Which Would You Do????

[Terk-1]

Am arriving the day after Thanksgiving and should be at the resort around 11:30am to 12pm that day via DME. Can't decide which to do. Have a 10-day park hopper pass and am on DDP.

1. Check in to the resort, then head straight to EPCOT. Grab a quick lunch and hit Future World. Head back to resort around 3pm to unpack and relax a bit (will be up at 3:30am to leave for the airport at 4am for a 7am flight). Head back to EPCOT around 5:30pm to view the Tree Lighting ceremony at 6pm. Dinner at Cape May Cafe at 6:30pm. View decorations at the Beach & Yacht Club, then head back over to EPCOT to view the Winter Lights. Head back to resort around 9ish and to bed (again will be up since 3:30am!).

2. Check in to the resort, then head over to Downtown Disney to do a little shopping. Head back to resort and do the rest of option 1.

 

[BillSears]

Am arriving the day after Thanksgiving and should be at the resort around 11:30am to 12pm that day via DME. Can't decide which to do. Have a 10-day park hopper pass and am on DDP.

Sorry but I'm abit confused. You have a 10-day park hopper and the DDP for a 1 night stay?

 

[Terk-1]

You have a 10-day park hopper and the DDP for a 1 night stay?

I am staying at this resort for 10 days, have a 10 day park hopper pass and have 9 nights on the dining plan.

 

[czycropper]

I was at Epcot the Friday after Thanksgiving last year and I will tell you that it was super crowded - the FastPast for Soarin' was out by 11 am (we were lucky and went there the minute Epcot was opened so we were able able to ride it!)

If it was me, I would relax at the resort and take it easy!

 

[MomofKatie]

If it was me, I would relax at the resort and take it easy!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

i personallywouldn't do all the back and forth.

and personally, option 1 doesn't really give you enough time to go and get lunch and walk around (assume arrive at hotel by 1145, assume record check in done by 1215, and then go wait for bus. assume it comes at 1230, you arrive at epcot and are at the gate for 1, go to lunch wait in line, sit to eat, 130, finish eating (fast?) 145pm. that gives you exactly 1 hour before you have to make your way back to the bus to leave around 3, just to go back at dinner time.

IMO i would go to the resort, and do one of the following:

relax and unwind and then do (or leave for epcot a bit earlier and cut out the whole there back there back thing)

Head back to EPCOT around 5:30pm to view the Tree Lighting ceremony at 6pm. Dinner at Cape May Cafe at 6:30pm. View decorations at the Beach & Yacht Club, then head back over to EPCOT to view the Winter Lights.

Heck, after diner at cape may, i would stay at epcot for the winter lights and thenhead back to hotel, after a long day.

OR


check in and chill out and unpack if room ready, then do downtown disney if you are feeling up and ready to go, then do the dinner at epcot.

for 10 days, i would ease up on the first day just a bit. plus i know u are having another day (at least) at epcot since you are going to the candlelight processional, if i recall correctly so u can do the yacht and beach club viewing then.

 

[Terk-1]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm hoping my room will be ready when I check-in (as it's being allergy cleaned). I do like the idea of unpacking, grab some lunch in the foodcourt, relax for awhile, then head to EPCOT around 4pm and just wander around. As I'm planning on going to Disney Studios for their AM EMH the next morning, I was thinking of just taking the first day at a bit of a slower pace. Also, since I'm staying at POFQ, I can always take the boat over to DTD one afternoon and do a little shopping, while everyone is at the parks.

 

[helenk]

I would grab a bite to eat at the resort, go and rest a bit and then head over to Epcot

 

[BlindTyldak]

Meh, I'm a bench commando . . . Dave has NOTHING on me. Head right over to Epcot, grab yourself something yummy, and stroll around for a bit. Find that bench (I recommend the garden in Japan) and unwind. Take in that you're back in Disney. Buy a small plush or something fun for your Mousekeeper to play with during your trip. Wander back, do SE, head back to a bus, go back to the hotel, relax. Head back when you're ready.

 

[Redbudlover]

Whew Terk! I can tell you are really excited about your trip! But I had to click on your profile and check your age to decide whether I should bring in my EM buddies to be on alert in case of a heart attack! If I understand this correctly you are getting up at 3:30 am - flying into Orlando and then messing about with ME for a while then running busily back and forth between Epcot and your resort like a crazy man all afternoon and evening! Whoo Hoo! And the other option is to relax and go to DTD? And THEN complete the schedule? My word!

I have read lots of your posts and you seem like a pretty neat person and - apart from a little Disney addiction we all share - pretty normal???

So just my opinion, but if it were me I would check in, go to Epcot, back to resort at 3:30 to unpack and relax until dinner at Cape May, check out decorations there, and the go back to Epcot to stroll around for a while and then go home. OR if the tree lighting ceremony is only going to be held one night I would cancel Cape May and make an ADR somewhere over in Epcot so you wouldn't have to run back and forth to eat!

One question, though. What Winter LIghts are you talking about? The Osborne Lights are at MGM from 6 to 8 pm - are those the lights you are talking about? If so then you are going to run over to MGM after running around Epcot? I get there that Sunday - I hope you will still be OK!

 

[Terk-1]

One question, though. What Winter LIghts are you talking about?

The Winter Lights are the white arch of lights that connects Future World with World Showcase. At night, it's all lit up and "dances" to holiday music, while it changes colors. It's really lovely to see and are shown nightly, as is the tree lighting.

Whew Terk! I can tell you are really excited about your trip! But I had to click on your profile and check your age to decide whether I should bring in my EM buddies to be on alert in case of a heart attack! If I understand this correctly you are getting up at 3:30 am - flying into Orlando and then messing about with ME for a while then running busily back and forth between Epcot and your resort like a crazy woman all afternoon and evening! Whoo Hoo! And the other option is to relax and go to DTD? And THEN complete the schedule? My word!

That's why I'm rethinking the original post. I'm thinking of just getting to the resort, checking in, hopefully be able to get in to my room, unpack and just relax for a bit by the pool. Will head over to EPCOT later and just stroll from the entrance (of course, have to grab a quick ride on Test Track) over to the Beach Club for dinner, then stroll back through EPCOT towards Spaceship Earth (of course photographing everything), then back to the resort and to bed. Will probably be pretty tired by then. Thanks again for all your input!!

 

[Redbudlover]

Oops, sorry about the gender thing! I guess for some reason Terk sounds male to me???? Where does it come from, if you don't mind sharing?

Thanks for the info on the winter lights. Wow! it sounds terrific! And where do they do the tree lighting? (And I thought I knew all about everything....)

 

[winterman]

You have a 10 day hopper, you can afford to slow down. IMO you don't need a hopper for that long a stay but you didn't ask that.

On your arrival day check into your room, get unpacked, check out the resort if you have never been there before. Then go to either MK or Epcot to do a few rides and have dinner. Go back to your resort after dinner and get to bed early so you'll be ready to get started early the next morning.

 

[Terk-1]

Oops, sorry about the gender thing! I guess for some reason Terk sounds male to me???? Where does it come from, if you don't mind sharing?

Not a problem. Comes from the movie Tarzan. Terk was Tarzan's best friend and was voiced by Rosie O'Donnell.

Thanks for the info on the winter lights. Wow! it sounds terrific! And where do they do the tree lighting? (And I thought I knew all about everything....)

The EPCOT tree is at the end of the path that connects Future World and World Showcase. There is a tree lighting ceremony every night (Thanksgiving-New Year's) at 6pm. I have some pictures of both. Give me a minute and will post them.

 

[Terk-1]

EPCOT Tree:

 

[Terk-1]

 

[Terk-1]

You have a 10 day hopper, you can afford to slow down. IMO you don't need a hopper for that long a stay but you didn't ask that.

On your arrival day check into your room, get unpacked, check out the resort if you have never been there before. Then go to either MK or Epcot to do a few rides and have dinner. Go back to your resort after dinner and get to bed early so you'll be ready to get started early the next morning.

The difference between a 9-day and a 10-day park hopper pass was $1. I think I'm going to do as you and others have suggested. Have been to this resort before, but not since it was remodeled.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

If it were me, I would unpack and grab lunch at the resort and then just relax in my room, maybe take a nap, and then venture over to MGM to see the Osborne Family Lights and maybe Fantasmic or a ride/attraction or two. Afterwards I would head back for a good nights sleep and then do Epcot the next day.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

Oh crap, now I'm homesick for Christmas at WDW!