Veterans or Newbies... Who knows best??

[Disney845]

A little background info. I have grown up going to WDW. Been more times than I can count. SO had been once when he was little (pre-MGM/AK), but was sick and spent much of his time in the room. He seems to somewhat understand my LOVE of WDW and we are tentitively planning a trip for the end of this year. Currently I have a ressie at the Dolphin for 5 nights during the first week of Dec. Although I am not sure if finances (remodelling house) might shorten the trip to about 4 days or so.

Here is the problem:

SO has expressed the idea of concentrating on say 2 parks (MK and Epcot) rather than trying to get a taste of all 4 (during this time of year we will be passing on water parks). I know that we will be going back at some time in the future, maybe even next year. However, I am worried that Disney might be put on the back burner for some time as we are talking about marriage, and the cost of a wedding and then honeymooning in Jamaica (his desire, but the more I research it the more I love the idea) will prevent a WDW trip (don't get me wrong...I am not complaining about getting married sometime soon!!!! ).

I hope that I am not being selfish by desiring all 4 parks, I would just LOVE to share WDW (my favorite place) with the man I love.

What do you guys think? Do I "know" best since I have been soooo often that he really NEEDS to see all 4 parks, or would spending more time at only 2 parks be a good way for him to experience Disney for what is almost really his first time??



edit to add: SO is interested in the planning (what attractions/rides/restaurants/etc) also this is his first vacation anywhere in about 10 years!!

 

[Hippychickali]

I would push for seeing all four parks. That may involve some prioritizing on what attractions and events are "must-sees" at each park. I think that you should plan this way because your SO will probably regret not getting to the other 2 parks once you come to the end of your trip. I would never put things to the backburner assuming you will be back in the future. I would say try to experience as much as you can while you are there. I really don't think I could make a trip to WDW without going to MK, AK, MGM, AND Epcot.

Ali

 

[Deb T.]

Ali, since your SO has never been to MGM or AK he really doesn't know what he's missing, so defintely make him go!

 

[swilphil]

We stay at the Dolphin, and one of the great things about it is you can so easily go to two different parks everyday with a hotel break in the afternoon. We even did 3 parks in one day on our last trip.

I'd get park hopper passes and I'm sure SO will want to go to at least 3 parks once he sees how close MGM and Epcot are to the Dolphin. And of course you have to do MK. Now I personally can live without going to AK, but you can always play that by ear (mickey's ear, of course!).

 

[safetymom]

When we have visitors at our house we take them to all the parks. I ask them ahead of time what they don't want to miss. It may seem like we are doing the parks commando style at times but they all go home happy because they got to do their favorites at all the parks.

They go home and tell everyone about the great time they had visiting the 4 parks.

They are all worth visiting. If you see them all it won't seem so long until the next trip.

 

[cooldisneymom]

Disney845, When DH and I got married 14 years ago we were in the same situation. I grew up going every year of my life and he had been 1 time. Now when we go he imitates the recent Disney Cruise Line commercial of the dad always sleeping in every scene while his family enjoys the cruise and parks. He doesn't "get it" but he respects it. DD and I do our thing and he sleeps and reads a book at the WL.

IMHO I think you should try to get SO to atleast hit the hi-lights of all 4 parks so he will understand first hand what makes you love WDW like you do.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I can't imagine going and not doing all four parks. It would drive me nuts to miss either Illuminations, Wishes or Fantasmic. I just HAVE to see FOTLK each time I'm there. Nope, I wouldn't be able to skip any of the parks.

You could combine your AK and MGM day.

 

[MinnieGi]

Definetly all FOUR parks!! When we have newbies with us I like to give them a taste of the highlights of all four parks. It's great he wants to help plan - how about sitting together and making a list of attration must-sees for each of the parks. As someone else pointed out that with being at the Dolphin, Epcot and MGM are so easy to get to by boat. MK and AK are not a far bus ride away. Plus with park hopping it really does make it easy and enjoyable to see all four parks.

Have fun planning!

 

[Disney845]

Thanks for the replies.

MinnieGI- as far as the planning and SO go, I have sat him down with me reading from a guidebook (or at times just adding my own excerpt) and had him rate all the attraction/rides/shows at all of the parks in 4 categories.

1. must see
2. would like to see given time
3. don't care about but won't mind seeing if I want to see it
4. have totally no interest in

I am having the hardest time with him and AK. He calls it a big zoo (for shame!!! ).

SO is the type of guy who in the end will do it my way because he knows how much I love WDW and am looking forward to this trip, but I don't really want him to just do it for me and not have as good of a time as he could.

 

[Micca]

Do all 4, but concentrate on MK and Epcot. You could probably do the high points of the studios and AK in a half day each.

 

[moinab]

You can easily do AK in less than half a day, the first week of December. Go when it opens, catch FOTLK, then head to Africa and fastpass KS. Check out the Pangani Exploration Trail while waiting for your fastpass time. Skip the Wildlife Express/Conservation Station. After the safari, head over to Asia and DinoLand. Enjoy the theming and any attractions that interest you. Finish up with Discover Island/ITTBAB, if desired. We can usually accomplish all this by 1 PM, and that includes a leisurely lunch at Pizzafari and letting our kids play in the Boneyard play area. (We don't do ITTBAB, but we do go to Conservation Station because DS loves the train ride and petting the goats.)

If it's just the 2 of you, and you are both flexible in your planning, you shouldn't have any problem hitting all 4 parks. FWIW, I think a lot of newbies have difficulty grasping the value of park hopping, but then once they are in the World, they "get it."

Good luck! I hope you have a great trip

 

[lux]

I'm a newbie.

Don't overwhelm your SO. I stayed four nights with the family this year, and we were at the parks so much that we missed the amenties that our resort had to offer.

If your SO hasn't been to AK/MGM then spend some time there.
How about waterparks or DTD?

I'd focus on the romance of Disney and not the everything Disney. Things change. If you decide to have kids, your Disney itineraries will change drastically.

* The Dolphin close to a lot of stuff. How about a romantic stroll or boat ride, stopping in at some of the restaurants.

* Epcot World Showcase. Dinner. Walk around at night, get some snacks, drinks. This area at night is beautiful. The vibe before Illuminations is intoxicating.

* Watching Wishes from the beach at the Poly.

* Dunking your SO in the wave pool at TL. Romantic no, but it's fun. anyway...

Sometimes things take awhile to play out in front of you. There's a comando point of view, but taking it slow might be good for him. Just my $0.02.

 

[Partridge4ever]

On short trips, we've done AK on an early entry day, then hopped over to MGM for Fantasmic. It's not ideal because I hate having to miss one of the parades.

You could do Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. That'll extend your park time. Also the Candlelight Processional in Epcot is wonderful. You might also enjoy looking at all the resort decorations.

 

[Disney845]

Yes we definitely plan to have non-park time for things such as DTD, the resorts, just relaxing! I am so excited that this will be his first vacation in soooo long I want it to be memorable and filled with things that he will enjoy. I have been many times during this time of year and picked it especially for all of the X-mas festivities, while also having lower crowds and non-peak rates. We will definitely do the Osbourne lights and the CP, but we won't be doing the MVMCP. I doubt we will go to a water park at this time of the year, although I love TL (not a BB fan) and have been talking it up to him and I think he likes the idea of the theme.

I will be trying to not be a commando about the trip. I generally seem to plan that way, and then hang back and go with the flow during the trip, not feeling to put out if plans go by the way-side. I told him that the planning was half of the vacation fun for me.

 

[ChuckGA]

I will be in the minority here. I believe with newbies that you do the parks completely or do not bother. What good is rushing through a park and seeing about 50-75% of it once? For a 1st timer and only 4 days, MK twice, MGM once, and Epcot once, which will leave Epcot short. MK twice and Epcot twice could do most of those parks completely but I like MGM too much to not recommend it.

I see alot of advice that seems clearly from veterans that have "been there, done it a whole bunch". A 4-day trip for a newbie with a non-park day or significant non-park time? It seems some may believe that what they do now (slower, more breaks and non-park activitices) should have been what they did on their first trip. My belief is tastes change and what is fun now would not have been nearly as fun then and vice versa. WDW is first and foremost the parks. Once those have been done alot, then DTD and other activities become more fun than doing a park for the 4th time.

Chuck