What would you do?

[IMGONNABE40!]

I was to the Magic Kingdom in 1978 and to Epcot in 1988. No Disney since then. My sister and I had plans to go for one day this coming July. Now, her plans have changed, and I will be in Orlando by myself for 2 and a half days before my flight home. Without my sister there, it is very costly for me to stay in the (off-site) suite I booked so I decided to move when they leave. I also decided to go ahead with the MK day. It was not a far leap to come up with staying at Disney for my last two nights and getting 3 day tickets! So, what would you do? I'll be staying at Pop Century. Since DSis is still considering a half day at MK, I will likely still plan to do MK that day.

The day I go to MK, the park will be open 15 hours. I am wondering whether I should just concentrate on MK all day, or move to another park in the evening. The reason is that of MK, MGM and Epcot, I am most interested in Fantasmic and Illuminations--so if I hop, I would skip Wishes and Spectro.

On my second day I will go to AK. It closes at 7 that evening and I could easily make it to another park for the evening--Illuminations probably.

On my third day I will have to leave around 2:30PM to make my plane. I plan on doing MGM.

So, my quandry is---hop, or not hop. If I don't hop, I can just do MK on my first day and watch Wishes and Spectro. On my second I can leave AK, freshen up and explore DTD. I would not likely have time to hop on the third day.

If I hop, I would do MK my first day, but head over to MGM in the evening for Fantasmic. On the second day, I would do AK and head over to Epcot for the evening--it is EMH until midnight. On the third day I would do MGM. This plan would get me to all 4 parks, and to the evening shows at Epcot and MGM. I don't know if it will be too exhausting, however. These will be hot, busy days in July.

What would you do? Would you skip Wishes and Spectro in favor of the other 2?

 

[wdwlvr629]

For me personally, that would never work, I could not skip Wishes or Spectro! However, I don't think i'd stay an entire 15 hour day just at the MK. Mind you, I do love to park hop. My recommendation would be to hop, hop, hop. Just make yourself some sort of touring plan that includes all of the highlights of what you really want out of your days there. I would be sure that you manage on night @ MK for Wishes & Spectro and one night @ Epcot for Illuminations though. If it has been that many years since you've been to WDW, you shouldn't cheat yourself out of anything that you really want to see or do! Good luck & happy planning!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thank you for your insight. I would not want to miss Wishes and Spectro, but since I only have 2 nights, I thought seeing those shows ranked third, behind Fantasmic and Illuminations. Am I off base here?

 

[wdwlvr629]

I guess it is all a matter of opinion, but my ranking is as follows:

1 - Spectromagic
2 - Wishes
3 - Illuminations
4 - Fantasmic

You have to decide what works for you though, I was just giving my input!

 

[DisneyDadFaNaTic]

Go see the stuff you wish to see! That is what makes a Disney Vacation great (especially with Park Hoppers). We get Park Hoppers specifically for the reasons you asked about. We go where we want and see what we wish. If it works for you then it is perfect!

 

[Hannathy]

I would skip DTD and go to the parks, It is just a shopping and rest. area. not worth to me giving up your limited park time. I like the order of shows by wdwlvr629 I love wishes much more than illuminations. If it were me I would do AK on my last day and MGM the 2nd day because I think there is a lot more things I like better at MGM and could prioritize the AK into a 1/2 day if I had to easier than the studio. (EE,Safari,Lion King,ITTBB,Dinosaur) Plus they open early.
Have fun by yourself!

 

[Hobbes]

If it was me I'd miss Illuminations. I thought Fantasmic was the best show in any park and with Wishes/Spectromagic you can do 2 for 1-bargain! Have you checked the times of Wishes/Spectromagic and Fantasmic?-you may be able to do everything in 2 nights with later summer openings.....

 

[Desnik]

If it were me I would have no problem skipping Spectro, but not too sure about skipping Wishes! I love it! I always have to see Illuminations, it's my favorite! Fantasmic I can skip! But what I would most definately do is HOP!!! I can't be at WDW without being able to hop!!LOL

 

[LISAMWDW]

I agree with Hobbes! I also think Fantasmic is the best show. I'd skip Illumnations and do Wishes/Spectro and Fantasmic.

 

[Squidrific]

Actually I think that if you hop and you time it right you can do all 4 and not be totally exhausted. Spend your first day at MK and do Wishes and Spectro (please don't miss Wishes - Tinkerbell's flight and the music make me cry). You can go early in the morning the MK day and then maybe go back to Pop in the afternoon to rest and then go back to MK that evening for Spectro and Wishes. The second day go to AK and then leave early afternoon and go back to Pop to relax for an hour or two. Then go to MGM for Fantasmic at 7:30 (sit in the back - best viewing and easy to get out). Immediately after the show, get on the boat from MGM to the Boardwalk and then walk into EPCOT from the international gateway to see Illuminations at 9:00. All 3 fireworks shows are wonderful. I rank them

1. Wishes
2. Illuminations
3. Fantasmic
4. Spectromagic

Congratulations on going back to the world - as you can see some of us are quite addicted!

 

[richard_andmel]

I guess it is all a matter of opinion, but my ranking is as follows:

1 - Spectromagic
2 - Wishes
3 - Illuminations
4 - Fantasmic

You have to decide what works for you though, I was just giving my input!

I agree, except I'd swap the first two to put Wishes first. We usually skip Fantasmic!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

...go to MGM for Fantasmic at 7:30 (sit in the back - best viewing and easy to get out). Immediately after the show, get on the boat from MGM to the Boardwalk and then walk into EPCOT from the international gateway to see Illuminations at 9:00.

I was thinking along these lines! Actually, for my dates, Illuminations is at 9, and showings of Fantasmic at 9 and 10:30. I did get to wondering if I could do Illuminations at 9 and get over to MGM for Fantasmic. Or would it be too late to get into Fantasmic? And what would be the best way to get from Epcot to MGM given the time constraints?

 

[donnajon]

I would definitely do Wishes & Spectro and Fantasmic. I don't care for the newer Illuminations. Fantasmic is so different than a lot of music and fireworks. I thought the globe thing just went on forever and we couldn't wait for it to be over. I think it is neat to see the movies on the water screens at fantasmic as well as watch the lake catch on fire. The problem with trying to do Illuminations and then hopping over to Fantasmic would be getting a seat at Fantasmic.
I also agree with the OP about skipping DTD. You only have 2 1/2 days in the parks and there is so much to see and do!
I could easily spend 15 hours at one park! Especially if I was alone and only there for a few days. Do you have a day or two off before you have to go back to work? I could go strong for a couple of days if I knew I could rest when I got home. I couldn't do this for a week but a day or two, yes.

 

[Squidrific]

I was thinking along these lines! Actually, for my dates, Illuminations is at 9, and showings of Fantasmic at 9 and 10:30. I did get to wondering if I could do Illuminations at 9 and get over to MGM for Fantasmic. Or would it be too late to get into Fantasmic? And what would be the best way to get from Epcot to MGM given the time constraints?

Actually I think you might be okay to do this. I would watch Illuminations from the bridge between France and UK then when it is over immediately walk through the international gateway and get the boat to the boardwalk. From the Boardwalk you can take the boat to MGM or walk. If you do this quickly you should be at MGM by 9:45. The 10:30 Fantasmic show is not too crowded so you should still be able to get a pretty good seat.

 

[missymagic]

I would walk if going thru international gateway to MGM the boat took a half hour from BWV when I was there 3 weeks ago. I till be a small hike but if you are up to the speed walk no problem.