Help picking parks

[MommyinHonduras]

We have five park days for our first trip, knowing my kids we are not hopping. Better to enjoy where we are at for the day and we have the resort pool for time outside the parks (staying at WBC). I was thinking Epcot 2 days and other parks one day. Now I am thinking MK needs two days as well. So AK or HS needs to be nixed. My kids do not know there are 4 parks, so making the decision now before telling them about the trip means they will not know we are skipping one on our first trip. There ages are DD 11 (during 12 at WDW). DD 10, DS 7 (turning 8 at WDW) and DD 6. We love SW but so much remodeling is going on at HS. We love the zoo but the kids might not like that their are animals but so much else going on. They will all be teenagers before we might be able to return. Of nix them both and return to MK a third day?

 

[njmousefest]

Honestly, not sure if there is enough in epcot for 2 days with young ones. Would probably lean toward 2 (or 3) days at MK. Depending on park crowds might be able to hop between HS and AK for one day?

 

[tabrizia]

I'd actually lean more towards dropping the second EPCOT day and making that the MK day. That being said, how long are you staying? With a 5 day ticket it is only $10 a ticket to add another day. I might lean towards arranging things so you can do both HS and AK but consider them on a quieter and more of a down day. So half day at HS plan and half day at AK, plus 2 days at EPCOT and 2 days at MK.

 

[SweetMissy]

I don't think you need 2 days at epcot. You definitely need 2 days at MK....it's too big and too much to do for 1 day. So, then do 1 day for each of the rest. This is what we do. We don't always have the park hopper and if you've never been to Disney and want to see as much as possible, than you can do without the hopper.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Our first trip was 5 park days. We did one day in each park and a second back at MK. I really think that's the best way for a first timer. I wouldn't want to leave out any one of the four parks.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I know everyone claims you need 2 MK days, but we really didn't. OTOH, we definitely needed more time in Epcot than the 1.5 days there that we had.

Every family is different. I say plan 1 day at each of the 4, then decide which gets a repeat visit after seeing all the parks.

 

[jevs]

Every family is different. I say plan 1 day at each of the 4, then decide which gets a repeat visit after seeing all the parks.

Exactly what we did We ended up with 2 MK days - the kids choice.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

I couldn't skip any - I'd do one day at each park with a 2nd MK day.

 

[kohlby]

We found we need more time in EP than MK - but either needs at least 2 days for us. We go on longer trips and like 3 EP days, there was plenty for kids. However, since you haven't been before, I'd do a day at each park and then decide which park to go back to the last day based on how things go. AK has been a flop on almost every trip we've done. On our last trip, we did half a day and it finally went fine but there was no way a full day would have worked for my kids. BUT - some love it. Since they have never been though, I would not skip any of the parks. You will still have a lot left in MK or EP if you only do a day in one of those - but that's okay!

 

[tink9702]

I like the idea of doing each park and then deciding after which park you want to hit twice. I can totally see with the ages of your kids that some might want MK again and others Epcot again though so be prepared to vote, or parent override if you think that might be an issue.

 

[NKHarris329]

I would plan on two MK days before two EP days with those ages. EP is a lot of looking around and exploring, which *I* love, but I think your kids are going to appreciate another day at MK.

 

[ABCastillo]

We like to wing the fifth day. No ADRs, just leave the option to the kids. Return to their favorite park, which for us has always been MK (ages: 5, 2 and 1).

But I agree with others, your kids are a great age for all the parks so try to get all 4 and only repeat one of them.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

We have 5 day tix and will do each park once and MK twice. I know people say AK and DHS are half day parks, but not to us. We want to do all the shows that some people skip. And at AK, the Safaris would be fun to ride twice.

 

[PollyannaMom]

If your family is used to being busy and everyone has a lot of stamina, then I definitely agree with the "one day at each, then back to favorite" plan. You never know what your kids are going to like best on their first trip, and you can just eat counter service on the last day if there are no last-minute ADRs available.

But, my own family cannot actually go full out for five days straight. By the third day, we would be getting tired cranky with each other. So unless you plan short days or daily breaks back at the resort, there is also the option of two jam-packed days, a lazy day enjoying your resort, and then two more jam-packed ones, thereby hitting each park for one long day.

 

[dancemonkey]

A couple of things. If you plan well hopping can be a good thing. For example you book early fast passes in one park and do extra magic hours at another park. Another thing. You might not know the answer to. Are your kids into faster rides or are they character meet and greet types? Another factor is time of year you are planning to travel. I'd also say. One day in Epcot is fine. But we're big MK fans!