Please Help a First Timer Schedule Park Days, TY!

[bigeyedfish]

I need a little advice for scheduling park days. We have 4 Day base tickets for 5 nights (arrive late the first evening) and fly out of MCO at 8:00 pm on our last day. I could add another base ticket for a 5th day for about $80 total. It will be me, DS12, DS10, DS8, and DD6 (and will definitely have a stroller to help with the walking).

Day 1 (Sun 1/27) - AK (best bet according to crowd calendars). Yak & Yeti 7:30 pm.

Day 2 (Mon 1/28) - Park? Pool Day (if warm)? and then Disney After Hours 7p - 11p.

Day 3 (Tues 1/29) - MK (late breakfast at Ohana and then will head over to MK). Park is open until 8:00 pm.

Day 4 (Wed 1/30) - Epcot. Hoping to do the Frozen Dessert Party if that date becomes available - apparently they haven’t released dates yet.

Day 5 (Thurs 1/31) - ???. We would need to take ME at 5:00 pm from CBR to catch our 8:00 pm flight. Pool Day (if weather is warm)? Disney Springs? Resort Hop? Park?

Anyone with experience care to give advice? I had originally just planned to skip HS altogether as I didn’t want to be rushed. And I’m wondering if we have enough time scheduled at MK? Our last day is supposed to be the best day of the week to visit MK. TY so much!

 

[FCDub]

Are you interested in Flight of Passage FP? If so, you should look to move your AK day to day 4 or 5. That's where most people are finding luck with FPs.

 

[bigeyedfish]

Are you interested in Flight of Passage FP? If so, you should look to move your AK day to day 4 or 5. That's where most people are finding luck with FPs.

If I could get a FP we would definitely do it. If we don’t do it it won’t ruin our trip by any means. I wouldn’t wait in line for three hours to do it.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I love DHS so I would probably squeeze it in on your last day. I think you have enough MK time given you’re doing DAH and can take advantage of the low wait times.

 

[FCDub]

If I could get a FP we would definitely do it. If we don’t do it it won’t ruin our trip by any means. I wouldn’t wait in line for three hours to do it.

In that case, I'd add DHS as day 5 and try to get a FP for Slinky Dog. I think your family would probably like Toy Story Land!

 

[bigeyedfish]

I could switch Days 1 and 4. It seems likely that looking at past party dates there would be a Frozen Party on either Sunday or Wednesday that week.

 

[NJ Goofy]

You didn't say how much you and your DS's & DD are into attractions, but if you want to get FOP, SD2 and or SDMT you may have to adjust your schedule. Our new method to schedule our days is to get the FP's we really want and then schedule our park days around them. For example we got FOP at 60+3, so that was our AK day and we got SD2 at 60+4, so that was our HS day. We mixed in MK and EPCOT the 1st two days. We also get Park Hoppers, so we have a little more flexibility. The hoppers also allow us to do one park in the AM and one park in the PM. Good luck !

 

[SG131]

How into rides are your kids? In general that seems to be a lot of downtime to me. I’ve done a midday pool break, but a whole day at the pool when it is everyone’s first time seems like too much, but if your kids are the type that prefer the pool to rides then that might work for your family. And I personally wouldn’t want to swim the last day and have to stash wet bathing suits for a flight but that’s just me I know plenty of people do it. I’m also not sure how long 3 boys would stay interested in a trip to Disney springs, it is still mostly shopping. As an adult I appreciate resort hopping, but with the 4 kids I would skip it.

Personally, I would get park tickets for all your days but take some breaks here and there if wanted. I think only 4 park days might be more stressful because when you are in the park you’ll be pushing it to make sure you get everything done in those few park days you have. I also have family who’s kids both hate rides (and so do the parents) so they don’t need nearly as much park time as my family did.

 

[Nancyg56]

I need a little advice for scheduling park days. We have 4 Day base tickets for 5 nights (arrive late the first evening) and fly out of MCO at 8:00 pm on our last day. I could add another base ticket for a 5th day for about $80 total. It will be me, DS12, DS10, DS8, and DD6 (and will definitely have a stroller to help with the walking).

Day 1 (Sun 1/27) - AK (best bet according to crowd calendars). Yak & Yeti 7:30 pm.

Day 2 (Mon 1/28) - Park? Pool Day (if warm)? and then Disney After Hours 7p - 11p.

Day 3 (Tues 1/29) - MK (late breakfast at Ohana and then will head over to MK). Park is open until 8:00 pm.

Day 4 (Wed 1/30) - Epcot. Hoping to do the Frozen Dessert Party if that date becomes available - apparently they haven’t released dates yet.

Day 5 (Thurs 1/31) - ???. We would need to take ME at 5:00 pm from CBR to catch our 8:00 pm flight. Pool Day (if weather is warm)? Disney Springs? Resort Hop? Park?

Anyone with experience care to give advice? I had originally just planned to skip HS altogether as I didn’t want to be rushed. And I’m wondering if we have enough time scheduled at MK? Our last day is supposed to be the best day of the week to visit MK. TY so much!

I would switch up a lot unless there is a reason you are scheduling so much down and pool time.

Day 1: Epcot. Stay til park close.

Day 2 is DAH, so sleep in, and this woudl be my late 'Ohana breakfast, relax and swim, and then head to the MK for after hours. You will get a lot done that night.

Day 3: DHS: book FP and go a bit later in the morning. Stay until park close.

Day 4: MK. I would plan to stay for evening entertainment.

Day 5: Pick one, or go to Disney Springs. DME will let you know what time pick up will be, but plan to be back in plenty of tiem. A 3 PM departure means that: teh bus leaves for the airport at 3PM. You need to be at teh stop and ready to go about 10 to 15 minutes before that time. I found that out the hard way.

 

[bigeyedfish]

I’m not purposely trying to schedule too much downtime. I’m just not sure what is realistic. I’m generally a go, go, go type of traveller. We have no mobility issues, but I may be dealing with a crabby 6 year old who likes a lot of sleep (but is a night owl).

I feel like this is a bit of a puzzle that I’m trying to piece together. Except I don’t have all of the pieces (need to schedule dining as we have DDP) and the dates for the Frozen party haven’t even been released yet.

 

[bigeyedfish]

Thank you all for your thoughts!

 

[monica9]

Do your boys like star wars? If so they will want to go to DHS and see the show, storm troopers marching and the meet and greet is awesome! Also if they like rides they will want to get on RnR and ToT

 

[Nancyg56]

I’m not purposely trying to schedule too much downtime. I’m just not sure what is realistic. I’m generally a go, go, go type of traveller. We have no mobility issues, but I may be dealing with a crabby 6 year old who likes a lot of sleep (but is a night owl).

I feel like this is a bit of a puzzle that I’m trying to piece together. Except I don’t have all of the pieces (need to schedule dining as we have DDP) and the dates for the Frozen party haven’t even been released yet.

When my DGD was in preschool and kindergarten she was a late sleeper/night owl too. We tried to let her sleep in at Disney, and kept our dining schedule a little later than what we were used to at home, so more meals at 7 or so. WE were able to keep later hours at the parks after dinner, and always returned to the resort in the afternoon to rest, swim and shower before heading back out for dinner and evening entertainment.

If you know your child will likely be up late, work with that schedule. They are different on vacation, IMO, however the night owls in my life always wanted a little nap because no matter how they liked to sleep in, they woke up earlier than we all expected.

Personally, I woudl not plan the downtime, but would take my cues from the kids. Plan your days but be prepared to toss the plan if they are tired.

Make reasonable dining ADR's. No matter how many people tell you you must go to 'Ohana for dinner, if the only open ADR is at 8;45, skip over it. I love character meals, and in the parks I think they make nice breaks, but I also plan regular TS meals because character are not always relaxing.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I would switch up a lot unless there is a reason you are scheduling so much down and pool time.

Day 1: Epcot. Stay til park close.

Day 2 is DAH, so sleep in, and this woudl be my late 'Ohana breakfast, relax and swim, and then head to the MK for after hours. You will get a lot done that night.

Day 3: DHS: book FP and go a bit later in the morning. Stay until park close.

Day 4: MK. I would plan to stay for evening entertainment.

Day 5: Pick one, or go to Disney Springs. DME will let you know what time pick up will be, but plan to be back in plenty of tiem. A 3 PM departure means that: teh bus leaves for the airport at 3PM. You need to be at teh stop and ready to go about 10 to 15 minutes before that time. I found that out the hard way.

This seems like a great plan!

 

[Abbie485]

Like others said, I wouldn’t plan the pool time for a whole day. If anything, leave part of an afternoon or two open so you have the flexibility to go back to your resort if you end up wanting to or stay in the park longer.

One thing I would keep in mind is that Orlando’s weather in January can vary greatly. We were there a couple years back and the high temps were in the mid/upper 60’s the majority of the week. The average temps for the month are in the low 70’s, so we were definitely there during a cold snap. It was very comfortable for walking around the parks, but, at least for us, it was not quite swimming weather.