What would you do, 5/28?

[agamble]

We're activating APs this Sunday and visiting just for the one day as part of our Memorial Day Weekend camping trip. We should be at the gates before 8AM opening, we cannot leave midday to rest, and we will likely stay until around 8PM. We are a family of 5 with three kids Baby (1.5), Buddy (4), and Crabby (not yet 7 which complicates things as she won't be allowed to ride in her own vehicle on this trip).

Our number one goal is to ride Hyperspace as it is closing and we haven't ridden it yet. I told DH we are getting FP for that first thing. He wanted to ride HSM later in the day because he is worried our 4 y/o won't like it and we both feel he should ride Thunder Mtn first. I said we can use the riderswap pass later in the day and see if the 4 y/o wants to go then, but the rest of us can ride early in the day just in case it breaks down.

My original thought was that he could take the older two on Star Tours (4 y/o first time) and grab a riderswap pass for me for later while Baby and I go get Hyperspace Mountain FP and then wait for them. Then possibly hang out in Tomorrowland riding Buzz and/or Astro while waiting for return time. We also discussed just having him be the runner for HSM FP and all of us starting at Alice and Teacups so Baby can enjoy some rides first thing too.

Besides HSM we would like to ride Big Thunder, Gadget's, and Splash and maybe see the Cars3 preview (not sure I want to brave DCA though) or ride Matterhorn. We will be returning for a much longer trip about 3 weeks later and will have time to do plenty then.

If you were in our situation, what would you do first?
OR
If your family was going on a busy summer weekend what would be your plan of attack?

 

[Butterfly123]

Are you pretty sure your 4 year old will like Star Tours? You want to start off on a positive note! If so then I think I would go with your first (original) plan. You will all be together in the same land, which simplifies things. And the baby will enjoy Buzz, if you have time for it while waiting to use your FP.

It will be a crazy day, but since you're coming back so soon and don't feel pressured to get too much stuff done, I'm sure it will be a blast!

 

[Lesley Wake]

For HSM, I would go with FPs. But if you grab them right at rope drop it will be a very soon return time-not enough to go on Big Thunder. If you wait a little bit, the FPs will be ready for mid/early afternoon. I would also agree that you should do something together to start. I would do this:
-Ride Buzz together as a family. The wait time will be very short that early.
-Check the FP return times for HSM. If it is still too early, maybe send DH with 4 and 7 y/o on Star Tours, utilizing Rider Swap. While they are on the ride, you keep the tickets and eventually grab FPs for HSM, monitoring when it will be the best time to return.
-Head west, checking on wait times. Big Thunder and Splash should still have relatively short wait times so you can ride both of those. Baby may also like Winnie the Pooh, so you can always do that while waiting for the family on Splash.
-By the time you are done with both of those, you may be able to use the FP + Rider Swap for HSM.
-Then head up to Toontown and ride Gadget. On the way you can pick up FPs for Matterhorn.

Despite crowds, you should be able to have a relaxing time because you are getting there early and don't have too high of expectations to go on every single ride! I went on Memorial Day a couple years ago with a group of 12 people. We were able to go on every ride we wanted, just by recognizing we would need to wait in some lines, and using the FP runner strategy.

Good luck!

 

[agamble]

Are you pretty sure your 4 year old will like Star Tours? You want to start off on a positive note! If so then I think I would go with your first (original) plan. You will all be together in the same land, which simplifies things. And the baby will enjoy Buzz, if you have time for it while waiting to use your FP.

It will be a crazy day, but since you're coming back so soon and don't feel pressured to get too much stuff done, I'm sure it will be a blast!

He should love Star Tours. He's a big Star Wars Fan and a screen time junkie, so it's perfect for him. He might like Hyperspace too, but it is dark and fast and he hasn't been on a coaster bigger than Gadget's yet.