Please help me plan

[bocaj1431]

I had all my plans set. Countless hours reading info on how to use FP+, RD, and the DAS and 11 days away I have to change my plans.

I just watched the video from easyWDW on RD and mine train FP. We have only been to DW 3 times in Sept. I was shocked at the amount of people at RD and the crowded long walk through the entrance and to the rides. Some of the info did suggest that due to the new rope system (Anna & Elsa) other entryways to the rides have been blocked thus causing even more congestion. My son definitely can not handle being in that type of moving crowd for a long period. Wow, RD in June is a big difference from Sept.

So, do you think it would be easier to only ride the 3 FP+ Reservations we make in between 10:30 - 1:30pm and enter the park around 10am to avoid the mass exodus and leave at 1pm.

Then I can go back to the park around 8-9pm with the thinking that the lines will not be more than 30 min waits in the eve. They just extended the eve hours at MK to 12 and 1am. I read that the lines for rides are much shorter at that time. Will that be equal to the RD strategy?

I have never been this anxious about a vacation before.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I had all my plans set. Countless hours reading info on how to use FP+, RD, and the DAS and 11 days away I have to change my plans.

I just watched the video from easyWDW on RD and mine train FP. We have only been to DW 3 times in Sept. I was shocked at the amount of people at RD and the crowded long walk through the entrance and to the rides. Some of the info did suggest that due to the new rope system (Anna & Elsa) other entryways to the rides have been blocked thus causing even more congestion. My son definitely can not handle being in that type of moving crowd for a long period. Wow, RD in June is a big difference from Sept.

So, do you think it would be easier to only ride the 3 FP+ Reservations we make in between 10:30 - 1:30pm and enter the park around 10am to avoid the mass exodus and leave at 1pm.

Then I can go back to the park around 8-9pm with the thinking that the lines will not be more than 30 min waits in the eve. They just extended the eve hours at MK to 12 and 1am. I read that the lines for rides are much shorter at that time. Will that be equal to the RD strategy?

I have never been this anxious about a vacation before.

My only suggestion would be to look and see what time SpectroMagic is running and plan to be in the park a bare minimum of 30 min (but preferably 60 min) prior to the start of SpectroMagic so you can get past the Main St crowd. If you try and reenter the parks during that time it is going to be super crowded and can be next to impossible to get to the various lands!! Riding during the parade and fireworks is a great time to ride because lines are generally short. It has been my experience that late night is an excellent time to be in MK!! Lines are generally short and most little kids are gone!! We LOVE late nights in MK!!

 

[Michigan]

First thing I would do is go to easywdw.com and schedule my days around the green days on the calendar.

 

[bocaj1431]

My only suggestion would be to look and see what time SpectroMagic is running and plan to be in the park a bare minimum of 30 min (but preferably 60 min) prior to the start of SpectroMagic so you can get past the Main St crowd. If you try and reenter the parks during that time it is going to be super crowded and can be next to impossible to get to the various lands!! Riding during the parade and fireworks is a great time to ride because lines are generally short. It has been my experience that late night is an excellent time to be in MK!! Lines are generally short and most little kids are gone!! We LOVE late nights in MK!! [/QUOT

Thank you for the advice. I did not think about entering main st during the parade and how crowded it would be. I will have to make sure we are there before the parade crowds start.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with Michigan about planning around the green days in the calendar from easywdw.com

That can make a tremendous difference. We didn't follow any of their touring plans; we only planned around green days during our trip this year during Spring break. Doing that and scheduling our Fastpasses, we were able to avoid most long waits, even without using DD's DAS.
This was at a time when people were posting on the Theme Parks board about how busy it was and how long their waits were.

I think what you wrote sounds like a good plan as long as you can avoid the parade crowds. I've got a couple of other suggestions:

Walking thru Main Street stores
Some people like to walk inside to avoid the crowds on the sidewalks during or after the parades. That doesn't work for some people because the stores themselves have too many distractions (for example, we have to use our bodies as visual blocks when going past the candy, otherwise DD will fixate on the suckers).

It used to be possible to walk all the way thru the shops on the right side from the Exhibition Hall area and go out at the ice cream shop. From there, you could take the path into Tomorrowland.
When Starbucks opened, they blocked access it's not possible to walk thru the inside of Starbucks to the other side.

You can walk thru the shops on the left side from the City Hall area and go out at Casey's Corner. The thing to aware of doing that is you will need to cross the parade path because it goes around the Main Street hub and either in or out of the park at a pathway next to the Fire Station.

Using the Train to avoid Main Street Crowds
This can work great. It may not be the fastest way because you have to wait for the train, but people are not rushing in the morning to get the train. Get off at the station closest to where you want to begin your attractions.

Remember, DAS Return Times have a start time, but not an end time
One that start time has passed, it is valid that day until you either use it or cancel it.
When leaving the park at 1or 1:30, get another DAS Return Time before you leave. If there is an attraction your son wants to go on that has a long wait, that would be the one I would get. When you come back to the park later, you can go on that attraction right away.

There can only be one active DAS Return Time at a time
This is important because you don't want to tie up the DAS with a long Return Time. It works best to use your Fastpasses for the things that you know will have long waits and use the DAS for things that are shorter waits or must does.

People who have had the best success have also tried to alternate DAS with Fastpass, getting a new DAS time whenever you use one, so you always have an active DAS Return Time.

Scheduling additional Fastpass Plus Times
After our trip, they started allowing guest to schedule additional Fastpass Plus times once their first 3 were used up. At the present time, those need to be scheduled at the in-park kiosks. So, I would advise seeing if you are able to schedule one for later before you leave or scheduling one before during the DAS when you return.
The last I read, you could schedule one additional Fastpass Plus at a time and could get another when that was used.
The kiosks are located all over the parks. The most obvious ones at the entrances will be most busy.

 

[1 DISNEY FAN]

You could still get to the parks for just as they open and let the masses go in and then go in afterwards. Most people are heading to a and e and 7dmt so head to pirates or jungle cruise etc. set up fp between 10am-1pm for the mountains pp a and e or 7dmt. And do das in between fp. Leave at 1pm (schedule another fp for night time if available and maybe come back later.)