Only 3 days, and 4 parks help!

[Donalee]

Hi Everyone, First thanks for all the good info I have found here already. We are doing a short trip to DW after our cruise. In order to budget I didn't get the park hopper. My favorite parks are in order MK, Mgm and I have not been to AK yet. But I would still like to do a few things at Epcot. Is there a way to squeeze in a 4th park with a 3 day ticket? How much would it cost?
By the way, my family thinks I am nuts, I love DW, Its just magical to me. I love all the trivia stuff I've found on the boards. Any ideas on getting my family to be a nut like me?

 

[ainmama2001]

If you don't have kids, you can get away with squeezing MGM and AK into one day...if you are HARD pressed and are willing to sacrifice some things. MK and EPCOT need full days, at least.

 

[Goofy4]

Without the hopper, I think you're looking at having to purchase the $50 something 1-day ticket.

 

[Goofy4]

...or a MNSSHP or MVMCP (not sure when you're going).

 

[WaltD4Me]

It would be cheaper to add Park Hopping to your exsisting 3 Day ticket than to just buy an extra one day ticket. If you add hopping it's an $35 and you can park hop all 3 days of your ticket. If you just buy a one day admittance to one of the parks, I think it's $58.95 (or something like that)

I think you might find adding the hopper well worth it. It's great to have the option to park hop and you have a better chance of squeezing in the 4th park. It's especially nice for MGM and Epcot as even if you spend most of the day at one or the other, you can hop over to say Epcot just for Illuminations or to MGM to catch a ride or two and Fantasmic. Or maybe you go to AK and find it isn't really your cup of tea and don't stay long...you'll have the option of hopping to one of the other parks. Getting the Hopping feature is always worth having IMHO.

 

[Donalee]

Goofy4, we are going Nov.3-and leaving early on the 6th.

 

[Princess Mindy]

Personally I feel that all parks need full days to enjoy. On my last trip I too had 3 days and 4 parks. I had to cut out AK again. I don't do park hopping because I like to space out my day and not waste time traveling around from park to park. But because I have never been to AK, I still don't know what I'm missing!
This is one of the many reasons I have to go back next year!

 

[kelleigh1]

I agree...add the Park Hopper. When we went to WDW, I wasn't all that excited to go to Animal Kingdom...but when we left, I was so glad that I had. I really had a good time.

 

[TLC371]

Last year we did all 4 parks in 3 days, and it about killed us! We did Magic Kingdom the first day, MGM the next day, and then AK and Epcot the 3rd day. We were so tired by the end of the day and our feet hurt so much, we ended up leaving Epcot early. We felt like we missed out on so much at Epcot because we felt like we were rushing through it so much to make sure we saw it all--if that makes sense. (This upcoming trip, we are doing MGM in one day, Epcot in one day, and then going to MNSSHP for our MK day).

So, yes, you can do all 4 parks in 3 days, but be prepared to have hurting feet and be worn out by the time you do it all!

 

[Dsnymouse]

Don't know if this might help, don't know when your going. Epcot has the food and wine festival right now. We have decided to skip Epcot this trip due to that. Heard the crowds were heavier and not as much our dd5 would enjoy. We to are doing 3 day in the parks!

 

[LaraK]

If you decide to upgrade to the park hopper, I know that there are touring plans out there that combine MGM and AK. We only did a half day at AK...I live near the National Zoo and it was nice to see the animals, but I can do that on a weekend at home. Of course, we also have small children, so most of the rides were out of the picture.

 

[KathylovesPooh]

We were on a 4 day cruise two years ago. We did MGM on the Sat before the cruise and had intended to do three days (2 park and one water park) after the cruise. To be honest, the cruise keeps you very busy and you may not feel like going non-stop for the next three days. We got off the boat and went to TL for the day. The next day we did a long day at MK and were too exhausted to go to AK as planned on our last day. I'd say save your $ that you'd spend on a hopper/extra ticket (more likely you'll spend it on the cruise).

Then decide which three parks you most want to go to. Try AK if you haven't been. Skip EPCOT if there are only a few things you'd want to do. You'll be back - I am sure. We are heading down the end of the month - first trip back since the cruise. We'll be down there four days but since we are going to the water park, we are going to try to do four parks in three days (have hopper already). I can tell what type of schedule we'll be on and I know we would have never made it after the cruise. Enjoy the cruise!

 

[henrylovespooh]

Absololutely add the park hopper. It's cheaper than buying one day tickets for a park for half a day. You can do Mk one day, Epcot one day and split MGM and AK in one day - very doable, as we do it all the time.

If you go with park hoppers, you might also want to consider going to MK in the morning when it's not so crowded, then hop over to Epcot on the monorail after lunch when it is nice. Then you can vist the parks you like more than once.

We always do park hoppers and feel they are very worth the price.

 

[AngieWin]

Goofy4, we are going Nov.3-and leaving early on the 6th.

Same days we are there! We arrive late on the 2nd and back on the 6th(staying at All Star Sports). We are also doing 3 days with Park Hopper and taking advantage of EMH. We have dd(11), ds(10), ds(2), ds (2 months)

Our plan of attack for all 4 parks:
Thurs 3rd
Start at MGM - Finish at Epcot (EMH evening)
Fri 4th
Start at Magic Kingdom (EMH morning) - Finish at MGM for Fantasmic
Sat 5th
Start at Animal Kingdom (EMH morning) - Finish at Magic Kingdom (open until 9 instead of 8)

There is just a handful of things at AK we want to do and most are open for the EMH and the older kids are really just wanting the test track and world showcase at Epcot so we won't do full days at either.

I hope my plan doesn't backfire! Any suggestions for me?

 

[Donalee]

Angie, that sounds like a good plan to me. I got some kind of planning kit in the mail from DW. Not tickets or anything. And in those papers it says thanks for purchasing "magic your way park hopper tickets" or something simaliar to that. So I guess I did get the hopper tickets. If it turns out that I didn't get them I am going to add it to my trip. What is EMH? is it early magic hours? Thanks, Woo hoo trips almost here!!! Donalee

 

[FierceAXboi]

Epcot and MK are a MUST as for DAK and Studios....I say skip DAK....

 

[AngieWin]

What is EMH? is it early magic hours? Thanks, Woo hoo trips almost here!!! Donalee

Early magic hours. Morning is one hour early, evening is 3 hours late. I think that all of Epcot is open until midnight on their EMH
EMH