Peggy goes to Disney 2016

[peggy]

I decided to make my own planning thread. Feel free to offer input!

Our plan is tentatively to drive halfway (~8 hrs), spend a day/night with my BFF & her husband then finish the drive (~8hrs) each way there and back. Dates are flexible pending securing a free dining spot. We'll likely stay at a value and upgrade the DP, but may opt for a mod depending on cost/dates. We'll drive and park at the parks since parking is free if staying on site. 

I learned last time that we do better with later breakfasts that can double as breakfast/lunch after a few hours in the parks so no RD breakfasts except for one. 

So far I've booked some ADRs since they're easily cancel-able. 

Wed- leave MOTN, drive to BFF's
Th - at BFF's
F - finish drive, check in at Disney
Sat - Akershus 8:05am; Beaches & Creme 2:40pm
Sun - Chef Mickey 11:55am, maybe Halloween Party?
Mon - Hollywood & Vine 3:50pm
Tue - Crystal Palace 10:25am, maybe Halloween Party?
Wed - Tusker House 10:25am; 1900 Park Fare 4:15pm
Thurs - Universal? I really want to see HP World. 
Fri - tbd
Sat - tbd
Sun - get home; H will go to work on Monday. I'll probably take the day off (I have a lot of PTO). 

[peggy]

Apr 20, 2016 14:34:26 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Definitely do universal!

One day (park hopper so I can do the HP train, obv) or two? Does universal offer some type of child swap? M should be 40" by fall, but A will probably only be 35-36" or so.. 

[peggy]

Apr 20, 2016 14:47:47 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

We do multiple days now, but we've done two parks in one day before. It's doable if crowds are lower and you hit the highlights.

I think there's a rider swap type option, but my kids are older so we never used it. So I can't say for sure how it works.

I hate that there is such a price increase between 1 & 2 days but 2 & 3 is negligible. For that price, I may as well pick a 3 day ticket in case we want to go there for a few hours. 

How far is it between Disney and Universal.. more than an hour drive? 

[peggy]

Are there any nick junior attractions at universal? The girls would lose their shit if they could meet the paw patrol or bubble guppies.

[peggy]

Apr 20, 2016 14:54:19 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I don't think universal is as good at cycling children's things through. They still have a Barney show! Lol

But it's a great park.

(wilted)  My 24 year old sister liked Barney as a toddler. TWENTY FOUR. LOL! Step it up, Universal! 

[lala]

Unless you are staying at a boardwalk area hotel or really love beaches & cream; I'd stay in Epcot for that second meal. We do like b & c and have eaten there several times...but when we stay at the beach club.

That's not a huge gap between park fare & Tusker house - are you going back to the hotel in between?

[ilikedonuts]

After looking at the heights for universal when planning this year's Disney trip, there was basically nothing my kids could do because of the height minimums so it really just did not seem worth it to us.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2016 19:09:02 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

After looking at the heights for universal when planning this year's Disney trip, there was basically nothing my kids could do because of the height minimums so it really just did not seem worth it to us.

We thought about taking our younger kids and ended up with the same conclusion. I really want to see HP but between the price and the fact the kids can't really ride anything we aren't going. It seems like a better park for 5-6+ year olds.

[curbsideprophet]

Not sure on the child swap at Universal. I do know there are way more rides where you need to empty your pockets and put things in lockers. The height restrictions are higher. Even the stuff in Seuss landing has restrictions. I don't remember the details but do remember being surprised at some of them.

We were able to focus on HP and do both sides in one day but we did not have the kids with us. We also knew we would be skipping large sections of the the Rey of the parks.

[Deleted]

What time of year are you going? I assume Wednesday is AK? If so; they are adding night activities so I'm not sure you will want to leave early to go to Park Fare.

[jeaniebueller]

The Suessland area in Universal Islands of Adventure is cool for younger kids, but I really wouldn't do IOA or Universal if both of my kids were too small to go on the other rides. There just isn't a lot for littler kids IMO.

[EloiseWeenie]

We went to IOA and Universal in November of 2012, when my daughter was 1 and my son was 3 1/2. I was surprised at how many rides my daughter could go on. She could ride most in Seussland. My son was able to go on most rides in the park. He probably went on the Hippogriff ride about 20 times. I remember doing the child swap for the castle ride, which was awesome- although all of the rides were walk on with no wait times.

[ilikedonuts]

It seems like 42 inches at universal opens up more. Still not tall enough for 7 rides though at that height. (I quickly counted so I might be off by 1).

www.universalorlando.com/Images/Riders_Guide_tcm13-26195.pdf

[peggy]

Apr 20, 2016 18:51:07 GMT -5 lala said:

Unless you are staying at a boardwalk area hotel or really love beaches & cream; I'd stay in Epcot for that second meal. We do like b & c and have eaten there several times...but when we stay at the beach club.

That's not a huge gap between park fare & Tusker house - are you going back to the hotel in between?

We've never been to B&C but tend to LOVE ice cream. Like, it's my H's favorite food ever. So.. 

We will probably hit RD for AK, do some rides or a show before TH, then another show after before heading back to either the hotel or right to PF. We'll have park hoppers and tend to be super flexible on vacations, so we just kind of see where the day takes us. 

[lala]

The ice cream in France in Epcot is better ice cream but not the ice cream parlor feel.

[peggy]

Apr 21, 2016 15:59:13 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

The lemon meringue ice cream from France is amazing. Especially with a shot of whipped cream vodka.

That sounds incredible.

[peggy]

Apr 21, 2016 16:22:16 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Apr 21, 2016 16:00:02 GMT -5 peggy said:

That sounds incredible.

I goes down really easy when you have a snotty 14 yo girl throwing attitude. Ask me how I know!

God bless you. I am absolutely not looking forward to having two teenage daughters. I don't know how my mother survived my teenage years. 

[Deleted]

I know I always say this... But I would skip Chef Mickey's. I am just not a fan, and doing an in between time like that almost guarentees the buffet will not be fresh.

I am a HUGE fan of Garden Grill for a character meal. It is such a better " pace" the food is DELICIOUS. It's just Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale though ( but Chip and Dale are freaking hilarious. )