How do you do the parks?

[mini-V]

Reading through the great reports people have written after going to Walt Disney World, I wondered how most people plan their stay. Please cast your vote.

[Sledge]

Us.

Magic Kingdom
13th, 14th 9am-10pm
15th 9am-9pm w/ Evening Extra Magic Hours
16th 9am-6pm

Epcot
13th, 9am-9pm w/ Evening Extra Magic Hours
14th, 15th, 16th 9am-9pm

Disney-MGM Studios
13th 9am-7:30pm
14th 9am-7:30pm w/ Morning Extra Magic Hours
15th, 16th 9am-7:30pm

Disney's Animal Kingdom
13th, 14th, 15th 9am-5pm
16th 9am-5pm w/ Morning Extra Magic Hours

13th – Magic Kingdom
14th – Disney-MGM Studios/Boma at 8
15th – Epcot/Magic Kingdom at night
16th – Animal Kingdom/?

[trickster]

We have a full plan of attack for which days we are going to which particular park. But, within those days we will decide how to 'attack' the park when we are there!!

we do have a full list of ADRs too - Thanks to Melissa for booking those for us!!

[turkeymama]

We also have certain days planned for certain parks. We start out fast and furious at MK for certain rides and attractions. Then we slow down. I guess as my kids get older that may change. There are so many rides my daughter still can't ride but would love to.

[disneydame2004]

We usually plan out specific parks for each day, depending on any special events going on during our stay. Then we pick a restaurant for each park and make ADRs. But what attractions we get to each day is decided once we're in the parks.

With the kids along, there is always a break scheduled during the day, and we usually hop to a different park after the break. Even solo I usually park hop at least once during a day - that excitement of going through the turnstiles and entering a new park always boosts my energy and keeps me going a couple of extra hours.

Also on longer trips, we try to schedule a 'down day' every 3 to 4 days - one with no early morning alarm clock, no 'must be here by this time' things, and maybe at the water parks or Downtown Disney, and lots of pool time.

[turkeymama]

We do the same with ADRs for each day.

[tharmscott]

I usually get colored 3x5 cards and pick one for each park. Each land in Magic Kingdom has it's own card. Then I sit down with the girls and we decide what we want to do while we are there. We include places to eat, shopping, parades, shows, etc. I usually punch a hole in each one and put a ring through them to make it easier to keep up with and throw in the backpack. We kinda start slow the first day we are at each park. At the end of the day we mark off what we did and then the next day we are at that park we see what we missed the first day. It works for us and the girls enjoy it.

[GIOny]

It's usually a mixture of days but this November we will be in the relaxed mode, my main goal will be to totally experience the Food and Wine Festival, which I have never done before.
BTW Mini-V, I love your new avatar!!

[mini-V]

We tend to do a mixture of high energy days with some more relaxed days. It depends on how many days we are able to visit the parks. I HAVE to do Everest this trip and I REALLY want to do POTC. We'll have company with us who are looking forward to the Food and Wine Festival.

I had a Mickey avatar for a few days, but when I saw the pumpkin, I KNEW I had to change; especially after I read the trip reports on those attending Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. (If I get to go, I'll be dressed as a pirate!)

[Tinker Bell]

I see a pattern here, seems we all plan which days we'll be at which park then book our ADR's. This upcoming trip we have no lunch plans, we'll see where we end up when we get hungry. Actually, not true, we know we'd like to have lunch in Morocco. It's so hard for a planner to be spontaneous.....We only have one day per park this time (4 days, 5 nights) and planned each day so that we can take advantage of the EMH, no park hopping this trip. I think we'll be using the parade times to cram a lot of rides in too.

On our last visit we had 10 days at the parks so it was a very relaxing visit, we didn't rush, we had time for long meals, watched the parades and all the shows, it was great! My sister was a CM on the Disney Magic at the time so we got free park entrance and discounts on our meals, that was awesome. Too bad she got tired of living on a cruise ship.....

[Veritas]

We're pretty lucky. Since wew go twice a year (if we can mamage it) we're pretty laid back about seeing everything. We see what we feel like at the moment, and then go back for somehting else if the mood strikes us. We do have "must do" for some rides like Haunted Mnasion etc, but overall we pretty much do as the m,ood strikes.

[Suiteliferoxs]

We plan before we go

[moulds]

I usually wait till i get to the parks and see how long the wait times are then wonder around taking pictures.

[PrncsAurora]

We go all out Camando Style...but we always have a plan too, we check magic happy hours and pick the park accordingly and then where to get a fast pass as soon as it opens and what ride to ride while waiting...and so on! SO MUCH FUN!!