Trying to squeeze in Epcot and critiquing my plan

[Mrspeaks]

I am traveling Sept 2-9 with free dining with my dh, dd 5, dd 3 and my parents who are active 70 year olds. That being said, I wore them out last year on our trip over the same week. We did 3 park days, rest day and then 2 park days and departed on Saturday. We rope drop and leave after dinner. When planning the trip this year I wanted to be more mindful of rest days so my parents would be more relaxed and rested and can enjoy the parks more. I am struggling to fit Epcot in, whether we go to a park on arrival day and what do before the MNSSHP. I appreciate suggestions, I realize this is just me over planning, but I love it.

Current plan:
Saturday: Arrive at MCO at 9:00am, rent car, have swimsuits separate to swim at resort. Mickey's Backyard BBQ - paying out of pocket, my girls love this
Sunday: Animal Kingdom rope drop, 11:30 Tusker House
Monday: Resort break day, Dinner at 'Ohana
Tuesday: Magic Kingdom EMM, 5:00 Crystal Palace
Wednesday: Hollywood Studios rope drop, Lunch at 50s Prime time, Dinner at Sci Fi - splitting meals
Thursday: MNSSHP - Arrive at 4
Friday: Resort break day, Resort table service somewhere for Dinner
Saturday: leave MCO 11:00am

Things I'm cotemplating are going to Epcot on arrival day and moving our BBQ reservation to Friday. We will be leaving at 7:00 am that morning, so an early day at the airport. Or Epcot with EMH before the MNSSHP, worried this might wear the girls and my parents out. I would think we would stay until 11ish and try to get the kids a nap. Also, I can drop to a 3 day ticket with the party if we dont do Epcot. Our big interests at Epcot are geared around my girls - FEA, meet Anna and Elsa, Turtle talk and Nemo ride.

Thoughts?

 

[kmv]

Could your parents sleep in on Monday, Thursday or Friday and then have a nice breakfast just the two of them while you bring your girls to EPCOT for the morning? You could still be back right after lunch and have the rest of the day with them/off? It would probably be nice for your DH, you and your girls to experience something alone and it would probably be nice for your parents to have some quiet time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Perhaps do half a day at EP before MNSSHP. You could arrive at EP later in the morning, do 3 FP+ there and then head over to MK for the party. Or, do you have to do MK EMM? If not, I would consolidate your MK day and do MK on your MNSSHP day. You could still get to the park a little later in the morning if you want to save your energy for the party, drop EMM, book 3 FP+ for the day and, if you can, move your CP reservation earlier to, say, 4 pm, so you are out in plenty of time for the party. Or, perhaps throw EP in on one of your resort days and have the grandparents meet you later in the day or just for dinner in the evening.

 

[minniegirl19]

I definitely would just do Epcot Friday morning/early afternoon and the grandparents can decide if they want to join or not. You want to be rested for the Halloween party and if you push the girls for a full day they won't be able to enjoy it. I think breaks are spread out great and if you did a half day at Epcot on your last day it's sill something you'd enjoy.

 

[danielocha30]

I would take friday evening for epcot, plan a early dinner on one of the many table service restaurants and watch Illumination fireworks

 

[srwarden1928]

I personally would despise having a break day on what would have been the second day in the parks (although Ohana is one of my favorite restaurants). Maybe go to Epcot then.

 

[amberpi]

Drop all other parks (and drop HS until 2019) and go to Epcot

Seriously, use the time before the party as the rest day and give Epcot a full day, perhaps with a mid day break, breaking up Future World and World Showcase? That way ya'll could stay for Illuminations, which even gets this cold hearted, caustic, jaded, you know what joked up. EVERY. FLIPPING. TIME. (Probably seen the show literally 100 times).

Also, park hoppers! But I'm a hopper, hop every day of every trip I've been on 30+ in adulthood, every summer as a kid. When they stop doing park hoppers, WDW finally loses my business.

 

[cruisin5]

I would consider moving HS to a half day then heading over to Epcot for the afternoon/evening and dinner. Your parents could skip the morning to meet you at Epcot, they could also stay later in Epcot to enjoy WS.

Tuesday/Wednesday are your long days so if you want to make any changes I would do it on these days.

Sounds like a great plan otherwise, a nice balance of parks and pool!

 

[glassslippergirl]

Plan Epcot on Friday. Let everyone sleep until they wake up, have a nice lunch, and head to Epcot for the afternoon/evening. You could do the same on Tuesday. Personally, I feel like you've overcompensated on the resort time. I would be bored with what amounts to three days at the hotel, and I'm not a kid. Can grandma and grandpa just choose to head back to resorts early some days or join you late?

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Do you need that much rest/resort time...?

I'd let your parents take a break while you go to Epcot on Monday or Friday.