Park Plan Jersey Week Nov 2015...so confused!!

[travelbuffnj]

I am embarrassed to admit how many hours I have spent trying to put this plan together and I have hit a wall. We are amateurs compared to you all so would really appreciate any thoughts or advice you may have.

We are a couple and DD9, using points to stay at the Swan from Wed 11/4-Mon 11/9. We are mostly interested in Epcot F&W (big foodies) and MK. We are rope drop people. Our goal is to limit crowds as much as humanly possible which is why we are avoiding Epcot on the weekend.

Here's what I have cobbled together so far:

Wed 11/4: 8pm arrival MCO, check in at Swan
Quick bite at Il Mulino before bed

Thurs 11/5: MK and Epcot? Just Epcot?
Lunch at Epcot booths, Dinner Spice Road at 8 for Illuminations viewing
We planned to start with rope drop at MK and then hop over to Epcot for food booths at noonish but now we see that Epcot has am EMH. Should we just stay at Epcot all day?

Friday 11/6: Epcot until 3, hotel to swim/chill
Lunch booths, Dinner at Blue Zoo or Shula's
Things will be picking up b/c of the marathon and the weekend so planned to bail from Epcot early.

Saturday 11/7: DHS (am EMH), MK afternoon
Lunch Brown Derby at Noon, Dinner CG 8:30 for Wishes at 10
Hit rides early at HS then freshen up and head to MK before dinner at CG
FP at MK or HS? Hmmmm...

Sunday 11/8: MK all day
Lunch BOG, Dinner Sanaa at 5 to catch the animals

Monday 11/9: MK EMH
Pre-park breakfast at CP
We depart MCO at 3 so just a quick visit for a few final rides

Random questions:
Do I need to call every day for ADR's staying at the Swan or just once?
Are Magic Bands worth it?

Would truly appreciate any and all advice. I am SO overwhelmed. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

If you're rope-dropping DHS on the 7th, I'd definitely save your FPs for MK that afternoon.

I liked the Magic Bands very much, but everything went smoothly on our trip. (I know sometime there are tech issues, though.)

 

[Ceryssa]

I am embarrassed to admit how many hours I have spent trying to put this plan together and I have hit a wall. We are amateurs compared to you all so would really appreciate any thoughts or advice you may have.

We are a couple and DD9, using points to stay at the Swan from Wed 11/4-Mon 11/9. We are mostly interested in Epcot F&W (big foodies) and MK. We are rope drop people. Our goal is to limit crowds as much as humanly possible which is why we are avoiding Epcot on the weekend.

Here's what I have cobbled together so far:

Wed 11/4: 8pm arrival MCO, check in at Swan
Quick bite at Il Mulino before bed

Thurs 11/5: MK and Epcot? Just Epcot?
Lunch at Epcot booths, Dinner Spice Road at 8 for Illuminations viewing
We planned to start with rope drop at MK and then hop over to Epcot for food booths at noonish but now we see that Epcot has am EMH. Should we just stay at Epcot all day?
The lines at the Epcot booths will be shortest from 11-2. Unless you have something you'd specifically like to see at MK like the rope drop show I'd probably do Epcot in the morning to early afternoon, then MK (and saving your FPs for there)--but only if you plan on actually using that AM EMH. The park will be more crowded due to the EMH, so if you plan to go there make sure you're able to make use of that extra hour and plan to get there at least 30 minutes prior to park opening.

Friday 11/6: Epcot until 3, hotel to swim/chill
Lunch booths, Dinner at Blue Zoo or Shula's
Things will be picking up b/c of the marathon and the weekend so planned to bail from Epcot early.
Good plan.

Saturday 11/7: DHS (am EMH), MK afternoon
Lunch Brown Derby at Noon, Dinner CG 8:30 for Wishes at 10
Hit rides early at HS then freshen up and head to MK before dinner at CG
FP at MK or HS? Hmmmm...
HS attractions are so limited now, I'd probably say use them at HS. I've never made it to AM EMH at HS, so I'm not sure how fast lines back up but I do know TSMM is insane not too long after park opening on a regular day.

Sunday 11/8: MK all day
Lunch BOG, Dinner Sanaa at 5 to catch the animals
This seems really out of the way unless you have a car. But I try to plan dinners around where we'll be that day, and what's logistically convenient, which isn't as big a deal for some people. And if you're skipping AK but want to see the animals I can see the appeal of this meal. Personally I'd eat at Kimono's at the Swan or somewhere on the Boardwalk, or one of the MK resorts, instead.

Monday 11/9: MK EMH
Pre-park breakfast at CP
We depart MCO at 3 so just a quick visit for a few final rides
This seems risky to me, since transportation can be iffy. If you're wanting to do a park this day I'd probably do CP the day before, and do Epcot instead this day so you aren't relying on the buses on a day when you have to be back by a certain time. But that's just me.

Random questions:
Do I need to call every day for ADR's staying at the Swan or just once?
I don't believe the Swan has the 180 + 10 perk.
Are Magic Bands worth it?
If you're staying onsite, absolutely. But a lot of the appeal of them for me was being able to use them for meals, room key, FPs AND park tickets. I didn't find it hugely inconvenient when staying offsite to scan my ticket for park entry and FPs. I don't think they're worth the extra $$ just for park entry and FPs. But that's me.
Would truly appreciate any and all advice. I am SO overwhelmed. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

 

[Pleglech]

Thurs 11/5: MK and Epcot? Just Epcot?
Lunch at Epcot booths, Dinner Spice Road at 8 for Illuminations viewing
We planned to start with rope drop at MK and then hop over to Epcot for food booths at noonish but now we see that Epcot has am EMH. Should we just stay at Epcot all day?

Saturday 11/7: DHS (am EMH), MK afternoon
Lunch Brown Derby at Noon, Dinner CG 8:30 for Wishes at 10
Hit rides early at HS then freshen up and head to MK before dinner at CG
FP at MK or HS? Hmmmm...

Thurs - Noon is about the worst time you can arrive at Epcot on an a.m. EMH day, but it won't be that bad if you schedule FPs for the afternoon and hit some rides at MK in the morning on standby (you'll be able to get plenty done there in the first few hours if you don't choose to spent all that time in line for SDMT or A&E, which are better FP options on your other MK days).

Fri - FPs depend on what you want to accomplish. Lines for main attractions build very quickly at DHS after rope drop, so if you want to do both TSMM and RnRC, I'd suggest using FP on one and hitting the other at rope drop. But if you want to skip one of them, you'll be fine to save your FPs for later in the day at MK.

ETA - I'll be there at the same time, and the schedule for the week is driving me nuts. It just seems harder to manage than usual.

 

[jillmc40]

I have a friend coming to WDW at about the same time as you...11/2-11/6. She went on this morning at 6 am for her 180 days for 11/4 and O'Hana was completely booked. The only thing they had was 9:20! I find that so hard to believe! I usually go at Easter and stay off property and I am always able to get what I want. Then she said Cape May was booked too! WHAT??!! Have you had a hard time getting the ADR's you wanted? I am just wondering if there is something wrong with the system today?

Your plan looks great but I would plan to spend 2 fulls days at Epcot if you are there for the festival. There is a lot to see (and eat!)

 

[Ceryssa]

I have a friend coming to WDW at about the same time as you...11/2-11/6. She went on this morning at 6 am for her 180 days for 11/4 and O'Hana was completely booked. The only thing they had was 9:20! I find that so hard to believe! I usually go at Easter and stay off property and I am always able to get what I want. Then she said Cape May was booked too! WHAT??!! Have you had a hard time getting the ADR's you wanted? I am just wondering if there is something wrong with the system today?

Your plan looks great but I would plan to spend 2 fulls days at Epcot if you are there for the festival. There is a lot to see (and eat!)

I went Jersey Week last year and had the same problem with Cape May. I don't know if Jersey folks fill up all the Epcot area resorts or what, but the lack of availability for that area and the restaurants was insane (I'm sure free dining played some part in it). I've been playing around with ADRs the last couple days just to get an idea of what I'm looking at (my 180 day is Tuesday) and availability is scarce all around :/

I agree about the 2 full days at Epcot, if possible. We had 2 days there last year and I wanted more.

 

[travelbuffnj]

Thank you all so much! Your feedback is invaluable. I knew I'd get terrific advice about all the specifics!! Great idea about Epcot 2 days. Note sure if I can make all my ADR's tomorrow as I'm staying at the Swan? That's when my 180 days opens. Worried about CG for Wishes. Yikes!

 

[Jenna319]

I am planning on being at Epcot on 11/2 and 11/4 and am SHOCKED at the limited availability in Epcot restaurants at 180 days out. I can't even get Biergarten for dinner before 6p! I never remember having such a hard time getting a reservation in World Showcase this early out.

 

[BuenaVistaBound]

I had the same issues getting the reservations I wanted in my 180+ window for Jersey week. I posted a (somewhat lengthy) thread in the 'Dining' board about how I got what I wanted. The bottom line is, there have been some issues with the reservation system, and as always, keep trying! Here is a link to my other post:

http://disboards.com/threads/adr-troubleshooting.3408428/

 

[River Country]

I will be there 10-31 thru 11-9 WOO HOO Jersey!!!!!!!!

You will be fine as long as you stay away from F&W that weekend cause it is the 1/2 marathon. Also be careful with 11/8 ath the MK that night is the first MVMCP of the year