Which park to skip?

[EmmaAbbyZoey]

My family and I are planning a trip for this January, we have not been to WDW in 5 years but visited DL last year. We originally were going to spend 1 day at each park, but now have to cut 1 out. I have twins that are 10 years old. What would your suggestions be on which park to cut? My son is a huge Toy Story fan so we will most likely not skip HS. Thank you for your input!

 

[Scar1199]

My family and I are planning a trip for this January, we have not been to WDW in 5 years but visited DL last year. We originally were going to spend 1 day at each park, but now have to cut 1 out. I have twins that are 10 years old. What would your suggestions be on which park to cut? My son is a huge Toy Story fan so we will most likely not skip HS. Thank you for your input!

Are you doing 3 full days? Are you open to getting park hoppers? What rides do your kids like? If I only had 3 days, I'd get hoppers and do MK, Epcot, HS/AK.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It would probably depend on your kids and which they'd prefer - Epcot or AK. (Since I'd assume you also want to do MK along with the Studios.) We love the World Showcase and all it has to offer (including the food and the shows) and a lot of the attractions at Future World in the morning so Epcot would be our choice. But AK is fun, as well, if your kids prefer to go there. Could you do a split day on that one day with a Park Hopper so they could see both? In which case I'd probably do AK in the morning (heading to EE first, then KRR and Safari, ending with ITTBAB), and get some FPs for the afternoon at FW and enjoy WS at night, ending with Illuminations. Have fun whatever you decide to do! (PS I have twins, also, and ten was around the age they started to really love Epcot. It's probably our favorite park, or a close second to MK, anyway. It's easy to blow by it, though, unless you really study all the things you can do there.)

 

[kappyfamily]

If you can’t do park hoppers i would cut out Epcot. Have a great trip!

 

[TIME4DIZ]

Tough question. Can’t miss MK and you’re committed to HS. That leaves Epcot or AK on the chopping block. My first thought is that you could skip Epcot. I’m thinking your 10 yr olds would already know soarin’ from DCA and would likely think TT is not as good as RSR in DCA. You’d miss World Showcase (including Frozen) but I think 10 yr old kids would prefer all that AK has to offer- and it’s very different than DL.

I know it’s not what you asked and annoying to have people tell you to spend more money- but have you considered Park Hoppers? You could easily plan a day that starts at HS -your family could do TSL and everything else in the morning and be at Epcot (via boat) all afternoon and evening right through illuminations or Hop back to HS for a nighttime show there and/or to see TSL at night.

As tough as the decision is you can’t go wrong because you’ll end up at a great park.

 

[EmmaAbbyZoey]

We technically will only have 2 1/2 days. Honestly the park I really want to skip is HS because I feel there is just too much construction to “waste” a day there since so much has been taken out, but that was what I was planning my half day to be and I think my kids would be really disappointed to not do Toy Story. This is going to be their Christmas present instead of gifts.

 

[EmmaAbbyZoey]

Tough question. Can’t miss MK and you’re committed to HS. That leaves Epcot or AK on the chopping block. My first thought is that you could skip Epcot. I’m thinking your 10 yr olds would already know soarin’ from DCA and would likely think TT is not as good as RSR in DCA. You’d miss World Showcase (including Frozen) but I think 10 yr old kids would prefer all that AK has to offer- and it’s very different than DL.

I know it’s not what you asked and annoying to have people tell you to spend more money- but have you considered Park Hoppers? You could easily plan a day that starts at HS -your family could do TSL and everything else in the morning and be at Epcot (via boat) all afternoon and evening right through illuminations or Hop back to HS for a nighttime show there and/or to see TSL at night.

As tough as the decision is you can’t go wrong because you’ll end up at a great park.

Thank you! I actually didn’t think about that! I normally don’t spend the money on park hopping because when they were little there was honestly no point. I really like the idea of splitting up Epcot and HS. Yes my daughters favorite ride is Sorin’ and TT just doesn’t compare! Epcot was the park I was thinking about cutting, but that would allow my kids and my husband and I to do the everything we want. My kids won’t ride Rockin Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror so I really wasn’t looking forward to that “waste” of a day.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I think the Park Hoppers will be your best bet, but if you're still having to cut something and Toy Story is the only draw in HS, don't forget that MK has Buzz Lightyear. Not the same, but still Toy Story. You could get a FPP for it and RD it or even probably get a second day-of FPP for it once your other FPPs have been used. Might be a decent "plan B".

 

[Delirium]

With three days and kids that are going to be primarily interest in rides, I would not automatically assume hoppers is a good choice. Hopping takes time and it usually makes sense to build in a nice break around hoppers.

I would review the attractions at the other parks and choose based on your family's interests. Epcot would be my personal choice to skip. We enjoy it, but in half-day increments over longer trips.

And, BTW, I would not classify HS as having 'So much Construction'. Epcot has a lot more closed than HS, and if you did everything the Studios has to offer, it would take longer to complete than if you did everything at AK.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

If I were in your position I would skip Epcot.

My kids favorite rides are in the other three parks. They aren't huge fans of WS. We do Epcot in half day increments. The only must do rides there are Soarin, TT, SE and MS and even then we rarely repeat any of them except Soarin and SE if time allows. My kids prefer Splash, BTMRR, Space, ToT, RnRC, EE and FOP.

 

[goofyintoronto]

In your position I’d skip Epcot to be honest. If it’s in your budget I’d get hoppers for sure. You can do HS in the morning then Epcot afterwards. AK is awesome and must not be skipped. Plus I think your kids would enjoy it way more than Epcot. And MK is a must of course.

 

[Planogirl]

If I were to skip one, it would be Epcot. It might also make sense to do a split day at Epcot and DHS. Transportation between the two is easy and that way you can see both.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Epcot

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

I would skip Epcot for the reasons listed above. For your family, HS is a must. I think MK is also a must. Then AK, since I think 10 year olds may like it better than Epcot. Unless you end up getting hoppers of course. If it's in your budget and available during your dates, I'd also look at Disney After Hours at MK. You would get a lot of rides in during this event.

Here's the link: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/disney-after-hours/

Have a magical trip!

 

[bigbabyblues]

How much are they really interested in at MK, and how much is similar to DL? ( Honestly don't know, haven't been to DL). I think if we had to skip one, it would be AK, but with the info you have given, I would probably skip HS. My kids have always liked Epcot and HS best, in that order, but we might be weird because we usually spend 2 half days in the WS alone.

 

[AngieInOH]

Thank you! I actually didn’t think about that! I normally don’t spend the money on park hopping because when they were little there was honestly no point. I really like the idea of splitting up Epcot and HS. Yes my daughters favorite ride is Sorin’ and TT just doesn’t compare! Epcot was the park I was thinking about cutting, but that would allow my kids and my husband and I to do the everything we want. My kids won’t ride Rockin Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror so I really wasn’t looking forward to that “waste” of a day.

Remember park hours are shortened in January. Which I think makes park hopping more difficult and not worthwhile.

 

[tinkerjo]

My vote is also Epcot. My kids don’t enjoy it much. It is a 1/2 day park for us at best. I feel it’s more eating and spending money at the countries. Unless your kids are real culture enthusiasts, I would skip it. aK is a must. A lot of different rides than DL.

 

[WillowRain]

If I only had 2 days I would do MK and AK. AK is a beautiful and amazing park and it is not to be missed.

 

[gharter]

For similar reasons, I would vote to skip EPCOT.
Your kids want to do HS, and MK is a must.
So, it comes down to AK or EPCOT. I enjoy both parks, but I think there is more for your kids to do at AK and enjoy.
Given your time frame, I would not spend the money on Park Hoppers, but rather spend all day at one park.

 

[Tawney]

I agree with the majority - skip EPCOT. I think that given the ages of the children, they would enjoy AK over EPCOT.

For me, personally, I had three park days a little under a year ago, and skipped HS. HS would always be my park to skip, as there isn't much there that interests my son or myself. But as you said HS is basically a definite - then I think EPCOT is the only option to skip.