Need advice Sept 1-4 AK+MK or 2 days at MK?

[OrangeTang]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and booking our first trip for Labor Day weekend. Trip is built around my husband's work and it will be us and our 4 and 7 yo. We arrive late into the offsite hotel around 11PM on Wed 8/31 and I nor my children are motivated enough to get up at 7am the next day to get out the door (just knowing their habits). We fly out Sunday around 5PM. I don't expect us to see everything but I would like to have a nice first experience at WDW. My 4yo doesn't nap anymore unless she's completely popped.

Any advice on my initial plans?
1) This is our first trip to WDW and I thought it might be nice to hang around our hotel, explore disney springs, and maybe even hop on the monorail and check out some of the disney resorts on Thursday 9/1 just to get acclimated and used to all the things around the area. Too boring? What else could we do to fill Thursday?

2) on Friday 9/2, I will be flying solo with the kids. I thought about maybe taking them to animal kingdom since that seems pretty low key, but it seems like more attractions vs rides. With my 4yo and a single adult, there may only be 2-3 rides we can go on with the rest shows...unless I'm missing something.

3) on Saturday 9/3, my husband will be available to accompany me and MK should be more manageable...but if there's a lot to do in MK (if we discover on our last full day) then they kids will be sad that they didn't have more time in the MK...which makes me now thing that I should just make our 2 day trip only MK.

4) Our flight takes off Sunday and maybe we can hit up the kennedy space center before driving back to the airport. Any other great attractions? Should we visit the beach?

5) Is it worth it to get the memory maker? I do want family photos but heard about some bad quality photos from various blogs...not sure how the recent quality of images are. It would also only be for 2 days. How many photos can I expect that are decent per day?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Wow, you got a lot going on there.

1-Yes, do the hotel and pool-if your kids are like my kid at those ages, the pool was his favorite thing. We'd have to drag him out from afternoon breaks to return to parks or get to dinner. Since you are offsite, I think that sounds like a very wise decision.

2-This is your first ever WDW trip and you are going on a holiday weekend-IMO with the kids the age they are-I'd stick with just MK. I think with crowds you will need both days, again just my opinion. There are attractions they will likely want to do more than once, parades, characters, Castle show, and fireworks. I love AK, but if I only had a 2 day trip, over a holiday weekend, I think I'd skip it. Gives you reason to plan another trip also.

3-See #2

4-Kennedy Space Center is not a quick drop by from the Orlando area, I think it takes at least an hour to get over there, same for the beach. With a 5PM departure, you will want to be at the airport no later than 3PM. I would allow the kids to enjoy the pool and not feel so rushed.

5-I love memory maker, but on our 3 day trip this past February I didn't get it because I didn't feel like we would get enough shots. I guess that depends on how often you are willing to stop for pictures....

 

[KittyKitty]

Friday, I would go to MK, do rides for the 3 of you. 7 year old is ok to ride alone in a vehicle per Disney. Then on Saturday, you can do rides for the 7 year old. Saturday will be busy, so be there when the gates open (rope drop). I would stick with MK for Friday and Saturday.

Rides you can do on Friday with just the 3 of you. Buzz lightyear, Monsters Laugh Floor, Speedway, COP,TTA, Dumbo, Little Mermaid, Goofy's Barnstormer, Teacups, Philarmagic, Winnie the Pooh, Tales with Belle, Small world, Peter Pan, Liberty boat, Aladdin carpets, Tiki room, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Country Bears Jamboree, train around the park(are we tired yet?). Meet talking Mickey, meet any other characters.
Looks like MK is closing at 7p that night.
EDIT: I forgot the parades!, Move it, Shake it(I like to dance to it). Also Festival of Fantasy parade at 3pm..

Saturday you can add on Thunder Mtn, Splash Mtn, Space Mtn, Haunted Mansion, even Stitches Escape(I think its boring, but your children may think different).
Saturday, there is also a night parade, Main street Electrical at 9pm, and fireworks at 10pm. MK is closing at 1am.

Sunday, Sleep in! Kennedy Space center is around 60 miles one way from Disneyworld.

Here is a map of Magic Kingdom ...https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...PDF/magic-kingdom-park-map-september-2012.pdf

 

[Anal Annie]

I'd also say to do 2 days at MK but be aware that on Fri., Sept. 2nd that is a MNSSHP night so the park closes to non-party guests at 7:00 which means less bang for your buck for your price of admission. UNLESS you decide you want to spring for the party - then you could do something else in the morning and get into the park as early as 4:00 for the price of the party tix. Since you're alone w/o your DH that might be a bit much unless he can join you for the evening.

But I agree if it's a holiday weekend the parks will all be busy so it may be hard to accomplish everything you'd like - so allow more time or each park you do and get there early.

IMO Kennedy Space Ctr. is too far away to try to go on your departure day. Maybe you should plan for 3 park days and your departure day should be your Disney Springs day?

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We would get MM with three days plus in our vacation. We still get a ton of pictures using it three days.

 

[abolanwoski]

skip KSC, you're little ones will be bored after 2 minutes!

 

[Ensusieasm]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and booking our first trip for Labor Day weekend. Trip is built around my husband's work and it will be us and our 4 and 7 yo. We arrive late into the offsite hotel around 11PM on Wed 8/31 and I nor my children are motivated enough to get up at 7am the next day to get out the door (just knowing their habits). We fly out Sunday around 5PM. I don't expect us to see everything but I would like to have a nice first experience at WDW. My 4yo doesn't nap anymore unless she's completely popped.

Any advice on my initial plans?
1) This is our first trip to WDW and I thought it might be nice to hang around our hotel, explore disney springs, and maybe even hop on the monorail and check out some of the disney resorts on Thursday 9/1 just to get acclimated and used to all the things around the area. Too boring? What else could we do to fill Thursday?

2) on Friday 9/2, I will be flying solo with the kids. I thought about maybe taking them to animal kingdom since that seems pretty low key, but it seems like more attractions vs rides. With my 4yo and a single adult, there may only be 2-3 rides we can go on with the rest shows...unless I'm missing something.

3) on Saturday 9/3, my husband will be available to accompany me and MK should be more manageable...but if there's a lot to do in MK (if we discover on our last full day) then they kids will be sad that they didn't have more time in the MK...which makes me now thing that I should just make our 2 day trip only MK.

4) Our flight takes off Sunday and maybe we can hit up the kennedy space center before driving back to the airport. Any other great attractions? Should we visit the beach?

5) Is it worth it to get the memory maker? I do want family photos but heard about some bad quality photos from various blogs...not sure how the recent quality of images are. It would also only be for 2 days. How many photos can I expect that are decent per day?

Thanks in advance!

Go to AK Thursday, get Not so scary party tickets for Friday. Enjoy the pool and resort until entering the park at 4 that day. Go to MK Saturday. And enjoy your resort pool on Sunday morning. You'll have to leave for the airport at 2. Forget about The Kennedy Space Center. Have a great time.