Which park to visit on Dec 30?

[disneymom1]

We will be in Port Canaveral with the Nowegian Dawn for one day on Dec 30. We plan to rent a car and head to WDW for the day.

We will be arriving at WDW at around 10:30 and will need to leave by 5:30 to get back to the ship. We have been to WDW several times but have never been there between Christmas and New Years so I don't know how to judge the crowds.

Which park would be best for a one day visit? It seems that Epcot is expected to attract a very large crowd on Dec 31 for the New Years celebration, so would that be the best choice for Dec 30? Since we only have one day, we want to try to find the smallest crowd if possible and definately want to head for a park that is least likely to close to entry before we get there.

Any experienced holiday travelers that can offer advice?

 

[dangoldman]

We are there with you also on the Dawn (me, my husband and 14 yr old dtr). I've booked the NCL transportation and I'm worried that the parks may close to capacity. I'm guessing that the Animal Kingdom may be the least crowded but we really had our hearts set on the MK. There is a discussion among a few of us on the Dawn on the roll call board for NCL on cruisecritic.com:

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=927093444&f=5023051067&m=5223003157&p=2

Most are not going to WDW for fear of the crowds. I have a friend who is presently on the Dawn this week. She is going to go to the Kennedy Space Center but she is going to let me know how it goes with the crowds.

We are getting together on the Ship on Monday at 10:00 in the Shuffles card room to meet.

Gina

 

[disneymom1]

Hi Dangoldman!! Maybe we'll see you onboard!!

Do you have any other ideas for things to do while we are in Port Canaveral? We were just to the Space Center on our last visit to Orlando in April so it's too soon for another trip.

We can rent a car for the day for about $40. Does anyone have any other suggestions for local attractions that might not involve long lines. Is anyone reading this that lives locally that can offer ideas? Something 7 to 11 year olds would enjoy would be the best option. I haven't ruled our WDW but I don't like the feedback I'm hearing about crowds.

 

[dangoldman]

I thought that some of the excursions offered on the ship looked very interesting (horseback riding or the air boat ride--even the kyacking) but just a little expensive and I thought we would do the Air boat in Miami. We have some days left on WDW passes so that is why we thought we would take a chance on getting into the MK. I guess if we don't get into the Magic Kingdom we'll be dissapointed but we will make the best of it and maybe rent a boat (do they still have the little speed boats?) from the Poly or the GF and treat ourselves to a nice lunch at one of the resorts. Are there bikes at either of those resorts? I think we could rent bikes at the campground. There is also horseback riding there. There is always SHOPPING at Downtown Disney. I think we have to be back on the bus by about 5:30 so it really isn't a lot of free time. I'm sure we'll wind up too busy!
By taking the bus we are more restricted. With a rental car you could drive over to Celebration for lunch and shopping or even go back to the ship early and maybe vist Coco Beach. We also were just at the Space Center and just this March at Universal so we don't really want to go to either place. How about Sea World? Even when it is very very crowded there it is different because it is more of a show and exhibit experience rather than rides.
Hope to catch you on board!
Gina

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by disneymom1
Which park would be best for a one day visit? It seems that Epcot is expected to attract a very large crowd on Dec 31 for the New Years celebration, so would that be the best choice for Dec 30? Since we only have one day, we want to try to find the smallest crowd if possible and definately want to head for a park that is least likely to close to entry before we get there.

I think you're right, Epcot would be your best bet. I'd stay away from MGM because it's early entry that day. AK might have a smaller crowd, but that park doesn't absorb crowds as well as Epcot. Plus if you can only go to one park, AK would be last on my list. I don't think any parks will be closed that day. That usually happens closer to Christmas and on New Year's Eve.

 

[dzneelvr]

If you've never seen the Christmas decorations, I'd do MK.