PLEASE help

[Dylan_&_Blake's_mom]

Ok, I need some help please... I got most of the ADR's I wanted but I do have one main problem with them and one more problem since I have learned the park hours for October finally. If things stay as they are...I wasn't able to get breakfast at Crystal PalaceI was only able to get lunch. Which of course means no empty park viewing for us Also, on the days we have planned for DHS(and ADR's made accordingly) there is no Fantasmic

So, my question is....how much am I really missing by not seeing the park empty in the morning and by missing Fantasmic?? I might be able to do them but it would require a lot more planning and headaches to figure it out. Should I leave well enough alone and not stress or are they worth it and I should try harder for them.The Fantasmic might be more doable than the CP because if I really wanted to I could try and move up one of our ressie's at DTD on our off day and be at DHS at 8 for Fantasmic. It would only cost us about $6 more to add another days ticket however, DHS closes at 8 that night so how stupid would that be?

Anyway...any opinions?? I could really use them

 

[NMAmy]

We've gone to WDW at least once a year since 2003 and we've still never seen Fantasmic. It seems like every time we make it there, it pours. We've also never been in the MK before park opening.

Guess what? We STILL have a fabulous time. Neither one of those things is a must. There are plenty of other things to do at WDW and you're never going to get EVERYTHING into one trip anyway. This will give you something to look forward to on your next trip.

 

[MariDisney]

Ok, I need some help please... I got most of the ADR's I wanted but I do have one main problem with them and one more problem since I have learned the park hours for October finally. If things stay as they are...I wasn't able to get breakfast at Crystal PalaceI was only able to get lunch. Which of course means no empty park viewing for us Also, on the days we have planned for DHS(and ADR's made accordingly) there is no Fantasmic

So, my question is....how much am I really missing by not seeing the park empty in the morning and by missing Fantasmic?? I might be able to do them but it would require a lot more planning and headaches to figure it out. Should I leave well enough alone and not stress or are they worth it and I should try harder for them.The Fantasmic might be more doable than the CP because if I really wanted to I could try and move up one of our ressie's at DTD on our off day and be at DHS at 8 for Fantasmic. It would only cost us about $6 more to add another days ticket however, DHS closes at 8 that night so how stupid would that be?

Anyway...any opinions?? I could really use them

We are in a similar situation. We always have an 8:05 CP on our first morning. The earliest I could get was 10:20. I couldn't get any Fantasmic dinner packages, and I believe F! is only showing one night when we're there, which means the park will be insane, and I think we'd have to get to F! really really early to get a shot at a seat. Unfortunately for my DH this is bad. He will do anything I want and go anywhere I want at WDW under two conditions: that he have his CP breafast lasagna on day 1 and that we see F!. I am now in the cycle of calling every other day. I hope something turns up.

For a CP lunch, it's not so much seeing the park empty. That's fun, but it's not so important to us. We love the early one so we can be done and at rope drop by 9:00 or into Tomorrowland shortly after. This year, it may not matter as much because Space M is closed.

For your F! night, I'd say you'd want to be walking into DHS at 5:30-6:00 for so the latest for an 8:00 showing. Will you have a car? If not you'll have to go from DTD to a resort to DHS or take a cab (which I would definitely do in your position). Is it crazy? No. Will it be hectic, probably.

 

[brymolmom]

Personally - with a 2 year old I think the thing to do is to miss Fantasmic. It is very scary/intense and my daughter cried so hard we had to leave when she was that age. So no biggie missing that.

As for empty park - pretty cool to see - but not a deal breaker. Keep trying for a cancellation if it is important to you.

 

[LoveTheEars]

I think you should definitely try to see Fantasmic. We all love this show!
So, my suggestion is to swap your DTD and DHS schedules. Then, keep trying to get into WDW earlier for the CP.

Also, things may open up around final payment time so, don't give up!
Good Luck!

 

[Elmo888]

I wouldn't worry about it. We have taken our kids twice, and my kids haven't seen Fantasmic or Wishes (bad mom!). They still have a great time.

I know how it is - trying to plan everything perfectly, but it doesn't seem to matter in the end. You could keep trying (someone is bound to change their ADRs), but if it doesn't work out, I just go with what you have and have a great time!

BTW, if you want to see Main Street empty, get there before opening. They seem to start letting people in 1/2 before opening or so. When we had 8:20 CRT ADRs, they didn't even ask when we entered the park. Sections are roped off, so you can't go into the different lands, but you could still see the place relatively empty. Again, though, if it doesn't work out, I wouldn't worry about it.

Have a great trip!

 

[toystorymom]

Personally, I think lunch at CP is great! If you are there at opening, while not empty, the crowds will be low and you will get to see and do a whole lot. Then when everyone is starting to get hot, tired, maybe even cranky, it's time for lunch in a nice air-conditioned restaurant with great food and Pooh and friends. Definitely a great mid-day break!

We love Fantasmic and try to see it every trip. If it's not a huge deal moving things around, I would try to see it. On our last trip, we had spent the day at a water park, went to a nice dinner at one of the Resorts and went to DHS just for Fantasmic. We had the day on our ticket to use, like you said, it's just a few $$ when you are adding an extra day. We also had our own car so that made things much easier. If you can do it, great. If not, I wouldn't worry about it. Just something to put on the "must-do" list for next time.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Personally - with a 2 year old I think the thing to do is to miss Fantasmic. It is very scary/intense and my daughter cried so hard we had to leave when she was that age. So no biggie missing that.

This is what I was going to post. Every child is different, but I think F! is too intense for my 2 year old so we are skipping it this trip. It's just another thing that will still be "new" for my DS on future trips.

 

[3boymthr]

Didn't see Fantasmic - didn't miss it. For that matter didn't see ANY of the fireworks and truly didn't miss them. Especially didn't miss the crowds and waits to get back to the resort . (We left the parks just as the fireworks shows were starting.) We also didn't see ANY of the parades and again didn't miss them. Loved the lack of lines at the rides though.

Didn't get into any park before opening - didn't miss it. You're not going at a peak time of year so if you get there at rope drop the park will still be empty enough to get some great photos and see the park with hardly anyone there. We have photos in Epcot with NO-ONE else in the photo and they were taken at 9:45 in the morning - 45 minutes after park opening. We have photopass pics taken in front of the castle with only one person waaay in the background - and her clothes are the same color as the castle so you have to really look to see her . If you really want those no one else in the picture photos the trick, I think, is to not dally at the entrance but get into the depths of the park quickly - THEN slow down and smell the roses. We had the customized maps and touringplans and knew exactly what we were going to do so we skipped past clusters of people at the entrances and visited the attractions near to the entrances on our way out.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I have to agree that F! is very intense.

I do enjoy an early morning CP breakfast but lunch is really good there too.

I'm sure you'll have a great time!!!!

 

[kpm76]

I don't like Fantasmic and with a 2 yr old, I would definitely not stress about missing it. You'd probably end up leaving anyway because, as previous posters have indicated, it is intense. CP lunch is my favorite character meal so I would not be disappointed at all. Have fun!!

 

[HighClass]

I also think the 2 year old is too young for Fantasmic! Its got some scary "monsters" in it.

But if you WERE to go there-this is what we do=we stop at one of the food places as you walk up to the entrance-get food & bring it in-as you have to get there about an hour early anyway.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Don't worry about the empty park...The best time to eat at CP is the latest breakfast seating they have. You get there for breakfast and then they change over to lunch. Great little brunch!

 

[mumom95]

I don't think seeing the park empty in the morning is a big deal.

Fantasmic is one of our families favorite things to do in Walt Disney World. But, my kids were 6 and 8 the first time they saw it, so I'm not sure about a 2 year old. It has some pretty loud booms at times.

Walt Disney World is a wonderful place, if you go in with the mindset that you are going to have a great time doing what you get to do, and not worry about the stuff you don't get to do.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

this is my 6th trip to the world and ive never once been before the park opens. different this time, dd is getting to go to bbb for 830. were also in the same kind of situation. our ta tried and tried really hard to get a F! package at hs today for us no way no how. we had to settle for 50's prime time for lunch!!! all the restaurants were booked for supper, everywhere. we are taking cp for lunch as well...way i see it, get there for rope drop, do some rides do lunch in the air condiditioning when its hot as heck out. this is my most planned out trip to dis yet, with kids its a whole different ball game.

like i said to dh oh well if we miss F! oh well, were still at disney!!! plus think about it, while all those poor souls are waiting in line the lines for the rides should be shorter!!!

 

[Dylan_&_Blake's_mom]

Wow, the response to this has been fantastic! Thank you so much to everyone who responded. I appreciate all the input. I think the overall consensus is to not stress over missing these to things and just enjoy disney as we have before. After all, we are going to be doing several things this trip that we have never done before and like has been stated...you can't do it all in one trip, maybe next time. Again, THANKS A BUNCH and feel free to keep them coming...I love ready your tips and opinions.

 

[agnes!]

I have a comment @ Crystal Palace. It has always been one of our favorites and we were really excited about eating breakfast there this last trip, *but*...

Very disappointed. Orange juice was made from concentrate (yeah, I could tell unless they were really watery oranges). They seemed to have cut back on the offerings - not as much fresh fruit, no dried fruit, pancakes were tough (the cooks were not pulling the old/dried-out ones off, they were putting them in front of the freshly-cooked ones). My DD (a teenager) said the kids' "Pooh french toast" was the best thing on the buffet.

Lunch looked better (as we were leaving).

Oh and the coffee was truly AWFUL.


agnes!
PS - To the OP: I agree about Fantasmic! being possibly too intense for your baby. If you do go, be prepared to possibly leave before the end.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Ok, I need some help please... I got most of the ADR's I wanted but I do have one main problem with them and one more problem since I have learned the park hours for October finally. If things stay as they are...I wasn't able to get breakfast at Crystal PalaceI was only able to get lunch. Which of course means no empty park viewing for us Also, on the days we have planned for DHS(and ADR's made accordingly) there is no Fantasmic

So, my question is....how much am I really missing by not seeing the park empty in the morning and by missing Fantasmic?? I might be able to do them but it would require a lot more planning and headaches to figure it out. Should I leave well enough alone and not stress or are they worth it and I should try harder for them.The Fantasmic might be more doable than the CP because if I really wanted to I could try and move up one of our ressie's at DTD on our off day and be at DHS at 8 for Fantasmic. It would only cost us about $6 more to add another days ticket however, DHS closes at 8 that night so how stupid would that be?

Anyway...any opinions?? I could really use them

Keep checking!!! I was reading another post about someone noticing a bunch of CP's opening up and several people were changing theirs and snagging ones they couldn't before. I just put in 9/29 for 8:15am and it was available at the exact time so, hurry, go check online and keep checking. I don't think I read your actual date, but I have seen both CP and CRT show up for breakfasts when I logged in at 6am checking on trying to change two of ours...

Hope this helps!

Heather