Disney related- visiting parks & timing

We are taking our first family trip in June. I'm trying to figure out dining reservations so I can make them asap.

My main concern involves best times to visit parks and arranging dinners. I already know DD is not going to want to be in a park for 8+ hours, which is fine with me. So is it better to go in the morning, stay through lunch and then eat at one of the resorts, or go later and have dinner at the park?

Disney related- visiting parks & timing

The morning is always less crowded

Disney related- visiting parks & timing

do you have the dining plan? how many "sit down" meals do you want to do per day? we went in september, with DS who was 4 at the time (he just turned 5 in november). mornings are a lot better with him... so we did a few "pre park opening" breakfast reservations. so like if the park opens at 9... you can make a reservation for, say, 8:15 AM... get in before the park opens, eat, and then you can beat a lot of the lines once the park already opens. we did the Crystal Palace Character breakfast at Magic kingdom that way, and also Tusker House at Animal Kingdom. so i would do something like that for breakfast, or do a sit down lunch as a little break.... and then you can do a quick service dinner either in the park or at one of the resorts. BUT you DD might surprise you! I know my DS did!!! there were a few days that we were in the parks from opening until like 10/11 at night---- he fell asleep in our stroller for about an hour or so every day while DH and i walked around- and he was ready to keep going! LOL

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing

If you can realistically get your family there early - as in park opening - I would do the mornings.

June will be very hot and busy and you won't want to show up at 1 pm and start your day with peak crowds and heat.

IMHO I would go early and plan for a sit down lunch around 1 pm when you'll appreciate the break and the air conditioning.

After that, you can finish any FPs you'll probably still have and see if you want to get any more. You could do low wait attractions like shows. Or you could be done for the day having accomplished a lot.

Where are you staying?

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing

Thanks for the input ladies. We are not doing the dining plan (based on the advice from this board which was very helpful!)

JennP, we are staying at Port Orleans French Quarter which I chose knowing there was no sit down place, but we will probably go to the sit down at Riverside one night.

Getting there early and leaving by early afternoon would be my preference, we are doing a character lunch at Epcot one day and will probably eat at the food court at our resort that night since it's a late lunch and a lot of food.

Disney related- visiting parks & timing

Go to easywdw.com every question you could possibly have is answered there. It is such a great resource.

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing

We have done opening in the parks and we tour until around 1 or so. We either eat in the park then leave or head back to the resort and have lunch. Then we would rest, swim and return to the parks around 4 or 5. Have dinner and go on some rides, see parades or just return to the hotel. You miss the heaviest crowds and the warmest part of the day. Alternatively we have gotten there at rope drop, toured until say 3 or 4 then gone back to the hotel and swam and grabbed dinner. Our last trip we alternated between rope drop and other days arriving after lunch (with FP+ in place). I liked that plan because we slept in and swam first every other day. In really hot weather the late start probably isn't the best. I like the midday breaks. You can swim, relax, nap, shower, whatever. But you have to be a family who can stay up later and get up in time for rope drop.

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing

Disney related- visiting parks & timing

we have alwasy done getting there early and staying until about lunch time - go back to hotel for a little bit - then back at the parks for dinner (we eat there) and a few more rides - then back to resort for bed

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing

Disney related- visiting parks & timing

If you can in Disney springs, t-Rex was really cool. And the food was good too

Disney related- visiting parks & timing

We just went in October. DD is 5.5, but does not like to stay up late. We were at every park at rope drop pretty much and would leave at some point after lunch (usually around 1/2) and head back to hotel and relax or swim. Then we headed back to the park based on our dinner reservations if we had one. Breaking up the day made it easier for her (and us!) and she actually stayed up pretty late every single night. For lunches and dinners that we didn't have reservations, we just did quick serve in the parks or at our resort (Caribbean Beach) and everything was pretty good. We tried to schedule a few hours of down-time every day and just played it by ear- asking DD- do you want to rest/nap or swim? and she usually wanted to just chill out in the AC in the room- which was fine with us!

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing

I would get there first time in the morning, stay til lunch, head back to hotel to swim since you will be roasting...it's super hot in June. Then go back to park early evening.

Just to let you know, there is a new themed Dinner at Hollywood Studios at Hollywood and Vine that looks cute, we actually booked it for next month. It's red carpet Minnie, etc. (themed around award shows I guess). Not sure if it will be going on in June though. You could check.

Also a new restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, Skipper Canteen (Jungle Cruise ride themed).

Message edited 1/6/2016 9:49:51 AM.

Re: Disney related- visiting parks & timing