To skip or not to skip..AK? Any advice?

[belleandthebeast]

Okay, here goes....

We had our schedule all done. We are only going for 3 days. 1 full day @ MK and MNSSHP. That leave 2 days to do MGM, EPCOT, AK, and DTD (maybe 2 hours max for a little shopping).

We were going to do AK the day we get there and then hop over to MGM, hope to get most of MGM before the end of the night. 2 issues, we are going to be very tired because we have to be @ the airport @ 5am and leave are house by 4:15am. 2nd the day we fly out is the 1st day Hooters is flying our of our airport. What if there are delays, weather, delays, airline issues, etc. I would be stressing that we weren't going to make our schedule.

So, I decided that we will just do MGM the 1st day and when we get there, we get there, no stress. Do MK the 2nd day, EPCOT the 3rd day and DTD if we have time. Now it occurred to me that EPCOT is going to be extremely crowded due to F&W. My Mom, DSis, and I have all done Disney already this year. But my niece hasn't and I was trying to fit as much in as possible. Are we making a mistake by skipping AK? I know there are shows/attractions she would definitely love, but I feel like we trying to do way too much in way too little time. Or should we maybe skip EPCOT? My Dsis wants to do Soarin, we I'm thinking maybe we could do that and then hop over to AK.

Sorry this is so long. Any advice for those who have done a 3-day trip?
Thanks so much for all your advice! 7-days to go!

 

[Lulu's Mom]

If your not resting the day that you go to MNSSHP.... then you could go to AK in the moring for a few hours, and then head over to MK. I personally like AK... I think it is a beautiful park and I love K. Safari and It's Tough To Be A Bug.

Also maybe since your niece has never been there... maybe see waht she wants to do. I don't know if she likes animals but if she does then she may really enjoy AK.

Have a great trip

 

[mommaU4]

My advice for what it's worth is try to find some time for AK. Especially with a little one along. You can do it! Cram it all in there! My mom freaks out when she hears our plans. She asks me "what kind of a relaxing vacation is that?" I tell her if I wanted relaxing I would go to a spa somewhere alone! Disney is fun and exciting and adventurous and jam-packed with things to do and see. I can relax at home!

BTW, we are the opposite. I wanted to make sure we had a full day for AK and if we got to Epcot or not I really didn't care. We ARE going to Epcot but I think for kids AK is better with the shows and rides and animals which my kids love. Have a fun action packed time!!

 

[beattyfamily]

Out of all my 8 trips, I've skipped AK at least 4 times. If you have so little time, then AK is the one I'd skip.

I'm not crazy about AK. I like the safari ride and the Lion King show and that's about it.

 

[kilee]

With such a short trip something has to given up. When we have trips of 3-4 days we NEVER try to do it all. It actually can be exhausting and not fun.
Heck, we're going for 7 days w/ my parents in January (their 2nd trip ever). I know they don't like doing things fast paced and crammed together. We're still only doing 3 park days w/ them (then 1 after they leave since we have 2 extra days).

Your neice may actually enjoy it more if she gets to really enjoy what you are doing, rather than rushing from park to park.

 

[ScoJo15]

I'd suggest going to AK in the am on the day that you are doing MK (too many abbreviations! yikes!). You could do the Safari, Lion King show, a trail & some character autographs....then hit MK around 1 or 2 and spend the rest of the day & evening there.

 

[Demon Llama]

You only need about 3 hours in AK really, just to see the main attractions, like Festival of the Lion King, Kilimanjaro Safari and Tough 2 B a Bug. I also love Dinosaur If you can go to AK on an AM EMH you can be outta there by 11am!!! It's totally worth the extra effort. I agree with Lulu's Mom - hit AK just before MK. Something like this:

Day 1- MGM
Day 2- AK & MK
Day 3- Epcot & DTD

When I go to WDW my trips are usually about 4 days (in Sept. or Oct.) Since it's not too busy around this time, we're able to fit a lot into our vacation. Last time we went was Sept. 22 - 26 '05 and we managed to do all 4 parks, both water parks, DTD, Universal, Islands of Adventure and we saw La Nouba. We even revisited some parks! It was awesome!!!!!

 

[Sollenberger]

We have skipped AK the last two trips....have never gone there, having said that - I originally had it on the schedule (8 days), but my son and his wife were going to opt out that day if we went, and my daughter and her family didnt really want to go there, so we took it out....
after we arrived home, my husband announces that he wanted to to there and was sorry we did not - ugh! But my brother and SIL and their family did spend a morning there, and wished they had not...I guess Im not helping here...the bottom line is now I have to plan ANOTHER trip so we can include it for my husband - oh well, if we have to , we have to.....

 

[Luv4Disney]

We never skip it, but it doesn't get as much attention as the other parks. We usually go for a few hours and then do something else.

 

[MEM]

I would agree with the posters who say AK is worth the effort. It is an incredibly beautiful, unique park with music that will haunt you, but in a good way! We usually do it first thing in the morning and are out by 11:30 unless we decide to eat lunch at Flametree or Tusker House.

 

[Luv4Disney]

I would agree with the posters who say AK is worth the effort. It is an incredibly beautiful, unique park with music that will haunt you, but in a good way! We usually do it first thing in the morning and are out by 11:30 unless we decide to eat lunch at Flametree or Tusker House.

Last trip we decided to do more than our usual (Dinosaur, Tough to be a Bug, Primeval Whirl, Festival) and do things like the Pangani Forest Trail, Rafiki's Planet Watch, etc. and really enjoyed it! We stayed for the parade as well. We've had a new appreciation for AK since, but it still doesn't take the whole day for us.

 

[jann1033]

don't see if you have adrs but i'd go to ak for a day then head over to epcot after it closes( or after the parade although we personallywere not done by then in value season). you could see some of ws, soaring and a few other things in fw, illuminations( depending on the crowds) imo a young child enjoys epcot the least but you could see parts of all 4 that way. we usually go to dtd on our arrival night so that might be an option for your first night or after mk or mgm( if we are not going to see wishes or fantasmic)

 

[SammieG]

AK is definitely a "must do" for us every trip... but on a three day trip, 4 parks is a lot. I would leave one park out for sure. It it were me, that would be MGM.. as I much prefer AK to MGM..
BUT if there is lots you want to do at MGM then leave AK for a time you can enjoy it. No point rushing it.
Have a great trip!

 

[henrylovespooh]

I think AK can be done in two or three hours if you don't do everything (skip the train ride to the petting zoo and some of the shows like Tarzan Rocks). My kids love it there much more than MGM. Do that when you get there, then take a break to rest and go to MGM around dinner time. You can do what needs to be done there in three hours as well.

We were just at Epcot for F&W and it wasn't that crowded. If you have no desire to go to the World Showcase and only do Soarin', then build that into your MK day since you can take the Monorail there. Go to MK in the morning ride the important stuff, then hop to Epcot to do Soarin' and then go back to MK for MNSSHP.

 

[belleandthebeast]

Thanks so much for all your advice!

My thought, though, is that we are trying to cram way too much into such a short time. I feel like we're going to be completely exhausted!

We will also save $35/ticket if we don't go to AK because we won't have to get a hopper.

The more I think about, the more I know I'll regret not going later. We are going to try to fit it in. If not, looks like we'll need another trip. Maybe next year when the new ride opens (my mind went completely blank).

 

[califred]

We love AK, in fact I think it just got ranked our favorite park. I'd (personally, we really didn't care for it) skip MGM In a heart beat and go to AK. There is so much more than just the safari and lion king. We are actually thinking of going for a day and a half next time.

Next time we're going to go to MGM for a few hours and do the rides and maybe one show and then head to Epcot that night.