park plan - Help!

[gaelicgoddess]

I'm seriously going to drive myself crazy trying to finalize this. I would love some input on what you would do so I can just make a decision and stick with it.

Plan A
Sun., Mar. 16th - Check in at POR
- Brunch at Raglan Road
- Downtown Disney for St. Patty's day fun and shopping
- Dinner at Ohana

Mon., Mar. 17th - AK (EMH 8am and open until 8pm)
-Lunch at Yak & Yeti
- Dinner at TRex (late dinner)
EasyWDW - AK is Not Recommended & TP = 7

Tues., Mar. 18th - MK (ds' 9th birthday...wants to be in MK)
-Lunch at Tomorroland Terrace or Cosmic Rays??
-Dinner at Chef Mickey (ds' request....can't get a breakfast ADR, but would rather)
EasyWDW - MK is Recommended & TP = 7

Wed., Mar. 19th -EP
-Lunch at Sunshine Seasons
-Dinner at Akershus'
EasyWDW - EP is Recommended & TP = 5

Thurs., Mar 20th -HS
-Lunch at Pizza Planet
-Dinner at Sci-Fi
EasyWDW - HS is Not Recommended & TP = 6

Fri., Mar. 21st -MK (dd's 5th birthday...wants to be in MK)
-Lunch at BOG FP+ (dd's request)
-Dinner at Columbia Harbor House
EasyWDW - MK is Recommended & TP = 6

Sat., Mar. 22nd -Check Out
-Downtown Disney or Boardwalk before heading Home

Plan B
Sun., Mar. 16th - Check in at POR
- Brunch at Raglan Road
- Downtown Disney for St. Patty's day fun and shopping
- Dinner at Ohana

Mon., Mar. 17th -EP
-Lunch at Sunshine Seasons
-Dinner at Akershus'
EasyWDW - EP is Most Recommended & TP = 7

Tues., Mar. 18th - MK (ds' 9th birthday...wants to be in MK)
-Lunch at Tomorroland Terrace or Cosmic Rays??
-Dinner at Chef Mickey (ds' request....can't get a breakfast ADR, but would rather that)
EasyWDW - MK is Recommended & TP = 7

Wed., Mar. 19th - HS
-Lunch at Pizza Planet
-Dinner at Sci-Fi
EasyWDW - HS is Not Recommended & TP = 6

Thurs., Mar 20th - AK (closes at 7pm today)
-Lunch at Yak & Yeti
- Dinner at TRex
EasyWDW - AK is Recommended & TP = 6

Fri., Mar. 21st -MK (dd's 5th birthday...wants to be in MK)
-Lunch at BOG FP+ (dd's request)
-Dinner at Columbia Harbor House
EasyWDW - MK is Recommended & TP = 6

Sat., Mar. 22nd -Check Out
-Downtown Disney or Boardwalk before heading Home

I'm pretty set on going to MK on Tues. and Fri. because of my kids' birthdays (they have their heart set on it). That means I'm going to have to go to HS on a Not Recommended day, but which one? And do I take advantage of AK's 8am EMH and staying open until 8pm on Monday? Or do I wait until it's a recommended park on Thurs., even though it closes at 7pm? Easy has EP as Most Recommended on Mon. and Thurs., but TP has it at a 5 on Wed. because of the EMH the day before.

Thanks for reading along, if you made it through that rambling. And for any help.

 

[horse11]

I am by no means an expert since this only my second trip to Disney with 2001 being my first but I understand your pain and am going through this myself. I could have choosen AK on simular cirumstances. I see you have a very young child (turning 5?). All I can tell you is we choose AK on a day when they opened at 9:00 and closed at 7:00 instead. My reasons were so we could have a fair chance at a popular ride at rope drop and yet not have to get up at the crack of dawn. We are actually using AK as one of our slower days. From the research I have done AK does not have as much in it as do the other parks so you may be able to accomplish everything you want without the extra hours. Unless you plan is to go back to your resort for a nap or break. Since it looks to me as if you are stuck with HS on either a Wensday or Thursday IMOP I do not think it would matter which day. Is one of those days an extra magic hours for HS? It seems that magic hours play a role in why they say to stay clear of those parks on those days but for you since you are staying on Disney grounds it could be a plus. Hopefully some one with more experience will be able to give you better advice. The best advice I have been told on this site it to try to enjoy the planning. Some how it all seems to work out. Have fun and enjoy your trip!
P.S
also make sure you can get all your ADR's unless you have them all set up.

 

[sharonabe]

I'm probably just going to muddy the waters even more, but do have one other consideration to add.

Most people begin their vacations on Sunday or Monday, and most people will NOT go to AK as their first day. So even with early EMH and a later closing, I would not expect AK to be all that much busier on that Monday than on a recommended day.

My biggest concern is your ADRs. Do you already have those made for both plans? Just getting the restaurants you want when you want them may make the decision for you.

 

[dachsie]

i guess i am unclear as to what recommended vs not recommended means. If not recommended is that because it will be more crowded on that day? I am just not sure that it will make a huge difference in crowds during spring break. I kinda agree with the poster about AK on the first day. I think your plan A is fine but then, you have to see where you can get ADRs. WHen I planned our first trip, I looked at the extra magic hours and determined what parks I wanted that way. THen made the reservations accordingly but I got them when they were first available to book so was able to get what we wanted. That way, if the kids got tired (which they did) we had extra time to go back to the park later in the evening to keep seeing things. You will have fun either way and your kids celebrating their bdays where they want is most important

 

[gaelicgoddess]

Thanks for the thoughts so far.

For my ADRs: I have Akershus' reserved on Monday and Wednesday right now, so all I have to do is cancel one once I make a decision. We plan on either calling or walking up for TRex (many DISers have said that can be done). The only ADR I would have to move is Sci-Fi. It doesn't seem to be too hard to do that whenever I check. And if I don't get it, I won't be heart broken either and just go with something else.

I agree horse11 that going to AK on a 9-7 day would be great for a shorter day, plus give us more time at night to get to TRex for dinner. And you are right, there is less stuff to do there with Camp Minnie Mickey and Lion King being closed right now.

But like sharonabe said, I just don't think it is going to be more crowded on Monday even with the EMH. It would give us time to take a break during the day. And it would allow us to go to Epcot on Wed. which is projected to be the best day of the week according to TP.

dachsie, EasyWDW explains what they mean be Most Recomended, Recomended, and Not Recomended here: http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/03-march-2014/

I really just need to make a decision, stick with it, and stop second guessing myself.

 

[agavegirl1]

A park with EMH is likely to be listed as not recommended for this very reason. The park will fill more quickly as it has an hour head start and other onsite guests will choose it for the EMH. However, the rating is relative and I've still found EMH at AK to be well worth getting up.

I agree with the PP re: your ADRs. Some of your choices may be difficult to reserve this close to your dates. I would start by seeing what you can get and choosing the plan that works with the ADRs if they are important to you.

 

[gaelicgoddess]

A park with EMH is likely to be listed as not recommended for this very reason. The park will fill more quickly as it has an hour head start and other onsite guests will choose it for the EMH. However, the rating is relative and I've still found EMH at AK to be well worth getting up.

I agree. That's one of the reasons I'm having such a hard time deciding.

I agree with the PP re: your ADRs. Some of your choices may be difficult to reserve this close to your dates. I would start by seeing what you can get and choosing the plan that works with the ADRs if they are important to you.

I think we might have posted at the same time. See my last post to explain about our ADRs.

 

[gaelicgoddess]

Would love some more input.

 

[gaelicgoddess]

Thanks to everyone who posted their input. After much deliberating, I'm going to go with my plan B. That way we don't have to wake up earlier for AK, it should be less crowded that day, and since it closes at 7 we can get to TRex without it being super late. And we still end up going to EP on a day that is most recommended by EasyWDW. We do end up in HS on day that is not recommended by EasyWDW, but I think it will be manageable.

 

[horse11]

Thanks to everyone who posted their input. After much deliberating, I'm going to go with my plan B. That way we don't have to wake up earlier for AK, it should be less crowded that day, and since it closes at 7 we can get to TRex without it being super late. And we still end up going to EP on a day that is most recommended by EasyWDW. We do end up in HS on day that is not recommended by EasyWDW, but I think it will be manageable.

good for you! Now just stick to it and forget it. I am going through the very exact thing. Half the battle I found is making a decision and sticking to it. Most of all have fun!!!!

 

[gaelicgoddess]

good for you! Now just stick to it and forget it. I am going through the very exact thing. Half the battle I found is making a decision and sticking to it. Most of all have fun!!!!

Lol! Exactly! And thanks. Hope you have tons of fun too!