Florence Tickets - Did I wait too long?

IDK about waiting too long for tickets, but it looks to me like you do not have enough time for any of your visits. YOu are skipping a very interesting museum re: the Duomo, which include the original Baptistry doors, etc., as well as the building of the dome itself.

I blocked out an hour for the Academia (8:00-10:00), three for the Duomo and Duomo Museum (including the dome climb for me). The Baptistry itself is a relatively quick look. (10:00-1:00 pm). I blocked out 5 hours for the Uffizi (2:00 PM- 6:00 PM). I did have the advantage of staying the first nights in Florence.

I don't have suggestions for reserving tickets for your visit on 4/4, but I just want to caution you about your plan to spend only an hour in the Uffizi. For many, but especially those who appreciate Renaissance art, a visit to the Uffizi is typically an inspiring and joyful museum experience (even with crowds). An hour at the Accademia is feasible if you don't want to linger (smaller museum), but not the Uffizi.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is something to consider, especially if you find that you are unable to reserve advance tickets and need to resort to waiting in line. (And I think it's very likely they are indeed sold out for a date 3 wks from now.) If you are determined to go to the Uffizi, you might want to consider going earlier in the day (to allow more time both in the ticket line and to view the masterpieces), then move other activities to later in the day.

And I totally get it that going to museums with young children usually does not allow one to linger much. Even taking that into account, I still think the plan to spend only an hour at the Uffizi is unrealistic.

How young are your children? This day might be way too much for them. It would be too much for many adults. Have your children traveled in Europe previously?

Official sites:
Accademia
https://webshop.b-ticket.com/webshop/webticket/eventlist?production=4

Uffizi
https://www.uffizi.it/en/tickets
https://webshop.b-ticket.com/webshop/webticket/eventlist?language=en&production=1

Unfortunately it looks like Accademia is sold out for your date. You are there Easter week so would expect crowds and sell outs.
4/6 does have some availability.

Uffizi does have some tickets available on 4/4— 10:45 and on.
There are tickets available at 3:30.
https://webshop.b-ticket.com/webshop/webticket/bestseatselectbyblock?eventId=50185&el=true

I agree with above- you are not allowing enough time- for the Uffizi especially.

When you say “visit the Dome” you will just be looking at it from outside and then from inside the Duomo. That shouldn’t take an hour. Baptistery can be seen in as little as 20 min. It is not a large space.

Do you already have your Duomo complex tickets? The Duomo is free- no ticket needed, but the Baptistery requires a ticket (sold in combo with Museum, etc) Perhaps just seeing the doors from outside will be sufficient for your family?
There will probably be a line at the Duomo.

Mercato Centrale is a great place for lunch and it is a short distance from Duomo but I’m thinking it will take you longer than 7 min to get there. Add time to explore the market then head upstairs to eat and deciding on where to eat might take some time, finding a seat will definitely take time. And it will take more than 6 minutes to get from there to the Accademia.

I don’t know what to tell you but booking visits to these 2 places with a guided tour might be your only option and I’m not sure how that would work out coming from Bologna to make the meeting time. And obviously a guided tour will cost you.

There is the David replica in P Signoria so you can always see that!

I see afternoon tickets for Uffizi for your date.

https://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/default_eng.aspx.html

There are different types of tickets for the Duomo complex. If you don't plan on climbing the dome or bell tower, then the Ghiberti Pass should work.
https://operaduomofirenze.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/buy

The museum is very nice and if you go to the very top floor, you can go outside and get a great close up view of the dome. You can see the inside from the cathedral.

Edit to add: There is a cafeteria in the Uffizi that has a patio with nice views. On the expensive side, but a pleasant place to take a break and rest. I saw some families with kids chilling there last December. Not sure if it will be crowded or not in April.

Yes, as Christine mentioned, there is always the "fake David" statue in front of the Palazzo Vecchio at Piazza Signoria. If you can't make it to the "real David" in the Galleria Accademia that day, the fake makes a good stand in. I loved seeing David at the Accademia, in part because of the setting, how he is showcased in the museum, the light. All of it. But, it is not possible to see all that is worthwhile in Florence on a brief trip, let alone on a day trip. I have been there twice. I stayed 4 or 5 days each time, and there is still plenty that I have not seen or done.

Check with your Bologna lodging about ZTLs in that city. You could easily end up getting tickets (that would reach you at home, months later) on the drives to and from the train station.

Thanks, everyone. I took some advice and gave us more time at the Uffizi. The kids are good travelers and have been to Europe before, but I don't want it to be too grueling. We'll see Uffizi in the morning (I was able to get tickets directly...thanks for pointing out they were available) and found a not-too-pricey tour of the Academia with skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide.com. I couldn't get Dome entry tickets until late afternoon, but we'll end the sightseeing day there instead of beginning with it. It's my husband's "must-do" and David and Botticelli's Venus are things I've wanted to see since childhood. My son wants to see Dante's house, so we'll walk past it at the least and go inside if there's time and the line doesn't look too bad.

I found that a timed schedule leads to a rushed and an unrealistic travel schedule. It is much better to just use an AM/PM approach. Of course if you have timed entry or timed train tickets then you must work within those parameters and ensure you allow plenty of time to make it those destinations. I have found that things take a lot longer than expected, especially with young kids. They really need to get their wiggles out and stopping and allowing that can really take the stress out of travel. Looks like you're doing two major museums back to back on the same day, personally we only would do one and we have no children. Have you looked into Boboli Gardens instead of the museums? Lot's of open space for kids to run, jump, explore and beautiful open spaces. Also don't forget a gelato stop or two...
So the schedule would look like this:
AM:
9:30 Train to Florence (arrive no later than 9:10)
Dumo/Brunelleschi Dome/ Baptistry
Lunch (Mercado Centrale is an excellent choice with lots of vendors right outside that you don't want to miss)
PM:
Academia gallery
Uffizzi
Ponte Vecchio
5:30 Train to Bologna
Dinner in Bologna