Opinions on AK/HS split day plan & Star Wars/Fantasmic question!

[snowybelle]

I have a short WDW trip coming up next week with my parents (60's) who are huge WDW fans, and my husband (44) who is a WDW virgin, and who has been to DL once about 10 years ago and"hated it". (Apparently he was with extended family, showed up to meet them in the park around Noon, rode zero rides, and left after a few hours. What!? No wonder you hated it...)

Our goal is basically to give my husband a really positive first WDW experience, so he will want to come back! Of course!

So on Tuesday 1/19 we are doing a full day (RD through Wishes) at MK. I'm pretty confident in the plan I've made for that day. We'll hit all the classics and headliners, at a relatively mild pace.

Wednesday 1/20 we are planning to do AK & HS. Looks like this:

AM & RD Animal Kingdom:
Everest ~ 9am
Sarfari ~ 9:30am
Dinosaur ~ 10:15am
Nemo @ 10:45am
Take in a little more of the park, and then drive to...

PM Hollywood Studios:
Mama Melrose ADR's @ 1:15pm (Fantasmic! dining package)
Star Tours and Star Wars Launch Bay after we eat (FP+ Star Tours 3:35-4:35)
TSMM FP+ ~ 4:45
Rock n Roller Coaster - ride standby OR Great Movie Ride/Muppets, depending on mood
ToT FP+ 6pm
Fantasmic! 7pm show (only show)
Star Wars fireworks 8pm

Any general feedback about this plan is welcome!!

And I also have 3 questions, related to the nighttime shows:

1) My mom broke her foot several months ago. She is mostly healed but will be on a scooter this trip. Is it unrealistic, given the scooter situation, to think we can do Fantasmic @ 7 AND get a decent viewing spot for Star Wars Fireworks @ 8?
2) If we need to choose between Star Wars fireworks and Fantasmic, which would you prioritize? None of us have ever seen Fantasmic (I know, right?) — but DH is a Star Wars fan and since our mission is to convert him on this trip, maybe that should take priority?
3) Is the Fantasmic dining package worth it? Husband is a bit of a food snob and wondering if Mama Melrose will be helpful or UNhelpful in terms of "Operation WDW Conversion" ?


(AND FWIW, we are staying at Universal's Hard Rock Hotel and doing Monday & Thursday in those parks... we're all big Potter fans. So 4 days in Orlando theme parks total. Then it's off to Fort Lauderdale to relax.)

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

if you can fit in Flights of Wonder at AK - I highly recommend it! Also IMO Festival of the Lion King show is a must see at AK

 

[snowybelle]

if you can fit in Flights of Wonder at AK - I highly recommend it! Also IMO Festival of the Lion King show is a must see at AK

Thanks — I have seen Festival of the Lion King and enjoyed it! But opting for Nemo this time since DH insists he is NOT a Lion King fan. Flights of Wonder was on my list, but Mama Melrose reservation makes it really tough. If we decide to de-prioritize Fantasmic, we will re-prioritize Flights of Wonder.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Thanks — I have seen Festival of the Lion King and enjoyed it! But opting for Nemo this time since DH insists he is NOT a Lion King fan. Flights of Wonder was on my list, but Mama Melrose reservation makes it really tough. If we decide to de-prioritize Fantasmic, we will re-prioritize Flights of Wonder.

The Nemo show is really well done but since it basically retells the story we all started nodding off during it and haven't been back. Festival of the Lion King is just so amazing I don't think you need to be a fan of the Lion King but that's just IMO. Have a great trip!! We'll be there next week too

 

[snowybelle]

The Nemo show is really well done but since it basically retells the story we all started nodding off during it and haven't been back. Festival of the Lion King is just so amazing I don't think you need to be a fan of the Lion King but that's just IMO. Have a great trip!! We'll be there next week too

Thanks, hope you enjoy yourself too! I'm confident we'll be back again to see Lion King. As a musical theater person, I feel the need to check out Nemo on this trip. (Also, DH is a Nemo fan... crossing fingers...)

 

[soniam]

I like the Nemo movie better than Lion King, but even our son thought the Nemo show was boring. We saw it once and haven't gone back. However, we are usually not huge into the shows. But we would still pick Lion King over Nemo any day. Lion King is so much more of theatrical performance in my opinion. It's hard to explain, but Lion King has more choreography, better, more immersive, performances, and better music.

 

[snowybelle]

OP here - Can anyone else weigh in on this? Especially the questions at the bottom about fireworks and Fantasmic?

 

[Liz Z]

I would def see Fantasmic if you haven't.
Mama Melrose is comparable to Olive Garden with a Disney feel.

So if you like OG then it should be fine. Fantasmic should let you out in time to walk towards the Blvd where you'll be able to see the Star Wars Fireworks. They are not to be missed! they're beautiful and set to Star wars music. So as you are walking from Fantasmic(not far to wlk) you should be able to see them fine until you get to the main road.

If you decide to do Fantasmic try to sit at the end so you can get out quickly. There's really not a bad seat.
The fireworks are shot off behind the Great Movie ride in that area. I've seen them standing by the Trolley Cafe where Starbucks is and also by Echo lake.

HTH
Liz

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Timewise , you shouldn't have a problem catching both F! And the fireworks. F! Is over by 7:30, and you can view fireworks from many locations around the park. Mama Melrose is Olive Garden quality Italian, nothing special. Is the Brown Derby and option? You can get the package there and it is a much better meal IMO.

 

[snowybelle]

Timewise , you shouldn't have a problem catching both F! And the fireworks. F! Is over by 7:30, and you can view fireworks from many locations around the park. Mama Melrose is Olive Garden quality Italian, nothing special. Is the Brown Derby and option? You can get the package there and it is a much better meal IMO.

I think Brown Derby is an option, but we're doing lunch and probably won't want to eat our faces off that time of day. Mama Melrose is less $$. But I may just cancel the dining package altogether and wait with everyone else to get into Fantasmic. How bad can it be? (Serious question.)

I'm not that into Table Service at Disney in general, so I really only want to keep those reservations if the Fantasmic package offers a significant advantage. If it doesn't, we'll grab QS bite at AK before we hop over to HS.

 

[snowybelle]

I would def see Fantasmic if you haven't.
Mama Melrose is comparable to Olive Garden with a Disney feel.

So if you like OG then it should be fine. Fantasmic should let you out in time to walk towards the Blvd where you'll be able to see the Star Wars Fireworks. They are not to be missed! they're beautiful and set to Star wars music. So as you are walking from Fantasmic(not far to wlk) you should be able to see them fine until you get to the main road.

If you decide to do Fantasmic try to sit at the end so you can get out quickly. There's really not a bad seat.
The fireworks are shot off behind the Great Movie ride in that area. I've seen them standing by the Trolley Cafe where Starbucks is and also by Echo lake.

HTH
Liz

Olive Garden is what I was afraid of lol. We kinda hate it.

It seems like you think the Fantasmic dining package is somewhat unnecessary anyway? If yes, I'll just cancel it and we'll do QS meals that day.

 

[davkata]

We have seen Fantasmic many times, two of them during a very busy Presidents week. Never ever FP'd it. We like to sit up top. No seat is a bad seat in that theater IMO. I would not waste a FP on Fantasmic or spend the $ on the dining package unless you were really partial to a certain participating restaurant. We lined up maybe 30 minutes before the show and the line gets long. If standing in line is a problem (you mentioned a scooter) that may sway your decision. I definitely think it is worth seeing at least once. Can't comment on the Star Wars fireworks, our first time seeing them will be next month!

 

[dogdoctor]

I posted this in part in another thread: You really have to work it right to get out of F! to the fireworks if you don't want to be stressed. It might be better to sit at the top, not the bottom for F! exiting purposes. Last night - we managed to hit the jackpot. We scored a 4th FP selection (guest relations booked us for F! after we used our first 3). So I would skip the dinner plans and just aim to see F! in an area to you can leave from. We sat center stage, midway down and that was strategical error cost us time just trying to get out of the arena. Then as we moved with the sea of people I was certain we wouldn't get a good spot. Once we got close to Hollywood Blvd (which was at a standstill), we cut right off Sunset in front of the Brown Derby (we had to lift the stroller to get over the curb) as directed by a Cast Member trying to help us. We took the small path that cuts under the trees and it dumped us right into the small alcove of the Meet Disney Pals near Center Stage" at the back of the viewing area. With plenty of room, we just pulled in around to the back and set up. It seemed very private. The trees didn't block our view either. We arrived just under 7 to 10 minutes before the show. I really wanted to see it, and after seeing it, I wouldn't miss it if I had the chance again. IF, and that's a big if, you have to chose to be safe for timing reasons - do the Fireworks for your husband (it's 8 minutes long), and then send him to other things (Star Tours, etc.) and you guys go to the 9pm F! show.

 

[toni nicole]

You can always beat the crowd and leave fantasmic a minute early. Also, the fireworks are huge I can't imagine having a bad spot for them, I've seen them perfectly from my hotel before so I can't imagine even if you are all the way in the back not having a good view. When we were there we saw fantasmic, left about one minute before(watching the ending while walking towards the exit). We made it to the fireworks with 10 minutes to spare and we were also fairly close to the theatre.