2 days at MK or AK?

[thursdaystgiles]

We have a 7-day park hopper, and we're doing 2 days each at Epcot and HS, but we're trying to decide between the other two which to do another full day. I know with park hopper we could do half each, but I'm trying to schedule my son's DAS rides so I'm having to nail it down more firmly.

I have two nine year olds, and they're definitely most interested in Star Wars and the World Showcase, but one is obsessed with animals, which is why I originally thought 2 days at AK. But then I was wondering if there was really enough there to keep them busy 2 days. On the other hand, I signed up for touring plans and made schedules, and it seems like we'll get everything accomplished at MK in one day, but they'll probably only get to ride each ride once, and it might be a rush b/c we're doing the fireworks dessert party.

I guess I'm trying to find a nice balance between not being so rushed we feel we have to hurry through things, but also not so slow that we've run out of things to do.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Have you been to Epcot recently? It's in rough shape...

I'd do...

MK
MK
Epcot
HS
HS
AK
AK hopping to Epcot, doing DAS at AK and World Showcase in the afternoon/evening (not many rides, so DAS not a concern)

 

[scrappinginontario]

We find 1 day at AK to be enough time. MK is 2 days + for us.

 

[TravelandLeisure]

I would definitely do 2 MK days. 1 day at AK is plenty.

 

[nonnadisney]

We always spend at least 2 days at MK.

 

[thursdaystgiles]

Okay, so another question then -- do you think it would be better to add another day to Disney for 2 days each park/slower going (the reason I'm hesitant about cutting AK to 1 day is that one of the kids wants to do the Animation, the Lion King Show, and a couple other shows, and when I put in for touring plans schedule with the times they show, along with all the rides, it seems impossible to squeeze in one day...but I know MK is going to be rushed to get in line for fireworks at 7pm). So we could add on a day or two.

But we're also considering doing Legoland as our sales rep has a buy 1 day, get 1 free. For 9 year olds, which do you think would be better as far as getting to experience the most?

 

[CTDisneygal]

Okay, so another question then -- do you think it would be better to add another day to Disney for 2 days each park/slower going (the reason I'm hesitant about cutting AK to 1 day is that one of the kids wants to do the Animation, the Lion King Show, and a couple other shows, and when I put in for touring plans schedule with the times they show, along with all the rides, it seems impossible to squeeze in one day...but I know MK is going to be rushed to get in line for fireworks at 7pm). So we could add on a day or two.

But we're also considering doing Legoland as our sales rep has a buy 1 day, get 1 free. For 9 year olds, which do you think would be better as far as getting to experience the most?

My (almost) nine year old is bananas for legos (and Star Wars). We are adding a legoland day to our September trip this year. We are going in April also, but there's no room for it on that trip.

2 days as MK is a must. 2 days at EPCOT right now is iffy. I think the answer to your question is really dependent on the time of year you are going as well. I like the idea of a second AK morning followed by EPCOT afternoon. We blew through EPCOT last trip, but it was August and the kids were so hot. They didnt even gives us time to go through the countries in WS

So, in my humble opinion:
MK: 2
EPCOT 1.5
DHS: 2
AK 1.5

And if you add a day: Legoland

 

[thursdaystgiles]

My (almost) nine year old is bananas for legos (and Star Wars). We are adding a legoland day to our September trip this year. We are going in April also, but there's no room for it on that trip.

2 days as MK is a must. 2 days at EPCOT right now is iffy. I think the answer to your question is really dependent on the time of year you are going as well. I like the idea of a second AK morning followed by EPCOT afternoon. We blew through EPCOT last trip, but it was August and the kids were so hot. They didnt even gives us time to go through the countries in WS

So, in my humble opinion:
MK: 2
EPCOT 1.5
DHS: 2
AK 1.5

And if you add a day: Legoland

We're going on Jan 31st, so it's coming up fast. As we have a 7 day park hopper already, we currently have it as 2 days each for Epcot, HS, and AK, and 1 for MK. With what you're all saying about Epcot, I'm a little uncertain now, but they really love the idea of the world showcase, and so I wanted to make sure they'd have time to to really enjoy it. We also snagged a Space 220 reservation, and they want to do the crazy pyramid dessert in Mexico, which means two sit down meals eating into the day as well, which is why I felt a second day would be good. Right now, if we don't add a day or 2, I was thinking of doing AK on the 7th day until about 2:30-3, and then hopping over to MK for the rest of the day. But if we added a day, then it would just be 2 days each park.

We have 3 days of downtime, then we do 2 days at Universal. So right now there's a lot of flexibility--we could add a day to Universal, we could add a day to Disney, we could do Legoland for a day or 2. I do think Legoland sounds like a nice change of pace, like maybe more opportunity for using their bodies and minds for play, rather than just external stimuli or rides.

I just don't know if I'm over-thinking it and worrying too much about this. It's been almost 2 decades since I've been to any of the parks except Epcot (and that was almost 10 years ago), and everything I read makes me feel like it's so different that I might as well have no experience at all. And I also think Covid stuff has me extra on edge, too, so I feel like I need to micromanage everything or I'm going to fail the kiddos.

 

[CTDisneygal]

Okay, so its not a question of having to pack things in, although you DO HAVE a ton of stuff in there. WDW/US/LL is a kids dream vacation, but it will be absolutely exhausting.

Here's the good news: you don't really need to make up your mind immediately. Heck, you can even add the extra day while there. AS long as you do it before your 5th day, its all good. Where in your vaca is your first EPCOT day. Maybe decide after that. See how they like it the 1st day.

No need for more than 2 US days. You absolutely need some downtime. Maybe add the LL day.

 

[thursdaystgiles]

Okay, so its not a question of having to pack things in, although you DO HAVE a ton of stuff in there. WDW/US/LL is a kids dream vacation, but it will be absolutely exhausting.

Here's the good news: you don't really need to make up your mind immediately. Heck, you can even add the extra day while there. AS long as you do it before your 5th day, its all good. Where in your vaca is your first EPCOT day. Maybe decide after that. See how they like it the 1st day.

No need for more than 2 US days. You absolutely need some downtime. Maybe add the LL day.

Right now we have it as DHS, MK, Epcot, AK, day off, AK, day off, DHS, Epcot. Then we have another down day, then the 2 Universals. I Do think there's a lot of potential for them to change their minds once they've been to each park once, and I should wait and see. But I swear, with restaurant reservations being impossible to get them their top picks, I had to decide a while back which park/which day. I still haven't gotten a Sci-Fi Drive in which was my son's pick and in order to get Prime Time Diner, we already had to snag a late dinner (8:35pm) on one of the AK days to hop over after it closes. And now with my son's DAS they're asking me to pick rides for each day, it's just a lot to process and I'm feeling a bit crazy, lol

 

[CTDisneygal]

I would feel crazy as well. It really is a lot to digest/plan.
1) You aren't likely to run out of things to do at any park.
2) You definitely have some flexibility
3) Concentrate on the DAS. I don't know anything about it, but if you need to choose rides, that's probably most important
40 No dining ressie is the end all and be all. Hopefully the 835 ressie is the 1st AK day so y'all can sleep in the next morning. I wouldn't even think about hopping that late if you have an early morning the next day. Sci Fi - that was one of my older kids' picks and we haven't been back since.

Keep in mind, the parks are extremely over stimulating. Breaks are definitely good and world showcase can be a great opportunity to just relax

 

[T'Lynn]

I’d definitely suggest MK two days over AK. It’s very hard to do everything at MK in 1 day because the plans don’t really factor in souvenir shopping, stopping just to appreciate things, bathroom breaks, etc.