Newbie Here-Planning Questions

[Wizbag]

Hi guys. Long time lurker, first time poster. We'll be staying offsite from 9/6-9/12. It will be my DH & I, our kids 11, 9 & 5 and my adult SIL. We'll have 4 days +1 day free tickets from UT. No hoppers. I'm trying to work out a plan for the week and I need opinions.

Our flight gets in at 9 AM on Saturday 11/6 & we fly out in the AM on 9/12. Here's the options I've worked out-

1. After arriving, go straight to AK, stay until close. Sunday-HS. Monday-Beach day, Tues-MK. Wed-EP. Thurs-open day to revisit any parks/anything else we want to do.

2. After arriving, go to DD & putt putt. Sunday-beach day. Monday-EP, Tues-MK, Wed-HS, Thursday-AK & whatever park we want to revisit.

My concern with Plan 1 is that we won't have enough time to do AK on Saturday and the kids will be exhausted because we have to be at the airport at 5AM for our flight.

My concern with plan 2 is that it's 4 straight park days with no breaks.

What plan do you suggest? Or should I scrap it all and start over? Thanks!

 

[Aliceacc]

When you say "beach day"....how are you planning to get to a beach? You know that Orlando is about an hour inland, right??

Not a problem...it's an easy ride, but I wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. I spent the day today on my brother's boat-- if your kids haven't seen the ocean it makes absolute sense. But you'll obviously need a rental car.

As far as your schedule goes: a day at the beach can be every bit as exhausting as a day at WDW. My concern would be for the driver... You want him making that long drive on unfamilar roads well rested. So i would go with the second plan.

 

[DisMom1981]

Hi guys. Long time lurker, first time poster. We'll be staying offsite from 9/6-9/12. It will be my DH & I, our kids 11, 9 & 5 and my adult SIL. We'll have 4 days +1 day free tickets from UT. No hoppers. I'm trying to work out a plan for the week and I need opinions. Our flight gets in at 9 AM on Saturday 11/6 & we fly out in the AM on 9/12. Here's the options I've worked out- 1. After arriving, go straight to AK, stay until close. Sunday-HS. Monday-Beach day, Tues-MK. Wed-EP. Thurs-open day to revisit any parks/anything else we want to do. 2. After arriving, go to DD & putt putt. Sunday-beach day. Monday-EP, Tues-MK, Wed-HS, Thursday-AK & whatever park we want to revisit. My concern with Plan 1 is that we won't have enough time to do AK on Saturday and the kids will be exhausted because we have to be at the airport at 5AM for our flight. My concern with plan 2 is that it's 4 straight park days with no breaks. What plan do you suggest? Or should I scrap it all and start over? Thanks!

I like plan 1. I think that despite early airport exhaustion you have the beginning of trip adrenaline on your side. It's nice to break up the parks with a relaxing day- although for me, packing everyone up and driving out to the beach would be exhausting too. I prefer a pool day mid trip for sure though. Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I also second the notion of scrapping the beach day. I think it would be easier and make more sense to do a resort/pool day (maybe with putt-putt or some downtown disney time) or do a waterpark day.

 

[Wizbag]

We are renting a car.

Scrapping the beach day isn't an option. DH hates Disney and promising a beach day was the trade off for doing Disney.

SIL used to live in Orlando, so we know its a haul to the beach. It's a trip we've made many times.

 

[juliebug1997]

I would go with Plan 1 and I would move your beach day in one more. If you're going to have five days worth of tickets, why wouldn't you use them?

 

[Aliceacc]

OK, great. I love the beach, and can understand needing to get there, particulRly if you live inland. I just wanted you to realize the distances.

I still say go when the driver is well rested... A long day at the beach can be exhausting, followed by that long drive.

 

[Wizbag]

I would go with Plan 1 and I would move your beach day in one more. If you're going to have five days worth of tickets, why wouldn't you use them?

We are using all 5 days. Either on that Thursday with plan one or using 2 days of tickets on Thursday with plan 2.

We won't be back before that day expires, so I'm not going to waste it.

 

[photo_chick]

Hi guys. Long time lurker, first time poster. We'll be staying offsite from 9/6-9/12. It will be my DH & I, our kids 11, 9 & 5 and my adult SIL. We'll have 4 days +1 day free tickets from UT. No hoppers. I'm trying to work out a plan for the week and I need opinions.

Our flight gets in at 9 AM on Saturday 11/6 & we fly out in the AM on 9/12. Here's the options I've worked out-

1. After arriving, go straight to AK, stay until close. Sunday-HS. Monday-Beach day, Tues-MK. Wed-EP. Thurs-open day to revisit any parks/anything else we want to do.

2. After arriving, go to DD & putt putt. Sunday-beach day. Monday-EP, Tues-MK, Wed-HS, Thursday-AK & whatever park we want to revisit.

My concern with Plan 1 is that we won't have enough time to do AK on Saturday and the kids will be exhausted because we have to be at the airport at 5AM for our flight.

My concern with plan 2 is that it's 4 straight park days with no breaks.

What plan do you suggest? Or should I scrap it all and start over? Thanks!

On your Thursday on plan 2.... You can't reenter a new park on the same day, even using another day's ticket, unless you have hoppers.

I would also not want to go to AK when I couldn't start the day out there early enough. I'd personally choose the park that stays open the latest for that day so there was less of a rush to get there and get in and you could have a short nap before hitting the parks if you wanted to.

 

[Wizbag]

On your Thursday on plan 2.... You can't reenter a new park on the same day, even using another day's ticket, unless you have hoppers.

.

Ah, I didn't know that. That sucks. I guess that means it's plan 1 by default.

 

[juliebug1997]

We are using all 5 days. Either on that Thursday with plan one or using 2 days of tickets on Thursday with plan 2.

We won't be back before that day expires, so I'm not going to waste it.

You can't use two days worth of tickets on one day.

 

[mesaboy2]

Ah, I didn't know that. That sucks. I guess that means it's plan 1 by default.

A very common mistake. Better to find out here then there.

 

[Travelgrrl]

I would have a mellow first day. Your flight may arrive at 9 AM but by the time you get through the airport, maybe bag check, maybe pick up a rental car, it's more like 10:30. Then WDW is pretty far (45 minutes?) from MCO. Then you check into your hotel, and everyone's hungry for lunch.

At that point, in the early afternoon (and AK closes EARLY), I would have a lovely day at the pool, and maybe a fun dinner somewhere. (The Poly or somewhere they have a 'beach'?) I read in a guide once that when polled about their WDW vacation, the majority of kids cited the hotel pool as their favorite part.

Then I would hit the parks like a madman for the next 5 days, going to each one and saving the last day to repeat your favorite. HOWEVER, even when staying offsite, we always went early, took a break in the afternoon, and returned in the evening. That helps when you're going to parks every day. After a rest (or swim and rest!) you will feel 1000% better that evening.

(Note: AK closes early so you probably want to do almost a full day there and have a night 'off')

HAVE FUN!

 

[fluffykalie]

I like plan two. but with a slight twist. I would go to downtown disney and putt putt after ariveing. then go to epcot sunday that park handles crowds well. then I would do hollywood studios or animal kingdomon monday. then go to a beach on tuseday. unless you plan to pay more for mickeys not so scary holloween party it would be waste to do mk on a day its going on the park close's early that day. then I would do hollywood studios or animal kingdom on wensday. then do mk on thursday. it would waste a day of your ticket but then your family wont get burned out. Park day after Park day gets tireing expecially if you feel pressured to see everything you want to in a park in one day.

 

[heybravo626]

What about beach on day 1? That way you don't miss an early start at a park.
You didn't say if you were heading to Atlantic coast of Gulf but at MCO, you are part of the way to Cocoa Beach.

We have thrown in beach days on longer trips. They are nice breaks. Theyreally don't take that much time. I have driven to Cocoa or Melbourne in a rental faster as fast as I have done a resort to resort transfer for dinner using Disney transportation.

If beach mid-trip is a must, I think the option 1 day one start at AK is very doable with FP+.