Parades and Fireworks and Rides Oh My!

[chamonix]

Don't worry about staking out a parade seat 2 hours before the parade (or wishes) especially the first week of October. You will be able to find a fairly decent spot about 30 minutes before the parade. I suggest you either eat while waiting (like a picnic) which will entertain the little ones, lol, or really, my main advice is to not be a slave to the ADRs you made and try for new ones. Call right now and see if you can flip your ADRs so you can switch the days you are doing MGM and MK. All it takes is one phone call to see your options for that. Don't throw out that idea without trying for new ADRs. (dont' forget to cancel the old ones though!)

It looks like you have some room in your schedule to go back to MK on another night for Wishes, but just not for Spectro....? I say that Wishes is not to be missed, but if I had to choose one or the other--Spectro or Wishes, I would choose Wishes. Spectro is cool, but I'm not a huge fan of parades (and my dd thinks those bubble head things are creepy! LOL) but Wishes makes me cry every time. Wishes is the quintessential Disney family moment, LOL!
BTW, we will be arriving Oct 7th!

 

[legalslave]

It appears to me that if you arrive on Saturday, you could do your grocery shopping, then after hitting the pool you could eat at the food court at your hotel, take a nap and then head for the MK for Wishes and then the second running of Spectro (at 10:00). This way you could probably get a couple of rides in while most people are watching the first running of Spectro. If you plan to watch Wishes, go to the Tomorrowland bridge and watch from there. After Wishes, turn back towards Tomorowland and go around by the teacups and go through Fantasyland to Fontierland for the second running of Spectro. You'll probably even have time to go on HM on your way. You'll be going against the crowds this way, and after Spectro, just leisurely make your way out of the park. Since you will be in the MK late the next night for the Halloween party, you could hang out at the hotel and swim on Sunday, then head for the party (you won't need an admission ticket to MK if you get there at 4:00 - just your party ticket). However, if you want to go to MK earlier, it's only about $3 a ticket to add another day. Besides, if your kids are anything like mine were, they will be too excited to wait for the MK anyway (me either).

 

[can'twait]

OK, I changed things around. We can't go to the parks on the day we arrive because we have 7 day passes and we want to have breakfast with Pooh on the day we leave. Besides, that first Saturday will be a long day and I think we will be pooped from traveling and ready to hit the sack early, so we can get up and get going early the next day. We have lunch at CRT on Sunday so we have to spend the day at MK, not just the party.

Do you think we will really need the nap on Sunday? Or can we just relax and take a breather at the park before the party? Napping involves at least 3 hours out of the park, if you consider transportation to and from the hotel and the nap time. The kids are 5 and 7, so I'm considering winging it. The next issue is will they be able to get up to go to am EMH at EPCOT on Monday...??? Will I??? LOL!

Here's the new itinerary:

October 1 Saturday - arrive, go grocery shopping, check out the pool, hit the hay early
October 2 Sunday - MK: lunch at CRT, Share a Dream Come True Parade at 3:00, nap?, Halloween Party - YAY!
October 3 Monday - EPCOT: am EMH at EPCOT, lunch at Rose & Crown, dinner at Teppanyaki, IllumiNations at 9:00
October 4 Tuesday – MGM: am EMH at MGM, Prime Time Café at 1:15, Sci Fi at 3:40?, leave at 4:00 to get to the Polynesian by 4:45, Spirit of Aloha at 5:15
October 5 Wednesday - MK: am and pm EMH, lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern at 12:15, Pecos Bill’s for dinner, SpectroMagic Parade at 8:00 and Wishes at 9:00
October 6 Thursday - AK: lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue, leave AK at 5:00 to get to Fort Wilderness by 6:45 for Hoop Dee Doo Review at 7:15
October 7 Friday - MK am EMH, followed by hop to MGM for Fantasmic at 8:00
October 8 Saturday – 10:25 breakfast at Crystal Palace, mid-afternoon flight home

 

[jeankeri]

I would not expect to be able to arrive at a park on an EMH morning and be able (and want ) to stick around until the closing entertainment. I am thinking of Epcot in particular. Also, for the ages of your kids, and this being your first trip, I would think about skipping the sit-down meals in the World Showcase and just sample from the countries as you do the circle around the lagoon. Sit down meals eat up a lot of time. Seeing as this is your first trip I would concentrate on relaxing and seeing all the great entertainment in the different countries. Also, the extra hour of sleep/sanity you get going to a non-EMH park in the morning can be priceless. You have some great evening dinner shows; I would not want your little ones dragging their feet. I would also definately take a break/nap between your morning activity and Halloween party. You could skip the 3pm parade easily and get so much more out of the party.

 

[can'twait]

jeankeri:

I agree and I'm torn. I don't want to push to the point of exhaustion, but we have the dining plan so I feel obligated to get our money's worth out of the TS meals, and also I think sitting down for a meal will make a good break. Hopefully the ADR's will keep us from waiting too long and wasting too much time, especially in October. Also, some restaurants are more about the experience than the food, like the 50's Prime Time, and I just don't want to miss it! Of course, I realize that we will need to be flexible too, so I know that any part of this plan except for the reservations we have paid for - the Halloween party and the 2 dinner shows - may go down in flames at any time! At least I have planned to be in the park with EMH's and the shows we want to see. I plan to drink a lot of Mountain Dew and bring Advil with me! I know the kids have a lot more energy than I do, but when they crash, they crash hard. We may rent a stroller so they don't have to walk so much, so that might help too. All I can do now is hope for the best!

Thanks for all your help!

 

[chamonix]

We have never taken nap breaks and it was always fine. You will know what to do when the time comes with your children.

I think a stroller at Epcot is a good idea. Although, I have always found lots of "downtime" when in the parks with my family--sitting down for snacks and meals, sitting in shows, on rides, etc. Not running back and forth constantly across the park.....taking it all in slowly.......

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would skip the milkshakes at Sci-Fi on Wednesday, giving yourselves more time to get to the Magic Kingdom (and less stress). Substitute some treat at MK for the shakes - Dole Whips, maybe? - and if you get back to MGM on Friday, do the milkshakes that day instead.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...October 4 Tuesday – MGM: am EMH at MGM, Prime Time Café at 1:15, Sci Fi at 3:40?, leave at 4:00 to get to the Polynesian by 4:45, Spirit of Aloha at 5:15
...

You might not even be seated at the Sci Fi by 4:00 to have your milkshakes. I doubt if you will be out of there and on a bus to the Polynesian in 20 minutes. Plus you won't get out of PTC until at least 2:15, so milk shakes at 3:40 will be overkill. I'd try to change the PTC to around 11AM for lunch instead of the late lunch. You won't be hungry for the luau at 5:15. You'll spend all your time in dining facilities.

I'd spend more time getting to the park early in the AM to be able to do some attractions and less time hitting all the shows (HDD, Luau, etc.).

 

[can'twait]

Yeah, I know we will most likely blow off the milkshakes, but it's there just in case, so at least I can say I tried, LOL. Unfortunately the Sci Fi is booked solid on Friday and 1:15 was all they had at PTC on Tuesday. I think I was lucky to be able to move the lunches around, so I can't complain. I knew it would be hard to do everything. I tried to make the dinner shows early, so we can get to bed early those nights.

I agree on the breaks - we'll see if we really need them. The kids are big enough that I think they can suck it up somewhat, and a break in the park might just do it so we can keep going. The thought of trudging back and forth to the hotel to rest, which I don't think they will really do, sounds more exhausting than just resting on a bench in the park with a Mickey bar for a bit. A rental stroller might do the trick too.

Thanks for all your input, everyone!