new advice-- which of the four parks would you skip??

[Amy&Dan]

Spring for the hoppers and on your Animal Kingdom day go to MGM that night for Osborne lights and Fantasmic!. I love AK and think for the age of your kids it would be great but since it closes early you would essentially be wasting a night if you go there on a non hopping ticket. MGM is my least favorite, we generally spend the least amount of time there as compared to the other parks. But I love Fantasmic so could never skip it all together.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Usually I would recommend skipping AK, but Everest may change everything. With 5yo and 3yo skipping Epcot may still be the best choice.

 

[iliketoby]

If I had to skip a park, it's be Animal Kingdom.

But, with little ones, I'd try to do some park hopping and do all the little kid stuff.

 

[Marthasor]

MGM - not a big thrill ride person. I LOVE Animal Kingdom, but then again, I love animals - I could just walk the trails all day!

 

[beebles]

Definitely a low crowd week, we just got back from the wed after thanksgiving to the 6th...no crowds. I would definitely skip animal kingdom and not return. A good trip to a local zoo is much better. The safari was nice but that is it, not really alot of animals in my opinion. Also, dinosaur attractions was way to scary for children. The festival of the lion king was a good show, but not much else. They do like mgm due to the shows and disney characters. I told my husband next time we go (kids 4 and 7) I would do epcot (nice change of pace for them with hands on stuff to do), MK, and universal and sea world. Now if you like animals, sea world is magnificent!

 

[720L]

I would buy the park hopper. You can do Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios in 1 day, IMO. Because of your kids ages, you won't be able to do much at MGM. Don't miss EPCOT. That is our kids 2nd favorite park (ages 7 and 4).

 

[WDWNicole]

Skip MGM. My DS (4) likes AK the best after MK.

 

[champagnegirl26]

I would skip Animal kingdom. I really like Animal Kingdom but i think the others have the edge and AK takes time to savour
claire

 

[CinRell]

I'd skip MGM and animal kingdom.. but that's because those 2 parks feel SO undisney to me and I get bored pretty easy at both of them. LOL... I'd spend the extra day at MK... I can never finish up in one day and there is SO much for the little ones. Like others have said if you're going for food EPCOT is a MUST. Plus the little bus that makes stops packed with characters.. if you time it right.. is an AWSOME opp for character interaction.. FUN interaction.. we caught one in the world showcase and my ex and I (no kids) really enjoyed it because there were so few children so the characters were pulling us with them, dancing, really taking their time with us. Hey.. I may be 30 but I still love the characters I never take time away from kids with them tho I usually rush through for the little ones waiting so I loved this

 

[ujpest_doza]

If I were going with 2 small kids, I would skip MGM. Not enough things for the little ones in my opinion.

MGM has Playhouse Disney and The voyage of the little Mermaid which are both worth going to with little ones.

AK also has lots of shows and animals that kids love.

Personally would skip Epcot with little kids, too much science etc not enough fun.

 

[Minnie824]

I would skip MGM. We just returned with DD4 and DD1.5 and there was just not enough for them to do there. They were not fond of just sitting and waiting all the time, in line to get in the park, wait for a show, sit thru a show, and there really aren't many rides for them at all there either that don't seem like 'transportation' to them. In fact, we're planning on skipping MGM next year as well.

They really liked Animal Kingdom..DD4 went on dinosaur, kali river rapids, both went on triceretops spin. I think for that age theres a lot more to do at AK and EP than MGM.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

If I HAD to? Probably AK...but I wouldn't be happy about it. And after Expedition Everest opens....well, then I can't imagine skipping any of the parks!

 

[TLC371]

I'd skip Animal Kingdom...we've been there once and didn't really care for it.

 

[Wishes]

I would skip Animal Kingdom. We usually only spend about a half a day at this park during our entire trip (we may change our plans once Expedition Everest opens! ).

 

[jenniferma]

thanks to everyone so far for your help! I think the DH has decided that we will get four day passes instead of the 3 day park hopper because it is actually cheaper that way. DH has a conference that week in Orlando, so he has to work parts of a few of the days. Right now we plan on doing a whole day at EPCOT (since we haven't been since the early 90s and have never taken the kids), a whole day at MK, part of a day at MGM (afternoon on), part of a day at AK (we usually don't last a whole day there either, although we do love it for little kids), and then MVMCP for the last evening.
thanks again
jen

 

[disneymama73]

That sounds like a great plan, Jen! Have fun!!!

 

[JenniferW]

Since you have youngish children I would do 1 full day MK, one day of Epcot or possibly part MK and part Epcot and I would do AK in the morning and MGM in the evening. The reason for this is that MK is really special for kids that age, AK is very enjoyable for kids that age and MGM in my opinion only has a few things worth seeing for little ones. I think Little Mermaid show, Muppets, Beauty and the Beast as well as Bear in the Big House. In the evenings MGM has Osbournce Xmas ligths and Fantasmic which was very worth it. I can see AK from 8am-2pm and see everything with my 2 year old that I want so the remainder could be used for MGM. MGM things have more sitting so after walking the sitting may be welcomed.

Jenn

 

[justlikeeyore]

Animal Kingdom is the largest not the smallest park

 

[jann1033]

i'd skip mgm. espc. with little kids. you can see shows at any park ( not the same ones obviously but imo the best one at any park is the lion king at ak) and they are to little for the thrill type rides. so that leaves the movie ride the atmosphere is the least "magical" for a kid too imo. but then mgm is my least favorite anyway so maybe that has something to do with my opinion,

 

[byoung]

None.