Realistically, how many days would it be recommended...(& other questions)

[Desiree]

for two newbies to US/IOA for the parks? We may be staying onsite at US

Do you think we'd necessarily need FOTL passes in late November/early December? (We are also trying to decide which is better, staying onsite at US or just staying the whole time at a Disney resort and driving to US/IOA.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I think you could do it in 2 days. That means only one night on site. Go to WDW 1st and on-site at USO second. Do an early checkin and grab the magic keys for FOTL. Off to the parks back to the hotel when the room is ready for a rest break/swim (if not too cold). Get up and tackle the other park. You don't need FOTL and if you get it you may never go to WDW again, but its fun to experience!

 

[Prince Eric1]

If your trip falls during the Thanksgiving week it will be busier. I always recommend three days, one per park with a third to hit the shows and rides missed or that you wish to repeat. You can do it in two, but that may not allow you time to go back and hit shows or rides, depending on how much you do.

 

[Desiree]

We'll be going right after Thanksgiving. Thanks so far!

Motherfletcher: We can still get FOTL even if we only stay one night?

 

[Disney Dee]

I don't think it will be to busy starting the weekend after thanksgiving weekend is over, but it will still be crowded the day after. How much time you will need to see everything depends. We did both parks in 1 day, and even dined at city walks Margeritaville for dinner, we went the Monday after thanksgiving. We even managed Spidey without a long wait. Keep in mind it was only myself and fiance, no kids, so we skipped alot of the younger kids rides. If you have the time to spare, you could go for 2 days and visit each park for 1 day.

 

[Desiree]

DisneyDee, that's exactly what we're doing. It'll be just me and my fiancee, er, well by then new hubby

I imagine we will skip alot of the kids stuff as well.

 

[GeminiMom]

Originally posted by Desiree
We'll be going right after Thanksgiving. Thanks so far!

Motherfletcher: We can still get FOTL even if we only stay one night?

I think I can field this one for Motherfletcher....Yes, Desiree, you would have FOTL for two days if you stay 1 night onsite. You are entitled for the day you check in (can get your room keys & head over to the parks even if your room isn't ready yet) and also for the entire day that you check out. Hope this helps!

 

[WDWmaniac125]

I would definitely recommend staying onsite even for just one night, it's worth it for FOTL.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Plus, the hotels are beautiful...and the beds super comfortable...I almost missed the first GB Shows whenever I stayed onsite because I was so comfy......I said "almost."

Early December is pretty empty, so whatever you chose, enjoy your stay.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

Minimum of two days, but that would be just for the parks. I stayed three last year and still didn't find it was enough. This year, I am going for 5 days!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by Desiree
DisneyDee, that's exactly what we're doing. It'll be just me and my fiancee, er, well by then new hubby

I imagine we will skip alot of the kids stuff as well.

Take the time to look around in the kiddie play areas anyway. Even if all you do is look around, it's still fun.

Exploring Camp Jurassic = always fun.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We did just one night at RPR after Disney this year, and are so glad we did! Nothing beats FOTL. You get the FOTL for the day you check in and day you check out, so you only have to stay one night. THough the hotels are so great, if you have the $, I would stay as long as possible =)

Honestly? with FOTL, I did everything I wanted to do in the morning on both days... All of US on the first, all of IOA in the second. DH and my brother went back after lunch on the second day and hit some things again and rode a couple of things I wouldn't ride, but I easily did everything in just the two mornings nad had time to browse through the shops and eat lunch.

Guess it depends on how many times you like to ride things and such. One time was enough for me on most things.

I would give myself 2 days, because I LOVED being able to retreat back to my hotel room in the afternoon and swim at the beautiful RPR pool... then clean up and go out for the evening. It was so relaxing!

 

[Selina]

3 days minimum on-site. Actually we stayed for 14 nights at the HRH - and did all the WDW parks on every other day. It worked out to be a fabulous holiday. Much better to do that than to stay at a WDW hotel. Personally, we have decided to postpone our trip to next year in order to do the same again rather than stay off-site.

 

[Desiree]

We ended up booking through Disney every night since it worked out cheaper that way. What time would you recommend getting to the parks? We're trying to decide now if the best mode of transportation would be a taxi or renting a car for 2 days.

And since it seems from what everyone has said already that most of the lines would be very short that time of year, that was one of the other deciding factors for us to not stay onsite at a Universal Hotel.

Are the park hours posted for the end of November yet?

 

[Motherfletcher]

Be to the parks early. They will show 9 as opening time but will open about 15 minutes early. Be at the turnstiles. Leave WDW at 8 in a taxi or 7:45 in the rental.

 

[Desiree]

Thanks Motherfletcher!