Only one day in MK (3 nights in Aug) - Please critique

[BlueFairy]

Ok. So I spent the weekend mulling over our plans. I want to run them by everyone.

We'll be staying at WL and eating mostly QS, paying OOP. Our ressie is room-only for now and I haven't purchased our tickets.


I'll purchase 1 day MYW base tickets prior to arrival to do FP+. If we decide to do a second day we will either upgrade during day 1 at the gate or just purchase them on the fly since there really isn't much savings either way.


We'll be traveling early August, myself and 2 DDs (6 and 9). Arriving MCO around 1pm. DME to the resort with bathing suits in our carryon, hopefully by 3pm.


Arrival day - probably swim and just eat at RF. 6:45p - Playtime on the beach and roast marshmallows. We'll probably get to bed for an early start.


Day 1 - no EMH at MK. Bus to MK for rope drop (or boat to CR and walk? We had trouble with boats for rope drop in May 2010 using the MK boat). Goal of DD6 is probably to see Ana and Elsa (do this first!), not sure on DD9. Experience what we can based on crowds. TP is suggesting a crowd level of 8. We usually tour with 6 being the busiest for us. Even that hasn't happened since 2006. Kids prefer M&Gs and shows over rides. See New Fantasyland and Storybookland, water play area, carousel, Tom Sawyer Island, etc.
Honestly I'm torn about this because I don't want to spend so much money on a one or 2 day ticket and then spend all of our time in long lines. This is really the key to whether I will decide to keep our reservation since we've never taken such a short trip.
I think we're likely to snack all day or just eat QS lunch, hopefully at an off-peak mealtime. FoF Parade, and then back to the resort for a break via the boat. Then possibly boat to CR for dinner at Contempo Cafe and a monorail ride to the park. Find a spot for MSEP and Wishes preferably in Town Square.


Day 2 - Enjoy the Lodge! This is why I want to go to WDW right now. Explore the Lodge, perhaps breakfast at WCC. Arcade, checkers in the Carolwood Pacific room, try both pools, whatever suits us. (I'm concerned that we'll be tempted into a second day in the parks, so I wonder if I should move our resort day to Day 1. However, doing the park on Day 1 gives us this day as a backup if we need more park time). Before 7pm make our way to FW for the Chip and Dale Campfire and Singalong. Then back to WL (I doubt we'll be able to stay for the movie), maybe watching EWP from the beach (9:35).


Departure Day - For now I am planning to stick around the WL. Resort Airline checkin before 1pm. DME departure around 3.


What does everyone think? I know that I would be happy in a lounge or rocking chair at the WL for 3 days. I know the kids won't get bored. I'm just concerned about a) one jam packed day in the MK being nothing but frustration and/or b)the kids not being satisfied with missing out on more of that park or other parks.:


Thanks for reading!

 

[BlueFairy]

bumping.

 

[buzz1fan]

We'll we are doing a 1 day park trip in June. Normally I would say do the resort day first them the park second day, but this time we are not. We are arriving Friday around lunch time. Plan to swim then dinner at resort (poly) then swim again. Park on Saturday then checking out Sunday am and going to YC for the night. Just going to swim all day. My kids wanted to stay there the whole time, but since we are only going to MK I wanted to be a boat ride away. Easier for afternoon break from the heat.

If I would you I would take the boat to the park. My boys love the pools so much that it is worth it to us for a 1 day park.

 

[BlueFairy]

Thank you. I am in agreement with all of that. My kids go nuts to stay in a hotel. DD9 refers to WL as "our hotel" even though she's only been there twice. DD6 thinks any hotel is an adventure. Despite their experience traveling, they never seem to get enough hotel and pool time.

The boat is definitely my preference to MK, but if we are running late I may just move on to the bus since at WL it is often faster.

I'm leaning toward keeping the park day at the beginning for a few reasons.
1. We should be at the WL by 3pm giving us plenty of resort time on arrival day. 2. We may find level 8 crowds so overwhelming that we need more park time on a second day. 3. We tend to stay up later, skip rest breaks at the beginning of a trip and regret it later. This way we can get the must-dos done before we get tired.

Now I'm also wondering about one other issue. I think the girls will have similar taste in rides since DD9 is not interested in thrill rides at all. So height restrictions with only one adult to worry about 2 kids going in different directions isn't a problem. However, we did run into an issue at DLR while I had them alone. We decided to ride something that required us to split up. Problem was that DD9 had to ride in a car alone because DD6 was too small to go alone. So DD9 cried through the ride and I felt terrible. I learned a lot about her ride habits that trip, and now I am concerned about any ride which would force us to split into separate vehicles. She just gets too anxious over the unknown, no matter how mundane the experience. I guess I need to research which rides to avoid with that being an issue. I know we could ride HM together. Dumbo, maybe or not? Pooh and Peter Pan together. But what about others?

Anyway, appreciate your input. Thanks!

 

[buzz1fan]

Maybe rides like buzz light year and aladin they can ride together and you can ride behind them. Small world is good for the family, I know the speedway would not work out well. Your youngest would be to short to ride alone.

 

[MrInfinity]

Instead of 1 MK and 1 WL day, I would break this down into 2 shorter days at MK and 2 shorter afternoons at the WL. This way you get 6 Fast passes instead of 3. You can hit the park in shorter blasts instead of one long day.

Day 1 morning at the MK -- leave at noon, spend the afternoon at the hotel, then evening at MK just for a few rides and fireworks. On this day, hit Tomorrowland and Frontier/Adventureland in whichever order you prefer for morning / night.

Day 2 morning at the MK, afternoon at the pool, and campfire in the evening would be great. Plan this day just for Fantasyland. Your 3 FP's should get you on most of the FL attractions you want.

That's what I'd do w your available times and schedule.

 

[BlueFairy]

Funny that DD has such great memories of her first ride on the speedway. If she is tall enough to ride alone then we should be good with that one.