So torn... Oct 2014 choices (help!)

[cindy2875]

Hi everyone!

I thought I had everything set for my plans, but now I'm really nervous. I was reading Josh's thoughts on the crowd calendar and he specifically says to stay far away from MK on Saturday 10/18 (which is our last full day of vacation). But that seems to be the only time we can fit a full MK day in. Everything else we have was luckily on the "most recommended" list. How bad do you think this is:

Friday 10/10 arrive, dinner at hotel or DTD
Sat 10/11 - AK (RD - 5pm park close)
Sun 10/12 - HS (RD - Fantasmic, rest 1:30-5)
Mon 10/13 - rest morning, MNSSHP 4pm-12pm
Tues 10/14 - rest all day
Wed 10/15 - HS (RD - 5pm)
Thurs 10/16 - EP (RD - Illuminations, rest 1-5)
Fri 10/17 - rest day, HDD Review 4:00-6:00
Sat 10/18 - MK (8am CP - Wishes, rest 1-5)

The only problem is the Saturday. I could switch it to Friday, which is most recommended, but I really truly think we need a rest day after two RD days in between. Are we going to be completely miserable on a "red" Saturday at MK in October? I have to make ADRs in 13 days and I'm stressing myself out big time right now...

 

[soarin_over_nj]

Getting out of the Magic Kingdom early and resting in the middle of the day is a great idea for that Saturday. Getting to the MK at rope drop and getting most of the park done in the morning is probably the way to go. The crowds really don't start picking up until around lunch time. Even though that day will be crowded, by getting to the park early and getting your must-dos done, you should be okay. Just go back to the park that night with the mentality it might be packed.

 

[jcammans]

Getting out of the Magic Kingdom early and resting in the middle of the day is a great idea for that Saturday. Getting to the MK at rope drop and getting most of the park done in the morning is probably the way to go. The crowds really don't start picking up until around lunch time. Even though that day will be crowded, by getting to the park early and getting your must-dos done, you should be okay. Just go back to the park that night with the mentality it might be packed.

I agree with this. Your other option is (depending on how many days of tickets you have) to maybe hit up MK during the evening on Tuesday night if you are feeling rested enough. You could knock out some of your must-dos that night and then you won't feel so stressed about getting through the park on Saturday when it might be far busier.

 

[cindy2875]

THANK YOU!! ok, deep breaths....

I think since we will be in the park Monday for MNSSHP at 4, we will use FP+ for 7DMT and Space, those are the biggies for my kids.

Then, on MK day we will do CP at 8am an hour before RD to get to Buzz right at 9 (check, please! lol), and then every big thing on their wish list has been run through the optimizer for that morning:

9:00 Buzz
9:10 Space
9:30 Barnstormer
9:40 Journey Little Mermaid
10 (FP+) 7DMT
10:15 Philharmagic
10:45 Haunted Mansion
11:00 Pirates
11:30 Lunch (Pecos Bill's)
12:15 (FP+) BTMRR
12:30 (FP+) Splash

We want BOG for dinner (should be easy to get since it's day 10 of our trip so when our 180+10 window opens up it should still be available) and then easy little things with no real long waits at night until the parade and Wishes. Probably a lot of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (I have two boys age 7 & 12 and they are not in the least bit interested in seeing the characters, which makes me sad, lol)

 

[amym2]

The reason that Sat will be so crowded is that the two days before and the day after are all MNSSHP nights. You will have smaller crowds if you go one of those days instead, but I agree that you can certainly make it work if you are there at rd. I feel your pain as we are going in Oct also. Fingers crossed that we can get BOG at 180+4 for a party of 8. Ugh!

 

[sharonabe]

Since it would be your 2nd day at HS on the 15th, why not move MK to that day and then do HS again on the 18th or just leave it open and go wherever you want to spend more time?

 

[frozengurl]

Hi everyone! I thought I had everything set for my plans, but now I'm really nervous. I was reading Josh's thoughts on the crowd calendar and he specifically says to stay far away from MK on Saturday 10/18 (which is our last full day of vacation). But that seems to be the only time we can fit a full MK day in. Everything else we have was luckily on the "most recommended" list. How bad do you think this is: Friday 10/10 arrive, dinner at hotel or DTD Sat 10/11 - AK (RD - 5pm park close) Sun 10/12 - HS (RD - Fantasmic, rest 1:30-5) Mon 10/13 - rest morning, MNSSHP 4pm-12pm Tues 10/14 - rest all day Wed 10/15 - HS (RD - 5pm) Thurs 10/16 - EP (RD - Illuminations, rest 1-5) Fri 10/17 - rest day, HDD Review 4:00-6:00 Sat 10/18 - MK (8am CP - Wishes, rest 1-5) The only problem is the Saturday. I could switch it to Friday, which is most recommended, but I really truly think we need a rest day after two RD days in between. Are we going to be completely miserable on a "red" Saturday at MK in October? I have to make ADRs in 13 days and I'm stressing myself out big time right now...

Well, I'll be seeing you on Saturday 10/11, Sun 10/12, MNSSHP mon. 10/13, and Epcot 10/16!
But to answer your original question... Don't change it! Ending a trip at MK is just magical!!!!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

You will get much, much more done at the MK if you switch the last Friday and Saturday around and do HDDR on Saturday and the MK on Friday. I can't even explain how busy MK is on the day of a non-party night in October...it was shocking to me. Add in a Saturday surrounded by parties the two days before and the day after, and the park is going to be a zoo. During party season, we'll only go to the MK on party days. We'll watch Wishes from outside the park on the other days because those insane crowds make it just not worth it.

 

[frozengurl]

Ok, I do notice though that you only have one MK day... I kinda agree with PP about switching the Wednesday at HS and the Friday at MK! You'll still get to have a full day at MK but not on that busy Sat.
However, I still say that ending a trip in MK is wonderful! This year we aren't though! :/

 

[cindy2875]

Ah man!!!

How bad will we be dragging Friday at RD if we are out till 10 the night before at Illuminations though? Think we could power through? I could then do HDD Saturday 4-6 then the Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage to see Wishes on Saturday night without a MK ticket right?

 

[cindy2875]

Also the 2 rest days are water park and DQ days

 

[MonorailCentral]

Since you are taking rest times during the day, too, I would swap MK to Friday. You'll get a lot more done, and it will be more enjoyable. Then you can take your time getting to HDDR if you do that Saturday.

 

[cindy2875]

Do you think I should swap Wed DHS day 2 to MK and move DHS2 to Saturday (DHS has morning EMH that day)? DHS will be "less red" than MK?

 

[cel_disney]

Do you think I should swap Wed DHS day 2 to MK and move DHS2 to Saturday (DHS has morning EMH that day)? DHS will be "less red" than MK?

I think with FP+, HS is managable on a red day especially if its a day 2 for you there...especially of your kids are willing to single rider for RnR...

 

[lroger01]

Are you aware that you can't get FP+ on your party day? Even though you arrive at 4 and the party doesn't start until 7 there will be no FP+ for you. Only regular full-day tickets get that privilege now.

 

[mom2rtk]

I know you probably don't want to hear this..... but I would never be happy with a Saturday during hard ticket party season as my only MK day. Crowds in the MK are concentrated on the non-party days. Friday will likely be a party day, which means it will have substantially lower crowds. Do whatever it takes to get there on Friday instead. Saturday will be the busiest day in the MK that week.

 

[cindy2875]

Are you aware that you can't get FP+ on your party day? Even though you arrive at 4 and the party doesn't start until 7 there will be no FP+ for you. Only regular full-day tickets get that privilege now.

My TA told me we could use FP+ that day from 4-7. Well now that's a bummer. Did they change the policy?

 

[cindy2875]

I know you probably don't want to hear this..... but I would never be happy with a Saturday during hard ticket party season as my only MK day. Crowds in the MK are concentrated on the non-party days. Friday will likely be a party day, which means it will have substantially lower crowds. Do whatever it takes to get there on Friday instead. Saturday will be the busiest day in the MK that week.

No, I am happy to hear this because I trust your judgement for the big questions like this Thank you very much! Totally appreciate everyone's input here.

It's settled then, switching MK for DHS2 and crossing fingers for that BOG on Wed now!!! And PPFV for that last Saturday night just to go out with a bang

 

[mom2rtk]

No, I am happy to hear this because I trust your judgement for the big questions like this Thank you very much! Totally appreciate everyone's input here.

It's settled then, switching MK for DHS2 and crossing fingers for that BOG on Wed now!!! And PPFV for that last Saturday night just to go out with a bang

We always travel during party season, usually in November or December for MVMCP. But it affects crowds in the same way. We have had some awesome party days touring the MK. It's amazing how different the crowd levels can be.

Have a great trip!

 

[jenny-pooh]

We have very similar plans! We will be at POR 10-19.

Fri: DTD
Sat: AK
Sun: HS
Mon: Epcot/MNSSHP
Tues:Epcot
Wednesday: Universal HHN (staying at RPR)
Thursday IOA
Friday:BB/MK
Saturday: TL/MK

Just wondering where/when we will rest????