I keep chaning my mind, and the trip is quickly approaching.

[ogreenlee]

The party will consist of me, DH, DD3, DM70.

Here's the rundown:
ME and DH have done MK, MGM, Epcot.
DD3's first trip ever
DM hasn't been in 20 years, and has only been to MK.

We have two days in the parks. The first day, 11/16, will be devoted to MK.

I'm so torn on which park to do on the second day.

Also, should we invest in park hoppers and squeeze in two parks on the second day, OR should we skip the park hoppers and get tickets to MVMCP on 11/17? None of us have ever been to that.

As much as my DM will drive me nuts, I hope it won't be her last trip to WDW.

We're staying at SOG and have Crystal Palace and Chef Mickeys reserved.

So... what to do on that second day??

 

[julsmom]

I say, do a parkhopper. When are you going?

 

[ogreenlee]

We're leaving on 11/15, which is a Wednesday. I figure we'll pull into WDW around early dinner time. *fingers crossed*

Then in the park on Thursday and Friday, and back home on 11/18, Saturday.

 

[ogreenlee]

no one HERE has an opinion on WDW?

 

[disneychickforever]

I personally think Epcot...

MGM is fun-but thre isn't to much

Animal Kingdom-the one time I went, I was bored out of my mind......

Plus Epcot has World Showcase, so all of you can "tour the world" together.

Also, the MVMCP depends on you guys. I think it would be a great experience (we're going then too!)-however, only you know what your mom and son can cope with in a day

 

[shellybaxter]

With a three year old I'd do AK in the morning, hit the safari and camp minnie mickey for the characters for sure, and then head to Epcot in the afternoon.

Is there no way to extend your stay by a day or two? I just would never go to WDW for just two days

 

[ogreenlee]

I wish we could extend, and I'll keep my fingers crossed, but my mom will be with us, and 3 days is about all I can handle. She's very overbearing.

We're planning a big trip next fall.

 

[Smileybug]

My advice since you have a 3 yr old child and your 70 yr old mother is to not push to hard. take your time and really enjoy what you are able to get to. Especially since you are going back next fall. Your mother and child will enjoy the experience so much more if you go at a more relaxed pace.

 

[ogreenlee]

My advice since you have a 3 yr old child and your 70 yr old mother is to not push to hard. take your time and really enjoy what you are able to get to. Especially since you are going back next fall. Your mother and child will enjoy the experience so much more if you go at a more relaxed pace.

I'm definitely going to have to hold back with both of them in tow. Funny enough is that my mom walks several miles everyday, and I don't see her having much problem getting around the park.

I just can't decide on which park to do on Friday, and whether we should do MVMCP.

I keep leaning towards MGM b/c of The Muppets. My dd knows ALL about the Muppets, and has since she was old enough to say all their names. She's been watching the Muppet Movie since she first started walking. I think she'll really love that show. That's pretty much the only reason I really want to go there. She isn't too involved in Disney Playhouse.

Maybe one day they'll have a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse there at MGM.

I think my dd will be bored with Epcot, and considering we will have already spent two days with my mom, God love her, my DH and I would probably end up drunk half-way thru World Showcase.

 

[GOODoldPAL]

I too would recommend AK for a 3 yr old. Hit the Safari first, the animal trails, Camp Minnie. Kali Rapids to get very wet if you think it would not be too rough for her and adults could fastpass Everest while someone takes her to the Dino dig.
Our family loves zoos so AK was one of our favorites

Muppets @ MGM are on the EMH hour list so if you get hoppers you can catch that any time in the evening. I also would recommend Fantasmic pkg with dining @ Hollywood & Vine - not fab food but great character meal and reserved seating for Fantasmic.
Don't sweat it no matter what you decide, you'll have a great time and you can "fill in the blanks" when you return in the Fall!

 

[ogreenlee]

My mom mentioned AK to me when we first decided to go. Since then she has said, "Whatever will make O (my dd) happy." If we do go to AK, then I'm thinking we should definitely do a park hopper just so we can go to MGM that evening.

My mom focuses on my dd way too much, and probably wouldn't notice if Mickey came and hit her on the head. Shoot, maybe my DH and I will go off and do something on our own since we'll have a babysitter with us.

MK has morning EMH on the first park day, and Epcot has it on the second evening that we'll be in the park.

I just need to decide how much everything is going to cost. I talked my DH into this trip by telling him it would be a short, low-cost trip that wouldn't break into our funds too badly. We're going to Mexico for a week in May for my friend's wedding, which is also on our 10th anniversary, and then we have Disney planned for next fall with our friends. I just couldn't wait to get my DD down there, and while my mom was visiting, we planned a short trip. No way would my DH agree to go with my DM for more than a few days, and my DM has a military ID, so we get to stay cheap at SOG. It was a great plan until I tried to start shoving all kinds of stuff into our short trip. I just need to relax. lol

 

[abamick]

and considering we will have already spent two days with my mom, God love her, my DH and I would probably end up drunk half-way thru World Showcase.

I hear ya! We have a "family reunion" down there the week of Thanksgiving!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Or, you could do Magic Kingdom on the 16th, then Animal Kingdom on the 17th followed by MVMCP. The tickets for that should cost you less per person than the Hoppper add-on. I suggest AK only because it will close at 5, giving you plenty of time to enjoy all the MVMCP festivities. Second would be MGM that day, but it closes probably 7:30? If you stay until closing, that'll cut into your Christmas Party time.

On the other hand, MVMCP will make for a VERY long day - can you all handle it?

 

[ogreenlee]

The thought of a family reunion at WDW scares the bejeebies out of me. No thanks!

Or, you could do Magic Kingdom on the 16th, then Animal Kingdom on the 17th followed by MVMCP. The tickets for that should cost you less per person than the Hoppper add-on. I suggest AK only because it will close at 5, giving you plenty of time to enjoy all the MVMCP festivities. Second would be MGM that day, but it closes probably 7:30? If you stay until closing, that'll cut into your Christmas Party time.

On the other hand, MVMCP will make for a VERY long day - can you all handle it?

That's what I was worried about with the MVMCP. And if we did do MGM, I'd want to stay for the Osborne Lights and Fantasmic. Well, we do have Chef Mickey's bfst that morning. I guess we could take it easy until around lunch and then head for MGM, and skip AK and MVMCP altogether. I need to think about doing less rather than more. MGM doesn't close until 8:00.

If any Muppets were to be at H&V before Fantasmic, this decision could be easily made. I've never seen another 3 yr old who just goes nuts for Muppet characters outside of Sesame Street.

 

[Karnak]

We're leaving on 11/15, which is a Wednesday. I figure we'll pull into WDW around early dinner time. *fingers crossed*

Then in the park on Thursday and Friday, and back home on 11/18, Saturday.

I would visit Epcot on my arrival day, seeing as much as possible of that park. Then, with my two full days: I would use one to visit Animal Kingdom, arriving at opening and leaving at about 3:00, take a brief break in my room and spend the evening at the Magic Kingdom, attending the Christmas Party. On the other full day, I would visit the Studio, being sure to see Fantasmick and the Christmas lights in the evening at that park. I would make my dinner reservations accordingly, once I had decided which days to vist each park.

Enjoy.

 

[ogreenlee]

We probably won't arrive in Orlando until 5:00-6:00pm, depending on what time we actually get out of the house that morning. It's typically a 7 hour drive from where we live in GA (north of Atlanta). I have a feeling that it will take longer than that b/c of bathroom breaks and stopping for lunch.

I think we'll probably go to Downtown Disney that first night for dinner and shopping.
I hope the SOG transportation will take us there. I need to check on that.

My DH is trying to get out of spending that much money, which is why we're only going to two parks. My mom has offered to pay for the hotel room. YAY!!

Thanks for the advice. I'd love to show my mom Epcot, but this trip is for the kid. I've pretty much decided against Epcot.