7 day park itinerary? About This Page:

[phoebec]

We are planning our return trip for next summer, 7 days. We did 7 last year also. We did 2 days MK, 2 days Epcot, 1 day AK and 1 day DHS. For the next trip, my son is insisting he wants to do a water park. If we decide to do it, when and how will we fit it in? Should I try to add an extra day or try to do half day at a water park and a half day somewhere else? If I do that, I don't really know from what park I want to knock a half day off. Any ideas on how to work the water park in without being too rushed and commando?

[missminniedreams]

I would say it depends on what your kids like to do. You might be able to give up a day in MK if they are a little older. My personal pick would be the day at DHS. Having gone 2x in the last year, I just wasnt wowed. If it weren't for TSMM, I don't think we would return.

[PhilsEagles08]

Agreed w/MissMinnie... I could easily cut DHS. There just isn't enough for me to do for a whole day & I usually do 1/2 day DHS & 1/2 day DTD.

[TinkRocks]

We've never done the water parks and have always kept to the same schedule you've listed above (for the most part).

If I had to fit in a waterpark visit, I'd try to do it on AK day. We typically spend only a 1/2 day at AK anyway. So I think for us it would be doable to visit say Blizzard Beach on the same day without feeling too rushed and crazy. BB is close to AK and shares busses (or at least it did from the resorts we've stayed at in the past as I recall). It might even be a welcome respite to the heat of AK!

[Dave Marx]

My tendency is to do a half-day, say at a water park, then hop to whatever park is open latest (MK or Epcot). The day may be more tiring, but you get more quality time in the park.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

My tendency is to do a half-day, say at a water park, then hop to whatever park is open latest (MK or Epcot). The day may be more tiring, but you get more quality time in the park.

That's exactly what I was going to suggest.

[MommaDante]

I think I'd go to a park with early hours, or at least just the morning (AK would be my inclination) and spend the afternoon at the water park of your choice. Then head to another park in the evening after you're done splashing around. It's a great way to cool off on a hot day. Actually, I think I did that once, now that I'm thinking about it. My sister and I decided to go to Blizzard Beach while Dad headed back to the hotel, then we met up again for dinner and the fireworks at MK. I think it was extra hours that night for MK.

[phoebec]

Originally Posted by missminniedreams

I would say it depends on what your kids like to do. You might be able to give up a day in MK if they are a little older. My personal pick would be the day at DHS. Having gone 2x in the last year, I just wasnt wowed. If it weren't for TSMM, I don't think we would return.

I think I am leaning this way as well. I am thinking do TL in the morning/early afternoon, go to the resort to clean up and do DHS late afternoon/evening. I am thinking that last time it was my least favorite park. We spent a lot of time waiting for Jedi Training. We won't do that again, so I think we can definitely do it in half a day. Toy Story, Star Tours, maybe a show, explore a bit and done.

Does this sound doable?

[mike56]

I would look at the day where you had EMH's in the evening for DHS-go to the water park than[I believe it opens from 10am-6pm]=you will need a PH ticket with water park added for the trip.

[lovewdw3]

I think that sounds good- and doable.

Our plans are somewhat like yours, but we exclude whatever park we last visited. For example this trip: we are in MK for 2 days, Epcot for 2 days, and DHS for one day. Our last trip we did AK and not DHS. We TRY to do both water parks, but usually only one gets to be seen. However this trip we will have 2 days at BOTH water parks. I did have to add another day so the Boys get to go to Universal Studious. With water parks, I like to get there around 10am and leave by 3pm. I think that is ample time there- and I usually make an ADR for dinner. We are no where near you adventurous people- going to a park after a water park visit! Depending on where dinner is, we check out the resort, visit their arcade and just take it easy.

I LOVE that your son wants to go to the water park- Typhoon Lagoon is a good one for younger kids. I don't know how old your son is- my kids always loved TL. Plus even the best plans, the weather tells whatever day you go to the water parks- LOL! Try to be flexible about that. : )

Have a Magical Vacation- !!

[Sue M.]

If you are just planning on 1 day water park you'd have to do the math to see what is better pricing- A park hopper, and just pay the 1 day admission to water park, or get the Hopper + water park ticket.

I wouldn't give up an AK or DHS day- love both those parks, and can easily spend most of a day at either. So I'd look at which park- Epcot or MK has evening EMH and do the water park that day.
Water parks get crowded just like the other parks, so we get there at opening and do all the most popular slides first, as many times as we want, and save the pools and Lazy river for later when the lines for the slides gets long.
When you're done at the water park you can go back to your room to shower up and get ready for your park- MK or EP.

Of course, if there is an option to add on another day- go for it

[lovewdw3]

Also another suggestion: What about going to TL on the day you arrive? I am not sure what time your flight would be, but it is something to think about. If your flight is early, then you could go around lunch time and stay til closing. Everyone will need to burn some energy after being on a plane (or car).

When we get off the plane, we will be headed to Epcot after checking in!

Just my 2 cents!

[rosanna]

I would not suggest attempting to do DHs in the evening and expect to ride TSMM. I'm not sure about when you are going, but when we go during Spring Break, the wait time for that one ride could be hours, with no FP's available. If your family can do early mornings, I would suggest hit DHS at opening (during busy times, they have been letting people in at least 15 minutes before opening), ride what you want (with little wait time), then head to the waterpark after lunch. The crowds do seem to die down at the waterparks in the mid afternoon (from what I have heard), so you would have plenty of time to play, with time to refresh and maybe head back to DHS and catch Fantasmic (and maybe a cupcake at Starring Rolls?).
Good luck with your planning!

[HeatherD]

If you are just planning on 1 day water park you'd have to do the math to see what is better pricing- A park hopper, and just pay the 1 day admission to water park, or get the Hopper + water park ticket.

One day at a water park, it is better to buy the single day. You only save money if you plan on using the Water Park Fun add on more than once (whether at DisneyQuest, a second water park day, etc). If you are doing the Hopper anyway, that shouldn't figure into your "Disney Math".

We are going for 7 days, with a hopper (since many of our dinners are at Epcot!). We only say specifically that we are going to each park once. We try to make our first 4 days a day at each park. The rest, we loosely plan but we play by ear based on what we want to do.

I would say if you really want to do a water park, then plan on it, but don't decide which park you are "cutting out". You can also split a few days. I'm not sure if I'd try to do a park after doing the water park. I'd rather save that day's ticket and if I was done early at Blizzard Beach, maybe hit Downtown Disney or Boardwalk or something.

[Addicted to Magic]

I hear you! We keep making the decision not to add water parks for the same reason. I like the suggestion to plan a half day for a water park, and then you could knock one of your Epcot days to half.