Question for all you expert Dis folks

[wehavesix]

We're newbies and I'm trying to get our itinerary sort of set. We are cruising on the Wonder first (4 day) then going to the parks. We get off the ship early Thursday morning 5/31. I was thinking we could go directly to MGM that day, MK on Thursday, and AK on Saturday. The problem is that I haven't figured out a time for Epcot unless we do 2 parks one day. We are planning to leave Sunday for our 2 day drive back home. Would it be good to go to Epcot after AK on Saturday? Would there be enough time to do/see much of Epcot after about 3pm?

 

[FamilyGuy]

Would there be enough time to do/see much of Epcot after about 3pm?

IMHO, this would be a fine idea. You will have several hours in Epcot, and then be able to cap the night off with a presentation of illuminations. Awesome nightime fireworks display in the center of the World Showcase in Epcot!

Epcot can easily be a 2 day park, but given the limited amount of time, you can definitely get a lot in in as little as a few hours.

Have fun planning!

 

[Marshay]

It would help if you tell us more about yourselves -- ages, kids, interest in action rides, kiddie rides, shows, film industry, countries, animals, character greeting, etc.

For example, if you don't like action rides and really aren't interested in behind the scene movie making, you can do MGM in just a few hours. If you don't really want to take the time to watch animals and you don't like dark or wet rides, then you can do AK in just a few hours as well. If you love to look at merchandise and architecture from around the world and try "foreign" foods, then you could easily spend two whole days just in EPCOT.

There are many people here who can help you on your first of many WDW trips.

 

[ziggybaby]

Hi there
Don't spend to much time walking around the World Showcase
and you'll be able to easily fit everything in

Hope this helps​

 

[matlock42373]

do not miss illuminations it is like nothing I have ever seen before. your trip sound like it will be wonderful.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Check out the Unofficial Guidebook for Disney (at your library) and read up on the different parks. The book describes in detail every single attraction. If your family is into animals and a great roller coaster Animal Kingdom is a must stop park. For our family MGM's big favorites are Tower of Terror and the roller coaster. Other than those we could really skip most of MGM. (Other families love MGM.) Magic Kingdom is of course a must. Our family loves Epcot: Test Track, Mission Space, Soaring.... all so cool to us. I would want to put more time in Epcot than either AK or MGM, but that is just our family.

 

[wehavesix]

It would help if you tell us more about yourselves -- ages, kids, interest in action rides, kiddie rides, shows, film industry, countries, animals, character greeting, etc.

For example, if you don't like action rides and really aren't interested in behind the scene movie making, you can do MGM in just a few hours. If you don't really want to take the time to watch animals and you don't like dark or wet rides, then you can do AK in just a few hours as well. If you love to look at merchandise and architecture from around the world and try "foreign" foods, then you could easily spend two whole days just in EPCOT.

There are many people here who can help you on your first of many WDW trips.

My kids are boys ages 13, 12, and 9 years and a dd age 11 years. We are all big animal lovers but also love movies. My kids probably would be interested in the space and adventure aspects of EPCOT but I don't see the World Showcase holding their attention as much. DH and I would probably love the World Showcase but sacrifices will have to be made in the interest of time. I had originally told DH we wouldn't have time to go to all 4 parks and he was very disappointed that I was thinking we might have to skip EPCOT. So if there is a way to get even a part of it in, he'll be happy.

 

[Marshay]

With children those ages, I would recommend doing Epcot. There are a few great rides that they may like (Soarin', Mission Space -- the stationery version for younger children, maybe? -- and Test Trak.) Unfortunately, if you don't get to these rides early in the day, they will have extremely long waits, like up to 3 hours and Fastpasses will be gone. So only going to Epcot at night may likely preclude you from these 3 great rides.

Others may disagree with me, but I would make Epcot a full day instead. (You might want to combine MGM and AK into one day.) My family does love AK but we are the type to sit around and watch the animals on the trail for an hour or more. At AK there is one new roller coaster and a safari tour that is cool but those 2 rides don't compare to Epcot's 3 thrill rides plus the other non-thrill rides, IMHO.

MGM -- must do Rock-n-Roller Coaster and ToT (Tower of Terror) -- these are my absolute favorite rides at WDW and thrill seekers will like them. Also hit one or two of the movie rides and catch one of the shows and you can do MGM in less than a day as well. If you have an evening free, go to MGM for Fantasmic.

Go to disney.com for more information on the rides or get a book about WDW from your bookstore/library.

If you think of this trip as just one of many in the future, then you won't feel so bad about not being able to do everything. We are planning to go for 8 days in September and I still can't fit in everything I want to do...so another trip in '08!

Best of luck in your planning.

 

[wehavesix]

Yeah. I REALLY don't see how this can possibly be a one time trip. There's just too much to do.

 

[karibritt01]

If you are doing 2 parks in one day, you will already have hoppers, so put them to good use. Epcot first day, then hop to MGM (PM EMH park) for the night. AK next day, then hop again to MK (PM EMH park) that night. Last day you go back to whatever park you still want to see more of. That at least puts you in each park at some point, and an extra day to go back to the ones you missed. Finish your last night at Epcot, and you will have gotten in all 3 nighttime shows. Hope that helps!