Rough draft of plans... Share thoughts

[Jynxed]

First, I am not a down to the second planner. Ian all for spontaneity but I do need some type of structure to my plans. So here is my structure;

Day 1 Saturday July 2nd - head on ART for first shuttle for MM. Hit fantasyland and do everything. Once done, head to critter country grabbing a FP for BTMRR ride pooh and FP splash if FP window is up. Ride one of the boats then head back to hotel for lunch and break. Dinner ressies at 5:30 Napa rose. After dinner head back to park and use FP and depending on how DS is doing, catch Fantasmic.

Day 2 Sunday July 3rd - let DS sleep in if he wants and head to 9:30 DCA opening ( we will go to DL if he wakes early), head to LM grab FP for TSMM then take on Bugs land and possibly some of the backlot. Break then heat back for 6:30 ressies and WOC using our FP before dinner.

DAY 3 Monday July 4th - sleep in head to DL at about 2 take in tiki birds, monorail, trains and other high crowd type rides before it is time to stake out a spot for parade. Then hang on mainstreet until fireworks. * I know we risk the chance of the parks closing because of high capacity and if that happens, it is no big deal for me, my mother is insisting we try to see the fireworks that night.

Day 4 Wednesday. Head over at park opening and grab starters FP, Buzz, FP space, head to toontown then adventureland.FP Indy, ride JC. break then head back and do our FP.

Does this make sence? Would you change anything. We are okay missing somethings, but there are some must sees for my son (toon town, fantasyland). Am I not thinking things through?

 

[TeddiBarra]

FYI, there is no Fast Pass for Toy Story Mania. I think there is in WDW, but there isn't in the land.

On the DCA day, one way to beat the heat or take a rest is to go into the Animation Studios- it's cooler in there (if it's a hot day), you can just sit (though not really much seating) and watch the screens around you, and do turtle talk with Crush. I just mention that as a break spot because if it is a very hot day, just the getting/to from hotel room to take a break can feel like too much.

The day you shoot for Star Wars FP, just do it ASAP to park opening, the FP's supposedly have been going like hot cakes and are gone by 10 am.. sometimes before that.

 

[cougarfan84]

First off, I'm a little bit more of a planner than it sounds like you are so the way I would do it is different than the way you may want things planned. But here's what I see when breaking down your plan w/ maybe some insight on how to improve it:

Day 1 - Hitting FL first thing is usually the best plan of attack. I would recommend you ride PP first thing followed by Dumbo as those are usually the 2 slowest rides in FL. Also, when 8:00 hits, you may want to consider running and grabbing a FP for Space Mountain. When you are done in FL, I would then head over and grab the Splash Mountain FP (as they go faster than the BTMRR FP's). Then you could ride pooh and maybe POTC/HM until the FP window is up and grab a BTMRR FP, ride one of the boats, and head back to the hotel for lunch and break. This strategy will allow you to have FP's for Space Mtn, Splash Mtn. and BTMRR to use when you return after dinner.


Day 2 - It looks like you are only really planning on going to DCA on this day. When the park opens at 9:30, the only ride available is Soarin' over California. That can be a great time to ride this ride. Or you can go wait at the rope drop for the other rides. Don't forget to grab WOC FP's on your way to the back of the park (unless you are doing a WOC dinner reservation that is). Riding LM first is probably a good idea. They DON'T have FP for TSMM in DCA (unlike DHS in WDW). If you want, you can grab a FP for California Screamin' or Goofy's Sky School which are both in that area as well. I'd just ride TSMM after you ride the LM instead of grabbing a FP for it.

For the other areas of the park, I would highly recommend the Aladdin show in the Hollywood backlot. First showing is at 12:40, so you can try and fit a bug's land and the other backlot attrations you want to ride around that show.


Day 3 - sounds like you are mainly heading for the afternoon so the less busy attractions are probably good bets if you don't want to suffer through extremely long lines. I would still maybe try and grab a FP upon entering the park just in case you have time to use it. But sounds like the main reason for going is for the fireworks, so making sure you get a great spot may be the best option to focus around.

Day 4 - I'm not so sure this plan will really work well for you. You want to make sure you are there plenty early to get a Star Tours FP quickly because there seems to be a bit of a line for the FP's and they run out quickly. How close to the front of the line you are will greatly impact your return time on the ride (as well as how soon you can grab your next FP). Other than that, you may have to wait for a bit between grabbing your Star Tours FP and Space Mountain FP so you'll have time to ride more than just Buzz. Other than that, that plan, while it is short on rides, looks to be ok for what you are trying to see.

 

[skiingfast]

Except for the TSMM FP, I think you have a good plan!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

A tip about the fireworks: When we went in 2009, they did a preview of the 4th of July fireworks show on the 3rd. We were able to catch it that night and watched from outside the park on the 4th. We went to DL on the morning of the 4th and left as the crowds started to build. By 1:00 p.m., it was getting difficult to even walk down the paths. We were glad we'd seen the fireworks the night before and could leave the park without feeling like we'd missed out.

As an alternate plan, I would suggest finding out whether they will be showing the special fireworks show on the 3rd. If so, watch the show that night. On the 4th, arrive at the park when you're ready. Spend as much time as you'd like, or until the crowds get too horrible. Hop over to DCA, or leave the parks for an off-site dinner.