Your longest commando park day? Also, opinions on FEA?

[YawningDodo]

I've just booked a two night stay in WDW to follow at the end of a cruise (one night following a day of travel up from Miami, a full day in WDW, and then a flight home the next morning). I've been to WDW enough times that I've "done" everything apart from Frozen Ever After and Pandora, so theoretically it's fine to have a more limited experience this time around, but I find myself so, so tempted to squeeze every minute out of it.

The situation: Animal Kingdom opens for EMH at 8:00 that morning. AK and DHS close at 8:00 that evening, Epcot at 9:00, and MK has EMH until midnight. I've got a one-day park hopper and a 6:30 FP for FEA, and my current plan is to show up at AK at least an hour before it opens and hustle through Pandora. With Epcot on my itinerary for evening and MK open so late, it just makes sense to do three parks that day, which makes me awfully tempted to do all four. I've done a four park day before and enjoyed it a lot, but if I remember correctly it was an 8:00-9:00 day, so only thirteen hours, and by the time I reached Epcot (my final park that day) I was so tired that all I did was eat dinner, ride Spaceship Earth, and find a place to sit until it was time for Illuminations. For this upcoming day at WDW I have up to 16 hours of park time open to me, plus an hour of waiting to get into AK in the morning. I'm very tempted to just go for it, but I'd hate to miss out on good night hours at MK because I'm too tired to take advantage of them.

The irony is that I didn't like the movie Avatar and I'm really not very invested in Frozen. I've just got those attractions on my schedule because they're new since I was last there. If I were doing a more laid-back day without taking new attractions into consideration, I'd probably hit DHS and MK and not go to AK or Epcot at all.

Park commandos, what would you do? I'm more willing to drop FEA than give up on FoP, though I don't know how much I'm missing out on (I'm avoiding any ride videos because I don't want spoilers). I'm expecting to visit WDW sometime in 2020 or 2021, so it's not like I'll never have another chance at it. If I do skip FEA, that looks like rope-dropping AK and having a hectic morning there, going back to the resort midday, then hitting MK in the evening (assuming 8:00-noon at AK and 5:00-midnight at MK, that's still 9 hours of park time). I suppose I could keep Epcot in the lineup even with a resort break, but I'm not sure if it's worth the travel time between parks to go there for one ride.


Edit: The other option, which I've been discussing over in the DCL subforum, is skipping Boma on the night I drive in to Orlando in favor of hitting AK that night instead and doing FoP near closing time. That'd save me an early morning, but I've been interested in Boma for years and the consensus in that other thread is that it's still something to look forward to even after a week of getting fed well on the cruise.

 

[NikkiDP]

Personally I don't think heading to EPCOT for FEA is worth it. While the animatronics are very cool the ride itself was pretty rough since it was just an overlay and it was remarkably quick. My DH and I were very underwhelmed by the ride and I am not going to be rushing back to do it on our next trip.

FOP on the other hand you should DEFINITELY do! It was amazing, visually stunning, and will make you want to do it over and over again. Not liking the movie doesn't matter at all, you can still enjoy the ride even if you hadn't seen the movie. The morning with definitely be hectic even if you are there an hour early. My only advice is watch out for the runners

I personally think 9 hours of park time is doable. You will be tired, but since you have been a few times I don't think you will have any trouble knowing when you need to rest. I agree with your initial statement though, it is SO tempting to try and do a lot simply because you are there and enjoy it. That was how my DH and I ended up staying until MK closing (11 pm) instead of leaving at 7 like we intended!!

 

[BrianL]

I actually really like FEA, but I also enjoy the movie Frozen. If you're there then definitely ride it, but I don't know that I'd make a special trip to Epcot just for it.

FoP is amazing whether or not you enjoyed the movie. It's just a spectacular experience!

 

[rg35]

I have never gone commando in the parks. Wearing underwear is important for a long day of park touring.

Seriously though - the Avatar stuff - definitely worth it for both rides and the land theming. FEA is nice...fantastic animatronics - but not worth a special trip IMO.

 

[cgattis]

As much as I love Boma, my desire to see a new attraction (even though I didn't care at all for Avatar) would win out. I do think a 4-park day would be fun, but otherwise I wouldn't make a special trip to Epcot for FEA. As PP said, there are really just a few scenes and it's very short. Queue is cute but the ride was one and done for us.

 

[Cactus girl]

Ok, what about doing Tiffins instead of Boma on your first night? My husband declared it his most favorite place to eat at WDW. At the very least, you could do the lounge. They have some special small plates on the lounge menu that are to die for. Since you are right outside the entrance to Pandora, you can do that and FOP on your first night. Then, you will probably fall so much in love with FOP that you come back the following day.

 

[YawningDodo]

Ok, what about doing Tiffins instead of Boma on your first night? My husband declared it his most favorite place to eat at WDW. At the very least, you could do the lounge. They have some special small plates on the lounge menu that are to die for. Since you are right outside the entrance to Pandora, you can do that and FOP on your first night. Then, you will probably fall so much in love with FOP that you come back the following day.

Now there's an idea. I've never done Tiffins, either, so it'd still be a new dining experience. The question then is just whether I'd want to devote the time to a TS meal given what I'll be paying to add a day to my ticket and given that I'm setting my expectations low as far as how much park time I'll get in that evening after dropping off my things at the resort and returning the rental car (I'd really rather return the car asap; having it the next morning might help with RD but...I don't really like driving on vacation and I'd rather not have to take time from the middle of the day to deal with it). But yeah, I suspect that if I do AK on arrival night it'll turn into riding FoP that evening AND the next morning, if it's as good as people say. Advantage of going that evening is that I'll be able to try the test seat without getting out of line for it, too. From what I've been reading in the big thread about it I'm probably okay, but I'm not 100% confident that I'll fit in the ride vehicle.

 

[kwdw]

I'd do the three parks in one day. Here's the deal - you've got ONE day at the parks and you know it. That is going to keep your energy high until pretty late.

Do AK until you feel like heading to Epcot for the FEA FP. After that FP - either hit another ride in future world - or head to MK. Definitely skip the walk around the countries at Epcot - just head to Norway - and then head back out - don't go around the whole loop. At AK - plan to haev a leisurely lunch at Satuli Canteen - or if you want to "kinda" experience Tiffins - have lunch at Nomad's Lounge - they have a bunch of small plates and I really enjoyed relaxing there for a bit my last trip.

Try to get to bed at a decent hour the night before - and just go for it. Boma is a great meal - but don't go too late - and don't overeat so much that you have a hard time falling asleep!

I think the thing that is a better plan than your last 4 park adventure day - you have MK LAST. HEA is great to watch - and if you don't stay too long at Epcot - you can catch that show. Then - with a few hours to ride the rides - you should be able to hit quite a few. MK is the star of Disney - and I think you'll get a second wind the minute you start walking down Main Street.

 

[Bete]

Just did FEA, FOP, and Na'vi for the first time this past December. They will be there in the future.

FEA can be skipped easily.

Actually, I would concentrate on doing your favorite rides, not necessarily concentrating and scheduling your trip there to see new rides for you. If you can get the new rides in you haven't done that's fine. Just don't make it your priority.

 

[StageTek]

I

The irony is that I didn't like the movie Avatar and I'm really not very invested in Frozen.

Me too. But both rides are great and well worth the time.

 

[YawningDodo]

I'd do the three parks in one day. Here's the deal - you've got ONE day at the parks and you know it. That is going to keep your energy high until pretty late.

Do AK until you feel like heading to Epcot for the FEA FP. After that FP - either hit another ride in future world - or head to MK. Definitely skip the walk around the countries at Epcot - just head to Norway - and then head back out - don't go around the whole loop. At AK - plan to haev a leisurely lunch at Satuli Canteen - or if you want to "kinda" experience Tiffins - have lunch at Nomad's Lounge - they have a bunch of small plates and I really enjoyed relaxing there for a bit my last trip.

Try to get to bed at a decent hour the night before - and just go for it. Boma is a great meal - but don't go too late - and don't overeat so much that you have a hard time falling asleep!

I think the thing that is a better plan than your last 4 park adventure day - you have MK LAST. HEA is great to watch - and if you don't stay too long at Epcot - you can catch that show. Then - with a few hours to ride the rides - you should be able to hit quite a few. MK is the star of Disney - and I think you'll get a second wind the minute you start walking down Main Street.

Oh no, you're tempting me all over again. If I decide to go at it hard instead of returning to the resort midday for a nap, I'm probably going to head to DHS midday and then Epcot in the afternoon/early evening to do all four, rather than stick around AK until it's time to head to Epcot. I do enjoy AK, but it's more a favorite for me on days when I have time to linger and look at everything; it only has a handful of rides that especially interest me (though Dinosaur is among my favorites across property). If I do go back for a rest I still have the option of hitting Epcot before MK, but it shortens up my nap time and/or my time in one of the other parks.

I haven't checked on showtimes for HEA, so I should get on that and see how it fits into the couple of loose itineraries I've built in my head. I just have serious doubts about whether my body can handle 16 hours in the parks (17 if you count waiting at the gates for AK to open), and I would really like to end the night by closing down MK at midnight since I know I'll enjoy the late hours. I'm young, but I'm not that young. I do bounce back from fatigue faster than a lot of people I know my age (30), but it's still a very long day I'm considering. Theoretically the cruise shouldn't beat me up too badly in the week leading up to it and I don't particularly plan to wear myself out too badly at Castaway Cay, which is the last stop before debarkation.

Last time I did MK first and Epcot last because that was how it shook out as far as making the most of opening and closing times. I think regardless of where one starts and finishes there's a special magic to four park days; I came out of it exhausted, but it was the good kind of tired, and I felt like I'd really accomplished something and said goodbye to the World properly. This time I suppose it'd be both hello and goodbye.

The one and only reason I can't simply wait and make all my decisions that morning is my FEA FP. Right now FEA is showing a 105 minute wait, so there's no way I'm doing it without a FP.

Just did FEA, FOP, and Na'vi for the first time this past December. They will be there in the future.

FEA can be skipped easily.

Actually, I would concentrate on doing your favorite rides, not necessarily concentrating and scheduling your trip there to see new rides for you. If you can get the new rides in you haven't done that's fine. Just don't make it your priority.

I'm actually trying not to think too much in terms of "must get XYZ ride done" apart from the new ones because it's going to make me feel like I need to make a special trip out to DHS for Tower of Terror, when otherwise I'd be pretty comfortable skipping that park. ToT's been supplanted as my #1 favorite ride of all time only by the Guardians of the Galaxy version of the same ride over in California, but having been to Disneyland a few months ago I'm fairly okay if I don't get to ToT on this trip.