Park planning/hopper help

[mrsgthatsme]

Hi! I am a first time Disney guest currently planning a trip Nov 13-19 for myself, my husband, our kids (ages 6 and 9), my parents and my 35 year old brother. We will have hopper passes and I am trying to figure out how to best "hop." I am trying to incorporate everyone's wishes, which mainly include my parents liking to take a break in the afternoon, then return to the parks later, and a lunch at Portobello in DS that my mom has requested. Here is my tentative plan based on several crowd level charts. I welcome any thoughts or suggestions! Thanks so much!

Monday: HS
I would like to hop to EPCOT that evening, but I know it is the last day of Food and Wine. Crowd charts I have seen don't show it as a high crowd day there, but wondering if F and W make it one to avoid that day?

Tuesday: MK (no hopping that day)

Wednesday: EPCOT. Possibly leave for 1:40 reservation at Portobello. How long should I allow to get to DS from EPCOT? I know I will have to bus to the resort then bus or boat to DS. Then debating whether we should return to EPCOT after lunch/resting at hotel or go to another park. I would like to be able to hop to MK late afternoon/early eve and stay for Wishes, as this is the only night they have it that it would work with our plans.

Thursday: AK: Will this be a full day park, or would it be better to do Portobello for a late lunch at 2 or so (instead of on Wed) then hop somewhere else for the rest of the day?

Friday: MK

 

[Sharla75]

Wednesday: EPCOT. Possibly leave for 1:40 reservation at Portobello. How long should I allow to get to DS from EPCOT? I know I will have to bus to the resort then bus or boat to DS. Then debating whether we should return to EPCOT after lunch/resting at hotel or go to another park. I would like to be able to hop to MK late afternoon/early eve and stay for Wishes, as this is the only night they have it that it would work with our plans.

I believe they now have buses directly from all of the parks to DS -- that will save you some time!

 

[Sharla75]

Thursday: AK: Will this be a full day park, or would it be better to do Portobello for a late lunch at 2 or so (instead of on Wed) then hop somewhere else for the rest of the day?

We don't find AK to be a full-day park (kids 10 and 4), but you may want to consider going during the later half of the day if the Rivers of Light show is up by the time of your visit. The tree of life also "comes alive" at night now, and there are street performers in the evening. Not sure how late they will end up being open during the fall, since they just scaled back their extended hours, so I would allow some flexibility for your AK day.

 

[jcdean]

I believe they now have buses directly from all of the parks to DS -- that will save you some time!

Those buses only run after 4:00pm. If a Portabello diner works for you, great. Otherwise I would go out the international gateway and pick up a bus to DS from the Beach Club.

 

[MHSweb79]

I wouldn't avoid Epcot on Monday just because of F&W. The crowds will all be there on Sat & Sun, so you should be fine. Your kids will enjoy the boat ride between HS and Epcot and it's a nice break off your feet for the adults too.

Your Wednesday plan, frankly, is insane. Please don't waste several hours of time in the park with the most outstanding food choices in all of WDW by leaving to have lunch at Disney Springs! It would be much smarter to have an early dinner/ late lunch at Portobello after you finish at AK on Thursday.

Please also consider splitting up for a time, if your parents want to head back to the resort for a rest but others mght want to stay at the parks. The bus transportation system makes this very easy. When we travel with multiple families we actually build in time for separate activities, which makes things so much easier- everyone is more cooperative and flexible if they know they can do their own thing once in a while.

 

[kniquy]

It almost seems like the hopper passes are not really worth it for your trip. You could have down time in the afternoon and then return to your initial park for the evening. I don't know if i would plan to do DS mid day for a reservation. I think it will take up quite a bit of your afternoon. I would consider planning dinner at DS on a day that you might not spend a full park day (probably HS day). Epcot is easily a full day and with all the restaurant options you should try and hit something there. You didn't mention what resort you are staying at. That can make a difference with travel time back and forth from the parks. If your kids are doing well then you can manage staying at the parks all day and your parents can go back to relax and then join up with you for the evening.

Maybe do:

Monday: HS then dinner at DS

Tuesday: Epcot - full day (could do afternoon at resort then back for the evening)

Wednesday: MK - rope drop then you could do a little resort time in the afternoon then back for the evening to MK for wishes

Thursday: AK - you might want mostly a full day here. Not sure if they are still open late

Friday: MK

 

[mrsgthatsme]

Thanks for your replies. Kniquy, in response to your question, we are staying at POR. I might ponder some of your alternatives to splitting Wed up with the jaunt to DS. Perhaps doing Portabello after HS on Monday or after AK Thursday. My parents always like to do lunch rather than dinner since the prices are more reasonable, but unless either AK or HS are parks we can be finished with by 1pm (which it doesn't sound like they are) we might have to just do dinner instead. Thanks for the input!

 

[MHSweb79]

If you're at POR, it's a no-brainer to take the resort's boat to DS. The ride is a nice one, and your best bet for efficient travel.

Some restaurants at Disney have moved to all-day pricing, while others might give lunch prices until late afternoon. If Portobello is a must-do, I would check out their menus over at allears.net and see if they give times for lunch/ dinner hours.

If Portobello is not a must-do, you might want to consider lunch at Via Napoli in the Italy Pavilion while you are at Epcot, which gets much better reviews and may be more convenient.

 

[DISNEY1975]

The only issue I have seen with F & W are the locals on the weekends. On a Monday it would just be whoever happened to be at WDW that day/week. Florida residents, who have annual passes, typically visit on the weekends. I would avoid MK and Epcot on Saturdays and Sundays. Friday nights at Epcot during F&W tend to get busy too.

 

[kniquy]

unless either AK or HS are parks we can be finished with by 1pm

I would say that neither are able to be done by 1pm -- this is your first time (not sure if it is your first time for everyone in your party) there is so much to see that you don't want to feel rushed just to get to a dinner/reservation. I would say each of those parks, if you get there for rope drop, could be mostly done by 4pm. That might still be pushing it.

 

[sharadoc]

Sounds like you don't have the dining plan since you mentioned prices at lunch being lower. Unless you have a specific need to eat at Portobello, I would recommend Italian at Epcot or on the Boardwalk on your Epcot day. It took us many trips before we gave up park time with the kids to go eat.