Change in plans...need help deciding!

[ELG13]

We added 2 days to the front of our trip to get the fdd. We will probably take a day off the end but for now we are booked 9/30-10/7 (which will probably change to 10/6). This is what we had planned:
10/2 arrive and explore with dinner at chef mickeys
10/3 - breakfast 8 am CRT and MK for the day
10/4 animal kingdom, dinner ohana
10/5 disney springs (we habe 3 small kids so we want a day to take it slow and explore. Probably do the pool as well)and family bbq
10/6 magic kingdom for the last day and dinner in the park
10/7 depart

But now with these new dates I'm not sure what to do. Is Hollywood studios fun? Or should we work in am extra MK day?? I just don't want to kids to be burnt out and fussy so we are trying to decide if Hollywood studios would be a good, calm, shorter park day so they don't get too overwhelemed. This is what I've got now..
9/30 arrive - Chef Mickeys for dinner
10/1 MK
10/2 AK
10/3 MK
10/4 DISNEY SPRINGS
10/5 MK
10/6 DEPART
Is animal kingdom a full day?? Any good recomendations on where to eat (inside or close to the park). I really wanted the first and last day to be MK but now with our original days changed, our first MK day now falls in the middle of our stay. I want to keep it though be we have CRT reservations at 8 and don't want to lose them. We have two 6yr olds and a 3 yr old..would Hollywood studios be more fun for them than animal kingdom??
My biggest concern is the kids. I want them to have fun but I'm trying to spread it out so it's not burning them out making them tired. Oh we may also do MNSSHP on 10/3 as well. Sorry for the long post!! I had a perfect trip planned and the fdd dates threw me for a loop!

 

[ELG13]

We rented bikes and visited Ft Wilderness while staying at WL.. we really enjoyed the stables, and just sitting outside playing checker in front of the mercantile.

Definitely schedule in some down time. I know a lot of people think they are getting "value" by hitting the parks morning til night.. that kind of system doesn't work for my family. We enjoy time away from the parks as well- I feel like that's how we maximize our vacation value.
But, every family is different. No right or wrong.

Yes we are definitely working in down time. I don't want tired cranky kids bc lord knows that would be miserable.

 

[ELG13]

We went in December and took our 8 and 5 year old daughters. We did 3 days at MK, and 1 day at each of the other parks. We still didn't do everything at MK. My daughter's had their favorites at all the other parks, but we didn't spend a full day at AK or HS. I wish we would have spread out our days at MK instead of doing 3 in a row. We live near Cedar Point, so the repetitiveness of their favorite rides is the norm for us. They also really enjoyed just swimming in the pool too.

We are excited about where we are staying simply bc of all the stuff to do there. I don't plan on going crazy at the parks all day. We can't wait to explore the grounds and swim too!

 

[correcaminos]

We tried the room only discount and it didn't save us as much and we are good eaters on vacation. Ive been told by multiple people through disney I can book the minimum park hoppers and just change them to the 6 day fl resident tickets when we get there since we don't plan on hopping. They said it's a loophole to get both the fdd and the fl resident rates for our tickets. Right now we are only booked for a 2 day park hopper but will change to a 6 day one park a day fl resident ticket.

Oooh that's nice!!!!

 

[ELG13]

Oooh that's nice!!!!

I know! When I called last year to book the girl was so helpful. She knew we were trying to book it as cheap as possible and she told me about it! Our length of stay had changed a bit since then but when we're were scheduled for our original 2-7 of October she said going from the 2 day park hopper to 4 day fl resident tickets we may get money back! Now we are switching to 5 day fl resident tickets so I'm not sure what that will mean but I imagine if we end up paying it will be pretty minimal versus 5 day park hoppers

 

[correcaminos]

I know! When I called last year to book the girl was so helpful. She knew we were trying to book it as cheap as possible and she told me about it! Our length of stay had changed a bit since then but when we're were scheduled for our original 2-7 of October she said going from the 2 day park hopper to 4 day fl resident tickets we may get money back! Now we are switching to 5 day fl resident tickets so I'm not sure what that will mean but I imagine if we end up paying it will be pretty minimal versus 5 day park hoppers

Sounds like a good deal all around. It's nice you found someone so helpful too. I am sure they were overworked and stressed the last two days.

 

[ELG13]

Sounds like a good deal all around. It's nice you found someone so helpful too. I am sure they were overworked and stressed the last two days.

Absolutely...last night I had someone that I feel like was literally pulled off the streets and told to answer phones. I've never ever in my 15-plus years of going to Disney have had someone so completely and totally unhelpful. But it was definitely a first for any experience relating to Disney World so it didn't bother me. I know things have been crazy for them lately. I'm glad I had Gwen for that first phone call last year. I would be lost today without all of that information she gave me.

 

[tractor tipper]

Didn't read all the posts. Highly recommend when at MK taking kids to Tom Sawyers Island. Great place to run around or to relax.

 

[ELG13]

Yes! It was always one of my favorite spots as a child!! I'm excited for my kids to see it!

 

[Jeff A]

Definitely Hollywood Studios and prob not a full day at Disney Springs.....we actually spent less time at Disney Springs since it changed from Downtown Disney. AK is prob closer to a full day now with the new Pandora area. Maybe do a combined Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom day and then Downtown Disney at night? I think DD is better at night as it was god awful hot during the day there when we went plus I think there are some better dining options there too.....

 

[ELG13]

Definitely Hollywood Studios and prob not a full day at Disney Springs.....we actually spent less time at Disney Springs since it changed from Downtown Disney. AK is prob closer to a full day now with the new Pandora area. Maybe do a combined Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom day and then Downtown Disney at night? I think DD is better at night as it was god awful hot during the day there when we went plus I think there are some better dining options there too.....

Yeah, we got dining reservations at raglan road on the day we do Hollywood studios so that will probably be a split day. I'm probably least excited about AK but I am looking forward to Pandora. I'm just trying to focus on not doing too much with the kids ending up burnt out by day 2 lol!

 

[Jeff A]

Yeah, we got dining reservations at raglan road on the day we do Hollywood studios so that will probably be a split day. I'm probably least excited about AK but I am looking forward to Pandora. I'm just trying to focus on not doing too much with the kids ending up burnt out by day 2 lol!

My kids usually don't get burned out as long as we are doing SOMETHING.....I guess the key thing is thing is to get FP's for the things you really want to do and try to get on the other not so important rides when you can. Pandora looks AWESOME!!

 

[ELG13]

Yeah last time we went at the same time and aside from a few rides we did fp for(pooh, Peter pan, and jungle cruise) we were on and off and on again nor problem for the rides they wanted.