best parks for late sleepers

[ursula500]

Hi! We will be going to WDW for the first time in April (Yes, Easter, yes crowded), and all the books say that we have to get to every park at opening or earlier. While we will try, I don't think that we have it in us to do this every day. Is there a park or two that we could begin at on the morning or two that we just have to sleep late? Our kids are 5 and 7, and are scared of the big thrill rides, so those aren't in our plans.

Thanks

 

[pammy1027]

You could definitely hit Animal Kingdom a little later and maybe just spend about 1/2 a day there if your time is limited. We are adults and only spent a little under 4 hours. We rode all the rides and some of them twice, saw all the animals, had lunch, and took in a show.

To each his own, but the folks we talked to before we planned our days suggested that might be the way to go as well. It worked out great for us.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The World Showcase at Epcot opens at 11 AM.

Disney Quest opens at 11:30 AM.

Pleasure Island opens at 7PM.

Forget the MK if you want to sleep in and you are going at Easter time. It'll be too crowded arriving late.

 

[lentesta]

Hi Ursula500,

Epcot is a great choice for late arrivals, as Deb and Bill note. Avoid late arrivals on Wednesday if possible - EMH will only compound the problem.

Animal Kingdom is probably a close second, as long as you're not visiting it late on a Monday or Friday.

Hope this helps!

Len

 

[DisneyLisa]

We sometimes head to MGM later in the morning. If your kids don't plan to do TofT & RnR, it should probably be fine. One year my DD decided not to bother with those two rides on our main MGM day and we arrived at about 11 and still managed to do a lot. Have fun.

 

[Xtine76]

I like to go to the Water Parks on our sleeping in days! Worked well for our October vacations, after we were out at MNSSHP until 1 am we went to Typhoon Lagoon the next day and it worked out well-they weren't open until 10am anyway. Epcot WS would be good also-usually don't open until 11am.

 

[kalamazoo]

I think MK is really the only park where there is a huge benefit to arriving as early as possible.

However the park that comes to mind, given your ride preferences and age of your kids, is MGM. None of the shows start until at least 10 am and if you are not too interested in the thrill rides then there is almost nothing to do with little kids first thing in the morning.

 

[cindyfan]

With your kids at that age.....
You will have to get them up early enough to get to MK at opening....
Just don't make it an early entry day. If you avoid the early entry days, you won't be wearing them out.
Going at Easter, you will have crowds at MK all day long. You can even try to hit MK right after the parade when a lot of people filter out for their afternoon rest.

The other parks can be done later in the day with out too much trouble. But you will definitely need to use fast pass even for some of the shows at MGM.

Animal Kingdom can be done after lunch.....you still may need to use fast pass for the safari.

If your kids can handle late evenings....the parks should be open late that week....plan some things with that in mind.

Just remember.....sometimes it works much better with the plan to "avoid the early entry" days.

 

[DisneyMim]

We are late to bed late to rise, but we go often and don't feel the need to do everything. As this is your first time I would suggest, as others have said, to get to the MK early a couple of days. You have picked a very busy time for your first time (we've been during Easter) and you will get a different experience that you would at another, less crowded, time of the year. That being said, if you can do Easter you can do anything, trust me! I would avoid early opening days, that is don't go MK on the day it's early opening unless you are getting there early. Sometimes the day after is a good bet. Also late at night is good, as is during normal people's meal times. We eat at very different meal times than others and this has always worked for us. The weather is usually perfect at that time of year. Sometimes I am just happy to walk around in the good weather (but then I come from NE!). Avoid MK on Easter and avoid the water parks on week-ends (tons of locals) also DD can get crowded on week-ends with Friday being "date night" with the local teens, etc. You will have a good time especially if you go with a good attitude. Remember you can always do what you missed "next time"! OH and another thing, don't rule out some of the "thrill rides". You will be surprised what your kids may want to do once they are there!!

Have a Wonderful Vacation!!!

 

[ursula500]

Thanks so much, everyone. I've resisted Disney so far, because I'm a teacher and can only go at the busy times. But I am psyched!

 

[DisneyMim]

ursula, my hubby is a teacher so we too can only go during busy times. Disney is wonderful anytime of the year. I'm betting you will get "hooked" and soon you will discover different strategies that will work for you.

Have a Wonderful Vacation!!!