Why not MK first thing? - The DIS Discussion Forums

onajourney · 11-21-2009, 10:25 AM

We are going for just 5 days and were going to hit MK on the first day because it was the recommend least busy crowd day and again for a half day the last day for the same reason. MK is busier on the other 3 days of our trip. I have all ages so I know my older kids will enjoy Epcot and HS a lot. My 5yo will love MK the most and probably AK the next. What is the thinking behind not doing MK first thing in a trip? If it is a good enough reason, I can flip flop a couple days.

iamtheclay · 11-21-2009, 10:32 AM

I have also read that about saving MK until the end, but we are going there the first and last of six days. It seems to me the thinking is that if you start with the MK that somehow the other parks will not seem as impressive by comparison. We have not taken our kids before, but I think they will find things about AK, EP and HS that they will like just as well as MK.

You know your children and their interests best!

BenA81 · 11-21-2009, 10:33 AM

For kids, MK is usually the best park and their favorite. So you'll hit the climax of your trip right at the beginning and the rest of your trip they'll be asking to go back to MK. So I've heard...

BenA81 · 11-21-2009, 10:34 AM

Here is how we split our trip up:

Sun: AK and DHS
Mon: Epcot
Tues: DHS (AM), MVMCP at MK (PM)
Wed: (MK)
...
staying until saturday.

ClarkCasey · 11-21-2009, 10:36 AM

Guidebooks say the other parks won't look so good after kids have seen MK. The other parks don't have as many rides as MK.

vicki_c · 11-21-2009, 10:46 AM

If you're going by the crowd calendars (we do, but we use TGM) -- we go to the recommended parks no matter what order they fall in. Never seems to bother my kids no matter where we go first.

Pjimmeyer · 11-21-2009, 10:52 AM

We like to start and end with MK.

I think the other parks are mature enough now to stand on their own and have something for everybody. Still...I guess the reason we start with MK is because I can't wait. If you ask my wife she would most likely compare me to a 5yr old anyway. Personally I think that does a disservice to 5yr olds everywhere.

Cinderellabride · 11-21-2009, 10:54 AM

We got to MK the first day always. I don't care what crowd guides say. We go where we want to go. There is something about the magic of MK that we just need to do that first. We also don't just spend one day there though, and we usually hit it last too.

This time we are going for 8 days including arrival and departure, our departing flight got pushed way back so we actually have almost a whole day on our last day.

Our plan is:

Day 1: MK
Day 2: Epcot
Day 3: HS
Day 4: AK and MBBBQ
Day 5: HS in the AM and MK in the afternoon and MVMCP
Day 6: MK
Day 7: Epcot
Day 8: We will go where ever we want to but I would be very surprised if it didn't include MK

Go where you want to go when you want to go.

sjreed · 11-21-2009, 10:56 AM

We've been taking our kids every other year since they were 5 and 7 years old, they are now 16 and 18. It has never bothered them as to what order we do the parks in. They have different things that they love about all the parks.

2Tiggies · 11-21-2009, 10:58 AM

I would stick with the guide recommendations. Although MK is a younger child's favorite park, I dont believe it means they won't enjoy the others any less for it. My DD, now 7, has always loved Epcot as a "tie" favorite along with MK. The fact that your 5 year old has older siblings will also help with enthusiasm levels. Be enthusiatic about all the parks - I am sure they will all be caught up in the magic that each one has to offer and thoroughly enjoy it. Have fun.

bmd1206 · 11-21-2009, 10:59 AM

We were planning on going to MK first but we decided to go to MK the same day we do the MVMCP (tue). I don't think it matters..

Our plan is:

Sun - Studios
Mon - AK w/ MK for spectromagic/wishes at night
Tue - MK w/ MVMCP
Wed - Epcot
Thu - MK

btcrane · 11-21-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjreed

We've been taking our kids every other year since they were 5 and 7 years old, they are now 16 and 18. It has never bothered them as to what order we do the parks in. They have different things that they love about all the parks.

This is our family, too. Every park has something to offer. Yes, we love MK but we also love Epcot and the others. We can't even pick a favorite park, we love them all!!!

So we go by the guidebooks, which park is "recommended." My advice: go to Magic Kingdom first if you want. Have fun!!

Planogirl · 11-21-2009, 11:07 AM

I never really noticed DS being disappointed with any of the parks, maybe because there's a lot to do for young kids at all of them. He had his favorites in each park so starting with MK never was a big deal. Kids vary though.

loobylou44 · 11-21-2009, 11:11 AM

We love to start with Mk because that is 'real' Disney. We have never felt the the other parks are a let down after Mk they are as good in their own ways.

serrotak · 11-21-2009, 11:13 AM

We will be there in February for 7 days and my plan right now is to actually go to all the other parks before MK. No particular reason, that is just how everything fell. I know my family will enjoy everything Disney has to offer. For us, this will be 1st (DD3), 2nd (DD7), 3rd (DS12) and 4th (ME) trip. However, this is my 1st trip trying to plan it out, instead of just winging it.

11-21-2009, 10:25 AM	#1
onajourney Mouseketeer Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 124	Why not MK first thing? We are going for just 5 days and were going to hit MK on the first day because it was the recommend least busy crowd day and again for a half day the last day for the same reason. MK is busier on the other 3 days of our trip. I have all ages so I know my older kids will enjoy Epcot and HS a lot. My 5yo will love MK the most and probably AK the next. What is the thinking behind not doing MK first thing in a trip? If it is a good enough reason, I can flip flop a couple days. __________________ The trip is over!! Trying to keep the magic alive in our memory.

11-21-2009, 10:32 AM	#2
iamtheclay Earning My Ears Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 39	I have also read that about saving MK until the end, but we are going there the first and last of six days. It seems to me the thinking is that if you start with the MK that somehow the other parks will not seem as impressive by comparison. We have not taken our kids before, but I think they will find things about AK, EP and HS that they will like just as well as MK. You know your children and their interests best! __________________

11-21-2009, 10:33 AM	#3
BenA81 is it a golf ball? Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 679	For kids, MK is usually the best park and their favorite. So you'll hit the climax of your trip right at the beginning and the rest of your trip they'll be asking to go back to MK. So I've heard... __________________

11-21-2009, 10:34 AM	#4
BenA81 is it a golf ball? Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 679	Here is how we split our trip up: Sun: AK and DHS Mon: Epcot Tues: DHS (AM), MVMCP at MK (PM) Wed: (MK) ... staying until saturday. __________________

11-21-2009, 10:46 AM	#6
vicki_c DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 7,054	If you're going by the crowd calendars (we do, but we use TGM) -- we go to the recommended parks no matter what order they fall in. Never seems to bother my kids no matter where we go first. __________________ June 1978 - Poly / Nov 1996 - Yacht Club / Jan 2001 - Poly / Jan/Feb 2004 - Wilderness Lodge / 2004-2006: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Nick Hotel, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside, HI Sunspree, Buena Vista Suites, Caribe Royale / Jan 2008 - Poly / June 2008 - Saratoga Springs and Villas @ Wilderness Lodge / Nov 2008 -Boardwalk Villas / Dec 2008 - WL, Beach Club Villas and Beach Club / June 2009 - POFQ and Poly / Jan 2010 - AKV, 4 night DCL & BCV

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11-21-2009, 10:36 AM	#5
ClarkCasey Earning My Ears Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5	Guidebooks say the other parks won't look so good after kids have seen MK. The other parks don't have as many rides as MK.

11-21-2009, 10:52 AM	#7
Pjimmeyer 1000th Happy Haunt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 285	We like to start and end with MK. I think the other parks are mature enough now to stand on their own and have something for everybody. Still...I guess the reason we start with MK is because I can't wait. If you ask my wife she would most likely compare me to a 5yr old anyway. Personally I think that does a disservice to 5yr olds everywhere. __________________ Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion! I am your host, your ghost host. Kindly step all the way in please and make room for everyone. There's no turning back now.

11-21-2009, 10:54 AM	#8
Cinderellabride Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 277	We got to MK the first day always. I don't care what crowd guides say. We go where we want to go. There is something about the magic of MK that we just need to do that first. We also don't just spend one day there though, and we usually hit it last too. This time we are going for 8 days including arrival and departure, our departing flight got pushed way back so we actually have almost a whole day on our last day. Our plan is: Day 1: MK Day 2: Epcot Day 3: HS Day 4: AK and MBBBQ Day 5: HS in the AM and MK in the afternoon and MVMCP Day 6: MK Day 7: Epcot Day 8: We will go where ever we want to but I would be very surprised if it didn't include MK Go where you want to go when you want to go.

11-21-2009, 10:56 AM	#9
sjreed Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Halifax, MA Posts: 227	We've been taking our kids every other year since they were 5 and 7 years old, they are now 16 and 18. It has never bothered them as to what order we do the parks in. They have different things that they love about all the parks.

11-21-2009, 10:58 AM	#10
2Tiggies DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,015	I would stick with the guide recommendations. Although MK is a younger child's favorite park, I dont believe it means they won't enjoy the others any less for it. My DD, now 7, has always loved Epcot as a "tie" favorite along with MK. The fact that your 5 year old has older siblings will also help with enthusiasm levels. Be enthusiatic about all the parks - I am sure they will all be caught up in the magic that each one has to offer and thoroughly enjoy it. Have fun. __________________

11-21-2009, 10:59 AM	#11
bmd1206 Earning My Ears Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 12	We were planning on going to MK first but we decided to go to MK the same day we do the MVMCP (tue). I don't think it matters.. Our plan is: Sun - Studios Mon - AK w/ MK for spectromagic/wishes at night Tue - MK w/ MVMCP Wed - Epcot Thu - MK

11-21-2009, 11:07 AM	#13
Planogirl BAM! I have a crush on Emeril Lagasse! Oh well, let's look on the bright side. If I hadn't been so wiped out I would have kissed my anesthesiologist Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Frisco,Texas Posts: 27,870	I never really noticed DS being disappointed with any of the parks, maybe because there's a lot to do for young kids at all of them. He had his favorites in each park so starting with MK never was a big deal. Kids vary though. __________________ PG

11-21-2009, 11:11 AM	#14
loobylou44 Mouseketeer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax UK Posts: 325	We love to start with Mk because that is 'real' Disney. We have never felt the the other parks are a let down after Mk they are as good in their own ways. __________________ Disneyland Sept '86 - Offsite, DLRP July '00 - offsite, DLRP Dec '00 - Davy Crockett Ranch, DLRP Sept '01 - Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland Feb '02 - Offsite, Disney World Feb '03 - Springhill Suites LBV, DLRP Jan '04 - Disneyland Hotel, Disney World Feb '06 - Villa at Eagle Pointe, DLRP Jul '09 - Hotel Cheyenne Planning for:- Disney World Dec '09 - Villa at Eagle Pointe

11-21-2009, 11:13 AM	#15
serrotak Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denham Springs, LA Posts: 127	We will be there in February for 7 days and my plan right now is to actually go to all the other parks before MK. No particular reason, that is just how everything fell. I know my family will enjoy everything Disney has to offer. For us, this will be 1st (DD3), 2nd (DD7), 3rd (DS12) and 4th (ME) trip. However, this is my 1st trip trying to plan it out, instead of just winging it. __________________ Check out my 1st PTR:Who Dat Nation takes over WDW 2010 POFQ 2005 Off site 1999 Disney Institute 1995 Off site

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