There is no such thing as a half-day park

[sayheyrenee]

I also think it depends on the age/sizes of the people in your party. For us being with a 37 inch child eliminates many attractions at AK and Epcot. Essentially AK will be Character breakfast, safari, walking trail, done. Not only is AK a half day park for us, we aren't even wasting our FP+ on them. However given his interests and loves HS is a full day park for us and we'll likely swing over another day for another round of Pixar fun. Epcot has many of the same restrictions for him and I don't see him finding the different countries too interesting. This is the back half of our AK day.

This is us completely.
Last year, my daughter was was 35". This eliminated a lot in Epcot and HS for us. We still block off the entire day at those parks for things like character meals and shows which my young one enjoys. This also give us the opportunity for pool time, nap and meals at other hotels. We do HS and Epcot early morning then return after dinner. AK my daughter slept through Nemo and we missed Lion King due to heat exhaustion for me. They are must do this August.

My daughter is 4 and only 37" now. She's a munchkin.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Experienced AK for first time a long time ago--- and it was and still IS a 1/2 day park. PERIOD. (FOR ME)

AND it's a 2 day park FOR YOU. Quantify your statements also

I thought OP was pretty clear that it's only a 1/2 day park if you're skipping multiple attractions. And I agree. It's a 2-day park if you try to do everything that's there, and if not, you'll be done sooner.

But, the point was not to call it a 1/2 day park to the unknowing.

 

[mm1971]

A lot of opinions and good points. OP, whether something is a half day or full day park really depends on the individual. Being a message board, I am not sure people need to qualify statements. They should be taken as opinions unless asking about a specific topic where it is black and white like hours or restrictions.

For us, AK is a full day park. We do almost every attraction except the Nemo musical. Sometimes we will watch and sometimes we skip it. I do agree that Disney sees it as a lesser park and has decided to do something about it with the Avatar project being added and night time hours being added when it is complete.

HS is a half day for US. My children do not do ToT, only one does RR and ST. We only do a few other attractions beyond those. It is completely based on our touring style and what we choose to do. Epcot and MK are both 2 days for us, while I have seen a lot of posts on here that Epcot is one day.

I do think that when the Avatar area is complete and if/when HS is updated and something new added all the parks will be more favorable to everyone.

 

[nighttowll]

It's easy to leave once you've realized you've done everything you wish to do. But it can be much harder to carve out more time for a park you realize you've underestimated.

This exactly. We are talking advice for first time visitors, not seasoned veterans who already know what they like and don't like.

If a new visitor does research by coming to Disboards and is told by numerous posters that AK is a half-day park without any qualification, that is a problem. What the OP is suggesting is that just saying "AK is half day park" isn't very helpful. Good advice would be - "my family spends a half day at AK but we skip this and that and aren't interested in a lot of the rides or my kids aren't tall enough, etc.". Then the new visitor has helpful information that can help them make a determination as to what will work for their family.:

I agree. When people say that AK is a half day park because there isn't much they are interested in or because they only want to ride Dinosaur, Everest, and the Safari, it makes it clear that they are choosing to only do part of the park. I see no issue with that. Even saying that most people find 1/2 day enough because there isn't as much that appeal to most families is ok because it still leaves it clear that doing everything takes longer.

However, when someone simply says budget 1/2 day for your first trip, it doesn't really paint the whole picture. You never know. That family might be really into animals over princesses. MK was my sister's least favorite park as a kid. We spent 3 days at Epcot, and if she would have let us, we would have spent 4 our first trip, and AK was her favorite park as a child. She loved animals, and she loved the craft discovery sections they used to have. She will still tell you that doing the kidcot stations at AK was one of her favorite parts of the whole trip. She liked those better than the rides at MK.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If a new visitor does research by coming to Disboards and is told by numerous posters that AK is a half-day park without any qualification, that is a problem. What the OP is suggesting is that just saying "AK is half day park" isn't very helpful. Good advice would be - "my family spends a half day at AK but we skip this and that and aren't interested in a lot of the rides or my kids aren't tall enough, etc.". Then the new visitor has helpful information that can help them make a determination as to what will work for their family.

People are so sensitive on here!

Then they need to do more research. We're not only here to advise first time visitors how to tour. What is being said here is that every opinion we post should be filtered through the perspective of a first time visitor. It might be nice but it's not required. If a first time visitor asks for advice, that's another thing.

 

[PEC]

A lot of opinions and good points. OP, whether something is a half day or full day park really depends on the individual. Being a message board, I am not sure people need to qualify statements. They should be taken as opinions unless asking about a specific topic where it is black and white like hours or restrictions.

For us, AK is a full day park. We do almost every attraction except the Nemo musical. Sometimes we will watch and sometimes we skip it. I do agree that Disney sees it as a lesser park and has decided to do something about it with the Avatar project being added and night time hours being added when it is complete.

HS is a half day for US. My children do not do ToT, only one does RR and ST. We only do a few other attractions beyond those. It is completely based on our touring style and what we choose to do. Epcot and MK are both 2 days for us, while I have seen a lot of posts on here that Epcot is one day.

I do think that when the Avatar area is complete and if/when HS is updated and something new added all the parks will be more favorable to everyone.

Agree and even with yourself, children's interest sometimes change. Dont know how old they are but sometimes a child 10-12 will have no interest in thrill rides and then 13-15 this will change. There are so many variables that a families touring style can literally change every trip. You almost need to try things once just to see what fits your family. My GD 5 yo I would have thought would have had no interest in WS. Instead she enjoyed it.

 

[Ava]

This is us completely. Last year, my daughter was was 35". This eliminated a lot in Epcot and HS for us. We still block off the entire day at those parks for things like character meals and shows which my young one enjoys. This also give us the opportunity for pool time, nap and meals at other hotels. We do HS and Epcot early morning then return after dinner. AK my daughter slept through Nemo and we missed Lion King due to heat exhaustion for me. They are must do this August. My daughter is 4 and only 37" now. She's a munchkin.

This was us last trip as well. Our DD had just turned 2, so too small for the headliners and not able to sit through shows very well. Her favorite thing was meeting characters, so we spent most of our time at HS and AK doing that. After 1/2 day at each park, we'd done most of what she could/would do, so we left and gave her a nap then spent the late afternoon swimming at the hotel. DW and I had been to WDW before, so we were fine to skip most of the headliners and just do what was fun for DD.

Now DD1 is 5 (and 44" tall!) and we also have DD2, who will be 16 months on our trip in Sept. We plan to do some of the headliners for us and DD1 but will still spend time meeting characters, playing in water features, etc so DD2 gets to have some fun as well. So overall we'll likely spend more time in each park than we did last trip. We also have the DDP, with a TS meal planned for each day, which we've never done before either.

 

[itchin2go]

You could do almost a full day on characters alone at HS.

Yeah, you COULD ... if it appeals to you. Just because there's enough to do to fill up a day doesn't mean that's how we want to spend our day.

We have done DHS, and done it and done it. We have done nearly every attraction there. So many of them, I just won't waste the time to do again.

For us, DHS is a quick in-and-out park (1-2 hours last trip). Please don't assume that it's because we haven't given it a chance. We have. It's just not our cup of tea.

Regarding first time visitors: If they allocate a half day to DHS and then LOVE it, they are free to change up their vacation plans and return for more time. (This happened to us with Epcot on our first visit - we loved it, so we allocated LOTS more time to it.) People are not necessarily sheep, and we're not their protectors.

 

[Momof2Singers]

I see a lot of posts stating HS and AK are half-day parks. Those statements are terribly misleading for those that have never been to Disney and are not familiar with what those parks have to offer. I hope everyone that reads those types of statements understand that such comments are simply opinions of specific posters and not actually reality. Honestly, there is enough to do two days at each of those parks and not repeat.

Those that only do half-days are skipping a lot, and not because it’s not worth doing. In many cases, it’s because they are Disney veterans and simply choose to do something else. But, everyone’s perspective should be determined by their own experiences, and not someone else.

Sure, if you only have 3 park days, you can’t devote a full day to everything, but I’m talking about visits of 5 days or more. Consider the following things, which people that only do the headliners have to be skipping, in order to get it ‘done’ in a half-day.

Hollywood Studios has a ton of characters, many of them unique to that park (Phineas & Ferb, Sofia the First, Wreck-It Ralph, Green Army Men, Buzz & Woody together, etc.). And, then there is Characterpalooza. You could do almost a full day on characters alone at HS.

HS also has a lot of shows with specific schedules that make it tough to get them all done in a day. For the most part, these shows are must-do for the first time visitor. Even repeat visitors can get a new experience. Last year, after 6 visits in the last 7 years, I finally got to be an extra in the Indiana Jones show. That is an experience I’ll remember forever.

Like HS, AK has a lot of shows and some unique characters (Pocohontas, Baloo, Rafiki, etc.). Combined with shorter park hours, and long attractions such as the Safari and the walking Trails, make it almost impossible to do it all in a single day. We spent two days of about seven hours each there last October (park closure at 5) and did not duplicate a single thing.

Animal Kingdom also has some unique activities such as Rafiki’s planet and the Wilderness Explorer Adventure. My kids (7 & 9) loved the Wilderness Explorer activity (and my wife and I had fun with it as well). Here’s the thing though. It took us the full two days to collect all of the badges. I realize not everyone can devote two days to a park, but my point is that AK is NOT in any way a half-day park if you want the full experience (P.S. – a good zoo at home is not even remotely the same thing).

Bottom line is that posters who say that this park, or that park, are only half days should qualify the reasons they think that way. And, people who are visiting Disney for the first time should experience everything they possibly can and make their own decisions versus assuming someone’s opinion is fact (and that includes mine).

Could not agree MORE, I read this also and realize it is their personal choice, we have never stayed in a park 1/2 day unless we wanted to go back and experience something we missed near the end of our trip. Everyone vacation's differently and explores Disney differently. Many of the newbie Disney goers need to read this and look at what ALL parks have to offer before leaving home, making it the BEST for their family.

 

[minnie mum]

For them, it is a half day park. Are we now required to withhold opinion on a message board because someone else might not share it? I don't think we can demand that posters phrase their posts a certain way in this kind of instance. New visitors doing proper research can determine for themselves if a park is going to be a half day park for them or not.

This! Exactly this.

If a new visitor does research by coming to Disboards and is told by numerous posters that AK is a half-day park without any qualification, that is a problem. What the OP is suggesting is that just saying "AK is half day park" isn't very helpful. Good advice would be - "my family spends a half day at AK but we skip this and that and aren't interested in a lot of the rides or my kids aren't tall enough, etc.". Then the new visitor has helpful information that can help them make a determination as to what will work for their family.

People are so sensitive on here!

But here's the thing, and here's my objection to the OPs complaint. Opinions here on the Dis are never seen in isolation. Sure a newbie might post a question about how much time to allot for each park. But you just KNOW that as soon as someone dismisses AK or DHS as a half day park they will be countered by 2 more people asserting that they spend 2 days at each park on every trip. And the debate will go back and forth for several pages. Two days later another newbie will post the same question and the same debate will ensue. Repeat ad nauseum.

Let's give new Disers a little credit here. Let's just assume for a moment that they have the ability of critical thinking. That they know how to evaluate differing opinions, ask additional questions, and gather sufficient information to form their own opinion based on their research. I will give people the benefit of the doubt and assume that they know that opinion is just that- and that not everyone will have the same one. Come on people, were talking to adults here, not first graders who believe everything they hear as fact.

 

[tup1830]

Well its not that i don't agree, the OP fails to understand that her statement alone is ALSO an opinion.

Just like half day-ers is an opinion, a full day person is also an opinion

There are no such things as MUST-DO...aka...opinion!!!!!

The entire Disney vacation is a matter of opinion...from the second you leave your house (or think about going to Disney).

All in all, for anyone that actually bases their first trip upon these boards, please stop reading these boards. Just go, explore and figure out what you enjoy.

The best way to experience it is to explore and find it for yourself!!! (again my opinion) While you may miss something, there's an element of awesomeness with exploring without any other thoughts and running to something because everyone else loves it.

 

[awilliams4]

I agree with the OP as we spent open to close there with our DD who was 5 at the time.

The issue is that Disney sees it as a half day park as it closes earlier than any other park. When we go this August AK closes at 6pm and that is the latest of all the days we will be there. HS and Epcot close at 9 and MK at 11. So its 3-5 hours earlier than any other park.

Agree with the original OP. For newbies that read that AK is a 1/2 park is misleading. For those that do it in 1/2 day, they are just choosing to do some of what is available. Advising newbies that it is a 1/2 park is not accurate.

We could spend 60 minutes just in the Oasis. Another 60-75 shopping. Our two sit down meals at Rain Forest and Yak and Yeti is another 120 minutes minimum. That is four hours right there.

Sure, if we eat hamburgers/hot dogs every day, skip 1/2 the attractions, run through the beautiful themeing, yeah, I believe that is about 4-6 hours of stuff to do. But then you didn't really do the Animal Kingdom then.

 

[GillianP1301]

I agree with the OP that everyone should experience the park themselves to determine what is a 1/2 day or multi day park for them. And often that changes just based on the length of trip and how many times or how recently you've been there.

My advice for any first time visitor is to give each park at least a full day each at minimum and for longer trips, start adding in days to the parks that you found to be most interesting. In most cases MK will be the first choice for adding a 2nd day for a first time visitor.

For me personally, I have never had an enjoyable day at AK. Every trip I plan a full day and we usually leave frustrated around lunch time. I keep trying it though because, on paper, it would seem to be something our family would really enjoy. This year, I'm planning 2 x 1/2 days there and seeing if breaking it up into smaller chunks will make it a more manageable and enjoyable visit.

 

[awilliams4]

Well its not that i don't agree, the OP fails to understand that her statement alone is ALSO an opinion.

Just like half day-ers is an opinion, a full day person is also an opinion

There are no such things as MUST-DO...aka...opinion!!!!!

If you are talking about doing Animal Kingdom, then the original OP is stating fact, not opinion. If you choose not to do everything, then you are choosing to make it 1/2 of a day. If you decide there are no must dos, then you are not doing Animal Kingdom. The calculator doesn't work that way.

 

[Tonyz]

Animal Kingdom is definitely worthy of a full day... but alas, I'm only staying at WDW for five days this time, so I can only give it a half day. AK is easily the most underrated park.

Hollywood Studios on the other hand is barely a half day, IMO. Toy Story, ToT, Star Wars, and the Beauty and the Beast show. Maybe a little One Man's Dream, and that's it for me.

 

[Amirah95]

We already know what we want to see and do so HS and AK are 1/2 day parks for us. We also do both of these parks on the same day. If we were new to there parks or wanted to hang out or just wanted to explore then these parks are full day parks IMO.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I agree with the OP that there's really no such thing as a "half-day" park, especially for folks who are new to WDW. But, usually, this response is given to people who are trying to maximize their time on a limited travel budget. AK and HS are probably best seen in a day or more, but there is no way that one can do justice to MK and Epcot in 1 day. Those, to me, are automatic 2 day parks. So if someone mentions that they have only 4.5 days to see all of WDW, I'm going to advise them as to where to spend the majority of their time. AK, at least, can be "done" for the most part (though not thoroughly enjoyed or appreciated) in half a day, allowing for evening fun elsewhere. HS, though fun for thrill seekers, is not the best use of full day time for people with kids below the measuring stick mark, or who are afraid of coasters. So I can feel justified, on occasion, for suggesting that less than a full day may be spent at these locations (provided, as always, that the intention is to return again someday to the World). Trust me, I do not feel the Louvre was a one day museum, but when I only had 3 hours to spend there, I made it happen

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that it's a matter of opinion. To us, Epcot has become a half day park unless we want to do some serious shopping. There is little that appeals to us in Future World.

However this is just an opinion just like the OP expressed an opinion. Not everyone is into characters or shows or (dare I say it) lame attractions. Those people shouldn't be asked to keep their opinions to themselves any more than anyone else.

I always tell people to try everything. It's very possible to see everything at each park in four days with proper planning unless of course characters and dining are priorities. You have to run hard to do that though so if you have limited time it's best to consider the two lesser parks as half day parks. I say this as a fan of AK.

 

[mill4023]

Nobody has said that one opinion vs the other is less valid... The argument here is just that they are both opinions and the half dayers need to express it more as an opinion than fact... I have done a half day and whole day and each has there ups and downs... You half dayers relax and maybe a walk thru the jungle might be just what u need

Ok, then I'll say it.

Now, don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with someone saying that they only like spending a half day in certain parks.

That doesn't mean it's a half day park.

If you say it's a half day park, most people would interpret that to mean that there is only enough to do to keep you occupied for a half day. That's clearly not true about either of these parks.

The FACT is that there is no possible way to do everything in AK or in DHS in a half day. In fact, I'd say on most normal crowd days, there is no way to do everything in either park in 1 full day.

 

[Planogirl]

Ok, then I'll say it.

Now, don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with someone saying that they only like spending a half day in certain parks.

That doesn't mean it's a half day park.

If you say it's a half day park, most people would interpret that to mean that there is only enough to do to keep you occupied for a half day. That's clearly not true about either of these parks.

The FACT is that there is no possible way to do everything in AK or in DHS in a half day. In fact, I'd say on most normal crowd days, there is no way to do everything in either park in 1 full day.

Does everyone want to do everything though? Won't many people skip the more thrilling rides and characters and so on?

I agree that you can't do everything but will most people actually want to do everything?