Is half a day at Disney World worth it??

[kasha321]

Help!! My husband wants to spend a 1/2 day at Disney World the day our plan lands. We will land at 11:30 and he wants to pick up the rental car, get to the hotel (which check-in will be either 3 or 4) and spend the rest of the day at Disney.... I think that is just too much to cram into a day. With the rates at Disney, I feel that you should spend the whole day there or not go at all. It's not like we are getting any discount tickets or anything.... His argument is "when will the kids get down here again?" Which is true, but why waste the day on running when we could go to a very nice hotel and let them swim and enjoy the start of our vacation. Will be leaving on the Disney Dream 12/22/11 and don't want to be exhausted when we get there.....

Any advice would be great. Am I being a prude??? Or just over planning and trying to be partical!!

 

[myxdvz]

I think "worth" differs for different people. I just had this experience just last week. I have had plans for Magic Kingdom for 3/28 for the longest time. I've reserved my two girls for a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo castle package, and a seating at Cinderella's Royal Table. We were only planning to go to MK, so we're paying for a 1 day ticket (not cheap).

Then what happens? Torrential rain! We were at our resort and all morning my husband has been asking me to cancel our plans and go the next day instead. But we would be losing our reservations as both BBB and CRT are difficult reservations to make. So on we went, we were at the park at 12 for our BBB ressie, then at 2pm for CRT. After lunch, our DD4 and DS2 napped and we decided to haul them back at the hotel. It was still raining.

We spent around 4 hours in the park. Total cost? over $800 (tickets ~$300+, BBB $400, lunch, $100+).

Was it worth it to me? Yes. My hubby? probably not

Also depending on what time your flight lands, and what day you get in the park, your half day could be 8 hours! They day we were at MK, the park opens until 1am, so if it were not raining, we could have had lots of hours in the park.

In the end, its not really the # of hours you spent there - it's what you did there that matters, IMO.

 

[uscgrl93]

I've done Magic Kingdom and Epcot in half days. The key is to hit up the park either first thing for early magic hours or later for late magic hours...otherwise you risk the possibility of crowds. And you would need to see which park offers it.

 

[copper0426]

I say go with it, there is no wasted time at WDW. If you don't need to go to a specific park just pick the one open the latest. It is an expensive night out but when will it happen again? Don't know if it applies but if your at a Disney hotel he can check in and drop the bags you can get to the park p/u tickets and save some time they will now text you with your room number easy peasy .

 

[Skimat]

Worth it.

 

[Jessica527]

If you decide to just spend the day at the hotel....I would stay at Yacht Club and check out the pool! It is like the 3rd waterpark at disney!

 

[Audria407]

I'll agree with the other posters and say Go For It, particularly if you take them to the Magic Kingdom where the hours tend to be extended. In fact, the crowds tend to thin out after the dinner hour and locals know it's a great time to go.

I don't know how old your children are but being there ALL day becomes overwhelming to younger kids, so half a day may be ideal. Besides, with the potential for thinner crowds, you may find you can experience just as much as if you'd been there the entire day.

Adults tend to look for the value, but it's easy to overlook the fact that kids can find joy in each moment if we let them. Whether you're there for four hours or ten, the Magic your kids will experience will turn ordinary into unforgettable. Take them, take your time and don't rush. Even if you only see half the park, the impact can be profound.

 

[sabrecmc]

Will you ever regret that you spent time with your kids at this time in their lives at the Magic Kingdom?

Plus, think of how much leverage you'll have over them the whole trip ("Hurry up or we won't have enough time at Disney World!").

Worth it.

 

[BASTHEFIRST]

I think like you. If you're leaving on your cruise the next day, why wear yourself out the day before running around. You very well could stay at a really nice hotel near by with a great pool and other facilities without ever feeling rushed or like you're cramming it in. We LOVE Disney, but half a day would only wet our appetite. While it could get you going for your cruise, do you really need something to get you going? It would come down to the expense vs. what the crowds will be like for what you want to do. Weigh it all, and talk it all out and i'm sure you'll all agree no matter what you choose in the end.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

We almost always fly in about 11:15, hurry and we are in a park by 2. It is so worth it to me. I must see those magical fireworks to feel like I am truly in my favorite place. I normally choose the park that is open the latest with fireworks. SO WORTH IT. Now, one footnote...check the crowd calendars for that date since it is so close to Christmas. It might not work as well due to the crowds.

 

[lbgraves]

I would never go to WDW at any of the parks just for the evening. The cost is just too much even with 10 day tickets. What we do when we arrive in the afternoon is go to DTD and have dinner at either Rainforest or T-Rex and go through the shops there. We then head over to the Poly to watch Wishes on the beach there. It still feels like you have been to Disney.

 

[myxdvz]

I would never go to WDW at any of the parks just for the evening.

Well, just the evening might be pushing it. OP said 1/2 day, so I assume after lunch. Although, again to me, worth is different for different people.

We are not early morning people so last year in WDW, we normally don't get to the parks until lunch to hit our character lunch appointment. On the days we were there early, we were back at the hotel at 5pm. So to me, 10-5 and 12-7 does not make that much difference. IMO, YMMV and all that.

OTOH, in this same trip - we were also flying in early for the cruise and chose to spend our day just in AKL, watching the animals and in the pool. But that's because we KNOW we're going to the park after the cruise.

You're husbands words stuck a chord with me. "When will they ever do this again?" To me that means, you're not regular Disney travellers, you don't plan to go to the parks after the cruise and you don't know when you'll be back. In that case, I do think it is worth it.

 

[Momma_of_4]

This will be our first time going! We can't afford to go for more than a day with my four girls and four adults... So we are going on our Cruise first then spend a day recouping then to Disneyworld we go! I don't know if I could pay that much for only half a day either... Good luck!

 

[TLSnell1981]

If you choose an onsite rental car, you will easily make it to the hotel by 1:30pm. Check in and leave your bags with the bellhop. You will also save time, if you buy your park tickets ahead of time. Check the calendar for park closing times and extra magic hours. You will have plenty of time to enjoy a park.

 

[Dash&Maggie]

Help!! My husband wants to spend a 1/2 day at Disney World the day our plan lands. We will land at 11:30 and he wants to pick up the rental car, get to the hotel (which check-in will be either 3 or 4) and spend the rest of the day at Disney.... I think that is just too much to cram into a day. With the rates at Disney, I feel that you should spend the whole day there or not go at all. It's not like we are getting any discount tickets or anything.... His argument is "when will the kids get down here again?" Which is true, but why waste the day on running when we could go to a very nice hotel and let them swim and enjoy the start of our vacation. Will be leaving on the Disney Dream 12/22/11 and don't want to be exhausted when we get there.....

Any advice would be great. Am I being a prude??? Or just over planning and trying to be partical!!

Are you staying at a hotel on Disney property? If so, you could check-in early, leave your luggage at the hotel and head to the Magic Kingdom. You just wouldn't have your room ready until closer to your true reservation time. If you're staying on-site, I say go for it! You would also have the benefit of Disney transportation (buses, monorail) and could relax a bit during your ride to the park. Just keep your plans simple, maybe pick a few "must-do" attractions plus a fireworks display. I recommend choosing the Magic Kingdom. I totally think this would be worth it and memorable!

If you're staying off-site, I think it completely depends on where you're staying. You would then have to consider driving and parking. This scenario may be too much of a headache.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[pixarmom]

Hi OP!

A few thoughts:

1) This is just our family's preference, but the only park we would do for a 1/2 day in the afternoon is Epcot. The lines for our favorites at MK, DHS and MK are just too long to arrive in the afternoon at one of the other parks. We're a rope drop family and we're not willing to wait in lines much. When we arrive at Epcot in the afternoon, the only thing we miss is Soarin but everything else is accessible!

2) We're cruising in August and staying at Disney before and after the cruise. We're not doing parks, but our APs expired so we've been to WDW four times and DL once in one year, so I know that makes it a bit easier for us. In any event, we're looking forward to that Disney feel and some resort ADRs without the cost of the park tickets. So that's an option.

3) I was recently thinking about whether I would ever do what you are contemplating - just a park day before a cruise. And I was thinking if we could get tickets to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, that would be the PERFECT way to do it! Just a little time in a park in the evening - special event - and lower cost. I see you are sailing in December - would that work for you?

4) It would also depend on park hours. If you get in the park at 2pm, but it closes early, you might not feel it's worth it. If they have later hours and you are willing to stay up late, you could get in quite a lot!

 

[mdinowitz]

In the past we have gone to the chip and dale campfire which is free, then watched the fireworks from the beach at fort wilderness. As a pp said, you still feel like you went to Disney without spending the $$ on tickets for just an evening. Another option that is alot of fun but less expensive than park tickets is the pirate fireworks cruise from the contrmporsry. Whstever you decide have a great trip !

 

[ITGirl50]

I think you can do one half day at a park, but that week is very, very crowded. Just expect a lot of people at the park that afternoon. You may not get to ride a lot of "big" rides. Just expect to enjoy the parades, fireworks, shops, shows, etc. Check-out what's going on at that park that day and the park hours. Extra Magic hours will only be for on-property guests.

You may not be able to swim late December. We go that week every year and sometimes it's a nice 70 degrees and other times it's in the 40s. This past year it was pretty cold and windy.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Okay, somehow I totally missed your date. I doubt, there will be a MVMCP on December 21st. MK should be open, at least, until midnight and possibly later. EPCOT and DHS...probably until 10:00 (calendar available in June). We were there, the week before Christmas, and while crowded, it was still a lot of fun.

BTW, The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights are in DHS and they are amazing.

 

[lbgraves]

Well, just the evening might be pushing it. OP said 1/2 day, so I assume after lunch. Although, again to me, worth is different for different people.

I agree that a 1 to 2 start time would be more desirable than 4 or 5 from what I gathered from the post saying they would check in at the hotel at 3 to 4. Usually the FPs are gone by 2 or 3 so if you aren't there by then you have to stand in the lines. We go at opening and keep getting FPs whenever our time allows it so that we don't have to deal with the lines later in the day when the park gets more crowded.

In the past we have gone to the chip and dale campfire which is free, then watched the fireworks from the beach at fort wilderness.

This was one of our favorite things that we did on a non-park day.