How many days at each park?

[mom of 3G's]

We are going in Dec. and have 6 days to spend at the parks. I'm just curious as to how many days you allow for each park. We will have 3 children ages 9, 6 and 3. The last time we went with the 2 boys we had 3 days and spent 1-1/2 days at DS and 1 day at MK. This time around I know we want to spend more time at MK. We've never been to AK or Epcot.

 

[dmartin69]

Here is my personal opinion

2 days MK

If You have the Hopper
1 1/2 Days Epcot
1 1/2 Days DHS

If Not
2 Days Epcot
1 Day DHS
1 day AK

 

[annette20071]

I'd recommend the park hopper so that you can hop among the parks. We spend the most time at MK. It really depends on what your family is interested in seeing and doing as well. Most time we will spend a full day at each park but have to go back for half day or so to catch some of the things we missed (especially at DHS where most things are shows at specific times). Another issue for us is DD loves the characters so this is a big focus for our trips. We had to do Epcot a second afternoon to try to catch the characters in the World Showcase section. I would definitely plan 2-3 days at MK, though.

 

[MelanieC]

Personally I like 3 or 4 at MK, 3 or 4 at Epcot and 2 each at AK & DHS, but since you don't have that time I'd do 2 at MK, 2 at Epcot & 1 each at AK & DHS. I wouldn't recommend a park hopper. With only 6 days, I'd spend full days at each park to maximize the time (not traveling between parks).

 

[TunaSled]

I'd do 2 at MK, 2 at Epcot & 1 each at AK & DHS. I wouldn't recommend a park hopper. With only 6 days, I'd spend full days at each park to maximize the time (not traveling between parks).

Quoted for truth. I wouldn't do it any other way. Save MK for last.

 

[indimom]

My family would pick 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot and one day each for AK and DHS. But, not everyone likes the same things. You could just do them each once, and pick your two favorite parks to revisit on your last two days.

 

[MelanieC]

Quoted for truth. I wouldn't do it any other way. Save MK for last.

Yep - we always have the first and last day at MK (well except maybe this upcoming trip since the kids want to spend more time at Universal we may only have 8 days at the Disney parks - The horror, lol).

 

[kmk1180]

Roughly guessing days, heres an example of what I would do.
(with park hoppers)
(without, just stay or return to morning park)

Sunday arrive
Monday Am....MK.................PM.... MK (Specto/Wishes)
Tuesday AM....AK.................PM.... (parade) relax at resort
Wed AM....HS............... PM.....EPCOT (Illuminations)
Thurs AM....MK................PM.....(DTD?)
Frid AM...EPCOT............PM.....HS (Fantasmic)
Sat AM....MK...............PM....MK
Sun Go home

I would also plan on time in the mid day to go back to the resort to nap or swim at the pool or just resting.

With kids that age, this lets you hit each park before they tire out.
And spend plenty of time at MK.
I would also consider the AM EMH parks and try to plan to go to those when available.

 

[mom of 3G's]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I should add that we will not have hoppers and that we do plan on leaving the parks for an afternoon rest and then head back to the parks. We also plan on doing character buffets (Chef Mickey's, CRT, Tusker House, and maybe Akershus).

I'm surprised by the suggestions of spending 2 days at Epcot. I've only been there once and I wasn't that enthralled by it -- did I miss something? Do kids like the World Showcase, too?

 

[Coach81]

We've been several times to the WDW.. we have down to visiting one day per park.. and we do really well with that now..

 

[kmk1180]

I'm surprised by the suggestions of spending 2 days at Epcot. I've only been there once and I wasn't that enthralled by it -- did I miss something? Do kids like the World Showcase, too?

My 5 year old can't get enough of Seas with Nemo and Figment.
And surprizingly loved Spaceship Earth.
And I think will love Test Track and Soarin for the first time, and possibly Universe of Energy with the Dinosaurs.

Plus with the teardrop in Fantasyland closing and moving the characters to Millemium Village, there will be a ton of characters to meet and great at EPCOT.
So ya we'll be albe to stop in EPCOT twice.
(maybe not all day both time but enough to make it worth stopping by)

 

[cmaee]

My plan would be this:

MK - 2 days (Day 1 & 5)
AK - 1 day (Day 2)
HS - 1 day (Day 3)
E - 1 day (Day 4)
Kids choice - 1 day (Day 6)

 

[deerhart]

You need at least 1 day to explore the world showcase and 1 day to explore innovations. We spend a lot of time at Epcot the last two years and I STILL haven't seen/done alot of things (especially the things after project earth, the lines are too long).

So we usually spend 2-3 days MK, 2-3 days epcot, 2 days HS 1 day AK

 

[MelanieC]

I'm surprised by the suggestions of spending 2 days at Epcot. I've only been there once and I wasn't that enthralled by it -- did I miss something? Do kids like the World Showcase, too?

My kids have always LOVED Epcot. Here are some things they have loved doing over the years. We find that even after 3 full days at Epcot, we don't see everything we wanted to see.

1. Masks at Kidcot stations
2. Passports - someone from each country signs an entry in book.
3. Kim Possible missions
4. Playing games in Innoventions
5. Turtle Talk with Crush
6. The new Living see's Nemo ride
7. The living Seas
8. Test Track - My son would make us let him ride single rider the day he was old enough to do it himself, lol
9. Shopping at the WS countries!
10. Finding the Characters that are scattered around WS (Pooh & Friends, Beuty and the Beast, Snow White, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Jasmine & Aladdin, Mulan & Mushu (not sure if Mushu is still there).

I could go on and on! There are so many things to see and do there! My kids always beg for more time at Epcot.

 

[dd50]

Another one that thinks 2 days MK, 2 days Epcot, 1 DHS and 1 AK.

My grandchildren 4 & 6 loved Epcot. We only had one day there last summer but going to do 2 this summer.

Years ago my children didn't like Epcot at all but now it is much more kid friendly.

 

[avic77]

another vote for 2 MK 2 Epcot 1 DHS and 1 AK
day 1 Epcot
day 2 MK
day 3 AK or DHS
day 4 Epcot
day 5 AK or DHS
day 6 MK

If i had to skip one it would be AK or DHS

 

[MerryFlora]

Personally I like 3 or 4 at MK, 3 or 4 at Epcot and 2 each at AK & DHS, but since you don't have that time I'd do 2 at MK, 2 at Epcot & 1 each at AK & DHS. I wouldn't recommend a park hopper. With only 6 days, I'd spend full days at each park to maximize the time (not traveling between parks).

This is what I was going to suggest. Save the second day of Mk or Epcot for last and maybe they will want to do AK once more etc. Go to each park once and do the special ADRs and must dos. Then let the kids decide what to repeat.