Oct Itinerary - Am I doing it right?

[Momx4 first visit]

I am planning our first trip to Disney 9/30 - 10/7 of this year. Our kids are 15, 5 and 4 all girls. I am struggling trying to determine which parks on which days taking into account hours and crowd levels. We will have park hopper but are staying offsite so will not be able to take advantage of EMH. We will have our own transportation and no ADR that tie us to anyplace on a given day. I have a tentative outline below. Would love to hear suggestions on my approach and how you would all handle the park planning!

Saturday - Check In and Disney Springs
Sunday - Epcot
Monday - Magic Kingdom
Tuesday - Resort day and MNSSHP @4
Wednesday - Hollywood Studios
Thursday - Animal Kingdom
Friday - Magic Kingdom
Saturday - Typhoon Lagoon

 

[Farro]

Do you plan to do Food and Wine at all? If so, maybe after Hollywood Studios hop on over to Epcot to spend the evening there, eating!

 

[Ceilidhscot]

I'm going next year and have planned a free day after MNSSHP as it finishes late (and that's not including the time to get back to your hotel). Realistically that could mean well after 1am or even nearer 2am. Do you really want to then get up early to hit Hollywood Studios? I'd probably do a half day at TL the morning of the party and take the Wed as a free day. Can then go to HS on the Sat perhaps pr swap the MK om the Fri for HS and finish up at MK on the Sat?

Really depends on how much stamina your girls have I guess but I know my DD (who will be 8) would be one grumpy small person if she had to go round another park the day after MNSSHP

 

[sharonabe]

I would want a different day for EP. F&W means EP is more crowded on the weekends.

However, moving EP wreaks havoc with your schedule. The best day for EP is Wednesday, but you don't want to do HS on Sunday due to the EMH. Could you do Typhoon Lagoon on Sunday and move HS to Saturday? OR move TL to Sunday, HS to Friday, and do MK on Saturday? OR AK on Sun, EP on Wed, HS on Thur?

 

[Realfoodfans]

I would want a different day for EP. F&W means EP is more crowded on the weekends.

However, moving EP wreaks havoc with your schedule. The best day for EP is Wednesday, but you don't want to do HS on Sunday due to the EMH. Could you do Typhoon Lagoon on Sunday and move HS to Saturday? OR move TL to Sunday, HS to Friday, and do MK on Saturday? OR AK on Sun, EP on Wed, HS on Thur?

Just out of interest why is Epcot best on Wednesday? By chance I changed my original plan and we will be there on a Wednesday.

 

[sharonabe]

Just out of interest why is Epcot best on Wednesday? By chance I changed my original plan and we will be there on a Wednesday.

The OP is staying offsite and wants to avoid any EMH days, so Wed of THAT week is best for them. It's not necessarily the best day of any given week, but I think it would be for them given their other plans.

F&W draws in the locals on the weekends and makes EP much more crowded than during the week.

 

[minniegirl19]

Just a reminder your epcot day is the 35th anniversary. It will be fun to be there that day and they will probably do extra fireworks but expect it to be more crowded then if you didn't go that day!

 

[minniegirl19]

Just a reminder your epcot day is the 35th anniversary. It will be fun to be there that day and they will probably do extra fireworks but expect it to be more crowded then if you didn't go that day!

Continuing off of this (sorry I'm posting twice in a row lol) but this is what id do:

Since its your first trip id avoid Epcot on the anniversary. yes it would be special to see that but honestly they don't do anything besides have merch and fireworks so for overall experience at Epcot id change the day you go.

9/30 Arrive/ disney springs (as long as you aren't getting in super late)
10/1 Animal Kingdom
10/2 Magic Kingdom (make sure you don't miss Happily Ever After)
10/3 resort day, MNSSHP
10/4 Epcot
10/5 HS
10/6 MK
10/7 Typhoon Lagoon

Im not sure of the ages of your party but I would sleep in slightly after the party and then on Friday since you have hoppers I would hop back over to epcot when MK closes for the party. Im assuming you are leaving the day you do typhoon and if you are I would end there instead of moving typhoon to mid week. Have fun!