MK 8am-11pm without an afternoon break? (2 older adults, 2 young adults)

Walt Disney World
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Hi everyone,

We have 1 MK day on a 3 park day trip. It will be on May 9, and we can sleep in on the next day (departure day.) I have been planning an afternoon break back at the Swan, but I would like to hear from those who stay all day, including nighttime entertainment. I don’t know exactly when we will arrive, but as close to 7:30 (early entry) or 8 as possible. That could mean 9, 9:30. We definitely want to do the fireworks and the late parade at 11pm.

How do you plan such a long day without an official break? What works for you?

If we do decide on a break back at the hotel, what time frame do you recommend on a day with such long hours?

Right now we have an 11:15 lunch at Skipper booked. I am considering cancelling and keeping the day without food reservations, to keep things as flexible as possible. I feel like last minute reservations at enough places are available if we decide we want to sit down, whether for lunch or dinner at a nearby resort instead of a hotel break.

Thanks! For those who have been following my planning, I realize I asked a similar question before. That was when I was definitely planning a break. It just occured to me that due to the unusual circumstances of this trip (short, 1 day at MK, staying at Swan) I may want to try a day with no break.

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That’s a long day, but there are places you can rest all over the park. Heck, the shows are great places to sit and rest in the AC. It can be done.

Disclaimer: I don’t do RD, but do go mid-morning. My last MK day was that long, although it was EEH. I didn’t leave the park, although I took breaks at the park.

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There are a lot of factors. Temperature, how sunny it is, how many days in a row you have been in parks before.

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That’s a long day. We always do short trips (we have never stayed for more than four days) so we have certainly done it (most recently for our 4P1D challenge last July), but I feel it often makes the evenings - which are arguably the best time of day to appreciate the parks when it’s hot in Florida - less enjoyable, as at least one out of four people is probably going to start flagging before/after dinner.

If you want to go for it, I’d plan one or even two TS meals, and choose a quiet, air-conditioned corner to help everyone recharge (I also usually need that to physically recharge my phone!) Plus regular snack/coffee breaks, and a good mix of attractions and shows/shopping.

My personal preference would be to RD and knock out rides from 8-10, then slow down a bit with a show/shopping/walkthrough before lunch, and head to the resort for the hottest part of the day (around 1-4) to just veg in the room or swim in the pool. Then back to the park from 5-11, when temperatures drop after sunset and the park is just so pretty all lit up. You should still be easily to hit all your must-dos within those timeframes, especially if you’re getting LLMP and/or LLSPs.

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You’re probably already aware, but you can avoid the Swolphin bus + monorail/ferry combo by walking over to Boardwalk or Yacht Club and getting the MK bus there.

Liners have timed it, and the conclusion was that it usually takes about the same time as using the Swolphin bus and changing at TTC - but I always feel you have fewer chances of things going off the rails when you use one form of transport rather than two.

It depends a bit on the location of your room, but for the Dolphin I’ve timed the YC bus at 10 min walk. We’ve used the first YC bus of the day for a great MK rope drop! The walk will of course be hotter in the middle of the day, so if you prefer to save some steps and enjoy the a/c you then you could stick with Swolphin bus + monorail for one of those transfers. But direct bus is also an option if you’re ok with walking to a nearby resort bus stop.

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Thank you! Your personal preference is absolutely mine as well. The main issue is, we will be at DHS the night before for F! at 10:30, and this is not negotiable. My son loves DHS at night. This means, in bed at midnight if we are lucky. I would gladly drag myself for the 7:30-8am arrival on this short trip as early mornings are my favorite time in the park, but not sure if everyone else will be up for it. They will probably tell me they are, and then not be. And ultimately, this trip if for them and I am happy to accommodate them and their preferences, if I can figure out what they are!

We will get the LLMP and LLSPs. And I do really want to enjoy the evenings, as you mention. This will be our first trip in a while prioritizing nighttime entertainment as we have a guest with us. I would like to feel somewhat refreshed and able to enjoy the fireworks and 11pm parade.

Thanks for your thoughts. I think especially because of the late parade and 11pm close, it is probably worth the effort to take an afternoon break. I will ask my son if he is motivated to get an early start. I don’t mind splitting up either, but I do have to figure out when to book LLs.

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Yes, I was aware, but this is helpful. I will definitely walk to BW or YC for the bus to avoid TTC. I am guessing the Swan will be closer to BW than YC, but I was also eyeing the YC QS breakfast as a good option to grab and go (we have a gluten free guest and that seems to have more options than Swan and even BW deli.) Thank you for the details! We are not too afraid of steps. We will plan to walk ourselves into the ground over the 3 park days and recover when we get home!

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The last of 3 park days after Ep and DHS, and those days we will either take a break or start late. MK will be our most packed day. Hopefully sunny and mid 80s but we will see!

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Thank you!

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The fact that it is the THIRD of three park days makes me think you will be VERY exhausted without taking a mid-day break of some kind. Make sure you have planned rest, particular during afternoon. Hit some longer shows, etc. I know I personally wouldn’t be able to tolerate a full day, but even when I was younger, after 2 park days, I think I would risk hitting moments where you just are so exhausted you end up not enjoying yourself.

Personally, if you are starting at 8 am and staying that late, I’d probably plan a 3-ish hour break in the afternoon.

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Not sure your definition of “older adults” :sweat_smile: but they will probably be the limiting factor.

With only 3 park days, it isn’t inconceivable to think you could go Go GO! all three days without a break, or at least max out that third day before you go home.

I agree that a break would be nice if you can swing it, and if you don’t take a break at your resort, you should plan for a table service restaurant for one of your meals at a minimum.

So in short, it is totally doable to stay all day. But you should have a contingency plan in case you are tired and want a break.

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ha ha, good point, it is all relative! mid-50s but young at heart. I suppose I can try to build in flexibility for a “day of” call by booking LLs in the morning and then leaving a gap for a break should we choose to take one.

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Yes I think this is your best option.

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Do you want to see Festival of Fantasy? That will determine break time as well.

My biggest reason for going back to the room for a break was needing to take off my shoes and lie down - not things that could be done easily in public.

The sun and heat also hit us hard after noon - it was draining, but not so bad at MK where there are so many attractions. Waiting for the parade was the worst.

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We will not do Festival of Fantasy. I just set up my LLs for an afternoon break. I will definitely take one; we will see what the others decide. Thank you! I will be in the pool!

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You know you and your group better than any of us. Can you handle a 16 hour active day in your everyday life? Then you can handle it at Disney running on adrenaline!

On a previous visit, myself, wife and daughter (wife and I late 40s at the time, daughter early teens) were excited about seeing Galaxy’s Edge for the first time. This was right after boarding groups had been eliminated at RotR, and I’m not a lightning lane purchaser, so to make sure we got on the ride as early as possible, we wanted to not only be on the first bus out of our resort, but first in line at the first bus so we could be by the doors when they opened! We set our alarms for 5:00 to clean up, eat in our room, and get in line at the bus stop, but excitement woke us up at 4:30!

Daughter and I wound up closing the park down at after 9:00 by getting in line at RotR for one more ride right before closing while my wife had to go back tot the resort in mid afternoon because she was exhausted. Then, to top it off, my daughter wanted to swim, and not wanting to disappoint my princess, we went down for a little bit until I could tell she was definitely getting tired and we went back to our room and finally got settled in bed a little after 11:00. That was nearly an 18 hour day!

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I would totally zonk out way before then, even in my 40s.

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For me, the final call would depend a lot on the weather. One mid/late May trip, it got up to 100+ degrees and I would not have wanted a 15 hour park day. If the weather was 70s-mid80s, I’d be up for the 15 hours at MK.

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This sounds like so much fun. I would love to say I could do this, but I am much more inclined to be the exhausted wife in this scenario! I also can’t sleep when I need to get up early for exciting reasons, which contributes to my early fading!

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Can I share my outlined MK plans and see what you all think? I feel pretty good about it.

For context, will see the 10:30 F! the night before, get to bed around midnight I am guessing.

LL 8:20 Buzz (get here as soon as we are able, grab LL for TBA)

SM before or after (ideally during early entry at 7:30 if we are able!)

People Mover?

Teacups

LL HM 9:15-10:15 (grab LL for something else later–PoC maybe)

Maybe IASW or similar, Under the Sea

11:15 ADR Jungle Nav Skipper Canteen, chosen for Gluten free options

After lunch: maybe Philharmagic and similar

Decide if we are breaking, if so, break 2-5ish. If not, use LL if possible, lower key rides

QS at Pinnochio for GF pizza maybe? Or eat outside the park if break

ILL 7DMT 7:25-8:25

LL BTMR 8:10-9:10 (I may try to move this earlier in the day)

ILL Tron 8:35-9:35

HEA at 10, Starlight at 11

Things I really want to fit in: Laugh Floor (we always do this in the evening so maybe when we first get back), PoC, People Mover, Speedway-a family joke, basically-, IASW, Dumbo, under the sea

Things I can/will skip: Jungle Cruise, maybe Pooh and Peter Pan,Carousel, Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, Aladdin carpets, Country Bear Jamboree, Tiki room etc.

Thanks for taking a look! I will probably spend the next week trying to put these things in some type of order. :slight_smile: Oh yeah, it just occurred to me. I should use the Touring Plan tool!!

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