Please help us decide which park

[es45]

Six of us are traveling to WDW for one day before our 4-day Disney cruise on this January. It will be my DH, DD8, DD6, mother, MIL, and me. A few more details:

1. Everyone has been to WDW before, except MIL. She is a world traveler, not into Disney or anything like it, but she will go along with just about anything.
2. My mother is a Disney nut who last went to MK and Epcot 25 years ago.
3. DH, kids, and I have been to MK and AK, only.
4. Both mothers have mild mobility issues (walk a little, then need to sit a for a while).

I'm worried that it will be boring at MK for my MIL, even if she is a good sport, but this is my mother's favorite. AK may be too much walking, but it seems more relaxing than the other parks and my DD8's favorite. Will Epcot even appeal to a world traveler like my MIL?

So what would you suggest? MK, AK, or Epcot?

[vicki_c]

Not to complicate the question, but what about DHS?

Toy Story Mania is fun for everyone, there's a lot of shows to see so you can be sitting down a lot of the time, and no one has been there?

It's certainly not as iconic as going to MK and seeing the castle, but it might work for your party given what you posted.

My mom LOVES the theming of DHS with all the Art Deco buildings.

[tinkerfan1]

Epcot and AK certainly would require a lot of walking, too. I personally would choose the MK for the children. I could spend all day just sitting on Main Street and people watching myself. And if your mother loves it, that's all the more reason to go. When would she get another chance?

[g-dad66]

Hmmm...MK is mother's favorite, AK is daughter's favorite, and it sounds like mother-in-law probably would enjoy Epcot's World Showcase most.

If it were me, I would probably decide to please either my mother or daughter most. Sounds like mother-in-law is a good sport and isn't going to care that much what you pick since she's not really into Disney.

[suzicute20]

I say MK for a one day stop - especially considering the mobility issues. There are many more places to stop and rest. For MIL, I would suggest the Hall of Presidents as a must. I might also try to point out the little details about construction that make MK special. Make sure to stay for wishes and Spectromagic. Have fun!

[cbg1027]

I would go with Epcot since most of you haven't been there yet. I feel like the WS MIGHT appeal to your MIL. I'm a world traveler, and I still love Disney and the WS at Epcot. If I can't leave the country, visiting the WS is a nice alternative. The fact that the people working in the pavilions are actually from that country makes it a lot more authentic.

As far as mobility issues, I don't think any one park is better than the other. I went with my 80 year old Gram last April and we never had a problem finding somewhere to sit and rest.

[Vivianne]

I recommend MK if only for the mobility issues. I do love Epcot but it really takes alot of walking unless you want to restrict them to World Showcase. Maybe seeing MK will give them a taste to want to see more in the future when they have the time and energy.

[larryz]

You didn't say whether or not you like your MIL...

But since Epcot, AK and DHS all pride themselves on their realism, I'd agree with the other posters who recommend MK for the fantasy aspects...

[disneyfan123]

I agree with other posters...MK! They have such a variety of things to do, everyone will be happy.

[ShannonMB]

I would vote MK! Your DD, while AK may be her favorite, will surely enjoy a day there, and you already know your mom will be happy! As far as MIL, if she's going to Disney "once", for one day, why not give her the quintessential Disney experience (IMHO)?

[FlightlessDuck]

If you are only going one day, go to MK. If your MIL doesn't like it, too bad.

[es45]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. This has been a fairly difficult choice because I do like my MIL and I want her to experience some of that great Disney magic that my mother enjoys.

Would it be too much to do AK in the morning and MK in the evening?

For AK we would do
Safari
FOTLK
Tough to be a Bug
Everest, Dinosaur (kids and DH, only while moms rest)
Flights of Wonder
Part of the Maharajah Trek

For MK we would do
Teacups
IASW
Peter Pan
Mickey's Philharmagic
Haunted Mansion
Presidents
Pirates
Aladdin
BTMRR
Spectro and Wishes

Do you think that would be too much in one day?

[g-dad66]

Originally Posted by es45

Thanks for all of the suggestions. This has been a fairly difficult choice because I do like my MIL and I want her to experience some of that great Disney magic that my mother enjoys.

Would it be too much to do AK in the morning and MK in the evening?

For AK we would do
Safari
FOTLK
Tough to be a Bug
Everest, Dinosaur (kids and DH, only while moms rest)
Flights of Wonder
Part of the Maharajah Trek

For MK we would do
Teacups
IASW
Peter Pan
Mickey's Philharmagic
Haunted Mansion
Presidents
Pirates
Aladdin
BTMRR
Spectro and Wishes

Do you think that would be too much in one day?

Yes, I think you would have a lot of trouble making all of that even at a fast pace.

If you decide to try it, here are my suggestions:

AK: Do Safari right at rope drop. Immediately after, send runner to Everest to get 3 Fast Passes and then to Dinosaur to get 3 more Fast Passes (using the other 3 cards from your group of 6). Aim for first Lion King show at 10:00. Aim for first Flights of Wonder show at 11:30. Between Lion King and Flights, do Tough to be a Bug. After Flights, do Maharajah, Everest, and Dinosaur (and fit lunch in there somewhere too). This might get you out of AK by about 2:00.

Figure it takes an hour to get to your first attraction at MK, so it's now about 3:00. Pick up Peter Pan Fast Passes first thing, then do the Fantasyland attractions and Haunted Mansion. Send a runner to get BTMR Fast Passes just as soon as eligible. Do Hall of Presidents, the two Adventureland attractions, then BTMR, and maybe you'll be in time to catch Spectromagic from Frontierland. Watch Wishes, then eat.

Whew! Sounds like a marathon to me!

You might want to consider cutting one or more AK attractions so you can get to MK earlier. I'm not sure how early Spectro and Wishes are in January, but my guess is that you won't make all of the MK attractions if you do all of the AK attractions on your list.

[es45]

Originally Posted by g-dad66

Yes, I think you would have a lot of trouble making all of that even at a fast pace.

If you decide to try it, here are my suggestions:

AK: Do Safari right at rope drop. Immediately after, send runner to Everest to get 3 Fast Passes and then to Dinosaur to get 3 more Fast Passes (using the other 3 cards from your group of 6). Aim for first Lion King show at 10:00. Aim for first Flights of Wonder show at 11:30. Between Lion King and Flights, do Tough to be a Bug. After Flights, do Maharajah, Everest, and Dinosaur (and fit lunch in there somewhere too). This might get you out of AK by about 2:00.

Figure it takes an hour to get to your first attraction at MK, so it's now about 3:00. Pick up Peter Pan Fast Passes first thing, then do the Fantasyland attractions and Haunted Mansion. Send a runner to get BTMR Fast Passes just as soon as eligible. Do Hall of Presidents, the two Adventureland attractions, then BTMR, and maybe you'll be in time to catch Spectromagic from Frontierland. Watch Wishes, then eat.

Whew! Sounds like a marathon to me!

You might want to consider cutting one or more AK attractions so you can get to MK earlier. I'm not sure how early Spectro and Wishes are in January, but my guess is that you won't make all of the MK attractions if you do all of the AK attractions on your list.

Thanks for the plan. I can see now that it is too much to do. I don't want anyone feeling rushed. Perhaps I'll split your plan and add a second day onto the trip.

[g-dad66]

Originally Posted by es45

Thanks for the plan. I can see now that it is too much to do. I don't want anyone feeling rushed. Perhaps I'll split your plan and add a second day onto the trip.

If you can add another day, that sounds like a winner to me!