So many questions....going in June.

[caroline1851]

My son who's 12 and I are going 4 nights in June. Arriving at 9am 6/6 and leaving 8pm 6/10. We are staying at All Star Sports..a bit nervous as we've only stayed at Coronado in past. I'm sure since it's Disney, it'll be great.
Questions....
Which park/which day: We plan to do 2 days at MK (def want to see light parade and fireworks one night), and 1 day at each of the other parks. We def want to see Fantasmic and Illuminations. I didn't get park hoppers.
What days would be best to go to each park? We have no problem getting up early to beat crowds because the most important thing to me is to avoid as much line waiting as possible.
Dining/Food: I'm thinking of getting the Quick service dining plan and then just paying out of pocket for a few extra TS meals. Trying to figure best way to stretch the plan/budget since we'll get 4 days of the plan but really we'll be there 5 days. Should I get the plan at all? I have no problem bringing some snacks from home for during the day, etc. Any tips to save money on food? Also, what CS places are inside and out of the heat? That's my concern with getting that dining plan instead of regular where you can always get a break from the heat and sun....
Temperature/Crowds: I went in May once, don't remember. The last few times I went in Oct and Nov and the crowds were low with good planning (getting to parks early, fast passes, etc) and the temp was perfect. How bad will it be in June (6/6-6/10) as far as crowds and temperature?

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[MsHook]

I'll answer the CS questions - no experience about the others so i'll leave those for someone else.

We're always on a budget so don't really do TS at all. CS is where all our knowledge is. For CS meals we like for MK - Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland (burgers, rotisserie chicken etc), Pinocchio's in Fantasyland (flatbread pizzas), Columbia Harbour house in Liberty Square (fried fish and chicken). These are all indoors.

For HS - Pizza planet is the only indoor CS that we like.

EP - We always eat in the indoor CS places around the world showcase but it will depend for you on what your son likes to eat. If he's not particularly adventurous then I recommend Sunshine Seasons next to Soarin. Big variety and its indoors so nice and cool.

AK - I'm not too sure about indoor CS here - we usually just grab a turkey leg and sit in the shade.

Haven't been in June since 2008 so not sure how similar in terms of crowds/heat.

Good luck to you!

 

[thefriendlyfloridian]

I can help with a few tips, avoid the park midday to avoid any lines. If you get there early do your big rides first and maybe see the parade after that when crowds get heavy head back to resort to nap or swim, just relax. Then after dinner come back, we mainly visit the parks in the evenings and visit Magic Kingdom when they have EMH until 2 in the morning or they are open late because that gives you a great time to ride things with almost no waits!

 

[thefriendlyfloridian]

I'll answer the CS questions - no experience about the others so i'll leave those for someone else.

We're always on a budget so don't really do TS at all. CS is where all our knowledge is. For CS meals we like for MK - Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland (burgers, rotisserie chicken etc), Pinocchio's in Fantasyland (flatbread pizzas), Columbia Harbour house in Liberty Square (fried fish and chicken). These are all indoors.

For HS - Pizza planet is the only indoor CS that we like.

EP - We always eat in the indoor CS places around the world showcase but it will depend for you on what your son likes to eat. If he's not particularly adventurous then I recommend Sunshine Seasons next to Soarin. Big variety and its indoors so nice and cool.

AK - I'm not too sure about indoor CS here - we usually just grab a turkey leg and sit in the shade.

Haven't been in June since 2008 so not sure how similar in terms of crowds/heat.

Good luck to you!

We have done Pizzafari at AK, very blasé IMO, so I would recommend maybe takeout from Yak & Yeti. Pizzafari is in the AC if thats what you're looking for!

 

[NavyDad]

My son who's 12 and I are going 4 nights in June. Arriving at 9am 6/6 and leaving 8pm 6/10. We are staying at All Star Sports..a bit nervous as we've only stayed at Coronado in past. I'm sure since it's Disney, it'll be great.
Questions....
Which park/which day: We plan to do 2 days at MK (def want to see light parade and fireworks one night), and 1 day at each of the other parks. We def want to see Fantasmic and Illuminations. I didn't get park hoppers.
What days would be best to go to each park? We have no problem getting up early to beat crowds because the most important thing to me is to avoid as much line waiting as possible.
Dining/Food: I'm thinking of getting the Quick service dining plan and then just paying out of pocket for a few extra TS meals. Trying to figure best way to stretch the plan/budget since we'll get 4 days of the plan but really we'll be there 5 days. Should I get the plan at all? I have no problem bringing some snacks from home for during the day, etc. Any tips to save money on food? Also, what CS places are inside and out of the heat? That's my concern with getting that dining plan instead of regular where you can always get a break from the heat and sun....
Temperature/Crowds: I went in May once, don't remember. The last few times I went in Oct and Nov and the crowds were low with good planning (getting to parks early, fast passes, etc) and the temp was perfect. How bad will it be in June (6/6-6/10) as far as crowds and temperature?

THANKS SO MUCH!

Your son will probably love All Stars - it's a great place for kids and teens! As long as you don't mind a resort that is more lively than CS you will probably like it as well.

As far as which park which day: the easiest thing to do is go to EasyWDW and look at Josh's crowd calendar. He does the work for you. If you follow his recommendations and get to the park in time for rope drop you will stay well ahead of the crowds.

We have always had the Dining Plan but if you look at the calculators it is almost impossible to break even on the Dining Plan. If you are going to eat mostly CS I would just pay OOP and then you can eat what you want without paying for things you don't. The DP is not a way to save money it is more for convenience.

CS locations outside of heat:

MK - Highly recommend Columbia Harbor House. Sit upstairs and you will love it.
AK - Restaurant-asaurus or Pizzafari. Both are great places to get out of the sun and enjoy a good CS meal in AC in a cool setting...
HS - Not really any good CS. I would make 1 or 2 TS ressies while you visit DHS. If you get burgers and shakes you can eat at Sci-Fi for not too much more than a CS. It's nice and dark and full of good cool AC.
Epcot - Sunshine Seasons. You can stay inside the Land Pavilion for hours in the middld of the day. Eat lunch, watch the show and ride the rides!

Temps: hot and humid every day. It will probably rain every day in the afternoon. Stay out of the sun from 1 - 5 PM.

 

[NavyDad]

We have done Pizzafari at AK, very blasé IMO, so I would recommend maybe takeout from Yak & Yeti. Pizzafari is in the AC if thats what you're looking for!

If your tastes are more refined Pizzafari is certainly not the place to go. However for a Mom and her pre-teen looking to get out of the sun I think they will like it.

I know our 9, 12 and 15 year olds loved it our last trip!

 

[thefriendlyfloridian]

If your tastes are more refined Pizzafari is certainly not the place to go. However for a Mom and her pre-teen looking to get out of the sun I think they will like it.

I know our 9, 12 and 15 year olds loved it our last trip!

You're absolutely right! Its definitely no BOG

 

[EmilyS90]

Definitely check out easyWDW for which days to go. Here's their June crowd calender: http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/06-june-2015-crowd-calendar/

Touringplans also does a crowd calender too, it may be worth checking out for a comparison. But those 2 are the most highly recommended I've seen on here.

I also agree that if you're mostly eating CS, It'd probably be cheaper to pay OOP.

 

[lovndisney12]

My son and I did a one day in November and stayed at AS Music having only stayed at moderates in recent years (when all 4 of us were going). It was fine for just the two of us. Rooms are smaller and have only double/full beds rather than queens. Which again, isn't a big deal for just two people but is for 4. My son was just 13 at the time of trip and he liked the theme (big into music)- but we weren't there very long at all.

We did rope drop at HS and then park hopped to MK because of the short time of the trip but I don't recommend that with the new fastpass system as we couldn't get any fast passes that we wanted after hopping. But no big deal, we just waited in line for the ones we wanted. Yes, going early and being there for rope drop works great.

Food budget suggestion - we too enjoy the sit downs as it allows for a nice break. Why not go ahead and pick some table services and then share or perhaps just get an appetizer and/or dessert? Then you could grab some of the great snacks to fill up on in between. Gaston's pub in MK has some awesome snack items (cinnamon rolls, apple frosty type drink) and has tables inside - we shared.

Crowds - we have been during peak (Christmas) and during very low times - both are fine if you do rope drop and get in the big rides during this time and utilize your fast passes. Know that the afternoons will be crowded and either leave and enjoy some pool time or just take a slower pace at the parks and enjoy a sit down restaurant, people watching, or some of the less popular sit down shows. I also have a friend who is the opposite and utilizes the late night extra magic hours and has had great success with avoiding long lines with this strategy. We have not tried this as we would rather get up early and go. We also utilize the various crowd calendar park recommendations to decide which park which day and that info has always been pretty accurate.

Lastly, it looks like you have gone quite a bit. I really enjoy the fact that we now know what we like to do and can really just sit back and enjoy the trip taking in all the sites, food, and activities that we want - but not trying to push too hard like we did in our first years going. This last trip with just my son and I - even though it was just one day and we had some of the longest lines due to park hopping to MK and not having fast passes - it was still a lot of fun and so glad we did it.

 

[WDWFanForLife]

Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD Marketplace is the best QS in WDW!

 

[caroline1851]

I just on that easywdw site and changed the park days around. Only problem is....the day we arrive...we'll be going to AK. If we arrive at airport at 8:55a, i'm thinking at resort at 11, probably not at park until 12p. We really like Dinosaur and ideally would've arrived early and rode it multiple times. Will the line be long at noon and after? This is our least favorite park so we're okay with having less time here. Original plan was DHS but due to Star Wars weekends it'll be too crowded. Can I get two fp for the same ride? If I have 3, I would want one for KS and the other 2 for dinosaur.

 

[mullysisters]

I normally go 2nd week in May when the crowds are manageable following the tips above. I have been in June and had the same crowds, a little hotter, before FP+. Dino is a funny ride, like Haunted Mansion, a times very long lines, at times it is a walk-on??? I usually hit the parks early and leave/shop/eat around noon ish. I don't ever follow easywdw or touringplans as they recommend against EMH parks and I always go to those!
I've stayed at AS Sports and the All-Stars are very fun, great themeing and pools.

 

[Hootch]

I have never found the QS plan as enticing. It would cost you $84 for the two of you. That's giving each of you two QS meals, a snack and a refillable mug. The mug is worth $4.50/day with a four day trip. I'm expecting to pay $45-$50/meal for our family of four. Take a look at the menus for what you will eat and tally up the prices.

The first three FPs must be for different attractions. After the third is gone, you can see what is left. If you want to ride multiple times:

1) arrive early and ride a couple of times. Lines should be short.
2) Use FP for one ride
3) Schedule your FPs for early in the morning and see if there are more Dino FPs. The extras can be anything open.

 

[tinkerbesh]

Great advice above. Just wanted to add that you can find details on prices for WDW menus on allears.net That's what we do when deciding if the DP will be with it for us- the math will give you your answer.