AP day trips

scoopmorgan

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 16, 2011
I'm moving to Orlando and want an AP so I can go when the mood strikes, but I am wondering if other AP holders have a routine? I was thinking I could go to one park, or even a small section of a park and just explore, but I see everyone planning diligently, and I wonder if I am kidding myself. Do you just show up and enjoy, or do you plan your day trips ahead of time?
 
Hello! As another local I typically will check a day or so before (day of if impromptu) I’m going to see FP availability to decide which park I’m going to. If I can snag some FPs for things I want I’ll go to that park but otherwise I’ll just pick one and go for a few hours. I enjoy just sitting in the world showcase at EPCOT with a drink and a snack and enjoying the day. The beauty of it is, if you go somewhere and the crowds are crazy, you can just return another day. I do know people that plan a day and that can be just as fun!
 
Hello! As another local I typically will check a day or so before (day of if impromptu) I’m going to see FP availability to decide which park I’m going to. If I can snag some FPs for things I want I’ll go to that park but otherwise I’ll just pick one and go for a few hours. I enjoy just sitting in the world showcase at EPCOT with a drink and a snack and enjoying the day. The beauty of it is, if you go somewhere and the crowds are crazy, you can just return another day. I do know people that plan a day and that can be just as fun!
Thanks. That helps.
 
I'm moving to Orlando and want an AP so I can go when the mood strikes,

Wonderful! I wish you all the best with your move!

but I am wondering if other AP holders have a routine? I was thinking I could go to one park, or even a small section of a park and just explore, but I see everyone planning diligently, and I wonder if I am kidding myself. Do you just show up and enjoy, or do you plan your day trips ahead of time?

DW and I are snowbirds and do a mix of planning. For the first few weeks after our arrival I will usually have planned a couple of days a week, one park per day, with 30 day FP+ for our favorite attractions. We usually only stay in the park for a few hours, usually arriving mid morning. We used to be rope droppers but realized that with a little planning we could most of what we enjoy without having to get up before dawn. Though sometimes I will do a solo rope drop to ride FoP. Sometimes we will grab lunch in the park, sometimes just a snack. After we have refreshed ourselves with Disney I usually back off the planning and casually look for FP opportunities a few days ahead. Occasionally we will just decide to take a daily walk "enhanced by Disney" and go to a park and wander around. Then before we head back north I will again plan a 30 day FP+ burst over a couple of days to visit our favorites before leaving for season.

Experiment with a few different styles and I suspect you will quickly discover what works best for you. I also suspect that your style will evolve as time goes by. We also found over the years we were visiting the parks a bit less as we developed our winter life in central Florida.
 


I live about 90 minutes away and go almost every weekend for a couple of hours of “Disney therapy.” Sometimes with my adult son who also has an AP, sometimes solo. I love my half-day solo trips. And so much can be done last minute/same-day.

For example - Yesterday was Saturday and the weather looked like it was going to be nice. Friday I checked the app, refreshed a couple of times and snagged a Fastpass for Slinky Dog for Sat at 9:40. Whooo! Hollywood Studios it is then.

I got to the park at 9:30, rode SDD, headed over to SWGE and grabbed a snack at Docking Bay 7. While I was sitting and eating my brunch, I found an open spot at Oga’s for 11:45. Score!

I got in the single rider line for Smugglers Run and finally got to be a gunner. So fun. Scored 8,900 points. Spent some time, exploring Batuu, playing on the app, increasing my status in The Resistance, with a break for an adult beverage in the AC at Oga’s. Talked to some nice people from Kentucky and another couple from Yorkshire. Then I played some more on the “datapad” and made my way slowly out of the park, stopping at a couple of shops on my way out. I was back in my car by 1:45. In a much better frame of mind than I had been the day before. 😁
 

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