Only 3 day base tickets! What would you do?

[mommyaof2]

If it were me, I'd spring for hoppers. I love being able to make the decision to hop to another park whenever the mood strikes. And with the new express buses for those with hoppers, it's even more appealing.

I'd also suggest that with no plane to catch, you can sleep in and still be checked out of your room on time AND have a nice breakfast before heading out, which would free up that third park day's morning.

I'd do the following:

1. Arrival day - stay at resort
2. Park in AM (I'd choose MK here); afternoon rest; Another park PM*
3. Park in AM; afternoon rest; Another park PM*
4. Park in Am: afternoon rest: Another park PM (I'd choose MK here as well)
5. Departure day - sleep in, check out of room, have a nice breakfast, head home

*I'd make sure one of these PM parks is Epcot for dinner and IllumiNations. The other PM park would depend on which nighttime entertainment you're most interested in.

Where are you staying?

We are staying at Asmu. We are planning on doing Illuminations on our anniversary and the MK new fireworks show.

 

[Davey Jones II]

You're going in late May, so I would spend one day at Animal Kingdom. There is a good chance they will be holding soft openings for Pandora during that time. I would spend the other two days at the MK, since there is just too much to do there.

 

[gap2368]

If it were me, I'd spring for hoppers. I love being able to make the decision to hop to another park whenever the mood strikes. And with the new express buses for those with hoppers, it's even more appealing.

I'd also suggest that with no plane to catch, you can sleep in and still be checked out of your room on time AND have a nice breakfast before heading out, which would free up that third park day's morning.

I'd do the following:

1. Arrival day - stay at resort
2. Park in AM (I'd choose MK here); afternoon rest; Another park PM*
3. Park in AM; afternoon rest; Another park PM*
4. Park in Am: afternoon rest: Another park PM (I'd choose MK here as well)
5. Departure day - sleep in, check out of room, have a nice breakfast, head home

*I'd make sure one of these PM parks is Epcot for dinner and IllumiNations. The other PM park would depend on which nighttime entertainment you're most interested in.

Where are you staying?

I would not go back to the resort every day I think the OP is staying off site and this could take a good bit of the day

 

[mommyaof2]

You're going in late May, so I would spend one day at Animal Kingdom. There is a good chance they will be holding soft openings for Pandora during that time. I would spend the other two days at the MK, since there is just too much to do there.

You really think we may have a chance to see Pandora? I know AK closes early our last night there for media.

 

[mommyaof2]

I would not go back to the resort every day I think the OP is staying off site and this could take a good bit of the day

We are staying onsite at Asmu. We do plan on taking some type of breaks everyday.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Thanks for all the opinions!! Now I'm thinking I should just get park hoppers! But then how in the world do I schedule fast passes?

I think upgrading to hoppers is a great idea! DH and I just got back from a 4 day trip. We had park hoppers, so we could hit all the parks and ride our favorites. Between prebooked FPs and SDFP with our old magic bands, we got a lot done over Easter Week when crowd levels were 10s at the parks. ETA: Most of our breaks were spent watching DD's softball games - the whole reason for the trip was Disney's High School Spring Training.

We did almost exactly what you want to do:

Monday - a relaxing breakfast at the Poly followed by a pool day with drinks at the pool bar, and dinner at The Boathouse in Disney Springs.

Tuesday - AK in the morning, HS at noon, break, back to AK for the evening

Wednesday - took the morning off, Epcot from 12:30 - 6:00, then HS from 7:00 to close

Thursday - MK at opening, break from 3:00 - 6:00, back to Mk until 10:30 PM.

I wrote about our FP experience here. You can learn about SDFP on the first page of the linked thread:https://www.disboards.com/threads/e...set-fp-long-faq.3520747/page-71#post-57442529

 

[Figmentmommy]

We are staying onsite at Asmu. We do plan on taking some type of breaks everyday.

Glad you decided on park hoppers - that was what I was going to recommmend. For a short trip consider using an in park sit down meal as your break - I wouldn't suggest taking the time to go back to the resort for a break. I also would not spend one of your park days sleeping in. Save that for your check out day. Maybe have breakfast at your resort, relax or swim a bit and then hit the road - could you push your on the road time to Noon instead? (Every time we drive we always seem to finally get on the road by 1:00 - though I think that's in protest of leaving!)
As for Fastpass strategy... If your going to do rope drop or arrive around opening I would do your favorites while lines are shorter and then use fast passes late morning/early afternoon or if hopping - schedule them for later in the day at the park you'll be hopping to. I would do a full day at MK, a full day at EPCOT, and then split the other day between HS and MK. Have a great trip!

 

[mommyaof2]

Thanks so much for all the help! We added park hoppers to our tickets and this seems like it will help us to see what we actually want to see at each park. I've changed our plans around now and they look something like this...they could change again. Anyways here it goes:

-First day at Parks (Our Anniversary), Rope drop EMH at Animal Kingdom and ride Everest and Safari and then go see first showing of Lion King. Then we are going to hop over to Epcot using Express Transportation (I know I keep adding to what is supposed to be a budget trip, but I can make this money up in food budget). I made fast passes at Epcot for when we first get there. I'm hoping that I can move some of these fast passes up enough that I will be able to get another fast pass here. Then we are going to take a break for a couple hours and close Epcot down with snacking around the world and Illuminations.
-Next day at MK-fast passes booked for late morning and early afternoon. We are going to leave the park after last fast pass and relax. Not sure where we will go this night. It really depends on if I can get a 4th fast pass somewhere.
-Last Full Day- Morning? HS or Epcot? Then MK EMH until 1am. (We normally don't utilize the EMH due to crowds but it's our last night there and I wanted to be there.) Fast passes are made at MK for the evening.
_Departure day-sleep in and late Breakfast at Kona Café.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Sounds like a good plan. Wishing you a very happy anniversary and a wonderful trip!

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

DH & I will be in WDW for 3 nights next month (May 24-May 26) for our first couple's trip since 1993! We only have 3-Day Base Tickets too.
We are doing 2 days in Epcot and 1 day in MK. The first part of our MK day will be spent doing the Keys to the Kingdom tour. I can't wait!

Have fun on your trip!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

What would I do? On my very short trips, I spend 100% of my time in MK. For this trip, that would be my strategy.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Thanks so much for all the help! We added park hoppers to our tickets and this seems like it will help us to see what we actually want to see at each park. I've changed our plans around now and they look something like this...they could change again. Anyways here it goes:

-First day at Parks (Our Anniversary), Rope drop EMH at Animal Kingdom and ride Everest and Safari and then go see first showing of Lion King. Then we are going to hop over to Epcot using Express Transportation (I know I keep adding to what is supposed to be a budget trip, but I can make this money up in food budget). I made fast passes at Epcot for when we first get there. I'm hoping that I can move some of these fast passes up enough that I will be able to get another fast pass here. Then we are going to take a break for a couple hours and close Epcot down with snacking around the world and Illuminations.
-Next day at MK-fast passes booked for late morning and early afternoon. We are going to leave the park after last fast pass and relax. Not sure where we will go this night. It really depends on if I can get a 4th fast pass somewhere.
-Last Full Day- Morning? HS or Epcot? Then MK EMH until 1am. (We normally don't utilize the EMH due to crowds but it's our last night there and I wanted to be there.) Fast passes are made at MK for the evening.
_Departure day-sleep in and late Breakfast at Kona Café.

We love evening EMH at MK and find it to be enjoyable and productive - especially when it goes that late. You'll probably find crowds will lessen into the second hour. Being in the MK that late at night is something we never miss!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

MK - Epcot - and then end in MK.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I would add another day and go to HS on your arrival day. Make FP for the things you want to do, if you can with the tiers.

 

[kmv]

Everyone has different interests, but for my DH and I, we would do 1 MK day, 1 AK day and 1 EPCOT day that would probably turn into a half day at the park, half day at the resort pool.

 

[Davey Jones II]

You really think we may have a chance to see Pandora? I know AK closes early our last night there for media.

Pandora opens May 27th, so you will be just on the cusp of the premiere. If they're holding a media event on your last day, I would definitely try for a soft opening on one of the other days.

 

[jvz82]

We just went for 3 days. We did two MK days and one Epcot day. I thought it was perfect!

 

[Spork24]

If it were me, I would do MK twice, I absolutely love evening emh at MK!

 

[Krisshay13]

In a couple of weeks, we will go on our 2nd visit of 3 days. We don't get to go often so, I always "need" to hit all 4 parks. So, we do 1 1/2 days at MK and 1/2 day at the other 3 parks. We know we won't do everything but, that doesn't bother us.....after all, WE'RE IN DISNEY!!

Whatever plan you decide on, have a wonderful time and Happy Anniversary!!

 

[mommyaof2]

Pandora opens May 27th, so you will be just on the cusp of the premiere. If they're holding a media event on your last day, I would definitely try for a soft opening on one of the other days.

Not to sound dumb, but how do I try for a soft opening? AK closes early our last full day for a media event. I would love to see Pandora!