3 days - skip a park or hop?

[staceychev]

So - We're going to be in the parks for three days 10/31 + 11/1 + 11/2. We haven't been to WDW for about 5 years. I'm trying to decide whether or not we should do 3 parks or park hop. So, before I have the family sit-down to explain our options, does anyone have any recommendations?

Us:

• Family of four - 2 daughters, age 16 and 11. Younger loves all rides (and meets all height requirements) & older likes ones that aren't roller coasters or big drops, but she's more into art and atmosphere.
• Typically, we love World Showcase for atmosphere and food, and Soarin' was my favorite the last time we were there, but I have read here that Epcot is dicey right now.
• Last time we were at DHS, the only thing really interesting was RR - and little one and husband like ToT - I know that there are the Star Wars rides and the Star Wars area - but daughters are emphatically not into SW
• MK is a definite for us, and I'm thinking AK is, too
• We are arriving at our hotel on 10/30 around 11 am, so I don't think it's worth it to buy a park ticket for that day - but maybe that would be an Epcot day since Epcot is open until 10 and we could do 4 days with one park per day?
• Oh - and we're staying at Swan

So, I guess the big question is: Skip Epcot, skip DHS, or do Park Hoppers? I do love the idea of walking back to Swan at the end of each evening... but, if Epcot is too much of a mess, it would save us a few hundred dollars.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Hop twice.

Magic Kingdom full day
Animal Kingdom hopping to Epcot
Hollywood Studios hopping to Magic Kingdom

 

[skippytx]

I'm pro park hopper, just because I don't like to be limited on my options while on vacation. It also lets you have more flexibility, like if MK closes early for a party night, or like the poster above me mentioned, AK hopping to Epcot is a solid choice since AK closes early, and Epcot is open later.

 

[TinkSassy]

For me it would depend on if you are rope dropping and/or doing night shows. I love the night shows and I rope drop - with the new night shows at Epcot or MK I would want to be there most nights. So I would do:
Animal Kingdom hopping to Epcot (you will enter through front of park so do the rides and move to WS with extra time)
Hollywood Studios hopping to Epcot (you will enter via International Gateway so stay on WS the whole night)
Magic Kingdom all day (I don't like trying to hop in and out of this park as it seems to be more time consuming than with the others)

Based on what you said above - it seems like DHS could be skipped for you. It is a hard park right now but I love Slinky, MM, RnRC and all the Star Wars stuff so I push on!

 

[Southerndisney]

TinkSassy, Why is DHS a hard park right now?

 

[loves to dive]

I would hop but I always hop. Staying at the Swan gives you the perfect opportunity to hop between HS and Epcot, really easy walk. Or even to spend part of the day at another park, go back to the resort to enjoy the pool and rest then hop over to HS or Epcot.

We were there a few weeks ago and while there are construction walls up at Epcot, we really didn't find it that bad. We were there every single night because I love me some F&W booths. I'm not a huge Star Wars fan but I love me some HS. I love the atmosphere there, I love the shopping there and I love the ToT. Be warned, while WS is open, not all the restaurants are and not all the shops are and not all the shops are staffed by people from those countries. I don't think any of the shops in Morocco are open and only Spice Road Tables and not at a full menu. The only shop open in England is the tea shop (or that was it a few weeks ago). The street entertainment is not happening at Epcot right now. The shops that are open are not fully stocked. Having said that, we loved it and my son's SO who had never been to Epcot fell completely in love.