Overwhelmed... picking parks September 30-October 4

[daisygirl98]

That is good to know about online checkin. We have not seen any of the evening shows as my kids were very little last time we were there. Which ones would you recommend?

 

[minniegirl19]

100% happily ever after. It can't be missed. Then if you guys aren't tired I would just stick it out for illuminations at Epcot. Are you guys big Star Wars fans? This will make the decision if your other full day is studios or animal kingdom and which nighttime show you'd do at studios if that's where you'd be at night (this is based on if you go with the schedule I posted earlier)

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

That is good to know about online checkin. We have not seen any of the evening shows as my kids were very little last time we were there. Which ones would you recommend?

It's hard to make a recommendation as a lot of these shows resonate differently with people. You may want to sneak peak some youtube videos to help make a decision.

MK - Happily Ever After: Brand New Fireworks at Magic Kingdom - synched with projections on the castle, almost a consensus don't miss show!
DHS - Fantasmic: Classic nighttime show with lots of songs from the older Disney animated movies - one of my favorites but some say it's dated
DHS - Star Wars Spectacular: Fireworks with lots of projections - if you aren't into Star Wars probably not high on the list. If you are it may be at the top of your list
AK - Rivers of Light: Never seen it - looks neat but not as good as the 3 above IMO - others may feel differently
EPCOT - IllumiNations: not my cup of tea...but some people say it's the best show of them all

If you want to see Happily Ever After you have to go to MK on a non-party night. There's a lot of schools of thought on how to pick parks (some of which contradict others)
- Avoid Extra Magic Hours Park (and some people vary this rule to say only avoid evening EMH park)
- Avoid Party days at MK due to early closure
- Go to MK on party days due to early closure (yes - direct opposition to the statement above)
- Avoid MK and EPCOT on Saturdays because they are crazy
- AK and DHS are half day parks
- AK and DHS are full day parks (lol)
- Don't go to the same park on back to back days because it gets boring/repetitive
- Avoid MK on Mondays because many people go there on the first day of a weeklong vacation
- Go to AK on Sundays because it's usually the least busy park that day
....and these tips go on and on....good luck! I came up with about 6 scenarios for your days and wasn't really crazy about any of them.

 

[Delirium]

I'll disagree with an earlier poster and highly recommend that you use one of your MK days on a party day. It will be much less crowded.

 

[daisygirl98]

I think I'm getting close to figuring it out. Now I'm debating if I should just get tickets to MNSSHP on October 1st so that can be a longer day at MK... Is it worth it?

 

[squirrel]

I think I'm getting close to figuring it out. Now I'm debating if I should just get tickets to MNSSHP on October 1st so that can be a longer day at MK... Is it worth it?

Not sure of your kids ages but they will be tired the next day. I don't think it's worth it if you don't have a down day planned. When I did it I had the party night on a day that we didn't go to a park and the next day was also free. Made the mistake the first year thinking going to the waterpark for a few hours on the party night would be a nice relaxing day and then the party. My niece slept in the stroller for at least an hour. We would stay for 14 nights and have a 10 day park pass.

 

[minniegirl19]

I think I'm getting close to figuring it out. Now I'm debating if I should just get tickets to MNSSHP on October 1st so that can be a longer day at MK... Is it worth it?

If you think your kids can make it it's 100% worth it. The atmosphere is great and they are still young enough to enjoy the trick or treating (even though I'm an adult and still love it lol) but the fireworks, the parade, the stage shows, the lower wait times all make it SO. MUCH. FUN. I really think they would love it. I'd rather do the party with my kids and sleep in a little bit before heading to the park the next day then missing it especially with kids the age of yours but it's all up to you and how you want to tour. I think it's something they would never forget though

 

[srwarden1928]

Srwarden1928... are you okay with not seeing happily ever after this trip? With your schedule you will not be seeing it due to MNSSP

You are correct. However, I will be back at WDW November 7-17. I will catch Happily Ever After then. I'm not sure we will do the other nighttime shows on this trip either because of my 2.5 yo great nephew. My niece, his mother, really wants to do MNSSHP though. This will be my first time in WDW with a child that young. That beats the first time in WDW when I was a month shy of my sixth birthday. I will be able to see and do anything I miss in October on the November trip.

 

[abnihon]

I would do one full MK day on a non-party day so you can see fireworks and then instead of a second MK day just get MNSSHP tickets (so you won't need 5 day park tickets). Party is definitely worth it!
The other night show I recommend is Fantasmic. My son loves it!