One Day at the parks- most for the $$

[matdamom]

We are going to Ormond Beach in 2 weeks, and will travel 1 day to WDW. We will park hop as much as we can. My plan is to go when parks open, do as much as can outside in the morning, then spend time at indoor stuff through the hot part of the day, then go back out until closing.

I need suggestions for food. We will eat breakfast at our condo, and bring some snacks/water bottles. I'm hoping to make the most of our money in the parks. Counter service or splurge on a meal?

There will be 6 of us, 2 adults, 3 teenagers (16,15 & 13), 1 kid (10). Okay, in WDW years, we are all adults.

 

[MNTwinsMom]

My family had a similar experience in California the last 2 spring breaks. We were staying about 1 hour from Disneyland and had one day in the parks each year.

We decided to just do one park for our one day. We didn't want to spend the extra money or time park-hopping.

We also decided not to have any table-service meals because it takes too much time. We brought in water (frozen water bottles that lasted throughout the day) and some snacks which we left in a locker. We also stashed hats, sunscreen and jackets in the locker and came back to it frequently throughout our 12 hour days. We bought snacks throughout the day and had 2 counter service meals.

If park hopping my suggestion is to plan carefully! Start in the park that opens the earliest and end in the park that closes the latest so you get your moneys worth out of the park hopping. Schedule at least an hour for each park hop. Make sure your mid-day park is one with lots of indoor attractions you want to experience.

Have a great trip!

 

[JanaDee]

We are going to Ormond Beach in 2 weeks, and will travel 1 day to WDW. We will park hop as much as we can. My plan is to go when parks open, do as much as can outside in the morning, then spend time at indoor stuff through the hot part of the day, then go back out until closing.

I need suggestions for food. We will eat breakfast at our condo, and bring some snacks/water bottles. I'm hoping to make the most of our money in the parks. Counter service or splurge on a meal?

There will be 6 of us, 2 adults, 3 teenagers (16,15 & 13), 1 kid (10). Okay, in WDW years, we are all adults.

Skip Table service. They take up way too much time if you'll only be there one day. Eat counter service.

Skip park hoppers. Pick one park and stay there.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Agree with above poster. If maximizing time and money, eat counter service and stick with one park. Trying to bounce between 2-4 parks in a day won't get you the most done, but probably just get you the most frustrated, between travel times between the parks and the line to get fastpasses at each park (which you will undoubtedly need if trying to maximize time).

 

[HM]

Yep, pick a park.
If you must hop, choose two and do one until after lunch (QS) and then move on the next for the rest of the day.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree....one park is enough for one day. The TS issue I am a bit more in limbo about. It's going to be hot, and depending on the park of choice....MK having the longest hours.....your day may be very long and you may want a break. A nice hour or so in a air condition place can be heaven. We did Trails
End Buffet at FW last time we did a one day in the park. We were out of the park about 2 hours as we took the boat over...ate and returned, but it was really necessary for us to do in order to make that long day. You kids however are older (our little guy is 7), so they might be fine to just do CS and keep going. I would only do hoppers if AK is a must do as they typically close much earlier and you could still have some time at MK. Remember to check EMH as you, as a non-on-site guest will not be able to take advantage of these. Also if you hop, plan your FP+ very carefully to be sure you are in the right park at the right time

 

[sallysue66]

I will have to be the renegade here and say if you've been to WDW before and know the parks then by all means hop. But just between 2. I would choose Epcot-DHS because getting between those on the Friendship boats is pretty easy. CS meals will save you time but if you think you will be ready for a longer break maybe schedule a TS meal for an off-time (3 or 4pm).

 

[Judique]

I'm a park hopper. I almost always do more than one park per day.

In your case I would probably do my favorite of MK, DHS, or AK and then hop on over to Epcot to finish the evening with dinner and Illuminations plus something sweet from either the shop in Germany (I love the rice crispie treats here) or the French pastry place, to take back to the condo.

I'd have counter service for lunch somewhere and I'd do breakfast also - something simple like a pastry and coffee.

If I'm only doing one day it's going to be whatever I want!

 

[matdamom]

Thanks to all. We had thought about doing AK first, then Epcot or DHS for mid-day then ending at MK. The main reason for this was because one of the teens has never been to WDW before and we wanted to show him as much as possible, but we aren't commandos. My middle child (youngest teen) was just there in April and she wants to do AK, the rest don't care. If we are in the world, it's all good.

I may leave it up to a family vote as to whether they want to do CS or a sit-down meal, depending on how everyone feels. None of us are big eaters when it is hot. Sharing of a few counter service meals may be just the thing to stretch the budget, but if they want the "experience" of a WDW meal, we might make that a part of the day. Especially if we can do it at an off-time, as one suggested.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Thanks to all. We had thought about doing AK first, then Epcot or DHS for mid-day then ending at MK. The main reason for this was because one of the teens has never been to WDW before and we wanted to show him as much as possible, but we aren't commandos. My middle child (youngest teen) was just there in April and she wants to do AK, the rest don't care. If we are in the world, it's all good.

I may leave it up to a family vote as to whether they want to do CS or a sit-down meal, depending on how everyone feels. None of us are big eaters when it is hot. Sharing of a few counter service meals may be just the thing to stretch the budget, but if they want the "experience" of a WDW meal, we might make that a part of the day. Especially if we can do it at an off-time, as one suggested.

In this case, I'm not sure I'd do a TS. Not just becasue of the time it takes to do a sit down, but because then you are really forcing yourself to park hop when you might not be ready to move on at that exact moment.

 

[TwoMisfits]

If you want to make the most of your money...
Start at AK at rope drop and hit Everest, the Safari, and Dinosaur and then leave...should be out by 10am...
Head over to DHS with prescheduled Fast Passes and ride TSM (or Rock N Roller), TOT, and Star Tours (hopefully you can line these up in a 3 hour period or less) - catch a quick lunch here if you have FP downtime and leave by 3pm...
And then it's a toss up - either head to the Magic Kingdom and start the "extra FP" game and try to get fastpasses for all of the Mountains, Pirates, and Haunted Mansion...you have the most luck getting extra FPes here and they have the most rides (and your teens are unlikely to want the "new" Fantasyland rides and meet and greets that are so popular, so they have the best chance to get extra desired FPs) - if they must do Fantasyland, do that last (after 7pm) when the land clears out and then stay for fireworks...
OR head to Epcot (since it's so close) and ride TT in the single rider line, Spaceship Earth, and Mission Space and then head over to the International Side for shows and counter food before fireworks...

This is commando touring that hits what I think are teen highlights, but your mileage may vary...

 

[matdamom]

The kids all agreed that TS is just not that important. So, snacks/CS will be what we do for meals. As far as park hopping, they want to do at least 2 parks.

After more discussion and research, we've decided to pack a cooler and take fruit, veggies, frozen water bottles, veggie wraps, chips, goldfish crackers etc and get a locker, to keep ourselves from getting hungry, save money, and not having to wait in lines. We will save our money for special Disney treats like Mickey Bars or Dole Whips.

We will start out with AK, then maybe do Hollywood Studios, then the rest of the day at MK. We can skip the DHS or Epcot if we find we are pressed for time. I was hoping my youngest could get to Star Tours, but I think it will be okay if we don't.