Opinions please! Have I booked the schedule too full?

[Babsy]

OK, it's a short trip. Just 2 seniors that are not used to rushing, but want a park intensive trip for a change. This is my itinerary for the day that I am afraid is too full ( might not be able to get to everything in time)

Please help me decide if it is OK or if I need to change/remove something.

Morning at the AK

NRJ at rope drop standby
FOP FP+ 9:10 - 10:10
Safari FP+ 10:10 - 11:10

move to MK (wish express transportation were still Available!)

Be Our Guest lunch 12:30

Ultimate MK tour 1:30 - 5:30

O'Hana's dinner 5:50

HEA Dessert Party arrive about 7:00 for 7:45



so, what do you think? should I not do the afternoon tour in the MK? Is there enough time to go to the BOG lunch at 12:30 and get to the MK tour at 1:30? I could always try to book MK FP+ as soon as we enter Safari? (WE really would like Buzz Lightyear mid afternoon)

or should we drop O'Hana's and have a QS dinner after the tour before the dessert party? Is there enough time to do O'hana's and make it to the dessert party?

Thanks for any advice/experiences/opinions. We usually book very little with lots of time between. I am afraid that this won't be possible or just not fun because we would be rushing or worrying all the time.

Thank you!

 

[patty57]

It's busy for sure, but if this is the only day scheduled this way, you could do it. Personally, I would drop Ohana, because I'm not a fan, but I'm in the minority in that opinion.

 

[kmb584]

I would drop the 'Ohana ADR. The restaurant is notorious for running late, and I honestly do not think you'd make it back to MK in time for the HEA dessert party. I'd opt for an in-park restaurant (The Plaza, Liberty Tree Tavern, etc) just to avoid the stress of being pulled too thin and worrying about getting back to MK in time!

As for the rest of the schedule, I think it looks fine. Sure, the day is booked solid, but it doesn't appear that you'll be running in ten different directions at once and that fact will certainly make for a busy yet enjoyable day in the parks.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Ok, dumb question, is “Ultimate MK Tour” one of those special VIP tours or is that just what you’re calling your afternoon?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Also, which version of the dessert party do you have booked, Plaza Garden or Tomorrowland Terrace? If Plaza Garden, personally I don’t think there’s any need to arrive before 7:45PM. I don’t even really like to get there until more like 8:15PM+, but admittedly we like those things more for the fireworks viewing than for the desserts.

Tomorrowland Terrace is a different story as they load tables first come, first sat... so if you’re picky about the location of your table then being on time has some advantages.

 

[Babsy]

Ok, dumb question, is “Ultimate MK Tour” one of those special VIP tours or is that just what you’re calling your afternoon?

It is the Ultimate Disney Classics tour that is ~4 hours long and starts at 1:30 pm. I am thinking that I might drop the tour and just make same day FP+ after the safari ride in the AK. That will ease the pressure of getting lunch eaten quickly at BOG and will not interfere with a slightly earlier dinner. Perhaps the Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen between 5 and 5:30?

 

[Babsy]

Also, which version of the dessert party do you have booked, Plaza Garden or Tomorrowland Terrace? If Plaza Garden, personally I don’t think there’s any need to arrive before 7:45PM. I don’t even really like to get there until more like 8:15PM+, but admittedly we like those things more for the fireworks viewing than for the desserts.

Tomorrowland Terrace is a different story as they load tables first come, first sat... so if you’re picky about the location of your table then being on time has some advantages.

It's the Plaza garden dessert party. I prefer not to obsess over where my table is and just go to the garden to get a spot when ready. Like you, this is more about the less crowded fireworks viewing than the desserts.

So, would you keep O'Hana's? It may not be about the desserts, but we will want to go in a sample one or two. Just as part of the overall experience.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

It is the Ultimate Disney Classics tour that is ~4 hours long and starts at 1:30 pm. I am thinking that I might drop the tour and just make same day FP+ after the safari ride in the AK. That will ease the pressure of getting lunch eaten quickly at BOG and will not interfere with a slightly earlier dinner. Perhaps the Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen between 5 and 5:30?

Ahh, ok. I don’t know... the tour sounds like fun to me, vs being at the mercy of same day FPs. Especially if it’s a high crowd time.

BOG lunch can be a pretty quick lunch, especially if you pre-order. That’s assuming you’re sat on time which I guess could be a variable.

If that tour really does end at 5:30, getting to Ohana for a 5:50 ADR is going to be very tight. I guess if you’re leaving MK more like 5:15ish you’d be more in the safe zone? Not sure where the tour ends / how long it will take to get to the boat/monorail?

If this were me, I’d probably do dinner in MK at something like Skipper Canteen (which I really like, BTW) vs taking the time to go back/forth to Ohana. Like the PP said, Ohana can run way behind and all of a sudden your schedule can be out of whack at no fault of your own. Unless you just REALLY want Ohana, to me it’s feeling like staying in MK may make life easier.

We’ve done the Plaza Garden party a few times this year. We roll in 8:15-8:30ish, grab a couple of desserts and a cup of coffee, hit the restrooms, then move up to the Plaza Garden viewing area 8:40-8:45ish. The upside of that plan is minimal time speant just sitting around. The one downside is that a lot of people will have moved up to the Plaza Garden already so you’re just filling in by that point. I think that only really matters if you’re uber-picky about where in the Plaza Garden you want to be... but I’ve never had a problem with it.

You probably already know all of the above, but that’s my perspective.

 

[Babsy]

Ahh, ok. I don’t know... the tour sounds like fun to me, vs being at the mercy of same day FPs. Especially if it’s a high crowd time.

BOG lunch can be a pretty quick lunch, especially if you pre-order. That’s assuming you’re sat on time which I guess could be a variable.

If that tour really does end at 5:30, getting to Ohana for a 5:50 ADR is going to be very tight. I guess if you’re leaving MK more like 5:15ish you’d be more in the safe zone? Not sure where the tour ends / how long it will take to get to the boat/monorail?

If this were me, I’d probably do dinner in MK at something like Skipper Canteen (which I really like, BTW) vs taking the time to go back/forth to Ohana. Like the PP said, Ohana can run way behind and all of a sudden your schedule can be out of whack at no fault of your own. Unless you just REALLY want Ohana, to me it’s feeling like staying in MK may make life easier.

We’ve done the Plaza Garden party a few times this year. We roll in 8:15-8:30ish, grab a couple of desserts and a cup of coffee, hit the restrooms, then move up to the Plaza Garden viewing area 8:40-8:45ish. The upside of that plan is minimal time speant just sitting around. The one downside is that a lot of people will have moved up to the Plaza Garden already so you’re just filling in by that point. I think that only really matters if you’re uber-picky about where in the Plaza Garden you want to be... but I’ve never had a problem with it.

You probably already know all of the above, but that’s my perspective.

Thank you for your perspective!! You are so helpful! It is funny how much I am obsessing over the tiny details. LOL! Any or all of this can be done on a later trip so I don't know why I am pushing so much into one day.

Yes, that was essentially our experience when we did the garden dessert party before as well. Without knowing that you needed to arrive early for desserts we strolled in a little late, had one dessert and went to the garden which was already quite full. (We have only done the dessert party once.) I was dismayed at first, but quickly realized that it didn't really matter. We had a great view and all was fine. I decided after that experience that I preferred the garden to trying to watch from a plaza table and that the desserts were not the highlight!

We usually have watched Wishes from the resort. It is just easier than dealing with so many people and the return to the resort. Even when staying in GF SL without a TPV, we just stroll over to watch in front of Gasparilla's. The difference this time is that we haven't seen HEA yet, so we wanted the full experience of watching the castle projections. Hence the dessert party (it's not like we need the extra desserts! LOL!)

O'hana's is a personal favourite of mine and we enjoy the boat ride to/from the MK. However, again I think that you are right, staying in the MK will just make everything easier. I believe that I already knew that, but just needed confirmation from the 'experts' on the Dis to help me let the ADR go. I DO like the Skipper Canteen and will enjoy a meal there. As MK restaurants go, it is one of our favourites.


Thank you so much! You addressed all my concerns and helped me clarify how I want to proceed. Sometimes I feel like it is easier to see what someone else should do, than to decide what we should choose for ourselves! LOL! It is one of the reasons that I love the Disboards so much - so many kind and helpful people helping one another!!!!!!