Which park to visit for a half-day?

[Melanie_G]

We can't pick up our tickets until we check into our hotel at 3pm. So once we get our tickets, which park should we go to since we can't get there until around 4pm? From my map, it looks like Animal Kingdom and MGM are smaller than Epcot and MK... do you think we can go through those quicker? We are staying for 5 days, 4 nights... so the 5th day we can revisit a park. But I am just having a hard time deciding where to go the first day!

 

[theprincess]

You only need 1/2 a day at Animal Kingdom~thats all I plan to do

 

[princess stich]

You can do Amimal Kingdom in half a day; HOWEVER, it cloese at 5:00pm, so by the time you get all checked in and over there, it will basically be closing.

I would go to MGM.

 

[deekaypee]

Well, AK is small, but princess stich has already explained to you why that option is eliminated. Me, I'd divide Epcot into FW and WS and choose one.

 

[GIOny]

Since AK is not an option, I would say MGM!

 

[GypsySue]

Are any parks having Extra Magic Hours that day? If so, that might be a good option.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I don't know if you are waiting to check in because you aren't supposed to be able to before 3:00, or if that is when you will arrive. I would think that if you are arriving earlier, you could check in and get your tickets, just that your room wouldn't be ready...anybody know this?...it seems like a waste for them to charge for the days park ticket if they won't let you pick it up until half the day is gone..

I would go to MGM and see Fantasmic..maybe a couple of rides...then revisit on your last day for part of it..or revisit on the day you go to Animal Kingdom, which doesn't even stay open at night...

 

[Jules123]

You can check into your hotel any time that morning. They will give you your park passes. Your room just may not be ready. We checked into the WL at 7:30 a.m., got our park passes, and headed to the parks. They gave us a card with a phone number to call and see if our room was ready.

 

[cfd526]

I called a few weeks ago about this very same thing. The CM I spoke with told me you can check in early(room wouldnt be available though) and get your tickets. I would call again though and verify it with another CM.

 

[Panna]

I've received the same information. You can check in and they will give you your park tickets.

However, if its because you arrive late (as I will be this time), you could just skip the possible hassel of a park and do DownTown Disney.

I am taking the family to dinner there that night and some roaming to recoup from travel fatigue.

 

[magicpuppies15]

i'd do mgm because you can always go on your last day when you can revisit a park, thats what my dad and i r doing. we get there on the 27th,we r checking in then going to mgm and going back on the day we can revisit a park. i wouldnt go to AK because its best in the morning, when you can ride the safarri and see the animals when they r waking up

 

[golden1]

I would tour Epcot that evening. You may not get on some of the big rides like Soarin' but you could tour WS and watch Illuminations.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

We always go to the MK the first day we get there, which is always in the PM. We have to, that starts us off and it's the original!

 

[jetstrip19]

We did EPCOT on our first half day, and just toured the countries at a relaxed pace and the next day we did the other half of the park

 

[bettyann29]

I called a few weeks ago about this very same thing. The CM I spoke with told me you can check in early(room wouldnt be available though) and get your tickets. I would call again though and verify it with another CM.

If op is staying at one of the Disney resorts there shouldnt be a problem.. We have done this on every stay.. I usually have us fly first thing that morning and we arrive around 11:30.. We check in.. get our tickets, etc.. leave our carry on bags with the front (at the value resorts there is a service in the front that stores your stuff for you).. We go to the parks and enjoy the full day.. they give us our room # upon check in and when we get back to the hotel that night our bags are in the room..