# of days in each park & need help

[hemmie]

Hi,
I will be with my husband & two sons ages 10 & 8. We will be at Universal for 2.5 days, then 5 days of WDW tix. Please advise, particularly about our very last day - I need help thinking through it. The last weekend is Memorial Weekend, so crowds will be HIGH.

Sat: night arrival
Sun: Universal IoA (early for HP)
Mon: Universal Studios
Tue: U IoA, half day; transfer in afternoon to AKL.
Wed: MK all day (RD to Wishes, dinner at 'Ohana)
Thur: Blizzard Beach until early afternoon, then to HS
(rationale - ride HS rides that will be crazy crowded the following day for SWW)
Fri: HS (RD to as long as we can take it - this is Star Wars Weekends; we have a 10:30am SW character breakfast & an ADR for 50s PT)
Sat: EP (RD to as long as we can take it)
Sun: AK until early afternoon, then to MK for later afternoon FP+s, dinner at BOG, then back to AKL.
Mon: early early early flight home.

Here's my dilemma: the impetus for going back to MK on Sunday - a very crowded day there - was that's when I could get BOG reservations. However, I just got a lunch FP for BOG for the Wednesday we will be at MK.

Will we be absolutely exhausted by Sunday and not want to brave the hour bus ride from AK to MK then the crazy crowds, just for an expensive BOG dinner? Or will it be a fabulous way to end our trip? Is one day at MK not enough? Or will we just want to chill out and relax at AKL on our last afternoon and not have to rush through AK?

 

[heybravo626]

Hi,
I will be with my husband & two sons ages 10 & 8. We will be at Universal for 2.5 days, then 5 days of WDW tix. Please advise, particularly about our very last day - I need help thinking through it. The last weekend is Memorial Weekend, so crowds will be HIGH.

Sat: night arrival
Sun: Universal IoA (early for HP)
Mon: Universal Studios
Tue: U IoA, half day; transfer in afternoon to AKL.
Wed: MK all day (RD to Wishes, dinner at 'Ohana)
Thur: Blizzard Beach until early afternoon, then to HS
(rationale - ride HS rides that will be crazy crowded the following day for SWW)
Fri: HS (RD to as long as we can take it - this is Star Wars Weekends; we have a 10:30am SW character breakfast & an ADR for 50s PT)
Sat: EP (RD to as long as we can take it)
Sun: AK until early afternoon, then to MK for later afternoon FP+s, dinner at BOG, then back to AKL.
Mon: early early early flight home.

Here's my dilemma: the impetus for going back to MK on Sunday - a very crowded day there - was that's when I could get BOG reservations. However, I just got a lunch FP for BOG for the Wednesday we will be at MK.

Will we be absolutely exhausted by Sunday and not want to brave the hour bus ride from AK to MK then the crazy crowds, just for an expensive BOG dinner? Or will it be a fabulous way to end our trip? Is one day at MK not enough? Or will we just want to chill out and relax at AKL on our last afternoon and not have to rush through AK?

For us (wife & girls 8 & 9), we break each day into 2 parts: morning and evening. So that's 2 parts a day. From there, we breakdown our park ratios like this AK 1, Epcot 2, DHS 2 and MK 4. (meaning every trip to AK is 4 trips to MK). A note on this is that we always take an afternoon break at the resort. So based on that, I personally would go back to MK - maybe don't do any FP+ at AK in the morning and then use the FP+ at night at MK. The only thing with my ratio thing as it relates to your trip is that Star Wars weekend (more time in DHS) and water park trip throw it off some.

You could do this: Plan on MK Sunday dinner and then it you are feeling tired on Saturday call and audible for Sunday and just stay at AKL in the evening. AKL does have great pools for hanging out. If you take that approach, you would have to cancel BOG 24 hours prior. To a certain degree I think BOG is over-hyped although IMO the dinner is much better than the lunch. I would take Boma at AKL any day over BOG. Love that place.

In the end, it's all a matter of your preference and what your sons like to do. Best of luck. We stew over our planning all the time and are always making changes from 180 days out to trip time.

 

[hemmie]

Super helpful! Thank you so much! Since we haven't "done" Orlando, I don't have a sense of the exhaustion levels. I mean, I know they will be very high, but am trying to plan respite time without leaving the parks.

Anyway, I really appreciate your input!

 

[Cynister]

You will be tired, but that's what happens with a Disney trip anyway so i wouldn't be concerned. Your plans don't sound out of control. I went with my DS last year who was 9. I can tell you we didn't do the afternoon break to the hotel that many others do & frankly we were very happy we didn't. My son never had any issue of being too tired, at that age he's ready go to from dawn just being excited about being there & will last until night. This helped a ton because we took full advantage of the afternoons to see everything we wanted to & didn't have to worry about fitting it all in before we left.

There are a few things that stand out about your plan that you may want to think about. First, going to DHS on Thursday afternoon. If your intention on this day is to ride Toy Story, SWTours, or Pirates without a FP, then I'd say you are going to get aggravated going so late in the day. The lines will be long. If you don't care about the lines, or are ok with wandering around & going to whatever isn't that crowded, then the afternoon works.

If your sons are SW fans, if you are planning on doing Jedi Academy, or if you potentially would want some SW character autographs, I'd suggest doing 2 SWW days, or at least 1.5. The lines are huge for the characters. You'll spend a 1/2 hr to an hr in line for each typically. That will eat up a lot of your day.

I would also agree with the previous poster. Not sure BOG will be worth it unless your boys are really into Beast.

 

[hemmie]

Weird, I replied yesterday but apparently it didn't post! Anyway, thank you so much for your replies!!! Very helpful. I suspect we will just stick w AK for that last day and end up canceling BOG. The only issue then is when do I switch our FPs to AK, as they are currently slated for MK.

For that Thursday afternoon at HS after BB, I do have FPs for it (RnR, Star Tours & ToT). I also have FPs for the next day for SWW (TSM, Star Tours & ToT). I don't think we will stand in line for characters (except MAYBE Chewie), and we do have the SW character breakfast at SciFi.

Ok I am feeling better about the schedule. Husband prefers to have that last day be more relaxed so that's probably what we will end up doing.

 

[DHSbutcher]

Hi,
I will be with my husband & two sons ages 10 & 8. We will be at Universal for 2.5 days, then 5 days of WDW tix. Please advise, particularly about our very last day - I need help thinking through it. The last weekend is Memorial Weekend, so crowds will be HIGH.

Sat: night arrival
Sun: Universal IoA (early for HP)
Mon: Universal Studios
Tue: U IoA, half day; transfer in afternoon to AKL.
Wed: MK all day (RD to Wishes, dinner at 'Ohana)
Thur: Blizzard Beach until early afternoon, then to HS
(rationale - ride HS rides that will be crazy crowded the following day for SWW)
Fri: HS (RD to as long as we can take it - this is Star Wars Weekends; we have a 10:30am SW character breakfast & an ADR for 50s PT)
Sat: EP (RD to as long as we can take it)
Sun: AK until early afternoon, then to MK for later afternoon FP+s, dinner at BOG, then back to AKL.
Mon: early early early flight home.

Here's my dilemma: the impetus for going back to MK on Sunday - a very crowded day there - was that's when I could get BOG reservations. However, I just got a lunch FP for BOG for the Wednesday we will be at MK.

Will we be absolutely exhausted by Sunday and not want to brave the hour bus ride from AK to MK then the crazy crowds, just for an expensive BOG dinner? Or will it be a fabulous way to end our trip? Is one day at MK not enough? Or will we just want to chill out and relax at AKL on our last afternoon and not have to rush through AK?

I think your worst day in the parks will be that Friday for SWW. They get insanely busy. If I were you I would go in and do the SW breakfast, schedule your FP for the morning, and head over to MK in the afternoon/evening If you really want to do 50's prime-time, its great and I'd recommend it, maybe aim for a late lunch after your last FP. It will be busy at MK, but not as busy as HS. I could never imagine only spending one full day at MK, theres just so much to do. Also on your epcot day park hopping to mk isn't a big deal at all on the monorail, even for just a few hours I would stick to just AK on your last day, the park is open to 9pm which is awesome, so you can pace yourself and relax, and have plenty of time to see everything and head back to your hotel after your finished for the day Especially if you have an early flight home.

 

[hemmie]

I think your worst day in the parks will be that Friday for SWW. They get insanely busy. If I were you I would go in and do the SW breakfast, schedule your FP for the morning, and head over to MK in the afternoon/evening If you really want to do 50's prime-time, its great and I'd recommend it, maybe aim for a late lunch after your last FP. It will be busy at MK, but not as busy as HS. I could never imagine only spending one full day at MK, theres just so much to do. Also on your epcot day park hopping to mk isn't a big deal at all on the monorail, even for just a few hours I would stick to just AK on your last day, the park is open to 9pm which is awesome, so you can pace yourself and relax, and have plenty of time to see everything and head back to your hotel after your finished for the day Especially if you have an early flight home.

Hmmmm, you've definitely given me some things to think about! Those are some good ideas. Taking the monorail from EP to MK is something I hadn't really considered - I should really take a closer look at park to park transpo options.

Thanks so much!

 

[DHSbutcher]

Hi,
I will be with my husband & two sons ages 10 & 8. We will be at Universal for 2.5 days, then 5 days of WDW tix. Please advise, particularly about our very last day - I need help thinking through it. The last weekend is Memorial Weekend, so crowds will be HIGH.

Sat: night arrival
Sun: Universal IoA (early for HP)
Mon: Universal Studios
Tue: U IoA, half day; transfer in afternoon to AKL.
Wed: MK all day (RD to Wishes, dinner at 'Ohana)
Thur: Blizzard Beach until early afternoon, then to HS
(rationale - ride HS rides that will be crazy crowded the following day for SWW)
Fri: HS (RD to as long as we can take it - this is Star Wars Weekends; we have a 10:30am SW character breakfast & an ADR for 50s PT)
Sat: EP (RD to as long as we can take it)
Sun: AK until early afternoon, then to MK for later afternoon FP+s, dinner at BOG, then back to AKL.
Mon: early early early flight home.

Here's my dilemma: the impetus for going back to MK on Sunday - a very crowded day there - was that's when I could get BOG reservations. However, I just got a lunch FP for BOG for the Wednesday we will be at MK.

Will we be absolutely exhausted by Sunday and not want to brave the hour bus ride from AK to MK then the crazy crowds, just for an expensive BOG dinner? Or will it be a fabulous way to end our trip? Is one day at MK not enough? Or will we just want to chill out and relax at AKL on our last afternoon and not have to rush through AK?

I think your worst day in the parks will be that Friday for SWW. They get insanely busy. If I were you I would go in and do the SW breakfast, schedule your FP for the morning, and head over to MK in the afternoon/evening If you really want to do 50's prime-time, its great and I'd recommend it, maybe aim for a late lunch after your last FP. It will be busy at MK, but not as busy as HS. I could never imagine only spending one full day at MK, theres just so much to do. Also on your epcot day park hopping to mk isn't a big deal at all on the monorail, even for just a few hours I would stick to just AK on your last day, the park is open to 9pm which is awesome, so you can pace yourself and relax, and have plenty of time to see everything and head back to your hotel after your finished for the day Especially if you have an early flight home.

 

[teach22180]

I spent a hot, sweaty, crowded day at Star Wars weekend a few years ago and this star wars nerd absolutely LOVED it. It really is a special opportunity, especially the parade. Having the star wars meal to get autographs will help ease some of your pressure, and just accept, like at all places in DW, you won't do it all, and you will have such fun. It's all about the attitude, I think.