Disneyland Vet - which two WDW parks to visit?

[bethy]

I am wondering what WDW vets would recommend for us for a short WDW visit. What are the do not miss attractions??

We are West Coasters and have only been to DLR, never to WDW. DLR is our family's favorite place on Earth right now and we've been there probably 15 times in the past 8 years.

We are headed to Florida in October for a convention, then a cruise on DCL and a visit to the beach. After much begging, I have convinced my DH to squeeze in the extra expense and time for a *short* visit to check out WDW. We usually do 5 nights at DLR so we understand the value of a longer visit. But it isn't in the cards for us this time. Basically our goals are:

1. To simply lay eyes on WDW. We love Disney parks and we will be in Florida - we have to at least see the place - we can't not stop by there LOL! A dose of Magic will be wonderful!!

2. To check it out enough to know if we want to go back anytime soon for a REAL visit. It's an expensive 6.5 hour flight with young children. We have the same goal for the DCL cruise and the Florida beaches. i.e. is Florida a go-to vacation spot for us in the future?

We are staying at AKV for 3 nights - we cannot wait and we don't care that it's far from the parks. We don't plan to park hop. We are renting a car but are open to using the bus. We would like to see two different parks on 2 different partial days. We don't care that much about rides - we just want to check things out and get a feel for the place. That said I will plan to grab FP+ at 60 days out (but no MDR's - kids too young and not enough time). MNSSHP will be on 2 of the three nights we are there. My DH would love Food and Wine but the only day he can go is on Friday 10/23 and that's a local school break and a Friday so it would be too crowded to enjoy the WS, right?

I would really like to see Cinderella's castle in person and the MSEP because I miss it so much since it left DLR. That said, I also want to see whatever YOU recommend is a do not miss for a DLR Vet at WDW. I'm leaning away from any attractions that are at both parks because of limited time.

Right now I am thinking one afternoon/evening at MK - preferably non MNSSHP so I can see the real deal and MSEP and Wishes and Kiss Goodnight. And then one day at AK - which seems to be as different to DLR as you can get.

Any input is VERY welcome!!

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Definitely do not miss out on the food and wine festival. Even if it is crowded you will not regret it.

Only two parks? I vote for MK and Epcot. Those are my two favorites. There's not much left to do at HS right now. It would be a waste of a day for such a whirlwind trip imo.
If you could swing it, I think you should park hop from the MK to AK just so you can get a taste of each. Actually I'd do it the other way around, AK in the morning and MK in the evening since AK closes so much earlier.

Guess what else? You can see the Electrical Parade!!!

 

[BugsDaddy]

If I had to choose two parks, I would choose MK and Epcot. To me, those two parks best capture the essence of WDW. AK and HS are ok but to me they have always felt a little less "Disney" than the other parks.

Based on your experience at DL, here is a list of the attractions I would target at each park:

MK: Mickey's Philharmagic, Seven Dwarves Mine Train

Epcot: Test Track, Mission Space, Fantasmic show, Spaceship earth

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

If I had to choose two parks, I would choose MK and Epcot. To me, those two parks best capture the essence of WDW. AK and HS are ok but to me they have always felt a little less "Disney" than the other parks.

Based on your experience at DL, here is a list of the attractions I would target at each park:

MK: Splash Mountain (not sure if they have that at DL or not), Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Thunder Mountain

Epcot: Test Track, Mission Space, Fantasmic show

IllumiNations (in my opinion, the best show) is at EPCOT, Fantasmic is at DHS.

I would also recommend EPCOT one day (we LOVE the world showcase), and morning at AK/evening at MK the other day. I love AK so much, and it's so different than anything at DLR, that it'd be very hard to pass up.

 

[bethy]

Thank you so much for your quick replies! MK and Epcot were my initial picks also but I was just really worried about the crowds at F&W . . . But DLR doesn't have anything near as cool as F&W sounds and so I'm tempted for sure! Plus we are wine drinkers. Good to hear it would be worth it! DLR has Splash Mtn, Big Thunder and Fantasmic also and so I'll probably steer clear of those for such a short, short trip. Although on a longer future trip I want to do them for sure at WDW because I LOVE them and would also enjoy seeing any little differences.

At MK, the only major attraction DLR doesn't have is SDMT. And then I love evening shows and want to see all of MK's which are different than those at DLR. At Epcot pretty much everything would be new to us except Soarin and Turtle Talk with Crush. I really want to see WS and Illuminations. I need to research the rest of Epcot more.

I'd already pretty much ruled HS out - plus DLR does have most of those main attractions anyway. And then AK seems to have a lot of cool different stuff, esp for young kids plus EE, Safari and of course the animals! BUT we will be staying at AKV and so maybe that would be enough of a taste for this trip.

 

[BugsDaddy]

IllumiNations (in my opinion, the best show) is at EPCOT, Fantasmic is at DHS.

I would also recommend EPCOT one day (we LOVE the world showcase), and morning at AK/evening at MK the other day. I love AK so much, and it's so different than anything at DLR, that it'd be very hard to pass up.

Yep, you are right. My head was thinking Illuminations but my fingers typed Fantasmic

 

[Angel Ariel]

MK and Epcot, definitely!

 

[clambert1273]

Speaking from former Anaheim residents it depends on the rides you like honestly lol If the larger, faster rides at California adventures are your thing then Hollywood is where you want to be with Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster. My husband will NOT give up Star Tours for anyone so that is his MUST do.

I do agree in general about MK and Epcot - we enjoyed Epcot but never got to walk around the world Kids kept us running back and forth to the rides lol

 

[100acreHiker]

MK and Epcot, no contest. I like DHS, but it doesn't compare to the others, and our family is just not that into AK, plus, it's under a ton of construction with walls up everywhere. World Showcase (in Epcot) at night is one of the most relaxing and festive places ever. Enjoy!

 

[sharonabe]

MK also has Monsters Inc Laugh Floor which is totally different than your Monsters Inc ride. Winnie the Pooh is a little different. Enchanted Tales w/Belle is another east coast only. OHHHH...Carousel of Progress. You have to see this in MK. It's Walt's baby and used to be at DL, but now is only in FL.

The F&W will get crowded at night, so if you have the whole day there, I'd be headed to WS as soon as it opens at 11:00. This, too, is different from anything at DLR. The front part of EP, Future World opens at normal time, but the WS will have nothing until 11:00. Plan to just wander through the countries from 11:00 til about 5:00 or 6:00. That should allow you to sample many different foods and wines. The kids can do Kidcot stops at each country which is a coloring activity. If they're old enough and know Phineas and Ferb, there is an interactive game with a phone you pick up to explore the countries a little more in depth with fun things that happen as you follow the clues.

Once the crowds start building in WS, just head back to FW. There's a great character spot for the kiddos. Imagination Pavilion is a little run down, but fun. The Seas, The Land both have great places for the kids to just enjoy.

 

[Allison]

You have to go to Epcot.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would also say MK and EPCOT.

While no rides at AKL, you get the AK feel while staying there. Be sure to view the animals while staying there.

 

[mchelle77]

We're doing a short trip as well ... we only have 3 nights at WDW after cruising the week before, so my daughter and I only have two parks days. We got a park hopper pass, and plan on a few hours in AK, then Epcot the rest of the day. Day 2 is MK.

 

[wareagle57]

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'.

 

[Jetku]

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.

 

[conandrob240]

Definitely skip AK- you'll get your animal fix at the AKV. Without a doubt I'd say MK and Epcot. If you are splitting a day- I'd do a few am hours at DHS just to see it,maybe jump on Toy Story at opening and then rest of the day at Epcot.

 

[bethy]

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!

 

[bethy]

Also, for better reference when I say I have young children I basically am referring to my 4yo. She's a redheaded spitfire and if she ain't happy, well rested and well fed, ain't no one happy So I plan a lot around her. She is a fairly seasoned traveler though and loves Disney parks. I also will have a 10yo and 14yo. So that's 4 adult tickets and one child's ticket. So the cost per day is significant - and then it's only for a couple of days! We will be gone for 2 weeks and are taking a cruise, etc and housing a family of five for two weeks and flying 5 people across the country. So that's why it's so costly. When I originally booked the cruise, it was with the assurance that it would be our Disney fix in lieu of the parks, heh heh. So I feel kind of guilty for changing it up and that's why I'm going to be strict about using convention tix and keeping it minimal.

 

[automaticsoap]

Definitely MK and Epcot! Just go to Food and Wine earlier in the day (opens at 11am) -- crowds shouldn't be too bad then.

 

[ktlm]

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!