Planners help me layout rough WDW and US plan

[abouley]

We are planning a trip this coming August with our two kids ages 8 and 11 who will ride everything and also love shows.

We will be arriving on Sunday, August 9th and will be staying that first 6 nights off-site in a condo. We will move to the Poly on Aug 15th, staying 7 nights there. We'll head home on Saturday the 22nd.

We plan to visit both parks at US this trip (our first time). I'm thinking 3 days? I'm also thinking we might try to do Kennedy one day. I'm also thinking we'll do 8 day PH with waterpark and more option (but still deciding). We do think we'll visit both waterparks at least once while we're there but maybe even some split days of park in the am, waterpark in the pm.

How would you roughly lay out your days? Any thoughts/suggestions? We haven't been since FP+ so feeling like I need to have a good plan we'll stick with this time. Unlike other times where dining was the only thing I had to plan around.

 

[flatlandcycle]

I would consider a stay at an on-site hotel at Universal for the express pass perk. Doing water rides and having a place to change clothes is a plus too. The morning, one hour, exclusive access, to the parks isn't bad either.

 

[robinb]

We are planning a trip this coming August with our two kids ages 8 and 11 who will ride everything and also love shows.

We will be arriving on Sunday, August 9th and will be staying that first 6 nights off-site in a condo. We will move to the Poly on Aug 15th, staying 7 nights there. We'll head home on Saturday the 22nd.

We plan to visit both parks at US this trip (our first time). I'm thinking 3 days? I'm also thinking we might try to do Kennedy one day. I'm also thinking we'll do 8 day PH with waterpark and more option (but still deciding). We do think we'll visit both waterparks at least once while we're there but maybe even some split days of park in the am, waterpark in the pm.

How would you roughly lay out your days? Any thoughts/suggestions? We haven't been since FP+ so feeling like I need to have a good plan we'll stick with this time. Unlike other times where dining was the only thing I had to plan around.

I can't help you with Universal since I have not been there for years. I would assume that you would go while you are at the condo.

I would get a 10-day PH. It's only $20 more per ticket and I think it makes a more relaxing time since you can go in for an evening or maybe a morning during your condo days. WP&M is only $37 more when it's ordered at the same time as the PH. If you're planning to go to a WP at least once, it's cheaper to do it that way.

It may be fairly busy for your days. About two-thirds of the school districts will already be back in school but a good third will still be on summer vacation and won't go back until the end of your vacation. Thunderstorms are very common on August afternoons so plan accordingly. An afternoon visit to a WP should probably be a morning one with FP+ in the evenings. It can also be unbearably hot in August and frankly the pools do little to cool you down since they are the temperature of bath water.

 

[Belle612]

I can't help with Universal as I have also not been in many years.

For your Disney days, I agree with the posted above that you should consider getting 10 day park hoppers instead of 8 - this will allow you to pop into a park for dinner or half days and allow you to enjoy them at a more leisurely pace.

As for Fastpass+, I have found it better to make those for the first half of the day. Reason being, once you have used your 3 for the day, you can then book an additional one for later. Once the fourth fastpass is used, you can book a fifth, and so on. For days when you plan to spend the whole day in the parks this tends to be a pretty food touring strategy!

I would also suggest doing 1 non park day where you enjoy the Poly pool, and ride the monorail around to the Contemporary and the Grand to get dinner, shop, and enjoy those resorts. Wilderness Lodge is also another great one to visit by taking the boat from MK! With such a long trip you will need a day where you can take it easy and not be running around in the parks (as much fun as that can be).