There is no such thing as a half-day park

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

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

Excellent post.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Epcot is hot, yes. But for some reason, Epcot doesnt drain every ounce of energy from me like AK does. I dont know what it is, but im done for the rest of the day after a few hours at AK. Ya'll can disagree all you like, but it wont change things. I'll still be a useless vegetable after a few hours at AK.

Do you have an *inkling* of why this may be?

I noticed on the podcast when they were reviewing Harambe Nights that they said that AK was still really hot at night.

Can anyone explain to me how/why AK is supposed to feel "hotter" than any other area in WDW?

 

[JimmyV]

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

More to the point, rather than this being a battle of opinions, I think the issue is more definitional. One person might go to AK from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and say that they "spent pretty much the whole day there." Another person might arrive and depart at exactly the same time and say that they "spent half a day there." When people talk about a park being a "half day park", I don't think they mean that they arrive at 9:00 and leave at noon. So instead of using the colloquial term "half day park", we would all be better served if folks were more specific in stating how many hours they typically spend touring a particular park. If someone posts that they are in and out of AK in 7 hours, one might consider that to be a full day and others might consider it to be a half day. But at that point, the terminology is irrelevant because we are all on the same page as to how many hours that particular family spent in the park.

 

[JimmyV]

Do you have an *inkling* of why this may be?

I noticed on the podcast when they were reviewing Harambe Nights that they said that AK was still really hot at night.

Can anyone explain to me how/why AK is supposed to feel "hotter" than any other area in WDW?

Not sure if it is the asphalt or the plant life giving off heat, but it has been empirically shown that AK has the highest ambient temperatures.

 

[TheLittles]

Not only do people's perspectives differ, YOUR own perspectives will differ as time goes on. Therefore (IMO) if you constantly skip things you may not realize that you actually enjoy them now! I had a way different view on how to spend my Disney Days when I was a bit younger. I have gone from being the kid who wanted to do all of the kiddie rides, to being a teenager with an eye for thrills, to being a young adult who wants a mix of thrills and shows, and now I look forward to trying ALL the different foods/bringing my daughter on kiddie rides and seeing her reaction to all of the sights and sounds, and thrill rides for me come in LAST. So if I were to skip or skim over everything I would most likely forget what I am missing. I tried a few things my last few trips that I had skipped for years and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. You never know! I also dont view any parks as half day parks though and with my 7 night/ 6 (park) day trip coming up I have 1 day speifically set for each park and two extras to see what we missed/want to do again. With that I am still sure we won't get to do everything.

 

[srauseo]

More to the point, rather than this being a battle of opinions, I think the issue is more definitional. One person might go to AK from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and say that they "spent pretty much the whole day there." Another person might arrive and depart at exactly the same time and say that they "spent half a day there." When people talk about a park being a "half day park", I don't think they mean that they arrive at 9:00 and leave at noon. So instead of using the colloquial term "half day park", we would all be better served if folks were more specific in stating how many hours they typically spend touring a particular park. If someone posts that they are in and out of AK in 7 hours, one might consider that to be a full day and others might consider it to be a half day. But at that point, the terminology is irrelevant because we are all on the same page as to how many hours that particular family spent in the park.

This.

 

[johde]

I can't remember if I read that Epcot is a 1/2 a day park in this thread, but I can't see how anyway. How can one not get sucked into WS...the snacking, beverages, shopping, music and the charaters...I will never understand.

But if you're not into the Eating, Drinking and Shopping, WS can become a giant shopping mall with a couple of rides and the movie theaters only shows travel documentaries. Most trips, WS is where I spend the least amount of time. Catch the couple of rides, make a quick trip through all the gift shops and maybe a show or two and I'm ready to move on to something else.

 

[JimmyV]

But if you're not into the Eating, Drinking and Shopping, WS can become a giant shopping mall with a couple of rides and the movie theaters only shows travel documentaries.

What!!!??? You don't spend 45 minutes in the "Hello Kitty" section of the Mitsukoshi Department Store every time you go to Epcot??!! Blasphemy!!

 

[circus4u]

Do you have an *inkling* of why this may be?

I noticed on the podcast when they were reviewing Harambe Nights that they said that AK was still really hot at night.

Can anyone explain to me how/why AK is supposed to feel "hotter" than any other area in WDW?

Perhaps it is the closeness of the trees and buildings to the paths which holds in heat and prevents a lot of air movement. I notice the same thing in parts of the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood. However, Animal Kingdom seems to have no really open spaces; it's all trees and foliage.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Perhaps it is the closeness of the trees and buildings to the paths which holds in heat and prevents a lot of air movement. I notice the same thing in parts of the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood. However, Animal Kingdom seems to have no really open spaces; it's all trees and foliage.

Ahhh...I never gave it much thought. Even though EPCOT is almost all concrete baking in the sun it is the most *open* park by far.

 

[Amirah95]

But if you're not into the Eating, Drinking and Shopping, WS can become a giant shopping mall with a couple of rides and the movie theaters only shows travel documentaries. Most trips, WS is where I spend the least amount of time. Catch the couple of rides, make a quick trip through all the gift shops and maybe a show or two and I'm ready to move on to something else.

I wasn't trying to make a point here...just making an observation. I guess not everyone is a party animal at Epcot. Oh well.

 

[maxiesmom]

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

Agreed! I think it is a bit ridiculous to give people a verbal smack down for stating how much time they take to tour a park. Are we now going to criticize those who spend "only " one day in MK, as it is not possible to ride every ride and see every single thing there is to see in one day?

I've been to WDW many times, and have still not been on every ride or seen every show. We all tour a bit differently. If someone takes another poster's way of touring the parks as gospel, as THE way to tour the parks, they are being foolish.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Perhaps it is the closeness of the trees and buildings to the paths which holds in heat and prevents a lot of air movement. I notice the same thing in parts of the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood. However, Animal Kingdom seems to have no really open spaces; it's all trees and foliage.

Trees have a cooling effect on temps, and not just because of the shade.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

I agree with the OP.

The phrase "half day park" is stupid and hackneyed.

Saying "we only spend a half day at AK because we don't do half the things there" is more on point.

 

[nighttowll]

More to the point, rather than this being a battle of opinions, I think the issue is more definitional. One person might go to AK from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and say that they "spent pretty much the whole day there." Another person might arrive and depart at exactly the same time and say that they "spent half a day there." When people talk about a park being a "half day park", I don't think they mean that they arrive at 9:00 and leave at noon. So instead of using the colloquial term "half day park", we would all be better served if folks were more specific in stating how many hours they typically spend touring a particular park. If someone posts that they are in and out of AK in 7 hours, one might consider that to be a full day and others might consider it to be a half day. But at that point, the terminology is irrelevant because we are all on the same page as to how many hours that particular family spent in the park.

I think this is a really good point as well. I never of thought of it that way before. If someone says to me half day, I think leaving around lunch, maybe early afternoon 2ish at latest. Leaving between 5 to 7 would be full day to me. However, you are correct because if MK closed at 12:00 leaving between 5-7 depending on arrival is really closer to half a day, than a full one.

In general, it would help if we were all a little more specific when advising first time visitors asking about time.

 

[Ulysses]

I agree with the sentiment that there is no "half-day" park with regards to the four main parks. I've been able to cover everything I wanted to do at DHS in under four hours during the off-season, but I also skipped a whole bunch of things. I was coming in from a football game, so I wasn't left with a ton of time and took advantage of everything while Fantasmic was showing.

 

[Delirium]

Agreed! I think it is a bit ridiculous to give people a verbal smack down for stating how much time they take to tour a park. Are we now going to criticize those who spend "only " one day in MK, as it is not possible to ride every ride and see every single thing there is to see in one day?

I've been to WDW many times, and have still not been on every ride or seen every show. We all tour a bit differently. If someone takes another poster's way of touring the parks as gospel, as THE way to tour the parks, they are being foolish.

No one is criticizing anyone for how much time they spend in a park. Read the original post. It has nothing to do with how much time is spent in a park, but how people communicate why they tour a certain way. Posters come here to share information, and simply stating 'We spend half a day at AK' is not very informative. Nor, would 'We spent 9 straight days at Epcot' Yes, everyone tours differently. So, tell us WHY you only spend a half day (or 9 straight days) at a park.

 

[Planogirl]

But if you're not into the Eating, Drinking and Shopping, WS can become a giant shopping mall with a couple of rides and the movie theaters only shows travel documentaries. Most trips, WS is where I spend the least amount of time. Catch the couple of rides, make a quick trip through all the gift shops and maybe a show or two and I'm ready to move on to something else.

And I am mostly attracted by WS because I think that most of FW is lame and I enjoy just being in WS (even if not for Hello Kitty ) . This only shows how differently we all see things.

 

[JimmyV]

No one is criticizing anyone for how much time they spend in a park. Read the original post. It has nothing to do with how much time is spent in a park, but how people communicate why they tour a certain way.

Oh really??? Let's take a look at the OP.

We spent two days of about seven hours each there [AK] last October (park closure at 5) and did not duplicate a single thing.

So did you spend two half-days there or two full days? To me, 7 hours is a half day. But it sounds to me like you are calling those full days. Semantics. What is most important are the hours that you spent there. Once you communicate the hours, you have fleshed out the argument. Rather than having "nothing to do with how much time is spent in a park", it has everything to do with it.

In the end, I think that you are simply slicing peoples' posts to thinly. When someone says that AK is a half day park, the are saying that they can complete the park in less time than opening to closing because there is so much "skippable" stuff there. Of course that is an opinion. But people get the gist. Take out all the time your family spent greeting characters and recalculate if the time it takes to see every attraction can be done in a day. According to Touring Plans, a well organized group can do that easily. Skip one or two things and you could be done by early afternoon. Why should this be the subject of controversy?

 

[BugsDaddy]

I think I am offended by all of the posters either siding with the full day parkers or the half day parkers. What about the 3/4 day Parkers?

3/4 day park people unite!