Oct Trip and Planning Advice Needed

[Pammy_from_WI]

Hi,

In the past, when traveling in a slow season, we've always done, for example, MK in the morning, hotel and rest or swim in the afternoon, Epcot at night. This worked out great from us adults and teens. One thing to note is yes, it was slow season, but for whatever reason they had longer park hours then this trip we're planning.

Last year we had our 2 yr old with us and we just stayed at the parks all day. She slept fine in the stoller and there are some great quiet places in the parks. But this was a shorter trip and we had some time restrictions.

This year we're doing a longer trip. And will have 2 days at each park. But since we're traveling in Oct., and in the past the parks are open shorter hours. MK was only open until 10am to 6pm.

Now I'm wondering if we're better off just doing 1 park per day, letting her rest in her stroller and then head back to the hotel after the parks close for a nice dinner and a relaxing evening. I was considering the MK day and Epcot evening again, but with the shortened hours, I'm not sure this is the best plan for this time of year. Plus we're planning on 1 night at the MK to see the parades and fireworks.

This plan is just for MK and Epcot. MGM and AK I just do one day at the park, since they can be tackled in one day.

Any Oct/ Slow season experts out there that can give me some planning advice?

Thanks in advance,
Pammy

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

One other thing is we don't do early morning things, we like to sleep in a bit, grab a breakfast someplace and then hit the parks. So we tend to avoid the parks that are holding EE in the am.

Pammy

 

[shafke]

This is what we did last Oct with 4yo DS. Did not do EE. Got up had breakfast and the earliest we were in any park was probably 10-10:30. Spent the day at whatever park/parks. Have a late lunch/early dinner. When we got back to the hotel we would go swimming to wind down and have a snack if we were still hungry.

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

Thanks Shafke, we're you able to do most of the things you wanted with this type of plan?

The reason we're looking more at this way is because we will not have a car and will be relying on the bus system. With a toddler and stoller in tow, I'm not sure how pratical park hopping is. Like I said park hopping with adults/teens worked like a charm, but I'm not sure with a toddler.

Any other opinions on this one?

Thanks
Pammy

 

[The Duchess]

We always do WDW the last week in October. Last trip DS was four, visit before he was 2.
I usually break down my itinerary into three parts per day, Morning, Afternoon, Evening (obviously!)
We usually park hop a lot during the day and schedule PSs around what park we're in. Thow in scheduling parade times and firework times.....
AK and MGM one day each, usually doesn't even take a full day. MK maybe a day and a half, usually I split it morning one day, afternoon of another day or just one day if you can get back for E-Night or MNSSHP (don't miss this...runs through all of October) to hit the good rides and fireworks We also did the Family Magic Tour...great!! Since we stay at YC, I schedule Epcot for afternoons an/or evenings and MK for mornings. I always leave some times blank for pool time, Downtown Disney etc...
You didn't mention where you were staying, proximity is everything at WDW!
Usually we have Room Service breakfast (saves time and makes you get out of bed!)

 

[eeyore0062]

Some people feel that jumping from park to park wastes valuable time. The reasons we jump are:
a) we went to Magic Hour at one of the parks, the park is getting crowded so we had planned another park in the afternoon anyway.
b) we have done everything we hoped to accomplish, had already seen the parade and want to do something else.

We went to WDW last October and had a blast. We attended the Food and Wine festival and the Not So Scary Halloween party.

Our itenerary looked something like this:
Sat: arrive, check in, go to AK around noon, stay until close and go back to the resort for dinner...

Sun: character breakfast at 1900 Park Faire, MK for character autographs at the front of Main Street, back to resort to change for Not So Scary Halloween Party, dinner at 'Ohana, then on to the MK for the party

Mon: Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival and for DD to do Kidcot

Tuesday: Magic Morning at MGM, stay all day, see Fantasmic

Wednesday: DH to play golf at Lake Buena Vista, and DD and I to DTD to shop then to pool. Eat at food court

Thursday: Magic Morning at MK, leave around noon, go back to resort, then back to MK for parade... DD to Neverland Club and DH and I to Narcoosee's for dinner

Friday: MGM in morning for last rides on ToT and RnR. Jump to Epcot around 1 pm for DD to finish Kidcot stations, then to Cape May for Dinner.. back to resort.

Saturday: Epcot in morning, then last minute shopping at DTD, back to resort to eat and pick up luggage, and on to airport.

We saw and did everything we desired and the crowds were not bad at all. We did take advantage of fast passes, and didn't have to use the child swap option, except in the case of ToT, which DD doesn't like.

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

Thanks!! Those posts help a lot.

We're staying at the ASMo, budget trip this time. This is why I also think park hopping is going to be painful. If we're were staying closer to the biggies, then I'd probably park hop.

Pammy

 

[disneyvoice]

Pammy -

What dates will you be there?

We are also staying at ASMo and will be there from Oct 25-Nov 2. Our son will be 2 when we go.

Our son gets up pretty early so we are planning on getting to the parks early and letting him sleep in his stroller when he gets tired. We have dinner scheduled for right around 6:00 each night and then will head back to the resort so he can wind down and get to sleep at a decent hour.

We scheduled a day at either a water park or at the resort pool in between each them park day so there would be time to relax and just hand out. On those days we still plan to do dinner at 6:00 and get him back to the resort at a decent time.

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

We'll be there from Oct. 1 to Oct. 9. I think doing one park per day is good for a lot of people and for others the park hopping seem to work.

Since we're going in a slower season, we think just spending the day at one park is fine. We can always head over to Epcot if we feel like it. Plus I'd like to keep her pretty close to her sleeping/dinner schedule, so she's not totally out of whack when she comes home.

We are planning a few days at TL, since that's our fav. waterpark. And one evening wandering around DD and WS since there are some neat things there. Other then that we'll use the evenings to relax and swim.

Pammy

 

[4greatboys]

Pam--we are going to be there Oct 7-14. We usually go the end of Sept but this year the boys have 2 days off in Oct that we want to take advantage of. Unforunately its Columbus day. The boys never get that day off so I never have given the park attendance much though. Hope its not to crowded.

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

I've heard Columbus Day is pretty busy, but I can't it imagine it's worse the peak months like June or Christmas. I think we'll all have a great time even if it's a little busy. We went last year the second week of June and it was really bad, so we're prepared for the worse! And if the crowds are light it will be a nice surprise!!

Pammy