WWYD - park visits

[musika]

This is all hypothetical at this stage for our family, but if anyone has any thoughts would love some opinions.

If we go to MNSSHP, it's because my kid will have a thing on Fri Sept 26, so we absolutely have to be checked into that hotel by Thurs Sept 25. I wouldn't want to do the Thursday party (if there is one) because I need them to be well rested for their thing.

I'm leaning towards the party on Tues Sept 23 (assuming that's when it will be based on past schedules). That would mean us flying in on Monday, resort/rest day Tuesday, party Tuesday night, rest day Wednesday, and something on Thursday + hotel transfer. Potentially 3 nights in Disney with the rest of our time in Universal (though, we might switch hotels Wednesday night depending on price).

WWYD on Wednesday and/or Thursday? Our last trip to Disney was in early 2020 so there are a fair number of new things in all parks. Our plan is Universal on Mon/Tues/Wed of the week following.

 

[hes122]

What about Epcot for F&W and also to check out the new things since you were there last? Have you been there since MMRR at HS opened?

 

[Mouse Tracker]

Where is your kids "thing" on Friday?

What time is the possible flight for the Monday?

 

[musika]

What about Epcot for F&W and also to check out the new things since you were there last? Have you been there since MMRR at HS opened?

F&W isn't a huge draw for us, but good point to check the event out to see if there's anything compelling. MMRR opened the month after we visited, so haven't seen it! I think at most I'd want to do one other park. Given the state of AK I'd rule that out. So I guess I'm really asking whether Epcot or HS is the better choice if we do decide to do a park day. Could in theory hop I suppose, but I'm not sure the whole famjam would be up for that kind of marathon day.

 

[hes122]

Remy & Guardians (plus the whole front of Epcot has been reimagined) are new at Epcot since 2020. Once the Eat to the Beat concert list gets published there may be someone you're interested in seeing.

We were expecting F&W to be open during our August visit when we booked, but we ended up missing it by 4-5 days. We still managed to find plenty to keep ourselves occupied with no festival, so I wouldn't write off Epcot as an option. A one-day PH ticket just to see MMRR might be pricey even though transportation between the two parks is easy.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Adding PH to short tickets is expensive so do the math before even considering it.

I'd be more inclined to do a park Wed afternoon and night, then sleep in Thurs and enjoying resort time at whatever hotel you prefer transferring before/after as is appropriate. A park day + WDW/UOR hotel trans on Thurs will result in kinda tired on Fri no matter how much resting you do on Wed.

 

[musika]

Adding PH to short tickets is expensive so do the math before even considering it.

I'd be more inclined to do a park Wed afternoon and night, then sleep in Thurs and enjoying resort time at whatever hotel you prefer transferring before/after as is appropriate. A park day + WDW/UOR hotel trans on Thurs will result in kinda tired on Fri no matter how much resting you do on Wed.

Yeah, agree with that. Especially being CDN, the exchange rate is killer. I'm leaning towards Epcot because of Remy and GOTG which are both new from our last visit. I love HS more, but I don't think the new stage shows and MMRR would trump GOTG for our family.

Ordinarily we would stay at Pop but may need to cheap out on this trip depending on how hotel rates trend in the next couple of months and go for the All Stars. I think anything else is likely out of budget right now, but TBH we love Pop so it's not a super hardship.

Any ideas on what the hours would normally be at Epcot in late September? Or historical resources I could check?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Ordinarily we would stay at Pop but may need to cheap out on this trip depending on how hotel rates trend in the next couple of months and go for the All Stars. I think anything else is likely out of budget right now, but TBH we love Pop so it's not a super hardship.

Any ideas on what the hours would normally be at Epcot in late September? Or historical resources I could check?

Current and historical hours link

Disney World doesn't have dynamic rates for their hotels right now. So, the price you see now is what it is unless another deal comes out (deals for Sept are already out) or availability changes (like the room is only available at rack rate now but a room at a discounted rates becomes available later).

 

[musika]

Current and historical hours link

Disney World doesn't have dynamic rates for their hotels right now. So, the price you see now is what it is unless another deal comes out (deals for Sept are already out) or availability changes (like the room is only available at rack rate now but a room at a discounted rates becomes available later).

That link is really helpful, thanks! Forgot that about Disney hotels. Pondering whether I should book now in case the rate goes away. I'm between Pop @ 185/nt and the All stars at $137/nt (sports) or 145/nt (music/movies). It doesn't seem like a huge difference, but $40USD over three nights = $165 CDN which is a little gross on a trip we're trying not to splurge too much on.

 

[gottalovepluto]

That link is really helpful, thanks! Forgot that about Disney hotels. Pondering whether I should book now in case the rate goes away. I'm between Pop @ 185/nt and the All stars at $137/nt (sports) or 145/nt (music/movies). It doesn't seem like a huge difference, but $40USD over three nights = $165 CDN which is a little gross on a trip we're trying not to splurge too much on.

Yes you should book now. Availability can change at any time and Disney allows cancellations until 8 days out if you’re doing room only so what is there to lose?

Fwiw- AS may not be that bad of a choice considering you are traveling during storm season (any lightening in the area shuts down the Skyliner)

 

[musika]

Coming back to update... we officially are going! Here's our current (very tentative) Disney leg of our plans. The only thing I don't love is it involves a lot of hotel switching, but more than one night in a deluxe hotel is way (way) out of our budget.

Monday Sep 22 - fly in, arrive late afternoon. Chill at hotel. (All Star Sports, booked)
Tuesday Sep 23 - no concrete day plans (disney springs, maybe?) MNSSHP this night. Stay at Sports again.
Wednesday Sep 24 - switch hotels to YC/BC (haven't decided which yet, same price @528/nt - I cannot convert this to Canadian it makes me ill to think of it hahah.)
Thinking about a PH for Epcot and DHS, starting at Epcot (priority being new things since our last visit, really just a taste of this park), then finishing our night at DHS. Reallllly hoping for EEH at DHS (The link above for historical hours shows they take over that last week of Sept from MK EEH so hoping for the same this year).
Thurs Sep 25 - No parks, pool day at SAB (can do this after checkout until midnight, I think?). Whenever we're ready, transfer to our next hotel in the Universal area via Uber/Lyft.

Part of me thinks a two day ticket would be better, but I equally want to limit some of the walking on Thursday for my kiddo who's got a competition thing on Friday that they need to be well rested for. We've never park hopped before - I'm hoping this isn't *too* ambitious? My kids are 10 and 13 so not little so we're trying the late night route this trip for our park days.

 

[musika]

And now another wrinkle to consider. Since it's now going to be a split stay we'd be eligible for free water park day on Sep 24. However coming off MNSSHP the night before, I doubt very highly we'd get there by park open. If BB happens to be the one that stays open, we'd have easy transport there from Allstars and could do luggage transfer to YC/BC... but then I feel like Epcot/HS on top of that is a recipe for disaster.

Which then makes me think, what about a 2 day ticket instead of a hopper.... and do some of Epcot on Thursday night? We do have to transfer hotels that day (our new hotel will be the Doubletree outside Universal gates). But I think potentially do-able if we utilize rideshare to make the move. We also wanted some Stormalong Bay time on that day tho... Decisions decisions! Any thoughts?

 

[cruising spud]

Just my opinion: You naturally know your family and what they are up for better than I do.

My feelings- you are trying to squeeze in a lot on this trip.

Is MNSSHP a MUST do? The reason I say this is because being up so late, could really throw off Wednesday plans, assuming your family would want to sleep in. If so, this would make you late to get to the parks on Wednesday. And, again, my opinion, rope dropping is everything.

You are doing BC/YC because of SAB and EEH, yes?

But now a water park is also a contender.

You are transferring hotels, which takes time.

I would sit your family down and see what their non-negotiables are.

If it were me-my opinion only, I would check in and relax on Monday, and do the parks Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I would leave the parks a bit early on Thursday, so the kids could get to bed early on Thursday evening.

I would stay at the All Stars for the entire trip and not do the water park. I would not do park hoppers. I would also have food delivered to your room or stop at a grocery store on Monday on your way to Disney. This way you can eat breakfast in the room and save time. You could also get some drinks and snacks and save a bit of money.

I think that just going to the parks gives you a lot to do.

Best wishes.

 

[musika]

My feelings- you are trying to squeeze in a lot on this trip.

Is MNSSHP a MUST do? The reason I say this is because being up so late, could really throw off Wednesday plans, assuming your family would want to sleep in. If so, this would make you late to get to the parks on Wednesday. And, again, my opinion, rope dropping is everything.

You are doing BC/YC because of SAB and EEH, yes?

Agreed this is a squeeze and we have tough choices ahead! This is really just a taste of Disney on this trip, our greater focus is Universal later in the week post-event.

MNSSHP is a must do - we have all agreed on this. Normally I'm a rope dropper as well, but my family definitely wants this one so the rest of the days will definitely have to be skewed towards afternoon/evening due to the expected late start on Wednesday. We have one kid who never sleeps in ever, no matter what - plus our time zone at home is an hour ahead of FL, so I suspect we'll be on the move for the day no later than 10am anyway (plus I think we'd have to be out by 11am for checkout if we go with this plan).

BC/YC to hopefully snag EEH at DHS and for SAB the following day, yes. So that would be another late night until 11pm or so.

I think the question I'm playing around with right now is water park or limited time at Epcot on the Wednesday. Either way we wouldn't be planning to arrive at DHS until at least 4pm with the intent of staying until park close, with another sleep-in on Thursday. Then on Thursday, wake up when ready, one of us (probably me) schleps our stuff to the new hotel while everyone else is chilling at at the pool. Then return, few hours at Epcot, then Uber/Lyft back to new hotel. We'd have our wet stuff with us in this scenario, but in theory we could shove in a locker? I don't know, still playing around with this.

Our goal for Epcot would be GOTG, Remy, Test Track, and Mission Space (my youngest was too small last trip for this one). Anything other than that is gravy - not expecting to do/see everything in the park.

 

[cruising spud]

All right-then a different itinerary approach for this trip.

Best wishes.

Let us know what you decide.