Skip Animal Kingdom for more days in MK?

[neejoe124]

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.

 

[Shmily01]

I think 3 days in MK, with a good plan, and you should be able to do everything that you want. Never been in June though, so not sure of the crowds.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Crowds in June are INSANE. Plus the weather can be flakey. When we went in June 3 years ago it down poured everyday at 3:00pm. Plus it was incredibly hot. Honestly I have young kids and the only thing they like at animal kingdom is the safari and tusker house. When we go it's not a full day at animal kingdom. This trip we aren't even doing animal kingdom. I would suggest maybe get park hoppers and do 1/2 animal kingdom and 1/2 magic kingdom or just skip animal kingdom altogether

 

[LaurenT]

It's a very subjective decision. I'm in the middle of a six day trip. One water park, one epcot, one DHS, one AK and two MK. My friend decided to skip the second MK and go back to AK - which I easily could have done!

 

[JJsmama]

Most years, we skip either AK or DHS. Only one DS rally cares about AK. We all enjoy it when we go (for half day) but only one of us minds skipping it. In summer, AK feels the most hot and crowded to me. MK is definitely the best park, but I think 4 days might be a bit much, unless you are going to do only a few hours each day. I would do 3 days at MK and the other do either AK or a water park. There is so much to do. Ak Is a nice change. Even if you only rode safari, the kids would like it and there is FP for meeting Mickey/ Minnie. Plus don't forget that some of the best character opportunities are not in MK.

I don't think June to too bad. We go every June. We do RD every day and Morning EMH when we can. Then we leave after lunch and relax until we go to an early dinner and maybe do a few attractions in the evening.

 

[matheke]

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.

That depends on a variety of things.

Are you staying on site? Are you planning to get to the parks when they open? Are you looking to use EMH? Morning? Evening?
Do you have or plan to Park Hop? What are your ADR plans? What are you doing with the other 3 days? Water Parks at all?
Are you allotting time for Characters meet and greets?

You can do a lot in a short period of time EARLY in the day before the crowds get crazy. Many folks take advantage of the morning EMH and then park hop to a different park.

Personally, I would not suggest that anybody skip a park. You never know what your kids are going to enjoy the most.

 

[lustergirl]

No brainer for me. I would skip DHS and spend more time at AK or MK. Sorry I know this doesnt help much.

 

[chelseabun76]

We ended up leaving AK by 3pm (it was only open until 5pm anyways), and I headed over to MK for a few more hours, and we already had 3.5 other MK days planned. lol

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I agree. If you have parkhopper- you can stay at AK until 5. Get some dinner and walk it all out at MK.

 

[neejoe124]

That depends on a variety of things.

Are you staying on site? Are you planning to get to the parks when they open? Are you looking to use EMH? Morning? Evening?
Do you have or plan to Park Hop? What are your ADR plans? What are you doing with the other 3 days? Water Parks at all?
Are you allotting time for Characters meet and greets?

You can do a lot in a short period of time EARLY in the day before the crowds get crazy. Many folks take advantage of the morning EMH and then park hop to a different park.

Personally, I would not suggest that anybody skip a park. You never know what your kids are going to enjoy the most.

Here is a detailed draft of our plans
About our trip: mom and dad, DS5 and DD3, staying at POR May 29-June 6, 2015 with 7 park days and Disney dining plan, no parkhoppers, no waterparks.
OPTION 1: 4 MK days, 2 EP days, 1 HS-SWW day, no AK
Friday - arrive MCO at 11am, 1/2 day MK, no ADR
Saturday - EPCOT (everyone's first time in EPCOT), Garden Grill ADR
Sunday - Star Wars Weekend, Dine-in breakfast (for DS5 and dad only) and Jedi Mickey + Fantasmic ADR
Monday - resort day + maybe DTD, 1900 Park Fare dinner ADR
Tuesday - MK, Chef Mickey dinner ADR
Wednesday - late MK after 'Ohana breakfast ADR
Thursday - EPCOT, Akershus breakfast or lunch ADR (still working on getting dinner ADR)
Friday - MK, Crystal Palace dinner ADR.
Saturday - resort day, depart MCO 9:30pm
OPTION 2: 3 MK days, 2 EP days, 1 each HS-SWW and AK
Friday - arrive MCO at 11am, resort day, maybe DTD, 1900 Park Fare dinner ADR
Saturday - AK (least favourite park), Tusker House dinner ADR
Sunday - Star Wars Weekend, Dine-in breakfast (for DS5 and dad only) and Jedi Mickey + Fantasmic ADR
Monday - EPCOT (everyone's first time), Akershus dinner ADR
Tuesday - MK, Chef Mickey dinner ADR
Wednesday - late MK after 'Ohana breakfast ADR
Thursday - EPCOT, Garden Grill ADR
Friday - MK, Crystal Palace dinner ADR.
Saturday - resort day, depart MCO 9:30pm
OPTION 3: 4 MK, 2 EP, 1 HS-regular day
Friday - arrive MCO at 11am, resort day, maybe DTD, 1900 Park Fare dinner ADR
Saturday - EPCOT (everyone's first time), Garden Grill ADR
Sunday - MK, Chef Mickey dinner ADR
Monday - EPCOT, Akershus dinner ADR
Tuesday - late MK after 'Ohana breakfast ADR
Wednesday - MK, Be Our Guest dinner ADR
Thursday - HS+SW meals, Dine-in breakfast (for DS5 and dad only) and Jedi Mickey + Fantasmic ADR
Friday - MK, Crystal Palace ADR
Saturday - resort day, depart MCO 9:30pm

 

[disnut8]

Here is a detailed draft of our plans
About our trip: mom and dad, DS5 and DD3, staying at POR May 29-June 6, 2015 with 7 park days and Disney dining plan, no parkhoppers, no waterparks.
OPTION 1: 4 MK days, 2 EP days, 1 HS-SWW day, no AK
Friday - arrive MCO at 11am, 1/2 day MK, no ADR
Saturday - EPCOT (everyone's first time in EPCOT), Garden Grill ADR
Sunday - Star Wars Weekend, Dine-in breakfast (for DS5 and dad only) and Jedi Mickey + Fantasmic ADR
Monday - resort day + maybe DTD, 1900 Park Fare dinner ADR
Tuesday - MK, Chef Mickey dinner ADR
Wednesday - late MK after 'Ohana breakfast ADR
Thursday - EPCOT, Akershus breakfast or lunch ADR (still working on getting dinner ADR)
Friday - MK, Crystal Palace dinner ADR.
Saturday - resort day, depart MCO 9:30pm
OPTION 2: 3 MK days, 2 EP days, 1 each HS-SWW and AK
Friday - arrive MCO at 11am, resort day, maybe DTD, 1900 Park Fare dinner ADR
Saturday - AK (least favourite park), Tusker House dinner ADR
Sunday - Star Wars Weekend, Dine-in breakfast (for DS5 and dad only) and Jedi Mickey + Fantasmic ADR
Monday - EPCOT (everyone's first time), Akershus dinner ADR
Tuesday - MK, Chef Mickey dinner ADR
Wednesday - late MK after 'Ohana breakfast ADR
Thursday - EPCOT, Garden Grill ADR
Friday - MK, Crystal Palace dinner ADR.
Saturday - resort day, depart MCO 9:30pm
OPTION 3: 4 MK, 2 EP, 1 HS-regular day
Friday - arrive MCO at 11am, resort day, maybe DTD, 1900 Park Fare dinner ADR
Saturday - EPCOT (everyone's first time), Garden Grill ADR
Sunday - MK, Chef Mickey dinner ADR
Monday - EPCOT, Akershus dinner ADR
Tuesday - late MK after 'Ohana breakfast ADR
Wednesday - MK, Be Our Guest dinner ADR
Thursday - HS+SW meals, Dine-in breakfast (for DS5 and dad only) and Jedi Mickey + Fantasmic ADR
Friday - MK, Crystal Palace ADR
Saturday - resort day, depart MCO 9:30pm

Wow - I couldn't even read through all that. I think you have thought too much. Why not have a day at Animal Kingdom where there are few things that need planning? Get a FastPass for the Safari and It's Tough to be a Bug and maybe Expedition Everest or Kali River Rapids. then spend the rest of the day just enjoying the outdoors and the trails, Rafiki's Planet Watch and the petting area, Flights of Wonder. A truly relaxing day? Just an idea in between the planning? Sometimes just going with the flow can be helpful for a vacation.

 

[neejoe124]

Wow - I couldn't even read through all that. I think you have thought too much. Why not have a day at Animal Kingdom where there are few things that need planning? Get a FastPass for the Safari and It's Tough to be a Bug and maybe Expedition Everest or Kali River Rapids. then spend the rest of the day just enjoying the outdoors and the trails, Rafiki's Planet Watch and the petting area, Flights of Wonder. A truly relaxing day? Just an idea in between the planning? Sometimes just going with the flow can be helpful for a vacation.

LOL, I just copy/pasted my notes.
Disney planning is actually relaxing for me...
There were lots of stuff that we missed as the kids fell asleep the first time!
Bugs life was closed, missed flights of wonder and nemo.

 

[Baptist]

With a 5 and 3 year old, it would be helpful to know their heights. If they are not 40", I would not spend much time at Epcot (you can't ride Soarin or Test Track, those are the best rides, plus the kids won't like touring the countries like adults do). One day would be perfect to see everything else at Epcot.

However, Animal Kingdom offers more for the little ones. The Safari ride and shows (Flights of Wonder is really good, don't miss it if you go) can easily fill up a day.

I would load up on Magic Kingdom days. It's by far the best for the little ones.

 

[Satchmo128]

I am in love with Animal Kingdom, so I wouldn't drop it for another day at Magic Kingdom. The shows (FotLK, Finding Nemo, and FoW) are all amazing, love Expedition Everest, safari, walking trails. Can easily spend a whole day (or two) there.
If you have hoppers, spend the morning/early afternoon at AK and then hop to MK?

 

[lauraleh]

I love AK so I would not be skipping it. FOTLK is an awesome show and there are some unique characters you can only meet there, like Pocohontas. I think 3 MK days would be enough.

 

[ElsasFan]

With 4 days for MK, I would not skip Animal Kingdom. We went for our first trip last year (me, husband, three kids 8 and under) and we were surprised at how much we loved Animal Kingdom. I really wasn't looking forward to it at all, but after I trip, I kept thinking about how I couldn't wait to go back to Animal Kingdom. Loved it. And there is so much more there that we didn't even have time to see.

 

[crazylady]

While AK is my least favorite park, my kids say it is their favorite. They could spend all afternoon in the Boneyard. That being said, I think you can get away without using prescheduled FP+ at AK more so than any other park. Why don't you schedule your days as you want to now, knowing that you can always change one of your Epcot of MK days once you get to the parks and see how you all like them? You might find that 3 days at MK or 1 day at EPCOT is enough for your family.

 

[AllieBoo]

I think I would sub one of the Mk days for AK.

Crowds in June are INSANE. Plus the weather can be flakey. When we went in June 3 years ago it down poured everyday at 3:00pm. Plus it was incredibly hot. Honestly I have young kids and the only thing they like at animal kingdom is the safari and tusker house. When we go it's not a full day at animal kingdom. This trip we aren't even doing animal kingdom. I would suggest maybe get park hoppers and do 1/2 animal kingdom and 1/2 magic kingdom or just skip animal kingdom altogether

The crowds in early June are definitely not insane. Yes, it is hot, but crowd wise, the first couple of weeks are very manageable. Christmas holidays, I would classify as insane.

 

[Jennytoon]

Only you can stamp out forest fires.

By which I mean, this question "skip AK for ... ?" seems to get posted on the boards quite a lot. Routinely, opinions are quite divided -- some people write that it's their favorite park, some people write that they never find more than half a day's stuff to do there. There is so much lack of agreement on how enjoyable this park is, and even on the things that make it enjoyable for those who find it a wonderful place, that I would say here is my advice:

1) If you haven't been before, or have been only in a quick breeze through without time to truly appreciate the park, you should not skip it if your other option is a 4th day at MK. You simply will not know if you are one of those families who loves this park and everything it has to offer without trying it yourself.

2) If you have been before, then your opinion based on your prior experience will be more valuable to you than the opinions of others. If you don't want to go, don't go, no matter how much you might feel based on the advice of others that you should check out a whole new park for variety instead of watching the Enchanted Tiki Birds one more time.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

If your kids enjoy zoos, I'd try for at least part of the day in AK, but you have enough time and flexibility that you can probably play it by ear if you need to. It really is a subjective decision, and you know your family best!

We went in early June last year and the crowds weren't bad. The only day we didn't get a downpour at the parks, though, was on our AK day, when we could have used one! We had scheduled our last FP+ for Kali River Rapids, which was great cooling off, and then went back to the room to get ready for dinner at DTD. (Which was when it poured. Go figure.)