Does going to Magic Kingdom first make other parks seem boring

[Sharlag]

in comparison (for children)? Mine are 8 & 10 years old.

I read this in a guidebook, and am wondering if anyone else has noticed this phenomenon.

Sharla

 

[mmccoy]

I think it has a lot to do with the approach you take to the parks. Here's my opinion:

Each park is unique in its own way:

MK is the most "Disney" of the four parks, and is heavily oriented toward rides.

AK is very, well, animal-oriented. While the park has rides and shows, the overriding theme is animals. Because the theme is animals, the park also includes a lot of animal viewing opportunities.

Epcot is a "learning" park. You learn about the physical world through exhibits like The Land, and you learn about the social/cultural world through the World Showcase.

MGM is an entertainment park.

Kids, of course, love the rides. If the approach to WDW is to "ride rides", then the other parks might not be as exciting as MK. But, if you take advantage of the strength of each park, and enjoy each for what it is intended to be, all can be great fun.

 

[jann1033]

my kids have always liked all the parks ( from 4 yrs till adults)...they are all different but unless your kids are the type who hate anything remotely educational I doubt they'd have a problem with any of them. a few of the movies at epcot might not be their favorites but my kids have never complained about any thing at wdw! past early early grade school they always liked epcot second to select mk attractions ( never were that entralled with fantasyland once past that age)

 

[Rneighh]

The first time we took our kids they were 4 and 8. We did not go to MK first as the book suggested. We went to Epcot first, then MGM and finally MK. They loved everything about the trip. They were happy and did not know the difference. We did start the trip with a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's so they got their fix before we headed to Epcot.

I would suggest you not start at MK. My kids are older now, 12 and 15. My 15 year olds favorite park is AK and my 12 loves Epcot.

Renee

 

[forgetyourtroubles!]

Hmmm...sometimes yes. Last time we went, we hadn't been in a long time and we did Epcot first. It was great for a "warm up" and the kids really enjoyed it because it was theme park-ish but not too over the top. For us, it worked well as a transition from real world into Disneyworld. However, this time, we are going to see how it goes starting off at MK for part of the day and then hopping over to MGM. Hit the highlights first thing and THEN take a deep breath and go a little slower. Good luck! 8 and 10 yr olds are probably old enough to appreciate the variety found all around WDW.

 

[Prince Eric1]

We always save MK for last just for this reason. I believe in saving the best for last so there that much more to look foreward to.

 

[Partridge4ever]

My kids and I have to go to MK the first day or else we can't truly enjoy the rest of the parks. I've tried going elsewhere first, but MK is always in the back of our minds. After 1/2 day at MK, we're fine w/going to whichever park works best into our schedule. We love all the parks. We also prefer for MK to be the last park we see before leaving home.

 

[PhotobearSam]

We did this even as adults and thought it was best this way...Now I don't think it's a vacation unless we go to Epcot first...

Come to think of it, we always do Epcot first and last...I always cry as we leave the park and I say "Bye Bye big Ball...."

 

[blanq]

Like Partridge4ever's family, our family is a MK first family. We feel like there is nothing that gets us into the magical mood like walking down main street toward the incredible castle! That experience is always surreal for us at first...deep breath...ahhh, we're home. We do not feel, however, that it is a spoiler for the rest of our trip. We love all the parks equally, and each holds many special and unique experiences.

 

[dizagain]

I really thought about this last year when we took DD's, then 7 and 9 on their first WDW trip. I just couldn't get away from going to MK first and watching their eyes pop right out of their heads. So, we did hit MK first thing and their reaction as the train pulled into the station at opening was as magical as I'd imagined. They loved all of the parks and never felt "bored" at all. I definitely plan to go to MK first again next year - it's the perfect start for us!

 

[debkorb1]

When I first arrived in Orlando everything excited me until I burst, but after two weeks of Disney magic, Universal coolness and Sea World (Shamuness?) I kinda got saturated. By the final Saturday evening of my two week holiday I was theme parked out! That said I would still leave MK for last because even if you felt like I did, MK is such an amazing park you'll still have a brilliant time!

An alternative for the final evening is the World Showcase at Epcot - if you feel you've done all the thrills and eye popping attractions, then a good leisurely meal at the Rose and Crown, followed by a shop around the Showcase (enjoying the live entertainment as you go), while finishing on Illuminations might be the answer.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I've read the books too, but just couldn't do it to my neice and nephew. MK in their minds IS Disney World and I felt we just HAD to start there. Their first site of Disney should be walking down Main Street with the castle in front of them. I did it that way, never regretted it, the kids loved ALL the parks, and I wouldn't do it any other way. The look in their eyes was magical!!! We started the first day with MK, did rides there for the morning, took our break and went to EPCOT. We came back to MK two days later for the evening shows so that they got to go back again too.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I did it that way when my kids were little too BTW.

 

[lentesta]

I've heard that Disney's satisfaction surveys for the Animal Kingdom show guests like the AK more if they visit it first. I believe that was true for guests of all ages, not just adults.

The person I spoke to about this said that guests are more open to the interactive exhibits and park exploration if they've not been exposed to the traditional "let's go on the next thrill ride" environment. It'll be interesting to see what effect Everest has on these data.

Len

 

[beattyfamily]

Whether that is true or not does not matter in my family. We MUST go to MK first (unless we arrive on a Saturday) as that IS Disney and there is nothing like walking down Main Street as a start to our vacation.

MK first for our family, absolutely!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I agree with it's all how you approach it. My 5 & 6 yr olds have been there twice and both times we started with MK. They honestly liked each park we went to...AK--loved the safari and river rapids, MGM--loved the stage shows, EPCOT--loved test track and the different countries. Maybe we just prepared them but they did a very good job and loving all the parks for their uniqueness(?). MK just has to be our first park of the trip or else it just doesn't seem like WDW to us!!

 

[Sharlag]

Thanks for all of your input!

Seems like the responses are mixed. I'm not sure what I'll do. But it sounds like we need to "talk up" some of the (non MK) parks to generate excitement outside MK.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I wonder if anything has to do with "us people that plan" versus the "general public" in the surveys.

In MK it's all "right there" and easy to get around and not so much "wandering" etc. if you don't know really what you're doing.

(I know I keep mentioning my "brother and family", but it was their first time and so interesting seeing their reaction to all the different parks and rides.)

BUT, I can't really say which park they would say they liked the best. We ended our vacation with AK, and I know EVERYONE just loved our day there. BUT, when you think of someone going with someone who, "knows where to go", "knows which rides to see and which not to do the first time", "knows to relax and take breaks", etc. I think it takes allot of the "wandering", "so so stuff", "whining and frustration" out of the other parks and they become lots of fun too, because you're hitting the best rides and highlights. I can see where people that don't plan or read etc. can find the other parks more overwhelming and boring.

We did---
MK (EMH Sunday)
Typhoon Lagoon/Disney Quest (Monday)
MGM (EMH Tuesday)
EPCOT (EMH Wednesday)
AK (regular entry Thursday)

 

[puffkin]

The MK has to be my first and last park. I would not be able to do the other parks without at first doing the MK.

Here is a thought for people with young kids. I think it is so worth it to see their reaction to Main Street and the Castle first. It is just a magical feeling, and unless you have experienced it, you won't understand. I think you might get desensitized if you visit the other parks first. Walt's vision was the MK, it is what started it all (the modern theme park era) so I think he would want you to see the MK first. However, why not go to Main Street, have some ice cream, see the shops, look at the castle and maybe have a character meal. The kids might not even realize there are rides there. Then you can experience the other parks before coming back to the MK and doing the rides. The nice thing about Disney is most of the rides are inside buidings, so the kids wouldn't even know what they are missing.

Just a thought, but you can only see the castle for the first time only once in a lifetime, and it truly is magical. I wouldn't want to spoil it for my kids!

 

[Annette_VA]

Originally posted by puffkin
The MK has to be my first and last park. I would not be able to do the other parks without at first doing the MK.

Here is a thought for people with young kids. I think it is so worth it to see their reaction to Main Street and the Castle first. It is just a magical feeling, and unless you have experienced it, you won't understand. I think you might get desensitized if you visit the other parks first. Walt's vision was the MK, it is what started it all (the modern theme park era) so I think he would want you to see the MK first. However, why not go to Main Street, have some ice cream, see the shops, look at the castle and maybe have a character meal. The kids might not even realize there are rides there. Then you can experience the other parks before coming back to the MK and doing the rides. The nice thing about Disney is most of the rides are inside buidings, so the kids wouldn't even know what they are missing.

Just a thought, but you can only see the castle for the first time only once in a lifetime, and it truly is magical. I wouldn't want to spoil it for my kids!

Excellent thinking!

Now you've got me rethinking my itinerary - LOL