WWYD one night trip

[Calee]

Back story: We've been to wdw twice in the last two years for a week each.

On october 17 and 18th we will be there for a one nighter. I'm almost scared to go bc I'm afraid we will be disappointed with all we dont get to do, lol.

We live far away but will be in town for a wedding and have free one day basic tickets that can not be upgraded. Our children are 6, 8 and 10 and their favorite park is MK so we are doing that despite it being a party night (no party tickets). I have fast passes already.

We are staying at a disney springs hotel the night before. (Wed night).

So I'm trying to decide what to do with the rest of our (short) time. We will arrive wed afternoon. We have been to disney springs on both other visits so while I have an adr there (trex) I'm trying to decide if we go there or go resort exploring and eat at a resort QS. There are so many resorts we have never checked out (we've stayed at CBR both times) and I think it would be fun. I would also like to go see POR bc it is our only other mod option for future trips and I would like to check it out first.

Then on our MK day I have a PPO at BOG. Then I'm hoping to ride mine train as our fp for that is at 230 and I'd like to get it in in the morning so I can use my other 2 morning FP and free up for 4th FP. Trying to decide what to focus on in MK is so hard bc we usually spend 2 full days there!

Then when we have to leave at 6 I'm trying to decide what to do. I have an ADR at whispering canyon for 720. Weve never been over to wilderness lodge and I would love to see jt... but I dont know if whispering canyon is worth it. My kids aren't adventurous eaters and would be happy eating pizza all day so the actual food isnt super important to them.

So. What would you do??? On arrival night? After leaving MK at 6? Any tips for a short day in MK that I may not have thought of? Anyone have experience with early transportation from DS resorts?

 

[pitpat]

don't think of a party day at MK as a negative, just enjoy the lower crowds. Since you've been there several times already, just focus on your favorites and the things you haven't yet done that you're most interested in. It's OK to let other things go until next time.

Whispering Canyon sounds like a good idea. I'd probably skip DS if you've been there twice and check out POR and YeHaa Bob instead.

 

[holden]

If your MK day is party night, I think you might get a lot done when it opens in the morning. When we hit MK at rope drop in August, we finished 10 rides in 3 hours. What time is your PPO ADR? People will be lined up at the ropes for a while before the park officially opens, so they might have an advantage over you depending on how quickly you will finish and be in line for a ride.

If I were trying to maximize my one day in MK, I wouldn't do any ADRs during my time there. Unless you will be finished and waiting outside 7D before rope drop, I'd cancel the breakfast.

I recommend going hard core all day long if your kids can handle it and booking a dinner for after your time in MK is finished. I'm not a fan of WCC, but WL is very cool to see. Take a look at the menu to see if it's for you. Other nearby options are: The Wave (you can walk there from MK) and Grand Floridian Cafe. You could eat anywhere and then head over to WL if you wanted. We enjoyed Geyser Point when it opened, but I'm not sure if the menu is the same anymore. Check that you too. The views from there are beautiful.

On your first night I'd cancel T-Rex and explore resorts. T-Rex is so loud an chaotic. My family didn't enjoy our meal there. Other families love it. You know your family best.

 

[Calee]

If your MK day is party night, I think you might get a lot done when it opens in the morning. When we hit MK at rope drop in August, we finished 10 rides in 3 hours. What time is your PPO ADR? People will be lined up at the ropes for a while before the park officially opens, so they might have an advantage over you depending on how quickly you will finish and be in line for a ride.

If I were trying to maximize my one day in MK, I wouldn't do any ADRs during my time there. Unless you will be finished and waiting outside 7D before rope drop, I'd cancel the breakfast.

I recommend going hard core all day long if your kids can handle it and booking a dinner for after your time in MK is finished. I'm not a fan of WCC, but WL is very cool to see. Take a look at the menu to see if it's for you. Other nearby options are: The Wave (you can walk there from MK) and Grand Floridian Cafe. You could eat anywhere and then head over to WL if you wanted. We enjoyed Geyser Point when it opened, but I'm not sure if the menu is the same anymore. Check that you too. The views from there are beautiful.

On your first night I'd cancel T-Rex and explore resorts. T-Rex is so loud an chaotic. My family didn't enjoy our meal there. Other families love it. You know your family best.

The PPO at BOG is at 815. Park opens at 9. We did this 2 years ago when the welcome show was at the train station and got a good jump on 7dwarves but haven't tried it since the change. We aren't super interested in actual breakfast and would probably get a couple meals to share and then bolt before RD. Where do they hold you these days after BOG but before park opening?

 

[Calee]

Thanks for the restaurant recommendations too. I am not super excited about the whispering canyon menu but my DH loves that kind of food. Kids dont care. Any opinions on roaring fork?
We can definitely go hard core all day. We did 730 am-1030 PM at MK this past May no problem.

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree that a party day can be a positive for folks who can get an early start. Since you have been before I would try to plan what I had not seen after the park closes, so Hallowishes viewing would be on my agenda. I cannot give you any feedback on Roaring Forks, and we did not like WCC at all, so I am not able to help there.

I would toss both though. I would stay in the MK until the bitter end, making sure to be in a queue before 6:00 PM park close. You cannot shop after 7:00 PM, so be sure to get all of that out of the way before the party starts. I would book Trails End in Fort Wilderness, and then after dinner make my way to the TT&C to see the fireworks.

 

[Calee]

Ohhh I didnt know we could shop until 7. I thought we would be escorted out at 6. Weve done trails end before and liked it, but on this trip if I do an ADR i want it to be something new! I've never tried watching fireworks from outside the park before so I had no idea you could see them very well!

 

[KittyKitty]

Here is a video that Touring Plans did on arriving at Mine Train at different rope drop times without PPO.

 

[Calee]

Does Yee haw Bob have certain hours?

 

[Madame]

Back story: We've been to wdw twice in the last two years for a week each.

On october 17 and 18th we will be there for a one nighter. I'm almost scared to go bc I'm afraid we will be disappointed with all we dont get to do, lol.

We live far away but will be in town for a wedding and have free one day basic tickets that can not be upgraded. Our children are 6, 8 and 10 and their favorite park is MK so we are doing that despite it being a party night (no party tickets). I have fast passes already.

We are staying at a disney springs hotel the night before. (Wed night).

So I'm trying to decide what to do with the rest of our (short) time. We will arrive wed afternoon. We have been to disney springs on both other visits so while I have an adr there (trex) I'm trying to decide if we go there or go resort exploring and eat at a resort QS. There are so many resorts we have never checked out (we've stayed at CBR both times) and I think it would be fun. I would also like to go see POR bc it is our only other mod option for future trips and I would like to check it out first.

Then on our MK day I have a PPO at BOG. Then I'm hoping to ride mine train as our fp for that is at 230 and I'd like to get it in in the morning so I can use my other 2 morning FP and free up for 4th FP. Trying to decide what to focus on in MK is so hard bc we usually spend 2 full days there!

Then when we have to leave at 6 I'm trying to decide what to do. I have an ADR at whispering canyon for 720. Weve never been over to wilderness lodge and I would love to see jt... but I dont know if whispering canyon is worth it. My kids aren't adventurous eaters and would be happy eating pizza all day so the actual food isnt super important to them.

So. What would you do??? On arrival night? After leaving MK at 6? Any tips for a short day in MK that I may not have thought of? Anyone have experience with early transportation from DS resorts?

My kids loved WC in Aug, but Trail’s End was better! We boated to FW for a 7:00 TE reservation then hopped on the internal bus to Chip & Dales’ campfire!

We bought some sticks & marshmellows (reasonable price) at the campfire & my kids had a blast. It was our departure night & we were looking for something we’d never done. Just tell the bus driver you need to get off for the campfire & he/she will indicate the stop. Highlight of our trip!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Ohhh I didnt know we could shop until 7. I thought we would be escorted out at 6. Weve done trails end before and liked it, but on this trip if I do an ADR i want it to be something new! I've never tried watching fireworks from outside the park before so I had no idea you could see them very well!

I was also going to suggest Trails End, but since you've done it before, I would try WCC. The food is good and the atmosphere is fun. WL is gorgeous. Afterward, consider taking the boat back to CR and doing the monorail loop. You can see the fireworks from any of the monorail resorts plus the TTC.

 

[Calee]

We leave today! Any last thoughts or suggestions?