Is this too much MK?

[writur]

I wouldn't have thought there could be too much MK in a trip, but now I'm worrying. Would love your thoughts on this itinerary. It'll be me, DH, DD5 and DS3 in October and we're staying at the Contemporary. First trip for both kids, but we have season passes to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (and have gone to Great Wolf Lodge a few times), so they're used to theme parks.

Saturday: arrive MCO 9 a.m., spend the day at MK
Sunday: Epcot
Monday: MK
Tuesday: Animal Kingdom (or Epcot if we don't get enough on Sunday)
Wednesday: MK (leave for airport at 4:30 p.m.)

I should add -- my in-laws live in Orlando, so this will (hopefully) be the first of many annual trips to WDW, that's why it's a fairly short trip. Thanks!

 

[soniam]

Looks fine to me. MK has a lot of stuff. It and Epcot are the ones where we have to skip less important stuff to get it done in a day.

 

[mort1331]

2 quick things, I would switch up the Monday and Tuesday. MK is normally busy on a Monday. and second no interest in DHS, so many great things for the little ones. You could even do that on the Wednesday.

 

[mom2rtk]

There is no such thing as "too much MK."

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I think your itinerary looks fine-we usually park hop to the MK most days. Can't resist the place.

 

[writur]

2 quick things, I would switch up the Monday and Tuesday. MK is normally busy on a Monday. and second no interest in DHS, so many great things for the little ones. You could even do that on the Wednesday.

Thanks, @mort1331 -- I was originally thinking of doing HS on Wednesday, but was worried that would be too much running around on the day we're leaving. I figured it would be easier to just walk to MK, spend the day and walk back to pick up the ME shuttle, instead of busing all over. What do you think -- is it really not too much effort?

Also, MK has EMH on Monday a.m. which is why we picked that. I know the park will be crowded later in the day, and we're not getting park hopper, so maybe it will be a bad choice. But I guess we could do Downtown Disney at night.

 

[scrapquitler]

I wouldn't have thought there could be too much MK in a trip, but now I'm worrying. Would love your thoughts on this itinerary. It'll be me, DH, DD5 and DS3 in October and we're staying at the Contemporary. First trip for both kids, but we have season passes to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (and have gone to Great Wolf Lodge a few times), so they're used to theme parks.

Saturday: arrive MCO 9 a.m., spend the day at MK
Sunday: Epcot
Monday: MK
Tuesday: Animal Kingdom (or Epcot if we don't get enough on Sunday)
Wednesday: MK (leave for airport at 4:30 p.m.)

I should add -- my in-laws live in Orlando, so this will (hopefully) be the first of many annual trips to WDW, that's why it's a fairly short trip. Thanks!

I don't think it's too much MK. We spent more time than that there last week with our 12 yo. I think that the MK is the most magical park for kids the age of yours.

 

[Hootch]

We did something similar with our first trip when he was three and a half. It worked for us.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Also, MK has EMH on Monday a.m. which is why we picked that. I know the park will be crowded later in the day, and we're not getting park hopper, so maybe it will be a bad choice. But I guess we could do Downtown Disney at night.

This is part of the reason why MK is going to be super busy. Most onsite guest go to the EMH park, even if they don't actually get there in time for EMH. Plus, since you're going in October, that day is going to be a non-party day, which will make crowds swell even more. You should really reconsider. The park is going to be super busy all day. It's going to feel more like July (i.e., crowd level 8 or 9) rather than a moderate 5 or 6, especially if that Monday is Columbus Day. Tuesday will be less crowded because it's a party day and won't have EMH.

Also, when my kids were the age of yours, they had almost no interest in Epcot but loved DHS.

ETA: In looking at your schedule, you chose the three most busy days of the week to be at MK. Wednesday is going to be super busy because of PM EMH (and the lack of a party) and Saturday is always the busiest day of the week at MK. I'd really rethink the plan if I were you.

 

[mort1331]

You are right about the running, but if you move your days around to get one in at DHS. Disclaimer, I love DHS for the little ones, not everyone does but I do.
Lunch at H&V with the Disney Jr.Char., TSMM, Star Tours if tall enough, mine love it. And so much more.

 

[POOHsie]

You and DH might love Epcot enough to want a return day, but I urge you to visit Animal Kingdom for the kids. They will adore that park. You'll start to feel it, along with your kids, as you spend time there. It's seriously a Disney triumph.

 

[dchronister]

I am a firm believer that there can never be to much MK. We buy hoppers now that my kids are almost adults and usually end our park days in MK. We may not get there till 8 or 9pm, but almost always end the day there. You can always catch a parade or fireworks or hop in line to ride something because the line may be shorter late at night. We always do late EMH at MK, the later the better, you can get soon much done. If that's where most of your interest lie, that's where you really want to be anyway.

 

[Simba's Mom]

That's just like what we did a few months ago-MK every other day, alternating with one other park: Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday-MK, Monday-DHS, Wednesday-AK, Friday-Epcot. Our DGDs were 2yo and 4yo, and it worked perfectly.

 

[MrKnight]

Have you considered swapping one of your MK days with DHS?

 

[OhThePain]

I think your itinerary works, especially for the ages of your kids. You really only have 1 full day and maybe 2 half days at MK, which, IMO, isn't too much. With all the traveling you will be doing on the first day, even if your kids are experienced with theme parks, don't expect them to make it much past dinner, if that. If you are landing at 9AM, I figure you're on the go starting at around 4AM, give or take, which means you are on the go non-stop for 13 or so hours before you reach dinner. Plus, you are better off not overdoing it that first day. Also, being so close to MK, this gives you a chance on Monday to spend some time swimming/relaxing at the resort mid-day.

Not too much MK, at all, IMO.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We did an only-MK trip once for five days, other than a waterpark visit. It was great.

 

[nat8199]

That itinerary is the exact one that I would create for our family for that time frame, but I would use a crowd calendar to pick the particular days. I agree that Mondays are very busy for MK.

 

[scrappinginontario]

My DD is 6 and we play approx. 40-50% of our days in the MK. This year it's 4 days MK, 2 days Epcot, 1 1/2 days DHS and 1 AK. There is so much to see and do at the MK, especially with the ages of your little ones that you'll appreciate the time you have there. While there are a lot of rides for their ages there are also the characters to visit, parades, fireworks, shows, etc.

Have a magical time watching your children enjoy their first WDW experience!!

 

[Shmily01]

There is sooo much to do at MK...the more time you have there the better! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[emilik]

We did the same thing last trip - 3 days MK, 1 AK and 1 Epcot, no DHS. Similar ages. It was perfect, absolutely perfect.