Time to book FP+ but no idea what kind of itinerary we want

[YahYahs]

We have regular / non-Hopper passes (6 days) and I'm booking FP selections on Monday.

Do we have to determine ahead of time (i.e., now) which park we want to go to on each day in order to select our FPs?

My parents are leading the trip and we're trying to not be too itinerary-based for their sakes (they want to just "go with the flow"  and they're paying, so I'd like to respect that as much as possible...but...DISNEY. lol), but clearly we have to have SOME sort of agenda. But at the moment, I have no idea how many of the 6 days we want to be at each park, which order we want to hit them up in, etc.

We have 2 young kids (5 and 3.5), and this is our first trip there, so I obviously want to get FPs for at least the popular stuff to avoid misery. Thoughts? Disney is hard.


 

[curbsideprophet]

Have you looked at any of the crowd calendars for recommendations on which park to visit which day?

With kids that young I would do at least two MK days. I would do 1 day at each of the other parks. I am torn between saying do a second AK day or a third MK day.

Are you booking 60 days out? Are you interested in seeing Rivers of Light? If so I might do two AK days just to give you more flexibility.

Have you booked any dining reservations that you are trying to work around?

Are you interested in meeting characters/princesses?

[YahYahs]

Okay, after I posted this, I started reading up a little more and I think I'm getting the hang of it.
We booked this trip less than 180 days out, so the "good" meal times were taken, but I did get a few things scheduled.
I'm booking FP on Monday...BUT, today was actually the 60-day mark. My parents ordered the passes (paper, not electronic) from undercovertourist and they are arriving via FedEx on Monday. Hoping the choices we want are still available - we'll make it work.

What I've come up with based on what dining reservations I could get:

Day 1 = arrive in afternoon - hang out at resort and then late dinner at Ohana
Day 2 - MK - character meets and brunch at Chef Mickey's, maybe FoF parade
Day 3 - Epcot - Akershus breakfast, character meets, Illuminations
Day 4 - MK - A&E (hopefully), other character meets, Crystal Palace lunch, FoF parade if we don't do it the other time.
Day 5 - AK - Lion King and Nemo shows
Day 6 - HS - Hollywood & Vine breakfast, Mermaid show
Day 7 - MK or Epcot
Day 8 = leave

ETA: I imagine we'll head back to the resort/pool for the afternoons most days. We will probably stroll around DS most evenings.

[YahYahs]

Mar 12, 2016 22:05:10 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Also, a good compromise between planning and just being in the moment is to plan your park days and your mornings, and to just do whatever you want in the afternoons.

Or let your parents do whatever they want and you can schedule your days.

That's exactly what I'm leaning toward. Good advice!

[curbsideprophet]

If you want different dining times keep checking. People will start to drop/adjust as it closer. Some people rearrange once they have their FPs set.

[ilikedonuts]

You definitely want FPs for Anna+Elsa, Peter Pan, Mine Train. Test Track at Epcot. Toy Story at Hollywood Studios.

This will show you what has availability still for the popular ones. www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=10123554&postcount=1

Your best bet because you have a large group for A+E is to get that for your last day. If you have to get it for just your family and not your parents, you might have more flexibility earlier in your trip. You could also stagger the times. 1 at 10:50-11:50, 1 at 10:55-11:55, 1 at 11:10-12:10, etc and then you'd just have a smaller window to go.

[YahYahs]

Okay - was able to book our FP selections this afternoon (tickets arrived earlier than planned, but still about 18 hours after the reservations started).  Woohoo! 

The times were well picked over, but I was able to get all the things we wanted. But whatever - at least we're "in"! Does anything here look tragic?

Day 1 - arrival, no park pass; ADR = Ohana dinner (9:45pm, all we could get --- going to keep trying for an earlier spot)
Day 2 - MK - FPs = 7DMR (9:55am), Under the Sea (11:15am), Peter Pan (1:35pm); ADR = EDIT: Ohana dinner (3:35pm, in case we can't get an earlier dinner on Day 1). 
Day 3 - Epcot - FPs = Nemo (9:10am), Test Track (12:25pm), Meet Disney Pals (1:40pm); ADR = Akershus breakfast (10:40am)
Day 4 - MK - FPs = Big Thunder (9:05am), Meet A&E (6pm, lol - this was nearly full so I'm happy to get it!), Electrical Parade (8:30pm); ADR = Crystal Palace (holding a breakfast [10:20am] and a lunch [1:05pm] till we decide)
Day 5 - AK - FPs = Safari (9am), Lion King (12:30pm[edited]), Nemo Musical (2:30pm); ADR = Tusker House breakfast (10:20am)
Day 6 - HS - FPs = Star Tours (9:15am), Toy Story (11:50am), Disney Jr. Live (1:10pm); ADR = Hollywood & Vine Disney Jr. breakfast (8:25am)
Day 7 - go with the flow (everyone can vote on what park we want)
Day 8 - departure

[YahYahs]

Mar 13, 2016 15:40:39 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

It's kind of hard to know if your FP times will work with your ADR's without ADR times.

Good call. I edited to add the ADR times.  As for the Ohana, that was my parents' one request, and the late spot was the only available one. I definitely plan to keep checking back for an earlier res though, even up to the day before.  

[YahYahs]

Mar 13, 2016 15:52:59 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I kind of worry about your MK day and fitting in CM in between your FP's times. That's a tight fit I think. Especially since you have to leave the park.

Hmm - also noticed people tend to not like it all that much. Maybe I should just find something else. Would we regret not doing it?

I wasn't thinking of the tight time for the distance - thanks for that!

[curbsideprophet]

We did not do Chef Mickey's - no regrets. I agree that your Chef Mickey's does not really work with your FP times.

Have you tried Ohana on another day? I have also heard they often run late. We did eat there and did not have to wait too long but our ADR was much earlier.

[curbsideprophet]

I have not been to Tusker House but that also seems like it could be tight (getting to the LK FP on time).

[YahYahs]

Mar 13, 2016 16:19:35 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

We did not do Chef Mickey's - no regrets. I agree that your Chef Mickey's does not really work with your FP times.

Have you tried Ohana on another day? I have also heard they often run late. We did eat there and did not have to wait too long but our ADR was much earlier.

Ohana has a 3:30/3:45 spot every day we're there, and that is all. The first day, we will just be getting to the resort at that time, so we had to go for the only other option, which was 9:35pm.  I think i'll grab one of the 3:30 times just in case. Good to know about it running late!

[YahYahs]

Mar 13, 2016 16:36:43 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Mar 13, 2016 16:35:39 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

I have not been to Tusker House but that also seems like it could be tight.

I looked at that one also and wondered. But I think it's more doable than CM.

Done and done - moved Lion King to 12:30 (edited above). Thanks!!

[Amy]

Mark your calendar to check for 'Ohana 35-25 days before your trip especially. Final payments are due 30 days out so that's often when people cancel

[Amy]

And if you can't get a different time, id be checking into in room sitters ir something that night, but mine couldn't swing being out that late.

[curbsideprophet]

I would consider dropping Crystal Palace and doing Ohana on that day if you can get an afternoon time.

Where are you staying?

[YahYahs]

Mar 13, 2016 17:01:26 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

Where are you staying?

All-Star Music

[ilikedonuts]

If you are doing Tusker House, I wouldn't stress if you can't get Chef Mickey's to fit in your plans.