Days per Park/Destination

[scritchell]

All,
After being on these forums for just over a week and reading through all the posts, and advice (Thanks for all those that have helped)
I have a rough guide to 'how many days i would need at each park' to do everything....

Magic Kingdom - 2 days to see all
Animal Kingdom - 2
Blizzard Beach - 1
Epcot - 1
Hollywood Studios - 1
Typhoon Lagoon -1
Universal Studios - 2
Universal Islands of Adventure - 2
Volcano Bay - 1
Sea World - 1
Aquatica - 1
Busch Gardens - 1
I-Drive 360 - 1
Kennedy Space Centre - 1
Discovery Cove - 1
Legoland Florida - 1
Legoland Waterpark - 1

Total of 21 days

So, along with a planned rest day every week during my 3 week stay (i will need it as well as my 7yo), that totals 24 days.......as we will only be there for 21 days (20 with arrival/departure) can anyone give some well needed advice/thoughts please? I am planning of visiting some of the WDW parks in the evenings to cover some things we don't do/miss

TYIA

 

[scritchell]

Yes, that's what I meant. Do first part of your vacation at WDW, based upon the number of days planned at the parks and days just hanging around the resort. Then move over to Universal for the rest of your trip. Sea World is right there off International Drive. Will be much easier to get to from Universal, than Disney. Lots to do on I-Drive.

Yeah ok that is something i could look into, its just confusing because WDW site books the flights too so it doesn't give me the option of booking just 2 weeks stay out of 3 to work with the flights, if that makes sense

 

[21stamps]

@scritchell

Here’s 2 more recommendations for the heat-

1. Cooling Fan. Best $20 that I’ve ever spent! You can replenish the ice at any drink location or cart.

2. Casey Jr’s Play n Soak at MK!!! We all ran around in the water.

 

[Nemo14]

Yeah ok that is something i could look into, its just confusing because WDW site books the flights too so it doesn't give me the option of booking just 2 weeks stay out of 3 to work with the flights, if that makes sense

You could book through a travel agent though couldn't you? We have an agency sponsor here (@Kingdom Konsultant ) who could work with you on your plans. They do not charge you for their service, and they are highly recommended.

 

[21stamps]

Epcot has a fun splash station as well-

 

[LAKid53]

Don't pay $20 for a Disney misting fan. If you are going to do Amazon for cooling towels, purchase a misting fan for $5 (or whatever the £ equivalent would be) at the same time. Those Disney misting spans get heavy when filled with water and ice.

 

[James J]

Yeah ok that is something i could look into, its just confusing because WDW site books the flights too so it doesn't give me the option of booking just 2 weeks stay out of 3 to work with the flights, if that makes sense

You could book the flights separately, which can sometimes work out slightly cheaper. I've done it that way this year, so I've just booked my hotel stay and Disney tickets through WDW, then flights via another site.

 

[LAKid53]

You could book through a travel agent though couldn't you? We have an agency sponsor here (@Kingdom Konsultant ) who could work with you on your plans. They do not charge you for their service, and they are highly recommended.

Will they help clients outside the US? OP is in the UK.

And aren't the free dining packages run for September? He's planning on visiting in August. Or do UK visitors have packages we Yanks don't.

 

[21stamps]

Don't pay $20 for a Disney misting fan. If you are going to do Amazon for cooling towels, purchase a misting fan for $5 (or whatever the £ equivalent would be) at the same time. Those Disney misting spans get heavy when filled with water and ice.

My 5 year old (at the time) wore it around his neck the entire trip. It was a lifesaver.

 

[scritchell]

Epcot has a fun splash station as well-

View attachment 259946

My son would love that

 

[LAKid53]

You could book the flights separately, which can sometimes work out slightly cheaper. I've done it that way this year, so I've just booked my hotel stay and Disney tickets through WDW, then flights via another site.

He will, though, have to let Disney know of his flight arrangements to use DME, correct?

 

[scritchell]

Will they help clients outside the US? OP is in the UK.

And aren't the free dining packages run for September? He's planning on visiting in August. Or do UK visitors have packages we Yanks don't.

It wont be until August 2019 so i wouldn't be able to book until 1 year out....I will wait until they offer the free dining before booking

 

[scritchell]

You could book the flights separately, which can sometimes work out slightly cheaper. I've done it that way this year, so I've just booked my hotel stay and Disney tickets through WDW, then flights via another site.

WDW offer free transfer, so how would i get to and from the airport?

 

[scritchell]

Don't pay $20 for a Disney misting fan. If you are going to do Amazon for cooling towels, purchase a misting fan for $5 (or whatever the £ equivalent would be) at the same time. Those Disney misting spans get heavy when filled with water and ice.

Good tip

 

[scritchell]

My 5 year old (at the time) wore it around his neck the entire trip. It was a lifesaver.

I will invest in 2

 

[LAKid53]

It wont be until August 2019 so i wouldn't be able to book until 1 year out....I will wait until they offer the free dining before booking

Just know that's a limited number of rooms and resorts.

 

[scritchell]

He will, though, have to let Disney know of his flight arrangements to use DME, correct?

DME?

 

[nickys]

You're going in the summer, right? Have you been to Florida in the summer before? After looking at your first post, my first thought was that somebody was going to end up sick or in the hospital from heat exhaustion. 6 days a week out in that heat every afternoon! Mad dogs and Englishmen...

And here's the thing - you say you want to see EVERYTHING at every park. But there are going to be attractions at every park that just don't hold interest for either or both of you. What's the point of going on a ride you (or your son) aren't interested in, just to tick off a box on some checklist?

The pace you would have to maintain to achieve what you want is, IMO, unsustainable, and after a few days would become an endurance race rather than an enjoyable vacation. Not to mention the expense of what you're proposing.

For offsite parks, have a look at Mears transport. I believe they have shuttles from Disney resorts to some of them. Uber will likely be cheaper to parks IN Orlando. Look at Grayline Tours for transport only or packages to the Kennedy Space Center.

Yes this ^^^ You CANNOT do everything, really! The parks are huge, there is so much in them.

Even DHS. If you tried to see every show, ride everything, watch/experience all things Star Wars you will need a second day. The people who say DHS is a half day park are those that have been going year on year. Once you've seen a show you probably don't need to see it again until/if you have a younger child who hasn't been. Personally I love Indy, and go every visit, but have never seen the Beauty and the Beast show or Little Mermaid at DHS.

So you need to do some research. Start with what interests you and your son? Go to the WDW site and start looking at the maps. I would get a copy of the Unofficial Guide and read about the parks, look at some videos online.

I'll give a shout out to Josh, aka @nelsonj3 , who posts here and has a website with great videos. Here's a link to a thread he started recently, you can link to his website from there. These give a good idea of the scope of MK,

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads...round-the-parks-can-lift-your-spirits.937151/

Then decide what do you really want to see, your "must do" attractions, what are the "nice to do" things, what can you skip. Whittle things down a bit. Then look at the maps and your lists. I also suggest you look at the touringplans site; they have ready made plans or you can make your own. Even just to see how long you can expect things to take.

 

[scritchell]

Just know that's a limited number of rooms and resorts.

What do you mean?
I check on the WDW site daily lol

 

[James J]

WDW offer free transfer, so how would i get to and from the airport?

You still get Disney's Magical Express (DME) included. Taken from my booking confirmation:

"As a guest staying in a Disney Resort Hotel you are eligible for Disney's Magical Express transfer service which provides FREE transportation from and to Orlando International (MCO). Disney's Magical Express is complimentary but must be specifically requested. Please call our Disney Experts on 0800 169 0730* to book."

 

[LAKid53]

WDW offer free transfer, so how would i get to and from the airport?

Disney's Magical Express (DME) runs from/to the Orlando airport to Disney hotels. You can probably add that by providing Disney your flight info if you didn't book your plane tickets through them. We drive, so I'm not sure how that would work.