Is it wise to split your days between parks?

[JadeTiger]

Since I am having trouble planning where we need to be each day, Is it wise to split time between parks?

Here is what I am thinking, please tell me if this sounds like a good idea or not. I will give you my thought process (I don't know if that helps or not)

1/23 travel day... Will spend a few hours at MK... we will have been up for many hours, so I don't think we will stay up too late

1/24 Animal Kingdom in the AM.... PM at MGM have H&V ps(4:15) for Fantasmic... then Fantasmic show(@7pm).... maybe walk over to Epcot to watch Illuminations(9pm)
I am not sure how long it takes to do this park (MGM) maybe I should spend the whole day there.. but that might be too much??

1/25 MK (early open morning)... then switch parks when it starts to get crouded then go to Epcot... maybe eat at a nice restaraunt.

1/26 AM at Animal kingdom.. Lunch at rainforest cafe...then go to MGM (or epcot)

1/27 Epcot in the AM.. ps at restaraunt......... then PM in MK stay rest of day since we will only be able to see Spectromagic and Wishes this night.

1/28 Free day... to see waht we didn't have enough of earlier or maybe checkout downtown disney and DQ.... Supper at Artist Point.

1/29 pack and go home

So what do you think of the plan.... The last time I was in Disney they were still building Epcot, so I have no clue... am I spending too much time in one park, I really want to do this right.

 

[B3LM]

My suggestion would be to spend a full day at MGM instead of going to AK first. I'd spend the full day at MGM on the day you have the Fantasmic dinner package, then go to AK on your other day that you had down for it, finishing at EPCOT.

If you do go between MGM and EPCOT, rather than walking, there is a ferry boat that will take you between the two. It's a beautiful ride which takes about 25 - 30 minutes since they make stops at BW, BC/YC, and Swan/Dolphin. It's a pretty long walk between the two.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would say my most enjoyable days was due to park hopping.
Depending on what you do, and how indepth, two days are needed for Epcot/WS.

 

[ChairborneRangr]

In January crowds are low. Why do all that switching? On Average every switch will cost you more than an hour. If you do switch stick to the EPCOT/MK or EPCOT/Studios, since you have direct transportation available.

As far as animal kingdom goes... It is not a full-day park. Stay till the Jungle Jammin Parade (4ish?), then bug out for EPCOT or MK.

On the first day I would consider going to Studios and checking out shows and fantasmic. Low key stuff since you will be tired. OR, go to DTD and catch Cirque du Soliel like we did this summer. THe show was fantastic!

 

[DebbieB]

We always split days. We like to go back to the resort and take a break in the afternoon. It makes the trip seem longer by going to different parks in the same day. On our last day 2 weeks ago, we did 3 parks! MK in the morning, MGM in the afternoon (just for ToT and RnR), back to resort and then Epcot at night!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

If you are going directly from park to park I would plan at the very minimum an hour in travel.

Since we normally take a break at lunch and change parks it isn't so bad and the down time on a bus is a rejuvenating rest for the girls.

 

[JadeTiger]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice, feel free to keep it coming. So it sounds like most of my plan is OK, just not to split between Animal Kingdom and MGM. The fireworks seem to be what is tripping me up. I have no option on 1/24.. I HAVE to see Fantasmic this day because it will be shut down the rest of the time we are there


This leads to 1/27 being the only option for MK fireworks since the only other night they are going to be happening is the Fantasmic night.

 

[beatnik]

We usually go during a very slow time of the year (as you are) when the park hours are quite reduced. So to us it makes sense to hop around a bit-- particularly with AK, since it will likely close at 5 when you are there. We often plan our days as you do-- which of the one or two days of our stay will the MK fireworks take place? Fanstamic? and so on... We tend to start our day at a park which closes early and end at a park which closes late.

However, we find that the fastest way to park hop is DEFINATELY to drive ourselves. Disney transport can take quite awhile... If driving is not an option, make sure you factor the travel time in-- I'd count on an hour if using Disney Transport (first you must wait for the transport to arrive, then ride the transport which will stop elsewhere), although sometimes you might make a switch in 40 minutes or so. Our transit time with driving in usually 15-25 minutes.

I would also keep your plan fairly flexible. If you plan half a day at MGM, but then take a serious liking to the Millionaire game (say) and want to play it over and over, allow enough flexibility in your schedule to stay longer than planned. This is the beauty of going in the lowest of the loe seasons-- the parks will be largely uncrowded and other than scheduled event like fireworks, you won't need to strategize as much as folks going during the busy season.

Beatnik

 

[bobcat]

I agree with staying at MGM on your Fantasmic day. There are so many shows and longer attractions here that there will be plenty to do all day long. Besides you won't lose valuable park time to traveling.

 

[JadeTiger]

After reading all of the great advice I decided to amend the earlier travel plan. Does this one sound like a better plan? Do you have any other suggestions? I made several PS for late afternoon so that we could ride the big rides earlier in the day and not have upset stomachs. I am not sure if the times are the greatest, but I figure if anyone is starving we would always get a quick light snack.

Below is the amended plan

Originally posted by JadeTiger

1/23 travel day... Will spend a few hours at MK... we will have been up for many hours, so I don't think we will stay up too late

1/24 MGM all day, have H&V ps(4:15) for Fantasmic... then Fantasmic show(@7pm).... take the ferry to Epcot to watch Illuminations(9pm)


1/25 MK (early open morning)... then switch parks when it starts to get crouded then go to Epcot.. Made PS for Akerhus (3:30)

1/26 Animal kingdom.. PS for rainforest cafe (4:30) Then go to Epcot or MK

1/27 Epcot in the AM.. PS at Marrakesh restaraunt(3:15)..... then PM in MK stay rest of day since we will only be able to see Spectromagic and Wishes this night.

1/28 Free day... to see what we didn't have enough of earlier or maybe checkout downtown disney and DQ.... Supper at Artist Point.

1/29 pack and go home

So what do you think?

 

[Mickey76]

Dividing your time between parks is a great way to do things. I always like to go to a park in the morning until early to mid afternoon, spend some time at the resort and then go back to the same park or go to another park. Spending all day in one park can be extremely tiresome.


Mickey76

 

[jann1033]

your *new and improved* version sounds good but why go to epcot for illum after fantasmic..by the time you get out and get there you might be hustling for a good spot since you will be at epcot other nights? ( just don't miss it!) maybe if you want to do something else after fantasmic go to boardwalk or dtd? ( personally *I'd* be ready to go to the resort espec. after a long day the day before but you probably have more stamina!) an whoo hooo I am getting close to single digits( too bad i'm not ready)

 

[Deb & Bill]

In 14 trips, we have only done a single park one time and we were there from park opening to nearly 10PM. Never again. Now we hit a park in the AM, go for a swim and head to another in the afternoon or early evening.