Which park is best for late-arrival?

[SFMommy]

We arrive from the West Coast into MCO on a Saturday at 5:30 p.m. I don't know if we'll be able to get up for Rope Drop on our first day, Sunday. And I don't want to burn us all out on the first day. Me, DH and DD9. So I am thinking of going to AK or Epcot. We only have 1 AK day and 2 Epcot days during our trip. Which do you think is a better park for a late-arrival? We aren't hopping, so we will have FP+ available at whichever park we choose.

I was thinking AK because it is the park that we are most looking forward to (because it is so totally different from Disneyland). I thought that Kilimanjaro Safari, The Lion King Show and lunch at Tusker House would be a great start to our trip.

What do you think?

 

[ZoZo]

I'd actually recommend the opposite - and suggest that you go to Epcot on your first day.

AK is open shorter hours than the other parks (often closing as early as 5:00 pm). If you arrive an hour or two after opening, you're just shortening your day even further. There's so much to do at AK, it takes at least one full day to do everything.

Since you are doing Epcot for two days, you can pick up the things on the second day that you might have missed on the first.

Does that make sense? I think it's smart of you to recognize that you'll be tired your first day, since you're traveling from the west coast. With the three-hour time difference and the amount of actual travel time involved, traveling from the west coast can kick your butt! I'm from the Seattle area myself, and always plan just a nice dinner and a fairly early bedtime on arrival day.

Have fun!

 

[ErinInCT]

AK is not open very late and if you are not hopping you'll be done by probably around 6pm. Personally I'd do DHS since that is not a full day park (in my opinion). With the FP+ you can get a lot done and end the day with Fantasmic. EPCOT would be fine as well since you have two days planned. Anything you miss you can do on the second day. So my first choice would be DHS, then EPCOT and last AK.

 

[MataHari22]

Epcot. For the reasons stated by the previous posts. Or Hollywood Studios, but that wasn't one of your options.

For Animal Kingdom, I need the whole day, I wouldn't want to have my only day there start late. I like to do the safari a couple of times. I usually do it at rope drop, and then get a FP+ for it later on. There are shows/musicians to watch, trails to explore and so many details to enjoy at AK. I just love the theming and the architecture. The little leaf prints, "fossils" and tracks in the pathways....

 

[DisDadDVC]

We arrive from the West Coast into MCO on a Saturday at 5:30 p.m. I don't know if we'll be able to get up for Rope Drop on our first day, Sunday. And I don't want to burn us all out on the first day. Me, DH and DD9. So I am thinking of going to AK or Epcot. We only have 1 AK day and 2 Epcot days during our trip. Which do you think is a better park for a late-arrival? We aren't hopping, so we will have FP+ available at whichever park we choose.

I was thinking AK because it is the park that we are most looking forward to (because it is so totally different from Disneyland). I thought that Kilimanjaro Safari, The Lion King Show and lunch at Tusker House would be a great start to our trip.

What do you think?

Where are you staying?

 

[SFMommy]

Where are you staying?

Ah, that is the million dollar question! I would like to stay at Epcot resort. But we may be staying offsite at the Marriott Sabal Palms. It depends on if the price is right. We have a reservation at both the Marriott Sabal Palms and The Swan at the moment. But I would love to stay at the BWI.

 

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

Well, I have a different perspective. As long as you aren't talking about a really late start, I would go to Animal Kingdom because you can fastpass anything you want to ride there and at Epcot there's the tiering system. At Epcot, you can't fastpass both Soarin and Test Track. I think you really should try to rope drop Epcot unless you have no interest in both of those rides. You could also do single rider on Test Track instead of fastpass or rope drop, but I assume your 9 year old would not want to ride alone. By 10:00 am or so, both of those rides will be quite busy. Of course, I'm not sure when exactly you are going so crowds may or may not be a huge issue. There is also much more 4th fastpass availability later in the day at Animal Kingdom. Crowds also drop off at AK after about 3 and lines shorten. We have never been able to get a 4th fastpass for anything that really needed it at Epcot, although I'm sure it does happen sometimes. Also, you will find people who love Animal Kingdom and like to go for more than one day. It is not our favorite park so we would have no trouble getting everything done between say 10-5 (or whatever time closing is for your date). We do have things we enjoy there, it is just not a full day park for us. Others will disagree. Hope you have fun!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

We don't do Epcot on arrival day because it closes too early in the summer. Here's our experience at DHS from earlier this summer:

Flight landed at MCO at 6:10 pm.

We arrived at DHS at 7 pm and had FP+ for Star Tours (6-7), RnR (7-8) and ToT (8-9).

Then we rode Toy Story 3 times in about 30 minutes before the Star Wars fireworks show started. The ride closes 45 minutes before the fireworks start, but can stay open past the posted closing time if no one is in line. They just have to clear the area 15 minutes before the show starts. This is a good time for rerides with no waiting.

Then we found a good spot for the fireworks show with about a 10 minute wait.

Next, it was off to Tower of Terror for 2 more rides. They kept the gate open about 10 minutes after the park closed, which happens occasionally.

Finally, we strolled in to the Fantasmic amphitheater for the late show with about 2 minutes to spare. The place was less than half full with the two far right sections and the three far left sections completely empty. Seating was exceptional with a less than 5 minute wait.

Not a bad night and all in less than 4 hours.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Here's another example for MK of what we were able to accomplish between 8 pm and midnight without FP+ on a crowd level 8 day. We found bumper to bumper traffic leaving the park that evening as we were arriving:

Big Thunder 3x
Splash Mtn 2x
Space Mtn 2x
Mine Train (10 min wait right a closing time)
Pirates
Jungle Cruise
Haunted Mansion
Pooh
Peter Pan
Speedway
Barnstormer 2x

We also watched the parade and fireworks and had a couple of Dole Whips.

 

[DisDadDVC]

Ah, that is the million dollar question! I would like to stay at Epcot resort. But we may be staying offsite at the Marriott Sabal Palms. It depends on if the price is right. We have a reservation at both the Marriott Sabal Palms and The Swan at the moment. But I would love to stay at the BWI.

Well, if you are staying at Swan or Boardwalk, I would definitely recommend Epcot.

 

[srauseo]

I would also agree with EPCOT. Just start in the World Showcase when it opens at 11 (or, if you are there earlier than 11, go to France for breakfast). Then backtrack to Future World and have some FPs in place.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

The OP doesn't arrive at MCO until 5:30 pm. I don't believe that Epcot is a viable option since it will close at 9. She needs to pick a park that is open later.

 

[Ladyfish77]

The OP doesn't arrive at MCO until 5:30 pm. I don't believe that Epcot is a viable option since it will close at 9. She needs to pick a park that is open later

I think OP is talking about the first full day at WDW after arrival. Planning on sleeping in then hitting a park and looking for suggestions for a late morning arrival park.

 

[phillymummer]

Never mind. I misinterpreted her post.

Move along.. nothing to see here.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I think OP is talking about the first full day at WDW after arrival. Planning on sleeping in then hitting a park and looking for suggestions for a late morning arrival park.

My bad. I thought she was wanting to get in a few hours of prime time.

 

[senadler]

I would suggest Epcot since you are already planning two days. You can use FP+ for one of the tier 1 rides that day, and there are many other things to do at Epcot that will have short waits even later in the day. We are not typically a RD family, except for the MK, and have no problem getting through everything in Epcot in two days.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Well, I have a different perspective. As long as you aren't talking about a really late start, I would go to Animal Kingdom because you can fastpass anything you want to ride there and at Epcot there's the tiering system. At Epcot, you can't fastpass both Soarin and Test Track. I think you really should try to rope drop Epcot unless you have no interest in both of those rides. You could also do single rider on Test Track instead of fastpass or rope drop, but I assume your 9 year old would not want to ride alone. By 10:00 am or so, both of those rides will be quite busy. Of course, I'm not sure when exactly you are going so crowds may or may not be a huge issue. There is also much more 4th fastpass availability later in the day at Animal Kingdom. Crowds also drop off at AK after about 3 and lines shorten. We have never been able to get a 4th fastpass for anything that really needed it at Epcot, although I'm sure it does happen sometimes. Also, you will find people who love Animal Kingdom and like to go for more than one day. It is not our favorite park so we would have no trouble getting everything done between say 10-5 (or whatever time closing is for your date). We do have things we enjoy there, it is just not a full day park for us. Others will disagree. Hope you have fun!

I agree. Since AK doesn't have tiers, you can FP all the headliners. As long as you can get there by 11ish, I think you'll be fine.

 

[SFMommy]

Thanks for all of the input! Now I am even more confused!

LOL. Just kidding. You have all given me lots to think about...thanks!

 

[kwdw]

EPCOT for your first day. AK has too much to do if you are going to go to all three shows and ride all the rides in one day - you NEED the full day.

If you do EPCOT your first day - get a FP for one of the headliners - and don't plan on seeing the whole park the first day. I love EPCOT - and frequently plan 2 "non-marathon" days there - and get everything in. One day, I start early and end early. One day, I start late and end at fireworks.

Now - if you are staying on property - and EMHs come into play - that also might change up how you should plan. I'm doing DHS on my next trip on my arrival day - I'll probably get to the park around 11am - noon. I've got my FP's for important things late afternoon - and it's open with late EMHs that evening - so I know I can get everything in. It will be a long first day - but that's okay since my second day is shorter day of about 10am - 7pm EPCOT day so I am in bed early so I can hit MK morning EMH the next day after that.... Etc. So - for me - it's not just about where will it be less crowded based on my time of arrival of the park - it's "how am I getting enough sleep" over the entire trip. Arriving on a PACKED MK day in the middle of the afternoon with 12am-2am EMHs that I plan to stay through can be an awesome day with my key FP's, dinner reservation, and touring plan to avoid the worst of the masses.

 

[glohoffman]

Epcot. We are doing something similar in two weeks. We are doing MNSSHP and want to sleep in the next day...so we have two epcot days and are doing a late epcot day following the party. We plan on touring the World Showcase that evening, and doing rides and everything else the next day. We couldn't miss our morning safari at AK! Hope it works out!