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@yerpie110: oh good, thanks so much! I JUST found this https://newsroom.uber.com/us-florida/introducing-uberfamily-to-orlando/
But it says nothing about being able to request 2 car seats, so the other car services are great info.
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@looch: Yes! And especially if you already have a 4 day pass, that 5th day, even if you just go for a few hours at $20pp is a pretty good deal! Heck you could spend almost $20pp going bowling!
But I do think Disney lets you add on to your tickets. So if you buy a 3 day pass, you still only pay the difference to add the 4th day. Its not the cost of a 3 day plus a 1 day. You can always upgrade.
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@yerpie110: Thank you for those car service links! I think I will plan to do that the morning we have the early character breakfast, then see how the bus is for everything else. I'm so excited that you're staying at AKL too! I will definitely update you after our trip. I think my kids are going to love seeing the animals. I'm thinking if things start to go south in the parks, we can always head back to our resort and watch the animals. That's what my kids really love to do, anyway! I am curious to see what my kids' tolerance for the parks/rides/characters will be. I hope they really enjoy being in the parks, but I am keeping a laid back attitude about it!
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@Anagram: I'm not sure how old your oldest is, mine will be close to 5 at the time of the trip, and I was planning on bringing this with us for her:
https://www.amazon.com/BubbleBum-Inflatable-Booster-Black-Silver/dp/B00AQYZCXK
Car seat lady review:
https://thecarseatlady.wordpress.com/boosters/bubble-bum/Eliminates the hassle for my oldest needing to get a seat, too, and easy to store!
@twodoghouse: Yes, please do update! My oldest LOVES animals and that's part of the reason why I chose AKL too - even if everything else is a bust (hopefully it won't be, haha), at least she has the animals every day which I know she is guaranteed to enjoy. Are you at Kidani Village or Jamba House?
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@T.H.O.U.: Okay, I'm ready to think about touring plans! yesterday I booked our 2 "special" dining experiences...I think we'll just eat at the resort/do quick dining the rest of the time.
Saturday: arrive
Sunday: Epcot
Monday: MK---8:15 res at Cinderella's castle. Park opens at 9am
Tuesday: AK. 5:30 pm reservation at Ohana for MIL's birthday. Not sure if we'll keep this res, but I made it so we have options. I think we'll plan a half day here OR one of us will take our youngest back for a nap and keep the oldest at AK until maybe 3-4 until it's time to go to Ohana. This might be the only time we try UberFamily, and we'll split our party into 2 ubers so each kid gets a car seat.
Wednesday: wildcard. Either HS or back to MK
Thursday: leave -
@yerpie110: She'll be 4, so too young for the bubble bum, I think. BUT thanks to your link I may just get 2 uberfamily rides with the car seats if we go to Ohana for dinner. The rest of the time we plan on walking/boating/busing to parks.
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Also, I'm a little worried about our "late" 8:15 am reservation at Cinderella's castle. We are a party of 6, so there were no 8, 8:05, or 8:10 reservations. I'm worried we may run over time and then be caught in a crowd for rides, so hoping to plan my FastPasses well.
It might also be worth it to mention that DH and I are not really roller coaster ppl, so we are fine with skipping all rides that the kids can't ride. So we would only need to think about RiderSwitch for maybe the 7 dwarves mine train, which I think LO1 can ride but not LO2.
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@Anagram: Ooh I'll totally help put something together.
This is probably something good to start reading:
http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/magic-kingdom-cheat-sheet-day-1and-fastpass-kiosks-part-1/
This is a sample priority for Fast Pass. Start getting your disney account set up and linked to family so that you can reserve them all together. I would think about what are your families top 5 rides that you want to try to be sure to do.
FastPass+ Priority:
1.
2. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
3. Peter Pan’s Flight
4. Space Mountain
5. Splash Mountain (when high temperatures are 80+ degrees)
6. Cinderella and Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall
7. Enchanted Tales with Belle
8. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
9. Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto
10. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
11. TomorrowlandSpeedway
12. JungleCruise
13. HauntedMansion
14. Mickey at Town Square Theater
15. Pirates of the Caribbean
16. Splash Mountain (when high temperatures are less than 80 degrees)
17. The Many Adventures of Winnie the PoohTop priority for FastPass+ at Magic Kingdom
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Space Mountain
Peter Pan’s Flight
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Splash MountainSecond priority for FastPass+ at Magic Kingdom
Meet Rapunzel and Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Haunted Mansion
Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid
Barnstormer
It’s a Small World
Meet Ariel at her Grotto
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Tomorrowland Speedway -
@T.H.O.U.: is that fastpast priority list because those rides/attractions have the longest lines? Because some rides we want to do aren't on there, and some on the list we can skip (big thunder mountain railroad--I think our kids aren't tall enough...meeting Cinderella since we'll have already done it. Maybe meeting Ariel...don't think my kids will care). And Meeting Elsa and Ana--they love them, but can you meet them at Epcot too, or no?
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And just to make sure I understand...I can book our first FastPasses online 30 days in advance. And then when we use them, we can keep getting more? Since our inlaws will be with us, could we use fastpasses in the morning, and then go to a kiosk to make fastpasses for that evening if we come back?
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@Anagram: We are not roller coaster people but loved Mines. It was a nice mini (but not baby) rolller coaster. Also we had a 8:15 Cinderella breakfast and I had the same concern but in the end it just didn't matter. It was worth not rushing the breakfast and the rides were not bad when we got out since we were right there. Just pick your favorite non-pass rides first. Also be sure to leave earlyto get to Magic Kingdom early just in case the restaurant entrance line is long. Make sure you get your mom's birthday button. You can ask for it at the hotel, most stores and restaurants.
I recommend FP for Mines, dElsa or Belle, and Jungle Cruise (always long even as a FP). Do Peter Pan right away or sub for a princess FP as it is packed.
You can book 60 days in advance, not 30 if you are on property. -
@Anagram: Yea, those are the ones that have the longest lines, hardest to get fast passes. Rides like the Tea Cups or Dumbo doesn't have terrible lines so its not worth it to use up 1 out of your 3 FP to get those.
Once you use your FP you log in to the app and can book more. These priority ones are pretty much never open for later in the afternoon though.
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@Anagram: yes, that's how fastpasses work. But you have to wait until the fastpass time expires to book another one - you can't do it when you get off the ride. For example, you have a FP time of 10-11 to go on a certain ride. You use the FP and go on the ride at 10:15. You won't be able to make another FP selection until after 11, even though you've already used the FP before then.
You don't need to go to a kiosk at DW to make FP reservations; you can't do it right through the DW app on your phone
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@Anagram: you can make our fastpasses 60 days in advance since you are staying on site. Frozen Ever After will be the most difficult to get, followed by Mine Train - so book those two first. Everything else is pretty easy to get.
You can make more FP after using your initial 3 from your phone using the app - much faster than finding a kiosk.
Ohana is actually one of the resort restaurants that is pretty easy to get to. Just take a bus to MK and then the monorail to Polynesian.
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Here was our plan
8:40 - Welcome Show
9:00 - Park Opens
Head to Fantasyland and ride whatever has short lines. You dont totally want to waste a FP for first thing in the morning when lines are short. We did Under the Sea and then were able to Meet Ariel which is right next door.
Around 10:00 - FP+ Peter Pan
Around 10:15 - FP+ Story time with Belle
Around 10:30 - FP+ Meet Cinderella and Repunzell
Move it Shake It Parade @ 11 -
@808love: We have always been able to get Jungle Cruise Fast Pass pretty easily as a second booking (after we used our first set of 3, we could book this for the afternoon.
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One more thing-when you book 60 days out, you are booking FP for your entire trip so plan them all out. Go to book the priority Magic Kingdom day first. For ex. if your trip starts on Mon but you are going to MK on Wed. then book those before you go to Epcot screen. Good times in FP go fast in MK.
Also if you went with DVC points I don't know if it affects anything because I booked direct. -
@T.H.O.U.: Oh that's right! We did that too!
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@Anagram: So another thing to remember is disney doesn't care who uses the Fast Pass. So if your ILs dont want to ride the Mine Train, You could use their FP to book something else.
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@Anagram: Also FP go so fast for Magic Kingdom, I would go ahead and book your FastPass for Wednesday at the MK. There is no harm if you decide to change and go to HS. and you can probably swap the FP via the app if you need to go to HS. Basically its easier to give up MK passes and get HS passes later than going the other way.
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Another thing to think of is using Rider Swap for rides your DD2 is too short to ride can help you maximize your FPs and essentially get you "extra".
For example next week when we go, my parents have FPs for Splash. They will get a Rider Swap card when they ride so Dh and I can ride afterwards without needing to have booked FPs for it ourselves.
Then I booked Big Thunder FP for Dh and I ... we will get a RS so my parents can ride after we are done. A Rider Swap card is good for up to 3 people.
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@Charm54: when you get a rider swap card, do you go right to the front of the line??
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@yellowbird: you go through the Fastpass line. It's good through the end of the month so you don't have to use it right away, often we will save them and go on in the evenings after my parents have taken dd back to the hotel.
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@808love: good to know!
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@Charm54: ohhhh...good way to skip lines in the evening!
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@Charm54: @yellowbird: 7 Dwarfs Mine has a separate Ride Swap entry. I believe its to the left of the FP/Regular line entrance.
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What about Epcot with young kids? My oldest will be 4 but as of right now is only 38 inches...so doubtful she can ride any of the 40inch rides by end of August. All the info I find online about Epcot for toddlers is pretty dated, and before Frozen ever after came out.
What kind of schedule do you all recommend for Epcot? We'll be entering through the back entrance, if that makes a difference.
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@T.H.O.U.: can you elaborate on Disney doesn't care who uses fast passes? My parents will be with us and don't ride anything because they get sick. Does that mean I could book their fast passes and then me or dh would go with dd1 on those rides in their place? That would be awesome!!!
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@Charm54: how do you get a rider swap card...? Is it per ride or per resort? I haven't heard of this and would love to know more about how it works!
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@yerpie110: Yes!
You would just take their magic bands up to the scanner and scan their bands instead of yours.
So if you have a party of 6, you could split up and book a set of 3 rides with 3 people and another set of 3 rides with the other 3 people.
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@yerpie110: Rider Swap is per ride. You just go up to the line and tell them you need to swap. Its so that parents can ride if the child is too small. The first parent rides while the other parent sits out with the child. Then the second parent gets to ride. But like others said, the Rider Swap card is for up to 3 people.
http://wdwprepschool.com/how-to-child-swap-rider-switch-at-disney-world/
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@T.H.O.U.: thanks so much!! Such great info to know.
So for rider swap, if dh and dd1 get to the line and tells them he needs a rider swap, when they come out and are done, can I then go with dd1? So she would get to ride twice? Do I have to wait in line the second time or have two fast passes?
Thanks for your help!!
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@Anagram: For Epcot, start the morning with a quick line straight to the Frozen ride in Norway if you don't have a FP. I like to get our Mickey Mouse pic down at Epcot bc it is such a classic DW spot so i use a FP for that and Spaceship Earth but that is usually easy to do as a second round pass later in the day. If you get a FP for Frozen ride, then you can go to Living the Land because there is no line in the morning. Main thing to remember is that almost all of the Countries don't open until 11. So you will be planning most of the morning in the front entrance-Future land. Soaring and Test Track are the best rides though (no shorties allowed though).
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@yerpie110: Correct. When you go back up with your LO you will go to the front of the line.
Rider Swap is available at the following attractions at Magic Kingdom:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad » Height Requirement: 40 inches
Tame, western-mining-themed roller coaster
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train » Height Requirement: 38 inches
Indoor/outdoor roller coaster
Space Mountain » Height Requirement: 44 inches
Roller coaster in the dark
Splash Mountain » Height Requirement: 40 inches
Indoor/outdoor water-flume adventure ride
Stitch's Great Escape! » Height Requirement: 40 inches
Theater-in-the-round sci-fi adventure show
The Barnstormer » Height Requirement: 35 inches
Small roller coaster
Tomorrowland Speedway » Height Requirement: 32 inches
Drive-'em yourself miniature cars
Attractions Offering Rider Swap in Other ParksRider Swap at Magic Kingdom (7 attractions)
Rider Swap at Epcot (5 attractions)
Rider Swap at Disney's Hollywood Studios (3 attractions)
Rider Swap at Disney's Animal Kingdom (4 attractions) -
@T.H.O.U.: wow, that is awesome! Thanks!!
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@Anagram: my dd LOVED Epcot last year at 2.5. She loved Nemo ride, Living with the Land, Turtle Talk (so cool!), and aquarium, Spaceship Earth, meeting Mulan and Aurora and wandering around the world showcase. She loved seeing all the performers (acrobats, drummers, etc.) Now with Frozen ride and Anna&Elsa meet and greet she will love it even more.
Definitely don't miss Soarin ... Test Track is also super fun. Get Rider swaps since your youngest won't be tall enough but Soarin is a must do!! The hard part with Epcot is that the Fastpasses there have tiers - so you can only pick one to fastpass out of Frozen, Test Track and Soarin. I would highly recommend getting a FP for Frozen, then riding Soarin standby shortly after park opening.
@yerpie110: You just ask the attendant when you get in line (either standby or FP line). They sometimes want to see your child but often they don't even check. There's no limit on how many you can get, as long as the ride has a height requirement and you have someone in your party who can't ride. So for example - you can Rider Swap Space Mountain, but you can't Rider Swap Dumbo since theoretically any one can ride it.
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@808love: Yes about Epcot. We really struggled to find things for our little guy to do morning at Epcot. We did the Mickey Photo and then our older one did a few rides that he couldn't do (mission earth). Soarin and Lion King was closed. Living the Land is always fun (he liked it because it was a boat!).
I would say your Epcot day would be a great day to sleep in a little bit and not race unless youre try to wait in line to see Elsa.
Another note that we didn't realize for Epcot. They have a schedule for when the Characters will be in the countries. We booked it over to China to try to find Mulan at the scheduled time. Even though we arrived in the window, the line had already closed. We were kinda bummed that we raced with LO over there and couldn't get in. I found the character lines to be pretty long at Epcot. But we got some of the coolest pictures with Jasmin and Aladin (and to be fair they spent a good few minutes with each party).
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Not sure if this has been posted yet or if it's even a good deal, but I saw this in my feed today and thought of this thread:
http://www.southernsavers.com/walt-disney-world-theme-parks-4-park-magic-ticket-at-279/ -
@Anagram: For Epcot, we are planning on doing Frozen Ever After, meeting Anna & Elsa (someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that as of last summer, they are not available to meet in MK), Turtle Talk with Crush, and the Seas with Nemo. We'll be there for Flower & Garden, so after that we are just going to walk around and look at the character topiaries. If the kids are into meeting princesses, we're going to check out Mulan (dd's favorite), Aladdin & Jasmine, Alice, etc. We are not planning on doing any "adult" rides either. DH and I don't really care about the rides, and my ILs don't want to spend any time away from the kids. So we are only doing the kid stuff!
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@Charm54: Gotcha - thanks for the info!!
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