Our First Impromptu Visit

[umbluegray]

We've been to WDW several times and have even been a passholder before. Our last visit was the week prior to Thanksgiving in 2015 and we stayed at the Polynesian. I'm the WDW planner in our home and I've been pretty comfortable with it. However, there are two differences this time:
1. This is our first spur-of-the-moment trip, and
2. WDW has changed quite a bit since 2015.

We've stayed both on-site and off-site on previous visits. This visit we'll be staying off-site.

Our son and his family moved to Tampa back in August. We're going to visit over Christmas (12/23 - 1/2). My wife and I decided to give our grandkids a couple of days at WDW. We've taken both boys previously but this will be our 5YO granddaughter's first time. After talking with their parents we decided to do 1 day at MK and the next at DTD.

I've never planned for 1 day at 1 park before -- especially during one of the busiest times of the year. (Since we homeschooled we were always able to go during slow times).

I share all this to say.... HELP!

Can anyone point me to info to dive into regarding all the changes I need to know about. Also, any advice you have on single day-single park (MK) trips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

My first thought with regard to what you've laid out here - a 1-day trip to the Magic Kingdom sometime between Christmas and NY's? One of the biggest changes that's come around since reopening after Covid closure is the park reservation. Since you are planning to visit one of the busiest parks during one of the busiest times, you would be wise to get online to buy your 1-day park tickets. Once you have the tickets, then you will need to make a Magic Kingdom park reservation so you can enter the MK. It appears the MK is already booked full for at least 2 of the days you might be considering.

If you are hoping for any dining reservations at a MK restaurant, you can make them as early as 60 days out. As of today, 60 days is Christmas Day, so you'll be getting close to that window to select restaurants - and they will fill up quickly that week.

Impromptu isn't what it used to be! Good luck. Hope you can work out a fun (if not crazy packed) day at MK!

 

[umbluegray]

That's a great point about buying then reserving. We checked a couple of days and MK was available. But I imagine every day we wait will see reservations dwindle.

Does WDW let you check availability, hold those spots (on a timer) and then buy your tickets? Kind of like a concert or sporting event where you can select your seats and they'll block them for a few minutes while you complete the purchase.

 

[umbluegray]

Do Florida residents pay the same face value per ticket as non-Florida residents?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

That's a great point about buying then reserving. We checked a couple of days and MK was available. But I imagine every day we wait will see reservations dwindle.

Does WDW let you check availability, hold those spots (on a timer) and then buy your tickets? Kind of like a concert or sporting event where you can select your seats and they'll block them for a few minutes while you complete the purchase.

I don't think so. I think you either need an annual pass or ticket.

 

[lorenae]

Do Florida residents pay the same face value per ticket as non-Florida residents?

For one day tickets, yes. Three and four day resident tickets are much cheaper, as are the annual passes. I have an annual pass called the Pixie Pass, which gives entry on weekdays only and has blockout dates for Christmas/holidays. But for non-blockout type of tickets, and only one day tickets, it’s expensive for all.
I bought my grandkids 4-day Florida resident tickets, and those were much less expensive per day than the one-day tickets.

 

[scrappinginontario]

That's a great point about buying then reserving. We checked a couple of days and MK was available. But I imagine every day we wait will see reservations dwindle.

Does WDW let you check availability, hold those spots (on a timer) and then buy your tickets? Kind of like a concert or sporting event where you can select your seats and they'll block them for a few minutes while you complete the purchase.

No. You must purchase your tickets before being able to make a park reservation. I would do so ASAP as park reservations are filling up.