Short 3 night, 3 park day trip over Thanksgiving...stressing with such short time

[Kim Gillihan]

I booked a 2 bedroom at SSR for a 3 night stay back in June not knowing if we would really go or not.. long story short, we decided to go but it was past our 60 day FP window, I didn't make dining plans, we do have another family joining us who have never been to disney world, so excited but I wish we had more time and I wish it was planned better!!!! They wanted to also do Universal while we are there, so we are cramming so much in we only have 3 full disney days.

Oh well, just venting.. trying not to stress I want it to be great for them and I am sure it will be but I know what we are missing or the fp we didn't get etc..... it will be a whirlwind but hoping it all turns out!

 

[Bing Showei]

With only three nights, and what sounds like an impromptu bit of vacationing, I wouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to deliver that “magical once-in-a-lifetime” trip. They’re fortunate to have a friend who’s as knowledgeable as most DISboarders will be planning their trip.

There is nothing you can’t rope drop to ride at this point to make up for the lack of FPs. Given the limited amount of time/days you have, ropedropping AK/MK/DHS will cover the harder to get rides FoP and NRJ/7DMT/SDD, respectively. It’s getting up at an ungodly hour, but with hoppers it could mean hitting all four parks in three days, though I personally do not recommend this. Ropedrop DHS, hop to Epcot, for example.

Stalk the FPs; people’s plans change and FEA/7DMT, the two older E tickets will pop up often.

Suggest that if they want to do Universal that you guys tack on a day and book a night at Universal. Besides trying there being plenty to do at WDW in three days, touring at Universal is so markedly more civilized for onsite guests who get to “fastpass” their way to the front of the line on basically any ride.

It’s huge you’re doing this for them, and in all likelihood, the sheer spectacle of WDW will be enough to wow them them to the point that you’d have to work actively and plan pretty hard to make it a bad trip.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

With only three nights, and what sounds like an impromptu bit of vacationing, I wouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to deliver that “magical once-in-a-lifetime” trip. They’re fortunate to have a friend who’s as knowledgeable as most DISboarders will be planning their trip.

There is nothing you can’t rope drop to ride at this point to make up for the lack of FPs. Given the limited amount of time/days you have, ropedropping AK/MK/DHS will cover the harder to get rides FoP and NRJ/7DMT/SDD, respectively. It’s getting up at an ungodly hour, but with hoppers it could mean hitting all four parks in three days, though I personally do not recommend this. Ropedrop DHS, hop to Epcot, for example.

Stalk the FPs; people’s plans change and FEA/7DMT, the two older E tickets will pop up often.

Suggest that if they want to do Universal that you guys tack on a day and book a night at Universal. Besides trying there being plenty to do at WDW in three days, touring at Universal is so markedly more civilized for onsite guests who get to “fastpass” their way to the front of the line on basically any ride.

It’s huge you’re doing this for them, and in all likelihood, the sheer spectacle of WDW will be enough to wow them them to the point that you’d have to work actively and plan pretty hard to make it a bad trip.

Great points!! I agree, with the fact that at least I know how to try and plan it!! They would be lost and not even do as much since they have no idea.. great point!! We are planning to rope drop AK for Flight of Passage.. I was able to get a FP for river ride... and we are hopping every day.. I have planned it the best I could. lots of FP weren't available until later in the day but that allowed for say morning at Epcot and afternoon, evening at HS. We are staying one night at the Hard Rock Universal which will give us express passes for 2 days! thanks for the advice... I will continue to stalk fast passes!

 

[iheartglaciers]

I recently did a trip with friends who had never been to WDW before. I definitely felt a little stressed, wanting to make sure we hit all the highlights, but sometimes they were too tired to try and fit everything in (even though we didn't go at a crazy pace, for instance we always did leisurely mornings). The biggest learning I had was to remind myself that they didn't need to see and do everything on their first trip (unless they want to... some people want to do it all, most don't).

You might talk to your friends and get a sense of their priorities (rides? fireworks/shows? food?). It sounds like you're doing 3 nights at WDW and 1 night at Universal... so do you have 4 Disney park days?

 

[kboo]

With only three nights, and what sounds like an impromptu bit of vacationing, I wouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to deliver that “magical once-in-a-lifetime” trip. They’re fortunate to have a friend who’s as knowledgeable as most DISboarders will be planning their trip.

I agree with @Bing Showei wholeheartedly. The other "benefit" to traveling with first-timers is that they won't know what they're missing! I've been watching crowd levels over Thanksgiving and they will be very high. So get the best FPs you can, and do the best you can. We took a last-minute trip last month and we had a great time! It made us try different restaurants from our usual rotation and we found some terrific ones that we otherwise would not have tried. I also would not "apologize" for what you can or can't deliver - ie. "normally I wouldn't bother with a FP for Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor because it's usually really easy to get." There are so many attractions, parades, etc that it will be impossible to see it all, or to even see the half of it. So take some time to enjoy the Christmas decorations and soak in the ambience.

Stalk the FPs; people’s plans change and FEA/7DMT, the two older E tickets will pop up often.

This too! We got FP+ for FEA completely last minute - like 2 days in advance. We were staying in the EP area so we didn't try for 7DMT. But we got Soarin, we got Test Track too.

You might talk to your friends and get a sense of their priorities (rides? fireworks/shows? food?). It sounds like you're doing 3 nights at WDW and 1 night at Universal... so do you have 4 Disney park days?

This too - I felt like our Sept trip was sort of haphazardly "planned" (if it was really planned at all). We got sort of random FP+ and actually didn't make half of them because we were doing something else. We spent more time browsing World Showcase than we usually do, and more time playing in the interactive sections after Test Track and Mission Space. I rode Mission Space green *and* orange after a 20+ year hiatus - last time I rode there was only one Mission Space option and it made me queasy all day. (And I found that MS Orange still makes me queasy - it's DH's next turn to do MS with our DD7 if she wants it next time... )

You will have a great time no matter what you end up doing because you'll end up seeing WDW through your first-timer-friends' eyes, and maybe even find some new-to-you experiences.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

I agree with @Bing Showei wholeheartedly. The other "benefit" to traveling with first-timers is that they won't know what they're missing! I've been watching crowd levels over Thanksgiving and they will be very high. So get the best FPs you can, and do the best you can. We took a last-minute trip last month and we had a great time! It made us try different restaurants from our usual rotation and we found some terrific ones that we otherwise would not have tried. I also would not "apologize" for what you can or can't deliver - ie. "normally I wouldn't bother with a FP for Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor because it's usually really easy to get." There are so many attractions, parades, etc that it will be impossible to see it all, or to even see the half of it. So take some time to enjoy the Christmas decorations and soak in the ambience.



This too! We got FP+ for FEA completely last minute - like 2 days in advance. We were staying in the EP area so we didn't try for 7DMT. But we got Soarin, we got Test Track too.



This too - I felt like our Sept trip was sort of haphazardly "planned" (if it was really planned at all). We got sort of random FP+ and actually didn't make half of them because we were doing something else. We spent more time browsing World Showcase than we usually do, and more time playing in the interactive sections after Test Track and Mission Space. I rode Mission Space green *and* orange after a 20+ year hiatus - last time I rode there was only one Mission Space option and it made me queasy all day. (And I found that MS Orange still makes me queasy - it's DH's next turn to do MS with our DD7 if she wants it next time... )

You will have a great time no matter what you end up doing because you'll end up seeing WDW through your first-timer-friends' eyes, and maybe even find some new-to-you experiences.

Great advice!! Thanks so much.. I think I will let them know what I have planned and we do have the option of having leisure mornings except for the one AK rope drop day that we must do!! but, other than that, we can take it easy if they would rather.. It will be a blast no matter what. Dining reservations are almost impossible... dissapointed in that.. can't get ohana.. no character anything.. there is pretty much nothing left except boma.. which is great. only good one. but we also can't afford to plan our time around running to eat either....

 

[Kim Gillihan]

I recently did a trip with friends who had never been to WDW before. I definitely felt a little stressed, wanting to make sure we hit all the highlights, but sometimes they were too tired to try and fit everything in (even though we didn't go at a crazy pace, for instance we always did leisurely mornings). The biggest learning I had was to remind myself that they didn't need to see and do everything on their first trip (unless they want to... some people want to do it all, most don't).

You might talk to your friends and get a sense of their priorities (rides? fireworks/shows? food?). It sounds like you're doing 3 nights at WDW and 1 night at Universal... so do you have 4 Disney park days?

thanks so much.. we only have 3 day passes.. it was cheaper to do 3 days universal and 3 days disney.... Universal had like a buy 2 get 2 and it would cost my friends 400 more bucks to add a 4th day at disney I think. we are doing 4 nights at SSR but we are going to universal our first night because 16th is the Chrismas party and I would love to do that but again 400 bucks for my friends.. so.. since US had good deal for tickets we just doing that friday once we get in.. not perfect but it works... so 16-20 at SSR then 20th at hard rock, will spend 20th and 21st at US fly out late on 21st... so 2.5 days of US.. 3 days Disney....

 

[iheartglaciers]

thanks so much.. we only have 3 day passes.. it was cheaper to do 3 days universal and 3 days disney.... Universal had like a buy 2 get 2 and it would cost my friends 400 more bucks to add a 4th day at disney I think. we are doing 4 nights at SSR but we are going to universal our first night because 16th is the Chrismas party and I would love to do that but again 400 bucks for my friends.. so.. since US had good deal for tickets we just doing that friday once we get in.. not perfect but it works... so 16-20 at SSR then 20th at hard rock, will spend 20th and 21st at US fly out late on 21st... so 2.5 days of US.. 3 days Disney....

It sounds like it's going to be a great trip! The other thing I was going to say was if you have less than 4 days, don't feel like you have to squeeze in all 4 parks. I always felt that way when going with newbies, but now I'm feeling like less is sometimes more Maybe they'll be enticed to plan another trip!

 

[Kim Gillihan]

It sounds like it's going to be a great trip! The other thing I was going to say was if you have less than 4 days, don't feel like you have to squeeze in all 4 parks. I always felt that way when going with newbies, but now I'm feeling like less is sometimes more Maybe they'll be enticed to plan another trip!

I hear ya!! Since we have some late fast passes on 2 days I am thinking we can go to epcot one morning and try and do a few key things then head to HS or AK.. since I booked so late the FP's were kinda late in the day... so... it may work out...but not going to stress over it... great point!

 

[kboo]

Great advice!! Thanks so much.. I think I will let them know what I have planned and we do have the option of having leisure mornings except for the one AK rope drop day that we must do!! but, other than that, we can take it easy if they would rather.. It will be a blast no matter what. Dining reservations are almost impossible... dissapointed in that.. can't get ohana.. no character anything.. there is pretty much nothing left except boma.. which is great. only good one. but we also can't afford to plan our time around running to eat either....

Boma is pretty awesome. Also you are staying at SSR this time, right? If so, it's a perfect "excuse" to try some of the restaurants in Disney Springs. Another thing we did during our short, last minute September trip was to use the MDE app (I know, it doesn't always work) to order food from a QS in advance, and then go pick it up. You could actually do that while waiting for an attraction or while walking from one part of a park to the other. It was really helpful and we were able to avoid the lines.

It sounds like it's going to be a great trip! The other thing I was going to say was if you have less than 4 days, don't feel like you have to squeeze in all 4 parks. I always felt that way when going with newbies, but now I'm feeling like less is sometimes more Maybe they'll be enticed to plan another trip!

^^^ We are doing this over Thanksgiving. Given the crowds and the fact it's my MIL's first time ever (at 82!) and she may be using a scooter part time, we are staying at BLT and spending most of our time at MK. Over 5 days, we are spending 1 day at AK, 1 day at EP, and 3 days at MK/MK resort area. We have ADRs at several resorts rather than in the parks. We don't have FOP FP (we start our stay Tuesday before Thanksgiving, so everyone coming in the weekend before got them already) so if my MIL doesn't feel like going to AK, we can drop it and go either to EP or MK. Our trip in September was at the Swan, and other than MNSSHP, we spent all our time at EP and HS. We had 3.5 days in the parks, and did not feel like we had even done half of what we wanted to do at EP and HS.