Poke holes in my plan!

[Wosmama6]

Hi there! Headed to the World March 4-10 after an amazing trip in early March 2020 (we got home a week before it closed, and yes, DH got covid). I've had this trip on the books since we got back from the last one, but it got knocked off once or twice because, ya know, global pandemic and all, but I finally convinced hubby (after we both got vaxxed) that it's the best option for spring break! Our spring break is March 8-13, but I know the crowds tend to pick up, and DD will have to quarantine when we get back, so I did a Weds-Weds trip. We are me, queen planner; DH, former Dis-disser and converted dis fan after last year; DS7, who would ride EE all day if I let him; DD2, who sings "weh it gooooo" and loves "du-waf" (olaf) and minnie with all her heart.

Since we just went and rode alllll the things (minus MMRR which had literally just opened), our goals are to enjoy an empty jambo and proximity to our fave park (AK), explore other resorts we might like for future stays, and ride our faves. here's our "relaxed" plan:

Th March 4: Arrive 5pm at MCO, rent car, check into AKL jambo DVC, order delivery

F March 5: RD AK (should we drive or take bus?), Tiffin's lunch at noon, then back to the hotel to swim/relax. Trying to decide on dinner here... should we try to get a T-REX reservation (DS realllly wants to go) even though DS will be super busy? Can we get into 3 bridges since they don't take ADRs?

S March 6: Breakfast at topolinos, currently trying to move a 735 res to 830. Gatorland. Right now we have a 1pm T-REX but I'm not sure 10-1 is enough time for GL with drive back to DS? After lunch, our sitter (she works at Sea World and is my son's teacher's daughter) will come hang out with the kids so that DH and I can catch a quick break and then go to Homecomin' for dinner

Su March 7: Get a BG (speaking it into existence lol), ADR at A&C at 740, walk to HS. RD MMRR, see the first Frozen show, then sci fi ADR. Back to the hotel to relax, sitter will come again to help with DD, after some relaxation, me, DS and DH will head back to HS to try to hit the post-1pm BG crowds to ride MFSR, ToT, RnR. RIght now we have a 7:50 sci fi ADR, but only because it's after park closing (we did Oga's last time and loved it but one and done I think). Obvs we're not going to sci fi twice in one day. Which one would you choose, and what would you replace the other with? B&C?

M March 8: breakfast in the room, DH and DS take rental car and go to Legoland. DD and I take bus to MK (not worried too much about RD because she can't ride any headliners). Take it slow, catch a calvacade, ride whatever has short lines. LTT res at 1115 (she and I can share a plate). Head back to the room to leave DD with sitter, and then I'll go to whatever park or resort strikes my fancy at park hop time. Last trip I did a solo epcot day and it was glorious. DH and DS will probably be back around 4/5, so I have a 630 Sanaa booked for all of us.

T March 9: This is a flex day. Top 2 options:
1. Blizzard beach and then dinner and frozen ride at Epcot.
2. AK in am, lunch at skyliner or walkable resort, afternoon at Epcot for FEA, TT and Soarin' (and prob nemo), dinner at Epcot


W March 10: Flight leaves at noon.

This is about the 50th iteration of this plan. What am I missing? What would you do differently? Thanks in advance!! Appreciate your expertise.

 

[kwdw]

March 5: first park day and you leave after lunch? Maybe if your 7 yo is a pool lover and that’s important, but that seems like a short park day. Maybe try to get T-Rex here, but yes it’s Firiday night during a pandemic and DS will be busy.

March 6: I’d keep Topolinos and going to Gatorland, but don’t try to make T-Rex at 1pm. Between the length of breakfast, drive times, etc, that puts stress on the day I don’t think you need. Just grab a QS lunch on property, or eat lunch around Gatorland.

March 7: can the sitter just pick up DD from HS front gate and the rest of you not leave the park until done? A 7 yo should be able to handle the full day and BG for ROTR can be unpredictable.

March 8: you know yourself and daughter best, but you are wasting a lot of time to drop off DD with sitter mid day sometime. If you start casually in the am, you could spend whole day with her at MK, maybe leave around 3:30 or 4 and head back to resort for a break for the two of you before dinner. This is the only time you are park hopping so do you need to pay for that?

March 9: so for me, this would be weather dependent. March can be 70-85 degrees. I’m not a water park person at 70 degrees. I’d make it a park day. I’d start at Epcot, do some of front of park in AM headed to skyline around lunch. Ride it around, get lunch at one of the resorts or Boardwalk area. Head back to Epcot to tour WS. But if it was going to be 80+ degrees, and your kids love water, a water park would be fun. But realize you’ll be splitting up some here since DD is so young and won’t be able to do some of the rides your DS can.

 

[Wosmama6]

Great tips, thank you! Responses:

As for a short first park day, that's only because I think we can get everything we want to done at AK as long as we RD. The good thing is, we don't have to leave unless they're dying to swim/it's hot, etc. We can just hang out and reride things (I'm really hoping they extend the hours some because pandora at night is part of why we love the park).

Also, my 7 year old can totally handle the park. Even my 2 yo. It's DH that could only be coerced into coming back to disney so soon if I promised we didn't have to go commando. Good idea on having the sitter pick up DD at gate. She was one of the laid off cast members and her assignment was SWGE, so she knows her way around and it should be fairly easy.

Thanks re: T-rex on gatorland day. I hear you on that. I wish it wasn't near the top of my DS's wish list, but alas.

We got hoppers because we wanted to go to AK whenever we felt like it. So if it's too cold to swim on a pool day, AK it is, etc. We have not upgraded to plus yet but will do so if the weather looks good and people want BB time. They actually wouldn't allow us to purchase plus because our park days start before the 7th.

Thanks again!

 

[kwdw]

Great tips, thank you! Responses:


Thanks re: T-rex on gatorland day. I hear you on that. I wish it wasn't near the top of my DS's wish list, but alas.

Since T-Rex is high on your son's list - maybe just keep trying for an "off-time" on the 5th, 6th, 8th or 9th? At that age - my niece had a couple of must do's - and that's "old enough" for them to understand leaving one thing to go do another thing - so it really could be many places in the plan. She didn't complain at all about the "extra walking" and loss of other park time to hit the restaurant she really wanted to go to - because she knew it had been her choice in the first place. Note - I discussed the plan with her in advance - and how it was going to disrupt our day - so she was totally cool and excited about the whole thing. Also - be sure to check the day before, too, for better times. Lots of folks make ADR's and then cancel them.

With the shorter park hours - this won't be a commando trip! LOL.....

 

[Jonfw2]

Only thought i'd have is maybe consider Uber/Lyft versus driving or taking the bus.

 

[Wosmama6]

Only thought i'd have is maybe consider Uber/Lyft versus driving or taking the bus.

If minnie vans still existed, 100% yes. But with a car seat uber/lyft sucks

 

[Wosmama6]

Since T-Rex is high on your son's list - maybe just keep trying for an "off-time" on the 5th, 6th, 8th or 9th? At that age - my niece had a couple of must do's - and that's "old enough" for them to understand leaving one thing to go do another thing - so it really could be many places in the plan. She didn't complain at all about the "extra walking" and loss of other park time to hit the restaurant she really wanted to go to - because she knew it had been her choice in the first place. Note - I discussed the plan with her in advance - and how it was going to disrupt our day - so she was totally cool and excited about the whole thing. Also - be sure to check the day before, too, for better times. Lots of folks make ADR's and then cancel them.

With the shorter park hours - this won't be a commando trip! LOL.....

My son will be cool with whatever. It's DH who will complain