sarahk0204
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2009
A little background: Family is myself, DH, DD 20 and DS 20. We moved DD to WDW in January so that she could do DCP. We didn't have time for any park days, but we did go to Disney Springs the Sunday of Marathon weekend. It was crazy crowded, and DS, who has anxiety, was miserable. It was so sad, because we have been bringing the kids to WDW since they were little, have been many times, own DVC, etc.
However, DS decided he wanted to give Disney another try. We are going to move DD back home in May, and we are going to squeeze in 2 park days with hopping. We are staying offsite so that we can help DD pack and load her vehicle. Our 2 park days will be midweek in early May, so that should help with the crowds somewhat. DS last visited in December 2020 (when the post reopening crowds weren't quite so crazy), and we rode FOP and RoTR. He is interested in the thrill rides, so TRON, GoTG, RoTR, and FOP for sure. We will have G+, and I will try for VQ and purchase ILL$ if I can get them. He will be getting a DAS pass, so we will be able to pre-book 2 attractions per day (not those 4 of course, and not ones like EE or Space Mountain) but some like Dinosaur or Pirates.
DS has also requested some ADRs. I realize staying onsite and rope dropping would allow us to maximize our opportunities, but the goal for this trip allowing DS to have an enjoyable Disney experience. We will use Genie+ in combination with DAS times to do whatever DS wants. My tentative plans:
Day 1: Breakfast at "Ohana, then Epcot for the first part of the day. I will try for a VQ for GoTG at 7:00 AM. I can't buy a ILL$ until park opening, but I will do that if I don't get a VQ. I know I might only have later times to choose from at that point. We will use the pre-booked DAS time for either Test Track or Mission Space, and possibly another DAS time depending on what DS wants to do. We will then park hop to MK. I will buy a ILL$ for TRON (which I will also do at park opening because I know they sell out). I know the evening spots could be gone by park opening, and an afternoon daylight spot would be fine. I just hope I can get a GoTG ILL$ for morning and a TRON ILL$ for afternoon. We will have a second pre-booked DAS time for maybe BTMR, and I am sure we will get a DAS time for Space Mountain that day. We will have an ADR for Crystal Palace for dinner.
Day 2: Start at DHS. I will book an ILL$ for GoTG at park opening. Probably a pre-booked DAS time for Tower of Terror. Genie+ or a DAS time for Smuggler's Run. In the afternoon we'll hop to AK. I will buy a ILL$ for FOP. We will have a second pre-booked DAS time for maybe Dinosaur, and we'll get a Genie+ or DAS for EE. We will have an ADR at Boma for dinner.
What might be a problem with this plan is putting both GoTG and TRON (both new to us rides with no standby line) on the same day. Since Boma isn't in a park (and is reasonably close to our hotel), we don't have to do AK in the second half of the day necessarily. One other combination that might work is DHS in the morning with MK in the afternoon/evening and then Epcot in the morning with AK in the afternoon. 'Ohana breakfast could be either day. We will drive our own car.
Thank you everyone, for any advice you can give me on this plan. Anxiety stinks, and I just want DS to be able to have a more positive Disney experience (and yes, he is getting good treatment and medication).
However, DS decided he wanted to give Disney another try. We are going to move DD back home in May, and we are going to squeeze in 2 park days with hopping. We are staying offsite so that we can help DD pack and load her vehicle. Our 2 park days will be midweek in early May, so that should help with the crowds somewhat. DS last visited in December 2020 (when the post reopening crowds weren't quite so crazy), and we rode FOP and RoTR. He is interested in the thrill rides, so TRON, GoTG, RoTR, and FOP for sure. We will have G+, and I will try for VQ and purchase ILL$ if I can get them. He will be getting a DAS pass, so we will be able to pre-book 2 attractions per day (not those 4 of course, and not ones like EE or Space Mountain) but some like Dinosaur or Pirates.
DS has also requested some ADRs. I realize staying onsite and rope dropping would allow us to maximize our opportunities, but the goal for this trip allowing DS to have an enjoyable Disney experience. We will use Genie+ in combination with DAS times to do whatever DS wants. My tentative plans:
Day 1: Breakfast at "Ohana, then Epcot for the first part of the day. I will try for a VQ for GoTG at 7:00 AM. I can't buy a ILL$ until park opening, but I will do that if I don't get a VQ. I know I might only have later times to choose from at that point. We will use the pre-booked DAS time for either Test Track or Mission Space, and possibly another DAS time depending on what DS wants to do. We will then park hop to MK. I will buy a ILL$ for TRON (which I will also do at park opening because I know they sell out). I know the evening spots could be gone by park opening, and an afternoon daylight spot would be fine. I just hope I can get a GoTG ILL$ for morning and a TRON ILL$ for afternoon. We will have a second pre-booked DAS time for maybe BTMR, and I am sure we will get a DAS time for Space Mountain that day. We will have an ADR for Crystal Palace for dinner.
Day 2: Start at DHS. I will book an ILL$ for GoTG at park opening. Probably a pre-booked DAS time for Tower of Terror. Genie+ or a DAS time for Smuggler's Run. In the afternoon we'll hop to AK. I will buy a ILL$ for FOP. We will have a second pre-booked DAS time for maybe Dinosaur, and we'll get a Genie+ or DAS for EE. We will have an ADR at Boma for dinner.
What might be a problem with this plan is putting both GoTG and TRON (both new to us rides with no standby line) on the same day. Since Boma isn't in a park (and is reasonably close to our hotel), we don't have to do AK in the second half of the day necessarily. One other combination that might work is DHS in the morning with MK in the afternoon/evening and then Epcot in the morning with AK in the afternoon. 'Ohana breakfast could be either day. We will drive our own car.
Thank you everyone, for any advice you can give me on this plan. Anxiety stinks, and I just want DS to be able to have a more positive Disney experience (and yes, he is getting good treatment and medication).