Is a day at MK worth it over spring break?

[havaneselover]

I'm taking my kids to sw fl for Easter break (staying with my parents). Dd and I still have two days left on NE park hoppers and ds has 4. Kids haven't been since 2009 (pre divorce). Was toying with getting a hotel room for one night and going to MK the next day. Does that sound crazy? Drive is about 3.5 hours one way.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm taking my kids to sw fl for Easter break (staying with my parents). Dd and I still have two days left on NE park hoppers and ds has 4. Kids haven't been since 2009 (pre divorce). Was toying with getting a hotel room for one night and going to MK the next day. Does that sound crazy? Drive is about 3.5 hours one way.

So, you would be checking out on the morning of your MK day? Followed by a 3.5 hour drive back to your point of origin?

On one hand, I'd be saying that it's worth going since you have NE tickets already. But OTOH, that 3.5 hour drive after a day in the MK during one of its busier seasons makes me cringe.

I think you would get more bang for your buck if you were to use one day from your NE tickets at a time when you could hit rope drop and stay until park closing. Then head back to your hotel where you crash from exhaustion and sleep soundly until almost check out time the next morning. Check out, have a good breakfast and hit the road.

 

[havaneselover]

So, you would be checking out on the morning of your MK day? Followed by a 3.5 hour drive back to your point of origin?

On one hand, I'd be saying that it's worth going since you have NE tickets already. But OTOH, that 3.5 hour drive after a day in the MK during one of its busier seasons makes me cringe.

I think you would get more bang for your buck if you were to use one day from your NE tickets at a time when you could hit rope drop and stay until park closing. Then head back to your hotel where you crash from exhaustion and sleep soundly until almost check out time the next morning. Check out, have a good breakfast and hit the road.

Thanks, Marionette! I appreciate the perspective and one night does sound crazy now that I think about it.

 

[kirstenb1]

I wouldn't do it, but you couldn't pay me to go there over spring break. We have friends who've gone there several times then. Their strategy is not to hit the MK til after 7 pm then stay til closing. They said as the night wore on, lots of people left. They let their kids sleep in super late, like til noon, then hung out at teh pool during the afternoon, because they stayed at the MK til close.

 

[Eureka]

I can't tell you whether it's worth it or not but we've gone during spring break and using touring plans, got a ton done before lunchtime. That didn't even include early magic hours. We were there before rope drop and kept a tight schedule but it didn't feel too scheduled if that make sense. My point is that if you're there early enough, you should be able to get a lot in before the majority of the crowds get there for the day.

 

[havaneselover]

I can't tell you whether it's worth it or not but we've gone during spring break and using touring plans, got a ton done before lunchtime. That didn't even include early magic hours. We were there before rope drop and kept a tight schedule but it didn't feel too scheduled if that make sense. My point is that if you're there early enough, you should be able to get a lot in before the majority of the crowds get there for the day.

I'm definitely an early person and a planner so that's encouraging.

 

[Accident]

I also wouldn't drive 3.5 hours after a day at the parks, but I would drive 3.5 hours and then do a full day in the parks. Can you do the hotel stay after the park and get an early start home in the morning?

I think it's worth going for 1 day.. what's the other option, not going?

 

[havaneselover]

I also wouldn't drive 3.5 hours after a day at the parks, but I would drive 3.5 hours and then do a full day in the parks. Can you do the hotel stay after the park and get an early start home in the morning?

I think it's worth going for 1 day.. what's the other option, not going?

Yes I could swing two nights. The other option would be spending more time with my parents--that has its pluses and minuses

Just trying to figure out how to use these tickets before my kids are too old.

 

[PerfessorZ]

I'll be doing 3 jam-packed days & 2 barely sufficient nights there during spring break this year with my DW & kids. It's far from ideal, but grandma is flying my family and my sister's family down to spend a week on the ocean at Vero Beach, so we're squeezing in this Disney bender because a) I've come to love Disney, b) the airfare is paid for, which is almost half the cost of a vacation for us, and c) I really didn't relish the idea of trying to explain over and over to my DD5 why we were in Florida for a week, but couldn't go to Disney at all.

SO - it probably won't be your best or favorite trip to the Magic Kingdom, but sometimes you just need a little fairy dust to get you through the next 6-12 months before you can find a better time to go.

 

[Marionnette]

Yes I could swing two nights. The other option would be spending more time with my parents--that has its pluses and minuses

Just trying to figure out how to use these tickets before my kids are too old.

If you can swing two nights, that's a much better plan. You could drive to Disney without rushing. Check into your resort and enjoy the pool in the afternoon. Then head to Disney Springs for dinner and some atmosphere. Then hit MK early on your full day and stay until your feet can't take it any more. I think that you will enjoy your trip more if you have that full day to spend there.

 

[katie111]

I would do it. I might regret it, but I know I couldn't be that close to Disney & not go. I would definitely do 2 nights if you can. Personally, I'd prob drive there & spend the night, go to MK in the morning for the day, spend the night again and the hit one of the other parks the next morning for a few hours. Sounds like you're not sure if/when you'll ever be able to use the tix anyways. How old are your kids? Obviously, if they are older, you can get a lot more done as they will have more stamina and will prob want to skip some of the kiddie rides.

 

[havaneselover]

I would do it. I might regret it, but I know I couldn't be that close to Disney & not go. I would definitely do 2 nights if you can. Personally, I'd prob drive there & spend the night, go to MK in the morning for the day, spend the night again and the hit one of the other parks the next morning for a few hours. Sounds like you're not sure if/when you'll ever be able to use the tix anyways. How old are your kids? Obviously, if they are older, you can get a lot more done as they will have more stamina and will prob want to skip some of the kiddie rides.

They will be 11 and 12 so we're definitely done with Dumbo!

 

[DisneyMandC]

I would only it do it if you can do two nights, as others have said. If you haven't been to MK since 2009, there's a lot new you're going to want to see and that would be an exhausting drive home afterwards.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

If you want to keep the cost down a little but still stay two nights, you could have the first night be at an onsite resort so you can spend time at the pool and head to Disney Springs as a PP said. Have your second night be offsite but not too far of a drive since you will probably be tired.

 

[Marionnette]

If you want to keep the cost down a little but still stay two nights, you could have the first night be at an onsite resort so you can spend time at the pool and head to Disney Springs as a PP said. Have your second night be offsite but not too far of a drive since you will probably be tired.

Staying onsite will also enable her to take advantage of free Magic Bands, scheduling her FP+ earlier than offsite guests, EMH, and give her onsite privileges if there are park closures due to capacity.

 

[hsmamato2]

I would do it only if I could do two nights, and RD in the a.m.- also those tickets are good forever...even if the kids get older they can use them.... I had to upgrade my ds once from a 'child' to a 'grownup' (LOL) at the gate on a NE ticket

 

[Divslp]

You couldn't pay me to go to WDW during spring break. Tried it once and never again.

 

[Frozen2014]

You couldn't pay me to go to WDW during spring break. Tried it once and never again.

How bad it is? We'll probably do a March Break when we're ready next to come as our DS is getting older to pull out of school and summer is just too hot for our liking. March Break is mid march for us.