Which parks to skip?

[ehsmith]

I'm wondering which parks, if any, we should skip, given the ages of our children. We will be going for 7 nights (8 day tickets), and this is their first time. It's also my husband's first time, as he did not grow up in the US. Our daughters will be 7 (just turned) and 2 3/4 when we go. It's mainly the 2 year old I am trying to figure out.

We are planning the get up and go early strategy, returning to the resort at midday and back to the park in the late afternoon. I was originally thinking we want the most time at the Magic Kingdom, so 1 day at Epcot and 1 day at Animal Kingdom. I was planning to skip MGM (or whatever it's called these days). We don't have the water park option (we can go to a water park anytime).

I'm just wondering now if I should swap Epcot for MGM. From what I read, most of the appropriate attractions at Epcot for younger kids are shows, and this one won't sit still for a show. Also, she is in awe of big sis, and won't understand if sister rides things that she can't. She has no fear and would ride everything were she allowed. I see lots of fit-pitching over this. (At Magic Kingdom, we can split up and find things for her, but it doesn't seem there is a lot for her at Epcot.) She and her sister both love Playhouse Disney, so that's part of the reason I'm thinking we should reconsider MGM.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[4fordisneyworld]

Does your 2yr old nap? The first year we went my girls were 4 and 2. We took advantage of nap time in the stroller to see shows or even walk through the world showcase at Epcot. We tried to do the whole going back to the resort midday and everyone got cranky doing that. By the time we had loaded up and made it back the girls fell asleep in the car so it was useless for us. A nap but too short of one. They slept better in their strollers. So personal preference but I like things in both parks so it would be hard to say what to give up! Hope your trip is great and everyone has a blast!

 

[brymolmom]

Staying for 7 nights - I would go to each of the 4 main parks. There is something for the kids at each of them. AK and DHS (formerly MGM) both don't have as MUCH as the other two - at least for my family - but for a trip that long - I wouldn't miss either of them.

My kids have gone each year, they're 5 and 6 now.
At AK - they really like the safari, Triceratop Spin (like Dumbo), The Boneyard, Nemo Musical, Bird show, Kali River Rapids (although your youngest likely isn't young enough - but you can child swap)
At DHS - Playhouse Disney live on stage, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast (one of our family favorites), Muppets, Honey I shrunk the Kids playground
At EPCOT - Nemo Ride, Journey into Imagination with Figment, Turtle talk with Crush, Acrobats in China, Soarin and Test track(40 inches), Maelstrom, Living with the Land, Voices of Liberty in American pavilion,

We love them all!

 

[srwarden1928]

In a direct answer to your question of which parks to skip, we skip BB, TL, and DQ.

If you are referring to the four main parks, my response is NONE of them. Each of the four parks is unique and has its own unique form of Disney magic. There is something for every age group in each park. Now if your trip does not allow you four days in the parks, choices must be made. If you have been to Disney so many times and know well what attractions are in each park, you might make the informed decision that even though we could go to it if we wanted to, we are going to skip park X this time. But if you are relatively new at experiencing Disney and have not experienced the attractions multiple times to know that you are not interested in certain ones, give everything in Disney a shot. Everything in Disney can be a part of the Disney magic, at least for some people. You dont know if an attraction is magical for you until you try it. Certainly for an entire park. So I encourage you, if your vacation allows sufficient time, to try all the Disney parks.

 

[ehsmith]

Nah, she doesn't nap. At least not usually. I'm intending the trip back more to escape the heat and spend some time at the pool, since we're there the end of June/beginning of July. (not the ideal time, but it is what it is)

Thanks for the advice. I think we'll schedule a day at each and leave the spares probably for MK.

Diff topic, but one that will help me plan... when do they release the schedule of extra magic hours? June is published but not July. It would help me to know in terms of making dining reservations, which are coming up in a couple of days!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Disney Hollywood Studio has plenty of good things for kids that age.

Muppet Vision 3D
Playhouse Disney
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast Live On Stage
Toy Story Mania
Star Tours
Animation Academy
Plus, the characters are everywhere

With 8 days, you should be able to get to each park. We have 7 days in July and are going to MK 3 days, Epcot 2 day, and AK and DHS each 1 day.

If anything, I would avoid Animal Kingdom. Without Dinosaur and Everest (which the 2.75 can't or shouldn't go on), it's a glorified zoo.

 

[Aliceacc]

We took our kids for the first time last year. We did all 4 major parks, with no water parks, and got lots of use from our parkhoppers.

I messed up our DHS day (I stupidly insisted on doing laundry that morning, a mistake I won't make again.) So everyone was tired and cranky, and stunned by the long lines. (90 minutes for Toy Story Mania.)

But my younger daughter (age 5 at the time) enjoyed that park. She got autographs with lots of her favorite characters (particulalry Hanny Manny and the Little Einsteins characters.) My kids also loved the parades. This year we're going to see all the stuff we missed!

Also, don't skip Epcot. Aside from the thrill rides, my kids loved Soarin', Spaceship earth, the Imagination and the whole Living Seas paviliions. They also got a huge kick out of the rides at Norway and Mexico. And Ecpcot has some of the most amazing restaurants!!!

Here's what I would do, more or less, depending on the crowd calendars:
1. MK
2. AK, followed by Ep
3. EP
4. MK
5. DHS -- do you want to do Fantasmic? My girls were terrified.
6. EP
7. MK

You can always hop if the crowds/ attractions/ weather make one park a better choice than the one you're currently in.

 

[ktlm]

My then 2 year 10 month old DDs favorite park other than MK was Epcot. The world showcase is loaded with Princesses which was a huge draw for her. She also loved the Entertainers and Kidcot stations in World Showcase and the Nemo Ride on the other side of the park. She also liked DHS because of Toy Story Mania, The Little Mermaid Show, The Beauty and the Beast Show, Muppets 3-d and meeting Buzz and Woody. The only park she did not really care for was AK. She got bored after a couple of hours and begged to go back to MK. I would not skip any if you can help it. It sounds like you have plenty of days to hit them all. If it were us and we had to skip one, we would skip AK.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I'm wondering which parks, if any, we should skip, given the ages of our children. We will be going for 7 nights (8 day tickets), and this is their first time. It's also my husband's first time, as he did not grow up in the US. Our daughters will be 7 (just turned) and 2 3/4 when we go. It's mainly the 2 year old I am trying to figure out.

We are planning the get up and go early strategy, returning to the resort at midday and back to the park in the late afternoon. I was originally thinking we want the most time at the Magic Kingdom, so 1 day at Epcot and 1 day at Animal Kingdom. I was planning to skip MGM (or whatever it's called these days). We don't have the water park option (we can go to a water park anytime).

I'm just wondering now if I should swap Epcot for MGM. From what I read, most of the appropriate attractions at Epcot for younger kids are shows, and this one won't sit still for a show. Also, she is in awe of big sis, and won't understand if sister rides things that she can't. She has no fear and would ride everything were she allowed. I see lots of fit-pitching over this. (At Magic Kingdom, we can split up and find things for her, but it doesn't seem there is a lot for her at Epcot.) She and her sister both love Playhouse Disney, so that's part of the reason I'm thinking we should reconsider MGM.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

What time of year are you going? If when it is really warm, consider the non commando style, don't get there really early, take your time and relax and enjoy the WHOLE experience, the people sights and sounds.....

As far as parks go, my ds loved epcot, all the countries and we talked, hey heres Italy, your italian, look at the fountain and we did KIDCOT, where the kids make a small craft that goes country to country a wonderful keepsake and any "crafty kid, would just love ) so i would not skip Epcot, also, so much fun in the pavillions and great rides too for little ones...
I think if I skipped any I'd skip Hollywood STudios if you are NOT into shows.. As far as water parks, they are amazing...but if you are staying onsight the pools at resort are quite nice as well, especially mods and deluxe...
Well, whatever you decide
I say
SLOW DOWN and enjoy the little things, people get so caught up in trying t o do/see everything...and it does not work, no matter what you do you will not see it all unfortunately, there is just way too much..................
BY the way, if you have the opportunity, to get to POR they have Piano show for kids at night, call for schedule and it is GREAT for kids ...singing, dancing and making "trains" all around the area.....so cute!!!
Have a great trip!!!

 

[sk!mom]

Given the length of your trip, I wouldn't skip any parks. DHS has the awesome new Toy Story Ride.

In an 8 day trip I would do 3 days at MK, 1 at AK, 1 at DHS, and 2 at EpCot. That would leave the final day to repeat whatever was the overall favorite.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Also, she is in awe of big sis, and won't understand if sister rides things that she can't. She has no fear and would ride everything were she allowed. I see lots of fit-pitching over this. (At Magic Kingdom, we can split up and find things for her, but it doesn't seem there is a lot for her at Epcot.) She and her sister both love Playhouse Disney, so that's part of the reason I'm thinking we should reconsider MGM.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

I was the oldest child, so I tend to advocate on behalf of all of the oldest children in the world...as unfair as it is to the little one to not be able to go on something because she is too little, it is equally unfair to make the older one skip it because the little one will be mad or sad. Off my soap box now.

Bottom line, like everyone said, you don't have to skip skip any of them... there are so many fun things for all ages!

At Epcot, if she isn't big enough to ride something, you go to one of the World Showcase pavillions and have her color some of the charm thingys for the mask. Bring her into Innovations - there are plenty of interactive things to do there. Have her jump around in the fountains (bring a dry set of clothes or throw her bathing suit on under her clothes so you can strip her down and let her go) Visit the Living Seas. Ride the boat in Mexico. There's lots of things to do that involve little to no wait time in line and will occupy and distract while the older one goes on a ride.

At HS, the Playhouse Disney show involves some getting up to dance, bubbles, etc. so its kind of interactive. I can't see her being bored. , but you would know your child the best. The Little Mermaid show is good, as is Muppets 3D. The "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" Playground is lots of fun, and can occupy her for a while. And Toy Story Mania is my new favorite attraction in any of the parks. And they'll probably both love the parade.

When we took my son at that "almost 3" age, he was equally happy jumping in the fountains or having an Itsakadoozie pop in his stroller in the shade as he was going on some of the rides...I'm sure it'll be fine.

Have a great trip!!

 

[only1alexa]

I was the oldest child, so I tend to advocate on behalf of all of the oldest children in the world...as unfair as it is to the little one to not be able to go on something because she is too little, it is equally unfair to make the older one skip it because the little one will be mad or sad. Off my soap box now.

Bottom line, like everyone said, you don't have to skip skip any of them... there are so many fun things for all ages!

Have a great trip!!

This is exactly what I was thinking while reading the OP.

There's something in every park for every age and I would visit them all on a first trip. Explore all you can then decide afterwards which parks you would like to visit again and which ones, if any, you didn't enjoy.

Have fun!

 

[NU2WDW]

Our first trip was in 2007 when my girls were 2, 4 & 5. We were pleasantly surprised at Epcot; Turtle Talk is a must, they loooved Spaceship Earth and Nemo; and there are so many hands-on things for them to do. We didn't find it child-unfriendly at all! IMO, DHS (formerly MGM) is the one to skip. There are some cute shows, but for us it would be the last choice. OTOH, it's the smallest of the four, so go there early one morning and stay til midday, then make the afternoon a relaxing "down" day at the pool.

Have a great trip!

p.s. Ditto what the others said about your older DD. I know it's hard when the little ones don't get to do "everything" at the same time, but that's a lesson they need to learn sometime, and your older one won't feel so resentful of the "baby" getting in her way!

 

[liv luvs disney]

With 8 day tix, I would not skip any of the parks!

 

[ehsmith]

Thank you! What I'm hearing is that we really need to get the park hopper, which we hadn't gotten. And I'm reassured that there will be plenty for her to do at Epcot now. (The official disney list by age group makes it sound like there's not a lot besides shows, and that is why I was nervous.)

Don't worry -- we have no intention of shortchanging the older one. We'll be splitting up a lot so she can have her fill of big kid stuff. I just didn't want to be at Epcot while she had fun and find there was not enough to keep the other one occupied/distracted. She has never been there, and will be so thrilled with everything (and will never know what she doesn't get to do). The pools at the resort will themselves be a huge draw for her.

AK --- I know it probably is like a glorified zoo, but I think she'll enjoy the glorified zoo. She loves animals, and our zoo around here is pretty small.

Seems to me that the magic hours follow a pattern, so I think I can guess the days.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

 

[arielmomma]

We love all of the parks, but our very favorite is EPCOT. My children are 2 and 5. I think that you'll find plenty to do at all of the parks for both of your children.

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

Definitly do all four parks (maybe in the first few days)...and then go back to the ones you liked the best on the other days or ones you need to "finish"

Have fun!

 

[sk!mom]

Thank you! What I'm hearing is that we really need to get the park hopper, which we hadn't gotten.

AK --- I know it probably is like a glorified zoo, but I think she'll enjoy the glorified zoo. She loves animals, and our zoo around here is pretty small.

Seems to me that the magic hours follow a pattern, so I think I can guess the days.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

Actually I don't think you need the hopper. The only time we've gotten it and used it was on a 4 day trip during really low season with mild weather. We hopped to maximize our time and see more. On our 8 to 10 day summer trips, we didn't feel the need to hop. AK is our least favorite park and a shorter day so that is a good evening for us to hit DTD. For us, 8 days is plenty of time to hit a park per day. Hopping eats up a lot of time and didn't work well in crowded times. We like to be at the park at rope drop, ride as much as possible before we get too hot, gather a few fastpasses, take a break to rest or swim, and then return to use the FP's later. If you hop in crowded times, the FP's are often gone for the day by the time you get to the new park and we don't stand in lines.

I wouldn't say that AK is anything like a zoo at all. It is a must do for us if only for the Lion King Show. There just aren't as many attractions that we love so we try to visit it at the mid point of our trip when a shorter day is a welcomed break.

Have fun!

 

[mom2aredhead]

See, and I would recommend the hopper because you could easily split Epcot and DHS into 1/2 days - morning in DHS, back to resort, evening in Epcot, then do the reverse a different day. I find DHS very hard to do in a day because the way the show times run, it's very difficult to see them all, and Block Party Bash, and hit the rides.
And for us, AK is 2 days. We love the Safari, Lion King show, Nemo show, wandering around Discovery Island and the Oasis, hitting the walking trails to see the other animals, Everest, the parade, Kali, Dino Land...we spend lots of time there.
During an 8 day trip, we hit MK 3 times, AK 2, and split the other 3 days between Epcot and DHS.

 

[liv luvs disney]

The park hopper is an option. If you can afford it, great, if not, that's okay too. We have always gotten it, but discovered after our first trip, (which was definitely done commado style) it wasn't necessary. However, we were just there for 5 days. If you were only going to be there 3-4 days, I would say get it. Personaly with 8 days, it could be an option, but not a must have. Now that we've been a couple of times, I would rather have the extra couple of hundred $ it costs for the park hopper to spend in the parks.