DLR Vets Who Have Been to WDW

[LisaT91403]

I have 2 questions for DLR vets who have also been to WDW.

We are planning a Disney Cruise, and might be able to arrive early so that we would have 1 day to spend at WDW. However, that specific day would be January 2nd -- right in the midst of the holiday crowds :-(

If you were us:

1. Would you fly in early just to spend 1 day, January 2nd, at WDW? The extra expense would be hotel and WDW tickets.

2. If you had only one day, which park at WDW would you pick to visit, and why? I'm thinking that MK is kind of a waste of a day since so many attractions overlap with what we have here at DLR (and we are AP holders here at DLR).

What would you do?

 

[Maddysdaddy]

As a DL/WDW/DCL vet, I would ALWAYS recommend that people going on a cruise fly in at least one day early, especially when flying in winter. While I acknowledge that you are from LA and not a blizzard prone northern city, there are far too many stories on the cruise board about people who have missed their cruise due to unexpected flight delays and cancellations.

To answer your 2nd question, if you only have 1 day, I would still recommend that you pick the MK as your park - it is different enough from DL that (in my opinion) you won't be disappointed. While Pirates at DL is far, far better, Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion are better in Florida. With the addition of New Fantasyland and the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, you can easily spend a full day at MK.

If you are convinced that you want to try the other parks, you can easily squeeze Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom into 1 day. Hit AK at rope drop and hit the hilites, stay until 12/1 and schedule your FP+ for Hollywood Studios in the afternoon, which will allow you to hit the big rides there as well.

Epcot, even though it only has the 2 major rides (Test Track and Soarin') is pretty much a full day.

 

[ginodeyoung]

If I only had one day it would be EPCOT because as an experience it is different from everything you are used to on the West Coast. And I'd jump at the chance for the extra day!

 

[sheetz]

If I had to choose, either Epcot or Animal Kingdom. But personally for one day I'd spend a day at Universal and stay onsite to get unlimited express pass.

 

[GatorChris]

First, arriving on the 2nd will have some huge crowds. WDW is big, but the crowds are bigger. If you can swing a day after, that would be better. I'd never go to WDW on the New Year's Holiday.

Go check out Epcot if you do go. That place is amazing. Not for the rides, although they have some good ones. It's the World Showcase that makes it great. Reserve a good place to eat there (not at San Angel in Mexico!), and then take advantage of all the live shows. The UK comedy troupe is hilarious, and the Liberty Voice at America are amazing.

 

[Lights_Out]

That's a tough one... I loved Epcot, but it might be boring for some (especially if you have kids). But I love culture, diversity, food so it was wonderful for me. Illuminations is a great show too. AK is great if you love animals, Expedition Everest was really fun.

As for Magic Kingdom, I loved seeing all the differences, but we barely spent half a day there. The castle is really beautiful, like double the size of Cali's... when I returned to Disneyland the castle looked tiny in comparison. If you pick MK be sure to check out Haunted Mansion and Philharmagic. You can skip Pirates (Cali version is way better).

If you're a Harry Potter fan or even just enjoyed the movies and love theme parks... you should DEFINITELY check out Wizarding World instead. It was an amazing experience and I'm not even that big of a Harry Potter fan.

 

[LisaT91403]

I forgot to mention...the trip is for DS(6). He's not into Harry Potter, so no interest in Universal. And I'm not sure he'd like Epcot as much as ride-centric parks. We cannot stay after our cruise, as school starts and he will have been off for 3 weeks already.

As to the weather issue, we'd be flying in the day before the cruise no matter what. It's just a question as to whether or not we fly in 2 days early to spend one day at WDW. We could also fly on NYE and go to parks on 1/1 and 1/2, but I just think 1/1 would be TOO crazy (and hotel on NYE is crazy as well).

 

[figment_jii]

Only one day? That's a tough question.

Are you staying onsite? I ask because January 2nd (Friday) is currently slated to be Epcot's EMH night (so the park will be open until 11:00 pm). If you do not have EMH access, then Epcot closes at 9:00 pm. Magic Kingdom is open until 11:00 pm as well. Personally, I don't think you can finish either park in one day, so it's more a matter of which one has more things you'd like to do. I like both parks and think there would be good reason to go to either.

HydroGuy has a guide for the DLR Vet going to WDW, so you might give that a read to see if anything jumps out at you.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=16541636

 

[Lights_Out]

I forgot to mention...the trip is for DS(6). He's not into Harry Potter, so no interest in Universal. And I'm not sure he'd like Epcot as much as ride-centric parks. We cannot stay after our cruise, as school starts and he will have been off for 3 weeks already.

As to the weather issue, we'd be flying in the day before the cruise no matter what. It's just a question as to whether or not we fly in 2 days early to spend one day at WDW. We could also fly on NYE and go to parks on 1/1 and 1/2, but I just think 1/1 would be TOO crazy (and hotel on NYE is crazy as well).

Then the choice is fairly simple! I'd say no to Hollywood Studios and you say that EPCOT would be boring. Does your kid love animals? If not, MK is your only choice, haha.

1 day is just really tough since there are so few rides in just one park at WDW... they're all spaced out. In California we need to cram in as much as we can into one small space, but WDW is really a vacation resort... You need to spend a long time to experience it well.

Jan 2 is gonna be very crowded though... So maybe it's just enough to see the different stuff at MK?

Personally, if I had a kid and had to make this choice... I'd pick EPCOT because 1) It's a completely new park for DL vets and 2) It's a great cultural experience... (plus there's Nemo and Test Track), but you have to choose what would be best for your kid... Since you know what he likes

 

[ClaraOswald]

I have 2 questions for DLR vets who have also been to WDW.

We are planning a Disney Cruise, and might be able to arrive early so that we would have 1 day to spend at WDW. However, that specific day would be January 2nd -- right in the midst of the holiday crowds :-(

If you were us:

1. Would you fly in early just to spend 1 day, January 2nd, at WDW? The extra expense would be hotel and WDW tickets.

2. If you had only one day, which park at WDW would you pick to visit, and why? I'm thinking that MK is kind of a waste of a day since so many attractions overlap with what we have here at DLR (and we are AP holders here at DLR).

What would you do?

1. If it were just me and my husband and the cost wasn't too great, probably. But if it was us and our toddler....no.

2. I would choose Epcot because it's my favorite park at WDW. I know some kids find it boring, but even as a kid, I loved it...and that was when there were really only 2 rides. Now there's a decent amount. Maybe go look at the attractions lists and see what you think your son might enjoy at each park to decide which is best for your family. For us, no question...it would be Epcot.

 

[mikana876]

If it were me, I'd buy a hopper ticket and pick Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom and then hit the stuff I wanted to do most from both of these parks.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I have 2 questions for DLR vets who have also been to WDW.

We are planning a Disney Cruise, and might be able to arrive early so that we would have 1 day to spend at WDW. However, that specific day would be January 2nd -- right in the midst of the holiday crowds :-(

If you were us:

1. Would you fly in early just to spend 1 day, January 2nd, at WDW? The extra expense would be hotel and WDW tickets.

2. If you had only one day, which park at WDW would you pick to visit, and why? I'm thinking that MK is kind of a waste of a day since so many attractions overlap with what we have here at DLR (and we are AP holders here at DLR).

What would you do?

Maybe and Magic Kingdom. Your question telegraphs that you expect MK to be anything like Disneyland. It's not, it feels very different. DHS doesn't have a lot in it, and a lot of what's there is duplicated at DLR. Epcot we hated. Animal Kingdom's also kind of sparse.

They maybe is because WDW is so different and for some DLR vets not in a positive way vs. the Anaheim parks, you may end up starting your cruise with a disappointing--or at least culture shocking--WDW day. I might save WDW for when you have more time to wrap your minds and hearts around its uniqueness and differences.

 

[ClaraOswald]

You may be the first person I've "encountered" that hates Epcot.

I do think if you compare Disneyland park to the Magic Kingdom in Florida, the Magic Kingdom is a bit lacking.

 

[daannzzz]

If I only had one day it would be EPCOT because as an experience it is different from everything you are used to on the West Coast. And I'd jump at the chance for the extra day!

I agree with this. The MK is great fun and it is interesting to see how the rides and layout differ but are similar. Plus they have a few different attraction. EPCOT is so different form everything at Disneyland resort and is great on it's own.
You could actually spend a day at WDW and not go into the parks. Visit Downtown Disney and see some of the resorts.

 

[mirage0306]

Well, the two parks at WDW that are the most different from DLR are AK and Epcot. And of the two, Epcot is most unlike anything at DLR. I know you said your son would prefer a ride centric park, but you might be surprised how much he might like Epcot--there are quite a few rides there. My kids really enjoy it. Soarin', Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, the games after Spaceship Earth, Innoventions East and West (especially Sum of all Thrills), Nemo, the aquarium, Maelstrom in Norway, the Gran Fiesta ride in Mexico, Illuminations, the snacks and drinks in Japan, the shops in Japan (they're AMAZING), Universe of Energy, tasty food and drinks from all the countries, the street performers in the World Showcase...seriously, there is so much to do.

Epcot is the *one* thing I miss when we go to DLR. If DLR had an Epcot, I'd probably never go back to WDW. Ha!

 

[Lights_Out]

Well, the two parks at WDW that are the most different from DLR are AK and Epcot. And of the two, Epcot is most unlike anything at DLR. I know you said your son would prefer a ride centric park, but you might be surprised how much he might like Epcot--there are quite a few rides there. My kids really enjoy it. Soarin', Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, the games after Spaceship Earth, Innoventions East and West (especially Sum of all Thrills), Nemo, the aquarium, Maelstrom in Norway, the Gran Fiesta ride in Mexico, Illuminations, the snacks and drinks in Japan, the shops in Japan (they're AMAZING), Universe of Energy, tasty food and drinks from all the countries, the street performers in the World Showcase...seriously, there is so much to do.

Epcot is the *one* thing I miss when we go to DLR. If DLR had an Epcot, I'd probably never go back to WDW. Ha!

Adding to this list, we love going to Club Cool and trying all the cola drinks (for free!) from around the world

 

[KCmike]

Easily it has to be MK. Splash Mountain is my favorite ride of all time and WDW's version is awesome. HM is also a winner. Plus you have the people mover (tomorrowland transit authority) and carousel of progress! Wouldn't you want to ride the Seven Dwarves Mine Coaster? Plus if you wanted to you could step out of the park and grab a bite to eat at one of the monorail resort hotels. To me Epcot use to be great but it needs new offerings or at least fix all the things they let go to waste (journey into imagination). AK is a half day park to me. Hollywood Studios is a half day park as well.

Have Fun!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Well, the two parks at WDW that are the most different from DLR are AK and Epcot. And of the two, Epcot is most unlike anything at DLR. I know you said your son would prefer a ride centric park, but you might be surprised how much he might like Epcot--there are quite a few rides there. My kids really enjoy it. Soarin', Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, the games after Spaceship Earth, Innoventions East and West (especially Sum of all Thrills), Nemo, the aquarium, Maelstrom in Norway, the Gran Fiesta ride in Mexico, Illuminations, the snacks and drinks in Japan, the shops in Japan (they're AMAZING), Universe of Energy, tasty food and drinks from all the countries, the street performers in the World Showcase...seriously, there is so much to do.

Epcot is the *one* thing I miss when we go to DLR. If DLR had an Epcot, I'd probably never go back to WDW. Ha!

That's kind of how I feel. I mean, there are things I love in the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom too. But really Epcot is just a fantastic park.

Hollywood Studios is the worst for me. And Magic Kingdom is my 2nd LEAST favorite.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

You may be the first person I've "encountered" that hates Epcot.

I do think if you compare Disneyland park to the Magic Kingdom in Florida, the Magic Kingdom is a bit lacking.

I've encountered quite a few. In fact, "What to do about Epcot" is a controversial but ever-present topic in the WDW forums. It's definitely not what it used to be in Future World (refurbs that removed science content on Test Track and The Seas, science outdated by 20 years on Ellen's Energy Adv., etc.), and World Showcase boils down to a fancy strip mall (you can drink beer and do boutique shopping anywhere.) It was an extraordinary disappointment--I expected so much more from the way people talk about the place.

 

[sheetz]

"Hate" is a strong word but I can understand people being underwhelmed by Epcot. It was originally conceived as a sort of permanent World's Fair, but it's really a joke compared to recent ones like the one in Shanghai. As Mike says Future World is very outdated and World Showcase is mostly a shopping mall. (BTW, if you've been to the Asian malls in Southern California then Mitsukoshi's is nothing special.) What's keeping Epcot going nowadays is booze and the Food and Wine Festival.

That said, it's still different enough from DLR that I recommend seeing it at least once.