Need help planning trip

[mommyesq]

Hello All I am new to the boards and need some help – this is my 2nd trip to the world (be we visited MK and MGM) and I am dragging my son (6) and niece (16) along for the ride. I am attending a convention at the Coronado Springs that starts on a Sunday – we arrive in MCO on Friday about 11am and have the rest of the day Friday and all day Saturday free as well as Sunday am – my conference starts Sunday afternoon till 5pm and Monday from 8-12 (free afternoon) and all day Tuesday (till 5pm) and Wed 8-12noon – we leave MCO on Wed evening at 9pm. I am trying to come up with a schedule of park visits so I can figure out the tickets to buy. My son and I want to go to AK and MK and my niece want to go to EPCOT and MK. The kids are not early risers and I don’t want to drag my son to the parks tired so we have a terrible day – any suggestions

Mommyesq (Melissa)

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I didn't calculate how much time you do have in the parks, but AK is a very quick trip (IMO). We did AK when it opened in Jan and were completely done by 1:30pm. I would definately do at least one evening in Epcot too. Great restaurants and some fun rides and attractions. Of course, MK is a definate for an all day affair.

Good luck and have fun!!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest getting six-day tickets. Your total price increase, including tax, for three six-day tickets is less than $35.00 more than three four-day tickets.

If your niece is reliable and can control your son, you might let them go to MK together Tuesday while you are in seminars. I would imagine she has a cell phone so could contact you in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Also, paying the $35.00 each for hoppers will be worth it, that way you can go to Epcot in the evenings if you want, especially if the other parks close early.

 

[sweetyandsour]

I would definitely get park hoppers....they make the trip so flexible. You could start the day in one park, go to your meetings and head back to another park for its fireworks or something. You should be able to get everything done in AK in one day, but if you really like one part...a park hopper would allow you to go back, without having to stay the whole day there again. Just don't forget to get you hand stamped or whatever they are doing now, so you can return to the parks later in the day!! Epcot would definitely take a whole day, especially if you want to go through the World Showcase. When my sister went in November 2004, each country had a place for kids to make a craft. Her 6 year old daughter made a mask and had each country stamp it for her. It made it more fun for her daughter, so she got to enjoy it. Hope you have fun!

 

[threeboysmom]

Actually, with the times of your conference, I'm not sure if park hoppers in your case would be worth the extra money per ticket (close to $100 total). You'll have to think about that.... No one is interested in heading to MGM for a ride on Rock'n Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror?? No Fantasmic?

Here's what I would do....

Friday: Check into hotel, unpack. Head to Epcot for afternoon, dinner at one of the World Showcase restaurants, Illuminations at 9:00 p.m.

Saturday: Spend the day at Magic Kingdom. Stay for Wishes and Spectromagic parade.

Sunday: Head to Animal Kingdom for the morning and have lunch at either Tusker House or Flametree Barbeque. Be back at CSR in time for your afternoon conference. Niece and nephew could go swimming for the afternoon. ** If you opt for park hoppers, you could go to MGM after your conference and see the Fantasmic show and ride a couple of things.

Monday: Go back to Epcot for the afternoon/evening.

Tuesday: First thing a.m. go to Magic Kingdom until mid-afternoon. Head back to resort for 5:00 conference.

Wednesday: After your conference, visit Animal Kingdom again if you need/want more time there or just stay put at your resort swimming & lounging by the pool. OR head to Downtown Disney for some shopping and a nice dinner before going back home.

Just some ideas.... You'll have to decide if you want to park hop or not. With your limited schedule, it may not work to your advantage. But then you're stuck on Sunday after your conference with no park to go to since AK closes early. Unless you do a different park on that day....

 

[sln88]

just my opinion, but I would not go to MK on a Sat. Our 1st year we went there during off season on a Sat and it was so crowded we could hardly walk. If seeing the night time shows are important, maybe see if they have them a different night?
AK seems the least crowded- when we go on a Sat, we start there and go to Epcot when we are done.

 

[fac]

I thought they have convention tickets and some tickets even start at 2:00 pm.

 

[freakylick]

You may want to find out exactly why your neice wants to go to Epcot...Many kids don't care about World Showcase and your neice might just want to go there for the "thrill" rides like Test Track and Mission Space. So if her intentions at EPCOT are limited, you may be able to get away with doing EPCOT on one of your shorter days. As has been mentioned, you can always do AK on a shorter day also.

 

[ceecee]

AK is a very quick trip (IMO). We did AK when it opened in Jan and were completely done by 1:30pm.

There are great shows at AK.....Lion King, Tarzan Rocks, Flights of Wonder, Pocohonas! It takes the whole day if you want to do the shows. Don't forget the parade! Just walking from one area to another takes a while since it is so spread out. Your son might really like Camp Minnie Mickey too, they had a petting zoo. DD loved it at that age.

 

[mommyesq]

The do have some after two tickets good for one park, one day and given my schedule and the parks we want to see its a better purchase to me to buy the 2-3 day hoppers with the disney quest option and spend the rest of the time in downtown disney, shopping or at the hotel pools...

Melissa

 

[HaleyB]

One bit of advice, I know you said you are not early risers... but you really need to get to a park at opening on Saturday. You will see more from open-10 or 11 am than in the entire rest of the day. 15-25 min lines before noon 45- 1:45 min lines after noon... Your son will be much happier if he gets to go on some rides!

Buy the smallest number of days you think you need, you can upgrade them at any Guest services if you need to, and just pay the difference in price- so if you buy 2 day and find you want 3 no problem!

And you do know about the Fast Pass system, right? FP is the best thing since sliced bread, no kidding.