Best park for a partial day?

[FrillNFroo]

Our flight lands at 11:16 am...on a day with crowd levels of a 3 overall, but Magic Kingdom early extra magic hours. (Epcot and AK are green and HS and MK are red on the crowd levels chart) We plan to stay for 6 nights, 7 days, so we will have time for a full day at each park. Which park would you recommend starting with on that first day, since by the time we get to the hotel, check in and make it to a park, it will be mid-late afternoon?

 

[ErinsMommy]

We always start with MK - for us its the park that gives us that most magical feel.

 

[Alesia]

Epcot.
Wandering the world showcase is my favorite way to start a trip. It's also the most efficient use of the time.

 

[Flamingeaux]

Not sure if this is the case for you but we go to MK regardless of recommendation. It is easier to get FPs for 7DMT later in the day and we like to see Wishes.

 

[Kimi313]

To me it depends if you have children traveling with you or not. When DD was younger we would head straight to MK the day we arrived. Can't beat the excitement of seeing the castle, see a few characters, ride the mountains and some favorites, and end the evening with Wishes. Now she is 24 years old and the last trips we have traveled with her boyfriend/now fiance it all depends on if MK has EMH or not. If MK has EMH the day we arrive then we are there till the end but if they do not then we know we will be there the next morning so we head over to Epcot. We use our FP+ for some rides then head over to World Showcase for some snacking and drinking around the world.

 

[tink9702]

I'd recommend Epcot. FP+ for late afternoon in Future world, dinner & walking around in the world showcase for evening. I wouldn't do MK on a "red" day. AK doesn't have long enough hours IMHO to choose that park unless you just want to have a shorter day and relax at the hotel after it closes. it's not a bad choice if you will be fairly tired from traveling.

 

[Lucius Best]

Depends on how long you will be there, how many days you have at other parks, what parks you like, etc.

We used to hit MK on arrival day, because my wife wanted to see MK as early as possible. Other times we'd do Epcot, to walk around some of the countries and have dinner.

The biggest advantage of FP+ is that you can get to a park late and have 3 FP waiting for you. On our last trip, we went to HS on our arrival day. Before FP+ we would never have done that. But we were able to FP TSMM/ToT/ST, then RnRC twice via single rider line (it was a slow day). With FP+, you can go to whatever park you want on arrival day (depending on park hours).

 

[RustManFan]

We have always gone to Epcot first regardless of the age of my DD and DS. I suggest you do the same. Pick one part of the park and do as much as you can (Future World?) and then on your full day you can focus on the other part (World Showcase?) and return to anything you might have not gotten to in Future World on the partial day. That would be my plan!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Epcot.

Animal Kingdom is a good half day park if you go when it opens. By the time you land, get to your hotel, check in, and get to a park, you'd barely have any time left to do anything.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We only start at MK.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'd do MK.

 

[Disfan1968]

How funny. I always FINISH at MK for precisely the reasons people state to start there.

 

[minnie mum]

I never go to MK on a non recommended day if I can avoid it. Since AK closes so early and you are unlikely to arrive at a park before 2:30, I'd go to Epcot. Use your 3 FPs in FW and then head into WS at dinner time.

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

If I had to choose one for a half day I would choose Epcot. My kids love to ride rides and I don't feel like there is a lot of "rides" at Epcot.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

How funny. I always FINISH at MK for precisely the reasons people state to start there.

We both start AND finish at MK!

 

[SaintsManiac]

My family of 3 (traveling with a 5 year old) will be arriving at MCO at 8:45am on Monday 12/7. We are doing HS first to kick off the vacation.

I definitely agree with finishing at MK. Even though it will be a busy Saturday I know we want to finish out the trip there

 

[brb1006]

Magic Kingdom, since alot of families are looking forward to having their children meet their favorite characters. Since it's easier to find Disney characters compared to the other parks in the resort.

 

[vanyel]

I would say Epcot. It makes a lot of sense given your arrival time and the other parameters.

 

[Doug M]

We dont always start our trip at MK, particularly if was a morning EMH which we wouldn't have arrived at in time to take advantage of, but we nearly always end our trip there if we can.

For your situation, I would choose either EPCOT or HS, you would only get much higher crowds at MK and you can't RD to avoid it.

As for the title of the thread, AK is the closest to a half day park, and the early closures prove that, but if you don't do all the shows, HS is a 5 hour park.

 

[GWhitten98]

We go to Epcot on our first evening...that gives us time to settle in at the resort and then FP a ride or two and get a nice dinner. We make MK our first FULL day!