One more day for only $50, no park tix, things to do

[monica9]

We first booked a Friday-Thursday at AKL. I then added 1 night in the beginning at ASM figuring we can take a late flight, sleep somewhere cheaper and wake up Friday morning refreshed. WELL.....then I started thinking, why don't I look at flights for the WEDNESDAY before and maybe the price difference between the two are significant. Turns out we can come on Wednesday on a later morning flight and arrive at 1pm Wednesday, stay at ASM for one more night and get the whole day Thursday at Disney too all for about $50 when all said and done since flights around $60 cheaper and ASM comes out to $113 for another night. AND if room discounts come out and we save say 15% for that night, its another $15 cheaper.

That being said, IF I can talk my husband into that, what can we do without park tickets from Wednesday at 2pm until Friday morning? Our park tickets are attached to our AKL stay with dining.

Figured if flight lands at 12:50pm Wednesday we will be able to get to ASM by 2:30pm. Check in, nap and shower until around 5pm and go grab dinner at one of the deluxes and see the christmas decorations?
Thursday is the problem though. Was thinking of swimming and Disney Springs but if it's too cold to swim, can we really stay at Disney Springs for a whole day? I hate shopping in the beginning of vacations because I always think I want to wait in case I see something at another park and then end up scrambling around and shopping last minute.

Would you book that extra night?
We have a DD9 and DD 13months.
Thank you!!

 

[Bete]

I would do a resort hopping to see their holiday decorations. The monorail resorts would be the easiest to do.

The Grand Floridian is fabulous during the holiday. The lobby is decked out with a ginger bread house with hidden mickeys to find. You can listen to a small orchestra doing Christmas sets in the balcony. In between those sets a piano player will be there for entertainment. They have a Santa Claus, too.

Take some great holiday pictures with all the decorations at the resorts.

Think about doing MVMCP even though you have to pay for it. It's extra time at the park and it's special fireworks and a parade.

Do the miniature golf even though you have to pay some for that activity.

 

[monica9]

I would do a resort hopping to see their holiday decorations. The monorail resorts would be the easiest to do.

The Grand Floridian is fabulous during the holiday. The lobby is decked out with a ginger bread house with hidden mickeys to find. You can listen to a small orchestra doing Christmas sets in the balcony. In between those sets a piano player will be there for entertainment. They have a Santa Claus, too.

Take some great holiday pictures with all the decorations at the resorts.

Think about doing MVMCP even though you have to pay for it. It's extra time at the park and it's special fireworks and a parade.

Do the miniature golf even though you have to pay some for that activity.

Thanks for the ideas. We already purchased tickets for mvmcp for the Sunday we are there. I definitely want to check out the monorail resort lobbies.

 

[mtemm]

I would definitely be tempted to book it. I'd probably head to the boardwalk area the first afternoon/evening and check out the YC/BC//BWI decor and have dinner around that area. Then the next day do a tour of the monorail resorts and have a meal (any meal really but with your kids ages a character meal could be fun). Head over to Wilderness Lodge to check out their decorations. Back to hotel, swim if possible, spend some time at Disney springs. It could be a lot of fun! I would save the monorail loop for the second day though because with a 9 year old they will be antsy to get the parks possibly and seeing the castle but having to wait two days to go to a park might be hard.

 

[pammydw]

This could be an option for something fun to do! I wish we could squeeze it in on our upcoming trip!
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...th-a-sleigh-ride-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

 

[monica9]

I would definitely be tempted to book it. I'd probably head to the boardwalk area the first afternoon/evening and check out the YC/BC//BWI decor and have dinner around that area. Then the next day do a tour of the monorail resorts and have a meal (any meal really but with your kids ages a character meal could be fun). Head over to Wilderness Lodge to check out their decorations. Back to hotel, swim if possible, spend some time at Disney springs. It could be a lot of fun! I would save the monorail loop for the second day though because with a 9 year old they will be antsy to get the parks possibly and seeing the castle but having to wait two days to go to a park might be hard.

The 9 year old? How about me? I"m going to have a meltdown seeing the buses at the bus stop blinking the park names and watching others get on and I can't lol!

 

[monica9]

This could be an option for something fun to do! I wish we could squeeze it in on our upcoming trip!
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...th-a-sleigh-ride-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

Cute idea!!

 

[JerseyJanice]

How about Chef Mickey for dinner? Stretch out the time by riding the monorail to visit and see the decorations at each of the resorts on it. The Contemporary has a great arcade too.

Another fun place to go when you don't have park tickets is Fort Wilderness. It has a pony ride, a petting zoo and the Chip & Dale camp fire. There is a horse and buggy ride between it and the Wilderness Lodge too.

 

[mtemm]

I know you said you already have tickets for the Christmas party for a different night and I know they say the tickets are non refundable but I'm wondering if it might be worth a phone call to see if you could switch nights for them?

 

[Meeko5]

I'd add another park day, because it's so cheap after you hit the 5/6 day mark to add more.

Otherwise we did mini golf at winter summerland last trip and that was fun too.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

On your first night, I would do the monorail tour as you've mentioned. We did this this past December and had a great time! We actually started at Poly at 4 pm and had "mocktails" at Trader Sam's to see the antics and special effects. We then went to GF to see the tree and buy gingerbread at the gingerbread house and ended with dinner at CR. You could also take the boat from CR to WL and see the beautiful tree there. That will definitely take up an evening!

I agree with the other PP's. Depending on what type of ticket you have with your AKL package, it may not cost very much to add an extra day and go to the park on your second day. You can add this ticket to your package now and simply pick the ticket up early at guest services - you don't have to wait until your AKL check-in day.

Or, see if you can switch dates for MVMCP. They seem to be pretty flexible with these tickets (if there is availability) so it never hurts to call and ask.

If neither of those plans work and it's too cold to swim, you could go to Disney Springs, bowl at Splitsville, see a movie, shop and then play mini-golf (we love WinterSummerland!) Fantasia mini-golf is fun, too and that is close to the Boardwalk where, in the evening, they have jugglers and magicians, good QS and Ample Hills ice cream!!

 

[isabellea]

Is there any way you can activate your tickets early and enjoy the extra days at AKL instead?

 

[jo-jo]

What were you planning on doing on party day?

If you were planning on another park that day too, I'd say see about moving the party tickets to Thur.

 

[jsmla]

Ft Wilderness is nice for a cheap evening out. The campers decorate their trailers and some of them go all out. There is also the free Campfire Singalong with Chip and Dale. They sell s'mores fixings but you are welcome to bring your own. Trails End is one of the more reasonably priced buffets on property or, if it's nice out, you can feed the whole family for under $30 with the Giddyap and Go meal (fried chicken) from the QS there.

 

[Jack & Monica]

I would definitely book it, but you have to be creative. You have to plan out the time in your mind with the consideration given to your kids' mind and emotional set during your planning excercise. Only you can do this because you are the only one who knows how your kids will feel going through your planned activities. And ... don't forget to try to sneak in some fun for you and your hubby. Here is what I mean...
Don't just think, "We do a circuit of the monorail resorts." Think out each step of the way.
Plan out when you will need to eat lunch -- maybe consider the Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary.
Figure something like trying those famous Dole whips at the Polynesian Resort or better yet -- get your daughter a Dole Whip and then head over to Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace. The theming is fun and your daughter will love the volcano ... heck -- you'll love the volcano! LOL you and hubby get a drink to relax.
Each of the resorts will be beautiful. Get DD an inexpensive souvenir from one of the gift shops.
Your daughter should love the Christmas decorations -- especially the giant ginger bread house at the Grand Floridian.
Finish with a boat ride (from the Poly or the Contemporary or even the MK) to the Wilderness Lodge. Have dinner at the Whispering Canyon Cafe (they start serving at 5:00 pm). This is a fun event with the ketchup shenanigans. If you are not familiar -- ask your server for Ketchup.
You can take the boat back to MK and then the bus to your resort or you can take the bus to the TTC or any park and then bus to your resort.

For my DD, we let her know of the day's plan and what the highlights will be for her. We let her know that if she is well behaved she may be allowed to buy something small at .... gift shop. I cannot believe this but we did this exact tour, during Christmas when our daughter was 9! LOL kismet. We did not have an infant but we did have my DMIL who is getting up there in years and has limited mobility. (had to plan in breaks).

Another idea is to print our all of the menus for the places you will eat and sit down with your family to pick out your meals. It is a great way to get the excitement growing before the trip. My daughter really really liked this family activity -- even though I think you can name the different meals she had on one hand. Chicken fingers, mac and cheese, pizza, hamburger and fries, repeat.

There are a lot of little things that you can incorporate into a general plan. If you want to just do the resorts but want to get back earlier, maybe daddy and DD can go catch the outdoor movie. You have to check to see the schedule for this as it is not always available every night of the week.

Ask a cast member how to set up a Goofy or other character wake-up call for your daughter on Thursday.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would do it - but I would just pick up / activate the park tickets early and use them on Thursday. Then on Sunday prior to MVMCP have a lazy morning and maybe a nice lunch at one of the resorts and use the MVMCP tickets to enter early. IIRC its 4pm with a party ticket and then you can even pre book your 3 FP+ prior to the party start.

 

[supersnoop]

Is there any way you can activate your tickets early and enjoy the extra days at AKL instead?

Yes, you can activate tickets up to 10 days before the package starts by visiting any ticket booth.

 

[monica9]

I know you said you already have tickets for the Christmas party for a different night and I know they say the tickets are non refundable but I'm wondering if it might be worth a phone call to see if you could switch nights for them?

I don't think they have MVMCP on Thursday and we will be too tired and won't have enough time to rest before getting to the party.
I'd definitely do it on Thursday if they have it!

 

[monica9]

What were you planning on doing on party day?

If you were planning on another park that day too, I'd say see about moving the party tickets to Thur.

No, we were going to go to Boma for Breakfast, relax at pool if we can and try to get to the park for 4pm.

 

[monica9]

Yes, you can activate tickets up to 10 days before the package starts by visiting any ticket booth.

Oh really? Then I'll just add another day to our package!