Hubby thinks "2 days in park" is enough

[craiggers]

With children at those ages and a 4-5 day trip, I would spend 2 days at the MK (with 1 being an evening with extended hours for resort guests). The Magic Kingdom is truly a special place at night! I would spend another day at the Animal Kingdom. There is so much to do there besides rides that younger kids enjoy (all sorts of animals). This plan would also enable you to spend time in the campground, take in a water park (we prefer Typhoon Lagoon), and spend some time at Downtown Disney. AND...make sure you enjoy a couple of restaurants. We could go to WDW and do nothing but eat and be happy. lol.

The challenge of WDW is to actually have a vacation (which I believe includes relaxation!). You can easily rush yourself through the place over the course of a week and have a miserable time trying to "do" everything. My advice...don't try! If you come down again in 2 years, you have new things to do and can take in the other 2 parks. Our kids are teenagers and still do not really appreciate EPCOT yet. If you have an enjoyable time on this trip, EVERYONE (including husband) will be counting the days til the next trip. What many do not understand is that WDW is a resort. There are all sorts of things to do without killing yourself in the theme parks from sun up until sun down. We leave that to what we now call "day campers"....those not staying on property.

We have done trips of all lengths that run anywhere from 3 days to 12. The shorter trips end up being more enjoyable because we do not even try to "do" everything. And on the longer trips, we still end up saying "where did the time go...we did not even see (fill in the blank). JMHO

 

[Tinkerbellah]

NOPE not enough. Your paying for 2 days anyway, you might as well see the other parks. 5 days is not enough to do everything. It takes 2 days for Epcot alone b/c of it's size.[EPCOT is a MUST DO & me & my DH FAVORITE b/c of WORLD SHOWCASE. My DH likes to drink beers & eat food from different countries! maybe your DH would like to make time for that.] You practically pay for7 days worth of tickets after 3days anyway. So I say get your moneys worth + you don't have to try & rush. Rushing makes it exhausting. GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[peacelover]

you can always add days to your ticket once you are at the fort. You don't have to decide how many days you want to do in advance.

 

[amylevan]

We just got back from the fort with another family (their first time). Kids were 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5. We followed our usual mix for a week – 2 days MK, 1 ½ days EP, 1 day HS, 1 day AK and 1 campground day (swimming mostly). Now granted we were there during one of the least crowded times of year, so we definitely got more done then we would in say July, but we find this mix pretty good for seeing what we want to see. And we went back to the campground every afternoon for a nap.

I hate when I read people on here telling others which park to skip, because honestly everyone is different and likes different things. Hollywood studios is not my favorite, but my DS loves Disney Junior, so we spend a day there. My DH doesn’t really enjoy AK, but I do. Plenty of people say their little ones don’t like Epcot, but DS enjoys it. Maybe not as much as the Magic Kingdom, but there is still plenty that he likes. My point? Don’t just automatically assume that one of the parks is “skippable” based on what someone says. They all have great points and weak points. If you really find yourself forced to choose which parks to visit, do your own research and decide what your family would most like to see.

 

[ToddyLu]

It sounds like a wonderful trip. My only remark is most people do not know how truly big WDW is. It is the size of Manhattan. To take a bus from Animal Kingdom lodge is 15 minutes at least without ever leaving property. Just getting around there on all the different modes of transportation is an adventure. 2 days just isn't enough. My goal on our next rip is to spend a little time at the Fort looking around. I think it is a true gem and have only seen the boat dock at night when we arrive for the HDDR. The shear scale of the place will blow your mind which is another aspect of needing more time for the parks. Even 12 trips and 10 years later we have not done it all and that is going for 7-10 nights. It really is the most Magical Place on Earth.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I just got back from an 8 day trip and was not able to experience anywhere near it all. There is SO much more to do than just rides and IMO, if you only do the rides you really miss out.

The major expenses are getting there and staying there. Your best economical decision would to be to get tickets for each day of your stay. It is much cheaper to do it while you are there, rather than wanting more and returning sooner. For everyday that you add to your ticket, the price goes down. I think my last day on my ticket cost me less than 9.00 for the day! You will also feel less stressed or rushed.

For first time visitors I always recommend that they do NOT purchase the park hopper option. That will save the family a good chunk of money and TIME. It takes time to travel from park to park, and for a first visit you will most likely want to do a full day exploring in the park anyway.

Don't forget to pick up a "times guide" in addition to your park map.

Have fun!!

BTW I normally do AK in the middle of my stay. I find strolling the park and looking at the animals a nice relaxing change from just shows and rides. Be sure to catch the Finding Nemo Musical show. It is fantastic!

 

[Friendly Frog]

I hate when I read people on here telling others which park to skip, because honestly everyone is different and likes different things. Hollywood studios is not my favorite, but my DS loves Disney Junior, so we spend a day there. My DH doesn’t really enjoy AK, but I do. Plenty of people say their little ones don’t like Epcot, but DS enjoys it. Maybe not as much as the Magic Kingdom, but there is still plenty that he likes. My point? Don’t just automatically assume that one of the parks is “skippable” based on what someone says. They all have great points and weak points. If you really find yourself forced to choose which parks to visit, do your own research and decide what your family would most like to see.

THIS! ^

and youtube is another resource to check out the attractions. It is also a great way to see if they are appropriate for your family, especially if you have little ones that scare easily. Some people even like their children to view the video of rides or shows first, so they are less likely to react negatively when there.

 

[DisneyKenny]

I guess everyones different and I am a very experienced Disney traveler but I have never done more then 2-3 park days in a week and don't think I would have the desire too. Last year we stayed at the Fort for 15 nights and did exactly one day at Animal Kingdom and one day at Typhoon Lagoon. We had a 2 year old at the time and she enjoyed the days at the campground riding in her wagon or on our bike seat, swiiming etc. more then her two days at parks. Of course your kids are older but even when my wife and I went without kids we would never spent more then 2-3 days (including water parks) per week. We have been going for almost 30 years and this is always the way we have done it (including as a kid of all ages with my parents). to me this makes a more relaxing/affordable vacation. Granted it sounds like I am in the minority here but just thought I would offer up another perspective. Now we did play golf 5 times, enjoy many good meals at various resorts and downtown disney, ride the monorail, souvenier shop, enjoy the Gosple brunch at House of blues, etc. So we were not sitting around the campsite for 2 weeks, but we were not standing in lines/crowds for two weeks either.

 

[Napria]

Since my last reply to this post I have gone on a 3 day trip to WDW as a chaperone for my DD's 8th Grade Chorus. I was responsible for taking my chaperone group of 6 girls, age 13 - 14, around MK, Epcot, DTD and HS. All these girls except my DD had never been to WDW before or the last time they were there they were too young to remember.

First, I'm not used to doing Disney commando! To see half of what they wanted to see, I heavily relied on the Mobile Magic and Undercover Tourist apps. I checked wait times and worked the FastPasses in the most advantageous way. Those 8th grade girls couldn't understand at first why I was walking them from one attraction to another at hyper speed, but after the first day when they had to say goodbye to the MK without doing a bunch of attractions we couldn't fit in, they understood what all the speed walking was about.

Second, wow, did my feet and legs hurt! NOT relaxing! And when I got home after that trip I literally slept for 11 hours, and then took a nap later that day. Again, those were a very tiring three days!

Third, every girl had her own favorite park by the end of the trip. You really need to see them all. My 13 year old DD's favorite is, and always has been, Epcot.

Have you convinced your husband yet?

 

[mikron]

You can see a lot of Disney in 2 days. With said IMO 2 days is rushing things. Not much time to stop, sit or look at all that Disney is.

 

[Bonniec]

I hate when I read people on here telling others which park to skip, because honestly everyone is different and likes different things.

So true. I also think a lot of times people don't really have enough time to get to know the park.

OP, I've got APs to all Disney parks, Universal, IOA, Sea World, and Busch Gardens. Our family are (clearly, lol) theme park lovers. Every park is different and I love them all.

Disney is insanely huge. I've been going since I was a kid and I STILL have not seen it all. My advise is to come and spend as much time as you can here. Don't attempt to see all of Disney. You can't do it and you'll just tire yourself out. Better to give yourself whatever time you can and just enjoy it while you are here. Maybe one day you want more thrilling rides, maybe one day you want to just relax. It's nice to be able to just do whatever you feel like on a vacation. If you try to squeeze in 2 days, you'll be running around ragged trying to get your moneys worth.