Trip Planning Feedback: Jan 16-22, 2023

[TIKIBIRD2016]

All feedback welcomed! Help us make the most of our trip! Thank you!​

We have not been to DW since 2018, and so much has changed that I find myself second guessing my planning when I used to feel like a pro. We also are trying some things for the first time--Skyliner hotel, Hoop-Dee-Doo, Star Wars @ HS, and then of course, learning to navigate Genie+.

Travelers: Myself, husband, and 2 sons ages 11 and 9. Good with all rides/coasters, and no height issues. We become morning people while at Disney, and go full speed, rope drop to close. We opt for more quick service than table service.

Upcoming trip: Jan 16-22 staying @ Pop Century, 7 days park tickets, NO park hopper. Note: Skyliner refurbishment begins on the 22nd. We do plan to buy Genie+ each day and purchase the Lightning Lanes in most all cases.

Mon, Jan 16th: arrive MCO @ 12:35pm, Uber to Pop, then to HS, 8:40p Sci-Fi Dine-In
Tues, Jan 17th: MK
Wed, Jan 18th: AK , 7:40p & 9:00p Beaches & Cream (Deluxe extended hours at MK & After-hours event at HS, so we chose AK)
Thurs, Jan 19th: MK, 7:30a Chef Mickey
Fri, Jan 20th: EP
Sat, Jan 21st: HS, 5:30p Sci-Fi Dine-in
Sun, Jan 22nd: EP, Skyliner Closed, 4:00pm Hoop-Dee-Doo Reservation, depart MCO@ 9:40pm

Questions:
1-Arrival day @ HS- would you advise buying Genie + in the morning to stack for evening? (It is MLK day) Should we buy ILL for ROR or focus on areas other than Star Wars? What time do you think it’s reasonable that we make it to HS?

2- HS is showing Fantasmic show times at both 8p & 9:30p. We only need to see it once, should we save that for the 21st and do the 9:30p show for a hopefully smaller crowd? If the park hours say it closes at 9p, will there really be a Fantasmic at 9:30p?

3- Sci-Fi Dine-In reservations. Only need to keep one of them. Which one would you advise? I am thinking we drop it on arrival day to give more time for rides? Since it’s a short day anyway, hate to spend at a restaurant?

4-Oga’s Cantina. I’m seeing mixed reviews. We are SW fans but not die hard. Is it worth a stop in for 1 drink to look at décor? Or skip? I had reservations and cancelled, but wondering if I should try to snag again?

5-AK Day-closes at 7p. Planning this: Rope drop FOP, buy ILL for FOP, and then hope to get on FOP a 3rd time at park close. We have reservation at Beaches & Cream at 7:40p & 9p. Planning for dessert. Which reso to keep? Is the 7:40p cutting it to close if we’re hoping to get on FOP at park close?

6- Chef Mickey reservation at 7:30am on our 2nd MK day. Is it best to do an Uber to Contemporary and then walk to MK to hopefully make some of early entry? Should we try to be at Chef Mickey early in hopes of getting seated a few minutes early?

7- Space 220 LOUNGE- We did NOT get a reservation for the lounge but I have seen reports that walk-up could be an option. Does anyone have experience with getting this and tips to achieve this?

8-Since we have Hoop-Dee-Doo on the 22nd, I thought best to do a 2nd day at Epcot to make it a bit easier to get to Hoop-Dee-Doo even with Skyliner closed. Is there a way to get to the International Gateway entrance, from POP, with no Skyliner option for Rope Drop? With the 4pm Hoop Dee Doo reso, would you suggest skipping Genie + for this short day and only trying for GOG virtual queue @ 7am?

9- Transportation from EP to Hoop-Dee-Doo: Monorail to MK then boat to Fort Wilderness? Or Uber? What time do you think we should be leaving Epcot?

10- Hoop-Dee-Doo should be over with @ 6:00p. Flight is 9:40p. We have TSA Pre-Check. If we Uber back to Pop to get our luggage and then Uber to MCO, do you think we can make this work?

Thank you!

 

[Mango7100]

As far as question 1 we have stacked successfully for HS on our travel days. Over Easter week we arrived at HS around 6 after driving down with 4 LLs stacked. We did stacking for HS recently over our New Years trip for the evening twice and entered the parks in the evening with 4 LLs ready for the night and picked up a 5th. Make Slinky your first choice since it goes the fastest. We did not do Rise this trip because it was $25 a person and we never did Early Entry at HS either. You could jump in line for that at the end of the night for shorter waits (which is what we did over Fall Break and waited about 45 minutes), but obviously that won’t work if going to Fantasmic at 930.

Question 2–Yes if the park closes at 9 Fantasmic will still be at 930. We saw the 930 show last week. We got on the line at 9 snd sat in the center but in the 4th row from the top (which I like sitting higher up to see better). People were coming in at 925 and there were plenty of seats on the side sections, and this was NYE so crowds were to the max.

 

[TIKIBIRD2016]

As far as question 1 we have stacked successfully for HS on our travel days. Over Easter week we arrived at HS around 6 after driving down with 4 LLs stacked. We did stacking for HS recently over our New Years trip for the evening twice and entered the parks in the evening with 4 LLs ready for the night and picked up a 5th. Make Slinky your first choice since it goes the fastest. We did not do Rise this trip because it was $25 a person and we never did Early Entry at HS either. You could jump in line for that at the end of the night for shorter waits (which is what we did over Fall Break and waited about 45 minutes), but obviously that won’t work if going to Fantasmic at 930.

Question 2–Yes if the park closes at 9 Fantasmic will still be at 930. We saw the 930 show last week. We got on the line at 9 snd sat in the center but in the 4th row from the top (which I like sitting higher up to see better). People were coming in at 925 and there were plenty of seats on the side sections, and this was NYE so crowds were to the max.

Thank you for this feedback! Super helpful.

I think we will grab Genie + in the morning then and start stacking for later in the evening. Good tip on Slinky Dog. I also guess too it will give us a little less stress testing out our Genie+ skills remotely vs the pressure of being in the park. If we run into a flight delay it just is what it is...I'm hoping all of the holiday horrors with air travel are done.

Awesome info on Fantasmic, too. I've seen some comments on some Disney groups of people waiting forever to get into Fantasmic, and that was never our experience in past trips in 2018. I was hoping to figure out a way to see it without having to do a Fantasmic dining package and not wait an hour in line/in our seats before it starts. I'm also okay with average seats, we don't have to have the BEST seat to still enjoy it. I'm happy that there truly does seem to be 2 showings to help those crowds be more manageable.

Thanks again!