[MickeyRon]

Okay... Here I am trying to plan and not try to fit everything in because we won't be able to... However, I still have a hard time deciding what to do and not to do...:cry:

Some have suggested that we tour MK two days since we have a 5 year old??? However, we are traveling with another family that has a 9, 10, and 11 year old...

How do you decide what to leave out... Then on our off days we are still trying to decide if one day at Universal is what we want, or day trip to Daytonia Beach??? So many decisions and so little time! Only 17 days!!!!

Thanks for all of the suggestions we have recieved in the other threads...they have been most helpful!!
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[Dana]

For your daughter first trip to WDW, I would give her two days at MK to enjoy every aspect of it. You can easily tour every thing in that time without rushing to do anything. This was you can stop and smell the roses, litterally and enjoy every nook and cranny with her. The family that you are going with will enjoy no relaxed pace as much as you. Who wants to rush around, it's vacation right?

[DisneyTeacher]

I would have to say that you will need 2 days at the MK for your 5 year old. There is so much for her to do there. You are on vacation and you need to stop and smell the roses. Take the time to see the afternoon parade and get some ice cream while people watching.

We took my 5 year old for the first time in July and spent more than two days at the MK. We were there 8 days and did the parks all but one day. We did Early Entry to the MK twice just so we could do Fantasyland twice with no lines. He loved it but, we had time to take it easy and not push it.

We didn't do half of what is there to do but that is want future visits are for. Have a few must dos in mind for every day and go from there. Don't try to do too much, you won't have as much fun. Remember, she will never have a first visit again, make it special.

We always vacation with friends or family and have always enjoyed it. We always agree that we do not have to spend every minute together. If the other family doesn't want to do MK twice then split up for half a day and meet for a late lunch (or any other set place). The key to traveling with others is communication, make sure you are all on the same page before you get there,

[dznygrl]

MK--2 days at least, no doubt. You will find it much more enjoyable if you have time to savor the original park, the one where the magic began if you know what I mean. ;)

[BDavis932]

If I had four days in the parks....this is how I would do it. I wouldn't have a lot of sit down dinners.... maybe some fun sit down breakfasts but they'd have to be early....before the parks open!! I wouldn't want to cut in to precious park time!


Day 1) Magic Kingdom (Just ain't the same unless you start your trip to WDW at the MK!!) Hop over to EPCoT if park closes early (7:00ish) for a quick dinner and Illuminations. Explore as many attractions in World Showcase as you can before Illuminations.

Day 2) Disney/MGM Studios. Stay through Fantasmic...it's awesome. If it's still early...head back over to EPCoT and explore more counties.

Day 3) EPCoT. Hit EPCot at Park Opening (hopefully an EE day) and stay until closing. Do everything there is to do in Future world until Future World closes (usually around 7:00). Then head over to World Showcase for another 2 hours of countries.

Day 4) Animal Kingdom in the morning...hit ONLY the big rides, like Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur, Tough to be a Bug, Tarzan Rocks and Festival of the Lion King (these 3 shows are awesome!) Then around 1:00 head back to the Magic Kingdom. End the evening with a late dinner at O'hanas....just a quick monorail ride from MK!!!

As I have mentioned in another post, I would spend an off day at Fort Wilderness, enjoying nature...Disney style!! Also, explore some of the resorts one day...go take a tour at the Wilderness Lodge (free!!) and take the hidden Mickey list and find them all at the Wilderness Lodge. Or check out the Grand Floridian and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Or maybe an evening on the Boardwalk! Daytona Beach is nice...but the west coast beaches are so lovely with the white, powder beaches and crystal blue water. Be sure to go to www.flausa.com and check out all the nearby attractions in Central Florida.

[_landry]

We always spend 4 days at the parks for every visit. The breakdown has always been the same:

1st day: MK Can't begin my trip anywhere else. We spend a day and a half at MK and the other half of that day at Epcot. My kids are too young to appreciate all that Epcot has to offer.

We spend a full day at Animal Kingdom and a full day at MGM.
We hop back over to MK whenever we can to get more. I can never get enough of MK!!!!!:)

[WVWISEGUY]

We just took our 3 yr old and 5 yr old sons to WDW last summer. We spent 2 days at MK, 1/2 day at AK, 1/2 day at EPCOT, and 1 day at MGM.

We did not do everything, but we let the boys pick a few things each day they wanted to do. Early Entry is great at MK if you are staying on site. Saved a lot of time in fantasyland. MGM be sure to get there early and get FP for the shows that interest you. If you wait until the end of the day, most shows will be out of FP and if the parks are crowded, you will be limited as to what you can do.

I agree totally with the other DCers about take time to do some little things and enjoy the atmosphere. Especially with a small child and being their first visit. Some of the best times we had were doing things other then rides, seeing the characters, and taking our time.

As for the day off, I would look at doing some of the other attractions at Central Florida, or spending the day at FW or visiting resorts and Boardwalk. My sons loved DTD and the leggo store and FW. They also loved to ride all of the monorails and the boats that are at the various places around WDW.

Have a great time!!!