I have a 3-day meeting at an International Drive hotel near the convention center. I’m bringing along my DD16 and we are making a week of it to celebrate (mourn) my 50th birthday. I thought I’d decided to forgo MNSSHP and do 7-day park hoppers so we can have more flexibility with our park time; The difference between 5-day and 7-day is only $32pp. Now that it is time to purchase our tickets, I’m questioning my choices and wondering if I should I save the $32 and apply toward MNSSHP.
My hangups/questions:
Am I going to regret not atttending MNSSHP?
Is possible to spend any meaningful time in the park if my meetings near the convention center end at 5PM and the parks close at 9PM? Is Disney Springs a better option for one or both of those days?
What should I do with Sat 9/20? I’m not sure why I’m having trouble picking a park/s or other activities.
Draft Itinerary:
9/15MON
4PM arrival; pick up rental car, check-in to ASSp; 7:30 PM dinner at Saana
9/16TUES
RD MK; hop to Epcot [or do MNSSHP 4PM-Midnight]
9/17WED
Drive to RD AK, early lunch Nomad Lounge, leave AK by 12:30 PM
Conference and teaching 2-8PM
9/18THU
Conference 8AM-5PM PM in HS? (closes at 9PM)
9/19FRI
Conference 8AM-5PM PM in Epcot? (closes at 9PM)
9/20SAT - I can’t figure out what to do with this day???
9/21SUN
MK (party day) - hop to - HS by 3PM
9/22MON
Check out of ASSp and drive to AK; late afternoon check in and rest at Swan Reserve; hop to Epcot and stay for EEH 9-11PM
9/23TUES
Resort pool and lunch; leave by 1:30PM for 5PM flight
If you planning to have the park tickets for that empty Saturday I’d start at HS (since you only have shorter evening slots for that park) then hop to MK to see Starlight and Fireworks. You don’t have a MK evening on the list anywhere!
I would also suggest doing the EP on Thursday and HS Friday for the conference days, as EP during F&W on Fridays is something I’ve heard to avoid!
I’m not the pro that many others are, but I think you could make a great trip out of just evenings provided you aren’t too worn out from the convention.
I have only done MNSSHP once (last year) and it really was fun to finally do it. But I wouldn’t trade two evening for it. Let that be for another time?
It looks like you have 6 closing slots (am I reading that correctly?). I’d do two at each park other than AK.
Each PM could focus on certain aspects of the park.
Or one MK night be parade and fireworks, and the other be rides focused.
Any recommendations re: purchasing LLMP and pre-bookings for days when I’ll only be in a park for a few hours in the evening? Is LLMP more important since park time is limited? Or, not worth the money on those days?
Having done a convention and Disney 3 years in a row, just an FYI that it’s trafficy getting over to WDW from that area at that time of night. I just want to set your expectations! I agree with others that there’s plenty to do but I don’t think you’ll enter a park till 6 or after.
Is this meeting going to actually end at 5 and you’ll be immediately free or will there be pressure to network after or will people try to drag the meeting out? Maybe don’t plan to do a park every single night of the meeting and hope that the last day ends early?
Depending on when this is, MK may close later. Right now it’s closing at 11 pm.
I personally would not be able to rope drop AK and then teach a few hours later without being dead on my feet. I would also need a shower and redo my hair. YMMV of course.
