I Got My Way....i Got My Way....i Got My Way....

[pta-mom]

OMGOSH!! I AM SO EXCITED!! WE, MY DH AND TWO DS 8&9, ARE GOING TO WDW APRIL 3-9......IT WILL BE OUR FIRST TIME!!! ACTUALLY, I'VE TOLD MY DH, WHO HATES SPENDING $$$$ , THAT IT WILL BE OUR ONLY TIME SO WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT! AKA, HE WANTS TO STAY OFF-SIGHT, COOK ALL OUR MEALS AND DRIVE FROM CANADA, 24HRS .....I DON'T THINK SO! SO, WE HAVE A DINING PACKAGE FOR FOUR, SEVEN DAY PASSES AND ARE STAYING AT THE CORANDO, AFTER TAKING A SHORT 2 HOUR FLIGHT IT IS AFTERALL, MY HOLIDAY TOO!!


ANYWAY, ENOUGH GLOATING! HERE IS MY QUESTION: GIVEN THE AGES OF MY SONS, IS IT REASONABLE TO THINK TWO DAYS MGM, MK AND ONE DAY AK AND EPICOT? GOTTA TELL YA...MY BOYS ARE AWESOME BUT NOT BIG ON DARK, SCARY RIDES....THAT SHOULD ELIMINATE A FEW!

ALSO, WHAT IS THE USUAL WEATHER/CROWDS LIKE FOR FIRST WEEK OF APRIL?

ANY THOUGHTS?

 

[isyt]

Hey have a great time!!!!! I would make MGM 1 day and Epcot 2 days or at least a day and a half!!! My kids are 4,6, and 8 and love Epcot!! You should do the parks 1 day each and go back to what they want! You will also love Coronado, try to request a building near the food court!!

Have a great trip!!!

 

[Mecha Figment]

if they are 8 and 9 they should be able to handle what ever disney can rough out. if not they need to at least experience them. it will put hair on their chest.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

First off, welcome to the boards! I agree with 1 day at MGM but also I'd definitely do 2 at MK like you have planned. You can probably do 1/2 day at AK and then catch Fantasmic at MGM or something like that. Here's what I would do it it was my trip (suggestive only!)

2 day MK
1 MGM
1 Epcot
1/2 to 1 AK
1/2 day at Disney Quest (given the ages of you DSs)
Then for the last day, let everyone vote on their favorite park and the magority will win and that is where I'd spend my last day.

I went in April one time and although it was crowded, not like Christmas by any means, the weather was cool and pleasant. Just do fast pass and you'll be fine!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I DON'T THINK SO! SO, WE HAVE A DINING PACKAGE FOR FOUR, SEVEN DAY PASSES AND ARE STAYING AT THE CORANDO, AFTER TAKING A SHORT 2 HOUR FLIGHT IT IS AFTERALL, MY HOLIDAY TOO!!

So nice that you've managed to sit down with your husband and come to a mutual agreement about your family's holiday.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Way to go Mom! You are right -- unless you are going to be getting annual passports and going to Disney a few times a year, it's better to do it once, and do it right. I can only imagine what 24 hours in a car would be like when you know Disney is at the end of the journey ... talk about taking FOREVER!

Have a great time and enjoy that your kids are old enough to help with planning. Go to allearsnet.com and print menues for varrious places and see what you can all decide on. It's a lot easier to do now, than later!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree about only 1 day at MGM - that will be more than enought time spent there.

You might want to consider an attraction outside of DW, such as Sea World, a visit to one of the water parks, or spend the day at the beach (if you rent a car).

 

[Tegra89]

Congrats! I wouldn't want to cook either! What wrong with these guys? Dh thinks that way too. We SHOULD let them cook! LOL! Have fun!

 

[sajetto]

Congrats!! I would just spend 1 day at MGM and 2 at Epcot. Keep the 2 days at MK b/c it will definitely take you long to see all that you want. I would try to spend all of 1 day at AK so that you can see all of the sections of the park and still see Festival of the Lion King

 

[LordAthens]

You should do Burger King commercials, too..

 

[disneyfanfamily]

I agree with isyt - do all the parks for 1 day and see what your family enjoys and then visit the favorites for a 2nd day. We have done AK for 1/2 day and a whole day. MGM we did a 1/2 day. It depends on what your family likes. Definitley get there early and use the early EMH. It worked out great for us.

And about cooking...good for you! I am a stay at home mom, so cooking IS part of my job. No thank you! We did bring packaged donuts and granola bars for breakfast. Saved quite a bit of money eating breakfast in the room.

Have ALOT of fun!!!!

 

[mjkaferle5]

...........You might want to consider an attraction outside of DW.........

Go offsite!!!! No way!

 

[JRawkSteady]

I think you definitely need 2 at MK and Epcot. If you can't do 2 days for both parks, another suggestion would be to do 1 day at each park, then park-hop between MK and Epcot on your extra day. But you definitely don't need 2 days at MGM or AK unless you plan on experiencing every single attraction they offer.

 

[MermaidsMom]

If you read my tag line at the bottom, you will see that I know where you are coming from and will offer a word of caution: Don't go completely wild with "this will be our only visit" stuff-because once you go there that will probably all change! Go easy on the souveniers and expensive extras if you ever want to get your husband there again! Have a great time

 

[pta-mom]

Thanks for your advice all! I will certainly give this some more thought! It really is so confusing as to which park is "better" as it is so obviously a personal choice. I so appreciate the help from you "seasoned" WDer's!!

And to my RoyalCanadian friend, rest assured after 16 years together, we've had to come to many "mutual agreements"....

 

[HappyLawyer]

i hope you all enjoy yoru trip

 

[pta-mom]

Thank you Happy! I hope so too!! Actually, it is funny because I am soooo excited!! I feel like I'm twelve years old again!! So silly!

 

[rcraw45425]

pta-mom, welcome to the DIS, home to many a loony Disney lover! We will also be there at that time, it's become something of a tradition for my family, it's our school's spring break week. You are going at a great time, albeit a little busy due to all of the spring/Easter breakers. At busy times like that your husband will kiss you when he sees how easy things become when you stay ONSITE! No traffic worries, simply take your free Disney transportation. You will also be there at a perfect time, Animal Kingdom's new super headliner ride, Expedition Everest is set to open around then. We are hoping, since we missed the passholder preview last weekend, that it will actually be open for riding while we are there. MGM has become one of our favorite parks as our girls have gotten older, if they enjoy thrills, Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster are great. Try to arrange a priority seating at the Sci Fi Dine In for lunch, grab a burger there and sit back in the cars and watch the cheesy old sci fi movies in "the open air". Hopefully we will manage to see Lights, Motors, Action while there this time. Invest in a good travel book like "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" or Birnbaums WDW, for kids by kids. That is one of my kids' favorite ones. Your boys will love being able to get other kids ratings on the attractions. See Fantasmic at night, try to see Illuminations at EPCOT one night, along with WIshes at the Magic Kingdom too. Most of all, enjoy watching your children's faces as you enter the Magic Kingdom and walk "right down the middle of Main Street USA". I guarantee you, you'll have tears in your eyes! Enjoy, maybe we'll see you there. We arrive at the YAcht CLub on the 3rd, depart on the 7th (unless we can talk DH into a trip before then ). One of the advantages of living 6 hours away by auto!

 

[mattsdragon]

Where do you live if a 2 hour flight translates into a 24 hour drive?

Anyway, back on topic, 2 days at MK are definite. I would be flexible about everything else though. AK closes early, so you can hit something after that, and 2 days at MGM may be a tad bit excessive. You won't see everything, but you should get most things taken care of.

Above all, just enjoy yourselves.

 

[pta-mom]

Where do you live if a 2 hour flight translates into a 24 hour drive?

Anyway, back on topic, 2 days at MK are definite. I would be flexible about everything else though. AK closes early, so you can hit something after that, and 2 days at MGM may be a tad bit excessive. You won't see everything, but you should get most things taken care of.

Above all, just enjoy yourselves.

Well, it is a little bit of an exaggeration but not much....maybe 2-3 hours in air....not counting stop time as not a direct flight. We live in Ottawa, Ontario. 24 hours drive!!