Need help picking a park...

[Jsgoebel2]

We are planning to be in Orlando for only 3 nights in September and will visit 2 parks. Can you recommend which two parks to visit? I was thinking MK and AK. Here's the twist: Our daughter will only be 14 months at the time, so I want to go to parks where she will be able to do some stuff, and this is my husband's first time there and I want him to really like it so in the future he'll want to go back for a big vacation there. Also, with a single-day pass can you go in the morning, then come back later that day? We're staying on site at the POFQ. Finally, can our 14 month old ride those slower rides like It's a Small World and the Animal Kingdom safari tour? Are there any other rides she can ride?

 

[disney4us2002]

Just my opinion of course, but rather than 2 day passes, why not get the ultimate park hoppers (length of stay) passes since you're staying onsite. If you want you can leave off either arrival or check out day and then you can hop between all four parks if you want. With a 14 mos old you will want to break in the afternoon and with the uph you won't feel like you're missing something by taking the break.

As for your specific questions, with the single day tickets you can leave for the afternoon if you get hand-stamped but you must return to the same park later. You will be able to ride lots with the baby. Small World is okay for babies but is closed for refurbishment til after January, I think. Disney offers babyswapping if your dh and you want to ride the thrillers like Space Mountain or Splash Mountain.

 

[DisneyFan09]

Since you are staying on site you could get the 2-day Ultimate Park Hopper (used to be called length of stay pass). I agree that MK and AK are great choices but AK closes pretty early and it really wouldn't take a full day anyway and with the UPH you could go to another park when you're done with AK!

I'm not sure about the price difference between a 2 day UPH and 2 one-day tickets but I bet it's not much!

 

[lasmickey]

If you have a one day ticket, you can still leave the park you are in and return later in the day. Just remember to have your hand stamped on the way out, and you will also need to show your ticket again when you return. (You must return to the SAME park though. You can't go to a different park on the same day with only a one day ticket.)

For a 14 month old I think the MK and AK are good choices. Your daughter will be able to ride many things at MK. (Peter Pans Flight, Winnie the Pooh, TTA, Snow White, The Railroad, Dumbo, etc.) I have not yet been to AK (going in September), so I can't tell you much about that, other then the fact that when my girls were that age, they were FASCINATED with animals!

HTH! HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP!

 

[mommystieg]

At MK your DD will be able to ride more things than she won't be able to ride. The only things she won't be able to ride are the rides with height restrictions like:
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Goofy's Barnstormer
That's all that I can think of right now...

At AK she will only be able to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris, Triceratop Spin and the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch/Conservation Station. AK is a beautiful park with lots of trails to explore so you definitely won't run out of things to do.

Here's what I found out about tickets:
One-day/One-park ticket -- Provides one admission to your choice of the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, the Disney-MGM Studios, or Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Valid for admission to one theme park only. $58.31 for adults (includes tax) and $46.60 for children ages 3 to 9 (includes tax) (3/04) This ticket does not allow park hopping.

2 Day/2 Park OR 3 Day/3 Park ticket - These are the tickets that were originally known as "bounce back" tickets when they first came out. You can only purchase the 2 day and 3 day passes at a WDW theme park ticket window, any Guest Relations location, any Guest Services location or at any Disney Resort front desk. You can not purchase them over the phone, at a Disney store, at any Disney off property ticket source, or online. These tickets allow entry to only ONE PARK per day. They do not need to be used at the same park both days. You cannot park hop with these tickets but you can leave and return to the same park the same day. Be sure to get a hand stamp before leaving.

2 Day/2 Park ticket - Adults $111.30 (includes tax) child, $87.86 (includes tax) expires 4 days from *purchase*. (3/04) You save $5 off the price of two single day tickets.

3 Day/3 Park ticket - Adults $164.28 (includes tax) Child, $129.13 (includes tax) expires 6 days from *purchase*. (3/04) You save $10 off the price of three single day tickets.

You can check this site for more info:
http://allearsnet.com/pl/ticket.htm

Have a great time!!

 

[DisneyFan09]

disney4us2002 - sorry, we must have been posting at the same time!! I hate when that happens!

 

[zcomic]

Just so you're prepared, It's a small world will be closed when your there. MK is definitely the best choice for your daughter. AK would probably be OK as well although I think the Safari may be intense for a 14 month old.

For your husband, depending on what he likes, you might want to squeeze in MGM or Epcot. Both have 2 incredible thrill rides, if he's into that. And you can do the kid swap on those (you wait in line together and when you get to the front of the line one of you goes on while the other waits with the child in a designated area. When the first rider is done the second one goes to the head of the line). If he's not into rides, then Epcot World Showcase might interest him. While young kids may get board there a 14 month old may be satisfied just taking in all the sites.

 

[swilphil]

Of course you HAVE to go MK, but I would choose Epcot instead of AK. My oldest is 4 and he still can't go on a lot of things at AK, plus AK has fewer attractions than the other park.

Epcot has some great things for a 14 month old. We have taken our youngest son at 11 months and 24 months. The World Showcase is one of my favorite places to take my young kids because they can get out of the stroller and wonder around a bit. The live entertainment is also very appealing to the little ones.

There are lots of rides that your daughter can do at MK and Epcot. We took our kids on everything without a height restriction at MK and that's lots of stuff! At Epcot we did the same except we avoid the Honey I Shrunk the Audience movie--too loud and scary for a little one. Our young ones enjoyed Journey into the Imagination, Spaceship Earth, Maelstrom, and the Mexico boat ride.

If Epcot doesn't appeal to you, you could do MGM instead. It has two of the best adult rides: Rock n' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror, but your daughter won't be able to go and each adult will have to ride by themselves. There are some good shows at MGM--Beauty and the Beast and Disney Playhouse.