How hard and tiring to visit AK & MK on same day?

[disney-super-mom]

DH and I are making our first trip to WDW in late January. It'll be just us, without our kids. I wanted it to be a relaxing, romantic trip, visiting Epcot for sure. But the kid in me keeps creeping out, and I'd really like to visit AK and MK too. I was hoping maybe we could visit both AK and MK on the same day. That way we could spend 2 entire days at Epcot.

I don't really want to tour all of AK. I just want to ride a few rides in the morning and that's it before heading to the MK.

The rides I'd like DH and I to do at AK is:
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Dinosaur
Expedition Everest

Then I'd like to head over to the MK for the rest of the day before having dinner at the Whispering Canyon at the WL.

Now, of course we've been to DL many, many times, but here's what I'd like to do at the MK:

See the Castle (I hear it's huge compared to the one at DL)
Haunted Mansion (A classic we love)
Mickey's Philharmagic (Don't have this at DL)
Pirates of the Caribbean (My favorite ride)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority (Don't have this at DL)
Walt Disney Railroad (A ride to get a great overall view of the park)

So, how horribly tired will we be if we try to do visit both AK & MK in the same day? Is this a BAD IDEA?...

...or, is our schedule for "must do" attractions light enough that it should be fairly easy to do?

 

[CathrynRose]

My opinion - totally do-able.

We have honestly NEVER made AK a whole day. We've visited more than once, for half days - but we always end up somewhere else after starting out at AK.

On January 27th I will be at AK.... then moving on to EPCOT!

 

[Luv4Disney]

If that's all you're planning on doing, I think it's definitely possible. Just to be sure, get there right when the park opens, especially since traveling between parks can take some time. Enjoy!

 

[CathrynRose]

DH and I are making our first trip to WDW in late January. It'll be just us, without our kids. I wanted it to be a relaxing, romantic trip, visiting Epcot for sure. But the kid in me keeps creeping out, and I'd really like to visit AK and MK too. I was hoping maybe we could visit both AK and MK on the same day. That way we could spend 2 entire days at Epcot.

I looked at your schedule again. If it were me, I'd do what I *am* doing - which is AK morning, EPCOT evening. EPCOT is open until 9, so you can always get more in cuz of it.

MK, at least for us, is usually a full day. Its not so tremendously huge, but it's such a wonderful park - and so Disney'fied. Feels so DISNEY-ish, when youre there.

And since for sure you have a full EPCOT day planned, I think you'd be good with a half EPCOT with an AK morning.

 

[mattsdragon]

We did it in May, piece of cake. We didn't even stay too late, we were a bit tired from Jellyrolls the night before.

 

[The Mick]

I looked at your schedule again. If it were me, I'd do what I *am* doing - which is AK morning, EPCOT evening. EPCOT is open until 9, so you can always get more in cuz of it.

MK, at least for us, is usually a full day. Its not so tremendously huge, but it's such a wonderful park - and so Disney'fied. Feels so DISNEY-ish, when youre there.

And since for sure you have a full EPCOT day planned, I think you'd be good with a half EPCOT with an AK morning.

I wholeheartedly agree with this.

I'd split your 2nd EPCOT day with AK, no question.

Day 1: Full day at MK
Day 2: Full day at EPCOT
Day 3: AK in the morning, rest of day at EPCOT. This way, you can take your time a little bit more at AK in case there's anything you see you want to check out while you're there. You won't feel as rushed and you'll enjoy the park more. And you'll also be able to know exactly what more you want to see at EPCTO because you spent the entire previous day there.

Plus, there's something to be said about the "disney magic" of starting off at MK (although I like EPCOT much more, MK is Disney)....

 

[Amy&Dan]

Your plan is about the same one we do each time on our first day at WDW. We always have Saturday as our first day, get to AK first, head back to the resort for a short break and then to MK for almost the same identical rides you listed (substitute Carousel of Progress for the RR) plus Spectro and Wishes. The things you list at MK are all easy to do since they don't have huge lines for the most part. And if at all possible I would add COP to your list, its a classic. I also have to agree with others that you might want to somehow figure a whole day for MK. While it has a lot of similarities to Disneyland, its different too. In any case, your plan is very doable, if you get to AK early.

 

[ANTSS2001]

With us.. a party of 2 or 3 most of the time.. and if we can do 3 day at parks.. we do

1 day at MK
1 day at EPCOT
1 day = AM at AK and PM at MGM

just throwing my half a cent in!

 

[BabyMo]

We tend to do AK AM/MGM PM. There is so much at MK that it might be tough to squeeze into 1/2 day.

But if you have a plan, and you know what you want to see, etc, and you want to have WCC for dinner, then I think it can be done.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Yes, I think we may spend an entire day at the MK now.

This is our plan now (I made ADRs today too).

Day 1: Land at airport at 5:00pm. Check in to SSR 6:00pm. 7:40 pm dinner reservations at the Turf Club & Bar at SSR.

Day 2: Epcot all day - 5:20 pm dinner reservations at Coral Reef.

Day 3: MK all day - 6:20 pm dinner reservations at Whispering Canyon.

Day 4: Morning at AK/afternoon at Epcot - 5:30 pm dinner at Le Cellier.

How does this look?

Boy, I have to say, there's A LOT of planning when going to WDW!

 

[Disney Crazy Family]

Depends on what day of the week you arrive

Keep in mind the MK is most magical on Sat. night with the
fireworks and and the night parade. sometimes the parade is not
held during the week. The afternoon parade at Mk is usually held
every day. So Sat. is the important day for you to enjoy the MK

your schedule AK in morning epcot in afternoon and night, so
you will catch illuminations

A full day at the MK(Sat preferred) is a must and all you have to
do is catch the boat over to the dinner at whisp canyon

A full day at epcot (I would not do this} I think an afternoon and night
will cover most of that because they are open until 9 at night

Consider relaxing for a morning at the resort, then go to MGM
for an afternoon and night and catch the big nightime extravaganza.

whatever you do take your time and enjoy

 

[The Mick]

Yes, I think we may spend an entire day at the MK now.

This is our plan now (I made ADRs today too).

Day 1: Land at airport at 5:00pm. Check in to SSR 6:00pm. 7:40 pm dinner reservations at the Turf Club & Bar at SSR.

Day 2: Epcot all day - 5:20 pm dinner reservations at Coral Reef.

Day 3: MK all day - 6:20 pm dinner reservations at Whispering Canyon.

Day 4: Morning at AK/afternoon at Epcot - 5:30 pm dinner at Le Cellier.

How does this look?

Boy, I have to say, there's A LOT of planning when going to WDW!

Great job. I think this is perfect and you'll have a great time. Start off and end with epcot...can't beat that!

 

[CathrynRose]

Yes, I think we may spend an entire day at the MK now.

This is our plan now (I made ADRs today too).

Day 1: Land at airport at 5:00pm. Check in to SSR 6:00pm. 7:40 pm dinner reservations at the Turf Club & Bar at SSR.

Day 2: Epcot all day - 5:20 pm dinner reservations at Coral Reef.

Day 3: MK all day - 6:20 pm dinner reservations at Whispering Canyon.

Day 4: Morning at AK/afternoon at Epcot - 5:30 pm dinner at Le Cellier.

How does this look?

Boy, I have to say, there's A LOT of planning when going to WDW!

To me - that looks perfect!

No MGM, though, huh?

And YES - planning is crazy, isnt it? Thats why many of us start about 360 days in advance!

 

[stashf]

Hi, it's doable! Every trip we always go to AK on a Sat morning and then head to MK for dinner and wishes, spectro etc. It's been a habit on our last 3 trips and it works out great - if you arent doing a night MK is open later I'd probably choose Epcot. We do hit MK several other days as well but on that evening we mainly go for Spectro and Wishes since AK closes early. Good luck.

Stashf

 

[Jozymouse]

Totally doable. My sis and I did some major park hopping. Most of the days we did 2-3 parks and sometimes we even did 4 parks in one day.

 

[WVParkfan]

Your plan will certainly work, but I think you are making a mistake by trying to race-through the Animal Kingdom. Since you've been to DL many times, then why would you want to spend so much time at the MK? If it were me, I'd spend more time at the places you haven't been. I don't know if you've been to Epcot, the AK, or MGM, but each of these parks have wonderful shows/ rides/ events/ food/ etc., that you could spend several days in each one and still not see/ do everything.

So, in my opinion, your plan will work. But, I think you are missing a lot of wonderful things at the Animal Kingdom just so you can go and ride the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which is just as lame at the MK as it is at DL. In my opinion, that's a shame.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

We are planning the same type day in December...We are getting to AK at opening and then going to the MVMCP at MK that evening!!!

We may be tired,but we get on a cruise ship the next day and will have plenty of time to relax!!

Have fun!

 

[LBelle]

Yes, I think we may spend an entire day at the MK now.

This is our plan now (I made ADRs today too).

Day 1: Land at airport at 5:00pm. Check in to SSR 6:00pm. 7:40 pm dinner reservations at the Turf Club & Bar at SSR.

Day 2: Epcot all day - 5:20 pm dinner reservations at Coral Reef.

Day 3: MK all day - 6:20 pm dinner reservations at Whispering Canyon.

Day 4: Morning at AK/afternoon at Epcot - 5:30 pm dinner at Le Cellier.

How does this look?


Boy, I have to say, there's A LOT of planning when going to WDW!

It looks good but, for us at least, there are a few things missing in your itinerary:

1 - ADR at 6:20pm at WCC will not allow you to see 'Wishes' at MK. This is sooo spectacular and a 'must' for us on every trip. As a previous poster has also said, Spectromagic is also amazing!! Maybe you have both of these at DL and therefore is not much of a priority.

2 - No MGM!!!! IMHO, Tower of Terror and Rock n' Roller Coaster are 2 of the best rides in WDW!!! Never mind the fabulous shows...Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, Mermaid and FANTASMIC!!!!!

Personally, if it was just my DH and I for 3 park days my schedule would look like this:

Day 1 - AK (am)/MGM (pm)

Day 2 - Epcot - (LeCellier....YUMMY!!! Good Choice!) (Coral Reef - No way....go enjoy the aquarium at The Living Seas...there are sooo many other places to eat that blow Coral Reef away!!)

Day 3 - MK - (WCC....Nope...especially if we weren't bringing the kids!!!) I would go to a late night dinner on the Boardwalk after Wishes!!! Now that's Amore!!!

Anyhoo....everybody loves and hates totally different things in WDW. This was just my opinion...doesn't make them right!!

Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

disney-super-mom...you HAVE to go to MGM. Please don't leave this one out. It's a great park. Our 2nd favorite behind MK!!! If you do decide to skip MGM, you'll be missing out on some great attractions- Fantasmic, RRC, ToT, GMR, and so many more. If I were you, I would combine MGM and AK into a day. I believe someone above mentioned Wishes. Change your ADRs around to catch Wishes at MK. It'll bring a tear to your eye. To us, Wishes is truly what WDW is about!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Boy everyone, it all sounds so wonderful and I wish we could do and see everything, but we're only going to be there for 3 full days, so I had to make some tough choices.

This trip originally started out as a relaxing & romantic trip - touring the DVC resorts/touring Epcot/lots of down time at SSR sipping champagne with our feet up and taking in the views.

Now it's slowly starting to morph into a whirlwind WDW themepark tour!

I've got to at least try to keep it a little more manageable.

Don't worry - we'll do the complete Disney themepark tour and won't miss a thing on our next trip to WDW with our kids. Trust me, they wouldn't let us miss anything!