2nd day at MK, or one day at HS?

[lily2521]

We have a 4 day pass - no hopper. Originally we were thinking 2 days at MK, 1 at Epcot, and 1 at AK, skipping HS. And one day at Sea World.

Now I'm wondering if we should do 1 of 3 options:
1. original plan - 2 MK, 1 Epcot, 1 AK, 1 Sea World
2. see each park for 1 day, plus Sea World
3. see each park for 1 day, skip Sea World, and do MK a second day (upgrade to a 5 day pass)

DD LOVES sea life, so Sea World is something I think she'd like, but I know we'll see underwater stuff at Epcot too.

We'll be there during SWW (no big deal to us), with 6YO DD.

We were there 2 years ago, and spend 1/2 day in HS (were ready to go after 1/2 day), and to us it was no big deal. Disney Jr. show she won't be interested in now, ToT and RR are rides we won't do, the Cars show was meh, Little Mermaid - no biggie.

The reason I'm considering HS again is simply because of the Frozen Sing-along, and of course TSM.

I will of course try to get a FP for A&E in MK (fingers crossed) but is the Sing-along show worth a visit to that park? I'm 50/50 on what to do - or maybe I should say I'm 33/33/33 considering my 3 options

 

[Jfsag123]

I would go with option 3, but I'm a Disney person and live in the same state as another Sea World location. If not 3, I would pick option 1 because, even as someone who enjoys DHS, I think a 2nd MK day would be more worth your while than a day there. Especially with a 6yo, having 2 days at MK seems like the best option. Haven't seen the Frozen show yet, so can't comment on that one, but have a FP for it on our upcoming trip.

 

[lily2521]

Something else to factor in too - we're going to go up to Clearwater one day to see Winter the dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium - so she'll get her dolphin fix that way too, as well as some other sea animals.

 

[uccats97]

Option 3 would be my choice. It's also a lot cheaper to add a 5th Disney day (about $10/person) than it would be to pay for tickets to Sea World. I know HS is going through some big changes right now. There is still plenty to do though. The Frozen sing along is cute and I'm sure your daughter will love it. It shouldn't be your only reason for spending a day at HS though. Have you visited; One Man's Dream, taken the drawing class at the Animation Academy, seen MuppetVision 3D, stood under the umbrella in the rain on the Streets of America, watched Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, seen Beauty & the Beast, seen Fantasmic, watched the Citizens of Hollywood? All of the above are worth doing. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip no matter what you decide to do! Just avoid HS on the weekend since you aren't interested in the SWW events.

 

[lily2521]

Option 3 would be my choice. It's also a lot cheaper to add a 5th Disney day (about $10/person) than it would be to pay for tickets to Sea World. I know HS is going through some big changes right now. There is still plenty to do though. The Frozen sing along is cute and I'm sure your daughter will love it. It shouldn't be your only reason for spending a day at HS though. Have you visited; One Man's Dream, taken the drawing class at the Animation Academy, seen MuppetVision 3D, stood under the umbrella in the rain on the Streets of America, watched Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, seen Beauty & the Beast, seen Fantasmic, watched the Citizens of Hollywood? All of the above are worth doing. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip no matter what you decide to do! Just avoid HS on the weekend since you aren't interested in the SWW events.

Yeah I did think of the cost factor as well. I'll be honest we probably didn't see 1/2 of what HS has to offer last time we were there, we had a cranky 4 year old, it was very hot and busy and we were just done, so we left.

Shamelessly admitting it - I haven't seen any of the things you listed above - and we didn't plan very well last time, as opposed to now I'm pretty much online planning and reading up every day and we're over 3 months out - my H thinks I've lost it

 

[lily2521]

I should say too, I'm not sure what kind of animals are at Epcot because I've never been. I know it isn't quite the same as SW, but didn't know if it might still be okay? Plus going to Clearwater to see the dolphins there?

I heard SW is just a series of shows anyway, which might get old? Like I said, I've never been so I'm really not sure what to compare to?

 

[Kristina4109]

In The Living Seas you'll be able to see dolphins, manatees, sharks, and a whole lot of fish. But there will be no performing animals - you'll just see them swimming around.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I would definitely try for 2 MK days no matter what you decide.

I think if you're going to Clearwater you are probably good on sea life unless you really want to see the whale show, that is the unique thing about SW.

I would actually skip Epcot with a four-day pass and do 2 MK, AK, and DHS. With a 5-day pass I would add Epcot back in.

 

[msmama]

I enjoy sea world but I would do option 3.

It is mostly shows and most of the rides are roller coaster-y which it sounds like you wouldn't do. A HS day could be a partial day giving you resort time or even downtown disney or something, too.

 

[lily2521]

I would definitely try for 2 MK days no matter what you decide.

I think if you're going to Clearwater you are probably good on sea life unless you really want to see the whale show, that is the unique thing about SW.

I would actually skip Epcot with a four-day pass and do 2 MK, AK, and DHS. With a 5-day pass I would add Epcot back in.

After looking into Epcot more and what they have to offer, I agree I feel like we're good on Sea Life. We'll have a couple of ocean days as well in Clearwater.

I do want to do Epcot, only because we haven't gone. But with that, if we drop SW we'll upgrade to a 5 day pass to get all 4 parks, with 2 at MK

 

[lily2521]

In The Living Seas you'll be able to see dolphins, manatees, sharks, and a whole lot of fish. But there will be no performing animals - you'll just see them swimming around.

I actually didn't know Living Seas had so much, and especially didn't know they had dolphins (DD's favorite).

 

[lily2521]

I enjoy sea world but I would do option 3.

It is mostly shows and most of the rides are roller coaster-y which it sounds like you wouldn't do. A HS day could be a partial day giving you resort time or even downtown disney or something, too.

We probably won't do the Sea World rides, sounds like they're too big for DD, and we aren't big into crazy roller coasters. I do like the idea of having a 1/2 day, since all 5 days we're there we'll be pretty busy.

Can AK be considered a 1/2 day park too?

 

[DisMom1981]

Option 3!!!!!

 

[Moonwolf]

I actually didn't know Living Seas had so much, and especially didn't know they had dolphins (DD's favorite).

I found it very easy to miss. From what I remember the ride dumps you out at the gift shop close to Turtle Talk. On my trip in '13 I just continued walking straight right out of the pavilion. I didn't realize that to see the actual aquarium you need to turn around and head further back.