Which park to end trip with?

[Alexsandra]

Hi there, I need a little help. I have a WDW 5 day park ticket for our trip in February before we go to Universal for 2 day. We will be just me, my husband and my two boys (3 and 7). I made all our plans according to park attendance and booked my dinner reservations already but now I am having second thoughts. I need some experienced advice. This is what I have so far:

Day 1: MK (Crystal Palace/Cali Grill)
Day 2: HS (Sci-fi/50's Prime)
Day 3: MK (Liberty Tree/Ohana)
Day 4: EP (Via NApoli\ La Hacienda)
Day 5: AK (Tusker House)

I was thinking of doing MK twice because of the age of my kids and the fact that we want to fit in the Pirate League experience (which eats up a lot of touring time).
My debate is that I am ending with AK with early closure and maybe head to DTD later that night after we pack. However, I feel this is an uneventful way to end the WDW trip.

I am thinking of switching HS and AK:
Day 2: AK
Day 5: HS

That way We end the evening with Fantasmic. My kids love HS because of Toy Story, Star Wars and ToT.

Or I was thinking of switching my second MK day (on day 3) for AK
Day 3: AK
Day 5: MK

The only problem with this is that MK will have evening EMH which will make the park packed and means that the fireworks will be at 10PM which is quite late my my 3 year old. But it is a good day to do Pirate League and a nice way to end the trip. Another problem is that we would have AK on the same day as my Ohana' dinner at 5:30 which means we have to leave the park by 4:00 to get there on time which seems awfully early.

What do you think? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[catra121]

I personally like to end with MK...but I think that swapping your HS and AK days would actually work out the best...and ending with Fantasmic would be a great way to end the trip. It also allows you to hit up DTD earlier in the trip (which I like to do so that IF I buy anything I can make room for it while packing...lol).

 

[danceintherain]

We usually try to hit up each park once before doubling on any of them. However, I think ending at DHS will probably be fine.

 

[Alexsandra]

I personally like to end with MK...but I think that swapping your HS and AK days would actually work out the best...and ending with Fantasmic would be a great way to end the trip. It also allows you to hit up DTD earlier in the trip (which I like to do so that IF I buy anything I can make room for it while packing...lol).

Good point. I did not think of that but packing is usually easier when the buying is done before.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

We usually try to hit up each park once before doubling on any of them. However, I think ending at DHS will probably be fine.

Yeah, I think ending with a show is always best I think ending with HS will be fun
For me, I think I'll always have to end with MK...I could maybe end with Epcot..

 

[Alexsandra]

We usually try to hit up each park once before doubling on any of them. However, I think ending at DHS will probably be fine.

I know, I would have preferred doing all the parks once then ending with MK. I am so stumped!

 

[Jfsag123]

I also vote for swapping out the HS day and ending there. We ended our 5 day trip last year with AK and it did feel kind of anti-climactic. Full disclosure: we are not really animal people, so this was likely to be our least favorite park anyway. However, I believe we would have felt this way regardless, just because the park felt the least "Disney" to us. We wanted to end our stay feeling the magic and it just wasn't there.

 

[disney1990]

We love to end either with Illuminations in Epcot or Wishes in the Magic Kingdom. Going home on a high note.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Hi there, I need a little help. I have a WDW 5 day park ticket for our trip in February before we go to Universal for 2 day. We will be just me, my husband and my two boys (3 and 7). I made all our plans according to park attendance and booked my dinner reservations already but now I am having second thoughts. I need some experienced advice. This is what I have so far: Day 1: MK (Crystal Palace/Cali Grill) Day 2: HS (Sci-fi/50's Prime) Day 3: MK (Liberty Tree/Ohana) Day 4: EP (Via NApoli\ La Hacienda) Day 5: AK (Tusker House) I was thinking of doing MK twice because of the age of my kids and the fact that we want to fit in the Pirate League experience (which eats up a lot of touring time). My debate is that I am ending with AK with early closure and maybe head to DTD later that night after we pack. However, I feel this is an uneventful way to end the WDW trip. I am thinking of switching HS and AK: Day 2: AK Day 5: HS That way We end the evening with Fantasmic. My kids love HS because of Toy Story, Star Wars and ToT. Or I was thinking of switching my second MK day (on day 3) for AK Day 3: AK Day 5: MK The only problem with this is that MK will have evening EMH which will make the park packed and means that the fireworks will be at 10PM which is quite late my my 3 year old. But it is a good day to do Pirate League and a nice way to end the trip. Another problem is that we would have AK on the same day as my Ohana' dinner at 5:30 which means we have to leave the park by 4:00 to get there on time which seems awfully early. What do you think? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I personally have to end every trip with MK on the last day. It simply doesn't feel right if I can't say goodbye to the castle and Main Street before I leave.

 

[Alexsandra]

Ok, I just checked to see if I can move my dinner reservations.
I tried to swap out MK on day 3 for AK on day 5 and there are a couple of things I would have to change.

If I go to AK on day 3, I need to leave early to get to Ohana' for 5:30PM, but I can only get Tusker house for 10:20 AM which means my park touring time is way too short. I would have to cut Tusker house completely! (not a big deal but that was my character meal with the fab 5)

I also would have to contend with crowds at MK on Day 5, although, I was planing on touring in morning and doing lunch at LTT and the going back to hotel to pack/rest. That way I am avoiding the bulk of crowds. Then, when I head back to park I can do Pirate League then, while the wait time for rides will be heavy, and ending the evening with Electric parade and fireworks.

 

[disney1990]

Ok, I just checked to see if I can move my dinner reservations.
I tried to swap out MK on day 3 for AK on day 5 and there are a couple of things I would have to change.

If I go to AK on day 3, I need to leave early to get to Ohana' for 5:30PM, but I can only get Tusker house for 10:20 AM which means my park touring time is way too short. I would have to cut Tusker house completely! (not a big deal but that was my character meal with the fab 5)

I also would have to contend with crowds at MK on Day 5, although, I was planing on touring in morning and doing lunch at LTT and the going back to hotel to pack/rest. That way I am avoiding the bulk of crowds. Then, when I head back to park I can do Pirate League then, while the wait time for rides will be heavy, and ending the evening with Electric parade and fireworks.

Can you just forgo the reservation all together or book someplace else? Park time is always more important to us than restaurants.

 

[Aatif911]

Or I was thinking of switching my second MK day (on day 3) for AK
Day 3: AK
Day 5: MK

We personally like ending out trip with MK.
I say go with this option. You want the kids to say good buy to the castle as their last memories from the trip..

 

[Alexsandra]

Can you just forgo the reservation all together or book someplace else? Park time is always more important to us than restaurants.

We actually love dining at WDW. I like siting down for a good meal at our usual restaurants. I find it gives the kids time to unwind from the sensory overload and it gives us all a break from the heat and the crowds. I know it cuts into park time but since we have been to WDW many time I don't care if we skip a ride or two but you are right, it does cut into park time and it takes some planing ahead. So if you like the freedom of planing as you go, ADR become a real hassle.

I won't cancel Ohana' because it is a family tradition to go there each trip and this is the only day I could get a reservation. However I am going to have to forego Tusker House if I do the switch.

 

[stinkpickle]

We always spend our last day at a 'recommended' park, regardless of which one it is. The only exception would be if a park had evening EMH, and we would only hop from a recommended park to attend that.

 

[Marthasor]

I love Tusker House! It's actually one of our favorite things to do in AK.

I would end with DHS so you don't have to switch out so much. Your trip is so well planned - why mess it up?!! I think ending with Fantasmic is wonderful. I can't imagine ending with a 10 pm Wishes with a 3 year old. I just don't think it's worth it.

 

[BrittyRo]

This is my itinerary for when I go end of March

March 29 (arrival): MK
MArch 30: MK
March 31: Epcot
April 1: AK
April 2: HS

 

[Alexsandra]

I love Tusker House! It's actually one of our favorite things to do in AK.

I would end with DHS so you don't have to switch out so much. Your trip is so well planned - why mess it up?!! I think ending with Fantasmic is wonderful. I can't imagine ending with a 10 pm Wishes with a 3 year old. I just don't think it's worth it.

I know, a 10pm Wishes is really late for a 3 year old. I think you might be right. Plus the next day we are heading out to Universal and the kids might be pooped! That is why I had planned AK on the last day to begin with. But I think HS might be a better solution. The only problem is that I can't get a ADR for sic-fi dine in for that day and my oldest will be so disappointed. It is his favourite!

 

[Alexsandra]

Ok, so after reading everyones suggestions, I decided to switch my HS day for my AK day. I was able to get Tusker House for day 2 and Sci-Fi Dine Inn for day 5 (my son will be so happy!)
HS was just a better fit since MK's Wishes (10PM) was just too late for my boys.
HS's Fantasmic is at 7PM and at 8:30 which is a much better time for them and is a great way to end our Disney trip!

Thanks for all the help

 

[catra121]

Glad you were able to work it out. I LOVE Sci Fi...it's a tradition for me every trip!

 

[W.E.D.]

For us, we have to end every visit with a day at MK.