Trip advice

[armadafrfs]

We are headed to Disney for the first time in Dec. We have five (of six) days allotted for Disney World itself. My wife is really torn over either doing 2 days at Animal Kingdom or doing 1 day for Animal Kingdom and 1 for Disney Hollywood Studios. Originally she was not planning to do DHS because of the ages of our kids (2 and 1). What do you guys think? Is DHS age appropriate? Can we do everything at Animal Kingdom in one day or would two be better?

 

[Whipperwhirl]

My kids could spend an entire day just at the boneyard at AK. So I think you should skip DHS (I see from your post its Christmas time though - if you have park hoppers I would definately get over there to see the light show at night) We could spend an entire week at just the AK and not see everything. Food options stinks at both parks - but I hear AK has a picnic lunch now - so that might be nice to enjoy Have a great trip!

 

[becky1960]

Every body has their Favorites, we have tp go to Disney Studieos first as this has become the wifes favorite. I will say AK gets very crowded by noon in the busy seasons, we still go there once or twice each trip..

 

[tloveswdw]

Our children love DHS... but, they love Playhouse Disney, (and our older ones love DHS), and the Muppets. It'd be a worth a 'hop' in our book.

 

[DisCamper]

Don't go to Fort Wilderness is sucks and we need the room

 

[ftwildernessguy]

AK is a one day park.

 

[mnsprk]

As Whipperwirl said. You definitely need to go see the Osborne Family Lights at the Back Lot if nothing else. Your children, and you , will be in awe... They may also enjoy Fantasmic if you can keep them up that late..

 

[Disneylitch]

I agree, you have to see The Osborne Family lights. They are awesome. We were at the Fort last year for Christmas through the New Year. We saw the lights on Christmas Eve and it was definitely magical. Your kids will love it and it really does snow while you are seeing the lights.

 

[suevr]

We just came back from our first trip to Disney with our boys (2 and 5). We really liked Animal Kingdom and the boys were bored with Hollywood Studios. We thought they were too young for most of the shows and we won't be going back for a few years until they're older. My husband and I loved the Rock'n'Roller coaster and Tower of Terror. We took turns going on them while the other watched the kids, but there was nothing for them to do in that area of the park. Had they put a small playground in that area it would have been perfect.

I think you'd be better off taking your time at AK and spending two days there. You can always do HS another time when your kids are older and they'll appreciate it more.

 

[Whipperwhirl]

I think your kids are a bit too young for fantasmic - my 4 year old still talks about how scarry it was.

 

[Skyw]

Honestly, I would still do all of the parks. We went when my son was 3 the first time. We hit the few rides he would like at DS (whatever it is called now) and spent the rest of the time in "Honey I shrunk the Kids" playground. Super fun. We had lunch and left. Same with AK. As the other poster said the "boneyard" is super fun for the little ones. We spent most of our time there. I guess what I am so badly saying is to go for a little while, eat and get back to FW. Take a Nap and enjoy the Fort. (playing in the sand, swimming (if it is warm enough), looking at the horses. It is so relaxing even with little ones. Just know that even with the kid swap, you aren't going to go on every ride. Just pick the best ones and go for them. Kids tend to burn out way earlier then normal at WDW. Unless they are good stroller sleepers. Mine wasn't...

With a 5 year old we can do AK in a day. The hardest part is catching the shows at the right time. Nemo is a big hit with the younger ones . (but is loud). Last May, we had ages 5-73. We all manage to hit the rides we wanted and were out of there by 3pm.

Just my 2 cents

If I was going to do a park twice it would be MK for the under 8. Ya can't get enough of "It is a small world" if you are a little one.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I vote for one day at AK and one day at DHS.

My kids were already older than yours when AK opened, so I don't have personal experience with kids that young in AK, but after they see the animals, and play in the Boneyard, I am not sure what else you would do with such young children at AK. I would think one day is plenty.

At DHS, I would think the young ones would enjoy the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, and the Playhouse Disney show.

I don't think I would spend two days in either of those parks with such young children. But part of a day in each would be fun.

TCD

 

[campingdawgs]

The first time we took our older two children to AK, they were 3 and 5. They liked the animals, but AK was not their favorite. They also really liked the Playhouse Disney show and the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground at DHS. But they HATED the Tough to be a Bug show at AK so much we had to leave. So a little of each park was enough. My youngest absolutely loves AK and at DHS is only interested in the Little Mermaid show. You just never know what your kids are going to like.

 

[ntsammy5]

AK is a one day park.

I spend until 3:30 there and then hit the beer kiosks in Epcot