Two days at AK?

[debdebdebby13]

We are visiting March 17-23, and we'll have five full days in the parks. At that time our DD will be 2 years, 9 months.

Our original plan was:
18th-AK
19th-MK
20th-AK
21st-MK
22nd-DHS
23rd- 1/2 day at Epcot before flying out that evening.

I've been doing a ton of reading and I'm starting to wonder if a two full days at AK are reasonable or if we'd do better to do something else that day.

We aren't park hopping, we figured one park/day would be enough for DD. We aren't too worried about her being too overwhelmed or overstimulated and we are planning to head back to our room at All Star Movies for an afternoon nap and time in the pool.

This is also our first trip as a family, and both mine and DD's first trip to WDW ever. DH has been once as a teen, but doesn't remember much in way of details.

 

[mjmoon]

I don't think you'll need two days at AK. Especially if you get there early. I would replace one of the AK days with a full day at Epcot. I might use the .5 day for a little more time at DHS.

 

[asoko]

I don't think you'll need two days at AK. Especially if you get there early. I would replace one of the AK days with a full day at Epcot. I might use the .5 day for a little more time at DHS.

I agree. DHS has a lot of shows my DD loved - Ariel, Beauty & Beast, playhouse Disney. It seems like the day get full there fast.

1 day at AK is enough. We do the safari 1st so the animals are up.

There are a lot of face characters at EPCOT. We have to see all the princesses and EPCOT is my favorite so we spend a full day there easy.

 

[ktlm]

We went in December and my DD was 2 yrs 10 months. Her absolute favorite park other than MK was Epcot. She loves the princesses and in the world showcase we saw Belle, Beast, Mulan, Jasmine, Aladdin, Snow White, Dopey, Mary Poppins Pooh and Tiger. We also ate lunch at Akershus and saw Belle, Cinderella, Alice, Ariel and Jasmine. She loved watching the street performers and going to the Kidcot stations (watch out for the permanent markers). She also loved the Nemo and Figment rides, and running around in areas when you got off those rides (Nemo- aquarium area; Figment- music/tech area). We spent a full day at Epcot and still did not get to do everything we wanted to. I thought she would like AK, but we had gone to MK and Epcot the 2 days before, and she hated AK. After a couple of hours she was begging to leave to go back to MK. I think she kind of felt like AK was a zoo which she could do at home, and she wanted more of the character stuff. AK is a lot more than a zoo, but she did not really see it that way. She is not a Lion King fan so that didn't help. Something I had not thought of is that at their age everything is completely real to them, so to her the Nemo show was a complete fake because it is people holding puppets. She looked at a picture of it and refused to go. She said "That's just people holding sticks". She wanted to see the "real characters". Even if she had liked AK, I think 2 days would have been way too long. There is much more for kids that age to do in the other parks. We wound up giving in and hopping back to MK and she turned from a cranky kid to a happy kid immediately.

You are going to have a great time!!! My advice to you with that age is be flexible and take your cues from her. We planned to go back to the room every day for a nap, but discovered the 1st day that was not going to happen. Any attempt to leave the parks was met with kicking and screaming. The one time we went back to the hotel, she never went to sleep and just kept begging to go back. For her, just letting her nap in her stroller in the park worked great.

 

[disneydad78]

2 days at MK,,is a must,,AK u can do in one day,,,dont pass up Epcot!!Nemo the ride,,sorin,,test track,,you will love it. Epcot !!!!

 

[cinderelladreams27]

We are visiting March 17-23, and we'll have five full days in the parks. At that time our DD will be 2 years, 9 months.

Our original plan was:
18th-AK
19th-MK
20th-AK
21st-MK
22nd-DHS
23rd- 1/2 day at Epcot before flying out that evening.

I've been doing a ton of reading and I'm starting to wonder if a two full days at AK are reasonable or if we'd do better to do something else that day.

We aren't park hopping, we figured one park/day would be enough for DD. We aren't too worried about her being too overwhelmed or overstimulated and we are planning to head back to our room at All Star Movies for an afternoon nap and time in the pool.

This is also our first trip as a family, and both mine and DD's first trip to WDW ever. DH has been once as a teen, but doesn't remember much in way of details.

I could NEVER spend two days at AK. Even with children. Since you haven't been there before, you won't have a problem spending a whole day there. I have never spent a full day at AK since my first visit. I'd suggest, if you haven't bought your tickets yet, to spend some of that day at Downtown Disney. It's pretty at night but much less crowded during the day. Have lunch at the Rainforest Cafe while you're there (may need to call ahead). Another thing I've done a couple of times on our "free" day is take the Disney buses to the different resorts. You do have to spend some time on the buses but it's AC & quiet during the day. I've stayed at Movies so I know you'll like it. Pop Century's decor is real fun for us adults too. Love WL (esp at night), AKL, Poly, and PO Riverside. Off topic....check out memoriesbybetsy.com. She makes adorable, inexpensive gift baskets for your trip. Your little one would be so surpised. Betsy is wonderful to work with - personable, quick, and will include things you ship her. The only negative thing is that the state will not let her add food/candy to the baskets. You can go with the Disney Florist too but it's WAY over priced...it's Disney! Hope I've helped & have a great time!

 

[debdebdebby13]

So I'm gathering two days at AK is a definite no go.
Now my question: I think we'll do an entire day at Epcot rather than the second day at AK, but with the half day...should we spend 2.5 days at MK or 1.5 days at DHS?

 

[katie111]

I just wouldn't make a plan for that last 1/2 day. I would just do whatever you feel like that day when you wake up. On our last 2 trips we ended up just going to the pool on our last day as we never got enough pool time in during the week. They were pretty much "parked out" and so was I.

 

[mom2aredhead]

We end up doing two 1/2 days each at Epcot and DHS.

The way the show times are set up at DHS, I find it very difficult to see everything that we want to in 1 day, so we'll do 1 morning at DHS, then hop over to Epcot for the afternoon/evening, then reverse the 2 parks on a different day.

They're so close to each other, getting from 1 to the other is quick.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I get bored after half a day at AK...I think two days would drive me batty! And I know I'm not the only one -- we tend to arrive just after noon, and always find the buses leaving AK and going to other parks or DTD are full...

I bet your dd would really like Epcot. I'd schedule it and leave the last half day open -- you don't know what you might discover you want to do, and Epcot really does have enough between the two halves to keep her interested.

I think I'd plan on a day and a half at DHS, but base my gametime decision on how she seems to be reacting. Don't be afraid to spend an afternoon at DTD, also. The Legos store, Once Upon a Toy, and the gigantic Disney Store make it a great destination. The Earl of Sandwich is super yummy, and doesn't require ADRs but does take the Dining Plan. Just a thought...

 

[nikkers]

We just got back, and it was our first time bringing our kids to WDW. DS (5) and DD (2 1/2). My kids liked AK and Epcot the best. We ended up doing 2 full days at AK. That's what they wanted to do. They loved the kidcots at Epcot. I would definately plan a full day at Epcot. When planning our trip I read all of the reviews on the boards and so many people said they only do a 1/2 day at AK. So, I wasn't expecting much. But it ended up being one of our kids favorite parks. So, it really depends on your kids. Also, I thought Epcot and AK were the best parks for meeting characters. My DD also really enjoyed the shows at DHS. For our last day we went to MK in the morning. We chose that because it was morning EMH hours.
Have a great vacation!

 

[mjmoon]

I think that whatever you do.. do Epcot on a day where you have the option of making a full day out of it. I think it would be a shame if you went there the morning you have to leave and discover there is a ton of stuff you'd like to do but can't because you have to make your flight.

Save the last day for after you've been to all the parks.. there is bound to be one you'd like to go back to.

 

[LadyShea]

Save the last day for after you've been to all the parks.. there is bound to be one you'd like to go back to.

Excellent advice

My family can do 2 full days at AK because it closes early and happens to be our fave park...but it's not for everyone, certainly not most. Our 1/2 day park is DHS. Everyone is different!

I think you should do a full day in all 4 parks then go back to the one(s) you feel you need some extra time in on your last 2 days.

So something like
18th-AK
19th-MK
20th-EP
21st-DHS
22nd-?
23rd- 1/2 ?

Or along those lines

 

[vgrandy]

My kids are 7 and 10 and love AK. We spent 2 days there on our last trip and had plenty to do.

Victoria

 

[squirrel]

We had 3 days at AK (niece was 4.5 yrs). 3 at MK, 2 EPCOT and 2 at DHS.