Order to visit parks important?

[Mommy2RandN]

We are taking our DD3 and DS5 to WDW for their first trip and we only have 3 days in the parks. I know they will really enjoy HS and MK and we'd like to do Epcot, at least FW. DS would love to do the Jedi Training too, but they don't do it on Sunday which is one of our park days. My thinking was to do Magic Kingdom first then open at HS and Epcot in the evening the second day and finish with MK again.

I've seen on here that people say you shouldn't start with MK before the other parks, but is this really that important? We would love opinions from those who have more info and experience than us!

 

[Art 1]

It doesn't matter. But the MK is the main park in my mind and with those ages I would go there first.

 

[Valista]

I always like to start and end my trips at MK. You'll be fine.

 

[Dizisfun]

My daughter took her girls when they were like 5 and 7 years old. She started with Epcot first and let them do the passport book, visiting each and every country and doing the craft corners. They also enjoyed the rides and met many characters getting autographs and pictures at Epcot, they spent their entire first day there. She knew that once the girls got to Magic Kingdom that nothing would compare. My daughter was very regimented in their trip to WDW. (Hopefully they will get to go back in 2013, that's the plan anyway.) The girls are now 9 and 11...

 

[lc1965]

That's a very interesting question & you'll get conflicting answers! It's just so personal. Birnbaum's guides have always recommended visiting MK any time other than 1st because it's just so darned-near perfect in terms of expectations & Disney magic & that seems like a very valid point. Personally, I was in Heaven as soon as I walked onto World Showcase at EPCOT. And so on. If you're unfamiliar with the parks & want to manage expectations, you've made a great start by just asking. Check out the WDW site, too. I don't advise guides because they tend to ruin surprises if you read too much about individual attractions, but they have their place, esp when it comes to food & shows.

 

[Snow Shoe]

I beleive that MK should be your first and last days visits. It's a great place to be a kid, or a kid once again. Just make sure you have park hopper tickets for visiting the other parks.

 

[smitch425]

We are taking our DD3 and DS5 to WDW for their first trip and we only have 3 days in the parks. I know they will really enjoy HS and MK and we'd like to do Epcot, at least FW. DS would love to do the Jedi Training too, but they don't do it on Sunday which is one of our park days. My thinking was to do Magic Kingdom first then open at HS and Epcot in the evening the second day and finish with MK again.

I've seen on here that people say you shouldn't start with MK before the other parks, but is this really that important? We would love opinions from those who have more info and experience than us!

I thought Jedi Training Academy was done everyday. Can someone confirm, please???

 

[Precious Disney]

I'm trying to plan which day I will visit each park and I'm keeping in mind these two posts that I saw on this board.

Go to Epcot early in the week because it has the most walking; go to MGM (Hollywood, whatever) last because it has the least walking

Do Animal Kingdom early on in your trip when you have lots of energy, and wear your best walking shoes for that park! There is a lot of walking on very hilly terrain.

So what do others think about that??? Not sure if I'm helping the OP answer their question....

 

[starsweeper]

We're another family that believes in starting with MK and ending with MK. We usually even visit MK again one afternoon, or two.

 

[Aggiegrl]

We base our plans on the crowd calendars online.. I like to do Magic Kingdom first, but it is a lot more magical with lower crowds. For our dates this fall, our first park day is predicted around a 5 at MK. Later in the week is around a 1. We'll be going later in the week and heading to Epcot our first day (also around a 1).

 

[Jimmysmom0703]

I based mine on the extra hour days n I left one day open to see what park the boys like best

 

[ThroughLookingGlass]

We are taking our DD3 and DS5 to WDW for their first trip and we only have 3 days in the parks. I know they will really enjoy HS and MK and we'd like to do Epcot, at least FW. DS would love to do the Jedi Training too, but they don't do it on Sunday which is one of our park days. My thinking was to do Magic Kingdom first then open at HS and Epcot in the evening the second day and finish with MK again.

I've seen on here that people say you shouldn't start with MK before the other parks, but is this really that important? We would love opinions from those who have more info and experience than us!

I always feel it's important to hit MK first, even if you have park hoppers and only a day there. When most people think of Disney World they think of Main Street and Cinderella's castle. I am always really upset if on my trips my family goes somewhere else first.