Which 2nd park for a 6-year old and a grandparent?

[glocon]

Agree with MK for 2 days at a leisurely pace. So much there. Lots of easy things for young and old. Country Bear Jamboree, CoP, PM, Tom Sawyer Island, Philharmagic, lots of slow moving dark rides. Just take your time. Watch the parade one day and the fireworks the next. Use the time while everyone is watching the parade or fireworks to get in shorter lines. Just go slow and savor all the magic. Take snack breaks.

 

[bumbershoot]

I’d do Epcot and AK, personally.

 

[gottalovepluto]

We are planning an October trip to Orlando and we will only have 3 days to visit theme parks. (If school calendars come out and give us an extra day, we will add another, but at present, it doesn't look likely.) There will be a 6-year old boy, a 73-year old grandparent, and two parents. We are not Disney fanatics, and when shown about 20 or 30 Disney characters the 6-year old knew Mickey, "Mickey's girlfriend," "Donald the Duck," and Elsa. The only Disney movies our son has made it through are Cars 1-3, but he hasn't been as into the movies/toys lately (more into beyblades and Legos). He knows of Star Wars and has one SW Lego kit, but doesn't know any of the characters, etc. He's not into Toy Story or Disney Junior either. He knows of Nemo, and maybe Dory. Doesn't know Lion King.

I have heard that Flight of Passage is phenomenal. I do, however, sometimes get nauseous at IMAX 3-D shows, so I don't know how that will relate. The grandparent is unlikely to do many (if any) roller coasters. She's looking forward to seeing some of the shows and doing non-rollercoaster rides. The grandparent also has questioned whether Animal Kingdom is just a glorified zoo, but my sense is that it's really more of a theme park.

I've been thinking we would do Animal Kingdom for our second day, but now I'm second guessing myself. (Magic Kingdom will be one, and Universal will be another...my mom and I are big Harry Potter fans.) Anybody want to voice an opinion one way or the other?

Make sure your kid is tall enough for rides ahead of time so you can prepare them for what they cannot ride.

And my vote is Animal Kingdom. Yep, it's a glorified zoo but your kid will most likely have little to no interest in Epcot and there won't be much of anything for you all to do at DHS since you're not Disney fans and that park is heavy Disney theming (unless the 6 year old is into Tower of Terror, Star Wars and Aerosmith which I'm guessing not )

 

[Boopuff]

AK is probably my fave park. I love to just wander and look at all the cool theme elements (pandora!) . Also AK has some great food choices.

 

[glocon]

AK is not really like a zoo, there are a few zoo trails and the rest of it is rides. Unless your zoo has lots of rides and just a few animal trails, AK is much more than a typical zoo. But lots of it is not great for smaller kids or elderly folks (EE, Dinosaur, Kali, FoP, possibly ITTBAB if they don’t like bugs). Not saying kids and more elderly peeps can’t do those things, but it just really depends on the person. There are street shows and of course FotLK and Nemo which all can enjoy. But my luck is still 2 days at MK.

 

[fancyfox823]

Definitely AK. We went when I was pregnant with #2 and I couldn't ride anything, but I loved the atmosphere and ambiance of AK. Overall it's probably my favorite park, I just like the vibe. And FOP is AMAZING!!!!! We have yet to go back and see Pandora at night, but it's on the list for this next trip.

 

[brockash]

We are planning an October trip to Orlando and we will only have 3 days to visit theme parks. (If school calendars come out and give us an extra day, we will add another, but at present, it doesn't look likely.) There will be a 6-year old boy, a 73-year old grandparent, and two parents. We are not Disney fanatics, and when shown about 20 or 30 Disney characters the 6-year old knew Mickey, "Mickey's girlfriend," "Donald the Duck," and Elsa. The only Disney movies our son has made it through are Cars 1-3, but he hasn't been as into the movies/toys lately (more into beyblades and Legos). He knows of Star Wars and has one SW Lego kit, but doesn't know any of the characters, etc. He's not into Toy Story or Disney Junior either. He knows of Nemo, and maybe Dory. Doesn't know Lion King.

I have heard that Flight of Passage is phenomenal. I do, however, sometimes get nauseous at IMAX 3-D shows, so I don't know how that will relate. The grandparent is unlikely to do many (if any) roller coasters. She's looking forward to seeing some of the shows and doing non-rollercoaster rides. The grandparent also has questioned whether Animal Kingdom is just a glorified zoo, but my sense is that it's really more of a theme park.

I've been thinking we would do Animal Kingdom for our second day, but now I'm second guessing myself. (Magic Kingdom will be one, and Universal will be another...my mom and I are big Harry Potter fans.) Anybody want to voice an opinion one way or the other?

Will you have hoppers? If so you could do morning at AK, and then hop to MK. Just my opinion, but honestly, MK is more of a 2 sometimes 3 day park to get the majority done. For us AK is a half day park.

 

[mdsouth]

I am in agreement with many others here and to spend two days at MK. Split it up so that you don't have to walk all across the park each day. Just really enjoy all the rides and experiences. MK is perfect for a six year old. And lots less walking than AK. Save AK for another trip.

Given your choices, 6 year, 73 year old, limited time... I'd just recommend doing MK twice. You're most likely not going to be able to even make it through the whole park in a single day. If you split it in two, you can focus on hitting only 1/2 the park one day, and the other 1/2 the other day. Save the rest of the parks for when you have more time really hit them all. The 6 year old won't know what they're missing in the other parks, and the 73 year will probably enjoy the more leisurely pace.

Otherwise, if you're really wanting to hit a different park, then all of them will have good options. You don't have to focus on the major thrillers, take a look at other options, shows, etc... and you'll see there's a lot on offer everywhere.

This is a very good suggestion there is so much to do at MK we have so much more fun taking our time not trying to fit it all in

Agree with MK for 2 days at a leisurely pace. So much there. Lots of easy things for young and old. Country Bear Jamboree, CoP, PM, Tom Sawyer Island, Philharmagic, lots of slow moving dark rides. Just take your time. Watch the parade one day and the fireworks the next. Use the time while everyone is watching the parade or fireworks to get in shorter lines. Just go slow and savor all the magic. Take snack breaks.

Will you have hoppers? If so you could do morning at AK, and then hop to MK. Just my opinion, but honestly, MK is more of a 2 sometimes 3 day park to get the majority done. For us AK is a half day park.

 

[Skippyboo]

OP, since you are visiting in October- don’t forget to factor in Halloween Horror Nights and the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties into your planning. MK and Universal Studios side close early on party nights.

Also if IMAX gets you sick sometimes, watch out at universal studios. They use a lot of video screens with ride vehicles to simulate motion. Much more than what Disney does. The Hogwarts castle ride can easily mess you up.

I think AK has the best mix of non rides and less thrill rides. You have the 2 shows, the Safari is great. The multiple animal trails, wilderness explorer training for the kids, best In park dining.

 

[IndyToThere]

The grandparent also has questioned whether Animal Kingdom is just a glorified zoo, but my sense is that it's really more of a theme park.

I used to think the same about AK... 'a glorified, overpriced zoo'. After having been a couple of times now, my attitude has completely flipped and now it's one of my favorite parks. I realized it's more about the celebration of life - both animal and people. The immersive cultural sections of the park really highlight this, and the animals seem to complement the areas rather than dominate. For your party, I'd do AK for your 2nd day. Not as many thrill rides that grandma has to sit out and more leisurely activities and settings that everyone can enjoy.

 

[Michelleybelle]

My vote would be for Epcot. If he really isn't in to characters anyway, I think it has the perfect mix for him and grandma. He would love designing and riding in a race car at Test Track. My six year old was obsessed with Mission Space on our last trip and the green side would not be too overwhelming for grandma. I think the whole family would really enjoy Soarin', and The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a nice little ride with a great aquarium to explore. Frozen Ever After and the Three Caballeros (with Donald Duck) are also great family rides. It is also a unique experience to be able to wander around Epcot's World Showcase, trying new foods and exploring different cultures, especially since it will (presumably) be during the Food and Wine Festival.

 

[Kaadk]

I used to think the same about AK... 'a glorified, overpriced zoo'. After having been a couple of times now, my attitude has completely flipped and now it's one of my favorite parks. I realized it's more about the celebration of life - both animal and people. The immersive cultural sections of the park really highlight this, and the animals seem to complement the areas rather than dominate. For your party, I'd do AK for your 2nd day. Not as many thrill rides that grandma has to sit out and more leisurely activities and settings that everyone can enjoy.

On that note, for the OP (and anyone else wondering about AK and zoo) here's a screenshot of the park map (courtesy of https://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/disney-animal-kingdom-map.htm):



I underlined the 3 things out of everything else in the entire park that could be considered 'zoo' (in my opinion):

• Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail: Walkthrough exhibit of animals (aka kind of like a zoo).
• Maharajah Jungle Trek: Walkthrough exhibit of animals (aka kind of like a zoo).
• Affection Section: Petting zoo.

Pretty much everything else in the entire park, really isn't a zoo. The closest thing possibly, might be the Safari, but that's more like a ride with live creatures instead of animatronics.

 

[Dean Kennedy]

I agree with AK for your second day. Grandma will love FOLK and NEMO and there is also It's Tough to be a Bug. Plus, when my kids were that age, they loved the Dinosaur play area - it's a good place to take a break!

As far as AK being a glorified zoo, I disagree, because it's my favorite park. I have been to a few zoos in my life and I have seen my friend's photos of an ACTUAL safari in Africa, and Kilimanjaro Safari looked more similar to that safari than any zoo I've been to!

 

[Dean Kennedy]

I would agree and suggest the family get together and look at The Jungle Book and The Lion King. Two visits to MK wouldn’t be out of the question

 

[squirrel!33]

AK is a great choice for that age.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Please make sure you book FastPass+. It's free and it will make your day so much more enjoyable/relaxed/productive. I'm throwing this out there and you may already be familiar with it. If not, definitely look into it. You'll be able to do so much more in the amount of time you have.

 

[Kaadk]

Please make sure you book FastPass+. It's free and it will make your day so much more enjoyable/relaxed/productive. I'm throwing this out there and you may already be familiar with it. If not, definitely look into it. You'll be able to do so much more in the amount of time you have.

I actually find it's the exact opposite. The necessity for FP+ (and ADRs to some extent) forces us into a schedule, which for me, isn't enjoyable or relaxed. I hate being on a schedule on vacation. I really miss the old "Which park do we feel like going to today?" freedom that came from the pre-FP+ times. I view them more like a necessary evil than an enjoyment.

But that's a whole different conversation than the topic at hand.

 

[BebopBaloo]

But that's a whole different conversation than the topic at hand.

Agreed... but for a family with only two park days at Disney...I feel like it can make an enormous difference in the amount that they get to experience and for better or worse FP existing can make stand by lines longer. My advice and then I'll drop it is to book the first three FP early, and then just add another from the MDE app as soon as the third one is used. And then another after that and so on. It doesn't have to be rushed. You don't have to keep the FP appointment if you choose to do something else. You can open the app and change the attraction or time of the FP. It actually makes us feel really relaxed.

 

[crazylady]

I actually haven't been there, but have yet u considered Legoland?

 

[Buzzsgramma]

I will defer to Universal....only 3 days...wow...not much time...anyway..if you go to Universal/IOA you should buy the 2 PARK- 1 day ticket so you can experience all things at WWoHP...(wizarding world of harry potter..) especially the train ride over to Diagon Alley...it's alot for one day but you have little choice...it is totally awesome tho...rest on day 2 and go to MK magic kingdom on your third day....