Needed: Expert help on park planning strategy.

[jensea98]

I am still a month away from my 180 day mark but looking at schedule/plan so I can set up ADR's. We will be there 6 nights but only 5 or 4 days in the parks.We will be visiting a 9/20 Saturday to 9/26 Friday. I think we will get in too late on arrival day to go to parks. It will be four of us myself, husband, and two girls (3,6). How realistic is it not to visit magic kingdom until the last day of our trip? They only day that week we are there that electric parade and wishes are going is Thursday are last day. hmmm. we wanted to visit a water park while there leaving only 4 days in the park. I thought about doing MK the first and last day of the trip. If I do this than I don't see where we will fit in a water park. Is it realistic to do a waterpark and epcot in a day? Too me it seems like a lot for 2 little ones. I have never been to epcot before so not sure what to expect. Dang so many decisions. I want to do it all. ha. I am just looking for suggestions and ideas. Thanks

 

[LSUfan4444]

Will you have park hoppers?

I want to do it all

You won't. Don't even try. You'll drive yourself nuts and put way too much pressure on yourself. Enjoy what you can do and maximize the time you do have by making the most of it (visit crowds with lowest crowds, arrive early if possible). Tour smart, not hard.

 

[I M Fearless]

The parade schedules won't be finalized until nearer the time. The park hours are often adjusted and this is also fairly likely.

Epcot in a day is pushing it, but the park isn't the best for young children, it is the sort of place that you get out of it what you put in.

If you are morning people I would advise heading to Epcot for rope-drop. Doing the big rides in the first hour (your littlest girl may be too small for some of the headline attractions)

Maybe then head to a waterpark for the afternoon for a break and then head back and have your meal in world showcase. Kids love the Mexico boat ride. The lazer show is great too but not on until 9pm.

My advice would be to do less but do it well, rather than trying to see everything and get stressed. You know your kids and it is pointless trying to do more than they have the energy for.. Epcot is a big park so a fair amount of walking.

Typhoon Lagoon is lovely, have a great time. You'll never see all of Epcot in a day so choose the attractions you most want to enjoy and aim for those. Don't forget to use Fastpass+ to help you.

 

[jenninaustin]

I'm not an expert like others - but I thought I'd share that we will be at MK on our last full day (not the day we leave - that's a crazy early flight day- ugh!). At first I felt weird about it and I suspect that although I'll enjoy the WHOLE trip I'll spend more than a few minutes gazing longingly towards MK - ready to see the castle!!

But...I really focused on recommended days listed at both easywdw and also touringplans (got a subscription to that) and since we're going in June, it matters to me to pick the best possible day. So there you have it! It's also an EMH morning hour day - which can get busy later but can really help us see good rides early....

So from my perspective - it can work well - maybe the delayed gratification of seeing the castle isn't all bad - we'll be really ready to go all MK when we are there!

 

[photo_chick]

You could be there 10 days and still not do it all. with 4 or 5 days you're going to have to prioritize. Especially if you have a lot of ADR's as they take up a lot of time.

With little ones... what are they into character wise? A lot of the smaller kids like spending more time at MK than anywhere else. But some like other things... my son could have spent the whole time riding Star Tours at DHS and had a good trip. Talk to your kids, look at the attraction lists and get an idea of what they really want to do.

As far as water parks... Animal Kingdom can be done fairly quickly, maybe consider a water park that afternoon? Your kids will surprise you with how much energy they have. At least mine always do.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm not an expert like others - but I thought I'd share that we will be at MK on our last full day (not the day we leave - that's a crazy early flight day- ugh!). At first I felt weird about it and I suspect that although I'll enjoy the WHOLE trip I'll spend more than a few minutes gazing longingly towards MK - ready to see the castle!!

But...I really focused on recommended days listed at both easywdw and also touringplans (got a subscription to that) and since we're going in June, it matters to me to pick the best possible day. So there you have it! It's also an EMH morning hour day - which can get busy later but can really help us see good rides early....

I think you have the right idea. Sometimes, if you see Main Street and the Castle on day 1, everything else is a let down.

With hoppers now, you can spend the mornings in the most recommended park hitting up everything you want with virtually no wait or a much shorter wait during busy periods, then hop over to another park and use your three FP+ options for the day and see shows (F!, Wishes, Illuminations, etc.) or parades.

 

[jensea98]

We haven't decided yet on hopper or not. It is so far away. It is a good idea to look at the rest of the park being a let down if the see the castle on day one. I am worried about them being in tears because wanting to see the castle. then again we will be having so much fun maybe it won't matter so much. My kids are not into big rides at all. The older one is scared and the younger one is too short. I will have to keep an eye out for parade days when we get closer to the date and finalize. These ADR's are crazy too me. I have no clue what I want to do 6 months out. I am trying to organize and learn as much as I can.

 

[LSUfan4444]

One thing you might want to consider is after the water park, you can eat dinner at Cali Grill and watch wishes from the observation deck. That can give you a nice taste. Narcoosees at Grand Floridian has a dock you can view Wishes from as well and hear the music. If both of those are too pricey, you can opt to dine at the grand floridian cafe or citricos and still walk out to the dock at grand floridian and view wishes.

Then, get the full experience later in the week.

 

[glassslippergirl]

I think the simplest solution to your problem would be to invest in park hoppers. It's an extra expense. But it will give you the flexibility to do what you want when you want.

As others have said, you won't be able to do it all. I spent 40 theme park days one year and still have things on my to do list. But it is easy to get hung up on planning, what with all the great planning tools out there. With park hoppers, you can start your first theme park day at MK to see the castle and do a few must-dos, then hop to DHS, for example. Just make your FP's for DHS later in the day. If you are done more quickly with Epcot than you expected, you can hop to another park.

If PH is not an option, then I recommend doing AK and water park in the same day. You can do the highlights in a half day. Epcot is more adult-oriented, but there are many kid-friendly things, too, like the kidcot stations. If you don't have one, get a Chase Disney Visa to go to the character experience in Epcot just for cardholders.


Enjoy! You will have so much fun.

 

[jensea98]

. But it is easy to get hung up on planning, what with all the great planning tools out there. With park hoppers, you can start your first theme park day at MK to see the castle and do a few must-dos, then hop to DHS, for example. Just make your FP's for DHS later in the day. If you are done more quickly with Epcot than you expected, you can hop to another park.




Enjoy! You will have so much fun.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I think I am getting g hung up on the planning. I hope it will die down when I get these adr's planned or I am going to be crazy by the end of September