first time trip planned - need help!

[woodsholemom]

Planning a surprise Thanksgiving trip for family.....arriving early afternoon on weekday. Minimal requirements: Magic Kingdom and Animal Park. Must see princesses, especially Ariel. We have only 2 full days and 1/2 days on beginning and end of trip. Staying outside of park at Holiday Inn Spree. Will have rental car. BIG QUESTION: should we buy park tickets per day or PH passes so that we can have flexibility to go between parks in one day? Are water parks absolutely necessary? Thanks in advance to all you experts.

 

[meuseman]

My personal suggestion would be to get 4 day park hopper passes. It is not any more expensive, and allows you much more freedom for dinners, checking out other parks, etc.

If this is your first trip, i would say that the water parks are not necessary, unless your kids' personality requires it. There is so much to see and do in the parks, I would personally spend my time there.

Ariel should be available in the Magic Kingdom at Ariel's Grotto in Fantasyland. Also, if Ariel is a favorite, I would highly suggest making your way to MGM to see Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Ariel is my dd's favorite too. Voyage of the Little Mermaid at MGM is one of her absolute "must do's" each trip. IMO, Animal Kingdom is not an all day park. You could do half day at AK and the other half at MGM to see Ariel and stay for the Fantasmic show. (Also a must see, IMO!)

 

[Pooh's Pal]

May I say..."Welcome to the DIS!!" I see "Woods Hole" in your screen name...from Cape Cod?? if not, welcome anyways!

You can purchase a 4 day hopper at the gate or from AAA ahead of time. (if you are on the Cape they have them in the Dennis, Mass. AAA office)

Love Ariel....as KIRSTIN'S MOMMY suggested..check out the Voyage of the Little Mermaid at MGM, we still enjoy it and my little girl is all grown up now!!
I'm sure you'll enjoy a 1/2 day at the Animal Kingdom and do another 1/2 at MGM...try to do your two full days at Magic Kingdom and Epcot..so much to see at those two parks! :yes:
Also..get an early start to your day and soak up as much "Magic" as you can in a day.
Hope you have a wonderful trip!!


debbi (from Cape Cod!)

 

[AimeeM]

Im going over Thanksgiving too! What days will you be there? I would definately get the hopper passes so you can move around between the parks. As was said, if you get to Animal Kingdom at opening, you can be out of there by 1 and head over MGM. Not only is there Ariel at MGM, but Beauty & the Beast Live Onstage too. ( how many kids do you have and how old?) Id try to get in a full day at MK, and maybe the 1/2 days spent at Epcot. Or split up the MK & epcot days, and hop back and forth on the full day, and spend one half day at MK & one at Epcot. If I know what dates you will be there, I can give you a better idea of what to go to an when! Welcome to the dis!

 

[woodsholemom]

Thank you for the advice. I will skip water parks since we will have access to two pools. People have recommended MGM studios for the Ariel show. Very informative regarding animal park - not an all day thing. I will continue to look at boards for advice on how to find princesses. I will skip character meal experience since they tend to be costly and we can find photo ops elsewhere. Now I am investigating rides at park.