Which Parks to Choose?

[Drewmama]

Going to WDW from 2/3-2/9. The first and last day are travel days (we're coming from California) so that only gives us 5 full days. We plan to only do 3 parks so that we can have some downtime to just enjoy the resorts (doing split stay), Disney Springs, etc. Which 3 parks would you choose and why? We live about 20 minutes from Disneyland so I'm thinking skipping the Magic Kingdom is the logical choice. Plus...since we have DVC...there will be another trip in 2-3 years. Our party includes a 9 year old boy.

 

[hakepb]

Does DS9 ride California Screamin and TOT?
If not, a day in DHS could be fairly redundant, too. RnR is one of my main reasons to go to DHS.

(There’s TSMM, Star Tours, Muppets ...all that California has/had.)
DHS would have a stronger argument after TSL and the new Mickey ride opens in GMR.
There are still some neat Star Wars experiences, especially if you are planning on Jedi academy.

Based on my DL trip (and I loved comparing similiar attractions) I would still consider MK, Epcot and AK.
At MK, there’s 7DMt, a better splash and Pooh, plus COP (a Walt orginal) and HEA is a great show (although your flying Dumbo is really cool)

 

[Ben E N]

I would skip studios. There are only 4 rides currently there, according to my 5 am mental count. It's really a half-day park at best right now. RR is fun, but it will still be there in 2-3 years, and it is intended for a little bit older audience anyway.

 

[bwvBound]

But the fun thing about MK for your group is overcoming the constant issue of, "Ooops! Wrong park."
Just when you think you know exactly how to get from A>B ... it will hit you, "Oops! Wrong Park." In a way, it is a fun exercise in and of itself.

Challenges:

• Navigate as effectively as possible from Main Street to Its a Small World w/out checking a map.
• Same for Peter Pan?
• Haunted Mansion?
• Big Thunder Railroad? (This is becoming easier as DL has cut off the access from the backside of Fantasyland ... the two parks are now, somewhat, more aligned in this respect.)

Besides the different layouts, you'd get to revisit Bear Country Jamboree and People Mover!

So, while we do often skip MK ... there are yet reasons to visit. We end up laughing at our assumptions every time. Oops! Wrong Park!

 

[Drewmama]

But the fun thing about MK for your group is overcoming the constant issue of, "Ooops! Wrong park."
Just when you think you know exactly how to get from A>B ... it will hit you, "Oops! Wrong Park." In a way, it is a fun exercise in and of itself.

Hadn't thought of it this way... This does sound fun. Thank you!

 

[Drewmama]

I would skip studios. There are only 4 rides currently there, according to my 5 am mental count. It's really a half-day park at best right now. RR is fun, but it will still be there in 2-3 years, and it is intended for a little bit older audience anyway.

I didn't realize HS is a half day park. I wasn't planning on getting hoppers so this is good to know. Thank you!

 

[Drewmama]

At MK, there’s 7DMt, a better splash and Pooh, plus COP (a Walt orginal) and HEA is a great show (although your flying Dumbo is really cool)

I forgot about the 7DMT ride. With your reply, along with others, I realize I was too quick to dismiss MK. Will definitely do more research. Thank you so much!

 

[bwvBound]

I didn't realize HS is a half day park. I wasn't planning on getting hoppers so this is good to know. Thank you!

Only as HS is deeply disrupted by present construction. It will return to Full Day park again ... once things settle down.

 

[bwvBound]

So Animal Kingdom is a given, right?

For now, if choosing 3 theme parks (avoiding water parks in Feb), I'd go: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom ... and likely Epcot. Keep the young'un moving quickly through Epcot's countries for their various shows and snacks. Some of the countries have youth activity stations.

 

[hakepb]

I didn't realize HS is a half day park. I wasn't planning on getting hoppers so this is good to know. Thank you!

The “half-day” comment is more common for repeat guests that only repeat the rides.
When you add in shows (Indy, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen) plus the Star Wars shows, it’s possible to spend the whole day on a variety of activities, and not repeating the same 4 rides over and over.
... but it’s probably not as action-packed as MK.

 

[Drewmama]

So Animal Kingdom is a given, right?

Because of Pandora, AK is a must do park for us.

 

[Ben E N]

The “half-day” comment is more common for repeat guests that only repeat the rides.
When you add in shows (Indy, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen) plus the Star Wars shows, it’s possible to spend the whole day on a variety of activities, and not repeating the same 4 rides over and over.
... but it’s probably not as action-packed as MK.

With a 9 year old, I would skip Disney Junior on stage, and probably the Frozen Sing Along. That does still leave Indiana Jones, Little Mermaid show (eh, it's ok) and the Beauty and the Beast show, as well as the very dated Muppets 3D. The nighttime entertainment is pretty good. DL's updated version of Fantasmic looks much better than WDW's, though, and HEA and Illuminations are both better than the Star Wars fireworks in my mind.

I would also rank it as MK and AKs as a must, and then Epcot slightly above HS, just because there is more to do there, more fun places to eat, and it is an overall prettier place to visit. Even if you have DL memorized, the unique rides at MK are worth the visit, and HEA is a really cool fireworks show.

 

[bwvBound]

Epcot is almost certain for Test Track and Mission:SPACE? I also love Living with the Land and the Sea Base.

You could skip Soarin' as it is the same as DCA's version but with a much, much longer queue.

 

[Murron]

9 year old might enjoy the Kim Possible game around the World Showcase. It's been awhile, so I'm just assuming they still have it?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/agent-p-world-showcase-adventure/

 

[crazylady]

For us, Epcot is more of a half day park than HS. My 10 year old boy was not impressed with the around the world game in Epcot. It is Phineaus and Ferb now, not Kim Possible. He loves all the rides in HS and we like the shows there too.