Advice on schedule for MK day May 9

Walt Disney World Touring Plans
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Hi all,

You have all been so helpful, I am gonna keep asking for advice. This is probably an impossible question to answer but soliciting input anyway!

Staying at Swan, us, son 24, his gf 23 (her first time since a child, we are seasoned visitors.) We have only 3 park days, 1 day at MK.

I don’t think I have ever done a rope drop to close day at a park–I love a swim break, and we usually go in August when it is sorely needed. However, I hate the idea of so much time lost getting back to Swan for a break when we have so little park/vacation time. I actually usually do a split stay so we are always close to the parks we are visiting to accommodate my breaks, but that was impossible this trip. What are your thoughts on these ideas?

  1. Arrive mid-day or so with lightning lanes and stay thru
  2. Arrive early, break via Minnie Van one way maybe? (also LL)
  3. Try to make it the whole day, maybe with a sit down lunch in MK and a resort dinner nearby as a break (LL)

As I write this, 3 doesn’t seem very appealing to me.

What would you do? We are very rides-focused, and we will do the fireworks and hopefully the late parade. (I am talking myself into the break as I continue this post…)

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If you want to be sure you get a break, option 2 sounds best. I did option 1 and it worked out, but we were there during EEH, so it was a very long day ending at 1 AM. I agree that the third option may be too much.

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How does this sound? Will purchase LLMPs and both ind LLs

Arrive for early entry via Boardwalk Bus (what time to be at bus stop?). 8:30-10 SM, Buzz (twice?), maybe people mover, etc.

Break for brunch at Steakhouse 71 or Grand Floridian Cafe, 10:30-noon.

MK 12-3 lightning lanes

Hotel break 3-6 (is Minnie Van worth it? Otherwise bus to and from BW)

MK 6-11 for rides, fireworks, parade

I do have to fit in some food somewhere later in the day but I think we will see what’s available and what everyone is up for.

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4

In this case, probably not. Buses drop you off at the park entrance just like the MVs. And MVs cost $$$. It’s not a busy time of day, so it’s not going to be much of a timesaver.

Can’t help you there. I am a sorry excuse for a rope dropper. :joy:

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good point about it not being a crowded part of the day. usually the only time I am on the bus, it is a busy time at the start of end of the day. thanks!

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I think the first option

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I think that’s too much breaking. Yes you need to eat but leaving twice even for somewhere close by really chops up the day. I think better to sleep in, have a nice brunch on the way to MK, and then enjoy the park from 1ish onward. Fireworks and parade will eat up th last 2hrs or so of your day so you’re really looking at rides, etc til only about 830 or 9. Grab QS or snacks for “dinner”

If you decide to rope drop, I think just go from EE til noon and take a long break til 4 or 5 (that includes your meal). Be at the bus at least 60mins before EE, I tend to go 75.

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8

thank you for this thoughtful response! I will propose moving brunch to early lunch inside MK. I was tempted to take the girlfriend to see GF or Contemporary so she could see the resorts for the first time, but on such a short trip it is probably just too much to fit in. Your logic makes sense. We get hungry very early on such an early start, so we could eat at 11 and then leave, or maybe do one or two low key things and then leave at 1. Thanks for helping!

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9

If it were me, given these parameters, would go with the above option and do the following:

Get LLMP and both LLSPs. Book 1 LLSP for around 10:30 am -11:30 and 1 LLSP for late afternoon. Book at least 2 of the LLMPs for the morning (ideally all 3 depending on availability for your Tier 1).

RD EE. Ride your LLMPs and book more LLMPs for the late afternoon/evening. Ride 1 LLSP before you leave the park.

Leave park 11:00 am/11:30 am. Mini-van back to Swan.

Eat lunch and enjoy some pool time. Around 3:00 pm Mini-van back to MK.

Stay until park closing.

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10

Agreed - don’t underestimate how much walking it is to enter / leave the park. One break would be easier.

You could get your lunch at a monorail hotel (our very late lunch at Steakhouse 71 after Festival of Fantasy parade was very peaceful - but probably later than you’d like for your break), and then you can Lyft back to your hotel and save some money over Minnie Vans.

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11

Transportation timeframes always surprise me in Disney. It always takes longer than I think. Personally I’d go with one break, either resort brunch or a midday break. Or maybe adult son and GF would like to stay behind in the park and have some couple time while you go back to the hotel?

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12

Thanks for the input, and you are right. This is a solid suggestion, since it is me more than anyone who needs the break. Leaning towards an early in the park sit-down lunch, and then I will probably take an afternoon break too. We are trying to coordinate one sit down meal together per day for our 3 days in the parks, but it has actually been challenging to plan that! We do plan on splitting up regularly in the parks. I am trying to approach this with a lot more flexibility than usual, but at the same time, help everyone do the rides that they want to do!

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This is my pick. Grab a Minnie Van and go take a break while they have their time.

I’d make a plan or “outline” for them in advance so they don’t just wander around going, “What do you want to do?” :man_shrugging: (Maybe ask gf if there are characters she wants to meet or a ride you don’t want to do.)

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14

Will you have park hoppers? If you do, I suggest breaking up the days. So, start out at MK, go back to the Swan for a mid-day break and then go to EPCOT in the evening. On another day, start at EPCOT, break at Swan, and the back to MK.

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15

I was just on a walk and the idea of park hoppers popped into my head. I haven’t purchased tix yet. Came back and saw this. I very much like your idea. However, not quite sure what makes the most sense across our measly 3 park days if I introduce park hopping. I was thinking, Th Epcot, Fri DHS, Sat MK, initially.

On my walk, I started wondering if park hopping would allow us to better access headliners, the trip priority. for the 2 young folks. I was thinking about splitting up Ep and DHS on Th and Fri, followed by a looong day at MK Sat with no hotel break, just a meal break or two. But your idea is intriguing.

Crowd calendar and the folks here recommend Ep, DHS and MK in that order May 7-9. Not sure how I should factor that in if I add park hoppers.

I need to end my day in each of the 3 parks separately so we can see the show in each park. That is also something they want to do. DHS would be the one half day park. Would prefer more time in Ep and MK when breaking up the 3 days.

I want to take a moment to say 3 park days stinks! But that is the time we have available. However, it is driving me a bit insane. We have always had multiple days or half days in the big parks which makes planning a breeze.

Just to make things more complicated, I will throw this out…we were planning on Disney springs on Sunday, but technically, instead we could do a morning or a few hours at a park. Our flights are at 6pm. A small part of me is wondering about adding a 4th park day.

I am not super concerned about the budget of park hoppers or adding a 4th day if it makes the trip measurably better, since if I could, I would be planning a much longer trip. I am trying to maximize the time we have and make it as low stress as possible. I don’t want the gf to think I am a Disney tyrant LOL.

I have officially entered to overthinking phase! Thanks everyone for your patience!

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It’s what us liners do! Normal part of the process. I, personally, would rather do a 4th park day than go to DS. Don’t get me wrong, I like DS, but you’re there for such a short time! DS on the weekend is busy, too.

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17

This is what I am thinking. It’s mother’s day too, so I imagine a ton of locals will go there for brunch, etc. I love a couple of Disney springs restaurants (gideon’s is my fave treat on property) and on long trips, we always make time. Again, though, I think I need to reset expectations that we can’t do everything we usually do! Thanks for the confirmation.

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18

Ooh, yes. That definitely colors it a lot more.

You could always leave EP or HS after close and run to DS for a strategic Gideon’s visit.

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19

Exactly. Or, my husband and I arrive at dinner time on Wed., but the son and GF don’t arrive until late Wed., so we can go there and grab treats then.

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DS is fine, but if budget isn’t an issue, I’d take more park time. Maybe even take a later morning or a longer rest on day 3 to balance it out. I always want to go go go but half the fun is just relaxing and enjoying the environment.

As for park hopping, I love hopping but it’s not necessary to have a great trip. I like it because then we get more time in the parks we want, double rides on favorite ILL rides, and for eating. For example we don’t like many food options at DHS and would rather be there part of the day and then eat dinner at Epcot. We also like riding the Skyliner and monorail, so we like the Epcot to MK hop and the DHS to Epcot hop. I’m not sure I would bother for such a short trip, but we can’t do a longer trip without it.

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