Am I the only person only going to one park

[Elleshoodat]

You have to do what works for you and your family. We live two hours away and only take two- or three-day trips so as not to burn out, so to me only hitting one park is not a foreign concept.

 

[Schmeck]

I don't think you can get into SAB either, without a proper resort ID.

 

[LizEN]

Our first trip with kids, when they were 7 years old, we did MK only and took 2 days to do it. It was a nice, relaxing trip and we totally enjoyed it.

I didn't realize what a Disney freak I was going to turn into, so our plan was one trip to MK and then to return one more time to do the full WDW experience. Well, so much for that plan But still, I think MK is a great first trip with small ones if you know you will be back.

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

Yep.

We are going to spend 3 days going to MK. It's all DD is interested in. I figure when she gets older and has more interests we'll venture to the others. I'm completely okay with it.

 

[nicki.momof3]

We are going to spend 3 days going to MK. It's all DD is interested in.

Has your child been to the other parks to know that the MK is all she is interested in?

My kids have been going to WDW since they were 2 and they enjoy (love) parts of all the parks.

For us flying all the way to WDW is a huge expense for 5 people so we make the most of our time. We go to the parks all 9 days we are there. We also hop almost everyday (and we have since our first trip). Our kids are now 6,7,8.

 

[starsweeper]

We took ODS and DD when they were 2.5 and 3.5 years old. They spent 75% of their time at MK, but really enjoyed 1/2 days at AK and Epcot. As much as they LOVE MK, I think exploring the other parks with what they would find interesting as our guide was fun.

 

[emma'smom]

You can't pool hop to AK....but you can to Boardwalk-- we did this and it was fun!

DD loves Disney Jr so I may add MGM. DH has never been to Disney before and is not a big fan of parks so I think 2 will be the max. You are allowed to visit other resorts so that's what I meant by pool hopping, I want to see AK and think DD will enjoy Boardwalk. If I was paying a ton of $ for this trip I would try to cram it all in too but it only cost me a flight so i'm not going to force to much in the extreme heat. I already booked a Disney cruise for next year so DD will be fine.

 

[coolbluewater]

We just got back from a trip with our 2yo. We spent two mornings in the parks (MK and AK), and one morning at Chef Mickey's / monorail riding. The rest of the time we spent at the pool or watching the animals as we stayed in Kidani, which we LOVED. It was a 6 night stay.

It was perfect for us and perfect for our ds. Just enough time to see and do a few things and have a nice lunch and nap in the room (he doesn't stroller nap). Do what's right for your family...you can experience Disney in a lot of different ways, especially if you think you'll go back someday.

 

[norrodh]

I am a cast member and as far as I know, as long as you are a resort guest, you can go to other Disney resorts and try out the pools and look around the resort to see if you want to stay there in the future. The only resorts you cant really use is GF (Grand Floridian) and Contemporary - you have to wear a bracelet. Also the lifeguards or anybody else are not allowed to ask a guest if they belong there as not to insult that guest. Its probably an underwritten rule but that is what I was told when I was training. Also, cast members are allowed to use any of the pools except GF, Cont and Poly.

 

[crisi]

I am a cast member and as far as I know, as long as you are a resort guest, you can go to other Disney resorts and try out the pools and look around the resort to see if you want to stay there in the future. The only resorts you cant really use is GF (Grand Floridian) and Contemporary - you have to wear a bracelet. Also the lifeguards or anybody else are not allowed to ask a guest if they belong there as not to insult that guest. Its probably an underwritten rule but that is what I was told when I was training. Also, cast members are allowed to use any of the pools except GF, Cont and Poly.

Guests can't do this - try out the pool. DVC members can - with restrictions. Its posted on every pool at WDW. "Pool is for resort guests only." You can go take a look at all the other resorts. The only pool that REGULARLY gives out bracelets is Y&BC.

But its unfortunately typical for CMs to give out wrong information.

 

[norrodh]

Guests can't do this - try out the pool. DVC members can - with restrictions. Its posted on every pool at WDW. "Pool is for resort guests only." You can go take a look at all the other resorts. The only pool that REGULARLY gives out bracelets is Y&BC.

But its unfortunately typical for CMs to give out wrong information.

It not that we give out wrong info but the company tells you guys one thing and us another and I think you guys get all wound up about the rules when really they will never insult a guest or tell you, you have to leave unless you are hurting someone or doing something illegal. I would use discretion when using pools and use the pools that are in line with your resort. Value to value, etc. Any resort guests can go and visit and walk around another resort. Like the buses for instance, the written rules are that you are supposed to show your room keys but in reality, we are not allowed to ask for room keys. We transport loads of people who are not staying at our resorts but we are not allowed to say anything. So go figure!

 

[WantToGoNow]

Nope, we have always gone to all of the parks and usually more than once. My ds10 went at 6 mos, 3.5, 5.5, and 8. Dd7 went at 1, 3, 5, and 6. They are 7 and 10 now and we will be going for 9 days with 1 day off. My kids always (even at 3) preferred Epcot and DHS to MK.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I am a cast member and as far as I know, as long as you are a resort guest, you can go to other Disney resorts and try out the pools and look around the resort to see if you want to stay there in the future. The only resorts you cant really use is GF (Grand Floridian) and Contemporary - you have to wear a bracelet. Also the lifeguards or anybody else are not allowed to ask a guest if they belong there as not to insult that guest. Its probably an underwritten rule but that is what I was told when I was training. Also, cast members are allowed to use any of the pools except GF, Cont and Poly.

It not that we give out wrong info but the company tells you guys one thing and us another and I think you guys get all wound up about the rules when really they will never insult a guest or tell you, you have to leave unless you are hurting someone or doing something illegal. I would use discretion when using pools and use the pools that are in line with your resort. Value to value, etc. Any resort guests can go and visit and walk around another resort. Like the buses for instance, the written rules are that you are supposed to show your room keys but in reality, we are not allowed to ask for room keys. We transport loads of people who are not staying at our resorts but we are not allowed to say anything. So go figure!

I thought this was the reason why they started giving bracelets for people to wear at the Poly volcano pool and SAB at BC, because of people who were not guests of those respective resorts wrongly using those pools. Pool hopping is a very hot topic on these boards...Are you really saying that any WDW resort guest (meaning any guest of any WDW hotel/resort) can use any pool on WDW property? I know that guests of each of the All Star Resorts can share pools because each All Star resort is considered to be a part of one common resort, I know POFQ/POR guests are able to share pools because they are sister resorts, YC/BC can share SAB, etc. but what you are saying seems quite a stretch. I am not questioning what you were told or how you were trained, it just seems rather puzzling.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

We are taking DD for the 1st time next month, she will turn 3 while we are there. I'm only going to MK. I think a park a day is to much for that age. The rest of the time we will be pool hopping and going to Downtown Disney. My parents are DVM so she will be back soon.

Maybe for your DD but I think for most kids it is a blast. Granted MK has the most rides that she can ride but there is so much for them to see and interact with at the other parks not to mention the zoo on steroids atmosphere of Animal Kingdom, I'm not sure why you would limit what she sees.

Going to different pools vs seeing Tigers and Lions roam around?

Going to different pools vs seeing Nemo and his friends?

 

[anna's mama]

We are in the same situation...we are going for a week in September with DD2. We are planning to go to MK for one day. The rest of the time we are just hanging out at the pool. We'll also go to DTD....she is so young that even going to the shops will be exciting. I also want to check out the Boardwalk....I have been to Disney many times but have never been there. And we'll also check out Chip and Dale's singalong at FW.

We'll wait for another trip to do all the parks. I just think it would be too much for her right now. And this is our first family vacation with her and I want to relax and enjoy it!

Have a great trip! I hope you'll do a TR so I can get some ideas from you

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

Has your child been to the other parks to know that the MK is all she is interested in?

My kids have been going to WDW since they were 2 and they enjoy (love) parts of all the parks.

For us flying all the way to WDW is a huge expense for 5 people so we make the most of our time. We go to the parks all 9 days we are there. We also hop almost everyday (and we have since our first trip). Our kids are now 6,7,8.

Yes, she has.. she does not believe they are disneyworld because they don't have the castle. It's not a big deal to me.

 

[tlbwriter]

It not that we give out wrong info but the company tells you guys one thing and us another

Apparently they don't tell ALL of you "another," since many CMs enforce the no-hopping rule. I'm disappointed that a CM would tell guests to ignore that one, since it really can impact the stay of the guests who paid for that pool.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

Apparently they don't tell ALL of you "another," since many CMs enforce the no-hopping rule. I'm disappointed that a CM would tell guests to ignore that one, since it really can impact the stay of the guests who paid for that pool.

I have seen CM ask pool "visitors" at the BW to leave on a few different stays.

 

[crisi]

It not that we give out wrong info but the company tells you guys one thing and us another and I think you guys get all wound up about the rules when really they will never insult a guest or tell you, you have to leave unless you are hurting someone or doing something illegal. I would use discretion when using pools and use the pools that are in line with your resort. Value to value, etc. Any resort guests can go and visit and walk around another resort. Like the buses for instance, the written rules are that you are supposed to show your room keys but in reality, we are not allowed to ask for room keys. We transport loads of people who are not staying at our resorts but we are not allowed to say anything. So go figure!

Really? I've been carded at the Poly (DVC member pool hopping legally). So yes, you really do enforce your own rules and will ask people to leave. Not always, but sometimes.

 

[Karbase8]

Kimmy, your kids will love the day trip to Magic Kingdom, last year I took my 10 year old to WDW for the day while we were staying in Orlando, I had the brilliant idea to see Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and MK, in one day! My son said to me next time mom let's just do MK, the kids will thank you for it and it's the best out of the 4 parks, so enjoy. When I was a young girl that's all there was MK, no other parks, so SeaWorld will be great as well, enjoy!!!!