Planning Confusion!

[trvlgirlmq]

I am the trip planner and it has been many years and lots of changes since my family has been to WDW. Also, we will have park hoppers for the first time along with DDP. I am definitely overwhelmed and could use some strategy help.

Some information so that all of the experts can offer guidance and wisdom!

1. Staying at CBR (Arrival June 3, 2017 & Departure June 11, 2017 8 nights/8day PH)
2. 1 grandma, 1 mom, boy 14 1/2 & girl 13
3. Must have meals Via Napoli, Chefs de France, Rose & Crown (hopefully for Illuminations viewing)
4. Would like to try new to us restaurants Cape May & O'Hana
5. Prefer our TS meal to be dinner
6. Will break after lunch for nap/rest/pool time

So, I am a little confused about the best way to deal with FP+ (when and what to book). Our ADR window will open before park hours are posted I believe. The last time we visited we only did 1 park per day and that dictated where we made our ADR. Grandma thinks we can just wake up whenever and go to a park. I don't think that will work. We do want to take in Wishes, Fantasmic (never seen) and Illuminations once each (1 time is enough though).

Thanks in advance for all assistance.

 

[sharonabe]

Find the FP thread/sticky and educate yourself how that works. You won't be able to book them until 60 days out, and by then you'll have a plan of where you'll be. What to book is really up to you and your family and the attractions you enjoy.

We usually get hoppers and start at the park with early EMH, then stay until lunch or just after. If we take a resort break that's when we do it, and then we go to a more recommended park for the evening. If you're not early birds, just switch it up. Go to the most recommended park for the morning and hop to an EMH park for the evening.

You might want to take a look at easywdw.com for the June calendar from this year to get an idea of crowd expectancy. If you search, you should also find some wait time tables for June somewhere on his site.

 

[Robo]

1. I am a little confused about the best way to deal with FP+ (when and what to book).

2. Our ADR window will open before park hours are posted I believe.

3. The last time we visited we only did 1 park per day and that dictated where we made our ADR.
4. Grandma thinks we can just wake up whenever and go to a park.
5. I don't think that will work.

1. Many, many ways to do it. Click HERE. Read carefully.
2. Maybe, but, generally unlikely.
3. That's a very popular way to do it.
4. Not so much, anymore.
5. Me, either.

 

[tinka-belle]

Decide how many days for each park, then take a look at the hours for May if June is not posted yet. EMH days and general park closing times will vary as simmer gets closer, but not usually by too much. When park hours change, it's usually to expand them to later. Decide which days for which park, a.m. or p.m., and which days you will park hop and to where. Will you plan a "down day" or half day or not?

Once you decide where you will be around dinner time, focus on an ADR in that park or at the resorts nearby. Or plan to hop to another park for dinner and to stay, Epcot for example. Keep in mind that other than the "hot" places for dinner or Fast Pass that you can keep changing as much as you want. Just have an anchor and a plan for the trip, everything can be changed subject to availability. This can definitely be done even if park hours are not yet posted for June, but I expect they will be by the time you need to make ADRs.

O'Hana right now might the hardest to get on your list, so when your ADR window opens start with that one. With Rose & Crown there is no guarantee of Illuminations seating, though you will be allowed into that area for viewing if you are eating inside.

Once you have a rough outline, you have several months before your FP+ window opens. By then you will know where you plan to be. Lots of people change ADR's around that time too so they can work around the FP+ times, it's a good time to snag an ADR that someone else cancels.

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Thanks everyone! I am going to sit everyone down and tell them they have to help me come up with an outline at least! I know they won't want to do any reading on this and will leave all the nail-biting worry to me