Only ONE day - MK plan feedback needed!

[NashvilleMama]

We're doing our first Disney Cruise leaving out of Port Canaveral on 12/31 - and I can't be that close to WDW and not sneak in a day at the park!

So we'll be at MK for a full day on 12/30, which is 10/10 on the crowd calendar of course. Driving down from Atlanta 12/29 and got an ADR at Chef Mickey's for that evening at 5:30pm.

Staying off-site at the Marriott Village (on points) which we did last year and it worked well for us. Not ideal for a one day visit since we won't get EMH but the Cruise is taking up our budget.

Two daughters, ages 7 and 5, HUGELY into princesses. We spent 4 days at the parks in 2013 and they have vivid memories so know we don't need to do it all in a day, just the highlights and a good experience for them.

ADRs:
BOG QS lunch 10:45am (debating cancelling this - have done dinner there but my youngest slept through it last time);
CRT dinner 4:05pm - a MUST do for us so this is stuck on the schedule for sure.

Required attractions:
7DMT
Space Mountain (Child Swap with only my oldest going both times)
Barnstormer (girls' favorite ride)
Dumbo
Tea Cups
Pirates
Big Thunder Mtn
Under the Sea
Maybe parade? Don't want to wear them out completely before leaving on the Cruise the next morning.


Thoughts on what you'd do in the morning and where to try and schedule FP given the crowd levels? I've played around a lot with the touring plans but the FP timing is stumping me and initial morning strategy up in the air.

Thank you!!!

 

[subtchr]

I'd normally say to keep the BOG lunch, because I love it myself and it's cool to see the inside of the restaurant, but with the CRT dinner, I'm not so sure.

You will have trouble getting a 7DMT FP since you are offsite. Try for it, but don't be surprised if it's not available. Assuming you can't get one for that, I'd go for Space, Ariel, and either Pirates or BTMRR, probably BTM.

I would arrive early and go to Fantasyland, and do 7DMT if you couldn't get a FP -- the wait will be long, but it probably won't get any shorter throughout the day. Then Barnstormer, Dumbo, Teacups, and Ariel with a FP sometime late morning.

Then lunch, either at BOG or a CS (I love CHH). The afternoon will depend on when your FP+ are, but try to do as many of the must-dos as you can.

I really like the Festival of Fantasy Parade, watching somewhere in Frontierland, before your CRT.

After dinner, see how everyone is holding up and if there are any "must dos" you haven't been able to accomplish yet. You will have been fighting shoulder-to-shoulder crowds for most of the day, which I find exhausting.

Best of luck, hope it's fun!

 

[mom2rtk]

Definitely keep both BOG and CRT. We did both on a one day stop in the MK last month. It was a level 9 crowd day, and it helped a lot to have reservations to eat instead of lining up with so many others for counter service. It's also nice to have a place to sit and escape the crowds. Order your lunch for BOG in advance and it's even more convenient!

FPs for 7DMT, Space and BTMRR for sure. Although as the PP said, don't be surprised if you have trouble getting 7DMT. If you don't, then keep trying as people do move things around all the time.

We watched FoF parade from Frontierland then headed over and had dinner at CRT at 3:50. It's a nice flow to the day. Definitely don't do FP for the parade, as that area is (currently anyway) down on Main Street near the Hub and the parade won't even arrive there until 3:30.

I'd probably consider trying for a Wishes FP so you can enjoy that without fighting big crowds.

Maybe try to get your hands on some extra magic bands and read up same day fastpasses on the long running thread here on the DIS. Your choices won't be spectacular, but might still be worth the effort if it minimizes your wait on some of the secondary attractions. I would expect you to be able to get Dumbo, Barnstormer and Ariel perhaps as same day FPs.

 

[NashvilleMama]

Oh, I didn't even think about how crowded restaurants would be - I think I'm definitely going to keep the BOG lunch then. Great point, thank you!

(and great info all together from you both so far, thanks!)