Help me decide how many days to spend at each park!

[Lalalyn]

This will be our third visit in three years, but I feel like with the kids growing up and so many changes, I don't know how to allocate our time. And with so many unknowns (hours, ROL nights etc.) I haven't been feeling the same planning excitement.

So, let's get me started! I've booked ADRs all over the place, but to be honest, besides doing H&V, CRT and O'hana (all of which I've booked), I'm not hung up on any meals.

Our Stats:
Four Adults -- My parents, DH and I
Three Kids -- All girls, 7, 4, and 4
Resort -- Poly
When -- Jan 28 - Feb 4

I'll get 7 day park hoppers. I was thinking AK for 1 day, HS for 1 day, MK for three days and then Epcot (which we've never been to) for 1 day and whatever time we have on arrival day.

What do you think? My only thing is making sure we see ROL if it is up and running. Perhaps we could do that on arrival day?

 

[princessjadesmom]

I'll get 7 day park hoppers. I was thinking AK for 1 day, HS for 1 day, MK for three days and then Epcot (which we've never been to) for 1 day and whatever time we have on arrival day.

That is exactly what I would do.

 

[kappyfamily]

If you are getting park hoppers I would cut one of your MK days to 2 1/2 days and go an early morning to Epcot then mid day take a break then poly to MK for an evening. Then you get 1 1/2 days at Epcot. Have fun!

 

[littledebbie335]

I would also suggest a little more time in Epcot. It gets a bad reputation for being the boring/educational park, but when I was your girls' age, I legit thought I was in all those different countries! It could be fun for them to spend some time exploring World Showcase. For example, I was just reading a blog post about a family who made it a point to try a candy from each country. Plus the land and sea pavilions are really cool!

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

I also would add time in Epcot. My kids have always loved it but I talked it up before the first time going there. You may find HS is a one day park right now and spending the evening in Epcot is a great way to end that day.

 

[Alesia]

I wouldn't consider spending less than 2 full days in Epcot. It's always been our favorite park.

 

[PALionKingfan]

If you are getting park hoppers I would cut one of your MK days to 2 1/2 days and go an early morning to Epcot then mid day take a break then poly to MK for an evening. Then you get 1 1/2 days at Epcot. Have fun!

I agree. Especially if your girls like Frozen you may need half a day at Epcot alone to go on the Frozen ride and meet the processes in Norway.

 

[PALionKingfan]

I agree. Especially if your girls like Frozen you may need half a day at Epcot alone to go on the Frozen ride and meet the processes in Norway.

I meant princesses, not processes. Although with those wait times it is a process to meet a princess.

 

[Accident]

I only count 6 days, what's the 7th day on the tickets for?

You also didn't ask this but I find it a huge savings to not get hoppers in advance if you dont' need them for another reason like your discount package. The short is with a package deal you have to get them for all tickets and I see your parents are joining you. I wouldn't be shocked if you go to hop a park and they decide to just hit the resort to rest making it less hoppers you need to buy. also you may think differently about hopping when you have some more money to spend elsewhere or just to hit a park for another hour or two. the short of it is disney has been closing kind of early lately, it's getting harder to hop for more than an extra hour or two at another park lately. It takes 5 minutes at a ticket booth to upgrade the ticket for the same cost as paying for it in advance. you can't get a discount for not using it but you can start off without paying for it up front in case you don't need it.

 

[nursejackie]

We go for longer (15-16 days) and split our days into two. We normally have 3 mornings and 2 afternoons in MK, 4 mornings and christmas day afternoon in Epcot, 4 mornings in HS and finally 2 mornings in AK, although we may need an evening visit in December once ROL starts. We have some afternoons in a water park (weather permitting) , at the resort pool or visiting other resorts. We make use of EMH in the mornings and we have a car so go back to our villa for an hour between parks to chill out. This works for us, but probably not for everyone I know.

 

[Networth]

Seeing as you have never been to Epcot before I would do two at EPCOT Center (correct that and you have no soul). It's a shell of its former glory but I can easily spend hours and hours in WS alone if I take my time in every country.

 

[Delirium]

I would plan on hopping every single day. Match your FP's up with your ADR park. That way, if your ADR/FP is for breakfast or lunch, you can hop to a different park after an afternoon break. Or, if your ADR/FPs are in the evening, it allows you flexibility to go to whichever park you want in the morning.

ADRs and FPs control where you are during their designated time, but with careful planning and park hoppers, you can still have great flexibility in where you spend half your day. That way, you don't have to 'assign' park days in advance. You can go with the flow and visit whichever park your family is enjoying the most on that trip.

 

[Sdolores]

I have 2 girls and we took them when they were 6 and 4. They enjoyed Epcot more than you think (the 6 year old enjoyed Soarin AND Test Track. But the thing they liked the best was meeting all of the characters in teh countries AND doing the crafts that are typically offered and each country. These little things are often overlooked.

 

[dreiwhit]

We spent a day in Epcot when we went there for the first time back in March. We wished we would have spent two days. We rode all the rides we wanted, and ended up having to hurry though the World Showcase.

Also, none of us, including my 13 year old son and 8 year old daughter, found Epcot boring. In fact, it was probably our favorite park!

Since you've got park hoppers, if you have any time left after AK and DHS, you can always head over to Epcot.

For my family, the plan for our next trip is 3 days at MK, 2 at Epcot, 1 at DHS and we're not going to AK. There were only 3 or maybe 4 things we would do again at AK, and since we don't buy hoppers, it doesn't justify the cost of going there.

 

[Lalalyn]

This is all incredibly helpful and makes me excited for Epcot! You will likely see some touring questions from me!

One more fact to see if anyone would change their minds: My twins probably won't be 40 inches by then. One might make it, but my unless my peanut grows two inches in four months, she's going to miss that threshold. That means, no Soarin', TT etc. Our 7 year old will likely love them -- she's been on Everest, BTMR.

We typically tour one of two ways. We hit the park at opening, stay until 1ish after lunch, go back for some rest and then go back at night. This is usually for our MK days. Or, we hit the park at opening, go til we are close to a kid meltdown, go back to the resort and hang out there the rest of the day. This is what we've done for AK and HS.