Skip Animal Kingdom for more days in MK?

[5kidsmommy]

Planning my trip with my daughter we are doing 3 days at EPCOT, 1 half day at HS and 4 days at MK. This is what my daughter wants, although honestly since EPCOT is her favorite park I wouldn't be surprised if she decides she wants one more day there.

 

[BudgieMama]

I wouldn't drop AK, personally. If I really had to skip one park, it would be DHS (as it stands at present).

We only had just over half a day for AK on our trip, and it is one of our biggest regrets. It needed much more time than we had for it.

 

[finedice]

Personally, we would go down to 3 MK days and one AK. 4 MK days is overkill IMO. Sure, it's our fav park, but I wouldn't give up AK to get a 4th go at it.

^This^

Yes, I agree - we often take trips of 8-10 days, and even then, MK gets a little well... tiresome after the first couple of days there. But we have been enough that we've seen most of what MK has to offer multiple times too. The change of pace and ambiance at AK is really nice - the music, more shade, the educational side of it, and the shows are so different as well. Overall, it's so much more natural than all of the other parks. I would never skip it.

 

[mshanson3121]

From reading your plans it seems as though you've been before? Do you KNOW for sure that your children haven't changed their mind since the last time and don't want to do AK? Or is it just your least favorite park. If you've never been before, then no, do not skip it.

Out of your options, I'd do number 2.

If nothing else, plan half a day at AK and then have the rest as a resort day etc... l

 

[mshanson3121]

I think I would honestly just ask the two little ones.

If they've never been to AK though, it might be hard for them to say for sure, in which case I'd make a decision on whether or not they like the types of things offered there -- animals, Lion King, Nemo, Bug's Life, etc.

And Dinosaurs. I imagine pretty well most young children would LOVE the Dinosaur playground, the Dinoland Dance show etc...

 

[nat8199]

Thanks for your help everyone!!
You'll all be happy to hear that AK is now on the itinerary!
Got dinner ADR for Tusker House, as the kids love Donald and Daisy and DH loved Boma, which i hope is similar to TH.

Great choice!

 

[ilovebassets]

My children are roughly the same ages as yours. I think four days at MK is too much. we usually manage to see everything (except Soace Mountain) over two days, so I think three is more than enough. Early June isn't THAT crowded, but it isn't low season either. My older son is over 40" so we do the big rides too.

My kids love AK by the way. It's their favorite park after MK. We are always there from open to close since the hours tend to be shorter. I wouldn't miss it with kids that age. Mine can spend an hour in the Boneyard alone.

 

[>Ash<]

i think 3 days MK should be sufficient time in the park. i would certainly go for a day at AK it is a very nice park.
go early at ropedrop for th best experience in my opinion and in the mid day heat see the shows to stay out of the sun, in the later afternoon head back out to some of the trails to see the rest of the animals

thats always my plan of attach with AK also whilst your in the area, maybe get yourself an ADR for Boma / Jiko or Saana very tasty foods there or even just a trip to the Animal Kingdom Lodge they have a nice QS too and more animals to see - love AKL and Saana

 

[SplashMo]

Skip the Dinosaur ride for sure. Perhaps Dino Land altogether. We usually do. Except Primeval Whirl.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Skip the Dinosaur ride for sure. Perhaps Dino Land altogether. We usually do. Except Primeval Whirl.

This is why I love WDW, there is something for everyone. We actually only go to AK for the Dinosaur ride. My youngest son is autistic, he has issues with roller coasters and our last trip to WDW it was worse than it had ever been. He started being afraid of every ride. He wanted exact descriptions. We had fast passes but he would go until I went and came back and told him about every bump. My husband stayed with him and I went on with our other four kids. We all came back laughing and told him he'd love it. He believed us and went on with his dad while we waited. When he came back he was jumping up and down, he was so excited and wanted to immediately go back on but the wait was about an hour long so we said "we'll come back later". Well a wonderful CM happened to be there and witnessed our entire ride experience and walked over with a handful of paper fast passes for the ride. We were able to go on twice more and then once more later in the day, it was such a magical experience I wanted to cry. Seriously if he could have that would have been the only ride he would have ridden. So yeah WDW means Dinosaur to him. Someday I hope to take him to DLR because since Indiana Jones is basically the same ride I think he'd love it too.

 

[itchin2go]

For what it's worth, we did 2 days in MK Thanksgiving week, and it was more than enough. We are rope-droppers though.

And again, for what it's worth, we have never found much to do at AK.

 

[MatzoBelle]

I would schedule AK later in the trip and then decide the evening before.

 

[BelleBriarRose]

At least do a half day at AK if you can. It's a nice lowkey park for when you want to experience some Disney magic in a more relaxing atmosphere. Lines are never too long (except for Kilimanjaro Safaris, or Kali River Rapids if it's a hot day) so you can just wander around and do whatever you want when you want to do it: see animals, meet characters, have a snack, watch a show, do a ride, whatever. It's a good place to be flexible in your touring plan.

 

[busymommy2pink]

With kids that age EPCOT is tough, well at least the World Showcase is. I know when mine were that age we only did MK and AK, AK is a nice break, it is much more relaxing than the other parks and there is a lot for littles to see and do.

I disagree. Since 3, epcot has been both of my girls favorite parks. They love everything to do with the World Showcase. We do the passport every year (not the mask) and they love picking little trinkets, watching street acts, the food, meetin Mulan, etc. We always allot a full day just for World Showcase and often spend another evening or two there.

 

[itchin2go]

I disagree. Since 3, epcot has been both of my girls favorite parks. They love everything to do with the World Showcase. We do the passport every year (not the mask) and they love picking little trinkets, watching street acts, the food, meetin Mulan, etc. We always allot a full day just for World Showcase and often spend another evening or two there.

Glad someone else feels this way. I get the feeling when I say my daughter loves Epcot, people think I'm lying or it's just wishful thinking. It has been her favorite park since our first trip, when she was 5 or 6. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that my husband and I are enthusiastic about it ... or are willing to really explore it.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

We have 7 park days, 4 of 7 days planned for MK, skipping AK.
Will 3 days in MK be enough in early June crowds?

We have a Haunted Mansion-loving DS5 and a classic character-loving DD3.

Kind of depends on if you are park hopping. I am assuming from your post you are not. If you are park hopping I say go to AK and then after you hit the highlights hop to MK. Otherwise I could skip AK. I like it, but MK has so much more to do.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I disagree. Since 3, epcot has been both of my girls favorite parks. They love everything to do with the World Showcase. We do the passport every year (not the mask) and they love picking little trinkets, watching street acts, the food, meetin Mulan, etc. We always allot a full day just for World Showcase and often spend another evening or two there.

It's funny because it is now their favorite park. I am going back in December and we will be at EPCOT for 3 of our 6 days. I absolutely love EPCOT, glad my kids like it more now but when they were young they weren't as into it. Although turtle talk was one that made them giggle like crazy.

I think it's important with these trips to ask kids what they want to do and listen to their needs and wants.

 

[heidi8]

We are an EPCOT-loving, Animal-Kingdom obsessed family, and one other thing your kids might like at AK is the Wilderness Badge challenge - they can get a booklet by the bridge by the tree, and get sticker-badges all over the park by learning things and doing relatively easy and fun challenges. And they leave with a great souvenir and a sense of accomplishment. We love Rafiki's Planet Watch, too, and the Nemo and Lion King shows are spectacular.

 

[Pfau]

Animal Kingdom is my childrens favorite park. They are 8 and 6. No way could we skip it.

 

[caroline1851]

I like Option 2. Don't skip AK. But I wouldn't make any of the MK days late starts for a breakfast ADR. You can get more done first thing in the morning, beating the crowds and the heat.