Extra time at HS or EP?

[NicholeB630]

So we are going for 7 nights. I bought 6 days worth of tickets. I want to spend some time at a park the day we get there. We could arrive around the park around 2 I think. I was thinking Epcot but then reading and hearing from some people it may not have as much to do for the kids. They will be almost 6 and 2.5. When we went before a lot of things were closed in Epcot in the evening but it was already dark when we got there. Would it be better to do an extra half day at HS instead? I have two days for MK and then 1 day for AK planned out.

 

[NicholeB630]

Let me add that we want to eat Akershus and Garden Grill. We will be doing an 8am breakfast at MK, 8am BBB at MK, and possibly 8am breakfast at HS. So I dont think I want to add another early morning. Maybe we should just use that extra time Sunday at Epcot so we can use it for one of the Dinners we want?

 

[MandiC]

We weren't a fan of HS personally. Lots of shows, not many kid rides. It is certainly worth a visit but for us it wasn't even a full day park. However we loved Epcot. The kids enjoyed looking around the different countries and doing the kidcot stations, FutureWorld alone has more kid friendly rides than HS (the only 'ride' in HS without a height restriction is Toy Story Mania). We did 6 park days; 2 Magic Kingdom, 2 Epcot, 1 Animal Kingdom and 1 Hollywood Studios. We are going to try to split the day between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios next time with a park hopper.

 

[NicholeB630]

I've had someone else tell me too that HS was their least favorite but there are more kid friendly things to do. I guess other than rides, maybe the shows and characters. I def want them to see the Disney Jr characters but I guess with only a couple rides for them we have all day to meet characters. Maybe I should write down everything we want to do at each park and see which has more and we'll need that extra afternoon/night for. Is it worth being in Epcot when its dark? I know when went before it was dark the first night and so much closed and we couldn't even figure out where to go. Can you walk the countries and what not after dark?

 

[kiramay]

We weren't a fan of HS personally. Lots of shows, not many kid rides. It is certainly worth a visit but for us it wasn't even a full day park. However we loved Epcot. The kids enjoyed looking around the different countries and doing the kidcot stations, FutureWorld alone has more kid friendly rides than HS (the only 'ride' in HS without a height restriction is Toy Story Mania). We did 6 park days; 2 Magic Kingdom, 2 Epcot, 1 Animal Kingdom and 1 Hollywood Studios. We are going to try to split the day between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios next time with a park hopper.

This was our experience too. AK is a 1/2 day park for us, and we were done at HS around 3:30. But we could easily spend 2-3 days at Epcot.

 

[NicholeB630]

ok thanks. I think we'll just stick to the original plan then and do the extra time at Epcot

 

[MandiC]

Epcot is beautiful at night. Some things are closed but there is lots going on in the World Showcase. We all loved Illuminations too. Probably the best firework show in all of Disney (in my opinion of course )

 

[myrheille]

Joining the chorus to say that HS didn't work for us either. Too many height-restricted attractions and the shows are hard to juggle, especially if you take a half-day nap break. For us it was definitely a half-day park. Epcot on the other hand - we went three times and didn't do everything!

 

[Fivesacharm]

Definitely more time at Epcot, especially considering there's the World Showcase. Our last trip in July, we decided to try to do everything in Epcot in one day and ended up really regretting it (all out previous trips we had always devoted at least a day and a half). We won't make the same mistake again this summer

 

[LynnTH]

I would also to Epcot World Showcases. By the time you get there the lines will be really long for Test Track, Soaring, Turtle Talk unless you have Fast Passes. So, I would concentrate on just walking around The World Showcases and doing stuff there and do the other part of Epcot on a day you can get there earlier.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Anytime we arrive mid-afternoon, we do Epcot. My boys both loved Epcot when there were little. There are tons of things at both Epcot and HS that may not be "kid geared", but my boys, and most kids really like. WS at night is magical and fun. DS7 loved the Mexico Boat ride as a preschooler. Spaceship Earth and Ellen's energy ride were both good for my young boys. Your older one will like soaring and TT. At HS they will like tons of the shows, back lot tours and maybe the great movie ride. Your 6 year old will love indiana jones and star tours.
With 6 days of tickets, I would spend time in every park. Maybe a little more in MK than the others, but all of the parks are great and have so much to offer if you just introduce your kids to them.

 

[glk2009]

Another vote for Epcot.

For almost all of our arrival days, we've gone there. For us, it's a nice, low key way to ease into things.

And my DD6 has always found enough to keep her entertained there. DD2 enjoyed her first visit there too.