Can you have too much time in MK?

[AngiTN]

Great advice! Thank you. Do I have to get a scooter in advance or is it something I can get of I end up needing it?

Depends on if you think you'd like it outside the parks or only in the park.
They do rent ECVs in the parks. They aren't particularly comfortable and are larger styles, and could run out but they do offer them.
You can arrange for one for the entire trip from an off site rental company. They'll deliver it to your resort and pick it up when you are done. You'll have it for getting to and from the parks (which at the end of a long day can be good).
I think they cost less than renting one in the parks each day and you can have it and only use it as needed, just leave it at the resort if you feel strong that day. Or go out without in the morning and get it after your break for the evenings.
I rented my Mom's from off site and if I ever needed one again that's what I'd do.

 

[shalom]

We don't have the park hopper yet but I'm seriously considering getting it. I'd like to plan out the first half of our days and then have the option to wing it the second half and that would allow me to do that.

One advantage to park hoppers is you can easily play it by ear and add them on after you get there. One disadvantage to park hoppers is that there's a lot of travel time involved. But if your family experiences that travel time as recharging time, not a disadvantage at all!

Great advice! Thank you. Do I have to get a scooter in advance or is it something I can get of I end up needing it?

That's a big ol' can of worms -- price range, availability, who you rent it from, what kind you get, etc. If I remember rightly from the last time I looked into it, you could get them from Disney day of, but they were pricier than some other options and Disney often ran out of them. As someone else mentioned, check out the DISAbility board on that. They'll be able to give you a much better idea of prices and options and how quickly you can get one (and from where) on short notice.

 

[momimouse27]

If it were me, I would plan two days in MK, two days in Epcot, 1 each in HS and AK and then build in one day in the middle and spend it in either Blizzard Beach or Disney Springs. For us, the parks get tiring and we need a break somehow in between.

 

[kangamangus]

Are you excited about that week in particular? We picked it because I thought it would be a low crowd period but it's looking like its not as low as I originally anticipated. However, I'm not overly concerned about that. I'm more concerned with having enough down time, which is why I'm planning the crap out of it. lol

I like your schedule. I may steal pieces of it.

I'm really not that worried about the crowd levels, We will have a basic plan of being there at rope drop, midday break, return at night. We have little ones who are much happier with a more relaxed pace. Some of our best memories are made poolside during downtime! It's hard to predict what crowds will be like since this past year seems to have reported high crowds when there are usually low crowds and low crowds when there are usually high crowds.

 

[Tucker24]

In case you've never done it before rope drop can get a little crazy. We tried Toy Story Mania and people were sprinting there and then practically throwing their stroller in the parking area to get into line. Since you are staying so many days and have mobility issues just enjoy the parks and use your fast pass to your advantage but don't stress about rope drop. Personally we enjoy HS with the kids but they aren't into AK. You may be pleasantly surprised with HS

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I don't spend much more than a morning or evening at MK but my situation may be different from yours.

Depends on how much you want to do there, and what your odds are on being able to fit it all in.

Epcot is the park I could spend a whole day in.

 

[Aflyingbuttress]

Some of our best memories are made poolside during downtime!

Yup! Exactly this. It's aprt of why I'm stressing. I would be deeply disappointed if I didnt carve out enough relaxing pool time. My daughter will have as much fun there as in the parks, possibly more.

We tried Toy Story Mania and people were sprinting there and then practically throwing their stroller in the parking area to get into line.

Wow! That's just ridiculous. Yeah, I don't want to stress about that. I think we will rope drop MK on day one to see the Welcome Show and maybe another day to get to Jungle cruise early in the morning. We probably will go to HS on the last day and make it a leisurely morning and FP the three things I want to do then play it by ear for the rest of the day.

Epcot is the park I could spend a whole day in.

Oh yeah! If it were just me and my husband we probably wouldn't leave Epcot! We'll be going for at least 2 days and if we get park hopper we will probably eat there several times at least.

 

[lustergirl]

I love MK the most out of all parks. I like to break the park up into sections over several days like I do the WS in EPCOT.

Just wanted to add that when I take my grandson for the first time next year we will be spending the majority of our time in MK.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Too much time in the MK... anything over an hour LOL!

 

[starsweeper]

I have young kids (10,9,5,4) so we budget at least 2 full days and often 2-3 partial days at MK over a 6-day trip. We like to start and end our trip with a full day at MK. We visit AK, HS and Epcot on the days between and often hop to MK for a few evening hours. My 5-year-old son was most frustrated with AK last year. He finally became excited about rides and was upset there was so little for him to do other than shows and the safari (he was only 39" tall).

 

[loves to dive]

For us, MK is a half day park, sinful I know. My son is an adult now but even when he was little (we started going when we was a few months shy of 3) we never spent more than 1 day at MK. We have always had PHs though so that might make a difference. Like AngiTN we don't need to begin or end our trips there and couldn't imagine skipping any of the parks.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I think I am leaning towards MK - EP - AK - MK - EP - MK - HS in the morning and MK at night. That way I don't have to sacrifice an Epcot day (which is my favorite park) to a weekend during F&W and can scratch HS if at the end we don't feel like it for some reason, plus give my daughter a final, anything goes day at MK if she so chooses.

Epcot is awesome! Its also my fave park. Esp during F&W. So fun.

A "free day" sounds like a good idea. You'll have a great time im sure.

 

[Chant124]

I will always alternate 2 Days MK/2Days Epcot/1 Day DHS/1 Day AK/1 Hotel Swimming pool day/1 DS Day....I put the hotel days, swim days, and 1/2 park days (DHS/AK) in between the more strenuous days (MK, Epcot). Learned the hard way last year when my son and I over did it but not having some kind of break days between the all day parks.

 

[Aflyingbuttress]

I will always alternate 2 Days MK/2Days Epcot/1 Day DHS/1 Day AK/1 Hotel Swimming pool day/1 DS Day....I put the hotel days, swim days, and 1/2 park days (DHS/AK) in between the more strenuous days (MK, Epcot). Learned the hard way last year when my son and I over did it but not having some kind of break days between the all day parks.

Yeah, I would like to put HS in the beginning or middle of my trip but doing that means back to back days at MK, EP on a Saturday during Food & Wine, or AK on our last day which I think will take up more time than I want to devote on that day. Plus, I'e never been there and really excited about AK so I don't want to risk being too exhausted by the end to do it.

My middle MK day is only scheduled through 1pm and is surrounded by two EP days that I plan to use very leisurely.

 

[bumbershoot]

Would any of you get bored going to Magic Kingdom 4 days out of 7 on a disney trip?

Yep.

Although we started going to WDW when DS was 6, we hit Disneyland when he was little. Once we discovered California Adventure it became more fun that just Disneyland. So when we planned WDW we knew we needed way more than MK. I think we skated two days at each park with hopeful downtime plus Universal. The only reason it wasn't great was because we were touring in a group of 8 and we were quite inefficient lol.

There are a few things I would like to see at HS that I think our daughter will love. Part of the issue is that I have some mobility issues and my daughter has never done anything like this so I am concerned that if I plan full days in the park one or neither of us will make it. If I had to sacrifice something it would be HS, so I feel like if I make FP reservations there I will lose that flexibility. Which is silly I suppose.

You want to hit HS but worry that long days wont work so you might not do it? That doesn't make sense to me. Figure out a way to do what you want there.

Toy Story Mania looks fun but we are a party of 3 so that means we can't sit together on that.

A 4 year old might need help playing, so it's best to have an adult helping her. That means she sits in or right next to the adult. 3 people can happen but only two get to play. Once she's older, split up. We are a family of three and it's just fine splitting.

I'm overthinking that too. I don't want to be the fat person running around in a scooter.

That way of thinking caused my husband to hurt himself sooo badly. He refused to get the scooter, and an ankle injury (from doing a couch to 5k program too aggressively) became a knee injury then a hip and back problem because he used a cane instead of using the appropriate tool for his body and situation.

We don't have the park hopper yet but I'm seriously considering getting it. I'd like to plan out the first half of our days and then have the option to wing it the second half and that would allow me to do that.

You could budget for the upgrade and just do it when and if you choose to wing it to a different park.

 

[bushdianee]

As far as park days why not plan a visit to each of them then have a day to pick a favorite to return to or let your daughter decide which park she wants another day at. For the scooter they are about $50-75 per day in the parks. When I went last year I rented one from off site for less than $200 for 8 days. I am that fat person on a scooter also and haven't experienced anything negative. We were able to do a lot more than I would have been able to walking. I had my 9 year old niece with me and she just held onto the back of the seat and walked next to me. I tried to go as slow as possible so she wouldn't have to run to keep up. With all of the people you can't go very fast anyway. Most of the bus drivers were great about helping to load and unload it.

 

[crazylady]

"I think I am leaning towards MK - EP - AK - MK - EP - MK - HS in the morning and MK at night. That way I don't have to sacrifice an Epcot day (which is my favorite park) to a weekend during F&W and can scratch HS if at the end we don't feel like it for some reason, plus give my daughter a final, anything goes day at MK if she so chooses.[/QUOTE]

I guess I'm a cheapo but I would never buy the PH with the intention of using it one day in a 7day period. I would either commit to buying the hopper and restructuring my days to use it throughout the trip or giving it up and planning accordingly.

With the PH and your mobility concerns, I would plan to be at the parks at rope drop until 2ish and then plan to go to a different park after an afternoon break.

Without the PH, I would put HS more in the middle of your trip. That way, if you don't like it, you can leave early and turn the day into more of a mid week rest day.

FWIW, I think 3 days at MK is alot. 2 is enough for us or 4 1/2 days. Maybe 1 1/2 at EPCOT. I also would not skip HS. My kids loved it at 4. Everyone is different, but I think it is worth trying.

If you think you need the scooter, get it! It will make your trip more enjoyable.

And finally, remember that nothing is set in stone. You can always cancel your FP and start over if your daughter goes to EPCOT and loves it or MK and hates it. Last trip I made 5 TS reservations and we scrapped all but one. Relaxing with a bottle of wine and cheese and crackers ended up being my favorite meal of the trip. Don't be afraid to scratch your plans and start over if something will work better for your family.

 

[Tonyz]

I can do MK every day, but I would never do a full day. Open one day, close the next.

 

[Aflyingbuttress]

I guess I'm a cheapo but I would never buy the PH with the intention of using it one day in a 7day period. I would either commit to buying the hopper and restructuring my days to use it throughout the trip or giving it up and planning accordingly.

With the PH and your mobility concerns, I would plan to be at the parks at rope drop until 2ish and then plan to go to a different park after an afternoon break.

Without the PH, I would put HS more in the middle of your trip. That way, if you don't like it, you can leave early and turn the day into more of a mid week rest day.

FWIW, I think 3 days at MK is alot. 2 is enough for us or 4 1/2 days. Maybe 1 1/2 at EPCOT. I also would not skip HS. My kids loved it at 4. Everyone is different, but I think it is worth trying.

If you think you need the scooter, get it! It will make your trip more enjoyable.

And finally, remember that nothing is set in stone. You can always cancel your FP and start over if your daughter goes to EPCOT and loves it or MK and hates it. Last trip I made 5 TS reservations and we scrapped all but one. Relaxing with a bottle of wine and cheese and crackers ended up being my favorite meal of the trip. Don't be afraid to scratch your plans and start over if something will work better for your family.

Great points! I do want to clarify though that if K get park hopper it won't just be for the last day at HS. The park schedule I mentioned is just what I'm hard planning, so-to-speak. I'm carving out half a day of activities that are things I'd be sorry I missed or that I really want my daughter to see. The second half of the day will be open for whatever we want. So if we want to go to Epcot for F&W during the week we can or if my daughter wants to go to a specific park we can do that too.

 

[mernin]

We did 2 plus MVMCP last year. I could have had another half day there easily. I enjoy HS but haven't been during the construction. I wouldn't cut it out of my itinerary as there are some good attractions there.