An extra day in the parks or free day?

[Aletha]

I'm getting ready to book my vacation package for WDW in November. Yaaaaa! But now I'm wondering if I should get a four day or a five day ticket? It's so inexpensive, when you get to five days but there are so many other things to do at the resort. Here's the details: it's my first trip, I'm traveling with my 10 year old and 65 year old dad. We are leaving the west coast on a Saturday and coming home on the following Saturday. We more than likely won't get to Orlando until evening, so DS that night. Then I thought no parks Sunday since we'll be jet-lagged, we'll just sleep in an enjoy the pool. Mon - Thursday visit each park. So the dilemma is, a fifth day to do an extra MK or Epcot day or a water park or mini golf or more DS. Is 5 park days in a row too much? Since this is my first trip do I focus on the parks, or do a variety of things?

 

[Robo]

Buy a 4-day ticket.
You can upgrade by adding a day if you decide that you want to do so after you arrive.
(That can be done at any time during your trip, up until the end of the day on the last day that you use your original ticket.)

 

[Aletha]

Buy a 4-day ticket.
You can upgrade by adding a day if you decide that you want to do so after you arrive.
(That can be done at any time during your trip, up until the end of the day on the last day that you use your original ticket.)

That's great to know! So they'll just charge you an upgrade amount - $47.00 or whatever it is rather than 3 new tickets - $300.00 +? That would be perfect because then we could just see how the trip goes.

 

[Robo]

That's great to know! So they'll just charge you an upgrade amount - $47.00 or whatever it is...

yup

 

[dreiwhit]

We've done 5 days straight in the parks, and 6 days straight. From now on, we're going to plan a rest day after the 3rd day in the parks. We've found that we need the rest from our Commando style Disney experience!

 

[kniquy]

There are never enough park days!!. We did 5 days and it wasn't enough to see it all even with being park commandos - opening to close. I would plan for the 5th day and have it be MK. MK is great to do 2 days -- you can divide the park up and do one side on one day and the other on the next visit. I would actually consider 5 days so that you could take that sunday - sleep in and maybe hit a park in the afternoon. As you know once you start adding days it is pretty cheap (in comparison)

The only thing is that if you don't add the days before your trip and wait until you are there -- you will be very limited in getting any fast passes.

I would do Saturday - arrival relax and dinner at resort/DS. Depending upon how late you come in maybe take a bus to the MK and eat at poly watch wishes fireworks from the beach
Sunday - sleep in. head to HS early afternoon
Monday - MK
Tuesday AK
Thursday MK
Friday Epcot

If this wasn't your first trip then you could probably get away with 4 days, but there is so much to see that you almost don't want to waste a day at the resort. I think once you are there you will be itching to get to the parks. It really depends on how much steam you have to be on the go for 5 days straight. It is exhausting, but you could plan for a little afternoon down time at the resort and then back for the evening.

 

[Hopefully]

I would do things a bit differently.
On your first visit I would focus primarily on the parks. They are the unique experiences you are paying for at WDW. You can go to a water park or minigolf everywhere. There is only one WDW.
I would sleep in on my first morning and head to a park after I was up. Keeping an excited 10 year old (and me even after scores of trips) away would be a challenge, I think. I would also plan another 1/2 day at the resort mid week. The parks can be exhausting. So for that reason I would get 5 day tickets to begin with.
But Robo's suggestion is still a good one.

 

[Lynzer4]

I would definite plan to hit a park Sunday. Sleep in and get FP+ for midday then plan a ADR in or around that park.

Also there is a lot of night time entertainment and by the end of the year all four parks should have a night time show so you will want to make sure your plan to see those.

I would plan 2 days where you don't hit the parks until the afternoon but do a 5 day ticket. I would say so MK twice.

 

[Aletha]

That's a great idea, splitting up the MK! You can probably spend alot of time just walking back and forth. I also forgot about the fact that if we decide to get the 5th day while we are there that will mess up the ADRS and fast passes! And you make a good point, it will be pretty hard waiting all day Sunday before we go on Monday. It's a good enough deal even to go for half a day.

There are never enough park days!!. We did 5 days and it wasn't enough to see it all even with being park commandos - opening to close. I would plan for the 5th day and have it be MK. MK is great to do 2 days -- you can divide the park up and do one side on one day and the other on the next visit. I would actually consider 5 days so that you could take that sunday - sleep in and maybe hit a park in the afternoon. As you know once you start adding days it is pretty cheap (in comparison)

The only thing is that if you don't add the days before your trip and wait until you are there -- you will be very limited in getting any fast passes.

I would do Saturday - arrival relax and dinner at resort/DS. Depending upon how late you come in maybe take a bus to the MK and eat at poly watch wishes fireworks from the beach
Sunday - sleep in. head to HS early afternoon
Monday - MK
Tuesday AK
Thursday MK
Friday Epcot

If this wasn't your first trip then you could probably get away with 4 days, but there is so much to see that you almost don't want to waste a day at the resort. I think once you are there you will be itching to get to the parks. It really depends on how much steam you have to be on the go for 5 days straight. It is exhausting, but you could plan for a little afternoon down time at the resort and then back for the evening.

 

[Aletha]

I would do things a bit differently.
On your first visit I would focus primarily on the parks. They are the unique experiences you are paying for at WDW. You can go to a water park or minigolf everywhere. There is only one WDW.
I would sleep in on my first morning and head to a park after I was up. Keeping an excited 10 year old (and me even after scores of trips) away would be a challenge, I think. I would also plan another 1/2 day at the resort mid week. The parks can be exhausting. So for that reason I would get 5 day tickets to begin with.
But Robo's suggestion is still a good one.

Yes, that is very true, how do you keep an excited 10 year old (and myself) away from the parks! LOL! Yeah, I hadn't thought about doing half days... But here's the thing, I've been to Disneyland several times, so I'll be familiar with the MK and I'm most excited about Epcot. Is MK different enough that it deserves the extra day or should I use it for Epcot?

 

[Robo]

Yes, that is very true, how do you keep an excited 10 year old (and myself) away from the parks! LOL! Yeah, I hadn't thought about doing half days... But here's the thing, I've been to Disneyland several times, so I'll be familiar with the MK and I'm most excited about Epcot. Is MK different enough that it deserves the extra day or should I use it for Epcot?

MK at WDW is very different than Disneyland.
Disneyland actually has more attractions.

We much prefer WDW to DL because there is so much more to do for so
many days at the Florida parks,

BUT...
Many of the attractions shared with WDW are a bit
"better" at DL.
Pirates, Fantasmic!, Space Mtn., just to name a few.
Indiana Jones ride is one of the best Disney creations
in the US parks (with, by far, the best queue.)

And, the fireworks show at DL may be the BEST, most elaborate and creative
fireworks show ever designed.

There's "World of Color" evening spectacular that just debuted at DCA.
And, DCA offer "Cars Land" which is spectacular!

One more thing. WALT spent a lot of time at DL.
He loved that park.
DL is special for that reason alone!

Lots more, but that's a thumbnail from me.


WDW for DLR Veterans by HydroGuy
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=16541636

 

[Hopefully]

That's a great idea, splitting up the MK! You can probably spend alot of time just walking back and forth. I also forgot about the fact that if we decide to get the 5th day while we are there that will mess up the ADRS and fast passes! And you make a good point, it will be pretty hard waiting all day Sunday before we go on Monday. It's a good enough deal even to go for half a day.

I like @Robo's reply comparing the two Magic Kingdom's. WDW is very different. It is much larger and that is just the beginning.
Personally, Epcot is my favorite park. But it does not have a lot of "Rides" is that is your focus. We love World Showcase and spend a lot of time there. I think Illuminations, a laser, fire, water, music, firework extravaganza, to be the best of the nighttime shows. If you do more time at Epcot be sure to include some of the non ride things geared to children for your 10 year old as well.
You could play it by ear. See if you feel you want more time at the MK after your first day there. Or you could do a day and a half at each.
Good Luck

 

[DWFamilyof6]

I say get 5 day tix. Last year we got 4 and wanted to add one once we got there. I tried several times to find someone at the parks to help me add the ticket to our trip without buying another day individually for the 6 of us but failed to find someone who could do it. So this trip I went ahead and got 5 days plus I'm planning to get the Halloween Party. I haven't even decided where I'm using the 5th day tix yet but glad I have the option.

 

[Hopefully]

Yes, that is very true, how do you keep an excited 10 year old (and myself) away from the parks! LOL! Yeah, I hadn't thought about doing half days... But here's the thing, I've been to Disneyland several times, so I'll be familiar with the MK and I'm most excited about Epcot. Is MK different enough that it deserves the extra day or should I use it[/QUO

Double post
Sorry

 

[OB1]

Go 5 days. Even if your first day is an easy day, you should spend part of the day in the parks. Let how you feel determine when your family is ready to leave. HOWEVER, remember it is a long 4 more days, so don't kill it the first day.

 

[kniquy]

It's a good enough deal even to go for half a day.

The parks i would do for the 1/2 day would be either AK or HS. Epcot and MK definitely need a day or two. I would imagine that the jet lag won't be that bad for you coming as it would be going home. I remember going to Vegas (we are on the east coast) and arriving we got there late morning but to us was like 4 in the afternoon, we just headed to bed around 10pm (vegas time) and we were fine the next day. As long as you can get a good nights sleep i am sure you will be fine even to head to the park late morning/early afternoon. You will be running on adrenaline all week.

Before i went to Disney I could never understand why people who go to Disney are constantly on the go and it really isn't a relaxing vacation. After my first trip i totally figured it out -- so much to see, so much to do and never enough time. You hit want you can and you will be planning your next trip even before you leave.

 

[shanew21]

I'd do the extra day and just take it easy on your arrival day (in your case the day after arrival since you arrive in the evening). We always do Hollywood Studios our first day because it has the least amount of stuff to do. Then we hit the other parks hard the next few days.

 

[shanew21]

The parks i would do for the 1/2 day would be either AK or HS. Epcot and MK definitely need a day or two.

I'd be surprised if AK isn't a full day park once Pandora opens, as Rivers of Light should also be open by then.

 

[mindeola]

I would do five days. BUT... I would go to the park Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, break on Wednesday and then do parks on Thurs and Friday.

 

[jvz82]

There's no wrong way to do it, either option will be great!

This last trip we did plan a day "off" in the middle of our trip where we didn't go to the parks. We went to Cape May Cafe for breakfast, spent the afternoon at our resort in the pool, and had dinner at Boma. It was a fun day because we still got to have lots of Disney experiences but also relaxed more than we would have if we'd gone to the parks and got to sleep in.

I'd be more than happy to do the parks "commando" style and just go go go, but to be honest my husband couldn't handle it.