Pre Cruise Park Visit

[DISfirstTimer]

My family of 4 is staying 2 nights at a Disney Resort prior to our Cruise on Saturday, 2/14. in a perfect world we could hit up broth Animal and Magic Kingdom. We plan to go parks on Friday but anticipate being on property by 3 on Thursday. Would you suggest adding a park day for the remainder of Thursday? Would you suggest park hoping or stick to a standard ticket? I welcome all your recommendations.

 

[DWillowBay]

We are doing a similar scenario in January. We are doing 2 full-day parks rather than make life crazy in such a short time by hopping. There are just too many indiscernible variables that have the potential to cut into the 2nd park if hopping (lines, short-term ride break-down, weather, etc). We just picked the two parks most important to our gang (MK, HS) and count it all as a blessing. Also, it will leave us time at the end of Day 2 to re-pack and be ready for the cruise. If you are using Disney Transportation to port, they will pick up your bags at around 8:00am and transport them for you. So, you have to be ready early. I hope your cruise and park time are really terrific!

 

[hardcorestitch]

My family of 4 is staying 2 nights at a Disney Resort prior to our Cruise on Saturday, 2/14. in a perfect world we could hit up broth Animal and Magic Kingdom. We plan to go parks on Friday but anticipate being on property by 3 on Thursday. Would you suggest adding a park day for the remainder of Thursday? Would you suggest park hoping or stick to a standard ticket? I welcome all your recommendations.

I would lean towards MK instead of AK should you choose to go into a park. You would only have a short window in AK if you had arrived at your stated time. In my honest opinion… take it easy and don’t hop parks! You’ll presumably have more time in MK and LL would pay for itself here.

Remember as well… as of a few hours from now, NO MORE add ons for Disney Cruise Line packages! Everything sails separately now... you now have to book WDW and DCL separate.

 

[DISfirstTimer]

I would lean towards MK instead of AK should you choose to go into a park. You would only have a short window in AK if you had arrived at your stated time. In my honest opinion… take it easy and don’t hop parks! You’ll presumably have more time in MK and LL would pay for itself here.

Remember as well… as of a few hours from now, NO MORE add ons for Disney Cruise Line packages! Everything sails separately now... you now have to book WDW and DCL separate.

Would you suggest just doing one park day then? Do you think it’s worth trying to sneak in a few hours in when we arrive on Thursday?

 

[Skippyboo]

You could get plenty done on Thursday at MK like watching HEA and the nighttime parade or doing rides while others are watching the fireworks . Then you could start Friday at AK and hop to other parks. The Festival of the Arts at Epcot that time of year is nice. Maybe think of some LL for Friday say if you want to do Guardians. I would not try to do everything in the parks.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Would you suggest just doing one park day then? Do you think it’s worth trying to sneak in a few hours in when we arrive on Thursday?

I would only buy a 1 day park ticket and upgrade it to 2 days if there's time. Arriving at 3 is fine for a half day at MK but if your arrival is delayed, you may not have much time there at all. In winter, you really can't count on travel happening on time.
For me, it's worth the little bit of time going to GS to add a park day vs. buying a 2-day ticket and feel that I wasted several hundred dollars. You might feel differently and maybe think that even only a few hours at a park is still worth it and would rather hit the ground running.

What's nice is knowing the whole time you're in crowded parks, in long lines, etc. that soon you'll be relaxing on the ship.

 

[Marthasor]

There are so many variables with travel delays. I would probably buy a 1-day standard ticket for Feb. 13 and then make a decision as to whether you want to upgrade that ticket or not once you actually arrive. If you are delayed past 3 pm, I think you will regret purchasing a 2 day ticket. Once you arrive, you can decide if you want to go to MK that evening (would not go to AK, it closes too early) and/or want to upgrade to a 2-day, 2-day PH or 1 day PH ticket.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

How old are your kids and where are you staying? Are you using Mears (it took so much longer than we expected when we did)?

If they are little I would probably not do a park day after traveling all morning. I think we arrived around 3 for our last trip and everyone was pretty tired so did pool time and dinner.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

AK is back to closing early, as of right now it'd be 6pm although yes with Disney they can change park hours. You just wouldn't have any time there after landing, picking up luggage, getting to the hotel and then to AK (best scenario there would be staying at All-Stars but a bus can still take a bit, a car less than 5 mins to the parking lot) if you choose to only do 1 park that day it's an enormous waste of money IMO to do it at AK for just several hours.

IF you're really thinking you want time on Thursday for both parks and have the ability to hop on Friday to another park spend the money for the 2-day park hopper. You could start at AK then move to MK on Thursday and then use the full Friday for either MK or AK or DHS or Epcot just depending on your party's interest. I think this plan really just depends on your traveling party and your budget. If you're strapped on the money and/or think you'll tire your traveling party out trying to do 2 parks on Thursday just stick with a 1-day ticket and decide if it's really important to go to AK this trip (if it is start at AK on Friday and end at MK due to operating hours) for adding on the park hopper.

Things to do Thursday if not at the parks could be going to Disney Springs for dinner, maybe pick up something in World of Disney for merch if your kids would be sad to not be in the parks themselves. Or pick a resort area like Boardwalk that allows for some things to do/see to occupy some time.

 

[DISfirstTimer]

Thanks for all the thoughtful feedback! I’m traveling with a 12 and 14 yo. We are staying at All Star Movies.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Would you suggest just doing one park day then? Do you think it’s worth trying to sneak in a few hours in when we arrive on Thursday?

In that case… it came down to how much time you had as mentioned. AK closes earlier than MK when MK doesn’t have a separate event. It would be worth the time if you didn’t have a full park day at your disposal to go to MK.