How would you spend 6.5 days?

[goofy4wdw2]

We have 6 full days plus half day on our departure day. We're staying at VGF in mid-May with three kids ages 9, 7, and almost 4. Our youngest usually naps but sometimes skips and may outgrow by then so that's flexible with our touring. How are mid-May crowds these days? We would like a little pool time and DTD time. We are hoping to go to Typhoon Lagoon...does that need a full day? How would you divide your days/time between the parks? Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[SplashMo]

With 6.5 days (WIth park hoppers):

2.5 MK (three rope drops)
1.5 EP (One rope drop)
AK/DS (one day)
Water Park / DTD
.5 day (AK)

Without Park Hoppers ()

2 Day MK
1 Day EP
Water Park/ (DTD or to a park)
I Day DS
1 Day AK (option to go to DTD after AK)
.5 day at one of the parks...

 

[goofy4wdw2]

Thank you! We will have the ability to park hop (likely APs).

 

[Southern Bell]

I always make my agenda but never stick to it because of weather, someones tired or whatever. But this is the way I would plan to begin with! I think! LOL!

Day 1. Magic Kingdom /I would arrive early because your children won't be tired yet! / stay all day/ or you could take a break afternoon and return later to MK or another park/ (Early morning & Late night (9am- 9 or 10pm)

Day 2. Epcot / I would arrive later morning if children are tired. Countries won't open until 11 am and by that time, maybe everyone that arrived early will be over in the countries( Late Night 11 am-9 pm) illuminations is about 12 min.

Day 3. Sleep in/Water Park/ 4-6 hrs/ Early Evening/ dinner down town or at hotel with pizza at pool and a swim

Day 4. Holly Wood Studio Early morning & another late night(Fantasmic is about 25 min) with break at hotel if needed in the afternoon.

Day 5. Animal Kingdom/I would want to be there by at least by 10 or 11 for Safari so the animals would be out. If you go earlier, Reservations for Tusker house breakfast or breakfast at Pizzafari works out good before Safari, /stay until 5 or 6 pm (earlier night) Possible Evening Options: have dinner at Rain Forest or/ go back to hotel and have dinner and swim at hotel / or go downtown if you haven't been/ park hop to another theme park

Day 6. Sleep in till about 10 or 11/ use Park hop/ plan a lunch at one of the parks of your choice / ride a couple of rides or see something you didn't get to . If needed take a break with the kids back at the hotel for nap or swim. Eat at hotel or MK or wherever for dinner. We usually end our vacation in the evening and last night riding a couple more rides at Magic Kingdom and seeing the fireworks, one more time!

Day 7. We have spent last day eating out at one of our favorite places, or we have went down town and shopped, especially if we failed to get there during the week. I don't like to go downtown the last day but we have if all else failed in getting there. For some reason I would rather go down town the first night we arrive than the last day. I guess I'm just over it by then! LOL!

You could switch 3 and 5 if everyone isn't to tired and needing a break. Day 2 at Epcot may be a earlier night for returning to your hotel than on day 4 at Hollywood Studios. So Animal Kingdom may be easier that morning.

I've been working on my plans and there's pros and cons to every way I have planned it! LOL!

 

[IWannaBuildASnowman]

I'd start and end with Magic Kingdom. In the middle, Animal Kingdom takes a little over a half day, and Hollywood Studios takes a day. Depending on what you do at Epcot it could be 1 to 2 days. So realistically I'd look at what ADRs and FPs are available when and plan around that. eg. when I originally was planning, I was going to to HS on a Monday, but when I went to get FPs Toy Story was already gone. So I checked for the Tuesday, they were available, and bob's your uncle.

 

[SeilerBird]

If I were taking three kids to WDW I would ask them how they want to spend their time, not a bunch of strangers on a forum.

 

[goofy4wdw2]

Thanks everyone! We haven't been to Disney with magic bands and I'm guessing that could impact planning so it's really helpful to hear how others prioritize and divide their days and creative ways to balance seeing a lot and having down time. My kids know what rides they like (from what two of them remember) but don't have a sense of planning around crowds and taking breaks to refuel....they'd go, go, go if we let them and then they'd crash hard! I love hearing how "strangers" in the Disney community plan or might have enjoyed things we've skipped before...then we discuss plans as a family. We've been talking Disney at home non-stop the past week! Thanks again!!

 

[MrInfinity]

If I were taking three kids to WDW I would ask them how they want to spend their time, not a bunch of strangers on a forum.

What makes you think the OP hasn't also talked to his/her family? The forums are here to get ideas from other sources too.

We have 6 full days plus half day on our departure day. We're staying at VGF in mid-May with three kids ages 9, 7, and almost 4. Our youngest usually naps but sometimes skips and may outgrow by then so that's flexible with our touring. How are mid-May crowds these days? We would like a little pool time and DTD time. We are hoping to go to Typhoon Lagoon...does that need a full day? How would you divide your days/time between the parks? Thanks for any suggestions!

Mid-may days are moderate. Not the busiest times, not the slowest times. I just went in May and found the crowds to be okay.

I would do 2.5, 2, 1, 1.
2.5 days at the MK
2 days at EC
1 day at HS
1 day at AK

I would also work some other stuff into the 2.5 MK days, so while this may seem like a lot of days, I look at it more like 3 shorter days, with half of each day doing something elsewhere.

TL - no, I would not give this a whole day. More likely, I would plan a morning / afternoon at TL, with plans to go to the MK that night for a bit.

You could also pull a half-day from Epcot, but only you know how much time you want to spend at each park! Or if you feel you want to only do a day at EC, this would make for a more relaxed trip with more resort time, putting TL on one day and EC on the other, then not having to split an MK day.

With only 6.5 days, I would probly squeeze DTD out of such a visit. Or just do it for a couple hours in an evening. Like if say, you were to want to visit HS, then walk to the Boardwalk and catch a bus to DTD, by the time you're leaving HS, you'll probly feel like it's time to go back to the hotel and swim - that's why you're leaving the park after all. Not to go walk around somewhere else.

 

[Team Bunch]

I love this thread. I also have 3 young ones ages 3,5,7, also going to be there 6 1/2 days. Last time we went we tried to do all rope drop with afternoon naps (only half of them would nap). I always felt more relaxed and enjoyed myself in evenings but never stayed for fireworks. We went in August so we really enjoyed the pool but never wanted to take a pool day trying to get as much park time as possible.

We are going in November this year so I don't know if it will even be warm enough to swim. Would love to find the perfect combination of park time/down time, so keep the opinions coming.

 

[GWhitten98]

I plan using the crowd calander to a point, but most suggest avoiding EMH and I think they can be very usefull.

As far as how much time in each park.
MK definitely deserves at least 2 full days(but afternoon breaks for pool time would be perfect since your staying at GF)
Epcot can easily be 1 1/2 days(may the 1/2 day you could just ride headliners in the morning, then hop to Water Park)
HS and AK for us are at least a 1 1/2 day parks for us, but your kids are a little older so they may just be a 1 day parks. If you are going during mid/late May you may run into SWW, if that interests your family that alone could be on full HS day.
I would spend your last 1/2 day at DTD.

 

[Southern Bell]

I'd start and end with Magic Kingdom. In the middle, Animal Kingdom takes a little over a half day, and Hollywood Studios takes a day. Depending on what you do at Epcot it could be 1 to 2 days. So realistically I'd look at what ADRs and FPs are available when and plan around that. eg. when I originally was planning, I was going to to HS on a Monday, but when I went to get FPs Toy Story was already gone. So I checked for the Tuesday, they were available, and bob's your uncle.

You are right! We have spent 2 days doing Epcot and fast passes before we go now does impact what you plan ahead. I've made a few dining reservations already and wonder when my fast pass comes available how that is going to play out. Be kind of nice if I could do the fast pass now, too! We did just quick dining last September with fast pass and it did make planning and changes for the rides easier!