5 days, no hoppers, what parks?

[jels]

Hello, everyone. My family (me, DH, 5yo DS, 4yo DS, 6mo DD) will be in WDW April 25-29th, staying at ASMo. I wanted to share with you my itinerary because I am now wondering if we should do a day at Epcot.... please give me your opinions.
Monday- MK
Tuesday-bkst Chef Mickey's @ 7am, AK
Wednesday-MK, dinner at CRT
Thursday-MGM, dinner at Mama Melrose
Friday-MK, dinner @ LTT
(all of our dinners are early, 4pm and we have the MYW + dining)
So, here are my questions: Do we really need to do Epcot? I, personally, would love to see the Flower Festival. Is 3 days at MK too much? We are not planning on hopping because it is our first time as a family to WDW, and I think it would be too hectic with the kids. Our plans are to arrive early, and take a break at the hotel in the afternoon after lunch. Thanks for your help

 

[marriedmarylander]

I would say you might as well check out Epcot unless you love MK that much and want to go 3 days!

Why are your dinners at 4PM?

 

[Pinnochio]

Epcot though it is not my favorite shouldn't be missed especially for test track and mission space. Even if you don't like big thrills its still good. 3 days at MK is way too much you can actually do it all in a day (though you would have to go "comando" style). 2 days is perfect to see everything. Spliting the day like you said is a good idea. I also don't think you need the park hoppers because we go a lot and have never park hopped since two years ago and that is only because our kids are older now and can handle it.

 

[mommykds]

I would go to Epcot at least one of your days. My kids love Epcot (more than I had expected actually). Your 4 & 5 year olds will like the kidcot stops where they can decorate masks at each country. Also there are some characters at each country an also in futureworld. (Belle is in France, Donald is in Mexico, Mary Poppins is in UK).

Unless you absolutely must go to MK (which I love ) 3 times, I would say to go give Epcot a try.

 

[valandemmy]

we are on the same type of plan you are on. 5 days, no hopper.....
we plan on doing:
Monday - MK - CRT, and Crystal Palace for dinner
Tues - Epcot - Ohana's
Wed - MGM - Fantasmic Package @ Mama Melrose's
Thursday - AK - Concourse
Friday - Back to MK - 1900 Park Fare for dinner
(may interchange Tuesday and THursday for EMH)

we plan on going to DTD on what ever day looks "boring" to our daughter
this way we can see everything and not leaving feeling as if we missed out on something.

also, with a little free time, may drive out to one of the beaches

But I would do all of the parks if I were you

 

[LovePug]

It looks as if you are going to take advantage of EMH at MK. Correct? If so, you should be able to get a lot done there. I'd skip the day with no EMH and do Epcot in there somewhere-especially if it's your (or your family's) first time.

 

[june@imsarc.com]

I'd go for 3 days in the MK w/ children the ages that yours are. My kids (13, 9, and 4 right now) were never thrilled w/ Epcot until they were old enough to do Test Track. They were not big fans of the kidcot stations--would rather be doing things, seeing characters. I think there's too much walking in Epcot--very spread out. MK has more "bang for your buck."

 

[KimWDW]

We're going in the fall with our 3 year old and we'll have 5 days at the parks. We're doing 3 MK days, 1 MGM day, and 1 EPCOT day. We're not doing AK. I thought a lot about it and decided that there was more for him at EPCOT than AK at this age. He can go on the Figment ride, honey I shrunk, the norway boat, the mexico boat, spaceship earth, the land ride, etc and not that much at AK.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I would plan to skip AK and do Epcot. Three days at MK will not be too much (IMHO). Epcot has lots to do. You may find yourself bored after a 1/2 day AK.

 

[jels]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Anyone have anything else to add?

 

[momof2inPA]

My kids have always loved Epcot. My 5 year old loves the "ball ride", Universe of Energy (think big dinosaurs), the Mexico and Norway boat rides, the chair stacking guys in France, the fireworks, etc. I would say skip MGM, but the Beauty and the Beast show, Fantasmic, and probably for your age kids Bear and the Big Blue House shouldn't be missed. I guess I would cut back on one MK day, but that's a tough choice. Maybe you could go to Epcot on the hottest day, because so many of the attraction are indoors, and many MK attraction lines are outside.

 

[erinch]

my hubby and I love Epcot.
And it's the one place in WDW that the fact that WE love it is determinative for the day, and the kids can enjoy it or not. Only thing in our trip that isn't all about them

As it turns out, they like Epcot too---but we still call it the "mommy/daddy first day" when we go there.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I really think two days at MK are good. At the beginning and end. You could always go to EPCOT Wednesday AM, see how they do and take an afternoon break mid week at the pool at the resort, that would give them a taste of EPCOT and you could do a couple things geared for them. I think they'd really appreciate the break from the parks mid week.

Do dinner at LTT the first night and end your vacation with MK Day and dinner at the castle. You could try O'hana's at the Polynesian on Wednesday, they have coconut races and hoola hooping for the kids or Whispering Canyons at Wilderness Lodge also has kids stuff. Unless you have a car, that's the easiest and fastest way to get to the resort restaurants!!!

To get to O'hana's you'd have to take the bus to MK and then the monorail to the Poly, but if it's your "free afternoon and evening" it might be OK.

You could also get to see at least some of the Flower and Garden Festival for something "for you".

 

[MommytoMJM]

Epcot is a Must do for us...I can't wait for the Flower festival!!!

 

[YourMajesty]

We always include Epcot. Last visit DS's were 6 and 3. They loved Epcot. They have a character bus at world showcase(several times a day) and characters in the different countries. Ds 6 liked the kidcot stations and enjoyed having his passport stamped at each country. There is very little that kids can't do at Epcot and more than you would think that is geared to them. Actually, MGM has always seemed a little "old" for our kids but we enjoyed our day there too. Two days at MK should be enough for your first trip. Try them all and then you will know for sure when you start planning trip #2. Good luck.

 

[estnh]

Epcot during the Flower and Garden Festival is the most beautiful place on the planet! You'd be making a huge mistake to miss it.

I would upgrade your tickets to hoppers, and then you could come and go to the parks as you please, especially since you are (wisely) taking breaks in the afternoon. With hoppers, you can be so much more flexible, and there is less pressure to have to decide exactly where you want to be at any given time. Considering the extra flexibility they give you, they are not that expensive.