could spend a 1/2 day at HS before leaving for the airport. I have an AP, but DS does not, and doesn't have a park hopper.

As of now:
Sun. Day 1 Epcot w/dinner at R&C
Mon. Day 2 MK lunch at BoG and dinner at Skipper Canteen, have FP for PP, JC and 7DMT
Tues. Day 3 AK dinner at Tiffins, FP for FoP, FOTLK
Weds. Day 4 HS lunch at HBD FP for TSM, DME pickup will be around 3:30

The issue is we were not planning on MNSSHP but now DS really wants to go. Of course at 40 something days out this is going to throw a wrench into meal and FP plans. I'm not likely to get FOP if I switch my AK and MK days and BoG will take some time stalking the reservation sites for as well. The other concern is he really wants to do Jedi Academy but that means an early morning on Weds which will make for a rush getting checked out and to the park after a late night.

My 2 alternate plans would be:
1. Switching my AK and MK days entirely and having to start with FP and ADRs from scratch. Upside here is that the crowd predictor for MK the party day is only a 1 while it's a 5 on the day we have currently planned.
or
2. Keep Day 2 at MK and AK on Day 3 as planned and just move my Tiffins dinner a little earlier and leave the park to head to MNSSHP by 6pm. In this case we would not take our typical afternoon break so it will be a long day.

I've done the Halloween party before but my son has not. He's a big Hocus Pocus fan and we are big Halloween fans in general so I'm sure he'd really enjoy it. The cost and late hours were the reason I didn't book it in the first place.

So WWYD in this situation?

TIA!

 

[Moms]

Well your little one needs to participate in the Halloween party so I would opt for option #2. You will have a hard time getting fastpasses this close to your trip and I'm assuming the ones you have were chosen for a reason. Dinner at Tiffins can be a late lunch and serve as a break ... time out of the sun and heat can be at least a little bit of a rest ... just warn your boys that it will be a long day and don't push more than you have to ... a late lunch will save having to "hurry" over to MK after AK. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[sharonabe]

2. Keep Day 2 at MK and AK on Day 3 as planned and just move my Tiffins dinner a little earlier and leave the park to head to MNSSHP by 6pm. In this case we would not take our typical afternoon break so it will be a long day

This is my choice. Move Tiffins to a lunch time and make AK a short day. You might even be able to take a quick break before heading to MNSSHP.

What is his goal for the party? Does he want to see some of the special characters? If so, you'll need to be at MK around 4:00 with a plan for which line you want to wait in. The special character lines form early!

 

[Dis703]

This is my choice. Move Tiffins to a lunch time and make AK a short day. You might even be able to take a quick break before heading to MNSSHP.

What is his goal for the party? Does he want to see some of the special characters? If so, you'll need to be at MK around 4:00 with a plan for which line you want to wait in. The special character lines form early!

We've never done much in the way of characters, but I'm not opposed to seeing a few. I figure with this option though we'd have done all the rides we wanted the day before so we would really be focusing on party stuff and not worrying about rides as much. I guess I should look up which characters are going to be there.

 

[gharter]

I think your best option is to do Tuesday.
Agree with moving Tiffins to lunch if you want to eat there. Leave Ak early. Take a short break and get to Mk by 5,
As mentioned above, if he wants to see some of the popular characters (Jack and Sally, 7 Dwarfs), you need to be in line close to 4 to not have a 2 hour wait.
The downside, at HS, if you want to do SDD without a FP, you almost need to be there at RD.
With MNSSHP the night before and RD the next morning, that makes for a short night.

What week are you there? 4 of the 5 weeks, they have a Sunday party. That would be my first option. Leave EPCOT early and go to the party if that is available the week you are there.