Anyone else having issues planning park strategies for 2016??

[jsbowl16]

We have been to WDW the last two years in July and because we have a four year old, I try to plan everything ahead of time to make sure we get to everything we want to and also make sure that we take breaks so she doesn't have a meltdown. Planning hasn't been an issue the past few years as we were waiting for maybe one or two things to change and add to plans but this year it feels like there are new announcements almost weekly that keep altering our plans or causing us to wait on making some plans until right before we go. Anyone else going before the end of the year that feels this way?

I cant imaging what it must be like for people going in the April-June time frame.

Here are some things that have changed recently or will likely change before we go in August:

Baymax M&G in Epcot
Sadness & Joy M&G in Epcot rumored to be happening and now rumored to be cancelled
New Frozen ride opening in Epcot with no exact date
Anna & Elsa M&G moving to Epcot with no exact date
New M&G in MK replacing Anna & Elsa??
Olaf M&G rumored in HS
New character meal at H&V in HS
Darth Vader M&G ending in HS
River of Lights show at AK with no exact date
Certain areas of HS closing
New stage show in MK
Soarin changes with additional theater
Closing of Chip and Dale and Aurora M&G at Epcot

I am all for change and love to see new things each year at Disney but I feel like I am moving things around each day. Maybe I just need to get off of the message boards until June when I make Fast Pass selections and go from there. LOL!

 

[ksinniger]

You are not alone. We're heading down at the end of August, and waiting on all of those plus new dining at Downtown Disney, possible dinner packages for Rivers of Light, maybe seeing Club Villain get extended, and what fireworks, if any, might be at DHS.

 

[ngm]

Yup!! Going first week of June and basically can't plan anything. Got a good deal on Hoppers, so at least I know I'll have flexibility when we get there. But we've had to book multiple ADRs per day and I can't do any real itinerary planning at all until we know what's happening in particular with A&E/Frozen ride. Basically our whole vacation hinges on what's happening with that!

In the meantime it means I have been spending way too much time (and $) on planning tshirts, Tinkerbell gifts, etc. since I can't do any of my other planning.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

There are always things in flux in WDW. Every trip I've ever planned I've been waiting to hear about one thing or another. The one really egregious thing in my mind was cancelling Star Wars Weekends without more notice. Outside of that, this is to be expected, IMO. But it does seem to me like there are more and more things that fall in this bucket over time (I.e. Major changes within that 180-day window).

We always want them to introduce new things and keep things fresh -- that means we'll always be planning with some level of uncertainty. I do wish we could be told FURTHER IN ADVANCE when they DO know a date for something. Tough to tell people to plan trips 180 days out and then spring (sometimes MANY) things on them days or weeks before.

For my Apr & Aug trips I'm personally waiting to hear about:
- Club Villain
- Ferrytale Wishes
- Rivers of Light
- Tiffins restaurant
- SW fireworks dessert party

And I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things right now!

 

[reverie1729]

Yes!! We are going in June and I am having the hardest time planning. I can't even figure out a rough idea of fastpasses. All of the things you listed are causing problems. Also will Soarin be open, who know? And it doesn't help that we are big on character meet and greets and so much keeps changing with those. Add to all of that, this is our first time ever at epcot, ak, and hs. I decided to just give up on planning until a week or whatever before I make fastpasses (only 30 days for me) and hope I know more by then. I am an over planner so it is killing me!

 

[capegirl]

We are going in July as well. I have made a few key ADR's but other than this, I'm just sitting on my hands. I hope that we'll have more information before our FP+ planning comes into play. I have a preliminary schedule, but to be honest I am expecting some last minute mayhem.

 

[tstidm1]

I'm in May and only two weeks out from Fp + reservations. I really hope some of these things get announced soon especially the Rivers of Light. I'm starting to think that Rivers of Light won't be ready until at least the 24 hour event and Frozen Ever after isn't until June. It's still Disney World though.

 

[Kewz1]

Glad to see I'm not alone! We're heading down mid-August with a "first-timer." We all really want to see RoL and hopefully we can squeeze it. There are worse problems in the world to have but it's still a tad bit frustrating.

Kristen

 

[ArwenMarie]

I sympathize! We have a trip planned for this summer and I expect it will be a pain in the neck to plan for, specifically for Rivers of Light. I refuse to get myself into a feeding frenzy for it, whether it be for FPs or dining packages. If we miss it, we can see it some other time. Ditto for the Frozen ride

 

[michelepa]

I agree and feel badly for those planning upcoming trips.

I'm glad our trip isn't until late August as most of the questions will either be answered sooner than my 60 mark (Frozen Ever After/Soarin) or I am planning to be up and running way before the trip even if they don't open timely(RoL and Tiffins).

Good luck to everyone!

 

[keepswimming76]

Yup!! Going first week of June and basically can't plan anything. Got a good deal on Hoppers, so at least I know I'll have flexibility when we get there. But we've had to book multiple ADRs per day and I can't do any real itinerary planning at all until we know what's happening in particular with A&E/Frozen ride. Basically our whole vacation hinges on what's happening with that!

In the meantime it means I have been spending way too much time (and $) on planning tshirts, Tinkerbell gifts, etc. since I can't do any of my other planning.

Same story! I just purchased our tickets today and had the same conversation with the travel agent.

I think I have all of our outfits completely planned and almost together for the trip. It is becoming a bit obsessive!

 

[dsdeleon]

Wow!! Thank you for getting it all down! Yes, this is the toughest end of a August planning, ever. Another thing on my list is the potential MNSSHP on Sept 2 because they have been so inconsistent with start dates and we can't trust the 7pm close!

 

[michelepa]

There isnt going to be a MNSSHP on Sept 2nd if history repeats itself as it should.

It's exactly like last year with everyone excited and speculating as to what else would be happening on the 2nd that would lead Disney to close at 7 with Labor Day being so late last year (and this year) and low and behold the calendar changed and Sept 2nd closing time went to 10 and it was a regular night in the park.

I don't think Disney has been inconsistent with when they start MNSSHP. It's after Labor Day and Labor Day is what changes.

Wow!! Thank you for getting it all down! Yes, this is the toughest end of a August planning, ever. Another thing on my list is the potential MNSSHP on Sept 2 because they have been so inconsistent with start dates and we can't trust the 7pm close!

 

[dsdeleon]

There isnt going to be a MNSSHP on Sept 2nd if history repeats itself as it should.

It's exactly like last year with everyone excited and speculating as to what else would be happening on the 2nd that would lead Disney to close at 7 with Labor Day being so late last year (and this year) and low and behold the calendar changed and Sept 2nd closing time went to 10 and it was a regular night in the park.

I don't think Disney has been inconsistent with when they start MNSSHP. It's after Labor Day and Labor Day is what changes.

Actually in 2014 it started Sept 1 and that is why everyone had high hopes last year. Easywdw has a longer explanation on the inconsistency.

 

[bella2117]

I can start making my ADRs in next month and I feel like I'm going in blind for the first time ever. Im beyond stressed with all this planning when usually I'm super excited Hopefully when the dates for MNSSHP get announced things will get easier AND MAYBE THEY WILL ADD IN MSEP AND WISHES FOR SEPTEMBER!!

 

[lustergirl]

I know the feeling. For our upcoming trip, Sunday-Friday, 5/8-5/13 I have the following planned:

Sunday: arrival day, get to resort around 10:30am, off to MK for the day
Monday: AK, then EPCOT at night
Tuesday: MK for the morning, no clue on evening plans
Wednesday: No Clue all day
Thursday: No clue for morning, Evening dinner at MK.
Friday: departure at around 11:30am, will just stay at the resort.

I am not planning on visiting HS as there isn't anything there for us.

 

[ajwolfe]

I completely feel ya!! We are going in May and there is so much that is up in the air. I have all my ADRs made, but am kind of dreading making my FP+ when I have no idea what all is really going on. Plus we have friends joining us that are coming for the first time this trip, so there's that whole trying to make sure it's great for them problem.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think this might be my comprehensive list of question marks...

Magic Kingdom
- Fireworks Dessert Cruise?

Epcot
- new Soarin' ride?
- Frozen ride?
- Joy/Sadness M&G?

Animal Kingdom
- Rivers of Light "in Spring 2016"
- Tiffins Restaurant "in 2016"
- Night safari??

Disney Hollywood Studios
- SW Fireworks Dessert Party?
- Club Villain?
- Olaf M&G?

 

[GillianP1301]

I agree there is more uncertainty planning my August trip this year than previous years. Right now, I'm only concerned with the ones that affect ADRs that I'm set to make in 10 days and for that the biggest ? is the ROL and potential dining package. My interim solution is to just book another ADR in it's place as a backup (in my case Boma) and if/when a dining package is released I'll change it over. If for some reason ROL is not there for August (seems highly unlikely) then I'll have a free evening to fill in on my plan, not a huge deal because I have hoppers.

The other one that I'm really curious about is SW Fireworks Dessert Party. I'm going to plan on and book the Illuminations Party and then swap it if SW one is available.

For all the other attraction or M&G type changes, those I'm not going to worry about until I'm closer to my FP booking window.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I agree there is more uncertainty planning my August trip this year than previous years. Right now, I'm only concerned with the ones that affect ADRs that I'm set to make in 10 days and for that the biggest ? is the ROL and potential dining package. My interim solution is to just book another ADR in it's place as a backup (in my case Boma) and if/when a dining package is released I'll change it over. If for some reason ROL is not there for August (seems highly unlikely) then I'll have a free evening to fill in on my plan, not a huge deal because I have hoppers.

The other one that I'm really curious about is SW Fireworks Dessert Party. I'm going to plan on and book the Illuminations Party and then swap it if SW one is available.

For all the other attraction or M&G type changes, those I'm not going to worry about until I'm closer to my FP booking window.

Same here -- on all counts!