Scheduling park time, meals, etc--help?

[mommommom]

We have park hoppers, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do our days. I have gone round and round with dinner and touring plans and schedules, and I really think I'm starting to scare my family.

If it helps to know, we're a family of 4, kids ages 8 and 12, and one excited, albeit slightly crazy mother (that's me). We'll be there for 5 days.

Our plan:

Arrive at the park that has Extra Magic Hours by 6:45am. Spend time in that park until 1-2pm, and then take a rest at our hotel (GCH). This can be swimming, nap, whatever for 3 hours (is this too long?).

After rest time, we'll go back out to the parks. Here's my question: Is it more fun to go to the opposite park in the afternoon and take advantage of having the park hopper? But then, what if you have unused fast passes from the morning park?

I'm trying to figure this out because I'm making dining reservations for dinner, and I want to have an idea of where we'll be so I'll know which park we're eating in.

Just curious about what other people do. When we went to WDW, we usually did one park per day because they were so spread out--so I didn't have to plan like this.

 

[Stitch35]

If we have EE we do take advantage of it. We enjoy that park and gather fastpasses, sometimes sending a runner to the other park for fastpasses for certain attractions. Depending on the day we will hop between parks anywhere from 2-6 times. We usually break for nap between 2 and 3 and back to the parks by 5:30. During the evening we use the fast passes we have gathered throughout the day for both parks. We also watch one or two shows or parades per day. Evenings tend to be the most crowded, usually thinning out after fireworks.

 

[skiingfast]

Just curious about what other people do. When we went to WDW, we usually did one park per day because they were so spread out--so I didn't have to plan like this.

I think you are stuck in that mindset.

It's so easy to hop, just do it freely once Extra Magic Hours are over. Like the PP said get FPs in both parks by sending someone across to the other park every now and then. You can get another FP every two hours in each park, or one everyhour when doing this in both parks. That is assuming the return times are greater than two hours away, if shorter then you can get them sooner

I would plan to leave the parks at 1pm, that is when the crowds max out. 3 hours breaks sound fine assuming you are going in the Summer.

 

[mommommom]

I think you are stuck in that mindset.

You can get another FP every two hours in each park, or one everyhour when doing this in both parks. T.

Wow, I somehow missed this! So I can get a FP for, say, Tower of Terror, and then one hour later I can grab one for Space Mtn?

Thanks to both of you for the advice!

 

[disneydreamer74]

Yes, Parkhopping is SOOO easy compared to WDW. We usually do DLR day one , then DCA day two, with parkhopping the second evening. I think 3 hours will be perfect for a mid-day break. The last 2 days we totally wing it. I have only made 3 reservations for our dining because we want the freedom to eat wherever we choose at the moment. We did reserve our AG Princess dinner!! That is a must! Relax..you will have a great time!!

 

[skiingfast]

Wow, I somehow missed this! So I can get a FP for, say, Tower of Terror, and then one hour later I can grab one for Space Mtn?

Exactly. Then another hour later you can get another FP in DCA.

You do have 5 days so I wouldn't make FP the biggest deal. Do go to RSR, LFT, TSM, and MFW right away. In DL, Matterhorn and the Subs. These non FP attractions grow lines quickly, RSR does have FP but they are distributed very quickly. You can also ride all of these attractions during EMH.

 

[gatorfreud]

You don't have to wait an hour do you? Can't you get, say, Space, and then walk right over and get Soarin'?

And keep in mind (not sure if it was mentioned) that once you activate in one park you are activated for both. No need for everyone to go to get FP.

Kim

 

[gatorfreud]

oh and we usually go in as early as possible, eat lunch around 11. then break around 1. come back 5ish, eating dinner around 5. then stay however long we want. i like a 4 hour break, when we can swing it around shows and such. with 5 days that should be super easy to do.

 

[mommommom]

Exactly. Then another hour later you can get another FP in DCA.

You do have 5 days so I wouldn't make FP the biggest deal. Do go to RSR, LFT, TSM, and MFW right away. In DL, Matterhorn and the Subs. These non FP attractions grow lines quickly, RSR does have FP but they are distributed very quickly. You can also ride all of these attractions during EMH.

Thank you!

 

[mommommom]

You don't have to wait an hour do you? Can't you get, say, Space, and then walk right over and get Soarin'?

And keep in mind (not sure if it was mentioned) that once you activate in one park you are activated for both. No need for everyone to go to get FP.

Kim

Thanks! Might be a silly question, but by "activate" do you mean that you're admitted in both parks?

editing to add: Nevermind, figured it out!

 

[HydroGuy]

You don't have to wait an hour do you? Can't you get, say, Space, and then walk right over and get Soarin'?

And keep in mind (not sure if it was mentioned) that once you activate in one park you are activated for both. No need for everyone to go to get FP.

Kim

No need to wait an hour. DCA and DL FP systems are disconnected from each other.

 

[mommommom]

No need to wait an hour. DCA and DL FP systems are disconnected from each other.

Oh wow, my husband is going to spend half the day running between parks to take advantage of this. This is great!

 

[HydroGuy]

We have park hoppers, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do our days. I have gone round and round with dinner and touring plans and schedules, and I really think I'm starting to scare my family.

If it helps to know, we're a family of 4, kids ages 8 and 12, and one excited, albeit slightly crazy mother (that's me). We'll be there for 5 days.

Our plan:

Arrive at the park that has Extra Magic Hours by 6:45am. Spend time in that park until 1-2pm, and then take a rest at our hotel (GCH). This can be swimming, nap, whatever for 3 hours (is this too long?).

After rest time, we'll go back out to the parks. Here's my question: Is it more fun to go to the opposite park in the afternoon and take advantage of having the park hopper? But then, what if you have unused fast passes from the morning park?

I'm trying to figure this out because I'm making dining reservations for dinner, and I want to have an idea of where we'll be so I'll know which park we're eating in.

Just curious about what other people do. When we went to WDW, we usually did one park per day because they were so spread out--so I didn't have to plan like this.

The length of the break will become obvious. If in the summer and it is warm out, kids and adults get drained. If youa re waking at 6AM to make 6:45 at the parks, and then running for 7 hours until break, my kids would sleep for 2+ hours. Our breaks were often 5 hours long. An hour for swimming to cool off, and then 2-3 hours for a nap. Then back.

Parkhopping after the break will work better if you sneak into the opposite park before your break and get a FP. Then when you come back you have one - and often can get another for one of the less in demand FPs.

I would hop if you have things you want to do at the opposite park. If you have unused FPs from the first park, I would think first about going to that park right after the break and using them, and then hopping if you want to hop.

I do not think of the park hopping as something to make it more fun. I think of it is a way to fit more things in - whether they be rides, shows, dining or ambience. If you still have plenty to do at the morning park I would say go back there after the break.

Frankly, on our trip in a couple weeks we will be staying at the GCH and have EMH privileges. I plan to not hop any days until given a good reason. A good reason might be...

- Missed the WOC show (or any show) the previous night (or day) and want a second try

- Everyone really wants to ride Space Mtn or Tower of Terror or fill in the blank one more time and it is at the opposite park.

- We want to dine at the opposite park and everyone would rather just hop there and stay after dining

 

[skiingfast]

Thanks! Might be a silly question, but by "activate" do you mean that you're admitted in both parks?

Once a ticket is used to enter either park, it can be used to gather FPs in either park. It just takes that one entry to activate it for the day.

You don't have to wait an hour do you? Can't you get, say, Space, and then walk right over and get Soarin'?

You can do that and sometimes you may end up doing that.

It would be like DL FP at 8:10, DCA FP at 8:17. So your next FP would be DL at 10:10, DCA at 10:17. It works out to 2 per 2 hours which equals 1per hour.

In reality for me, I start in one park and hit a handful of attractions. Going with no other adults I don't drag DS to other park to gather FPs. So when I do this DL FP #1 at 8:05. Getting one this early usually means I can get one when the return window opens often at 8:50. So I go on a few rides, grab DL FP #2. Then maybe another ride or two and hop to DCA. Grab DCA FP #1. By the time I'm in DCA the FP returns will have advanced and I have to wait 2 full hours for DCA FP #2.

With the situation currently a big demand for RSR, I would get the RSR FP first, and then if I want to get another FP quickly go strait to DL since the RSR FP return will be past the 2 hours max for DCA FPs.