HS planning help, pleaseandthankyou

[PARichards]

Taking a break from MK planning, because OVERWHELMED, and there's really very little I will get accomplished until I know if and for when I can snag Anna&Elsa and 7DMT FP+ (and THAT won't be happening til midJuly, le sigh). On to DHS...

We will be there 9/10. The day before will be a short, late start day, so we should be there at RD. I'm working on 2 versions of the plan:

Version 1 (for DH)- RD-after dinner. 50sPTC ADR @ 6:50pm.
Version 2 (for me)- RD-close. 50sPTC ADR @ 5:20pm. Fantasmic! ...maybe.

Because of our kids' ages/temperaments and the DH and mine's attraction preferences, Jedi Academy, ToT and RnRC are not musts. Ok, now my actual question:
1. I'm considering using the UG's "Disney's Hollywood Studios One-Day Not-A-Touring-Plan Plan for Parents with Small Children" - anyone have experience planning their DHS day like that?

 

[cw1982]

If it's a late start day, how will you be there at RD? Just looking for clarification...

If you're wanting to do Fantasmic! and have small kids, I highly recommend doing the Fantasmic meal package for lunch or dinner if you can. It's about the only way that you'll definitely get seating, based on what I've read on Touring Plans. You could always FP+ it, but since you'll probably want your pre-booked tier one FP to be TSMM, you'll probably not want to do a FP for the show, unless there are slots still open for it later in the day.

I've played around on Touring Plans and created custom itineraries, but I'm not 100% sure I'll stick with it. I moreso used it as a way of seeing whether or not the list of things I wanted to do each day was reasonable.

Something else to consider with DHS... there are a lot of shows there. You may want to make a list of which shows your kids will want to see and try to make sure you plan accordingly based on the showtimes. There should be enough show times for everything that you can easily work around your ADR's, so no worries there... but in terms of planning for the whole day, I'd definitely make sure you know exactly what you want to do and focus on timing those shows more than anything.

 

[EricJ]

If you get a chance to go on early-morning Extra Magic hours (assuming you're at the resorts), it's a good way to get the "core" rides out of the way--Star Tours, Tower of Terror, etc.--and save the daytime hours for exploring the atmosphere and getting a meal or two, before standing in the long Fantasmic lines.
There's not much atmosphere happening and the park's rather sleepy before RD, so with HS, it's a better chance to get the "hard work" of long-line attractions done while they're still getting ready.

 

[PARichards]

If it's a late start day, how will you be there at RD? Just looking for clarification...

The day before will be a short, late start day, so we should be there at RD.

The day before our DHS day is a sleeping-in day with an early bedtime because MK closes at 7pm for the Halloween Party. I just meant that we'd be refreshed and ready to hit the park at RD. But is there enough to do to justify such an early start? The girls would love Character Palooza, which I believe would be smack in the middle of any break we might take if we'er there all day, and friends have told us a break isn't necessary if we use the shows wisely.

I've played around on Touring Plans and created custom itineraries, but I'm not 100% sure I'll stick with it. I moreso used it as a way of seeing whether or not the list of things I wanted to do each day was reasonable.

Yup! That's how my MK plans are shaping up. DH wants to go and "not have a plan." Which means my job is to make sure that his nonplan allows us to get to see things he considers must-dos. This is my first foray into anything DHS related, that is, after realizing that F! is a no-go if we stick to DH's preferred ADR time of 7pm. SMH.

You may want to make a list of which shows your kids will want to see and try to make sure you plan accordingly based on the showtimes. There should be enough show times for everything that you can easily work around your ADR's, so no worries there... but in terms of planning for the whole day, I'd definitely make sure you know exactly what you want to do and focus on timing those shows more than anything.

That is such a great starting point- thanks so much!

 

[PARichards]

If you get a chance to go on early-morning Extra Magic hours (assuming you're at the resorts), it's a good way to get the "core" rides out of the way--Star Tours, Tower of Terror, etc.--and save the daytime hours for exploring the atmosphere and getting a meal or two, before standing in the long Fantasmic lines.
There's not much atmosphere happening and the park's rather sleepy before RD, so with HS, it's a better chance to get the "hard work" of long-line attractions done while they're still getting ready.

EMH is at Epcot that night... any advice on maybe hopping to Epcot if we do the later, nonFantasmicallowable ADR? Or too much? Probably too much. I have a problem with thinking too much! And, also, as much as I would love to see F!, I'm honestly not sold on the worth-it-ness of keeping 4 kids occupied in line for a show that we might have to leave early. Unfortunately for all of us, 50sPTC is nonnegotiable, so no chance to book the dinner package to save us the wait. Ugh. Trying to pick my battles wisely and pretty sure I'm losing(?), that's all

 

[cw1982]

The day before our DHS day is a sleeping-in day with an early bedtime because MK closes at 7pm for the Halloween Party. I just meant that we'd be refreshed and ready to hit the park at RD. But is there enough to do to justify such an early start? The girls would love Character Palooza, which I believe would be smack in the middle of any break we might take if we'er there all day, and friends have told us a break isn't necessary if we use the shows wisely.



Yup! That's how my MK plans are shaping up. DH wants to go and "not have a plan." Which means my job is to make sure that his nonplan allows us to get to see things he considers must-dos. This is my first foray into anything DHS related, that is, after realizing that F! is a no-go if we stick to DH's preferred ADR time of 7pm. SMH.



That is such a great starting point- thanks so much!

Ah, I misread. That's what I get for coming here as soon as I get home from work

I'd agree that the shows can definitely mean less need for a break. Less walking around, more sitting and watching, means less exhaustion in general. As far as getting there at RD, again, I'd look at the show times and see what time you'd need to be there to line those up accordingly. You'll probably do FP+ for TSMM... not sure about your tier two choices, but those won't be as big of a deal anyway and can easily be moved around the show times (at 60 days out, TSMM will be pretty easily moved around also, so no worries there).

Maybe look into doing the Fantasmic meal package for lunch? Then you guys could pick up a QS dinner before the show.

 

[cw1982]

EMH is at Epcot that night... any advice on maybe hopping to Epcot if we do the later, nonFantasmicallowable ADR? Or too much? Probably too much. I have a problem with thinking too much! And, also, as much as I would love to see F!, I'm honestly not sold on the worth-it-ness of keeping 4 kids occupied in line for a show that we might have to leave early. Unfortunately for all of us, 50sPTC is nonnegotiable, so no chance to book the dinner package to save us the wait. Ugh. Trying to pick my battles wisely and pretty sure I'm losing(?), that's all

If they'd be too tired to do Fantasmic, they'd probably be too tired to do Epcot evening EMH as well... and if you're not staying for the EMH, it's generally thought to not be worth it to be in the park that has the EMH because the EMH tends to draw in more people. The only way I'd recommend that is if you did hit HS at RD, went home for a nap after lunch ADR's at 50sPTC, and then went to Epcot after naptime and ate dinner while you were out there. Not a bad plan, as you could probably do all of HS in half a day if your priorities allow for it, but it might make for a REALLY long day.

Another option might be to go to HS early, do 50sPTC for lunch to get the Fantasmic package, hang out after lunch until the kids are ready for a nap or a dip in the pool, and then go back to the hotel to relax until closer to time for Fantasmic. You'd still have to wait for the show, but then at least you'd have time to refresh.

FWIW, I'm not completely sold on doing Fantasmic on our trip either. If it fits into our plans, great. If not, I'm not going to be disappointed.

 

[PARichards]

If they'd be too tired to do Fantasmic, they'd probably be too tired to do Epcot evening EMH as well... and if you're not staying for the EMH, it's generally thought to not be worth it to be in the park that has the EMH because the EMH tends to draw in more people. The only way I'd recommend that is if you did hit HS at RD, went home for a nap after lunch ADR's at 50sPTC, and then went to Epcot after naptime and ate dinner while you were out there. Not a bad plan, as you could probably do all of HS in half a day if your priorities allow for it, but it might make for a REALLY long day.

So true. I hereby promise to stop thinking we can park hop that day, as DH loves HS and plans to need all day to soak it in.

Another option might be to go to HS early, do 50sPTC for lunch to get the Fantasmic package, hang out after lunch until the kids are ready for a nap or a dip in the pool, and then go back to the hotel to relax until closer to time for Fantasmic. You'd still have to wait for the show, but then at least you'd have time to refresh.

FWIW, I'm not completely sold on doing Fantasmic on our trip either. If it fits into our plans, great. If not, I'm not going to be disappointed.

My understanding was that 50sPTC doesn't participate in the F! package deal, which is why I feel it might have to be one or the other, not both. Especially if DH won't budge on the time of the ADR. (Grrr!) I once, mistakenly, suggested we switch our ADR to lunch as a strategy to help us to get out the heat in the middle of the day [insert awkward laugh here]. Yeah, notsomuch.

I'm looking at the times guide now, and it looks like my starting outline will be:

RD
TSMM w/FP+
Meet characters
Lunch wherever we end up around 11
Air conditioned shows at mid day
4:30 LMA
StarTours w/FP+
Dinner


I have to have us doing something fairly interactive or far away from PTC before our ADR so the kids will be hungry and ready to sit/eat, so I gotta check show lengths, too. This has me shooting for a predinner StarTours FP+ for DH and DDs8 & 6, and they can double ride while we take turns keeping the DDs4 entertained in the HIStK play area...

 

[cw1982]

My understanding was that 50sPTC doesn't participate in the F! package deal, which is why I feel it might have to be one or the other, not both. Especially if DH won't budge on the time of the ADR. (Grrr!) I once, mistakenly, suggested we switch our ADR to lunch as a strategy to help us to get out the heat in the middle of the day [insert awkward laugh here]. Yeah, notsomuch.

You're probably right about 50sPTC not being in the Fantasmic package. I'm not sure why I was thinking it was...

Is there another day when you don't have a dinner ADR that you could hop over to HS and use a last minute FP for Fantasmic? For example, you could do Epcot during the day, ride the boat over to HS before going back to the hotel for the afternoon nap to book the FP for that night's show, and then go back to the room and relax before heading back out for dinner and the show.... IF you care enough to work it in.

I definitely wouldn't try to do Fantasmic during the first show of the evening standby (assuming there are two shows... not sure about your dates). The second show is usually less crowded, but it'll be pretty late if it's offered at all.

 

[PARichards]

Is there another day when you don't have a dinner ADR that you could hop over to HS and use a last minute FP for Fantasmic? For example, you could do Epcot during the day, ride the boat over to HS before going back to the hotel for the afternoon nap to book the FP for that night's show, and then go back to the room and relax before heading back out for dinner and the show.... IF you care enough to work it in.

I definitely wouldn't try to do Fantasmic during the first show of the evening standby (assuming there are two shows... not sure about your dates). The second show is usually less crowded, but it'll be pretty late if it's offered at all.

We only have 4.5 days at the parks. It'll be a whirlwind. As of now, I don't believe there are any scheduled nights w/2 F! Shows, aside from arrival night, and the following morning is our full day at MK. Just not worth the tears, bad attitudes, and stress I foresee if we try to push it. Oh well!

 

[cw1982]

We only have 4.5 days at the parks. It'll be a whirlwind. As of now, I don't believe there are any scheduled nights w/2 F! Shows, aside from arrival night, and the following morning is our full day at MK. Just not worth the tears, bad attitudes, and stress I foresee if we try to push it. Oh well!

Might be one of those things that becomes a "wait and see how the rest of the plans pan out" kinda deal then... the good news is, you have plenty of time to make these kinds of decisions. I'm less than two weeks away from my trip, and I'm still making some minor adjustments!