Which park to skip?

[SunnybeachMama]

Hi.

I'm so glad I found this site!

I am taking my 8 year old DD to Disney World for the first time at the end of March. Since, I've never been there before it's really intimidating trying to plan everything. I've bought several travel books, researched the Disney website and watched the Disney DVD. I've gotten great advice but there is no comparing actually experiences. Due to budget restriction we'll only be in Disney for 4-days. I did purchase a 4-day park hopper pass. I want to get the most out of our first trip to Disney and of course want my DD to have an amazing time. I know that there is a billion things to see in Disney and that 4-days won't accomplish much. If we HAVE to miss one of the parks, which one would you recommend we skip?? My DD likes rides but not the really scary ones. The scariest ride she's been on is the roller coaster at Mall of America in Minnesota (if you've ever been there before you'll know it's not too frightening). I'm thinking that MGM would be the one to skip but I don't really know. HELP!

~Sunny

PS. I can use any advice or tips I can get so please pass those along!

 

[HappyLawyer]

it really depends on your taste, i would suggest going online, looking over all the parks and see which one you like least, for us, we are not Epcott people, we went once and that was good enough, we love ak, MGM's ok and the Mk is ok with us too good luck and welcome to the boards

 

[spiceycat]

all the parks have scarey rides and tame ones...

I might not go with Epcot - I do love it - but both Test Track and Mission:space can be scarey.... some people got scare on Soarin'

do you see the home page from this site

www.wdwinfo.com

see this part
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Just_for_kids/index.htm

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/themeparks.htm#themeparks-nav

I would say MK and AK - forget both Epcot and studios for this trip...

MK has scarey rides - the RR - Space mountain, splash mountain, big thundred mountain - also some kids get scare in Stitch's great escape.

AK - has Dinosaur and the new RR - Expedition Everest.

studios had RRR - rockinroll coaster, tot - tower of terror,

so all the WDW parks have some scarey rides...

 

[Punkin's Mom]

It's such a personal preference kind of thing. My 4 year old daughter loved Soarin' at Epcot and we met a lot of characters there. She also really loved Figment and the Living Seas. And the Storybook Princess breakfast was a huge hit (in Norway). You obviously can't miss Magic Kingdom so that leaves MGM and Animal Kingdom. I'm going back in December for a quick weekend trip and Animal Kingdom is definately the park I'm going to skip. I didn't care for this park at all. MGM does have fast rides but it also has wonderful shows your daughter might like - Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, the 3D Muppet movie, and Fantasmic.

Since your park hopping, you could choose just to spend a couple of hours at MGM or AK to see if you like it.

 

[Izeesmom]

My son was 4 our first trip and he was scared of the Stitch ride. I would think Epcot would be the park to skip, but try them all, since you have a hopper.

 

[Cheese & Quackers]

Honestly I really don't know which park to skip
But if I had to choose one I would probably skip MGM studios most of the exciting attractions there are too scary for an eight year old but the rest are way too boring. All the parks are good though

 

[Susan-Storm]

If your kid is into entertainment don't skip MGM. Magic..of course don't skip magic kingdom..animals..don't skip that either. if your kid loves freedom and fun atmosphere then well take them off to epcot..it depends on what you like..my family often skips AK cause nothing is there practicclly..up to you

 

[Cheese & Quackers]

We are in agreement susan it really depends on your taste buuut.
Ive recently been to all the parks and every single park Seriously outweighed MGM on the fun scale. Admitted tower of terror is cool and the great movie ride is OK but everything else is a walkthrough no MGM simply doesn't cut the mustard

 

[Kick Save]

If our family skipped one, it would be Animal Kingdom.

But, an alternative plan since you have 4 days and a park hopper, spend a morning in the AK, ride the safari, see the Lion King, see Tough to be a Bug, and...and...that's about all that's there. If the DD will ride a coaster, get on Everest. That should get you to lunch, spend the afternoon back at one of the other three parks.

Since you can hop, you can pick the best of each, even with my afternoon suggestion above you've still got a whole day to devote to the other parks. If you follow the "skip Epcot" suggestions above (which I TOTALLY disagree with ), make a point to get there in the evening for Illuminations, you won't be disappointed. Plus, Epcot has some of the best resturants in the World to choose from. A 7:00 to 7:30 ADR at one of the resturants in World Showcase will set you up nicely to pick a spot to see Illuminations.

 

[Cheese & Quackers]

If your a DVC member youll be singing a different tune soon Expedition Everest was awesome and Theres a little surprise *hint**hint*

 

[MoniqueU]

Another vote for Animal Kingdom. We just didnt think there was enough to do and what there was to do for the most part was silly to us with the exception of the river rides and the jeep tour. We were done in half a day and wanted our money back. Never again.

 

[Cheese & Quackers]

OHHHHH come on doesn't anyone agree with me about which park to skip

 

[Cheese & Quackers]

By the way have any of you been to disney quest it's practically a theme park but it has a few less attractions just perfect for after a long theme park day

 

[LauraAnn630]

You CANT skip a park! LOL Id make a list of all things you both want to do and see. With hoppers you should be able to do all 4 parks.


We were thinking of skipping Animal Kingdom... CANT...Everest this year!
Then I thought MGM................................... CANT...RRC
Epcot ......................................................CANT... Soarin' (its great)


I could never pick a park to skip.

 

[Cheese & Quackers]

How do you become a mousketeer

 

[Mike N Kathy]

If i was going to skip any of them it would definetly be MGM...In your case i would probably say thats ur best bet ...You have to do MK thats no question...Animal Kingdom is really nice if u like animals and we do so ...And its not just animals they are some good shows and there are some rides and i really enjoy the atmosphere there, And epcot is really nice from the rides to the world showcase its really cool i remember when i went years ago when i was younger i liked to get the passport and to take it to all the countrys ur DD would probably really like that...She would feel like she went all over the world in just one amusement park

 

[MAGICFOR2]

You're right, I think. MGM probably has the least appealing to young children.
Although, with a park hopper, you could do Animal Kingdom in half a day, and MGM the second half - the light show at night, Fantasmic, I think is awesome and not to be missed! Have a great time!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

How do you become a mousketeer

After 100 posts, I belive, they make you one

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

MGM has some tamer attractions too. i'd say a toss up between Epcot and MGM tho, if she's only 8 she might not really like Epcot as much(it's JUST starting to really grow on me) but look through the WDW website and look over the attractions and shows and rides and see which ones you'd think she would and wouldn't like and go from there.

 

[spiceycat]

oh the fireworks - lots of girls will hate these things - why because they hurt her ears.

bring some ears plug - just in cause she is sensitive to this noise.