Critique my plans!

nerdyone

Mouseketeer
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Our trip is just around the corner and I would love to get some last minute feedback. Going on the trip is my 12 year old son and my 43 year old wife. We are all healthy and in decent shape

  • We arrive at 9:20 am this Sunday and will take the Magic Express to BWI.
    • We have FP at MK from noon to 3 (HM, SM, and BTMR)
    • Dinner at 5 at Le Cellier and will then do Epcot
  • Monday morning we will RD at AK for EMH. Our plan is to be there at 7am to ride Pandora
    • We have FP from 10 to 2 for Everest, Navi and Kali
    • We have dinner at 5 for Flying Fish
    • This is where it gets weird. We received as a gift tickets for AK after dark for the evening so any help would be appreciated
  • Tuesday we have tickets for Universal with EP all day. We also have FPs for AK in the evening if we want to do that as well
  • Wednesday we are sleeping in and doing the pool. We then have:
    • Ohana at 5
    • FP from 7pm for SDMT, SM, and BTH and will stay and do EMH for the evening
  • Thursday we are not sure about the morning but have:
    • FP from 4 to 7 TOT, RR, and SD
    • We also have dinner at sci fi but I may cancel it
    • At 8 we are heading over to H2O for the evening
  • Friday I'm getting a preview of GALAXY'S EDGE from 1-5
    • That evening we are doing Epcot with FP for TT, MS, and Soaring
    • Dinner is at Japan
  • Saturday is our last day but we have FP for SDMT, SM, and Splash Mountain
Anything you think we should change? Thursday or Friday during the day we plan on playing mini golf or head over to see a movie at DS

Thursday and Friday
 
If it were me, I would switch up the first 2 days a bit.

On Tuesday, I would not RD AK and do the after hours there as well. I would keep the 5pm ADR at Flying Fish, head straight to AK afterward and have a couple of fastpasses set up from 7 - 9 for the rides you won't get on during DAH (Safari, Kali, for example).

I would drop the couple of hours at MK on your arrival day and just go straight to EP because you don't have a lot of EP time planned (just two evenings after dinner).

These changes leave your Tuesday morning open and you could either take that as non park time or do MK here to make up for the time dropped from arrival day. I would not RD because Tuesday will be a late night, but a mid to late morning arrival would be good.
 
I agree with the PP. Arrival days can be busy and hectic. The bus ride from BWI to MK is about 20 minutes. Since you probably won't be able to get into your room upon arrival, it might be easier to walk over to Epcot (5 minutes) and enjoy the park until you receive a text that your room is ready. Then, you can head back, unpack, and continue your day. Since the rest of your week is really busy, it might be nice to have a lighter first day.

Our family has not done the AK DAH event, but we have done them at HS and MK. You should check out the AK DAH thread for tips and information about the event. Based on your current schedule, the only time that you would be able to see The Lion King and Nemo shows would be on Monday during the day. Nemo's last show is 4:30 and the Lion King is at 6. If you aren't interested in seeing the shows, I agree that it would make more sense to do something different during the day and head to AK after dinner. You can get your wristband at a location inside the park starting at 7pm, so it doesn't matter if you arrive early. You may want to visit HS that morning since you are only spending 1 afternoon there (I'm not counting your GE day because I doubt you will venture into the rest of the park). You can walk to HS from BWI, which is nice.

Our family really likes the Sci Fi Cafe. The food is typical burger fair, but the ambiance is really neat. It is one of our favorite park restaurants because of the experience.

From BWI, you can walk to the Fantasia miniature golf course. It is located behind the Swan hotel, just across the street. On your way back, you may want to stop for ice cream at The Fountain in the Dolphin. They have awesome milkshakes and sundaes!

Have a great trip!
 
Can you move your universal day? I would not do that and AK after dark on the same day. You can enter AK at 7 p.m. with the after dark pass.
 


Thanks for the feedback!!

Quick question though. Why would check-in be hectic? We are just dropping our bags off and taking a Lyft to MK. Also, as my wife and I travel for work all the time, we've gotten in the habit of living out of our suitcase.
 
Thanks for the feedback!!

Quick question though. Why would check-in be hectic? We are just dropping our bags off and taking a Lyft to MK. Also, as my wife and I travel for work all the time, we've gotten in the habit of living out of our suitcase.
Disney has a reputation for understaffing the check in counters which can result in very long lines. When I go I drive and do online check-in so I don't know if this is true because I don't have to go to the counter to check in or drop bags.
 
Your day 1 plans seem problematic I very much doubt you can make MK by noon when landing at 9:30 unless you head directly there.

9:30 landing to the magical express line could be anywhere from 30-60 minutes when you include plane taxiing to the gate, disembarking, and walking out of the airport. Then depending on the crowd it could be anywhere from another 20-60 minutes until you board the bus and get on your way. Then you've got the drive time and you may stop at other resorts first. Then you have check in and dropping off your bags. That's another 30-60 minutes.

It can honestly take 2-3 hours before you check in from the moment your plane touches down. Rest of the plans look good. Day 2 seems like a busy bouncing all over the place, but if you don't mind that, go for it.
 


I agree with others on your first day. It could run smoothly, or it could be an issue. First your plane could be late ...then if you are doing DME to your hotel, you may have to wait a bit on the bus ... then you may not be the only stop that bus makes at that time ... then even if you do online check in, you can get to your room and your magic bands not work (it has happened to us a few times) ... so you have to go wait in the check in line ... which can be easy peasy ... or take forever and a day.
 
Your day 1 plans seem problematic I very much doubt you can make MK by noon when landing at 9:30 unless you head directly there.

9:30 landing to the magical express line could be anywhere from 30-60 minutes when you include plane taxiing to the gate, disembarking, and walking out of the airport. Then depending on the crowd it could be anywhere from another 20-60 minutes until you board the bus and get on your way. Then you've got the drive time and you may stop at other resorts first. Then you have check in and dropping off your bags. That's another 30-60 minutes.

It can honestly take 2-3 hours before you check in from the moment your plane touches down. Rest of the plans look good. Day 2 seems like a busy bouncing all over the place, but if you don't mind that, go for it.
You convinced me. Taking a lyft to the BWI and then heading over to MK.

SInce we have AK AH now on Monday, we are going to go to Universal later in the day on Tuesday.
 

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