Revised schedule - Which to eliminate - AK or MGM?

[HayGan]

OK since we will be arriving in Orlando 3 days before our AAA package begins and we can't actually get our park tickets until we check in at the Poly, I need to do some serious rearranging of our plans. Here was our original plan:

Sunday - MK
Monday - DQ/DTD and relaxing (after timeshare tour in am)
Tuesday - AK and MVMCP
Wednesday - Epcot
Thursday - MGM (possibly MVMCP again)
Friday - MK

Now DH says that he really wants a day off to relax after we check into the Poly so here was what I was thinking:

Sunday - relax during day and MVMCP at night (4pm)
Monday - relax, swim and shopping at DTD
Tuesday - check in REAL EARLY (to get tickets) at Poly and MK
Wednesday - Epcot
Thursday - kids and mom at AK or MGM????? (MVMCP again- depends on how first night goes)
Friday - MK
Saturday - head for home

Since we won't be going to DQ now we are going to eliminate the plus option from our passes (saves us almost $200 so 2 nights of MVMCP is definately a possibility)

So which should we do AK or MGM??? My boys will be almost 4 and 5 1/2 during this trip. We will be going back in 2006 for 10 days to use the rest of our MYW passes (and hopefully staying at the Poly the whole trip )

I've been to MGM and I wan't overly impressed (I liked US much better) and I have heard some unflattering things about AK so I am really confused.

What would you recommend

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I would say b/c you have young boys they might enjoy AK more than the studios. DH and I always felt that the studios was geared more towards adults than kids. Both are amazing parks though!

 

[nataliesdaddy]

OK since we will be arriving in Orlando 3 days before our AAA package begins and we can't actually get our park tickets until we check in at the Poly, I need to do some serious rearranging of our plans. Here was our original plan:

Sunday - MK
Monday - DQ/DTD and relaxing (after timeshare tour in am)
Tuesday - AK and MVMCP
Wednesday - Epcot
Thursday - MGM (possibly MVMCP again)
Friday - MK

Now DH says that he really wants a day off to relax after we check into the Poly so here was what I was thinking:

Sunday - relax during day and MVMCP at night (4pm)
Monday - relax, swim and shopping at DTD
Tuesday - check in REAL EARLY (to get tickets) at Poly and MK
Wednesday - Epcot
Thursday - kids and mom at AK or MGM????? (MVMCP again- depends on how first night goes)
Friday - MK
Saturday - head for home

Since we won't be going to DQ now we are going to eliminate the plus option from our passes (saves us almost $200 so 2 nights of MVMCP is definately a possibility)

So which should we do AK or MGM??? My boys will be almost 4 and 5 1/2 during this trip. We will be going back in 2006 for 10 days to use the rest of our MYW passes (and hopefully staying at the Poly the whole trip )

I've been to MGM and I wan't overly impressed (I liked US much better) and I have heard some unflattering things about AK so I am really confused.

What would you recommend

because your kids are 4 and 5 1/2 I would say ditch MGM and go to AK. Hey Kids love animals!!! The safari ride will not be too much for them. RNR over at MGM...if they were tall enough to ride would terrorize them...and TOT would put them in need of long term therapy.

 

[jaysue]

I would recommend AK over MGM as well if I had to make the choice - we have a 5yr old and a 2yr old and then prefer AK over MGM

Cheers
jaysue

 

[turnlisa]

I would also say AK just because of the age of your kids. My oldest loves MGM but he is 8 and is starting to get into the thrill rides. My youngest still only likes Little Mermaid and Bear in the Big Blue House. There are tons of things to do at AK and it will give you a chance to spend time with the kids by yourself. Usually when we go my DH ends up sick for at least one day -- his body won't let him go on vacation. This means that I get the kids for a day. Usually I take them to MK by myself and we have a riot! Enjoy!

 

[GarrettJD]

Peronally, I could never skip MGM, and I'd rather skip the AK.... but that's me. Given the age of your kids, I'll agree with the others... if you skip one, skip MGM, and go to AK. Wait a few years and your kids will be older and more able to appreciate MGM.

 

[ReninDetroit]

Peronally, I could never skip MGM, and I'd rather skip the AK.... but that's me. Given the age of your kids, I'll agree with the others... if you skip one, skip MGM, and go to AK. Wait a few years and your kids will be older and more able to appreciate MGM.

Me too. Epcot and MGM are my absolute faves.

Personally I wear out Animal Kingdom in a matter of hours. Kilimanjaro Safaris is amazing, but it's the only really exceptional thing there in my opinion. But I could spend 2 days in MGM. I would see every show and do millionaire like a million times and the great movie ride!

But I agree, you may want to wait a few years until they're older and will get more out of the overall campiness of MGM.

But one other thought - if you decide to go to MGM, the dining options are really great. The Brown Derby is $$$ but really amazing. My two favorite restaurants in all of WDW are the Sci-Fi DineIn and the 50s Primetime Cafe, both in MGM.

AK has rainforest cafe and that one really nice counter service restaurant, I forget what it's called....the Disney with Kids guide referred to their vegetables: "as rare in Disney as a bugs bunny t shirt" lol

 

[sharktums]

Yeah, MGM is so much fun. Animal Kingdom will still be there in the future and will have even more to offer by the time you go back again. Stick to MGM and ride Tower of Terror for me!

Elissa "misses MGM's Tower of Terror" Alvey

 

[FatKev]

Personally I would choose MGM but seeing as you have young children AK might be a better choice for you. They are both great parks but AK might hold there interest more.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Why not do both parks? Make a list of the things the boys will enjoy in both parks, then hit just those rides/shows.

I'd also try to find a way to fit Fantasmic into the plan.

 

[Mermaid02]

Since AK closes early, leave and go to MGM!

 

[powellrj]

I was going to say the samething, go to AK early and then MGM later in the day!

 

[laughinplace199]

I rhink AK would be a better choice given the ages of your kids. My kids were 3 & 5 on our last trip and they liked AK better than MGM because there was more for them to do.

As others have suggested, you could have the kids pick out a few things at each park and go to AK early and then hit MGM later in the day (if the kids aren't too tired of course).

Have a great time!

 

[marriedmarylander]

I can't really see how you can't fit in all 4 parks. You have a couple relaxing times already.

But if you said you were not impressed with MGM, skip it.

 

[iheartdisney]

Let me be the voice of dissention here! (isn't that fun!)
We only had 3 days, and didn't want to pay extra for the Park Hopper, so we chose to skip AK. Playhouse Disney was a hit for the littler ones, and yours will probably be tall enough to ride Star Tours, and if not, the kid-swap is on the platform, so they can still see all of the droids and things in line. Muppet Vision 3-D is a hoot,and they loved the Great Movie ride. Plus lunch at the Pizza Planet, getting to meet Buzz and Woody at Al's toy barn, and you've GOTTA go to the 50's primetime diner (that was my selling point) Fantasmic! tops the whole deal! I don't thinkI've forgotten anything!

 

[OzFan]

If you do decide on AK, don't miss the Dino dig in the Boneyard! My 6 yr daughter and my 7 yr old nephews LOVE this! We can't get them to leave! I personally LOVE AK! I can sit all day and look at the Tree of Life. It has become my favorite park!

 

[HayGan]

Duplicate post - sorry

 

[HayGan]

Thanks eveyone for all your input. I think we may try to do AK in the morning and MGM in the late afternoon evening (depending on operating hours.) We may also change our minds when we get there if we really like MVMCP and want to do another night The kids and I are most excited about MK so we want to spend as much time there as we can

Oh - the decisions to make