Help. Overwhelmed. 1st Disney Trip June 2020

[Mome Rath]

As sponica mentioned, you can add a hopper at any point if you want it, so no harm in waiting. You may fall in love with a particular park or have something from one of them you just must go do on your last day. Hope you have an awesome trip!

 

[mdsouth]

@ryman471 I think before you decide how many days to go, you need to decide if/when you'll be back. If this is going to be a once every 5 to 10 year trip or one and done, do more days at the parks. If you think you can swing every 2-3 years, you might be able to make 4 days work for a first visit. My first visit we had 2.5 park days. Spent 1.5 at MK and a full day at what was then MGM studios. Were those 2.5 days "enough" for us? I'm not sure and I didn't know at that time when I would be back.

I do agree with @Mome Rath about the kiddie rides being the most important parts of Magic Kingdom. My trips are not complete unless I do the "classic" rides. In fact I'm still kicking myself that we couldn't make Pirates of the Caribbean fit in the schedule on our last visit. I learned my lesson, PIRATES IS MANDATORY or it's not a real trip for me.

This exactly! THe classic rides are what makes WDW so much different from other theme parks. As someone who has been about four times with my famliy and only every four or five years, I agree, you will want to plan for 5 days at Disney. And this is someone who loves the beach. Go to the beach one day. Then you could always go to the beach at one of the Great Lakes which is closer to your home (Am I right, I saw you mention living in Indiana? I live in Central Illinois). You will just have to plan your Great Lake beach trip for sometime in mid to late July or Aug to get in the water I expect. Tee hee.

Thanks @sponica and @Mome Rath, great points! It won't be often will be back to WDW, likely no less than 5-10 years. Now I am leaning towards 5 days at park (& one day on a beach) and Pop Resort. don't think will need park hopper though. 1 day each park, then 2 days my gut is telling me MK over the others likely right? I have to run by the boss first of course, lol. Thanks all!

Yes, Two days at Magic Kingdom!

@ryman471 Pop has a sweet spot for me as it was the first disney hotel I stayed in. I think you should be fine with 5 days, and you can always add on the parkhopper at a later point in time, if you so choose. I've always had the option but I feel like it used to be included or was a nominal charge...

As this post says, just stick with one park per day for now. That is what we do. There is so much to do at each park, you will be fine, you can leave the park, have a break at the resort, even go eat dinner at another resort, and then head back to the same park to close it down. Your ten year old will think that is a blast to stay up late one or a few nights and experience the park at night. It is fun. The evening hours are a great time to get all the classic rides in at MK with short lines since it might be less crowded since families with young kids will not be in the park too much at that time.

 

[elsbit]

Here are a couple of my recommendations, now that you have sorted out your time and hotel.

1. Plan your visits to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios towards the end of your trip in an attempt to try to get the hard to get fast passes like Slinky dog and Flights of Passage.
2. Study up on the Fast Pass sticky thread to get ideas of what is the best routes to go for the fast passes. It sounds crazy, but getting online at the time food reservations and fast passes go up for your trip is key to getting to do what you want.
3. My family are rope droppers. It is less busy and cooler first thing in the morning. Then, we eat lunch and head back to the hotel for a cooling swim and go back out in the evening.
4. We enjoy eating in restaurants. It is a nice reprieve from the heat and park chaos. I strongly suggest making reservations on the day your reservations open and if you decide you want to drop them as you go along and plan, do it that way, instead of waiting to make a reservation. Some reservations are very hard to get. If you cannot decide on food, post in the dining section your questions and we are happy to help.
5. We travel with a car, but don't use it that much while on property because we like taking Disney transportation. Keep the free transportation in mind, as it does (Typically) Make your trip feel easier.

I also second what someone said about certain rides being part of the magic. I love Peter Pan's flight and Under the Sea (cannot stand Small world though lol). Don't dismiss some things as being too babyish for your 10 year old. I have an 11 year old and she has fun on these too.

Have a blast!

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Thanks @sponica and @Mome Rath, great points! It won't be often will be back to WDW, likely no less than 5-10 years. Now I am leaning towards 5 days at park (& one day on a beach) and Pop Resort. don't think will need park hopper though. 1 day each park, then 2 days my gut is telling me MK over the others likely right? I have to run by the boss first of course, lol. Thanks all!

Your gut is right , you'll definitely want 2 days at MK.

And I'd ditch the beach and go to Typhoon Lagoon , but that's just me. I love the beach, but hate leaving DW to do it.