1 day for Magic Kingdom and Epcot?

[MandiC]

I need some opinions. I have only been to Disney once, a family trip with my husband and our older two kids. Recently my mom invited me on a business trip with her to Tampa in January and we decided to add one more day to the trip and do Disney together. My mom has only ever been to Magic Kingdom once, in the 80s. I figured we would just do Epcot but then started thinking it would be nice to start our day with the welcome show at Magic Kindgom and seeing the castle and maybe a 'quick' walk through the park and a handful of major rides before going to Epcot to walk the World Showcase. Am I being overly ambitious? Anyone ever do the two big parks in one day? We only have the one day, the next day we will need to head back to Tampa fairly early for our flight home. I know we won't see everything, or even close. Should we go for the park hoppers or just do Epcot? The price difference is pretty big but this is probably the only time we will go together so I don't mind.
We will be staying on-site, the one night, at Pop Century just because it makes more sense at less than $100 with free parking and transportation (though we will have a rental car, since we plan on having adult beverages at Epcot we would prefer having a ride back to our room )

 

[JimmyV]

You certainly could do what you suggest, (i.e., go to the MK first, walk around a bit and hit a few rides, and then head to Epcot). World Showcase does not open until 11:00, so you would have a couple of hours to spend at the MK before you headed over to Epcot. BUT...the price of a single day park hopper is currently $165 per adult. It isn't a very good value if all you want to do is roam around two different parks.

 

[Alesia]

Don't try to do both on the same day - you won't get to really enjoy anything about either park.

 

[mar7967]

I agree with the recommendation to just do one park. However, I *believe* the welcome show at magic kingdom is outside the main entrance, so you don't need to pay admission or get a park hopper to watch the welcome show. You just wouldn't be able to visit the castle or roam the park, but you could watch the welcome show before heading to EPCOT if you chose to do that.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would not do this. It is not only expensive, but you will be paying a lot of money and not be able to really enjoy either park.

 

[lustergirl]

That is alot and you may get exhausted. Both parks are big in size.

 

[Nancyg56]

It sound like you want to visit Epcot so that you can enjoy the World Showcase. What you could do is to get to Epcot at Rope Drop, use a few FP in FW and then head over to the WC. Spend the better part of the day there, then hop on the monorail to the Grand Floridian for a late dinner that is timed to see the Electric Water Pageant and Wishes. You then go back to the MK to catch your transportation back to the resort. IT is a long day, but I think it may capture some of the essence of the Magic Kingdom. The money you would spend on hoppers could be applied to Narcoossees which is a lovely place to dine.

If you could secure an ADR for California Grill that is timed for Wishes, that view would be even better.

 

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

Well, I would do both if cost truly isn't an issue. But it sounds like I am in the minority...

 

[georgina]

My opinion is, why not? If that is what you want to do, go to MK, have 3 FP for major rides, walk around a bit, possibly do a few other rides with short lines, take the monorail to Epcot, get there by noon, do the World Showcase.

You could get a lot done at MK in January at park opening.Schedule a FP roughly at 9, 10, and 11, and ride other things in between.

 

[siskaren]

I agree with the recommendation to just do one park. However, I *believe* the welcome show at magic kingdom is outside the main entrance, so you don't need to pay admission or get a park hopper to watch the welcome show. You just wouldn't be able to visit the castle or roam the park, but you could watch the welcome show before heading to EPCOT if you chose to do that.

Nope. It's before you pass through the tunnel under the railroad tracks, but it's past the tapstyles.

 

[cmarsh31]

Add me to the minority - if the cost doesn't bother you, I'd do it. It wasn't our only park day, but we did that and it was by far our best day. Morning RD, granted it was EMH so we had a really quiet park morning. Stayed about 4 hours (hit some rides, had an early BOG lunch ressie), then hopped to Epcot for the remainder of the day, mostly in WS. DH doesn't love spending a full day in MK so it was a perfect compromise.

 

[NJlauren]

Nope. It's before you pass through the tunnel under the railroad tracks, but it's past the tapstyles.

I agree with the recommendation to just do one park. However, I *believe* the welcome show at magic kingdom is outside the main entrance, so you don't need to pay admission or get a park hopper to watch the welcome show. You just wouldn't be able to visit the castle or roam the park, but you could watch the welcome show before heading to EPCOT if you chose to do that.

You do not need a ticket to see the welcome show.

You can absolutely see the welcome show and the head to Epcot with out park hoppers.

However if money isn't an issue I say go for it! Pick a few things to do in each park and enjoy the day! Also depends on park hours for both parks.

 

[ajwolfe]

I say go for it!! I think it sounds like a perfect way to spend the day. You are going into knowing that your expectations are low, so if you only get to ride a few things it won't be that huge of a let down.

 

[lorenae]

If the cost doesn't deter you, then do it! It would be fun, and you could have a great time.

 

[AJ1983]

I would go with your plan of two parks. Not sure how many rides you plan on at MK but you can get alot done in just a few hours. If you are only interested in doing WS at Epcot and not Soarin etc then there is no benefit to get there right at 11 am. Take your time at MK! My husband and I went to Mk one day until after the parade then headed to Epcot and just did WS..we had PLENTY of time! Enjoy the trip with your Mom

 

[DrKev]

We do 2 parks in 1 day often, since we are annual passholders, and even eat off property between our visits. It's easy as long as you're not trying to do too many things in either park.

 

[MandiC]

Thanks everyone! My mom isn't huge into rides so I doubt we will do too many. I was thinking Mine Train since it wasn't open last time I was there, it's a small world for sentimental reasons for my mom, and maybe Haunted Mansion. From what I read it sounds like Soarin will be down for refurbishment during our visit and that is my favorite ride in Epcot so we won't be doing much, if anything, for rides there, just browsing world showcase, eating and drinking together mother/daughter bonding No wrong opinions, just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything and see if anyone had done the same

 

[Planogirl]

If you have the stamina then I also say why not? It sounds like you just want to do World Showcase at Epcot so why not spend part of the day at MK first?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks everyone! My mom isn't huge into rides so I doubt we will do too many. I was thinking Mine Train since it wasn't open last time I was there, it's a small world for sentimental reasons for my mom, and maybe Haunted Mansion. From what I read it sounds like Soarin will be down for refurbishment during our visit and that is my favorite ride in Epcot so we won't be doing much, if anything, for rides there, just browsing world showcase, eating and drinking together mother/daughter bonding No wrong opinions, just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything and see if anyone had done the same

Yes, I think you can totally do this! My suggestion, go to MK at rope drop, see the welcome show, do your three rides (you can probably get those done in less than 2 hours) meander as you wish, shop, etc. THEN hop on a bus to Beach Club and walk right into World Showcase through the International Gateway entrance. If you aren't interested in the rides in FW, this will save you a bit of walking from the front entrance of EP to World Showcase. Eat, shop, meander. You will always see FW on your way out of EP as you go to get your bus back to the resort.

I think this is totally doable.

 

[mickeymom22]

While a one day park hopper ticket is pricey, if it is something you want to do with your mom...i say go for it!

When we go on week long WDW trips, we usually tour the parks by starting at one park in the morning and ending the evening at Epcot. We love trying all the sit-down restaurants at Epcot. Since you are splurging on the ticket price, a good choice for a late dinner would be La Cantina de San Angel QS restaurant. If you can snag a outside table about 30 minutes before Illuminations, munch on some nachos, maybe have a drink, you will have a great spot to enjoy Illuminations.

Happy planning!