Single mom; juggling whether to extend stay, upgrade resort, or add park

[CocoHeart]

Sorry for double posting I’m just trying to find the right space for this. I just found this forum and it’s amazing.

Trip: end of November

Group: me and 3 boys (6-13)

Flying in: Mon: DS/resort hop; Tues: HS; Wed: MK; Thurs: AK; Fri: fly home

We’re staying at Allstar music and I’ll have this trip paid off in July

Now I’m wondering/worrying if it was a good decision to leave out EPCOT. There are definitely things there I feel my kids would like. Could we do this on our last day before flying out? Or maybe switch AK to the last day since it closes early and I heard EPCOT is fun at night during the holidays.

Or should I extend our stay by a day?

Id also love to upgrade to POP ($40/night more) for the sky liner. But don’t know if it’d be worth it if we don’t do EPCOT.

I’m leaning towards upgrading to POP and adding EPCOT.

(Fly in) MS T:HS W:MK TH:EPCOT F: AK (fly out)

What do you all think? My mind is all over the place so thanks for listening to my rambling.

 

[sdk1231]

For what it's worth, I just sent my 18 yr old daughter with 3 friends for a high school grad trip, 3 nights. They stayed at AoA and loved the Skyliner access to Epcot and DHS. They were unanimous on favorite ride - Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot. They did the following:

Arrival Day: MK (arrived at park around 3, saw the parade, rode Peter Pan G+ LL, TRON ILL and 7DMT ILL, dinner at LTT, rode HM G+ LL and Pirates, saw HEA)

2nd day: Skyliner to Epcot, rope dropped Remy, rode Soarin standby, rode Test Track G+ LL, Guardians ILL, lunch at Via Napoli, rode Frozen G+ LL, rode Guardians VQ. Afternoon resort break, then to DHS where they did a DHS After Hours.

3rd day: Slept in, did MK again

Departure day: Early Entry DAK, rope dropped Everest and rode it 3 times. ILL Flight of Passage, G+ LL Safari and 11:00 show of Lion King, G+ LL Dinosaur, on the bus back to AoA at 12:30 for some pool time before Mears bus picked them up.

If you can squeeze in Epcot, I think your boys would love Guardians and Test Track for sure.

 

[niclodn]

I definitely wouldn't skip Epcot. Especially during the holidays. What time is your flight on Friday? If it is evening, I think doing AK that day would work. Keep in mind that you'll need to leave for the airport roughly 3 hours before your flight departure time and will need to allow an hour or so to get from AK back to the resort to catch your airport shuttle.

Editted to add: And if your budget allows, I'd definitely upgrade to Pop for the skyliner - it is so much faster than the buses.

 

[Brian Noble]

Now I’m wondering/worrying if it was a good decision to leave out EPCOT.

Three things come to mind.

First, Disney is REALLY REALLY GOOD at convincing you that you aren't having A Great Vacation if you don't do this one other thing, no matter what you are already doing.

Second, a good chunk of DISboards is also very good at that! Coming here to ask this question is kind of like going to a NASCAR discussion board and asking if it would be a good idea to spend an extra weekend watching cars drive fast and turn left. ;-)

Third, even if you were there for a month, you probably couldn't do everything. There will always be something you could add.

For me, where I stay is a little less important than what I'm doing---and I've stayed in a bunch of different options, from the Beach Club Villas to staying offsite, and most things in between. For example, you don't have to stay at a Skyliner resort to ride it.

Beyond that, only you can decide how you feel about spending more money on this trip. But, you don't have to spend more money to make the trip "better"--it will already be great.

 

[CocoHeart]

For what it's worth, I just sent my 18 yr old daughter with 3 friends for a high school grad trip, 3 nights. They stayed at AoA and loved the Skyliner access to Epcot and DHS. They were unanimous on favorite ride - Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot. They did the following:

Arrival Day: MK (arrived at park around 3, saw the parade, rode Peter Pan G+ LL, TRON ILL and 7DMT ILL, dinner at LTT, rode HM G+ LL and Pirates, saw HEA)

2nd day: Skyliner to Epcot, rope dropped Remy, rode Soarin standby, rode Test Track G+ LL, Guardians ILL, lunch at Via Napoli, rode Frozen G+ LL, rode Guardians VQ. Afternoon resort break, then to DHS where they did a DHS After Hours.

3rd day: Slept in, did MK again

Departure day: Early Entry DAK, rope dropped Everest and rode it 3 times. ILL Flight of Passage, G+ LL Safari and 11:00 show of Lion King, G+ LL Dinosaur, on the bus back to AoA at 12:30 for some pool time before Mears bus picked them up.

If you can squeeze in Epcot, I think your boys would love Guardians and Test Track for sure.

WOW they got a lot done!! I’m setting my expectations low since I’ll have littler legs with me but I’m DEFINITELY getting Genie + for at least MK!

 

[CocoHeart]

Three things come to mind.

First, Disney is REALLY REALLY GOOD at convincing you that you aren't having A Great Vacation if you don't do this one other thing, no matter what you are already doing.

Second, a good chunk of DISboards is also very good at that! Coming here to ask this question is kind of like going to a NASCAR discussion board and asking if it would be a good idea to spend an extra weekend watching cars drive fast and turn left. ;-)

Third, even if you were there for a month, you probably couldn't do everything. There will always be something you could add.

For me, where I stay is a little less important than what I'm doing---and I've stayed in a bunch of different options, from the Beach Club Villas to staying offsite, and most things in between. For example, you don't have to stay at a Skyliner resort to ride it.

Beyond that, only you can decide how you feel about spending more money on this trip. But, you don't have to spend more money to make the trip "better"--it will already be great.

This is very true and really grounded advice! I think I also get caught up in making sure my kids are having the time they would have if there was another parent in the picture also. But I’ll definitely remember this.. thank you!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would definitely add a day, but I would stay where you are and use the buses. Use the money you save on eating around World Showcase on your Epcot day! (Lots of threads here if you Search on favorite foods around WS!) That will be worth it!

 

[jimmymc]

If you can afford both, then yes definitely upgrade to Pop and add Epcot. Skyliner access is amazing for taking a mid-day break and beating cars/busses for early entry. If I had to choose between extending the stay or upgrading to Pop, I would extend and add Epcot. The only real difference I see between Music and Pop is Skyliner access. The quality of the rooms, pool, and food courts are similar.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think I also get caught up in making sure my kids are having the time they would have if there was another parent in the picture also.

The kids will have a GREAT time, because they are at WDW. One parent, two parents, doesn't matter. When my kids were in that age range, only three things mattered to them on a WDW trip:

1: The resort had a pool.
2: The pool had water.
3: The water was wet.

Everything else was a bonus.

 

[lockets]

How often do you visit? If not that often then I’d upgrade to Pop so your kids experience the skyliner and I would either add Epcot or replace one of the other theme parks with it instead. I agree Guardians of the Galaxy is a must do and it’s nice to dine around Epcot.

 

[sdk1231]

WOW they got a lot done!! I’m setting my expectations low since I’ll have littler legs with me but I’m DEFINITELY getting Genie + for at least MK!

Great idea, and you'll have a great time no matter what! Go at your own pace, for sure!

 

[CocoHeart]

I definitely wouldn't skip Epcot. Especially during the holidays. What time is your flight on Friday? If it is evening, I think doing AK that day would work. Keep in mind that you'll need to leave for the airport roughly 3 hours before your flight departure time and will need to allow an hour or so to get from AK back to the resort to catch your airport shuttle.

Editted to add: And if your budget allows, I'd definitely upgrade to Pop for the skyliner - it is so much faster than the buses.

Haven’t booked the flight yet as my preferred airline hasn’t released those dates yet. But I’m finding similar dates with flights departing at 8pm from MCO

 

[niclodn]

Haven’t booked the flight yet as my preferred airline hasn’t released those dates yet. But I’m finding similar dates with flights departing at 8pm from MCO

An 8pm flight would give you plenty of time for AK!

 

[CocoHeart]

How often do you visit? If not that often then I’d upgrade to Pop so your kids experience the skyliner and I would either add Epcot or replace one of the other theme parks with it instead. I agree Guardians of the Galaxy is a must do and it’s nice to dine around Epcot.

This will be a first time visit for us. Not necessarily a one and done but a next trip would be a few years away.

 

[DLgal]

I would swap AK for Epcot, personally. AK is pretty ho hum for that age group.

But I'd also upgrade to Pop.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Haven’t booked the flight yet as my preferred airline hasn’t released those dates yet. But I’m finding similar dates with flights departing at 8pm from MCO

That's absolutely enough time to do anything they want in AK.

 

[Anthony1971]

The kids will have a GREAT time, because they are at WDW. One parent, two parents, doesn't matter. When my kids were in that age range, only three things mattered to them on a WDW trip:

1: The resort had a pool.
2: The pool had water.
3: The water was wet.

Everything else was a bonus.

The one thing overlooked the most and the most important to most kids.... The slide matters as well if they are resorts that had will have one. I can rank them but the one resort that some say has the best pool has the worst slide.

 

[CocoHeart]

That's absolutely enough time to do anything they want in AK.

Good to know!! I have to see what time the sun goes down in FL late November. I’ve heard the Pandora lights at night are a sight to see.

 

[eticketplease]

I can rank them but the one resort that some say has the best pool has the worst slide.

I don't know if it is the worst but it is annoying to leave the pool to walk to where you get on the slide esp if you have littles.

 

[loves to dive]

Tough decision and as Brian Noble said, your kids are going to have a good time even if you stick to the original schedule. You can't do it all, believe me we have been going at least every other year since 1982 and still have not done it all. Only you know your boys and their interests so other than GoTG, you would be the only one to know if they would find Epcot fun. Do you think they are only into rides or would they enjoy the World Showcase section?

In an ideal world where money wasn't an issue, I'd add that extra park but I wouldn't pay the extra for Pop even if money wasn't a problem. They can ride the sky liner without staying in Pop. I don't think it's worth the extra money but then, we have never had an issue with the buses. Heck, we have always park hopped and used the buses plus take a few hours out in the afternoon for some resort time.