Which day of week for each park?

[JungleJim]

We will be at the parks at WDW beginning Monday, August 14 through Thursday, August 17 (4 days at the parks).

We've always heard it is best to go to MK on Tuesday (which we have in the past and it worked out great.) We also heard to aviod MK on Monday, but "TouringPlans" has both Monday and Tuesday listed as recommended for MK, but avoiding the other 3 parks on both Monday and Tuesday.

Heres what "TouringPlans" recommends each day:

Mon, 14 Aug / Best Park = MK / Parks to Aviod = EP DS AK
Tue, 15 Aug / Best Park = MK / Parks to Aviod = EP DS AK
Wed, 16 Aug / Best Park = DS / Parks to Aviod = AK
Thu, 17 Aug / Best Park = EP AK / Parks to Aviod = MK


I'm thinking MK on Tuesday and MGM Disney Studios on Wednesday. But I'm not sure about the other two days.

Two years ago, we only went for 3 days (our son was only 2). We did the following:
Monday: AK (morning), DS/MGM (rest of the day)
Tuesday: MK
Wednesday: MK (until 4:00 pm) , EP (rest of day)

Last year, we just did one day at MK on a Tuesday. But we got through the park in one day because the crowd was about half compared to the previous year. The only difference was one week later in August when Florida schools are in session.

This year, we are traveling with my brother-in-law's family (two girls, 9 & 15....our son is 4). We plan on splitting up some of the time, but want to stay within the same parks. We will have parkhopper on our tickets.

Any suggestions for Monday and Thursday? I've heard that EP is good at handling larger crowds, but I'd hate to do EP the first day (this will be the other family's first visit to WDW). Would AK be okay to do on Monday if we got there right when it opened? Then do EP on Thursday? The thing that worries me about doing AK on Monday is that there are EMH for AK in the morning.

As I'm writing this, I'm forming a tentative plan (but am unsure about Monday & Thursday).

Monday = AK (maybe some of the evening at MK)
Tuesday = MK
Wednesday = DS
Thursday = EP

I just want their first visit to WDW to be as nice as it can be.

I appreciate any input.

 

[Glendamax]

#1 Take a DEEP Breath! You sound like me! I know you want this trip to be perfect, but don't stress yourself out

#2 I think your alternate plan at the end of your post sounds good. Just remember to aim to be at Animal Kingdom before it opens, so you'll have time to look over the map and plan your attack. Also, that park is soooo hot, and you'll want to be out of there by noon or 1pm.

#3 I think going to MK that evening is a great idea. You can do the parade and the fireworks that night. On the evening of the DAY you plan to go to MK, you can ride all the popular rides during the parade and the fireworks, since you would've already done that the night before. I did something similar to this the last time I went and it was great - there was hardly a wait for anything.

#4 Now go to sleep! You have a good plan! And remember, you won't get to do everything - that's what the next trip is for!

 

[JungleJim]

Glendamax: Thank you for your opinion.

So no one else has an opinion about whether to do AK or EP on that Monday? [I thought there were plenty of opinions around here ]

 

[The Mick]

Glendamax: Thank you for your opinion.

So no one else has an opinion about whether to do AK or EP on that Monday? [I thought there were plenty of opinions around here ]

Well, just because I personally love EP (assuming this means Epcot), I'd choose it over Animal Kingdom 100 out of 100 times (don't get me wrong - AK is awesome too, but EP is my favorite Disney park by far).

Plus, EP is open later, so you can get more bang for your buck that first day.

 

[JungleJim]

AK happens to be my least favorite park also, but thats not the criterion I want to use in choosing.

The only criterion I want to use in choosing AK or EP on that Monday is crowd level.

 

[sharlon]

I agree with Glendamax's idea about MK. I think we might try that out in a couple of weeks if it will work with our ADRs.
Maybe Animal Kingdom first thing in the morning until lunch time, then back to your hotel for a rest (as first timers they will probably be tired) and a swim, then to MK for parade and fireworks.

 

[dlarkin12]

This is a bruttale schedule you are under taking with the little ones. We go every year,and the last thing to do is to have your kids whining and everybody tired because of a hecktick schedule. If you slow down and break it up a little. Park one day ,rest at the pool the next day and so on you won't wear yourself out and the rest of the family. These trips are to be fun and the schedule you will keep is what alot of people do and then hate going to disney. We spend two weeks every year and only go to two parks. this makes it more exciting for you and the kids because you can tell them, if we don't see it this year we'll see it next year. Then about January they will start bugging you for the next trip down here. Suggestions. Take one day and check out all the other resorts. this is fun. take the kids swimsuits and let them swim in all the other resorts pools. they will have a blast. disney doesn't mine. how else are you going to check out the other resorts you may want to stay in. ahh enough of my two cents, have a fun vacation ,the little one grow up fast.

 

[JungleJim]

This is a bruttale schedule you are under taking with the little ones. We go every year,and the last thing to do is to have your kids whining and everybody tired because of a hecktick schedule. If you slow down and break it up a little. Park one day ,rest at the pool the next day and so on you won't wear yourself out and the rest of the family. These trips are to be fun and the schedule you will keep is what alot of people do and then hate going to disney. We spend two weeks every year and only go to two parks. this makes it more exciting for you and the kids because you can tell them, if we don't see it this year we'll see it next year. Then about January they will start bugging you for the next trip down here. Suggestions. Take one day and check out all the other resorts. this is fun. take the kids swimsuits and let them swim in all the other resorts pools. they will have a blast. disney doesn't mine. how else are you going to check out the other resorts you may want to stay in. ahh enough of my two cents, have a fun vacation ,the little one grow up fast.

That surely sounds wonderful, but we don't have the time. We go to Disney for the parks. If I want to relax in Florida, it's going to be by the water somewhere (not in what was once swampland ) My parents live down in Venice on a golf course. They have a pool and a spa, in addition to the clubhouse pool. They are 10 minutes from the beach. It's like being at a resort, but it's free!

My wife and I took our son (2 years old at the time) to WDW two years ago for three days and went to all 4 parks. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We are definately not wimps when it comes to walking and the heat.

Our trip is already planned. We did not want to spend the entire time at WDW. For us, WDW is for the parks. There are much better places to relax. I know people who go to Florida and only do Disney and Orlando, then they say they hate Florida. Orlando (IMHO) is the most unpleasant place to be in Florida. The "real" Florida is all along the coast.

Everyone has their own goals when going to Disney. To me, staying at the delux resorts would just be a waste of money for us. The whole time I would be thinking "I could be at Mom and Dad's having just as good of time and I wouldn't be spending all this money!" For other people, it might be money well spent if they enjoy it. Especially people who don't have family in Florida. But I still don't understand people who go to Floriday and don't spend time at the ocean or gulf.

We'll fly down to Florida and spend time at my parents' for a few days. Then we'll be driving up to Disney on Sunday. We'll check in at POFQ, then take a water-taxi to DownTown Disney to have a relaxing first evening. Then we'll do the parks for Monday through Thursday. My wife's brother's family fly home on Friday, but we'll drive back down to my parents' for a few more days.

I've seen some of the other resorts. I'm not interested in going around and seeing any more. Our reservations are set. We will thoroughly enjoy our four days.

I appreciate the input that everyone has given! I'm still interested to hear more opinions on whether to do AK or EP on that Monday.