If you could only choose one park to see in a day, which one would it be and why?

We have been to WDW three times (latest time Sept 2008), so we have been to all the parks. We are thinking of visiting relatives in FL in April and if I am that close to WDW of course I want to sneak over that way.

I was thinking of spending the night off-property near Downtown Disney and shop one day possibly Disney Quest (we have not done DD before) and the next day hitting a park.

We are torn as to which park to go to. We have 3 kids (ages 11, 9 and 2).

Let me know your thoughts. :confused:

PERSONALLY, especially in April, I'd go to Epcot. But Epcot is my favorite (and the Flower & Garden Festival is very pretty.)

However, a 2 year old isn't going to be able to do the 'big' rides at Epcot, and that can take a while to do, even if you use the rider swap option. You can space out the 'big' rides in the MK a bit better, I think, so it doesn't seem as tough on a 2 year old.

11 and 9 year olds are usually 'all about the rides', so that plays into it to. Are you going to want to take a break mid-day, or just let the 2 year old nap in the stroller? If no break, you don't want to plan on TOO long of a day!

Disclaimer: I'm an engineer, and this next paragraph makes that painfully obvious. What I'd do in your situation is look at the park hours for each park the day or two you might do this and see if that knocks one park out of the running because they're just too short of hours. Then look at the attractions in each park, and have each kid (the older two) give them a 1, 2, or 3. 3 for 'If we go to this park and I don't get to ride this, I won't be able to handle it' 2 for 'If we go to this park I really really want to ride this' and 1 for 'eh, if we have time to kill let's do this one, too' Then add up the scores for the different parks, and high score wins.

If you're not telling the kids, just do the calculation yourself based on your previous experiences. Include shows in your calculations, and other things they like to do (you wouldn't have hit Kim Possible in Epcot on your last trip, give that a 3, trust me.) And also consider how many of the things are you going to have to do kid swap on as well.

Cathy,
You always have great replies! :)

My older kids are easy-going. I posed this question to them, and like me they could narrow it down to two parks...DD-Epcot or MK and DS-Epcot or HS. They both said the two-year old would enjoy MK the best, but whatever we decided would be great. They can be sweet when they want to! :D

We are so spoiled when it comes to touring WDW. My SIL lives in FL and she always comes with us. She loves helping with the kids. She is such a blessing. We have never had to worry with the "kid swap" as she is always willing to entertain the "littlest one" while we ride! She is a blessing. We call her our "Disney Nanny."

I think Epcot might win, but the jury is still out. It is hard for me to think of being at WDW and not getting to go to MK!

EPCOT was my first inclination too, but that's likely because we get to DL too and so when I think of WDW I think of what's only there. Without taking DL into account, I'd do MK.

BUT, now that I've read Drince's scoring method for making the choice - I'd just do that :)

I would vote for Epcot. The older kids will love the Kim Possible activity. We just did it in February, and it really gave my kids a new perspective on Epcot. It's very clever and fun. For the two-year-old, there is still enough to do. Stopping at the kidcot tables to color is fun, some rides, like Figment and Nemo may be age-appropriate, and there's always just looking at things, and snacking. At two, my kids were not all that into the characters, but there are some character meeting opportunities.

my vote is for magic kingdom. I think it stands for everything disney...plus it has later hours and I thinnk you get more for your money. Since you have a variety of ages I think that would suite everybody...pretty much all of them can do everything at MK! Remember there is that new t-rex resturant at downtown disney. Oh If you haven't already done so, look at downtowndisneyhotels.com They sometimes have special rates if you book through that website. If you have never shopped at DD take the kids to the lego store. It's a little pricey but they can get a small bucket and fill it with as many legos it can hold. There is wall in the back with differnt shapes and sizes and colors. My 8 year old loves it, we do it everytime we go.;)

When I go for one or two days (with or without kids), I'll always do either MK or MK & Epcot. I just don't think a visit to Walt Disney World is complete without a visit to the Magic Kingdom :).

I second what Greg says about MK...Always our first and last park to visit before heading home.

I too would be all about Magic Kingdom...Epcot second.

I would choose MK, to me it embodies so much of what Disney is and what it is all about, and I could never go to WDW without going to MK.

Without a doubt.....Animal Kingdom!!!! That park is so incredibly beautiful and fun, I could easily say it's my favorite of the WDW theme parks. It has the best ride....Expedition Everest. The best food...at Restaurantasaurus. The best show....Festival of the Lion King. The best animals...on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. The best plants...on the Discovery Island Trails.

I would not pick Epcot (child-wise) first for one reason.. if you get there any time after 10ish- Soaring- test track - all the appealing kid rides.. are PACKEEEEEED ..unless u get a fast pass for later in the day. I would go with MK .. cuz it has so many different age appropriate rides.. Everyone will enjoy something. If I could spend just one day in Disney.. (me.. as an adult) Epcot would be my choice too!

I don't think I could be there and not do the Magic Kindom....that is Disney World to me!!! I looooove it!!!! Plus, that's the only one I really remembered from my childhood.

Epcot, however is growing on me, but from reading everything on MP, I missed a lot in Epcot last year. So, this year I am determined to do more in Epcot. And, surprisingly my DD was a big fan of Epcot at 5! She loved making the Kidcot mask and getting it stamped in all of the countries. This year we can't wait to do Kimpossible!

Sooo, if I REALLY had to pick only one mine would be Magic Kingdom!

I have to go with the Magic Kingdom. For me, it's the heart of Disney. My appreciation of Epcot has grown over the years, so it would be my second choice. DHS and AK are wonderful, but they'd fall further down the list.

I did spend a few hours at Disney Quest last year, and had a great time.

Since it is my favorite of the 4 parks, I would choose Epcot. My second choice would be Magic Kingdom, followed by Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. :)

MK. It's the most magical and the closest to Disneyland!

Think of what attractions you and your 9 & 11 y.o have not seen or would really like to see/do again. I think your 2 year old won't really know or care which park you choose. When you were last at WDW were there rides that your older kids were not tall enough for that they would like to do now? DHS has the new Toy story ride and American Idol Experience. Are your kids up for ToT at DHD, Everest at AK or Soarin, Test Track and Spaceship earth at Epcot? Can't really go wrong at any park!
Have fun deciding:)

Personally, I vote for Epcot, but that's because its MY favorite at WDW. My son, well . . . he votes for Magic Kingdom. He's 4 1/2. :) Maybe you would be best suited taking his advice. Epcot for me is a 2-day park. If you only have one day, then MK would be best, I think. AK is a wonderful park too, but not my first choice. Lots of walking between stuff to see.

Hee hee . . . funny how no one thinks Hollywood Studios is #1. Blah. Not my favorite either. Something to include on longer trips for sure, but eh. Not great.

There are some fun things to do in the Studios, but it's easily my least favorite of the 4 parks!

I think I like the idea of DHS more than the actual park (although I agree that there are plenty of fun things to do and worth attending at DHS), but EP is my favorite with MK as a very close second. AK is SO's favorite.