I posted on the general park board looking for suggestions about a 1 day trip my wife and I were taking during our 4 day visit to my parent's house in Naples, FL for Easter. I was unsure how crowded it would be, if we should get a hopper, and/or if it would be worth it to even try. We decided to leave Naples at 530AM on Saturday (of a holiday weekend no less!) to take the 3 hour drive to Magic Kingdom. We decided against hopping and just went with one day/one park approach. We arrived to the parking lot around 8:30AM and by the time we parked, shuttled, and monorailed to the park it was 9AM.
We consider ourselves "fast pass" experts, so really utilized this in our day. We left our 21 month old (we brought him last year, but he is currently of an age where he will just tear the park and our psychies apart... so for a one day trip did not feel too bad leaving him with Pop Pop and Grandma) with my parents and this allowed us to move at a faster pace. I was SHOCKED by how much we were able to get done between 9AM and 6:30PM (When we left for the long ride back to Naples).
We figured lets head over to Splash/Big Thunder Mountains first, where we can get fast pass on one and then wait on line for the other before the real crowds show up (did not get too busy until after 12PM which surprised me). There was only a 5!!!!! minute wait for Splash and 30 for Thunder, so we got fast passed for Thunder and hopped the line for Splash. It probably was under 5 minutes and already about 70 degrees, so it was perfect and we did not get too wet/cold. By the time we got off we had 30 minutes to blow before Thunder, so went to one of my favorites, Pirates. Another 5 minute wait! Woo hoo. By the time we got off we used the restrooms and was time for Thunder, which is both of our favorite ride at the park.
After hitting these first three we went right to Future World to get Space Mountain Fast Passes. While waiting to get one, a real nice teenager said (and made me feel old at 30) "excuse me sir, would you like these two fast passes for the ride, I am not using them" and I graciously accepted. We had an hour before we can use them, so went to get a FP for the new Mermaid ride (never been on and was over hour wait) and then headed back to Future World. We went on Laugh Factory (we both love) and then used our fast pass for Space Mountain. It was only 11AM by this point and we had been on 5 attractions... i didnt expect to get on five all day!
We then went back to Fantasy Land and went on Philharmagic and then used our Mermaid FP. 12PM and we had 90 minutes until our lunch reservations at Tony's Town Square Restaurant. We went and got 2 more FP for Thunder Mountain so we can ride it after lunch and then hopped the train that brings you around the park to relax for a few.
Lunch was great (by this point I've already chowed on a churro and glazed nuts), I had the shrimp caesar salad which was fantastic. Hopped back on the train and took it to Frontier Land. Walked back to Thunder Mountain and rode it again. From there we went to get FP for Jungle Cruise and to check to Haunted Mansion, 30 minutes wait, not too bad.
After the mansion we got some Dole Whip, yummy and then over to Jungle Cruise. Walked right on with our fast passes and decided we had hit literally everything we'd want to hit (and Thunder Mountain twice!), with the exception of Carousel of Progress. Neither of us wanted to walk back to Future World, so we just leisurely strlled the park and really enjoyed the beautiful weather.
Hopped the monorail back to T&T Center, got to our car by 6:45PM and back on the road to southwest Florida.
Can not tell you enough how happy we were to take a spur of the moment trip!
We consider ourselves "fast pass" experts, so really utilized this in our day. We left our 21 month old (we brought him last year, but he is currently of an age where he will just tear the park and our psychies apart... so for a one day trip did not feel too bad leaving him with Pop Pop and Grandma) with my parents and this allowed us to move at a faster pace. I was SHOCKED by how much we were able to get done between 9AM and 6:30PM (When we left for the long ride back to Naples).
We figured lets head over to Splash/Big Thunder Mountains first, where we can get fast pass on one and then wait on line for the other before the real crowds show up (did not get too busy until after 12PM which surprised me). There was only a 5!!!!! minute wait for Splash and 30 for Thunder, so we got fast passed for Thunder and hopped the line for Splash. It probably was under 5 minutes and already about 70 degrees, so it was perfect and we did not get too wet/cold. By the time we got off we had 30 minutes to blow before Thunder, so went to one of my favorites, Pirates. Another 5 minute wait! Woo hoo. By the time we got off we used the restrooms and was time for Thunder, which is both of our favorite ride at the park.
After hitting these first three we went right to Future World to get Space Mountain Fast Passes. While waiting to get one, a real nice teenager said (and made me feel old at 30) "excuse me sir, would you like these two fast passes for the ride, I am not using them" and I graciously accepted. We had an hour before we can use them, so went to get a FP for the new Mermaid ride (never been on and was over hour wait) and then headed back to Future World. We went on Laugh Factory (we both love) and then used our fast pass for Space Mountain. It was only 11AM by this point and we had been on 5 attractions... i didnt expect to get on five all day!
We then went back to Fantasy Land and went on Philharmagic and then used our Mermaid FP. 12PM and we had 90 minutes until our lunch reservations at Tony's Town Square Restaurant. We went and got 2 more FP for Thunder Mountain so we can ride it after lunch and then hopped the train that brings you around the park to relax for a few.
Lunch was great (by this point I've already chowed on a churro and glazed nuts), I had the shrimp caesar salad which was fantastic. Hopped back on the train and took it to Frontier Land. Walked back to Thunder Mountain and rode it again. From there we went to get FP for Jungle Cruise and to check to Haunted Mansion, 30 minutes wait, not too bad.
After the mansion we got some Dole Whip, yummy and then over to Jungle Cruise. Walked right on with our fast passes and decided we had hit literally everything we'd want to hit (and Thunder Mountain twice!), with the exception of Carousel of Progress. Neither of us wanted to walk back to Future World, so we just leisurely strlled the park and really enjoyed the beautiful weather.
Hopped the monorail back to T&T Center, got to our car by 6:45PM and back on the road to southwest Florida.
Can not tell you enough how happy we were to take a spur of the moment trip!
