Planning for WDW/Universal - oh man Disneyland is such a breeze!!

[Winnowill]

I agree about the Unofficial Guide. When planning my first trip to WDW this book was very helpful. It covers everything you would ever need to know. It's a great place to start. I also started reading a lot of blogs on a daily basis. Still do! Plus the DIS boards, of course.

If you get the Unofficial Guide and THEN subscribe to Touring Plans, you get a discount as a book purchaser. (This is true of both the WDW and DLR Touring Plans subscriptions.)

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Just a word of caution on the Unofficial Guide, at least for DLR: we've already had two reports here of bloopers in the 2019 guide (as in couldn't -be-typos) -- one post said the 2019 UG advises cutting through the CM only Pluto lot from Ball Rd. to get to M&F (this hasn't been allowed since the 2017 security changes according to posters here who've tried it -- for anyone choosing a hotel north of Ball based on this advice, um...) and another post said the UG advised getting your WOC and F! FPs on MP (I would like to, but that isn't yet possible -- I would hate to miss out on WOC FPs because I planned my day in DL based on this advice). So be careful with the WDW version -- I hope it's more carefully edited.

 

[GatorChris]

I totally understand what you're saying...only from the opposite end. We did WDW for 10 years, did 7 trips, and spent over 50 days there. Then in 2013, we switched to DL. It took me 4 years to stop planning dining and trying to book every detail. The reason being, WDW requires you to plan every detail, down to which rides you'll be doing. It really has become a pain in the backside. It was that uber-planning (FP+) and the price of plane tickets for a growing family that made us switch to DLers.

Don't get me wrong. I miss WDW with a passion. It's still my favorite vacation spot. But it's so stressful at times. As for tips for planning, the WDW forum on DISboards is waaaayyyy too busy and crowded. It's hard to lurk and keep up with certain things. There is another board that I use for WDW planning that's slower and is easier to keep up with. You can PM me if you want it.

 

[HydroGuy]

Just a word of caution on the Unofficial Guide, at least for DLR: we've already had two reports here of bloopers in the 2019 guide (as in couldn't -be-typos) -- one post said the 2019 UG advises cutting through the CM only Pluto lot from Ball Rd. to get to M&F (this hasn't been allowed since the 2017 security changes according to posters here who've tried it -- for anyone choosing a hotel north of Ball based on this advice, um...) and another post said the UG advised getting your WOC and F! FPs on MP (I would like to, but that isn't yet possible -- I would hate to miss out on WOC FPs because I planned my day in DL based on this advice). So be careful with the WDW version -- I hope it's more carefully edited.

I have not paid much attention to the DLR or WDW books from the TP folks, but I did have copies of both at one time. The WDW version has always been well respected and accurate. The DLR version has never really been either. I echo PPs recommending the Unofficial Guide for WDW. My only nitpick about it is that the TP folks take a very matter-of-fact approach that kind of squashes the Disney magical feeling.

 

[jbh275]

WDW is a marathon, not a sprint.

What I've discovered is you need time, and lots of it for WDW. I think you need a minimum of 10 days to fully enjoy your trip. DL, I'm okay shooting out there for a 3 day weekend. You can do a lot in those 3 days, however with WDW its just not enough to see and do everything.

 

[HydroGuy]

What I've discovered is you need time, and lots of it for WDW. I think you need a minimum of 10 days to fully enjoy your trip. DL, I'm okay shooting out there for a 3 day weekend. You can do a lot in those 3 days, however with WDW its just not enough to see and do everything.

I would typically suggest at least 6 days in the parks. That means an 8-9 day trip with the rest days.

 

[sherilaine]

I would typically suggest at least 6 days in the parks. That means an 8-9 day trip with the rest days.

You are suggesting 6 days just for Disney parks? Since we will be doing Universal as well - how many days would you recommend for Universal with older teens that love Harry Potter?

 

[VandVsmama]

Here’s a possible very rough plan:

Day 1 - arrival day. No parks this day.
Day 2 - MK
Day 3 - Epcot, AK, or HS
Day 4 - rest day.
Day 5 - Universal Studios
Day 6 - Universal Studios
Day 7 - rest day
Day 8 - Epcot, AK, or HS
Day 9 - Whichever Park you didn’t visit yet
Day 10 - rest in am, half day at a park that has late night EMH
Day 11 - MK
Day 12 - character breakfast before you leave for the airport. Check your bags at your WDW hotel before leaving for breakfast. Then take Uber or Lyft to airport after that.

 

[HydroGuy]

You are suggesting 6 days just for Disney parks? Since we will be doing Universal as well - how many days would you recommend for Universal with older teens that love Harry Potter?

No, at least 6 days.

 

[HydroGuy]

Here’s a possible very rough plan:

Day 1 - arrival day. No parks this day.
Day 2 - MK
Day 3 - Epcot, AK, or HS
Day 4 - rest day.
Day 5 - Universal Studios
Day 6 - Universal Studios
Day 7 - rest day
Day 8 - Epcot, AK, or HS
Day 9 - Whichever Park you didn’t visit yet
Day 10 - rest in am, half day at a park that has late night EMH
Day 11 - MK
Day 12 - character breakfast before you leave for the airport. Check your bags at your WDW hotel before leaving for breakfast. Then take Uber or Lyft to airport after that.

I myself would plan 2 whole days at Epcot. For me it would be:

MK 2 days
Epcot 2 days
DHS 1 day (we are talking pre-SWGE - after that things may change)
AK 1 full day and, on one of the rest days, an evening for FOP, Pandora at night and Rivers of Light. Just 2-3 hours. Use FP+. If you are not staying onsite and cannot get FOP FPs at 60 days, the AK evening probably will not be worth it.

And, FWIW, I am not a USO fan and I would spend zero days there myself. I do like USH though as it is a real studio.

 

[sherilaine]

No, at least 6 days.

Okay that makes sense - that is a lot then - I think we are likely not going to be as one sided to Disney - the kids went to Universal last trip and they were like "where has this been the whole time" so then they started looking at the Florida version which is way bigger. So the entire idea of this trip is being driven more for the Universal side than the WDW side but...we cannot go there and not do Disney proper - I just cannot get over how much more money this is going to be though - flying from Western Canada this is likely going to be easily double what we spend on a week or more at DLR with 5 days in the park.

 

[HydroGuy]

Okay that makes sense - that is a lot then - I think we are likely not going to be as one sided to Disney - the kids went to Universal last trip and they were like "where has this been the whole time" so then they started looking at the Florida version which is way bigger. So the entire idea of this trip is being driven more for the Universal side than the WDW side but...we cannot go there and not do Disney proper - I just cannot get over how much more money this is going to be though - flying from Western Canada this is likely going to be easily double what we spend on a week or more at DLR with 5 days in the park.

I like USH. Not USO.

 

[ktlm]

We are long time WDW vets, who have fallen in love with DLR as well. DLR is so much easier and more flexible.

Universal Orlando is easy- especially if you get the express pass. On a whim this past October on a Monday we cancelled our WDW dining reservations for the next day, bought a 2 park universal ticket and express pass, and spent the next day at Universal. No planning necessary. We grabbed an uber from our WDW resort- got there at opening and left at closing. The one thing about Universal Orlando to know is that if you want to ride the Hogwarts Express (which I highly recommend) you have to have the 2 park pass because it goes from park to park. If you only have a 1 park ticket- no Hogwarts express. There are some things you can plan in advance like certain dining reservations if you want them.

As far as WDW--- Disboards- especially the Theme Parks and Strategies, Resort, and Restaurant forums are your friend. I would suggest looking at the different crowd calendars there are around the internet to try to plan your park days. We don't do rest days--DD made it clear at age 2 that wasn't an option and nothing had changed on our last trip when she was 12. We usually do 2 or 3 days MK, 2 days EPCOT, 1 DHS and 1 AK. Don't know what Star Wars Land might do to that plan.

If possible, you want to book your resort (assuming you are staying on property) more than 180 days ahead of time. Dining reservations (ADRs) can be made 180 days in advance and if you are staying on property then you can book dining for the entire length of your trip (up to 10 days from arrival day- if you are staying longer than 10 days you can't book that far out). Allears has all the restaurants, menus and prices listed so you can see what appeals to you. Some restaurants do book up at that 180 day mark so it is best to book that day. I get up at the crack of dawn and book everything. I would say book something-- and then later you can change things around or cancel meals you decide not to do. I don't think Counter Service food at WDW is even close to as good as at DLR in most places- so I would go nuts. If you don't have a resort reservation yet, you can book one day at a time starting that 180th day from arrival-- but remember you are competing with people who have booked their whole trip's dining reservations already.

There are benefits to staying on property. Booking the ADRs for the whole trip is one, but the main benefit is being able to book your FPs at 60 days instead of 30 days. That can make a big difference on the most popular rides. WDW is not as flexible as DLR because it is not as easy to get same day FPs. With everyone booking 3 for the day in advance, it really limits availability. It is so much easier at DLR where you have to wait to enter a park and then book 1 at a time. As far as staying on property, unlike at DLR where all three on property resorts are really expensive--- WDW has 3 levels of resorts- deluxe, moderate, and value. You can stay at a lower price point and still get the on property benefits. Lower priced resorts are not the ones that are closest to the parks-- you aren't walking to a park or taking the monorail or boat to a park from a value resort (although there is getting ready to be a sky gondola from of the value resorts to DHs and EPCOT). Value resort rooms - at least the standard ones- are typically smaller than the rooms at other resorts.

A real issue with FP+ is the tiers in some of the parks. Because there are not as many attractions- outside of Magic Kingdom- the other 3 parts have tiers and for your 3 advance FPs-- you can only get 1 of the Tier one rides. For example- at EPCOT Frozen, Soarin, and Test Track are all tiered so you can only get 1 of those as your 3 when you advance book. Also, until you use 3 in that park- you can't get another tier 1 in that park. (Now- if you were to only book 2 in advance- and then use those and hop to another tiered park you could get a tier one in the 2nd park even though you have not used all 3 in the first park---- but I don't want to get to technical and completely overwhelm you in this first post!)

If you love character meet and greets, Kenny the Pirate is a great resource and well worth the price of the subscription.

So--- the first thing to do is pick a resort--- hopefully before the 180 day mark. Then, you want to figure out what parks you want to go to which days-- crowd calendars will help. Also, know that EMH parks are typically the most crowded parks that day. If we are going to do extra hours-- we typically will do those and then hop to a different park-- we aren't super early morning people, so we usually will hop and do evening extra hours here and there and ignore the morning hours. Once you have figured out which day for which park- then you need to figure out the dining that appeals to you and book ADRs- preferably at 180 days from your arrival day. Then, assuming you are staying on property-- you want to nose around the Disboards, figure out the most popular rides for FP, and decide what you want to FP so that you can do that right at 60 days. Again-- book something right when you first can and then you can play around with it later if you want to tweak or change plans.