Only have 4 full days - help please

[3daughters]

We only have 4 full days to see all the parks and one day is cut short by going to Cirque. Can someone tell me which park I should leave for my "short" day? I was thinking AK - our Cirque show is at 6:00.

I don't have big thrill riders in my family, although my kids are 11 & 13.

Thanks

 

[mom2ee]

If you get to AK for rope drop and get FP for E:E and then when next time comes, get FP for Safari, you should be able to fit the shows around those two. Our family usually travels in December and therefore don't do Kali as i hate to be cold and wet...check out Steve Soares web site for the times for shows and work schedule around that. If you get an early start, you shold be able to hit the highlights at AK on a shorter day....just walk the trails with purpose and enjoy but linger less...not perfect but doable.

 

[dbarker]

We can usually do MGM in 1/2 day. We don't ride TOT (did it once, never again) so that wait time is avoided. There are a few shows at MGM we just are not interested in, so we can easily do it in 1/2 day.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Another vote for MGM. I'm through with that park after a couple hours!

 

[Kick Save]

I'd hedge towards the AK, too, given it's normal park hours and your Cirque time. You can see most if not all of the AK by 4PM and be out of the park before it closes. You'll have way more than half a day in the AK if you get there at opening.

 

[hniki234]

I'd make AK my short day, too. You should be able to fit in almost everything (if not everything). Plus, AK does usually close earlier than the other parks.

 

[kimshmkr]

We did AK in a half day. It was an EMH and we were there at opening. We were finished by 2:00 pm. There was no everest last year though. Have fun!!!

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Although I'm sure we're in the minority here, our family doesn't care for AK. We've tried going there each time we make a trip to WDW and leave disappointed after only a few hours. I won't get into the reasons (perhaps it's simply because we love the MK, MGM and Epcot so much) but my vote would be to skip/cut down on your AK visit.

 

[nhpooh]

I'd make AK my short day, too. You should be able to fit in almost everything (if not everything). Plus, AK does usually close earlier than the other parks.

I would go with this too!

 

[Mo-Yo]

I depends a little on whether or not you have park hoppers.

If you haven't bought your Cirque tickets yet, and you have hoppers, I would look at parade and evening show schedules and plan your parks for the a.m. and p.m. hours. Whatever evening is left after you have seen Fantasmic, Spectro and the fireworks and Illuminations, I would schedule Cirque.

Otherwise, I agree with the others MGM and AK can both be cut down to a half day. But you don't want to miss Fantasmic at MGM.

 

[PrincessGracie]

Although I'm sure we're in the minority here, our family doesn't care for AK. We've tried going there each time we make a trip to WDW and leave disappointed after only a few hours. I won't get into the reasons (perhaps it's simply because we love the MK, MGM and Epcot so much) but my vote would be to skip/cut down on your AK visit.

So funny...I was going to say the same thing!! Don't get me wrong, Animal Kingdom is pretty cool...we did it in 1/2 last year. But when we go in 10 DAYS...we're skipping it. But us too....we just LOVE MK, MGM, and Epcot so much!!

 

[rdjm]

we always do AK and MGM as 1/2 days. It works out great for us.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

So funny...I was going to say the same thing!! Don't get me wrong, Animal Kingdom is pretty cool...we did it in 1/2 last year. But when we go in 10 DAYS...we're skipping it. But us too....we just LOVE MK, MGM, and Epcot so much!!

I'm not sure exactly what it is... Perhaps, since we have a wonderful zoo in the Chicago area (Brookfield) the concept of visiting with the animals isn't that exciting or earth shattering? Also, it always seems so crowded (are the walkways there far too narrow, or is it my imagination) and if you're there during the summer, many of the shops are "open air" and you don't get that AC break that other parks offer.

As much as we'd all like to just skip it next time, though I know that everyone will want to give AK one more chance, once again...

 

[Kick Save]

I'm not sure exactly what it is... Perhaps, since we have a wonderful zoo in the Chicago area (Brookfield) the concept of visiting with the animals isn't that exciting or earth shattering? Also, it always seems so crowded (are the walkways there far too narrow, or is it my imagination) and if you're there during the summer, many of the shops are "open air" and you don't get that AC break that other parks offer.

As much as we'd all like to just skip it next time, though I know that everyone will want to give AK one more chance, once again...

This is our approach, also. We've never really liked it, but keep giving it "one more chance." Even our kids don't like it (3 and 7). We were there for three hours one afternoon/evening and the 7 year old said, "Dad, do we have to come back here?"

I know plenty of people here do love the AK, and are reading this now formulating a response to talk me into liking it , but not us. We'll hit it for a morning on our next trip for the one more chance thing, and that'll likely be it. IMO, the park still isn't quite "done." EE and Nemo will help, as will the TS resturant, but it still needs a bit more.

Sorry, didn't meant to stray off into anti-AK land, just felt like adding a little "me too!" to this thread.

 

[MomPOM]

Having not been to AK yet I'm probably not a good person to be answering but I agree to either do MGM or AK. I think you should make this choice based on your families preferences. I know my 4-year old will take FOREVER to get through AK because he loves animals (even though he goes to BRookfield Zoo twice a month at least) so for my family I'd probably choose MGM.

 

[3daughters]

I think I'm going to do the AK for that day. I do have a day planned at MGM because we have reservations at Mama Melrose's at 4:20 and then the Fantasmic show.

Maybe if we aren't done somewhere else we will either go to MK or Epcot on the MGM day too.

It's hard to cram it all in, in 4 days. Goofed, should have made it 5 at least. I don't know what I was thinking. They have a 6 day deal I should have done, but didn't realize it afterward and couldn't change it due to the airline tickets that I already purchased. Would have had a huge penalty.

This is my kid's first time at 11 and 13, so wanted to make the most of it, I guess I'll just have to save to go back again. We are going in January so hopefully the low crowds will allow us to see more than usual.

 

[tinawv]

I agree with most of the previous posters. Animal Kingdom or MGM can be done in a day if you get an early start.