Which Park?

[katmigordon]

I need help planning which park for arrival day (We only have a total of 3 days and we want to hit mk, ak, & epcot.) So which park will work best if we come in at around noonish?

Here are the rides we want to ride in the parks rated from most important to least.

Epcot
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure $
Sorain around the world
Frozen Ever After $
Spaceship Earth
The Livintg Seas
Guardians Roller Coaster
Living with the Land
Journey Into Imagination With Figment
The Seas with Nemo & Friends


MK
Haunted Mansion
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
Mickey's PhilharMagic
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
Disney Enchantment (Fireworks)
Pirates of the Caribbean

Animal Kingdom
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Na'vi River Journey: 6
Lion King 6
Finding Nemo: 6
DINOSAUR: 4
Flight of Passage: 3

 

[glocon]

If you don’t feel compelled to do MK on your first day, I would do AK. You can get ILL for FoP and G+ for KS then the rest will probably be easy to finish up with G+. If you’re not getting any ILL or G+ I’d still pick AK and do FoP as last ride just before closing unless wait times aren’t bad during the day. Just keep a close eye out for show times so you don’t miss those.

 

[PalmettoPath]

We tend to pick whichever park is closest to our our hotel for arrival day, just for logistics purposes. Or at least whichever park would allow for the most expeditious transport to the park.

 

[DisneySyd]

While glocon’s plan at AK is totally doable, I’m leaning towards MK for the following reasons:
1. Are you flying or driving? Any delays will impact both Lion King (last show 5pm today) and Festival of Fantasy parade (3pm). Not sure of their relative importance but it appears Lion King is higher.
2. Park hours. MK is usually open the latest, letting you accomplish everything at a more leisurely pace. Your AK choices eat a lot of time.
3. Are you buying Genie+? If not, the lines for your MK choices aren’t as long in the afternoon, although AK lines do drop quickly closer to close.
4. When are you going? If it’s summer, AK get insanely hot in the afternoon.
5. Are you doing any treks at AK? They close earlier, plus also eat time.
6. The animals (KS) are most active at sunrise or sunset (but usually different ones). Not sure if you have a preference.
7. Some people prefer to see the castle as their first experience (doesn’t matter to us but thought it worth mentioning).

I think with either AK or MK you should be fine.
The only one I wouldn’t do is Epcot - looks like you need a full day for that one, especially if you are there to enjoy a festival.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Epcot is the easiest for the late start and they are often open late on weekends. MK has the biggest ride count and we need the full day ( or two partial days) animal kingdom its best to rope drop FOP or you will spend most of your day waiting there. I guess you could always just pay for G+/LL to get a head start.

 

[katmigordon]

1.) Taking Disney Transport from Port Canaveral - we're coming in after a cruise.
3.) Absolutely, with such a limited amount of time we're going to get both Genie + the upsell rides wherever possible.
4.) Going first week of November
5.) We absolutely want to do some of the trails, I just don't know which ones because I'm not sure which animals are on which trek.
6.)Given that I haven't been back to WDW in over six years, yeah - seeing the castle again would be nice.

Not to mention that in all honesty the original plan was just Epcot and Animal Kingdom - then I realized that Haunted Mansion is in Magic Kingdom and there is no way I'm not riding my favorite ride in the parks while there.

While glocon’s plan at AK is totally doable, I’m leaning towards MK for the following reasons:
1. Are you flying or driving? Any delays will impact both Lion King (last show 5pm today) and Festival of Fantasy parade (3pm). Not sure of their relative importance but it appears Lion King is higher.
2. Park hours. MK is usually open the latest, letting you accomplish everything at a more leisurely pace. Your AK choices eat a lot of time.
3. Are you buying Genie+? If not, the lines for your MK choices aren’t as long in the afternoon, although AK lines do drop quickly closer to close.
4. When are you going? If it’s summer, AK get insanely hot in the afternoon.
5. Are you doing any treks at AK? They close earlier, plus also eat time.
6. The animals (KS) are most active at sunrise or sunset (but usually different ones). Not sure if you have a preference.
7. Some people prefer to see the castle as their first experience (doesn’t matter to us but thought it worth mentioning).

I think with either AK or MK you should be fine.
The only one I wouldn’t do is Epcot - looks like you need a full day for that one, especially if you are there to enjoy a festival.

 

[katmigordon]

I kind of feel like with half the time of our former trips G+ is something we kind of HAVE to do if we want to get anything done.

Epcot is the easiest for the late start and they are often open late on weekends. MK has the biggest ride count and we need the full day ( or two partial days) animal kingdom its best to rope drop FOP or you will spend most of your day waiting there. I guess you could always just pay for G+/LL to get a head start.

 

[DisneySyd]

Not to mention that in all honesty the original plan was just Epcot and Animal Kingdom

I think you answered your own question. If Epcot and AK are the priority, then do them on your full days.
@Disneyfan754321 is absolutely right that most people need two days at MK to accomplish everything they want, but if you honestly are happy with doing what you listed above you should be fine doing it on arrival day. You’re not interested in the “headliners” or kiddie rides so that cuts a lot of the rides (and long waits) out.

 

[DisneySyd]

I kind of feel like with half the time of our former trips G+ is something we kind of HAVE to do if we want to get anything done.

I would definitely recommend Genie+/$ILL for Epcot and strongly recommend it for AK.
The rides/attractions you listed for MK tend not to have as long waits (especially as you get into the late afternoon/evening) but it will definitely save you some time (specifically on HM, BTMR, and Pooh). Plus you can also book it for the parade (no idea if it’s worth it)

 

[katmigordon]

Do they still have special spots for the parade for those who have mobility issues and are on ECVs?

I would definitely recommend Genie+/$ILL for Epcot and strongly recommend it for AK.
The rides/attractions you listed for MK tend not to have as long waits (especially as you get into the late afternoon/evening) but it will definitely save you some time (specifically on HM, BTMR, and Pooh). Plus you can also book it for the parade (no idea if it’s worth it)

 

[DisneySyd]

Do they still have special spots for the parade for those who have mobility issues and are on ECVs?

TBH - I don’t know. There is definitely a wheelchair/ECV area for the fireworks (it’s on the map and I saw it in March - in front of Casey’s). Not sure if it’s available for the parade. Maybe post a separate question (on the disABILITIES forum)?

 

[SailorsWhyf]

I kind of feel like with half the time of our former trips G+ is something we kind of HAVE to do if we want to get anything done.

I’d definitely recommend to invest in a passport before I’d recommend investing in ride queues.

 

[tkd lisa]

Yes they have wheelchair area for the parade. One of them is in the inside castle ring across from the path to tomorrowland. If you know where the popcorn stand is, it's directly across from it.