Newbie needs major help.....

[ImaFunMom]

Hi all. My family had reservations at Disney for Oct., but had to reschedule due to Hurricane Katrina (never been before). Long story short, we just rescheduled last week and leave this coming Friday. I am in a panic and any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

We will get into Disney (staying onsite) on Sat. around noon. We depart Friday morning. That being said, we have 5 full days and the 1/2-3/4 day the day we arrive. I need scheduling help to get the most from our trip.

Question #1: What park would you hit the day of arrival? I was thinking MGM since that's an extra evening hours day for them. Here's what I am thinking (please let me know if you'd do things differently):

Sat. MGM

Sun. MK

Mon. MK

Tue. Epcot

Wed. AK

Thu. MK or Epcot again, depending on preference

What if anything would you change?


Question #2: We have the dining pkg., but do not have reservations. DH is a very spontanious person and I'm not sure he's going to want to have to be some where at a certain time, but then again, I don't want to have to wait an extra hour to eat b/c we didn't reserve anything.

Question #3 - we will drive in so we will have our vehicle. Is it faster/easier to drive yourself to the parks rather than wait on the bus/shuttle service provided?

I know this is a lot, but I really appreciate any help you all can give me! Thanks so much! Oh.... only child is a 9 y/o boy. Thanks.

 

[Bob P]

Hi and welcome to the DIS!

As for question 2...your DH will be most unpleasantly surprised at how popular WDW restaurants are. Unless you like waiting in long lines (and some restaurants will not even take walk-ups in prime dining times) or eating very early or very late, do yourself a favor and make ADRs. They are free, and you can always cancel them later. The dining plan has made sit-down restaurants more crowded than ever before.

Question 3... we always use WDW transportation. But it is probably a little faster to drive to every park EXCEPT the MK. Use WDW transportation for the MK and you will save about half an hour each way.

Good luck...

Bob

 

[ImaFunMom]

Thank you, Bob!

 

[Mom to a Princess]

Okay well I completely agree with the previous poster and use the ADRs (dinning reservations.) Even with them sometimes you do encounter a wait. I can't imagine what it would be like without one.

Second, I also always use disney transportation. If you do my only piece of advice is if you stay for the closing of the park - wait and let the masses exit. I normally wait about 15 minutes and then head for the buses. I always get a seat and never have to wait long.

Good planning and remember to what ever happens relax and enjoy yourself!

 

[Karnak]

Just a couple of comments on your schedule. Since you have five days at the parks you might want to avoid "extra hours days" because the parks tend to be more crowded on the designated days, or do the early hour and plan to park hop later on in the day.

On the dinner reservations. I would advise making final plans on which parks on which days and making meal reservations based upon where you plan to be at your meal times. Otherwise plan to stand in line at a counter service place for a long time.

And you need to make those meal reservations ASAP.

Enjoy,

 

[The Sweetness]

I agree with the previous post that if you dont make ADrs at least 1 meal a day, you will be waiting on long lines for counter service, and thats after you hunt down a table.

 

[lisadisney2003]

Ditto on the dining ressies. My husband is the same way but, after 2 trips to disney were we spent so much time either going from place to place trying to get in or waiting at one place, we decided to always make ressies. Now, we do our research in advance. We decide which restaurants we previously liked and want to return to and what new places we want to try, all based on the parks we will be at that day. We know what time we like to eat our meals since we have a DD3. So we just make ressies. We know it is not big deal if we decide on something else but, if not, we know we have those ressies so, we won't be stuck eating fast food which we HATE. I would also add that ressies are esspecially important for dinner at Epcot. Otherwise, you will be fast food for sure.

 

[ImaFunMom]

Thanks so much!

I called at got reservations for everyday. I was surprised at the times they had available on such short notice. thanks again!~