Typhoon Lagoon AND Magic Kingdom.......would you do it?

[littlbugmom]

We don't plan park visits for our arrival days. We like to get settled in, swim and relax.

Our first full day will be Saturday, April 2nd. I've read to expect high crowds coming off Easter week, so instead of a day of touring MK, I thought it would be a good idea to save our MK days for later the next week. DH suggested a water park for something different. We're usually only good for a few hours at water parks, so we'd have that evening free to do something else.



What do you think of this:

Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
a few hours at Typhoon Lagoon
Relax at the condo
8pm to 11pm at Magic Kingdom


Since we'll only be in the park a few hours, what should we do?

 

[Bullseye]

We did Blizzard Beach our first day this year and it worked out great. We usually arrive at resort around 11am. We checked in, had lunch and then headed to BB for 5 hours. By the time we returned our room was ready. That evening we did the grocery shopping and then hung out at the pool. The next day we were ready for a full park day. We're doing the same thing this year.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Sure, you could do that.

I'm not sure where your condo is located, but your plan will likely involve a fair amount of travel time. For a start CR and TL are not close together. You also don't say what time your breakfast is. Supposing your breakfast is at 9am. You'd be done about 10:30am, drive is at least 20min, plus parking/changing/getting in the gate. That puts you entering TL some time after 11am.

I'd figure at least an hour drive time between the parks and the condo, probably quite a bit more. Our last two trips, we got stuck in traffic on I-4, for example. There's also lines, parking, the TTC, bag check.

One plus of doing a partial day in MK if you have multi-day tickets is the 3 FP limitation. Whether you go for a few hours or all day, all guests can pre-book 3FP. For us, that made (adding) partial park days more worthwhile- like our arrival and departure days.

 

[lovethattink]

Typically, the water parks are least crowded at opening and a couple hours before closing. Depending when your breakfast is, you may be at the water park at its busiest time of day.

 

[superlarz]

FP+ makes this idea pretty good. We didnt get to Orlando until after 6pm last time we went, and headed straight to MK. Had late FPs booked in advance so we had no wait for 3 attractions and were able to catch MSEP and Wishes.

 

[Pkltm]

Love the water parks!!!

 

[Alesia]

I wouldn't do Chef Mickey's before. A heavy breakfast before a water park is a recipe for disaster. I'd eat cereal at the condo and snack as needed throughout the morning. Also, you're adding a lot of travel time.

You'll really want to be at the water park when it opens - by noon it's going to get crowded.

Otherwise, it's a good plan.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Jungle Cruise are both fantastic after dark. I highly recommend getting fastpasses for them. And maybe the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train.

 

[courtneybeth]

Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
a few hours at Typhoon Lagoon
Relax at the condo
8pm to 11pm at Magic Kingdom

I would steer clear of Chef Mickey's for a few reasons: it's out of the way of where you want to eventually end up; the food isn't that great for the cost; and it's never a good idea to eat too heavy at a water park. You may want to eat a light breakfast before you head out to Typhoon Lagoon and then buy lunch there -- really good hot dogs and wraps at the quick service restaurants.

Otherwise this sounds like a good use of plans.

 

[pooh4evr]

We have done TL then a park in the evening. For us it was great with the exception of transportation, They stop running buses back to All Star after 2. So we had to get a bus to (don't remember which) either DS or Epcot to get back to Sports. It was a pain. I would not do a big breakfast either.

 

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'd rather be at the water park for opening, especially on a Saturday.
Saturday at the Magic Kingdom will be the busiest day of the week.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'm with those who say to steer clear of Chef Mickey the morning of TL... everything else looks good!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't agree with being at the water park at opening- at least not April 1. What will you do if it is chilly that day?

I've been to WDW around that time of year many times. Odds are strong that afternoon temps will be nice, but it is far from a guarantee that morning temps will be warm.

One mid-April trip of our, it was warm on arrival day (low 80's), but the rest to the week it was only highs of 57-64.

Most March/April trips we had at least one day of nice swimming weather, but we've also often had at least one day that was a bit chilly for swimming.

 

[maryj11]

I would steer clear of Chef Mickey's for a few reasons: it's out of the way of where you want to eventually end up; the food isn't that great for the cost; and it's never a good idea to eat too heavy at a water park. You may want to eat a light breakfast before you head out to Typhoon Lagoon and then buy lunch there -- really good hot dogs and wraps at the quick service restaurants.

Otherwise this sounds like a good use of plans.

I agree and maybe get a dinner reservation before going to MK

 

[littlbugmom]

I hadn't thought about the big breakfast followed by a water park........you might be right about that!
Thank you, you've given us much to think about. The kids REALLY want CM, so we'll need to discuss this.

 

[kelleybean]

It may also depend on whether you want to use a whole day's park ticket at MK for just a few hours. We have been to the water parks even on really busy days (like July 4th) and found them manageable IF we get there at opening, as others have said. You can hit the slides before the lines build, then save the lazy river and wave pool (which don't have lines, obviously) for when it gets more crowded. We always head out by 11:30 because we hate the crowds, but we have the benefit of being local and having water park AP's.

What about doing lunch somewhere instead of breakfast?