Y'all, I've officially gone and lost my mind...

[klitteral2009]

So we've gone from taking a 4 night cruise on the Dream and driving down........ to flying down, taking our 4 night Dream cruise and extending our stay until Sunday staying at Carribean Beach with two day park hoppers. We arrive to hop on the Mickey boat on 10/2 and start our WDW stay after we disembark on 10/6...I have never done a trip to WDW with this little time to plan! Nor have we ever done a trip with the scary level of crowds I predict we'll see So, all knowing, all seeing experts on the DIS...how do I still find enjoyment on this short, busy trip? All the FP for the headliners are long gone, and we wont even get to a park until late morning on 10/6...HALP!!! I'm all for going with the flow, and just enjoying being in the parks but we'd like to catch a few rides too!

 

[Gehrig1B]

Congratulations but... Be careful. I hope you are not flying in the same day as cruise departure? A late flight or cancelled flight could jeopardize your entire cruise. I always suggest to fly in the day before a cruise. Too many horror stories of folks missing their cruise departure due to flight complications and costing them a huge amount of money!

Last minute cancellations often allow for day of FP+ selections. Just keep trying!

 

[sstarsy]

Good luck!

 

[Nstigator]

So we've gone from taking a 4 night cruise on the Dream and driving down........ to flying down, taking our 4 night Dream cruise and extending our stay until Sunday staying at Carribean Beach with two day park hoppers. We arrive to hop on the Mickey boat on 10/2 and start our WDW stay after we disembark on 10/6...I have never done a trip to WDW with this little time to plan! Nor have we ever done a trip with the scary level of crowds I predict we'll see So, all knowing, all seeing experts on the DIS...how do I still find enjoyment on this short, busy trip? All the FP for the headliners are long gone, and we wont even get to a park until late morning on 10/6...HALP!!! I'm all for going with the flow, and just enjoying being in the parks but we'd like to catch a few rides too!

I've been in the parks two years in a row around that weekend and will be there again this year at Epcot. It's been a little crowded of course because it's the weekend (with some having a holiday on Monday) but it's certainly not at a super scary level. Like you said, go with the flow. Check wait times and see if you can catch a relatively short wait on a ride or two that you really want to do. Being local, we rarely plan in advance and have FP for the "headliners". Oftentimes we do see it with a wait we are willing to do, but when we don't we always find plenty of enjoyment with other things around the park. There is always something new and magical to experience. You might find that being less focused on the headliners, planning, FPs, etc allows you to enjoy the other things much better.

 

[loves to dive]

Just keep checking FPs, they pop up all the time. You will be there during F&W so go to Epcot and enjoy the booths.

 

[Micca]

I don't think it will be "scary busy"--just busy. Just do what the vets do like hit RD, clear out midday if it's too much, come back at night (though coming back at night for F&W on a weekend is not advisable.) You'll get some FPs and when you get home everyone will be jealous that you just got to go on a cruise and to WDW.

 

[klitteral2009]

Strangely enough, I always come here to find peace And you all have helped with your replies! I think the part that scares me the most is just arriving around 12 on Friday and trying to find a plan that gets us someplace...a few rides but maybe SOTMK? We've never played that...or some pixie dust at the barbershop...or maybe a climb up into the treehouse Gonna be happy to be there and like Micca said, I am getting to go on a cruise and then hit WDW so what's not to be happy about? LOL.

 

[FastPasser.]

I do think you've lost your mind, your cruise is too short and your stay at WDW should be longer. Who needs FPs, just go and do what you can, it'll be plenty.