We have 7 days - What parks to do? HELP please!

[sdckb]

We are finally going! I can't believe it! I am so overwhelmed trying to figure out where we should go and what ADR's to make where. We are arriving May 19th (early afternoon) for 7 days, staying at POR-Riverside. Me, DH, 3 kiddos (9, 7, 4). What would you recommend?

I don't want to "waste" a day's admission going to a park the 1st day, not knowing what time we will actually get there, especially if our flight is late.(supposed to arrive at noon.) YKWIM? or not? Maybe it would be a good idea to "ease in to it"? We have 6 day park pass with water park option, no Park Hopper.

How many days would you need at each park to see the majority of stuff and hit the most rides? MK - 2 days, Epcot - 2 days, AK - 1 day, HS - 1 day?

What about Downtown Disney? Is that just mostly stores? Do you need a day to do stuff there?

Please, somebody give me a clue!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Adding day 7 is probably only about $4 per person. Even if you just see the fireworks, it would probably be worth it. You'd also get one more plus entry.

 

[mckinnonlori]

Adding day 7 is probably only about $4 per person. Even if you just see the fireworks, it would probably be worth it. You'd also get one more plus entry.

I totally agree with this. It is very inexpensive to add days 6 and 7 so it is worth it even if you just do some of the night shows! You can also find a park that has the EM hours for the evening that you will be arriving.

 

[jlwhitney]

Add day seven for sure.

With the ages of your kids plan to spend a fair amount of time in MK. Epcot could probably be done in one since the world showcase is fairly uninteresting to kids and could be walked around fairly quickly only 2 rides in it anyway. The rest of Epcot they will enjoy more but MK has a lot more rides.

If your kids like Animals you could 2 days there since you can spend a lot time just looking and walking around the park(its a big park). Both the Nemo and Lion king show there are excellent and always take up more time. Safari ride is a must do.

Hollywood studios has very little for the little kids, voyage of the little mermaid, playhouse disney and toy story mania (great for everyone). Beauty and beast show is a must and fantasmic is a must. Defiantly a 1 day park.

Both water parks would be worth doing since they are both so different.

 

[susykt4]

With your kids' ages, easing into it might be a very good idea. Taking the boat from POR to Downtown Disney the first night could be relaxing and fun. Eat, hit the toy and Lego stores (or whatever your family is into) and go back early to hit a park at opening the next day. Swimming and maybe fishing at the POR fishing hole (tiny and with cane poles) are always fun. The resort is huge and fun to explore on its own.

My biggest advice is don't try to see everything! The 7 and 4 yr olds will burn out quickly. The 4 may need a stroller! Even if he/she hasn't ridden in one for years. Use TourGuideMike or touringplans to plan your mornings to maximize rides before lunch and then take the rest of the afternoon/evening slowly and leisurely. Going back to the resort for a swim break is a lovely idea, but it takes FOREVER. If it's really hot, go back anyway.

We've gone in Jan and Feb so have never done the water parks, but I'm thinking my kids could do ONLY the water parks. If I had 6 park days, I'd divide them like you did. Epcot is overwhelmingly huge. I'd especially recommend researching the attractions and figuring out what you think your kids would enjoy most. We start at Test Track at rope drop and ride a couple of times, go to Mission:Space and then head over to the Land building for fastpasses for Soarin'. If the wait is long we go to the Seas and/or Imagination pavillion. Save the "big ball" and the Energy Adventure for the end of the day. Don't waste any valuable morning time (lighter crowds) in the Innoventions buildings.

If you think your kids will be into meeting characters, google Steve Soares. His site has times and locations for characters in every park. He also lists parade times, etc. As far as meals, my family is more about rides and park attractions than eating well. We don't bother with the dining plan and eat maybe one table service meal the whole time. For us, it's easier and more fun to eat counter service when we're hungry. That of course is personal preference. Have fun!

 

[v.t.]

We went last year with 3 kids, all boys ages 9 and 7. Definitely add the extra day. We used the 1st half day at HS, rode Toy Story (as many times as possible) but also to see Fantasmic! We did MK two days, Epcot two days (loved KP in the different countries). AK was only one day (and a short day) because it was sooo hot! Nemo and Lion King are not to be missed! HS was another full day, and the older boys favorite park. Have a great time!

 

[sdckb]

Add day seven for sure.

With the ages of your kids plan to spend a fair amount of time in MK. Epcot could probably be done in one since the world showcase is fairly uninteresting to kids and could be walked around fairly quickly only 2 rides in it anyway. The rest of Epcot they will enjoy more but MK has a lot more rides.

If your kids like Animals you could 2 days there since you can spend a lot time just looking and walking around the park(its a big park). Both the Nemo and Lion king show there are excellent and always take up more time. Safari ride is a must do.

Hollywood studios has very little for the little kids, voyage of the little mermaid, playhouse disney and toy story mania (great for everyone). Beauty and beast show is a must and fantasmic is a must. Defiantly a 1 day park.

Both water parks would be worth doing since they are both so different.

Yeah, I meant to add that, I think I might add a day or two to the tickets, we are staying a couple days off property also, so I would like to come back the day before we leave and do 1 day somewhere, probably MK.

Last time we were to WDW was about 10 years ago, before kids, so I don't really remember what and where all the good "kid" stuff was! Good point about Epcot World Showcase though, they could probably care less about it.

I think I'll add an extra day to AK.

Thanks! Any more ideas? What about Downtown Disney? I think we will be skipping Disney Quest though.

 

[mjkacmom]

You should get a book - I bought UG and Passporter for our last trip, read them, and felt very prepared. We arrived around noon, when to our resort, had lunch and swam, checked in, and went to DHS for dinner and Fantasmic - great way to start!

 

[sdckb]

You should get a book - I bought UG and Passporter for our last trip, read them, and felt very prepared. We arrived around noon, when to our resort, had lunch and swam, checked in, and went to DHS for dinner and Fantasmic - great way to start!

Yes, getting a book is on my list of priorities to get this weekend and finish up planning!

We're in South Dakota and school got canceled AGAIN today because of all the snow and extreme windchill. Haven't got to go anywhere for 3 days!

 

[design_mom]

We usually don't go into the park the first day. DTD is a nice place to visit (DH really likes it) and have dinner...but you don't need a day for it. Our plane lands at 3. We are planning to go to DTD our first night and have dinner. Then make sure we get to bed relatively early in anticipation of our first park day.

We spend our first four days doing one park each day, then on our last two days we "hop" to pick up anything we missed out on. If you don't have the hopper option on your tickets, then I'd plan those extra days at MK and Epcot. My kids are roughly the age of yours, and those are their favorite parks.

 

[brymolmom]

I would add the day and just do a nighttime show/fireworks the first night. That way on another day you can keep it a shorter day because you've already done the nighttime show. So I would see Spectro at MK OR Fantasmic! if either of them are shown on your arrival day.

Flight getting in at noon - figure about 1:30 to arrive at your resort - maybe 2:00 - 2:30 by the time you're settled in your room (hopefully a bit earlier). Then check out the resort/swim and have a quick dinner at the resort. Hop on a bus to go to MK or DHS at about 6:00 - 6:30 to see nighttime show.

 

[CLR4321]

We have 7 days of tickets also. Our itinerary is like this:
Day 1 Hang out at resort
Day 2 MK
Day 3 AK
Day 4 DHS
Day 5 Typhoon Lagoon & Epcot for dinner
Day 6 Epcot
Day 7 MK
Day 8 Epcot

I always only take 1 day for DHS and AK, because I can do everything in 1 day. MK and Epcot I always take 2 days each.

 

[cglaura]

The above poster looks like a good plan, except maybe do DTD on first day depending on time.

Also, don't discount Epcot World Showcase for kids, there are tons of interesting things there. I think breezing thru it would make it boring. Take a little time to explore each area, definitely 2 day park. Epcot has been dd's fav since she was 5. As long as they know going into it that it won't be at all like MK, maybe show them some stuff from books, etc.

Pick up an Epcot passport and have it stamped in each country, your child can learn their name in many languages! They used to have kid art stations too, I think they still do, dd loved them. She still has one mask on her wall This is a park to explore, not a run-run-run, do-do-do park.

But, you know your kids best, just take it into consideration.

 

[PinkRhombus]

I just changed my first day, now! Our flight gets in around noon and I figured heading over to MK that afternoon, but I think hanging around the resort and going to DTD will be a better option.

We're going to do an AK/pool/DTD day mid-stay, and I was wanting to fit in another evening to do DTD...so this is better. I like lots of relaxation!

Ours now looks like this:

Wednesday - Day 1 - arrive - hang out at resort - dtd in evening
Thursday - Day 2 - Magic Kingdom
Friday - Day 3 - epcot (Star Wars Weekend)
Saturday - Day 4 - animal kingdom - pool day
Sunday - Day 5 - hollywood studios
Monday - Day 6 - epcot
Tuesday - Day 7 - Magic Kingdom
Wednesday - Day 8 - ?? - flight leaves at 5:30-ish

 

[tzolkin]

Why are you doing the water park option but not park hoppers?

Do you think you will definitely be going to the water parks more than once during your trip?


Park hoppers are a must for our family (I know many prefer to tour without). We like to plan one park per day for either the morning or afternoon. We then have the flexibility to choose a park each day depending on our mood or if the kids want to do something they missed at a park the previous day.

We also do am EMH most days of our trip. We like to leave when it gets busy (around 11:00) and go to a different park that evening. Our first trip we were at AK for about 2 hours. It was so packed that we could barely push our strollers and we were all miserable. We left and went to another park. If we hadn't had the park hoppers we would have either wasted the rest of the day or stayed in AK and not enjoyed ourselves at all.


There is almost no price difference for an extra day, so I would add it. It's definitely worth $3pp to see fireworks your first night or do a few attractions when you arrive.

 

[LG2]

Usual recommendation is not to go to MK first. I suggest Epcot on day of arrival, including Illuminations.

Then return to Epcot next day. Do the passports and the Kidcot crafts too.

Decide on whether you want to go to Studios during Star Wars Weekend or on Monday. We don't do the water parks, so we will go to Studios 1 day for the Star Wars Weekend activities and 1 day for the typical park attractions.

Looks like Fantasmic! dates are 19, 20, 23, 25.

After a day at AK, you have time that evening for DTD, maybe Disney Quest.

2 days at MK - maybe 1 weekend day and maybe the other on Tuesday the 25th.

 

[klacey1]

Most PP have covered park strategies, but I noticed you also asked about ADR's. I don't know how good your chances are of getting super-popular restaurants this late in the game, but for your family I reccomend buffets, definitely. I've heard great things about the Cape May breakfast, as well as the Crystal Palace for dinner. You don't have to worry about picky kids (if yours are picky), because there's so much to choose from.
Also, for your night at DTD, T-Rex Cafe is so much fun. We honestly thought the food was great and you can't beat the atmosphere.