tips for last minute trip?

[hnthomps]

We are on a Disney cruise 3/21, but likely have to cancel it because of the current unpleasantness. We were planning 2 days in the parks before the cruise to go to GE and have those all arranged (I mean, ROTR uncertainty aside!). But now it looks like we'll add 2-3 more days and make that our vacation instead of the cruise. We can't add more than that because we'll be out the cruise money. It sucks and we are mad. BUT that aside, what are some tips and tricks for when you book last minute? As soon as we can I'll try to add ADRs and FP+ and all that, but presumably everything we want will be long gone or at weird times. Is there anything known best practice for how to make the most out of an unexpected few days? Two adults and two kids, age 6&8.

 

[chris benton]

Reservation Finder for adr's if you need it. The Touring Plans website has one, and there's another one I've heard people using, but I don't recall the name. Do a websearch, you'll find them both. I can vouch for TP's working excellently, for the most part.

Also, unless there are a few of the very hard to get ADR's you are hoping for, you could be very surprised at the adr's that open up the day before, when ppl change plans, and cancel to avoid the fee.

 

[Kaadk]

We've done a relatively (though not quite as short notice as yours) trip before where we were about 45 days out at the time. ADRs at good times were gone, FPs at good times were gone, but it was still a pleasant trip. Actually, I'm a little envious of your situation (minus being out the money that is) as it's the perfect excuse for a non-planned trip. The more planning I have to do for a trip, the more it feels like work and not a vacation. If you can go in with the mindset of not having plans, accepting that you won't have reservations, then you can very much go with the flow and see where you end up. I'd highly recommend Park Hopper if you don't have them for this kind of freedom though. That'll let you have even more freedom of going wherever you feel like it, instead of always thinking you have to be somewhere just because you planned to be there 6 months ago.

 

[calitook]

Just go with a "we do whatever we do" attitude. Hop in whatever lines are short and just don't go with the expectation that you'll do it all, then you won't be disappointed!

 

[hnthomps]

Just go with a "we do whatever we do" attitude. Hop in whatever lines are short and just don't go with the expectation that you'll do it all, then you won't be disappointed!

sure, but tell that to a 6 & 8 year old who have spent weeks imagining the fun they'd have on the cruise!
(sorry, I'm trying not to have a bad attitude about it, at least we are all healthy and low-risk, and going to WDW is a treat under any circumstances. This will likely be our last trip for at least 5 years, so we'll try to keep our expectations low, but it's hard to avoid the feeling that we "have to" get a lot done).

 

[NJ Goofy]

Try to get to the parks as early as you can (as early as you can with 2 kids!), you'd be surprised how much you can get done before 11:00 AM. Sign up for whatever FP's you can get, it is easier to modify them to something else than just pick one up. If you can afford it get Park Hoppers, that will give you more options to "hop" to a less crowded park. Keep in mind just like your cruise, people are canceling trips, so you may be able to get better ADR's and FP's than you think. Good luck !

 

[sponica]

Maybe add in a water park day? To compensate for the lack of castaway cay/pool deck activities.