[chetnet]

Curious to get other ideas on such a situation.........

> arriving at airport and picking up rental @12:30pm, on an Oct. Saturday
> figure on checking in at OKW resort around 1:30 at latest
> need to be at MGK by 8pm to get place for SpectraMagic parade

So, since MGK is usually crowded on Saturdays, and since we only like a handful of things at AK, I was thinking to go there first and possibly finish up by 7pm. (I remember thinking last time that we could've finished up AK in about 3.5 hours, hee). The other possibility was trying to do Mission: Space, and the track, at Epcot, but I'm not sure if those waits will be too time consuming in the middle of the day.

Comments/ideas?

[MerlinMatt]

I think you're much better off going to Epcot. Lines in October are substantially shorter than in the middle of the summer and the Future Pavillion tends to begin to quiet down around 2pm anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if there were almost no lines whatsoever.
Worst case, you could go get a fastpass for M:S and then go on Spaceship Earth. There will definately not be a line at SE that time of day.
Then, you can maybe do the Ice Cream Social at The Land. You'll have plenty of time to relax and soak in the various entertainment in the Future Pavillion and saunter over to the Monorail around 5:30. You could grab a small dinner at the Plaza Restaurant at the end of Main St. and grab a spot on the curb in plenty of time for the parade.

How's that sound?

[chetnet]

That sounds pretty darn good, and I actually forgot about the monorail to shorten time as well! ;o) Thanks!!

Other comments out there?

[inluvwithdisney]

I think MerlinMatts idea is perfect!!!! MK is pretty crowded on Saturdays even on the off season, so you might not plan on riding rides there on Saturday!!!! But going to Epcot and then using the monorail will save you traveltime and give you more time in the parks!!!

[trilliumB]

My DH & I often arrive in the same way, around noontime; we like to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the resort, swimming in the pool, looking around, then we have cocktails and go somewhere easy (close by) for dinner. We always feel pretty pooped after the day's travels, and we like to start things off on a relaxed foot. We've done the 'straight-to-the-parks' thing immediately upon arrival, and it just made us feel really tapped out by the end of the evening, right at the beginning of the trip. Not for us!

[chetnet]

Originally Posted by trilliumB

My DH & I often arrive in the same way, around noontime; we like to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the resort, swimming in the pool, looking around, then we have cocktails and go somewhere easy (close by) for dinner. We always feel pretty pooped after the day's travels, and we like to start things off on a relaxed foot. We've done the 'straight-to-the-parks' thing immediately upon arrival, and it just made us feel really tapped out by the end of the evening, right at the beginning of the trip. Not for us!

I'd love to do this as well, but the only day we can see the light parade, and Wishes, is Saturday night. Therefore, since we have to enter the park for that, we have to get the most use out of a day for our park hopper! ;o)

[MerlinMatt]

One more note. AK is MUCH better first thing in the morning anyway. The animals haven't gotten tired yet and so you generally see more eariler. AK can also get quite uncomfortably humid in the afternoon.

[trilliumB]

Originally Posted by chetnet

I'd love to do this as well, but the only day we can see the light parade, and Wishes, is Saturday night. Therefore, since we have to enter the park for that, we have to get the most use out of a day for our park hopper! ;o)

Oh, right, I hear ya. It's always so tricky trying to make the tix work on a part-day, and still feel like you got yr money's worth, and didn't 'waste' each precious day's pass. I thought getting the Ultimate Park Hoppers (length of stay passes) last time would take that pressure off -- but we still found ourselves pushing to see everything, wearing ourselves out, still trying to 'get our money's worth' in that silly way that makes you not altogether enjoy it. It really is a mentality issue, I think, more than a time or pass-type problem! We've really got to work on our 'Hakuna Matata'!!

[disneyguy]

Keep in mind that AK closes at 5 PM, most days in the off season. What about exploring your resort, or a trip to the pool. I love to go to DTD, the first day as well then top it off with a PS at a DTD or MK resturaunt. To get to from DTD to MK take a bus to a MK resort then take the Monorail right on to MK.

[cincibar]

Our first day is usually like trilliumB's. We arrive early afternoon and get settled. Then we explore the hotel, go for a swim, grab something to eat, and get ready for a big park day in the morning. This time we're going to do something a bit different. We'll head to Downtown Disney for a little shopping and then see if we can take in the movie and campfire with Chip and Dale at Fort Wilderness. We're staying at VWL for the first time and figured this might be a fun way to spend the evening.