Best order to see the parks

[Library Minnie]

Hi There Disney Experts!
I am taking my daughter on her first trip to WDW from November 29-Dec 4. I have been reading about the different parks and am not sure the order in which we should see them. My little girl is 5, but has lots of developmental delays, and really is more like 4 years old. We get into MCO on the 29th at 12 noon, and I'm wondering which park to start with. We probably won't make it there until mid afternoon if we're lucky, but I would like to get started. I have read a few places that if you take a child to MK first they may not be too thrilled with the other parks, but I'm not sure whether to believe that or not. I have also looked at the touring plans on the unofficial guide site. I am thinking we can easily do two full days in MK, and maybe the half day should be in one of the other parks, with another full day to see the majority of that same park. I don't plan on doing Epcot this time, as I love it, but it's very spread out and not as interesting to a little one. Does anyone have any thought about what to do on the half day, a monday, and the four following days? I'd greatly appreciate your help! Many thanks!

 

[Robin K]

HI!
I would do half day at Ecpot-just for the future world stuff.
I have seen lots of children enjoying all the different interactive games they have there. You could read up on that just to see if you think your daughter would like it.
Does your daughter like animals? AK would be fun with the animal trails and the Safari ride.
I'm sorry I am not too much help.
Good Luck and have a great vacation

 

[princessalexis]

I don't really have advice as to what specific order you should visit the parks, but from my experience, I don't think it matters too much. There is so much to see and do at all the parks. When we went last December, DS turned 4 on our trip. My mom wanted to wait to go to MK until we'd visited the other parks first because she thought he wouldn't want to do anything else. We ended up going to MK on our first day, but he definitely enjoyed the other parks just as much.

You mentioned that you weren't planning to go to Epcot. There were things that DS really enjoyed. He loved The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and Turtle Talk with Crush was great too. He even enjoyed the American Adventure.

Have a great trip!

 

[serene56]

We are doing the world showcase with a 4 year old.
Each country has a kidcot station that the kids can do some thing and earn something to place on their mask they make as they are going to the various countries.

Since the 4 year old watches Kai Lan china is a must-- and we can meet Mulan there.

We been showing her various stuff on the countries we will visit.
Making it sound like we really are going to the country. She is excited about Mexico, Germany, China and Canada.

Future world has Soaring and Nemo and Turtle talk with Crush.


We are planning a morning-early afternoon at the studios- doing toy story, Playhouse disney, animation building, voyage of the little mermaid.. Beauty and the Beast--

I also want to add-- I subscribe to tourguidemike which helped me figure out what day and why

 

[PrincessTiffany]

First of all, I highly suggest www.touringplans.com and their Best Days/Crowd Calendar. I always use it to plan my park days.

As for which parks. All of them. I'd do 2 days MK, 1 day Epcot, 1 Day DHS and 1/2 Day at AK.

By the age of 4 or 5 my kids were able to do almost everything in all 4 parks. There is SO much for 4/5 year olds to do at Epcot: Spaceship Earch, Living Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, Soarin', Living with the Land, Journey to Imagination with Figment, Honey I Shrunk the Kids 4-D, Test Track, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Rio Del Tempio Ride at Mexican Pavilion, Maelstrom ride at Norway Pavilion, etc. Lots of do not miss attractions in all the parks for that age really.

 

[laurainsem]

We always follow crowd calendars and best days for our trips with one exception; we have to go to MK on our first day! It always makes us feel home by doing this.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We have thought long and hard about order.
2) We have experimented a lot.
3) We found that the best order is 1-2-3-4.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I find simply visiting the low crowd park for each day and/or night works best for me.

 

[d1gitman]

We are MK first day, MK last day people.

We have never done a park on arrival day since travel days are long and tiring days for us.

As far as the concept about the other parks being a let down so MK should be saved for later on, i disagree. There are things in every park for every age and for virtually any type of thing a person likes.

I would do MK first full day, MK last day.

Arrival day I would explore the resort or if you have to get out, do Downtown Disney or Boardwalk in the evening.

for the other park days, i would just try to make sure the first thing you do is something geared towards your DD5. In our experience, starting off with the first 1 or 2 attractions geared towards the kids starts the day off much better.

 

[Jalva22]

I have read a few places that if you take a child to MK first they may not be too thrilled with the other parks, but I'm not sure whether to believe that or not.

We did MK first on our kids' first trip to WDW. Our youngest was 5 at the time. They had a great time at every park. Seeing MK first didn't spoil anything for them. Actually, when the trip was over, all four of us had a different favorite park.

 

[basketlacey]

For her first trip, I think I would do MK first. Especially if it is open late on your arrival day. I would do 1 1/2 days at MK and one day each at the other 3. Do you have park hoppers? If so, you can probably combine AK with another park in the evening and get a day and 1/2 at HS or Epcot. AK usually closes around 5 (might be 7 on some nights) which doesn't make it a good choice for starting late in the day.

I have things in every park that I love. But there is something to walking up main street towards that castle......

You might even time your arrival right at the afternoon parade time which would really be a magical way to start your vacation!

 

[disneynutsss]

we always start and end our vacation with MK!

 

[Local_Girl]

There are some things you didn't mention...whether or not you'll be doing the MVMCP (evening Christmas Party at the MK) and if you are staying onsite in a Disney resort. Will you have park hoppers? Also, some kids do better early in the morning, while others are night owls.

IMHO, it's all about your priorities. We'll be there the same week. Our priority is to avoid crowds. I have teens, and we'll be staying offsite, so our touring style would probably be different from yours.

HOWEVER, if I had little ones, was staying onsite, was NOT planning to attend an MVMCP or EPCOT, and didn't have park hopper tickets, these are the parks I would consider for each day:

Arrival Day (1/2 day): DHS (Fantasmic! is scheduled for this night, though it can be scary for some little ones); MK (evening EMH scheduled)

Day 2 (11/30): MK (there was a late EMH the night before so there should be light crowds in the morning); AK (lower crowds due to EMH previous day, it's also open an hour later than the rest of the week)

Day 3 (12/1): MK (if you want to see the evening Main Street Electrical Parade, as it's the only night it will be done during your visit) OR AK (if you want to do the evening EMH)

Day 4 (12/2): MK (if you want to do the morning EMH); AK (crowds should be low); DHS (Fantasmic! is scheduled for this night, if you didn't see it before)

Day 5 (12/3): MK (low crowds early due to EMH previous day and MVMCP that night, and it's your last day--good way to end it! )

Hope this helps a bit...good luck with the planning. See you there!

 

[Library Minnie]

This is exactly what I was hoping, everyone gave me food for thought and tidbits I hadn't considered. Now I can take it all, mix it up in my magic pot, and come up with a much better plan than if I had not dared to ask such a novice question. I greatly appreciate your help. THANKS SO MUCH!!!

 

[vcgirl925]

I have a 4 year old girl and a 6 year old boy. We typically always start with MK because it is THE "Disney-est" park. YOu just get that "yup, i'm here feeling". But this year my son wants to go to Epcot first. His favorite ride is Test Track, so he wants to go there first.

We usually do MK, Epcot, HS, AK, and then we repeate MK and Epcot.

 

[heather13]

We'll be there the same time!
Local_Girl - your advice helps immensely with our planning too
Thanks!

 

[lblume91]

When youngest DD was almost 4, we went to DHS on our first park day because I was trying to follow avoid the "crowded" parks per the touring guides. About midway through the Playhouse Disney show, that we were all sitting through just for her, she stood up & told us that this was not Disney World because there was no castle. We park hopped to MK & everyone was happy.

 

[SciGirl]

I also like to start and end our trip with MK! It's the Disney-est of all!! Love it!

 

[Library Minnie]

Okay, with all your sage advice and interesting comments, this is what I have got so far.

11/29- Arrival Day - Magic Kingdom for 3 pm parade and go until DD looks too floppy to continue!
11/30 - Animal Kingdom
12/1 - Hollywood Studios
12/2 - Epcot (the kidcots were the clincher here)
12/3 - Magic Kingdom

This way we get one morning in each park. Since she's a morning person, I want to take advantage of her best hours to get as many big attractions done first thing.
I looked at the unofficial guides crowd calendar and the parks to avoid calendar, and went with it as much as possible. However, MK is to be avoided on quite a few days, so this is what i came up with!