Park strategy for solo visit with no FP

[just looking]

wow way to get OP excited for the trip.

Haha, I wasn't sure how what to think about a couple of negative comments about Soarin'.

suemom2kay, yes, I know it's not Soarin' over CA. But I'm still excited to ride it and compare to the Disneyland ride I've enjoyed so much.

 

[just looking]

It looks like you have been reading up, but a quick note on rope drop at AK. If the park opens at 9, you will be best served to be in line no later than 8:00. They start letting people through the turnstiles around 8:30 and you will be held on the bridge into Pandora. At 8:00, you will not be in the front of the line. It builds up quickly. At 8:30, you will already be in a 1+ hour wait by the time you are in the attraction line.

Thanks, I didn't know I had to be there quite so early. I'll plan to arrive by 8.

 

[just looking]

Where were you looking to do a character meal? I don’t doubt that some where booked when you looked but it’d be surprising that all were booked.
Our favorite is Tusker House and it’s almost always available at some time. Try that.

I'm not picky. But unless I'm doing something wrong, they were indeed all booked. I searched for both my dates, reservation for 1 person, tried breakfast, brunch, and lunch with the "character dining" box checked. The only hit I got was for the princess tea at the GF.

I've signed up for Touring Plan's reservation finder service to see if I can get Tusker House or Akershus (they'll only let me make two requests) so my fingers are crossed that one will pop up.

I also checked Chef Mickey's for a dinner with my husband. On our first trip to WDW in 1999, we didn't get to enjoy Chef Mickey's much because our 3 year old started throwing up in the booth. Yikes! The manager was so nice and said it happens all the time. It was the end of a 2-week trip, and I guess our little guy had had enough. anyway, that might be TMI

 

[suemom2kay]

I'm not picky. But unless I'm doing something wrong, they were indeed all booked. I searched for both my dates, reservation for 1 person, tried breakfast, brunch, and lunch with the "character dining" box checked. The only hit I got was for the princess tea at the GF.

I've signed up for Touring Plan's reservation finder service to see if I can get Tusker House or Akershus (they'll only let me make two requests) so my fingers are crossed that one will pop up.

I also checked Chef Mickey's for a dinner with my husband. On our first trip to WDW in 1999, we didn't get to enjoy Chef Mickey's much because our 3 year old started throwing up in the booth. Yikes! The manager was so nice and said it happens all the time. It was the end of a 2-week trip, and I guess our little guy had had enough. anyway, that might be TMI

Try looking for a reservation for 2 and than modifying. Sometimes it is crazy hard to get reservations for one.

 

[just looking]

Try looking for a reservation for 2 and than modifying. Sometimes it is crazy hard to get reservations for one.

OK, I just tried that...same result. Fingers crossed that something opens up in the next 6 weeks.

 

[just looking]

You don't need to do Epcot EMH unless you wan to get up that early. You could switch days with AK. If I were going to do an EMH between Epcot and AK, I would choose AK due to the FOP mayhem.

What rides do you want to go on? Since you haven't been in so long, I'll give you a short run down.

Epcot

Frozen Ever After (most popular ride in the park) They turned the Norway boat ride into the Frozen Ever AFter ride. They did a nice job and the under 4 foot crowd is what drives the high waits for this ride.
Soarin' is no longer over CA. It is now the world and not nearly as good.
Test Track is now tron themed and not nearly as good as classic Test Track IMHO.
Nemo and Figment remain.
Mission Space is also still there and was reimagined a bit a couple of years ago but still with an intense (spinning) side and less intense (non-spinning) side.


Animal Kingdom

Flight of Passage (best ride ever in all the world EVER) ok opinion but WOW!
Rivers of Light (boat ride but cute)
Expedition Everest you already mentioned
Safari (I don't like it as much now that they got rid of the storyline)
Kali Rivers Rapid (spinning boat ride where you will get gushing soaked, sprinkled, or dry) ya never know.

Assuming you want all here are my suggestions:

Epcot

RD FEA
Test Track single rider
Mission Space
FP Soarin'
Nemo
The Seas Aquarium
Space Ship Earth
World Showcase

Animal Kingdom
RD FOP (will have to get there REALLY early to be at the front of the GINORMOUS pack)
EE
Safari
Dinosaur
FP ROL

I agree with PP's that as a single person you should be able to get 3 fastpasses in each park. They do release same day fastpasses so those that didn't have access to advanced FP have an opportunity to get some.

Really, if you are willing to get to a park early (45 minutes or more before RD), you can get a lot done. Have a great time!

Thanks for the detailed suggestions/descriptions. A lot has changed in 16 years!

I won't be there on a day when AK has EMH, so I'll follow another poster's advice to get there well before rope drop.

 

[just looking]

On my solo trip I was able to do the following within the am emh hour at Epcot:

Frozen Ever After
Soarin’
Test Track

I was at the Epcot gate by 7:25am. Turnstiles tapped and entered the park by 7:45. Released at 7:55am. Walked quickly and arrived at FEA by 8:10. Off the ride by 8:15. Back at the Land by 8:26, on and off Soarin’ by 8:45 and over to Test Track and in a ride vehicle by 9am.

This was early September so I was a hot sweaty mess by that point but well worth it to get all that done.

Thanks for the reply! It's good to hear a success story from another solo visitor.

 

[suemom2kay]

OK, I just tried that...same result. Fingers crossed that something opens up in the next 6 weeks.

There are also character meals at Swan and/or Dolphin (Garden Grove, I think) and don’t forget Garden Grill at Epcot. Good luck!

 

[just looking]

This is how I'd do it, but I'm no expert...

For Epcot:
Rope drop Frozen Ever After
Single rider for Test Track
Hopefully FP+ for Soarin, Mission Space, and Spaceship Earth
Additional FP+ can be grabbed on the go via the MDE app on your phone for the remaining attractions (Figment, Nemo, Living with the Land, Pixar shorts)
Don't forget to ride the boat ride in Mexico!

For AK:
Rope drop Flight of Passage
Possibly go to Na'vi River Journey after FOP if the stand-by wait isn't too long (or maybe you'll luck out and get a FP+ for it)
Single rider Expedition Everest
Hopefully FP+ for Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur, and Kali River Rapids
You can do additional FP+ for things like Bug's Life, Festival of the Lion King, and Finding Nemo: The Musical on the go via the app (good time to rest)

I like to FP+ anything and everything I can, even if the waits aren't terribly long. If I've already done my original 3 and I want to do pretty much everything in the park, I'll keep booking FP+, and once I'm in the queue for one ride, I'll be setting up the FP+ for the next one. Rinse and repeat.

Thanks for the detailed suggestions! For some reason I thought I could only get 4 FP+ (3 in advance, and then 1 more). I'll definitely follow your advice to get more. (note to self: do more research on FP+)

 

[cdurham1]

You might try googling "fastpass refresh strategy" and also search for that on YouTube. Seems like a very good fit for your situation.

 

[TIME4DIZ]

I'm not picky. But unless I'm doing something wrong, they were indeed all booked. I searched for both my dates, reservation for 1 person, tried breakfast, brunch, and lunch with the "character dining" box checked. The only hit I got was for the princess tea at the GF.

I've signed up for Touring Plan's reservation finder service to see if I can get Tusker House or Akershus (they'll only let me make two requests) so my fingers are crossed that one will pop up.

I also checked Chef Mickey's for a dinner with my husband. On our first trip to WDW in 1999, we didn't get to enjoy Chef Mickey's much because our 3 year old started throwing up in the booth. Yikes! The manager was so nice and said it happens all the time. It was the end of a 2-week trip, and I guess our little guy had had enough. anyway, that might be TMI

TP reservation finder should work. It’s been great. People change ADRs very often so keep checking. Good luck!

 

[just looking]

I just now noticed that there's a board specifically for solo visitors! You all have been so kind to answer my questions and not tell me I should have looked there first.

 

[GPC0321]

Rivers of Light (boat ride but cute)

Just a minor correction here for the OP's benefit...Rivers of Light is the nighttime show in Animal Kingdom, not a ride. The Na'vi River Journey in Pandora is the boat ride.

 

[suemom2kay]

Just a minor correction here for the OP's benefit...Rivers of Light is the nighttime show in Animal Kingdom, not a ride. The Na'vi River Journey in Pandora is the boat ride.

Oh whoops! I stand corrected lol. Thank you!

 

[just looking]

TP reservation finder should work. It’s been great. People change ADRs very often so keep checking. Good luck!

I'm so excited! I signed up for both breakfasts I wanted (Tusker House and Akershus) with TP's reservation finder a few days ago. Earlier this afternoon my phone chimed and it was a text about Tusker House! And I got it! My hands were shaking as I tried to log into my Disney account; I was sure someone else would snag it first.

 

[TIME4DIZ]

I'm so excited! I signed up for both breakfasts I wanted (Tusker House and Akershus) with TP's reservation finder a few days ago. Earlier this afternoon my phone chimed and it was a text about Tusker House! And I got it! My hands were shaking as I tried to log into my Disney account; I was sure someone else would snag it first.

That’s great news- Enjoy your trip!!