Which park should I go to?

[EMHDad]

We arrive on Sat (1/9). Have TRex lunch reservation, relaxing, etc. Staying off property Sat night in the Disney Springs Area. (Maybe Wyndam or Hilton or such.) I looked at Priceline and can get a room for around $150 instead of the like $400-$450 Sat Night Dis pricetag(even with the discount).

The current plan is to wake up early Sun (1/10), drive to Yacht Club (our resort), park and get at the front of the MK bus line. (Curious, what time should we be there to get a front spot on that first MK bus?)

Alternate plan is to make our first day (Sun 1/10) an Epcot day. That 11am opening would give us a little extra time to leave offsite hotel and get to YC and then we can just walk to the gate and wait. I really like this. The downside is I have heard the weekends are terrible for Epcot. Should I stick with current plan and just do MK on Sun or switch to EP?

The rest of the trip is currently...
1/10 - MK
1/11 - AK
1/12 - HS
1/13 - Rest Day/Partial EP (spending a couple hours walking around, getting a snack, but not real park day)
1/14 - EP
1/15 - MK

Alternate Plan would be...
1/10 - EP
1/11 - Mk
1/12 - HS
1/13 - Rest Day/Partial EP (spending a couple hours walking around, getting a snack, but not real park day)
1/14 - AK
1/15 - MK

Thoughts???

 

[sethschroeder]

I would do MK on Monday to avoid possible "larger" crowds that will be there on the weekends.

What about Animal Kingdom the first day? That way you get the benefit of having your Epcot day be extra relaxing as well?

Having the 12/13/14 being at HS/Epcot would be a great middle of the trip without touching the busses.

One other thing you shooting to ride ROR? If so I might look to make your AK and Epcot days possibly HS reservations? Its likely you could switch to Epcot or AK the day of (no guarantee though). Gives you more shots at ROR.

 

[EMHDad]

I would do MK on Monday to avoid possible "larger" crowds that will be there on the weekends.

What about Animal Kingdom the first day? That way you get the benefit of having your Epcot day be extra relaxing as well?

Having the 12/13/14 being at HS/Epcot would be a great middle of the trip without touching the busses.

One other thing you shooting to ride ROR? If so I might look to make your AK and Epcot days possibly HS reservations? Its likely you could switch to Epcot or AK the day of (no guarantee though). Gives you more shots at ROR.

Part of the EP on Sunday appeal was that it opens later, allowing us to get to YC easier and is walkable, instead of having to take a bus. You are saying that MK is insane on Sunday? If so, we may have to do AK Sunday and MK monday. We still have to get up extremely early, and drive over to YC for the bus, but can do that.

Unfortunately, we have reservation at Oga's on Tues, so that is our HS day. We also are hitting every park once except MK, which is a must 2 day park. The 2nd EP day is not really a park day, but dw & mine's date afternoon and needs to be EP. We want RoR A LOT, but are going to have to hope for the best on Tues.

 

[Erzengel]

I think MK and HS, you may need more than one day because of the number of attractions than Epcot right now considering the construction and the amount of shops that aren't currently open.

 

[sethschroeder]

You are saying that MK is insane on Sunday?

Nope there is just more attractions so I want to pick a day where the crowds are likely to be lowest for my MK day.

 

[sethschroeder]

I think MK and HS, you may need more than one day because of the number of attractions than Epcot right now considering the construction and the amount of shops that aren't currently open.

They are only doing Epcot 1 day though the mid week one is simply a relaxing day not actually doing the park based on the comments from the OP.

HS they likely will just have to be okay with missing certain attractions and ranking what they want to make sure they get on.

 

[jeepwreck]

we also start and finish our vacation with a MK day

 

[chris benton]

I'd base my choice on how big of a hassle you think it would be to get the fam up and at em as early as you want to get to MK.

Part of a nice vacation is not being miserable.

Is it going to be a struggle?
Are YOU going to lose your mind if you get to MK 30 minutes after you planned because of unforeseen circumstances?
Are you going to wake up so early that everyone will be a zombie at 7pm?

Driving to YC, then hopping on a bus to make MK RD sounds like a hassle to me. I'd ping the fam, and ask their opinion after describing what that would entail. I'd want the plan to be streamlined starting with what needs to be done the night before so waking up, showering, and leaving could be effortless. Breakfast, showering, clothes, packed park bag, mb's, car packed up - those kinda things.

Also, would driving to MK instead of YC be an option for you that first day?

 

[EMHDad]

He is right about EP. We are doing to MK days for sure. That is a must. Every other park is only 1 day. The reason we are doing EP a second day is because that is our rest day. DW and I are walking over for a few hours for a Dis date. I would love to do a 2nd HS day, but its not really a 'date' park (for us at least). We prob wouldnt even be riding anything that day. We are getting drinks around the world (sharing) and enjoying the sites and sounds.

Everything is a must for us if possible, but it of course is a matter of priorities. Priority #1 is 2 MK days. Priority #2 is the date afternoon and rest day. After that, we will work in everything we can in the timeframe allowed. For instance, we fully expect to ride every ride at HS (with the exception of RotR, that will be on a hope and a prayer).

The big question on this thread was what to do with the first day, because we are staying offsite the night before (to save a lot of money). What should Sunday, 1/10 look like?

1. Wake up at like 6am, drive over to YC and immediately get in the MK bus line to get that first bus.
2. Wake up at 7am, have longer breakfast, drive over to YC and walk to EP gate at 9am.
3. Wake up at like 6am, drive over to YC and immediately get in the ak bus line to get that first bus.

 

[EMHDad]

I'd base my choice on how big of a hassle you think it would be to get the fam up and at em as early as you want to get to MK.

Part of a nice vacation is not being miserable.

Is it going to be a struggle?
Are YOU going to lose your mind if you get to MK 30 minutes after you planned because of unforeseen circumstances?
Are you going to wake up so early that everyone will be a zombie at 7pm?

Driving to YC, then hopping on a bus to make MK RD sounds like a hassle to me. I'd ping the fam, and ask their opinion after describing what that would entail. I'd want the plan to be streamlined starting with what needs to be done the night before so waking up, showering, and leaving could be effortless. Breakfast, showering, clothes, packed park bag, mb's, car packed up - those kinda things.

Also, would driving to MK instead of YC be an option for you that first day?

As of right now, driving is not an option. The most ciritical component for us is to be at the head of the line for the parks. It is a big part of picking YC and being able to walk to HS & EP. I have been hearing that the cars are being held and by the time they park and then monorail over, the buses and walkers have gotten in mass to the park.

My kids dont know what they want, and my wife is supportive of what I decide. (I am the Dis planner.) Later is always nice, but family is prepared for very early days. (That is part of our Dis experience. What MK open til 6pm, I am not worried about them becoming zombies.

 

[chris benton]

Ok @EMHDad - I wouldn't wanna drive to MK either in that case.

With everything described, my fam would have no big issue hitting MK that day, but we are early risers. I would just make sure that the fam knows what the plan is, and what they need to do in order to make it as easy as possible. I'd have breakfast snacks ready to rock, the car packed up the night before, the park bags all ready, clothes and shoes and toiletries laid out.

If you've never stayed at an EP area resort, you are gonna love being able to walk (or boat) to EP and Hollyweird. Those travel times are worth real $ in Wallytown.