MGM and AK same day advice?

[ryanmilla]

I am taking my family down to WDW Dec 11-14 for a quick trip. We arrive Sun, Dec 11, in the morning, so we have the afternoon for a park. Right now I am planning MK. Wed, Dec 14, we leave in the afternoon, so I am planning Epcot in the morning. Tues, Dec 13, we have MVMCP in the evening, so we thought we would make that entire day a MK day, with a break/nap/rest in the middle of the day.

So, that leaves me with Mon, Dec 12 for both AK and MGM. Our kids, DD4 & DS1 are early risers, so it is no problem for us to get to a park when it opens. We are also going back in March, '06 with our best friends (another family of 4, same age kids). This trip is supposed to be a nice, quick, relaxing family getaway.

Is it possible to do both parks (MGM & AK) in one day with a break in btwn? If so, which one should we do first? At MGM, I think it would mainly be the shows we would be interested in, like Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney. At AK, the Kilimanjaro Safaris, FOTK, and maybe the train to the animal area (I know that sounds funny for AK, it is all the animal area).

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

TIA (sorry for the long post)

 

[Shooby doo]

You should have no problems with this: AK first as it opens the earliest of the 2, then across to MGM after the Jammin' Parade. We always Hopp on our AK day,for us there just isn't enough to keep us there all day so we usually go across to Ep but the time before last we went back to MGM as Fantasmic had been rained off on our MGM day,& it wasn't a problem.

HTH SD aw:

 

[Lancer]

First of all good luck with trying to get a nap in (atleast for the kids) Once they are up and running, they probably will get all caught up in the excitement and not want to leave until closing.

As for the parks, they can be done in one day as long as you dont stop at every single shop or do every ride or show. With just two adults its easy but with kids it will need some planning. Animal kingdom closes the earliest so I would go there first(in january they close at 5:00pm) Best thing to do is look at the guide map,the night before if possible, and try to do the things you think you and the kids would definitely like to the most first like the safari ride, festival of the lion king, Dinasaur etc. check parade times if interested You may find park maps on disney.com

Then, I would do MGM next because its open at least a couple more hours later than AK (7:00 in Jan) That way you can see Fantasmic just before park closing which is a must see(arrive 45 min early for the best seats) As with AK consult your guide map.

Of course this plan can change depending on if either park has Extra magical hours at night on those days. You may want to find out. One other tip, If you are going back lin the future take home a guide map of each park so you can plan ahead.

 

[henrylovespooh]

We have actually done a split AK/MGM day with a 2 year old and 10 month old and a 3 year old and a 2 year old. Very doable, even with a nap, although it does mean skipping some things.

We get to AK when it opens and stay for an early lunch. I like the Jamming Jungle parade, but I'll skip it if I only have half a day to spend there. We try to do both Festival of the Lion King and the Pocahontas show (I would put priority on the Lion King show), the safari and the Maharaja Jungle Trek. We don't spend much time in the Dinosaur area and if we have half a day we don't go up to the petting zoo. If your kids aren't crazy about animals, you're not missing much there.

Then we leave and go back to our room for a little rest. Then we go to MGM for the afternoon and dinner. The kids (now 3 and 4) love the Muppet Movie, the Little Mermaid show, the character trailers, the Beauty and the Beast show and Playhouse Disney. I have found the crowds are lighter for Playhouse disney and other toddler faves around dinner time.

In my opinion, there are better dinner options at MGM, so it's usually a place we go in the evenings.

 

[Moosysmom]

AK and MGM are the 2 in one day, I'm doing in a couple of weeks, I'm going to Donald's Breakfast first thing in the morning and then dinner at MGM. I don't have kids with me but I think it would be possible with kids to do both parks in the same day. Since you will be there in December, you would be able to see the Osborne lights at MGM.

 

[etink67]

I agree you could do it, but I don't think you would be able to stay at AK for the parade because it's probably not until 3pm.

 

[tinkernelllec]

i second henrylovespooh. It sounded just like our day when we go. I have done that with a 3 and 6 month old, a 4 and 1 year old and am going to do it this year with a 5 and 2 year old. We practically do the same route every year. Get there as soon as it opens and hit the safari, then you have time to walk through the trail and then to pocahontas then lion king, then bugs life and then to tarzan (don't miss tarzan, last year for it) and we are done by 1 at the latest. Now I let my kids play in the dino yard, while DH gets the pizza or the mcdonalds happy meal. Then we leave and go to MGM or MK. Last year we were a little late gettin to the MK, it was around 3, parade time, but perfect timing, could just walk right on main street, everyone else, sitting on the curbs. Oh and we take our own car............way easier to drive than to catch the bus, seems faster too. Especially if you have a little one who falls asleep in the car, they get a little nap in. Hope that helps. Oh and by the way, we are not running to each place, we walk at my kids speed and will stop and let them get a character or 2 in. We go in October/November, not a big crowd time.

 

[ryanmilla]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I think we may give it a try like henrylovespooh and others were saying. At those parks our DD really likes the shows, so that is what we will be concentrating on anyway. We know she likes the KS at AK and then of course FOTK. She did like Tarzan Rocks and since it is the last time, then maybe we should see that too.

But I also like the idea of finishing off with some dinner at MGM. And the main things we would see there are The Little Mermaind, Playhouse Disney and Beauty and the Beast.

As far as naps, I agree with Lancer, our DD probably won't nap. She didn't last time, but our DS1 is still on the once a day nap schedule right after lunch, so even if I think he wanted to stay up, he is going to pass out no matter what. So it will be good to have him nap back in the room and either DW or I can take our DD to the pool (if it is warm enough) or just relax around the resort.

Thanks again everyone for the advice.