Disneyland Vet - which two WDW parks to visit?

[clambert1273]

Thank you so much everyone, this is incredibly helpful. I'm on a strict budget since this vacation is already costing us a lot of money. The way I got my DH to finally agree to the Parks is that I discovered the availability of convention tickets since he will be at a convention for the first portion of the trip. Plus WDW is so vast and amazing that I have to go into it with the firm mindset that we really will see just a teensy tiny taste of it. Enough to make us decide we MUST return soon! But I know our family and I know how easy it is to slip into commando mode and I want to avoid that if possible. I don't want to run around at all. I just want to stroll and savor and maybe taking in a couple of rides if possible. We have always been more about the magical atmosphere and the happy feeling of being there more than we are about the rides.

There is basically no way I can get that close and not go to MK. I'm a Disney parks nut so I have to see that castle and also just see what it is like. Plus I will need my Disney Parks fix. I LOVE the CoP recommendation. Of COURSE we have to see it - thank you! And also I think the Country Bears are there and there is probably not much of a line for them. And of course the MSEP. And the CASTLE -

And then Epcot on a Friday it is. We'll do lunch and wine tasting instead of dinner - why not - we are on vacay! I appreciate the suggestion that we wander over to FW when the crowds build. My kids will love it I'm sure.

We are very chill and easy to please Disney people!

The best I can recommend to see that castle is to get a breakfast before park opens Then it is awesome to just stand in Main street and take it all in - and pics too!!

 

[sharonabe]

With a 10 and 14 yr old, you'll definitely want to spend some time at Innoventions in FW at EP. It's nothing like Innoventions at DL!! If they are at all thrill seekers, make sure they get to Sum of All Thrills. You get to design and then ride your own roller coaster (simulation, of course). The simulator only seats two, so they could both design their own and ride each others, or mom/dad could join each of them.

 

[bethy]

I think you are making the right choice. The only place my family really misses when we go to DLR is EPCOT. Plus, if you want to stroll and savor and just do a couple of rides, EPCOT is the best place to do that. There is a lot to see through World Showcase. We love Food & Wine, and the PP is absolutely right that you should do it early. It will be very crowded on a Friday night, but will not be that bad at the time WS opens and through the early to mid afternoon. I would suggest getting there at rope drop and spending time in Future World until 11:00 when World Showcase opens. Then you can lunch, snack and drink around the food booths as you explore World Showcase. When it gets closer to evening, you can move back to Future World, or book a Table Service dinner at World Showcase and get out of the crowds. Some of the attractions in Future World close at 7:00, but a lot of them do stay open until closing.

In World Showcase, don't miss the boat ride inside the Mexico Pavillion (3 caballeros/Donald Duck themed). When my daughter was small she would have ridden it all day. There are a multitude of characters throughout World Showcase. KennythePirate.com will have their schedules, so you can plan if that is important. There are some fun entertainment acts throughout WS to watch. If you decide to do a sit down dinner, Biergarten is a really fun place with small kids. They have a German band that puts on a show and a dance floor where the kids can get out and dance during the show. My daughter has ranked it right up there with Princess meals since she was a toddler. There are also kidcot stations. Your kids can get an agent Perry or Duffy bear on a stick to color for free and then as they go to the kidcot station in each country, they can get a stamp from that country. You can also buy a passport for $10 if you don't mind spending the money and the kids can get the passport stamped in each country at the kidcot stations. If your kids are old enough to know Phineas and Ferb, the agent Perry missions in the different countries are a lot of fun. They might need some help if they are really young, but I think DH enjoys it as much as DD. Also if you want an idea of what food and wine has you can see last years booth menus and prices here http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2014-...val-marketplace-booths-menus-and-food-photos/

In Future World, Living with the Land is something you will not find at DL. Every small child I know has really liked that one- something about those greenhouses just seems to be appealing. Journey into Imagination is cute. Spaceship Earth (inside the big icon sphere) is fun- a tip is that a lot of people tend to go there first since it is the first ride you pass when you walk into the park, so the line will likely get shorter if you wait a bit. If you do not mind everyone getting sugared up- Club Cool allows you to taste sodas from different countries for free. DD loves that place. Nemo is clamshells like DL's Ariel ride instead of subs- but it is cute. Also there is an aquarium area once you get off the ride that the kids might like. Misson Space- the green side not the intense side- has a Star Tours feel. If the kids are too young, there is an indoor play area where the ride exists where they can play while the parents take turns riding. We do enjoy Test Track but after riding RSR at CA- TT really does seem like the bargain basement much lesser version. Still fun, but nothing near the theming in Carsland. There really is a lot to do in EPCOT for all ages. It has been DD's favorite park other than MK since she was 2.

At MK-don't miss Philharmagic. That is something you won't find at DL. We miss that one when we are at DLR!

Oh my goodness this is wonderful! Thank you so much! Those menus look divine, too! I will be referring back to this thread very often in the coming months. I am so excited!

 

[bethy]

So much for my partial day cheap convention tickets, everyone! Not gonna cut it, LOL!

 

[IWRBIE]

Another vote for skipping Animal Kingdom and going to Epcot instead...World Showcase alone is worth your trip.

 

[wareagle57]

Completely agree here. I'm a WDW'er who has also visited Disneyland twice. animal kingdom and Epcot definitely are unlike anything Disneyland offers. California Adventure feels similar enough to Hollywood Studios, and the magic kingdom will feel like bizarro Disneyland park. The same, but different.

That said, I also agree that you could spend a morning in Animal Kingdom then hop to Magic Kingdom in the afternoon/evening.

That's a good point. While I'm not one of those that considers AK a half-day park, it certainly can be if you need it to be. If MK is open til midnight, you could still get a good 7 hours in each park, maybe more if AK happens to open at 8 that day.

 

[kaetra]

Another vote for MK & Epcot. I LOVE Animal Kingdom's atmosphere, but I would choose Epcot over AK as well in your situation.

 

[tasha99]

We go to DLR a lot, too. I would go to Epcot for sure as it almost symbolizes Florida WDW to me. A lot of people are recommending MK, but it is very similar to Disneyland with fewer rides. Unless you want a DL fix (understandable!), I would go to AK instead as it is quite different from DL/CA. (We LOVE HS, but our favorite rides there are available at CA).

 

[HydroGuy]

While it's unfathomable to me to go and not visit the MK, I would say Animal Kingdom and Epcot since everything at those 2 parks are completely unique to WDW and will be like nothing you've experienced before. Well, other than Soarin'.

Completely agree here. I'm a WDW'er who has also visited Disneyland twice. animal kingdom and Epcot definitely are unlike anything Disneyland offers. California Adventure feels similar enough to Hollywood Studios, and the magic kingdom will feel like bizarro Disneyland park. The same, but different.

That said, I also agree that you could spend a morning in Animal Kingdom then hop to Magic Kingdom in the afternoon/evening.

I would have to agree. LOL, my to favorite parks at WDW are MK and DHS. But they have so many similarities to DL and DCA. Epcot felt strange to me for my first couple visits. But it grew on me. AK was hit from day 1.

If you stick with Epcot and AK, then Illuminations is the show to see at Epcot for sure. Festival of the Lion King at AK is a favorite as well.

Good luck!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

DLR vet here and I would also concentrate on MK and Epcot. I liked MK a lot for its "alternate universe Disneyland" vibe, and MK and Epcot have the lion's share of rides and attractions. (DHS is small with some significant recent closures, and AK is a bit sparse in terms of attractions.)

 

[SplashMo]

MK and Epcot. However I think Park Hoppers would be best.

One Day Rope Drop MK with FP+ set to 2 hours after arrival. Watch MSEP if you have not seen it.. OR hop to DS for dinner and to walk around... Possibly see F!
One Day Rope Drop AK and hop to Epcot in the early afternoon with a FP+ for Test Track, Walk the World Showcase, Eat and watch illuminations.

 

[Crystal824]

We go to WDW about once a year, but I have been to DLR twice. If I were in your shoes, I would do AK and Epcot. Those are two totally different parks than what you get at DLR. However, since you want to see the castle, is there anyway you can parkhop. I would spend the morning at AK and then hop over to MK to see the castle. Since you already have a park hopper, the next day I would split that between DHS and Epcot....only doing those things that you don't have a DLR. I would also go in with a plan of what attractions you are going to do. That way, you get a taste of everything.

I did see you indicated you are doing partial days so maybe that won't work. If I had to choose just one park other than MK, I would say Epcot. I love AK and DHS, but to me MK and Epcot are Disney if you know what I mean. No matter what you choose, you will have a great time.

My other piece of advice is take the bus to MK. You can drive anywhere else, but it take a long time to get from the parking lot of MK to the park. If you take the bus, it will drop you off at the front gate.