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[kb0325]

Trip dates June 12-19; Traveling with 2 kids, ages 5 and nearly 4, on a 6 day park hopper.

Thurs: arrive afternoon
*Hotel Swim
*Downtown Disney for dinner

Fri: Animal Kingdom
Planning on heading straight to Kil Safari at rope drop.
FP: Finding Nemo 1030
Dinosaur 330

Want to FP the Lion King show, but n/a at the moment.

Saturday: Hollywood Studios
FP: Star Tours: 845-945
Little Mermaid: 1010-1020
Toy Story Mania: 1055-11:55

Sunday: Epcot

FP: Maelstrom 335
Nemo: 535
Turtle Talk 635

Monday: Magic Kingdom (Day 1) (trying to keep it to Tomorrow land and Fantasy)
FP: Space Ranger 950-1050am
Space Mountain 11-12
Seven Dwarfs Mine 1215-114

*Elec Parade and Fireworks at night

Tuesday: No plans at this point; considering Epcot again.

Wednedsday: Magic Kingdom (Day 2)- Try to keep it Adventure/Frontier, Lib Square
FP: Ench Tales w/ Belle 1135-1235
Anna/Elsa meet: 240-340
Barnstormer : 5-6pm

(Should I change any of these to a FP for Peter pan?)


Other thoughts:


Is it true I have to use all my current FP+ reservations before I get another? So-- if I have a 240 anna/elsa MG and a 5pm barnstormer I'm pretty much out of luck? Should I move those up to earlier in the day?

I can add another day to park hopper, if we wanted to do fireworks at Epcot or Magic Kingdom the night we arrive, that way we don't have a late night after an early morning.

We're also planning on going back to hotel in afternoon for rest times, so I'm open to doing one park in the morning, and another in evening.

Have I FP anything that doesn't warrant it?

We are not doing a Disney Dining plan, but still interested in meeting characters. How long are waits usually for other characters (minus Anna/elsa)

I was 'told' to avoid Magic Kingdom on weekends since it's more crowded for locals-- does it even matter in June since it will be crowded anyway? I'm a little unsure of doing MK two days in a row... should I split these up?

I do know SWW will be happening at HS on the 14th.... Ugh. My husband and kids will love it, so I'm braving the crowds. What is there to 'do' during those weekends? We don't really care about autographs.

I feel so anxious and overwhelmed at all of this....I welcome any comments or thoughts.

 

[dreamit]

Trip dates June 12-19; Traveling with 2 kids, ages 5 and nearly 4, on a 6 day park hopper.

Thurs: arrive afternoon
*Hotel Swim
*Downtown Disney for dinner

Fri: Animal Kingdom
Planning on heading straight to Kil Safari at rope drop.
FP: Finding Nemo 1030
Dinosaur 330

Want to FP the Lion King show, but n/a at the moment.

Saturday: Hollywood Studios
FP: Star Tours: 845-945
Little Mermaid: 1010-1020
Toy Story Mania: 1055-11:55

Sunday: Epcot

FP: Maelstrom 335
Nemo: 535
Turtle Talk 635

Monday: Magic Kingdom (Day 1) (trying to keep it to Tomorrow land and Fantasy)
FP: Space Ranger 950-1050am
Space Mountain 11-12
Seven Dwarfs Mine 1215-114

*Elec Parade and Fireworks at night

Tuesday: No plans at this point; considering Epcot again.

Wednedsday: Magic Kingdom (Day 2)- Try to keep it Adventure/Frontier, Lib Square
FP: Ench Tales w/ Belle 1135-1235
Anna/Elsa meet: 240-340
Barnstormer : 5-6pm

(Should I change any of these to a FP for Peter pan?)


Other thoughts:


Is it true I have to use all my current FP+ reservations before I get another? So-- if I have a 240 anna/elsa MG and a 5pm barnstormer I'm pretty much out of luck? Should I move those up to earlier in the day?

I can add another day to park hopper, if we wanted to do fireworks at Epcot or Magic Kingdom the night we arrive, that way we don't have a late night after an early morning.

We're also planning on going back to hotel in afternoon for rest times, so I'm open to doing one park in the morning, and another in evening.

Have I FP anything that doesn't warrant it?

We are not doing a Disney Dining plan, but still interested in meeting characters. How long are waits usually for other characters (minus Anna/elsa)

I was 'told' to avoid Magic Kingdom on weekends since it's more crowded for locals-- does it even matter in June since it will be crowded anyway? I'm a little unsure of doing MK two days in a row... should I split these up?

I do know SWW will be happening at HS on the 14th.... Ugh. My husband and kids will love it, so I'm braving the crowds. What is there to 'do' during those weekends? We don't really care about autographs.

I feel so anxious and overwhelmed at all of this....I welcome any comments or thoughts.

Have you looked at the cheat sheets on easywdw or reviewed attraction information on touring plans? They include information on recommendations for FP+, including times. I've found these sites to be very helpful. The one thing that's jumping out at me is you may want to FP+ Peter Pan's Flight at MK.

 

[jroof13]

I'm not sure I would FP star tours. We got there at rope drop ( same time as you last year) we waited in line to sign up for the Jedi academy and then walked right on to star tours 2 times with no wait..

I would FP Peter Pan, the wait in the morning was around 90 minutes.

 

[ivanaernmore]

Hi - just got back last night from an 8 day visit to 4 major parks with 7 and 8 year olds, can offer some insights
AK: definitely prioritize safari, I would even FP first thing. We wished we could do twice. The Dinosaur ride is pretty intense/scary for an almost 4 year old. Nemo gets crowded but does run quite frequently - it is long (40 min). At that age I would include a visit to Rafiki area (no FP needed), as there is petting zoo and other animals, interaction, etc. I did not see the Lion King show there at all on our day (5/6/14). I think that age would like parade. Are they tall enough for Kali River Rapids - mine LOVED that ride. There also is a lot in Dino Land for them, don't leave it out. Flights of wonder show with birds is excellent and IN THE SHADE (key!).

HS: your intinerary looks good. If you can get a dinner package with Fantasmic do it - they'll love it. Mine also liked lights motors action stunt show and even younger kids seemed to be into it. If you want Jedi training run there @ park opening. Star Tours is more intense than I expected (I actually got nauseous afterwards, but I was at one end and really got jolted). Leave time for the Honey I shrunk kids playground as as break. Also the muppet movie. I think they would really enjoy the Beauty and Beast show, too - maybe more than Star Tours.

Epcot - granted I was there on a rainy/pouring day, where Maelstrom was an indoor ride and hence longer lines, but I can't see wasting a FP on Maelstrom. I think they'd like Soarin' more, if tall enough. It is not scary at all and lots of fun - you can smell the oranges when you soar over the groves! At the times you are going there I think you might get into Turtle talk without a fp? The spaceship earth ride is pretty good and has a lot of activities to try afterwards.

MK: I agree try to get a fp for Peter Pan, as on both 4/30 and 5/4 when I* was there, wait times for it were 45-80 minutes from opening until 9pm at night. WE never got on it, refused to wait! Are you sure your 4 and 5 yr olds can handle space mtn and/or are tall enough? It is pretty intense. My 7 yr old, who braved every other coaster in all Disney parks (including Expedition Everest, etc) except Rockn'Roller (too short), was upset by Space Mtn. Barnstormer my kids loved and mid-week we got on quickly early in day w/o fastpass. You will be surprised that even the Dumbo rides have long waits. If tall enough - do splash mountain if possible, awesome in hot weather. Keep enchanted tales with Belle - it is interactive and all kids part of show.

Some non-fp things my kids enjoyed (good breaks for us): Swiss Family treehouse (they loved running through it over and over), Tom Sawyer island (same thing), Dumbo play area, learning to be a pirate, Tiki Bird show (in the shade, a/c, can get in anytime); Lilo & Stitch (also in a/c), monsters inc (they pick audience folk out from show and joke about them).

If I had an extra day and/or were park hopping, I think me and my kids agree we'd rather be in Animal Kingdom than Epcot. So much more to see and do. Epcot is lot more sophisticated in terms of what they're trying to show & teach kids, I think it is better for older kids. The "kidcot" activities there when I was there consisted mainly of coloring in pictures of Disney's Duffy Bear, decked out in whatever country's apparel was appropriate, etc. NOt really any special crafts.

 

[dreamit]

We are not doing a Disney Dining plan, but still interested in meeting characters. How long are waits usually for other characters (minus Anna/elsa)

I was 'told' to avoid Magic Kingdom on weekends since it's more crowded for locals-- does it even matter in June since it will be crowded anyway? I'm a little unsure of doing MK two days in a row... should I split these up?

I've only been to WDW in September and have only been doing (tons) of research for a return September trip, so I'm not sure about the waits, and I apologize for directing you to other sites instead of answering some of your questions; however, search for the kennythepirate site, and it has lots of good information about meeting characters.

Have you thought about swapping your AK day for your Monday MK day? I think you'll do better crowd-wise at both parks according to various online crowd calendars.