Questions about my first day plans

RPMdfw

RPMdfw

New Member
Okay, I'm less than a week out, and have a couple of questions about my first day. On Friday (March 14) I get into Orlando International Airport at 10:07 am. I'm figuring that retrieving my checked bag, getting the rental car, and checking into the motel and then getting to WDW will take me until around 12:30-1:00 pm. My plan is to upgrade my 7 day park hopper plus for a Premium Annual Pass (I'm planning on going back for Gay Days and the Epcot Food and Wine Festival) and then splitting the afternoon between MK and Epcot so I make sure I hit the attractions I really want to see (the ones I haven't done before) before my family arrives on Saturday and I have to start taking other people's wishes into account. So here are my questions:

Where do I upgrade the Park Hopper? At TTC or at MK guest relations?

Is it possible to do Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Adventure, TTA, American Adventure and HISTA between 1pm and 8pm? (I've never actually park hopped in the same day, so I 'm not sure how long it takes to get between MK and Epcot on the Monorail. Am I planning on too much?

How late is World of Disney Store at DTD open? Can I go there after 9pm to pick up a birthday present for my sister? (She turned 30 last week and just got engaged so I want to get her the Minnie/Bride ears before she arrives on Saturday) Can they sew her name in the bride ears? Do they do that at DTD or just at the Emporium on Main Street?

Wow. I didn't realize I had that many questions. :lol:

Anyway, sorry for the long post, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Rob
 
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EthylCooper

EthylCooper

Active Member
Hi! :wave:
I can't tell you a thing about upgrading the park hopper...sorry. But I can tell you that your itinerary is very possible. I'm not sure how spring break-y it'll be, but you shouldn't have trouble doing those 5 attractions in 7 hours. If it were me, I'd head straight to Pan and get a fastpass when you arrive at the MK, then do SW, then TTA. If your FP time isn't up by then (and won't be up for longer than the regular wait), just wait in line for it. Even with a half hour added in at the Guest Services window, I'd expect to be finished with those attractions by 4. Allow yourself about an hour for monorail travel time, though it shouldn't be nearly that. You should still get to Epcot in plenty of time to do the only two attractions you have listed there. Even during spring break, you'll probably find that you have time left over for dinner as well as a few other attractions. (We visited on a mid-March weekend in 2001 and our waits were very reasonable.)

As for DTD, the Marketplace has been open until at least 11 every time I've been. Even if they trim hours for budget cuts, I'd be surprised if they trimmed more than an hour. I don't know if they embroider the names here, though.

Hope this helps! (And have lots and lots of fun! :sohappy: )
 
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BRER STITCH

BRER STITCH

Well-Known Member
Hey RPMDFW!!! :wave:

You can upgrade your Park Hopper right at the front desk when you chek in! There is some time saved!

Your itinerary is EASY to do! I Park Hop by myself ALL the time! Its so easy when you are alone, as it's much easier to blend in with the lines! Depending on the crowds that day (which lately have been light, I'm sure!) you could get in all of those things AND MORE! Sadly, Peter Pan is going to be your longest wait, so take ETHYL COOPER'S advice and grab a FastPass if needed!

The monorail between Magic Kingdom and EPCOT is only about 20 - 30 minutes including a stop at the Transportation and Ticket Center.

You can go to Downtown Disney by bus after Illuminations at EPCOT and still have plenty of time to shop. All of the stores including The Disney Store were open til 11 when I was there last, but they can tell you at the Hotel Front Desk or any of the Guest Relations windows at the Parks for sure.

Actually, I believe that the Bride and Groom ears are embroidered at the little store thats connected to the Christmas Store. Because they often have a waiting time of a day or more for the personalization, I would suggest calling them NOW and ordering the printed items you want so you can just pick them up when you get there!!! More time saved!

Now....with all that time saved, get over to Pleasure Island and have a drink!

:sohappy:

Have a GREAT trip! Tell us about it when you get back!
 
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RPMdfw

RPMdfw

New Member
Original Poster
Thanks for the info! Both of you were very helpful. I just realized that I left of the fact that I also want to do Test Track (single rider's line) during that time.

And since I'm not staying on property (I'm at a Travelodge on Highway 192 that first night, because we're staying in a 4 bedroom condo in Kissimmee when the other 6 people arrive on Saturday) I do still need the info on whether they upgrade the park hoppers at TTC or at MK Guest Relations.

I had figured on going to Pan directly when I get there, glad to know that my instincts on that were correct.

I figure on riding the monorail to Epcot and then back to my car at the TTC parking lot at around 8. (I'm not staying for Illuminations that first night, since we plan on being at Epcot for two evenings with they whole family and catching it both of those nights.) But this does raise another question. Would it be better for me to park at Epcot, monorail over to MK do my MK stuff, and then monorail back to Epcot so my car is right outside that park when I'm done and need to go to DTD?

Oh, and Brer Stitch, a drink at PI is DEFINITELY on my list of "to dos" that night! LOL
 
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Kingdom Konsultant

Kingdom Konsultant

WDWMAGIC Board Sponsor
Premium Member
WDWMAGIC Sponsor
Hi Rob,

You can upgrade your pass at Guest services at any of the parks. I always advise my clients to allow 1 hour of travel time when going from one park/resort to another. (just in case of breakdowns, etc.) As far as your scheduling goes, if you take advantage of fastpass and hit the more popular attractions while others are dining at peak times, you should have no problem doing all that you want to achieve. I don't know if you know about the gayday.com website, but it may help you in your planning for that trip. If you haven't been to the F&W Festival, you will really enjoy it.

Pam
 
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RPMdfw

RPMdfw

New Member
Original Poster
Pam,

Thanks for the info and your insight. Yeah, I'm VERY familiar with that site. It's the only site besides WDWMagic that I check every day. :lol:

Thanks again

Rob
 
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CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
Sounds like a good (if not busy) schedule. Just something to consider............Spring Break. It may slow your plans down a little.
Have a good trip and tell us all about it when you get back.
 
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RPMdfw

RPMdfw

New Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by Kingdom Konsultant
Are you staying on or off property for your trips in June and for the F&W Festival?

Pam
Click to expand...

Well the plan WAS to rent a vacation condo for the June trip, but I've just found out that the three couples I was supposed to share the condo with are ALL bailing on the trip. So I'm not sure what's up with that trip at the moment. I still plan on going, however.

I usually stay off property though. Even with codes and stuff, I've always found much better rates outside of Disney. (Plus, I'm in the travel industry and have many hotel companies as my clients, so I can sometimes get great deals from my contacts with those hotel companies. It's just too bad, Disney isn't one of the hotel companies my company does business with.)
 
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RPMdfw

RPMdfw

New Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by Kingdom Konsultant
That's very understandable. You can save 40% on your room for that time frame though. Just something to think about.

Pam
Click to expand...

Thanks, PAM! I will look into that.
 
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