Need opinions on my park schedule

[redrosesix]

She loves animals!! So I think she would love AK even if its half a day.

For HS, I think she would love the Disney Jr shows, Disney Jr meet and greets as well as Hollywood & Vine dining. If she doesn't make it to Fantasmic that's fine, we would just leave early to go to the hotel but at least we did the Disney Jr stuff!

I was going to say...with a 2.5 y o good luck getting away from the monkeys in Asia. For the longest time AK was my daughter's favourite park...it's not overwhelming, it's fun but not so much in your face and there are plenty of places to just run, the Boneyard is a great playground for any age

Epcot has some things you all might like but there isn't much shade so something to keep in mind. It wasn't until my daughter turned 20 that she appreciated Epcot, even though it's her dad's favourite park

I am all for taking a break in the afternoon...we still do that. And I like what the poster said above about doing any park in the morning and MK at night where you can walk back to your resort at the end of the night. People either like hoppers or they don't...we love them.

 

[Mouse Tracker]

When is the trip? Temps are an important consideration in planning.
Check the App when you get there for those Disney Jr times, that could help in decision making.

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

I was going to say...with a 2.5 y o good luck getting away from the monkeys in Asia. For the longest time AK was my daughter's favourite park...it's not overwhelming, it's fun but not so much in your face and there are plenty of places to just run, the Boneyard is a great playground for any age

Epcot has some things you all might like but there isn't much shade so something to keep in mind. It wasn't until my daughter turned 20 that she appreciated Epcot, even though it's her dad's favourite park

I am all for taking a break in the afternoon...we still do that. And I like what the poster said above about doing any park in the morning and MK at night where you can walk back to your resort at the end of the night. People either like hoppers or they don't...we love them.

Thank you!!!

 

[redrosesix]

Thank you! If I do Epcot on day 3 when can I do HS? I am afraid I won't make it on time after AK since I want to go to the hotel after AK. Do you think I would make in time to see all the Disney Jr stuff? I know they kind of end early. Thanks for your help!!

I wouldn't worry too much about putting a lot of time into Epcot, so I wouldn't give up a day at another park. the stuff that your kid will like (and can get into) is all near the main gate. So unless you're planning to walk around the World Showcase, you can do Epcot in a half day. Every family has its own must dos.

But do keep in mind that if you want to do things like Mission Space yourself, you can be accommodated so you both get a turn.

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

I wouldn't worry too much about putting a lot of time into Epcot, so I wouldn't give up a day at another park. the stuff that your kid will like (and can get into) is all near the main gate. So unless you're planning to walk around the World Showcase, you can do Epcot in a half day. Every family has its own must dos.

But do keep in mind that if you want to do things like Mission Space yourself, you can be accommodated so you both get a turn.

Thank you! Just curious- is Disney Springs worth going to at this age?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It seems manageable, but I might reconsider whether park hopping is worthwhile with a 2.5 year old.

we had to go with the flow even more than we expected. Sometimes the 2.5 year old was interested in certain things and sometimes food was more important.

That's often the advice people give here on the Boards but if money isn't an issue I would say get it for the sake of flexibility. You may or may be eating that additional cost such as if the child just wants to have pool time rather than going into the park but still.

MK can be overwhelming especially for a young child but so can Epcot (especially as World Showcase lacks shade) and at DHS eh for a 2 1/2 year old maybe not enough to really fill a whole day or even part of an evening if waiting for Fantasmic!

Your information about how you had to go with the flow more than you expected is actually one of the biggest reasons why I would suggest park hoppers if money isn't an issue because it actually allows you to go with the flow. When you buy park specific no park hopping allowed park tickets you're locked into that park regardless if you're feeling it (or in this case the 2 1/2 year old) and regardless if the weather that day is really working.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When we go to the parks we plan it where we do one park in a morning then on a subsequent day we do that park in the evening, this is with park hoppers and at least 5 days worth (I realize OP is doing 4 days). A caveat to my comments is we always have a rental car even when we stayed on site. However we would always use the monorail to park hop between Epcot and MK as we were parked at the TTC.

At least one time we will pair MK and Epcot together because they are connected by monorail which makes it super easy to park hop. Also nowadays Epcot and DHS are connected by the Skyliner making that easy to park hop between. If you think your child would be okay riding in that I would try and pair those together if you think you may want more Epcot or DHS more.

With the child liking animals I actually think AK is a better park to start at even though it's not close to the Contemporary nor any of the other parks. This would allow you to either spend the whole day there or leave when she's done and still be able to pop into MK later on and be close to the hotel if she (and you) have any energy left or if she's not as into AK as you thought. AK also allows for a less in your face introduction to the Disney parks because it's the largest of all of them and easier to not see so many people clumped together in one place like MK can feel like.

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

When we go to the parks we plan it where we do one park in a morning then on a subsequent day we do that park in the evening, this is with park hoppers and at least 5 days worth (I realize OP is doing 4 days). A caveat to my comments is we always have a rental car even when we stayed on site. However we would always use the monorail to park hop between Epcot and MK as we were parked at the TTC.

At least one time we will pair MK and Epcot together because they are connected by monorail which makes it super easy to park hop. Also nowadays Epcot and DHS are connected by the Skyliner making that easy to park hop between. If you think your child would be okay riding in that I would try and pair those together if you think you may want more Epcot or DHS more.

With the child liking animals I actually think AK is a better park to start at even though it's not close to the Contemporary nor any of the other parks. This would allow you to either spend the whole day there or leave when she's done and still be able to pop into MK later on and be close to the hotel if she (and you) have any energy left or if she's not as into AK as you thought. AK also allows for a less in your face introduction to the Disney parks because it's the largest of all of them and easier to not see so many people clumped together in one place like MK can feel like.

Thank you so much!!

 

[OlliePop27]

That's often the advice people give here on the Boards but if money isn't an issue I would say get it for the sake of flexibility. You may or may be eating that additional cost such as if the child just wants to have pool time rather than going into the park but still.

MK can be overwhelming especially for a young child but so can Epcot (especially as World Showcase lacks shade) and at DHS eh for a 2 1/2 year old maybe not enough to really fill a whole day or even part of an evening if waiting for Fantasmic!

Your information about how you had to go with the flow more than you expected is actually one of the biggest reasons why I would suggest park hoppers if money isn't an issue because it actually allows you to go with the flow. When you buy park specific no park hopping allowed park tickets you're locked into that park regardless if you're feeling it (or in this case the 2 1/2 year old) and regardless if the weather that day is really working.

Great advice, thank you!

I love WDW and plan to visit more as time goes on. To be honest, this is why I go to Disneyland usually so long as we still have young kids. We're equidistant to FL or CA. We always have park hoppers at DL and everything, including hotel, is walkable (plus the weather is usually more predictable)!

I do agree about your recommendation for park hoppers adding flexibility at WDW. Great advice for OP.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Great advice, thank you!

I love WDW and plan to visit more as time goes on. To be honest, this is why I go to Disneyland usually so long as we still have young kids. We're equidistant to FL or CA. We always have park hoppers at DL and everything, including hotel, is walkable (plus the weather is usually more predictable)!

I do agree about your recommendation for park hoppers adding flexibility at WDW. Great advice for OP.

We love the convenience of Universal Orlando with park hopping because they are right next to each other (although Epic Universe will not be) and then when we went twice in 2019 to DLR it was sooooo great to have the parks right next to each other although we missed having the 4 parks in Orlando. For getting between the parks DLR beats WDW hands down!

 

[redrosesix]

Thank you! Just curious- is Disney Springs worth going to at this age?

Not really. Until they are all about Lego or shopping for light sabers, Disney Springs is just something she will be accompanying you to. Don't get me wrong...I have to make at least one stop at Earl of Sandwich and a couple of other places each trip. But unless there is a store that you want to get to I just wouldn't do it. It was a little different when you could pick a good time and park right near the store you wanted to go to, but now with the parking tower or the one bus stop, you're going to have a hike to get to any part of DS.

Even if you were planning to buy a princess dress, all of the same things are available in Magic Kingdom. Our favourite shop is the one near the castle because it's rarely too busy and little ones feel big enough.

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

Not really. Until they are all about Lego or shopping for light sabers, Disney Springs is just something she will be accompanying you to. Don't get me wrong...I have to make at least one stop at Earl of Sandwich and a couple of other places each trip. But unless there is a store that you want to get to I just wouldn't do it. It was a little different when you could pick a good time and park right near the store you wanted to go to, but now with the parking tower or the one bus stop, you're going to have a hike to get to any part of DS.

Even if you were planning to buy a princess dress, all of the same things are available in Magic Kingdom. Our favourite shop is the one near the castle because it's rarely too busy and little ones feel big enough.

Ok, thanks!!!!

 

[RedDrumJay]

The kiddo is going to give out on you quicker than you might expect - especially if it is hot. Plan to be pushing a sleeping kid around. The Boneyard at AK will take way longer than you think! As noted above, the Bug in A Bug’s Life will freak out a 2.5 year old. I speak from experience.

I would put HS for a morning and circle back just for Fantasmic either the same day or another evening.

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

The kiddo is going to give out on you quicker than you might expect - especially if it is hot. Plan to be pushing a sleeping kid around. The Boneyard at AK will take way longer than you think! As noted above, the Bug in A Bug’s Life will freak out a 2.5 year old. I speak from experience.

I would put HS for a morning and circle back just for Fantasmic either the same day or another evening.

Thanks!!

 

[etzmn123]

We are taking our daughter in February and she’ll be 2.5. It’ll be her third trip and a plan similar to what you’ve described has worked really well for us. We’re also staying at the Contemporary for most of the trip. We aren’t morning people/rope droppers, but our daughter can hang in there pretty late at night, so we usually get to a park around 10, stay until 2ish, go back for a nap from about 3-5 (she will NOT stroller nap, we learned the hard way on our first trip), and then head to another park for dinner/fireworks. Usually MK is the evening park because she loves fireworks, so we love to do that and then end the night riding the carousel. Walking back to the hotel is so quick and easy that late at night.

Ditto others to pay for the lightning lanes if you can. Last trip we also took Minnie Vans a few times to cut down on transportation time. They’re pricy but it was worth it to us.

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

We are taking our daughter in February and she’ll be 2.5. It’ll be her third trip and a plan similar to what you’ve described has worked really well for us. We’re also staying at the Contemporary for most of the trip. We aren’t morning people/rope droppers, but our daughter can hang in there pretty late at night, so we usually get to a park around 10, stay until 2ish, go back for a nap from about 3-5 (she will NOT stroller nap, we learned the hard way on our first trip), and then head to another park for dinner/fireworks. Usually MK is the evening park because she loves fireworks, so we love to do that and then end the night riding the carousel. Walking back to the hotel is so quick and easy that late at night.

Ditto others to pay for the lightning lanes if you can. Last trip we also took Minnie Vans a few times to cut down on transportation time. They’re pricy but it was worth it to us.

Thank you!!! Do you have a schedule you can share on which parks you park hopped to? Thanks!!!

 

[etzmn123]

Thank you!!! Do you have a schedule you can share on which parks you park hopped to? Thanks!!!

I have a tentative schedule for our upcoming trip that looks like this:
Tues- HS evening (flight lands around noon)
Wed- MK morning /EP evening
Thurs- HS morning / MK evening
Fri- EP morning / MK evening
Sat- AK morning / MK evening
Sun- MK morning / no park evening (Super Bowl Sunday)
Mon- MK morning / EP evening

LOTS of MK time because of the 2yo and being able to walk there. And we’re staying for a week so even if we just walk over for fireworks and like 2 rides a couple nights, I don’t really care since we’ll have plenty of time in the parks overall. My husband may also hop back over to HS without us another evening for more Star Wars time

 

[Skippyboo]

If you are going in 2025, you get free waterparks on your arrival day when you stay onsite. Could be useful depending what time of year you are going

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

I have a tentative schedule for our upcoming trip that looks like this:
Tues- HS evening (flight lands around noon)
Wed- MK morning /EP evening
Thurs- HS morning / MK evening
Fri- EP morning / MK evening
Sat- AK morning / MK evening
Sun- MK morning / no park evening (Super Bowl Sunday)
Mon- MK morning / EP evening

LOTS of MK time because of the 2yo and being able to walk there. And we’re staying for a week so even if we just walk over for fireworks and like 2 rides a couple nights, I don’t really care since we’ll have plenty of time in the parks overall. My husband may also hop back over to HS without us another evening for more Star Wars time

Thank you so much for sharing!

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

If you are going in 2025, you get free waterparks on your arrival day when you stay onsite. Could be useful depending what time of year you are going

I think we might do that! Thanks!