2 days only at magic kingdom?

[dancebird78]

We are considering a trip to Orlando in mid October, staying with family. I'd like to take my 9yr old and 6yr old to Magic Kingdom and get a two day ticket, so that we have a good chance of seeing everything within those two days. Is this a good idea? Would it be best to do another park on that second day?

I will buy our tickets in advance but....do they need to be paid in full at the time of purchase? Are there any payment plans? I think a two day ticket for four of us comes to about almost $800. for that amount of money is there a different approach I need to take? For example, get a package deal with hotel, etc. I'm not sure of prices though. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My kids know of Disney but not all the parks, so if we only went to magic kingdom I think they would be in heaven. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[Shanti]

Magic Kingdom will be crowded in October (as it is most of the year), so you should definitely spend both days there as this is your first family visit. Be sure to check back later this spring to see if the dates you are coming are "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party" dates or not. You can call Disney this spring & ask them directly, or check the special events section of their website. On Halloween party nights, the Magic Kingdom closes at 7pm to everyone who doesn't have a special party ticket, so you'll either need to 1.) spend even more money to buy your family party tickets (in advance), or 2.) be prepared to leave early, or 3.) attend on a different day (keeping in mind that non-party days in October tend to be the most crowded at the Magic Kingdom.)

At Disney you always have to pay full ticket prices in advance (no payment plan), and yes, it's expensive. There is no ticket discount associated with buying a Disney resort/hotel package, it's always just the regular price of the tickets added on to the price of the room. Sometimes they have family vacation package discounts, but they are typically for more than 2 days, and as lodging is expensive at Disney World it isn't necessarily much of a deal. If money is tight, which it sounds like it is, you are MUCH better off staying with family. Keep in mind that the food will be expensive, too. However, Disney does allow you to bring food into the parks.

Good luck with your trip! Money and crowds are the biggest hurdles for all of us planning Disney vacations, so remember you're not alone.

One more tip: No matter what, buy your tickets at least 30 days in advance, as you will be able to make FastPass selections (since you're staying offsite) 30 days in advance. The most important to try to get is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, followed by Anna and Elsa (if you have girls), then Peter Pan. All have really bad standby lines every day. If you don't have girls, I recommend making Splash Mountain your third FastPass. You're allowed to choose 3 per day in advance. Other rides/activities worth FastPass-ing for your kids' ages are Enchanted Tales with Belle, Winnie the Pooh and the Main Street Electrical Parade.

 

[Malibustyle23]

We are considering a trip to Orlando in mid October, staying with family. I'd like to take my 9yr old and 6yr old to Magic Kingdom and get a two day ticket, so that we have a good chance of seeing everything within those two days. Is this a good idea? Would it be best to do another park on that second day?

I will buy our tickets in advance but....do they need to be paid in full at the time of purchase? Are there any payment plans? I think a two day ticket for four of us comes to about almost $800. for that amount of money is there a different approach I need to take? For example, get a package deal with hotel, etc. I'm not sure of prices though. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My kids know of Disney but not all the parks, so if we only went to magic kingdom I think they would be in heaven. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you

For a two day trip with children for the first time limiting yourself to Magic Kingdom only is a great idea that is highly suggested.

There is not a payment plan options for tickets but you don't have to buy them all together. If it would be easier to buy one here and another when you can and then the next later that is a make your own payment plan so to speak.

If you have a place to stay nearby for free already I would stay there and not add in the costs of hotel for just two days.

Undercover tourist is a website that is an authorized seller of Disney tickets. They are safe to use and may save you some money on the tickets. Check them out.

Just be sure to research Disney's fastpass system. Make sure that you buy your tickets early enough and link them to your My Disney Experience (online website free to use) in enough time to secure fastpasses for your days at Magic Kingdom. I *think* it's 30 days prior to arrival for off-site guests.

There are plenty of threads on here that will explain both of those points for you but feel free to ask about anything you may not understand.

Have fun!

 

[minnie mum]

Welcome to the Dis! I agree with the points that the PPs have made. Both days at MK makes sense for a very limited first time visit. And buying your tickets one at a time instead of all at once may ease the wallet shock a bit. However I don't think Undercover Tourist has any discount for one or two day tickets.

 

[siskaren]

Undercover tourist is a website that is an authorized seller of Disney tickets. They are safe to use and may save you some money on the tickets. Check them out.

UT doesn't offer discounts on two-day tickets - in fact, I'm pretty sure no one does.

 

[Shanti]

I recommend saving up month by month to buy your tickets at once (rather than buying a few at a time), to make getting FastPasses for the whole group easier.

 

[siskaren]

I recommend saving up month by month to buy your tickets at once (rather than buying a few at a time), to make getting FastPasses for the whole group easier.

As long as she gets all the tickets by August, she'll be fine. Since she only needs four tickets, she actually has time to do one every other month.

 

[Malibustyle23]

UT doesn't offer discounts on two-day tickets - in fact, I'm pretty sure no one does.

Thanks, I've never used them and was too lazy to check the prices.

 

[dancebird78]

thanks everyone for the suggestions. I like the idea of buying a ticket every other month, it seems easier on the wallet. With a school teacher as a husband it's challenging to find days he is off that is not also during high peak times. Hopefully, Oct. will not be too awful.

Thank you again.

 

[tlmadden73]

One or two day tickets are unfortunately the most expensive tickets you can get. They get cheaper (per day) the more days you stay. But if on a budget, then two days will be perfect!

October could be just as crowded as the summer ... you just will have better weather.
I went in EARLY October in 2014 and was shocked at the crowds. Still had a good trip, but it was pretty crowded. It ALWAYS will be .. especially at MK. Just expect it.

Go to MK only - easily. Don't even bother with the others unless you are on an extended vacation.
You still won't cover it all in two days if it is your first visit.

As for paying ... I am not sure if you can buy tickets with Disney Gift Cards (I don't see why not), but if so ... get a Target Red Card (linked to your debit card) and use it to gradually buy Disney Gift Cards in $50 increments there for a 5% discount. Then use those gift cards to buy all the tickets later in the year.

Thus you would get your $800 tickets for only $760.
Or simply do that to help save money on the food and souvenirs at the park.

 

[dancebird78]

I confirmed with Disney that I can use the Disney gift cards to buy tickets and other items.

 

[DSLRuser]

i would get 2 days with hoppers. Spend morning at Animal Kingdom, and Night at Magic Kingdom for day 1.

Day 2 to Morning st the Studios, and afternoon at Epcot, followed by night at Magic Kingdom.

You will still get to see most of Magic Kingdom, but it will give you a taste of the other parks and give you something to go from when you plan for your next visit.

 

[WDW1979]

We are considering a trip to Orlando in mid October, staying with family. I'd like to take my 9yr old and 6yr old to Magic Kingdom and get a two day ticket, so that we have a good chance of seeing everything within those two days. Is this a good idea? Would it be best to do another park on that second day?

In my opinion, the best idea is to use both of your two park days at Magic Kingdom. It has by far the most kid-favorite attractions of any of the Disney theme parks. Your children will love Magic Kingdom. I think that if you take your 6yr old and 9yr old to Magic Kingdom on day 1, they will fall in love with it, then if you take them to a different park on day 2 they might say "can we go back to Magic Kingdom?". There are some fun and interesting things at the other three main Disney World theme parks, but not nearly as many as at Magic Kingdom, particularly for kids of ages 6 and 9. Your kids will probably find a few favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom that they will want to ride again, and if you go to another park on day 2, it is likely your children will wish they could return to the happiness of their favorite rides at Magic Kingdom. I first went to Disney in 1979 when I was a kid and when it was only Magic Kingdom (and River Country). Remembering myself as a kid in the 70s, even if Epcot, Disney Studios and Animal Kingdom had existed then, I would have chosen 2 days at Magic Kingdom if I could only have two days at Disney theme parks. On behalf of your two children, my 1979 self says "please take them to Magic Kingdom for 2 days!"

Note: I would not get the "park hopper" option for two-day Disney tickets because the cost of a 3rd day at the parks would only be a little bit more than the "park hopper" option and it would be better to have a 3rd day at Disney theme parks than two days with park hopping, at least for the trip you have indicated.

 

[JustinS]

We are considering a trip to Orlando in mid October, staying with family. I'd like to take my 9yr old and 6yr old to Magic Kingdom and get a two day ticket, so that we have a good chance of seeing everything within those two days. Is this a good idea? Would it be best to do another park on that second day?

I will buy our tickets in advance but....do they need to be paid in full at the time of purchase? Are there any payment plans? I think a two day ticket for four of us comes to about almost $800. for that amount of money is there a different approach I need to take? For example, get a package deal with hotel, etc. I'm not sure of prices though. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My kids know of Disney but not all the parks, so if we only went to magic kingdom I think they would be in heaven. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you

Stick with MK both days to be sure you can accomplish everything. I would recommend cutting the park in half and focusing on one half each day. Cover Tomorrowland and Fantasyland in one day, and Frontierland and Adventureland the other.

www.easywdw.com has some good touring plans to take a look at to help you in your planning!

 

[Frozen2014]

Stick with MK both days to be sure you can accomplish everything. I would recommend cutting the park in half and focusing on one half each day. Cover Tomorrowland and Fantasyland in one day, and Frontierland and Adventureland the other.

Totally agree with this. We came to Disney World last October. It's a great time to see Disney (not that I can compare otherwise). Weather was great and Halloween time was fun. Crowds were ok (except MK on a Monday, but still manageable).

We also went to Epcot and HS, but we did spend 2 days at MK and the above is a great way to split it up. The park is large and so you are not running back and forth.
And get those Fast Passes. It's nice just being able to walk to the quick line for 3 rides. Enjoy your trip.

 

[mab2012]

In my opinion, the best idea is to use both of your two park days at Magic Kingdom. It has by far the most kid-favorite attractions of any of the Disney theme parks. Your children will love Magic Kingdom. I think that if you take your 6yr old and 9yr old to Magic Kingdom on day 1, they will fall in love with it, then if you take them to a different park on day 2 they might say "can we go back to Magic Kingdom?". There are some fun and interesting things at the other three main Disney World theme parks, but not nearly as many as at Magic Kingdom, particularly for kids of ages 6 and 9. Your kids will probably find a few favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom that they will want to ride again, and if you go to another park on day 2, it is likely your children will wish they could return to the happiness of their favorite rides at Magic Kingdom. I first went to Disney in 1979 when I was a kid and when it was only Magic Kingdom (and River Country). Remembering myself as a kid in the 70s, even if Epcot, Disney Studios and Animal Kingdom had existed then, I would have chosen 2 days at Magic Kingdom if I could only have two days at Disney theme parks. On behalf of your two children, my 1979 self says "please take them to Magic Kingdom for 2 days!"

My experience with this: during our first (and only, so far) trip to Disney, my kids were 3 and 6. We didn't want to be in the parks the entire week with kids that age, so we had one day at Legoland and I bought 2-day tickets at WDW. We did Legoland on Monday, a loooong day at Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, and Animal Kingdom on Friday. I have a picture of my then 6-year-old at AK, mid-morning, sulking. Why? Legoland and Magic Kingdom are both ride-intensive parks, and Animal Kingdom just isn't, especially for younger kids. I figured my kids would like seeing the animals, and under different circumstances, they probably would have. But the 6-year-old had apparently expected more of what she'd seen at Legoland and MK, and animals just weren't what she had in mind that day.

We did have a talk about being grateful for being on vacation (and at Disney, no less!), but the reality is that many kids that age are not that great at "looking at the bright side", especially when they are tired and over-stimulated.

So to the OP, if you are happy going to MK on both days, likely your kids will be too. But if you *do* want to explore a second park, I strongly suggest saving Magic Kingdom for last!

 

[caroline1851]

I would consider:
Day 1 - MK
Day 2 - morning/afternoon at AK, evening at MK

 

[ZoZo]

I would consider:
Day 1 - MK
Day 2 - morning/afternoon at AK, evening at MK

As much as I love Animal Kingdom, for a first-time trip with only two days, I'd spend them both at MK. You'll lost quite a bit of time traveling between parks, and there's so much to do at MK, you can easily fill two days there. Plus the added expense of adding the park hopper feature isn't the best way to spend your money if you're on a budget. Hopefully you'll be able to do another WDW some time in the future, and you can hit some other parks on your next trip.

As others have said, to make sure you can do your FPs at the 30-day mark, I'd recommend that you buy your tickets at least a week the 30-day mark, so you can set up your MDE accounts. If you have any trouble setting up MDE, that will give you enough time to solve the problems and be poised and ready to get your FPs as soon as you're able.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[dancebird78]

Thanks everyone. This is excellent advice. I think we'll stick to the two days at MK. I wonder though if we are not resort guests and only able to do fast passes 30 days prior to travel (and not 60 days for resort guests) will we still have a good pick of slots for the fast pass? I'm not exactly certain how the fast pass works.