Uninitiated Colleagues: Magic Kingdom or Epcot?

[Duffy Lover]

I will be attending a conference at the Swan/Dolphin in early December and the night the conference ends my colleagues and I will be heading into the parks. Now full disclosure here, I am an annual pass holder/DVC member who will be staying past the conference ends to enjoy WDW with my DM and DSis.

Here's my problem... Disney is my jam, but not so much for my work friends. They are just psyched to come into the parks with me as I am the "ultimate Disney tour guide." Their words not mine, but still. I was thinking we'd go to MK as we have after 5 pm discounted tickets and on Wednesday, December 6th MK has EMH and since we are staying at the Dolphin, I thought that park would be the best bang for our buck AND is the iconic Disney park, so win-win.

So here's where I'm waffling. Epcot is only open until 9:30 pm, but we can walk there. There are adult beverages, and the World Showcase is appealing to adults. We'll have watched HEA from the beach at the Poly earlier in our stay, so Illuminations will be something different. Plus I don't know if my work buddies can push through being tired and stay out past 11 pm, let alone 1 am as we are presenting at the conference that morning at 7:45 am.

So should we do Epcot or MK? What say you?

 

[Duffy Lover]

Double post. Sorry!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would just do EP. Walk around WS, have some dinner and drinks, maybe do a ride or two and watch Illuminations. No point in exhausting yourselves by going to MK.

 

[Alesia]

I would go to Epcot

 

[CarolynFH]

I think you should talk to them! They might be tired of “adulting” all through the conference (especially after presenting early that AM!) and ready to be a kid and ride rides, or they might want the kind of grown-up evening that Epcot would provide. As the “Disney expert” you can provide that kind of insight and then see what the consensus is.

 

[CarolynFH]

I think you should talk to them! They might be tired of “adulting” all through the conference (especially after presenting early that AM!) and ready to be a kid and ride rides, or they might want the kind of grown-up evening that Epcot would provide. As the “Disney expert” you can provide that kind of insight and then see what the consensus is.

(Copied & pasted from the other version of your same thread.)

 

[senadler]

I would go with Epcot. You can get FP+ for soaring, and maybe go on living with land. I would then spend more time in the countries. Stop for a few drinks, have dinner, and watch illuminations.

With Christmas parties going on, I would be concerned that a MK night with EMH will be packed and not as enjoyable experience.

 

[rpb718]

I'm confused because you sort of mention staying at the Poly and the Dolphin - but I'm guessing you're just hitting the Poly one night during the conference. I assume you and your colleagues may want to hit Trader Sams to see if they are inclined to relax that way.

It is a dilemma, but hear me out. Say you do your "adult" evening over the Poly, hit Trader Sams and maybe you do see HEA fireworks from the beach - but they really wouldn't have seen HEA. Maybe, just maybe, after the conference is over your colleagues really need a night to let their "child" side take over. And there's nothing that can come close to appealing to their "child" side then the MK park fully lit up and decorated for Christmas.

Or you could walk over to EPCOT and grab a bite to eat and a drink and then monorail it over to MK.

 

[rpb718]

Duplicate post - sorry.

 

[loves to dive]

Epcot.

 

[amylevan]

I'm not thinking that non-Disney-aholics would want to be in a park til 1 am with early morning work related things going on. (Unless we're talking an early 20s crowd, then ignore this statement.)

Having said that, I think you should ask them. Explain the plusses and minuses and the differences in the parks and see what they say. My initial gut is to say Epcot, but when non-Disney people picture Disney World, they are really usually picturing the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Duffy Lover]

I'm confused because you sort of mention staying at the Poly and the Dolphin - but I'm guessing you're just hitting the Poly one night during the conference.

Yep, you're exactly right. I have a night at the Poly planned - Dinner at Kona, drinks at Trader Sam's and fireworks on the beach. We're staying at the Dolphin for the whole conference.

Anyways, y'all are probably right. I can ask - I need to tell them about creating MDE accounts (I'm asking if I can just create them for them) so I might as well ask about Epcot. It's just that one of my co-workers is "challenging." I'd use another word, but this is a family friendly site... I'm just worried that no matter what she'll ruin this for everyone with her whining, and if I bug them too much about this that is exactly what will happen. Sigh.

 

[chris benton]

One night, up early, staying at Swolphin...depending how many hours you'd have...
I'd put Hollywood in the mix. For compact bang or your buck, and a quick walk / boat ride to/from Swolphin, and if there are any thrill seeker/Star Wars ppl, Hollywood should be an easy choice. You're a dvc peep, so you already know this, so I'm guessing you now your audience FAR more than I do. You might have some folks that would absolutely LOVE Hollyweird. I'm just thinking bang for the buck - limited time.

 

[rpb718]

Anyways, y'all are probably right. I can ask - I need to tell them about creating MDE accounts (I'm asking if I can just create them for them) so I might as well ask about Epcot. It's just that one of my co-workers is "challenging." I'd use another word, but this is a family friendly site... I'm just worried that no matter what she'll ruin this for everyone with her whining, and if I bug them too much about this that is exactly what will happen. Sigh.

I know exactly what you mean, someone who doesn't always go along with the majority and just has to have their way. I have another word that start with a ""B"...

A "Bad Apple" that could spoil it for the bunch. Without knowing the group size, I'd point out that there are several ways to get back to the resort should anyone feel tired and want to call it a day.

What? You thought I was going to say something else.

I'd still go with MK even if it will be a bit crowded - but you can judge their reactions to possibly going there when viewing the HEA fireworks from the Poly. (It would be nice to have a Splash Mountain picture with the team.) If not, then EPCOT is it - or HS is possible if you have Star Wars fans.

 

[Duffy Lover]

One night, up early, staying at Swolphin...depending how many hours you'd have...
I'd put Hollywood in the mix. For compact bang or your buck, and a quick walk / boat ride to/from Swolphin, and if there are any thrill seeker/Star Wars ppl, Hollywood should be an easy choice. You're a dvc peep, so you already know this, so I'm guessing you now your audience FAR more than I do. You might have some folks that would absolutely LOVE Hollyweird. I'm just thinking bang for the buck - limited time.

Yep, DHS is only open until 8 pm that night. Even for a reduced rate of $59, that is only three hours of touring, so I'd say DHS is out.

I know exactly what you mean, someone who doesn't always go along with the majority and just has to have their way. I have another word that start with a ""B"...

A "Bad Apple" that could spoil it for the bunch. Without knowing the group size, I'd point out that there are several ways to get back to the resort should anyone feel tired and want to call it a day.

What? You thought I was going to say something else.

I'd still go with MK even if it will be a bit crowded - but you can judge their reactions to possibly going there when viewing the HEA fireworks from the Poly. (It would be nice to have a Splash Mountain picture with the team.) If not, then EPCOT is it - or HS is possible if you have Star Wars fans.

Good point about the group size. There will be 7 of us total, all ladies in the mid-30's to early 40's. All great ideas, folks...

 

[skyblue17]

I really love Epcot but if the point is to share in your Disney magic with you, I'll be in the minority and say Magic Kingdom. Epcot is awesome but the World Showcase especially doesn't scream Disney, you could spend hours there and forget you are even IN Disney (a perk to some, I'm sure, and proof of its success in a way!). But Magic Kingdom is head-to-toe the Disney experience, and I think your friends (not sure if they are not into Disney because they've been and don't like it or because they simply haven't experienced it recently) would be surprised to find how much it has to offer. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong.

 

[OhhBother]

Magic Kingdom -- that's where the magic is!

 

[chris benton]

With dhs ruled out, ask the crowd. My assumption is that Epcot would be your winner for a tired group of ppl not that interested. Soarin, some tier 2's, and time the cool street shows, and rock a few good treats. Remember to tell them about the boardwalk during your stay. Ample. Hills. Creamery. It's just out the back door of Swan.

 

[HeidiGW]

as much as I love EP--and that evening sounds great--something is wrong with going to a conference in WDW and not stepping foot in MK.

 

[KenHutch]

Another vote for Magic Kingdom. If none of these people have been to WDW MK at Xmas is magical and its your chance to sell these people into taking their families there in the future.