Magic Kingdom FP+ touring plan help

[PARichards]

First-time family trip w/4 girls, ages 8, 6, 4, 4, 2nd wk of Sept. Day 2 we were planning nothing but MK, hopefully at rope drop, with midday break to swim/nap @ AoA. We have a 8:45 ADR at BOG, and ending with the fireworks. With so many options, i have no idea were to beginning making touring plans... I'd imagine we should leave NF for the late afternoon/evening when we return before dinner? What do other families with lots of LOs do?!

 

[Weather_Lady]

It depends on how much you want to get done (and the height limitations of the kids).

One option would be to do Big Thunder/Splash/Jungle Cruise/Pirates/Haunted Mansion first, and then work your way back through Liberty Square, Frontierland and Adventureland, then go back to your room for naps.

In the afternoon, you'd take the WDW R.R. from Main Street to Fantasyland, and do Fantasyland and Tomorrowland before/after dinner. You're visiting during a "low crowd" time of year, but there won't be enough FP+ to keep you from having to wait in a few long-ish lines: FP+ your top choices out of 7DMT, Enchanted Tales w/Belle, PFTH meet-and-greets, Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear, Pooh, Dumbo, and Little Mermaid. Where the lines are long and you don't have a FP+, consider saving the attraction for a little later. Because Fantasyland is often full of families with small children, many of them start to head out around/after dinnertime to get the kids to bed, so the lines will get shorter as the evening progresses.

However, if your kids are too small to ride (or just not interested in) things like Splash and Big Thunder Mountain, then I'd reverse the touring plan and do Fantasyland in the morning instead, FP+-ing whatever you don't think you'll be able to get to during the morning (e.g., Enchanted Tales with Belle, which would otherwise occupy 30 minutes of precious post-rope-drop time) for later in the afternoon when the crowds peak.

 

[PARichards]

Thanks! This is all great information!

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

I'm only a little concerned about you making wishes with a 8:45 ADR. I know we had a 6:45 ressie for BOG and weren't seated til 7. By the time we finished it was 8:40. We did wait to meet the beast though...

 

[PARichards]

Right now, I'm thinking of doing PFTH and Peter Pan first thing in the AM. Haven't checked ht req for Splash Mt. but if our girls can get on then we can head that way and do the Adventure/Frontierland/Liberty Sq half of the park before lunch (snacks and QS suggestions welcome!), then back to resort for midday break. I'm hoping to stay out of the park til 4:30/5, and doing FP+ for Belle and Ariel, then taking in the rest of Fantasy & Tomorrow til dinner. If the kids get hungry before our ADR, which *is* SO late (what was I thinking?!), we could try to check in early and see if we can be seated before our res...? (Don't laugh too hard.) My oldest is really into TheIncredibles, so would appreciate any reviews of the Super Dance Party. Anyone know how late Ariel and Belle stay out meeting people? Could we maybe see them on our way to dinner? Without needing to FP+ those meets, we could the use those for Pirates in the AM and Buzz in the late afternoon, after we return back to the park...? Sorry for all the Qs!

 

[iluvMainStMagic]

I'm not sure if it's ok to post this link here, moderators please feel free to remove if necessary -
http://www.easywdw.com
I have found this website to have really good constantly re-evaluated & updated park touring information and great pictures (with a nice amount of dry humor thrown in ). This link is specifically for Sept 2014 and is a Lot of info, but you can use as much/little as you want.
http://www.easywdw.com/calendar/september-2014-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/#more-13089
(not sure why the links wouldn't highlight, but they should still work to copy/paste)
The month-by-month overview highlighted "here" link in the second paragraph is good info, too.

I hope this is helpful!

 

[Wikkler]

The EZWDW site is censored, unfortunately.

 

[PARichards]

Also, it looks like MNSSHP will start happening during our stay. Thoughts? Is it worth the extra price with everything else we have to see & do?

 

[PARichards]

M'kay, so after checking crowd calendars, I had a minor freak out because that MK day 1 is a Monday, so NOT recommended by anyone (live and learn, I guess). I am moving things around, as much as the fam will allow, and have added a return to MK on the following day (per crowd calndars, listed as highly recommended). So... let the touring plan "fun" begin?

MK day 1 (Monday, 9/8)
RD-2ish
Resort break nap/swim/etc.
Return to park by 6
BOG ADR 8:45pm (I know, trying to make it earlier!)
Wishes or more rides if ADR can't be moved

MK day 2 (Tues, 9/9)
Sleep in
Brunch 11am (trying to change ADR at Chef Mickey's to Crystal Palace)
Touring
3pm Parade
7pm Park closes
Return to resort, swim/earlyish bedtime (we plan RD at DHS the next day)

Return to MK, (evening, Thurs 9/11, aka our last night)
Currently have 6:40pm ADR at Park Fare
MSEP and Wishes


I need ideas to start our touring. I was thinking to start with FL after RD on day 1, but it isn't a recommended day for the park and I'm worried about it getting too crowded/overwhelming or it involving too much crisscrossing, and getting us off to a bad start.

I thought that, with our BOG dinner, to save NFL for that evening.

Then do Liberty sq/FrontierAdventureland for day 2, to put us in a good spot for viewing the parade and a late QS lunch/early dinner.

Our priorities: Rapunzel, Anna/Elsa, Tink, Belle, and Ariel M&G. Not sure how anynof the DDs will respond to coasters, but I was gonna throw in 7DMT for a FP+ or I might not have a chance to ride it otherwise.

TIA

 

[Weather_Lady]

I think your plan (starting with FL after rope drop on day 1) is a good one. Get to 7DMT (if open), Peter Pan, and Pooh first, and then work your way around the rest of FL. Save Enchanted Tales w/Belle and a PFTH M&G (if desired) for later in the day with FP+, unless you find that you're able to squeeze them in with a short line in the morning. When you return to the park later that day, you should be able to finish Fantasyland (take the WDW Railroad from the Main Street Station to Fantasyland -- it's a lovely ride!) and do Tomorrowland (use FP+ for Space Mountain if you're doing it, otherwise use it for Buzz).

For your mid-morning arrival day, you should be able to complete the rest of the Magic Kingdom. I'd start with Adventureland (then go to Crystal Palace) and then when Adventureland was done, work my way through Frontierland and Liberty Square. FP+ priorities (in descending order of expected wait time) would be Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, Jungle Cruise, Pirates and Haunted Mansion.

This means that your third day can be used to visit anything you missed and revisit all of your favorite attractions.

Don't worry too much about visiting the MK on a Monday. We always do it, and although there is theoretically a slight uptick in crowds, it's nothing that a decent touring plan can't overcome.

EDIT: I just realized I'd already posted and given similar advice. Doh!

 

[PARichards]

No, no! Don't be sorry! I really appreciate the feedback, esp since I keep second guessing myself. Having never been there, I am so overwhelmed, and I'm glad to know I'm thinking in the right direction!