Trying to Plan...Random Questions

[kristenrice]

I'm headed back to WDW for my 9th F&W and I'm bringing my dear friend along for her first one. We are arriving Sunday and departing Friday afternoon and we are staying in a value studio at AKV. She has been to WDW one time and her touring style is much different than mine. Since I have gone several times and plan to return for many more, I am fine with playing it by ear. There are a few things, however, that I will need to plan, like ADR's and a few FP's. My friend has said that she is open to whatever I want to do, but she is not an early riser (I am) and she doesn't want to be forced into getting up early.

Here's what I have so far...

We are landing in Orlando at 11:00pm and staying at the Hyatt Regency in the airport. In the morning, we will catch the DME bus to AKV and check in. Since Sanaa was on my "must-do" list, I decided to make an ADR for lunch on our arrival day at 11:35. QUESTION #1: What time should we present ourselves to DME in order to make it to AKV (staying at Jambo) and then over to Sanaa? After lunch, I was thinking we could head over to her favorite park (MK) and take in MNSSHP. We don't plan on dressing up or anything special, but the parade, the candy and the overall experience of the party are really something that she would like since she is a true "Disneyphile" like me. I would like to skip the fireworks because it is so much nicer to watch them from TOTWL which we intend to do later in the week.

Monday is my birthday. Right now, the only plan I have is to eat dinner at 7:45pm at Jiko. I haven't eaten there since my honeymoon in 2002 so I am really looking forward to it. We may sleep in and hit Epcot by 11 and head straight to the World Showcase. QUESTION #2: Is it any faster to take an Uber to the Beach Club and enter Epcot via the IG? Since we won't do anything in Future World, it would seem like it would be much less walking to go in the IG instead of walking from the bus stop and all the way through Future World.

Obviously, we really want to make sure we spend some time at Epcot, since F&W is the main objective. It's more for the booths than the demos and such, but we may decide to do a special event, depending on what is offered while we are there. We like to have table-service meals, but it seems like a waste on our Epcot days since we will be filling up at the booths.

The only other ADR's that I have are lunch at BOG on Tuesday (2:10), Lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe (1:05pm) on Wednesday (this is the one restaurant that she requested) and breakfast at Boma on the day we leave. I really want to try the new Geyser Point bar so I am going to try and squeeze that in somewhere. I have NO idea how we are going to deal with FP's. I know that they will be in the afternoon for sure, and neither of us need to do the "thrill" rides so that will help.

I'm sure I will have more questions as the planning continues. It's very hard to plan when you really just plan to go without a plan.

 

[disneynutz]

#1 - 2 hours
#2 - I would take a bus to DHS, boat ride to IG. That gives your friend a sample of WDW transportation and sights to see.

Don't do too much, nice easy pace, discuss likes and dislikes, have a wonderful vacation.

Bill

 

[CarolynFH]

I'm headed back to WDW for my 9th F&W and I'm bringing my dear friend along for her first one. We are arriving Sunday and departing Friday afternoon and we are staying in a value studio at AKV. She has been to WDW one time and her touring style is much different than mine. Since I have gone several times and plan to return for many more, I am fine with playing it by ear. There are a few things, however, that I will need to plan, like ADR's and a few FP's. My friend has said that she is open to whatever I want to do, but she is not an early riser (I am) and she doesn't want to be forced into getting up early.

Here's what I have so far...

We are landing in Orlando at 11:00pm and staying at the Hyatt Regency in the airport. In the morning, we will catch the DME bus to AKV and check in. Since Sanaa was on my "must-do" list, I decided to make an ADR for lunch on our arrival day at 11:35. QUESTION #1: What time should we present ourselves to DME in order to make it to AKV (staying at Jambo) and then over to Sanaa? After lunch, I was thinking we could head over to her favorite park (MK) and take in MNSSHP. We don't plan on dressing up or anything special, but the parade, the candy and the overall experience of the party are really something that she would like since she is a true "Disneyphile" like me. I would like to skip the fireworks because it is so much nicer to watch them from TOTWL which we intend to do later in the week.

Monday is my birthday. Right now, the only plan I have is to eat dinner at 7:45pm at Jiko. I haven't eaten there since my honeymoon in 2002 so I am really looking forward to it. We may sleep in and hit Epcot by 11 and head straight to the World Showcase. QUESTION #2: Is it any faster to take an Uber to the Beach Club and enter Epcot via the IG? Since we won't do anything in Future World, it would seem like it would be much less walking to go in the IG instead of walking from the bus stop and all the way through Future World.

Obviously, we really want to make sure we spend some time at Epcot, since F&W is the main objective. It's more for the booths than the demos and such, but we may decide to do a special event, depending on what is offered while we are there. We like to have table-service meals, but it seems like a waste on our Epcot days since we will be filling up at the booths.

The only other ADR's that I have are lunch at BOG on Tuesday (2:10), Lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe (1:05pm) on Wednesday (this is the one restaurant that she requested) and breakfast at Boma on the day we leave. I really want to try the new Geyser Point bar so I am going to try and squeeze that in somewhere. I have NO idea how we are going to deal with FP's. I know that they will be in the afternoon for sure, and neither of us need to do the "thrill" rides so that will help.

I'm sure I will have more questions as the planning continues. It's very hard to plan when you really just plan to go without a plan.

#1 - 2 hours
#2 - I would take a bus to DHS, boat ride to IG. That gives your friend a sample of WDW transportation and sights to see.

Don't do too much, nice easy pace, discuss likes and dislikes, have a wonderful vacation.

Bill

I agree with Bill's suggestion re bus to DHS and boat to IG - it's lovely. But the answer to your question #2 is yes, it would be faster to Uber to BC and walk to IG. Just not as much fun! So to me it would depend on how much in a hurry you are to get into WS.

 

[Best Aunt]

Make the fastpasses. If you aren't getting to parks early in the morning and have no fastpasses, you will not be able to do much without huge lines. You might be happy just wandering around the parks but your friend probably anticipates going on attractions. I would book three for every afternoon.

 

[kristenrice]

Make the fastpasses. If you aren't getting to parks early in the morning and have no fastpasses, you will not be able to do much without huge lines. You might be happy just wandering around the parks but your friend probably anticipates going on attractions. I would book three for every afternoon.

I re-read my first post and realized that I was probably a little unclear...it is actually my friend who prefers to just wander around and see what she can see without too much planning. My normal plan is to hit the park at opening, do whatever we can without fastpasses until the lines get too long, then head back to the resort or have a table-service meal before returning to a park for the afternoon/evening to use the fastpasses I've planned for the day.

The biggest issue we are going to run into as far as planning is concerned is that we are on opposite schedules. We have been co-workers and good friends for the past 17 years. I work from 5am to 5pm and she works from 4:30pm to 4:30am....completely opposite. So it will be hard for her to get up at 7-8am and I will be lucky if my eyes are still open at 10pm. Rope drop and morning EMH aren't going to happen and I am OK with that because, like I said, this is one trip out of many for me and I don't have to stick to my normal routine.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Do you know that there's another party so you can view the fireworks from TOTW? I would not want to miss the MNSSHP fireworks.

 

[rcchello]

When hit with guests on different schedules, we set up a meeting time in the park. So in the morning we would go to the park and then meet the guest before lunch. We would do things together until after dinner and split up again. You only need to synchronize for part of the day and not even all days to have a good time together.

Everyone has different interests and togetherness needs. Enjoy your time together and separate on your vacation.

 

[butsy113]

Do you know that there's another party so you can view the fireworks from TOTW? I would not want to miss the MNSSHP fireworks.

I was thinking the same thing! Also, I know the fireworks don't get cancelled often, but my luck the night I wanted to watch them they would. I love the fireworks from TOTWL, but it is a totally different view from in front of the castle. Maybe do both so your friend can see the different perspective. I still think it's crazy how the fireworks look like they are shot of right around the castle, lol!

 

[kristenrice]

Do you know that there's another party so you can view the fireworks from TOTW? I would not want to miss the MNSSHP fireworks.

I was thinking the same thing! Also, I know the fireworks don't get cancelled often, but my luck the night I wanted to watch them they would. I love the fireworks from TOTWL, but it is a totally different view from in front of the castle. Maybe do both so your friend can see the different perspective. I still think it's crazy how the fireworks look like they are shot of right around the castle, lol!

We are there for 5 nights and there are 3 parties, including the night we arrive.