What is a good order to do Parks with small children, should MK be first?

[pinkdiamonds1007]

Hi, We are planning a trip to WDW for Dec 2 -8. And were wondering what is the best order to do the parks. Obviously, we are leaning towards MK first, but are scared that since this will be our first stop, she will not be "into it" enough yet to get the full enjoyment of it, my other thought is, that MK will "gear her up" for the rest of the parks, since it is more kid friendly. She is 3.5. Our first full day there would be a Saturday and we leave on a Thursday. Any thoughts would be helpful!
Thanks in advance!
Nicole

 

[MandM-Mom]

We did Animal Kingdom first because we knew this would be a short day and we thought DD4 would be exhausted from the travel day, we then did MK then we were suppose to do MGM, but dd4 wanted to swim so we did typhoon Lagoon and MGM in the evening. It worked out great for us only wished we had more time, and would have done MK twice, at least.

 

[MAKMOM41]

SOme guide books say to do the other parks first ,because they may be a let down after the MK. I think that is CRAZY.

I can't wait to get to the MK & let the Magic happen. When I walk down Mainstreet for the first time on a trip I cry everytime.

 

[flagdaytwins]

I just ret'd from Disney with two 3 year olds. We did not purchase park hopper -- and kind of regret doing so because the girls loved MK so much. We did MK first, went in morning, took nap at hotel, ret'd late evening. Next day, EPCOT, then MGM, then Animal Kingdom. We had a tough time at MGM and AK....they were not thrilled with either park.

IN MY EXPERIENCE we should have just stuck to MK, taking it slowly for the 6 days we were there. The trouble is with that plan you would miss Lion King at AK, and Playhouse Disney and Little Mermaid at MGM.

We should have bought park hopper (esp. since the girls will be 3 in june we didn't have to pay for them) and spent the mornings at AK and MGM and then every afternoon at MK (bec. it is open later and really really cool at night!).

 

[Mom to Jordan]

From our first trip on, we always have done MK first. It's just too hard for us to wait!!

That said, DS has always loved all the parks for what they are. MK makes us the most exausted and we always need a break at the others parks. For some reason we seem to last longer at Epcot than any other park. Though we love AK too, it is alway a shorter day. We do some park hopping but on that first day spend the whole day a MK...

Jordans' mom

 

[turnerx5]

During our trip this Fall with our 3.5 year old son, we went to MK first on a Tuesday, and we were glad we went on a "non-busy" off season day. We hit all the rides with little or no waiting time - almost everything was a walk on. Saturdays during the off season are relatively "more" crowded because of weekend crowds from the surrounding Orlando area. Something you might want to consider. Also, we found the "extra magic" hour parks were so crowded from this feature, they were'nt very magical for us.

We did 2 whole days (morning, afternoon rest @ hotel, then evening) of MK before doing one day each at MGM, Epcot, then AK. While in MGM and Epcot, my son kept asking when we were going back to MK (with the exception of Test Track, which he LOVED, but he's a car guy). He loved the boneyard at AK, but our older kids (DS 9, DD6) were pretty bored there (at least compared with MK and MGM). For a 5 day trip, we did two entire days in MK, and 1 evening. This worked well for us.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[tomkatgirl]

We are doing MK first and last. I mean - IMO - you just have to do MK first and you also want to end with it as well.

We also bought hoppers as I think they will come in handy for doing the nighttime shows!

 

[mookie]

SOme guide books say to do the other parks first ,because they may be a let down after the MK. I think that is CRAZY.

I can't wait to get to the MK & let the Magic happen. When I walk down Mainstreet for the first time on a trip I cry everytime.

I agree with MAKMOM. OUr dd will be 2.5 when we go in Sept., and we will hit the MK the day we arrive. It just seems to get everyone excited about the trip. We are very relaxed an casual that first day, so we'll just walk around, and soak up the atmosphere. If we can get on a few rides, great! Then, when we go back to the MK for our full day, there might be some things that we can skip to make our full day a little easier, especially with a 2.5 year old. EIther way, I could go to MK over and over again, but it's hard that first day not to go there first!

 

[eellis88]

Since we always stay at Disney Resort we always let the early morning entry determine for us. You usually can do so many rides in the first couple hours (the usual very busy rides later; Dumbo, Pan, IASW, Pooh, etc) that the early entry decides for us which park.
Our kids our early risers so this works for us. If they are late risers and stay up late this wouldn't work for you.
And the recent changes (not an early entry park every day) kind of throw a change up into our plans for next month's visit.

 

[mjmcca]

I am the odd person out. I let the bus determine where i am going. The first bus i see is the park i am going to!

 

[crisi]

I agree completely about the hoppers!

I'd start in the MK the first morning, then hop to another park (MGM or Epcot). If she enjoys those parks go back, if not, do MK again. (AK is - for me - a morning park, it closes early. So I'd do that the morning of day two and the afternoon at the MGM/Epcot option you didn't do the day before).

I don't think there is any reason to drag kids through Epcot who don't enjoy it. I also don't think there is any reason to believe they won't enjoy it.

 

[Magalex]

Park Hopper Tickets are the biggest benefit to have and staying our site with preschoolers. We stayed at Pop 4/22-4/30. We did our first full day at MK and also our last day. You kind have to go with what your child likes and the personality. I bet most preschoolers think WDW is MK. In the morning we head straight to Fantasyland then to Toontown. Worked out very well. We did Just SpectroMagic one evening after a break at the resort. I agree with most postings AK seems to be a shorter day. My DS loved MGM but he loves movies and still enjoyed Playhouse Disney. Epcot was OK(FutureWorld) for him but it was also a raining day so just walked around World Showcase without a indept tour of the countries. Probably in grade school he will find the countries more appealing. We did take one day at Sea World which was a big hit with him. Then the last two days we did MGM and MK again for the things we missed and his choice of which attractions to see again. For us we will be returning again as he grows older so I am sure each trip will be different.

Have Fun!
Magalex

 

[bubba73]

I agree and disagree with the others about this. I personally believe you need to do the other parks first especially with young children. You want their trip to end up on the highest note possible. Most kids will appreciate saving MK to last instead of going to EPCOT last or MGM. There is just more for them at MK. More magic. Now, I will say that if you have the ability to go 5 days, you can do MK first and last and then you have no problems.

23 day dance

 

[tiff211]

I agree and disagree with the others about this. I personally believe you need to do the other parks first especially with young children. You want their trip to end up on the highest note possible. Most kids will appreciate saving MK to last instead of going to EPCOT last or MGM. There is just more for them at MK. More magic. Now, I will say that if you have the ability to go 5 days, you can do MK first and last and then you have no problems.

23 day dance

I totally agree!! We took DD 4 and 2 in April for the 1st time and we did Epcot first which only went over well because we did the storybook lunch. They liked the park fine but there was no gasping in awe that I wanted to see. They enjoyed AK and MGM as well but they kept asking when were they going to see the rides and where Cinderella lived. As soon as went to MK, I got that gasp that I was waiting for. And all day it was one continous gasp! Next year, we will start and finish with MK, definitely! I think starting with it is like dessert before dinner! JMO!

 

[Jen D]

I think it is best to do MK first. On our first WDW trip we did not do MK first and for my DD and even my husband, for that matter, there was a sort of letdown-- we went to Epcot and MGM first and while both were fine, I think it was not what they were expecting. Once we went to MK they were over the moon, and after that enjoyed the other parks a lot more. Seeing the MK in all its glory helps you appreciate the satellite parks more and put them in more of a context.

Of course, I always build in to our schedule AT LEAST two MK days, with some possible short trips (for parades or fireworks or whatever) built in. Saving it up until the end of the trip is dangerous because you might find it's the park everyone wants to keep returning to!

 

[bigOlkid]

I like MK first because to us, walking through the archway onto main street, seeing the castle in the distance, hearing that music, smelling the popcorn. seeng the trolleys and those big clusters of mickey balloons... We know our vacation has officially begun. Sappy, I know, but to me that is an experience truly unique to WDW.

 

[twinmommyks]

We just returned and I regret not doing MK the first full day. My kiddos are 9, 4, 4 and we did AK and MGM the first day and my dd4, kept asking were is the castle, my ds4 wanted to know where the dumbo ride, the pooh ride and the peter pan ride were at and my ds9 was fine with whatever park, but I could tell that he was really waiting for MK even though he didn't voice that to me. (But a mom knows

So, if and when we return, we will do MK first.

Another thing I noticed with my children is that they were full of energy at the beginning of the trip and less at the end. So we figure we'll do AK and Epcot when the kids are abit more tired and just want to be pushed in the stroller, giving us time to look around more.

I'm sure it varies from family to family, but if your children really are into the rides, I'd say MK the first day and the last day if you have time.

Bren

 

[rt2dz]

I haven't read all the posts, but just figured I'd let you know what we do...

We have to do AK first. DS4's favorite park is AK. He saw all the travel channel shows on the various parks when I was on bed rest when pregnant with DS#2, and our first trip there we went to MK first day. He just kept asking and asking to go to AK. SO, we left MK and went to AK, he loved it. This last trip, same thing--couldn't wait to get to AK. It's a different type of park, and you have to have the mind set for it (slow pace, take it all in, and enjoy the little things).

After that it doesn't matter to the kids which park we go to next. They enjoy Epcot the least, so we do find that is a good park to do when they are getting run down or at the end of the trip. It is definetly not the park they want to start the trip with, they want to enjoy WDW quickly.

Each park is different and you need to accept it as such. MK is the most exciting, but each offers wonderful things to do. We find switching parks half way through the day gives our kids a great change of pace and helps to avoid crowds. Whatever you decide, you won't go wrong.

 

[Brina]

I agree and disagree with the others about this. I personally believe you need to do the other parks first especially with young children. You want their trip to end up on the highest note possible. Most kids will appreciate saving MK to last instead of going to EPCOT last or MGM. There is just more for them at MK. More magic. Now, I will say that if you have the ability to go 5 days, you can do MK first and last and then you have no problems.

23 day dance

I agree. We do the other parks first. i think it would be tough to take some kids anywhere else once they have seen MK.