Disney Trip for my daughter

[joejccva71]

Hello all.

I am planning a surprise WDW trip for my daughter's 10 year old birthday. She has never been before, and I haven't been in 15 years. I'm planning for 4 day park trip with 2 days for travel (6 day total). We're going to stay off-site about 2 miles from Disney as it's cheaper, and going to use the hotel shuttle service to get back and forth from the parks. I know this can be cumbersome, but I want to save money.

My issue is park selections and the pricing that goes with it. The best "deal" would be to stay at the Disney parks and do 4 days as it's so much cheaper. However, I think she might like Universal Studios Islands of Adventure more, but the ticket prices jump quite a bit by doing a non-Disney park. (you get a great discount by staying at the Disney parks for 4 days instead of 3).

Ultimate question: How does Disney's Hollywood Studios compare to Universal's Islands of Adventure? She likes rides but she loves shows and stuff too. I'm kinda torn. It will be hard to do both because the plan was to:

2 days Magic Kingdom
1 day EPCOT
1 day Hollywood Studios or Islands of Adventure

I don't want to really rush through parks. 1 day at EPCOT would probably be good because she most likely wouldn't be too interested in the "World Showcase" part of EPCOT...maybe to eat somewhere, etc.

Is 2 days at MK an overkill?

Keep in mind we're going the first week of April. I'm not sure how bad the lines/crowds will be there. It's not quite Easter time yet.

Advice is very much appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Chernaboggles]

Critical question: is she a Harry Potter fan?

Edit: Are you skipping Animal Kingdom on purpose?

 

[jlsHouston]

Some of the shows at WS over in Epcot are actually quite good and hold my DGD9 and DGS7 attention..the other thing is they love the agent Perry thing that Epcot does.... At HS Art of Animation was a total big hit and they like the Indiana show probably the best...followed by the mermaid show, they love TOT and like RnR enough they will do single rider to get on it.
They love AK too, all the shows, all the rides...
I can't advise about UNI, we haven't visited yet...

 

[joejccva71]

Critical question: is she a Harry Potter fan?

Edit: Are you skipping Animal Kingdom on purpose?

She's not a huge fan of Harry Potter, but I am. She's bigger on the Disney characters. I'm skipping Animal Kingdom because I am not doing the park hopping option, and I've read in many places that Animal Kingdom can be done in half a day and was trying to get the most park for my dollar.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

It's hard to say since everyone is different on these things. We easily could spend 2+ days in MK and 2 days in EP, but DHS and DAK are where it gets tricky. Both of our kids love things in both parks, but since DH really dislikes doing shows, it's hard for us to get much more than a half day out of DHS and DAK. I think both DAK and DHS could take up more of your day if you stop for the smaller things and plan on both rides and shows.

I haven't visited Uni in ages, so I can't give much advice on that. I'd love to take our family but our girls are short and can't ride any of the top rides yet. DD7 is a huge Harry Potter fan and would likely love that whole area, but I think it would be cruel to take her when she can't partake in the big parts of it. Those I know who have gone LOVED it, but it certainly would impact your ticket budget.

 

[lunchbox1175]

If it were me in your case, I would get the park hopper even though it is a little more. Seeing as how you don't think she would be interested in World Showcase, you will essentially cut down Epcot half a day, and would be able to go spend the other half at Hollywood Studios. It may enable you to do this:

Day 1 MK
Day 2 HS/Epcot (do it in this order as it would be the easiest way to get on TSMM)
Day 3 AK/MK
Day 4 Uni

I know its an additional expense, but to me the park hopper is really crucial to maximizing your time at all of the parks. This also depends on whether or not you intend on seeing everything or hitting up the major attractions. Any way you look at it I am sure you will have a great time.

 

[englanddg]

Well, my daughter is 9 and has been going since she was 5...

I have some thoughts, but first, a few questions...

1) Is it going to just be the two of you?

2) Based on the fact you said you plan to take the hotel shuttle, I assume that means you will not be renting a car. Is this correct?

3) Do you plan to tell her in advance and plan with her? Or keep it a surprise?

 

[joejccva71]

Well, my daughter is 9 and has been going since she was 5...

I have some thoughts, but first, a few questions...

1) Is it going to just be the two of you?

2) Based on the fact you said you plan to take the hotel shuttle, I assume that means you will not be renting a car. Is this correct?

3) Do you plan to tell her in advance and plan with her? Or keep it a surprise?

1. Yes it will be just me and her.

2. I was thinking of not renting a car to save money and parking at the parks. Are hotel shuttles are decent idea? Any worries about having to rush in the morning to get to the shuttle in time before having to wait for the next one?

3. I was going to keep it a surprise until maybe a few weeks out.

 

[englanddg]

1. Yes it will be just me and her.

That's awesome. I take just the kiddo and me every year. It's our annual Daddy / Daughter trip. We don't always do Disney alone (one year we did a few days at Universal / IOA and this past year we did a Disney Cruise on the Fantasy)...but, you all are gonna have a blast!

2. I was thinking of not renting a car to save money and parking at the parks. Are hotel shuttles are decent idea? Any worries about having to rush in the morning to get to the shuttle in time before having to wait for the next one?

I've only rented a car at Disney once, but I've also stayed on property since 2010...

You have some valid concerns about the off-site hotel shuttle. I would recommend calling the hotel and asking when their departure times are. Disney busses on-site tend to run on 10 - 20 minute schedules, so they are fairly easy to use. Hotels, on the other hand, tend to run a much less frequent schedule (sometimes only a few times or even two times a day).

Another question to ask them is where their shuttle drops off at Disney. If it's just at the TTC at Magic Kingdom, then that's a further issue. The shuttle bus drop off area is a pretty good hike to TTC, and then you still need to take the resort monorail or the ferry boat to get to Magic Kingdom. It's even more complicated if you are trying to get to a different park...

Anyhow, all of this may be moot after you call, but it's worth doing this research beforehand.

That being said, and this is just my recommendation...if it's her first trip and your first trip back in a while and you are not planning on renting a car...look very closely at how much money you are saving offsite and couple that with any transportation hassles. Disney makes it very easy (intentionally) to get around property in an efficient manner without renting a car. So, at least in my mind, not having to deal with a wait as the resort shuttle fills up to depart and then the ride back offsite, may be a cost/benefit analysis you may want to factor into the cost of your stay.

In addition (and, I promise, I am far from a Disney shill <grin>) you would have access to the Magicbands and FastPass+ system. This will dramatically improve your visit and save you the hassles of trying to book fastpasses whilst at the park. And you get access to Extra Magic Hours where you can stay later or show up earlier at the parks than regular guests (great way to catch up on any last minute rides you missed or high demand rides).

Also (though I assume this is the case for your hotel as well), transit to and from the airport are free at Disney Resorts.

Of course, if your hotel shuttle proves inconvenient, you can always rent a car once after you try it out if you change your mind! (that's my real recommendation, since April is close at hand and I assume you already reserved your off-site hotel!)

3. I was going to keep it a surprise until maybe a few weeks out.

I told my kiddo one year (2012) and regretted it. I much prefer to see her face when we get to the Magical Express and she sees the big ol' Mickey busses!

As far as park hoppers, they are nice to have, but I wouldn't bother with them for the cost. That money is better put towards merchandise. Were this Disneyland, I'd say do it, but WDW...ya'll will be fine with one park a day.

The people who say that HS or AK are "half day" parks are also normally regular visitors. For me, AK is a half day park, but that's because we go for 10 - 14 days a year. So, both the kid and I know pretty much what we must see, what we'd like to see, and what we've already seen and can afford to miss.

There is a lot to do at both parks, from shows to experiences...not to mention slowing down and taking the whole thing in (especially AK...)

Since you haven't been back in 15 years, and she's never gone, I would discount those who say they are half day parks. They are not.

I would do...

1 day at Magic Kingdom
1 day at EPCOT
1 day at Hollywood Studios
1 day at Animal Kingdom / night at DTD for souvenir shopping (no tickets required at DTD)

Be aware that pretty much anything you can get at the parks, you can get at DTD (and sometimes cheaper)...so, there's no reason to buy something you are on the edge about right then at the park when you see it, unless you really want to!

As far as Universal / IoA...well, they are fantastic parks. In fact, this year we are going back (gotta see Potter 2.0!). Comparing Hollywood Studios to IoA is difficult...they are very different parks. However, my daughter adored IoA, as did I. If you were to pick something to swap out, in terms of experience, I'd choose that one.

EPCOT my daughter adores, but that's probably because I adore it. As has been mentioned, there is a lot to see and do (especially for a first time visitor) at World Showcase. There are live bands and great food and drink (to please you). For her, there's Agent Perry (hard to explain, but kids find it addictive), Kidcot (which is a passport thing my daughter enjoys doing...though at 10, that's probably a bit old for that, outside of the passport part of it), live street performers (the France balancing chair act is NOT to be missed) and, most importantly I think for your daughter...meet and greets with characters are littered throughout World Showcase.

My point is, I don't think she'll find it as boring as you suspect she will. It's come a long way towards becoming more kid friendly over the past decade. My daughter absolutely loves it (especially Agent Perry).

Anyhow, there are my thoughts.

I hope you all have a wonderful trip!

Oh, and if you want to see an 8 year old at Uni / IoA, watch the first part of this video. It's from our 2012 trip. She had a blast there!

 

[joejccva71]

englanddg I so much appreciate all the info in your last post. This is great and it's really going to help me in my decision making this year on our trip. Thank you so much!

 

[LisaBelle]

Personally, I don't think 2 days at MK is overkill. Our family spends more time there than at any other park.

 

[englanddg]

Personally, I don't think 2 days at MK is overkill. Our family spends more time there than at any other park.

Neither do I (think that it's overkill). 2 days is about perfect. But, that doesn't mean the other parks aren't worth visiting as well.

When I first started taking the kiddo, we'd do a 4 day ticket (no hopper) and then a 10 day ticket (with hopper)...We'd spend the first 4 days at each of the parks respectively, and then use the 10 days to sweep up any rides or shows me missed.

And, after four years of 10 - 14 days...we still haven't seen everything.

Another tactic to consider may be adding an extra day or two to the tickets. The per diem cost of the ticket goes down the more days you add to it. Then you can catch an early flight in and spend a half day or so at Magic Kingdom, and catch a late flight out the last day and spend the morning at Magic Kingdom.

We pretty much do this every year, and it's a great way to squeeze in some extra park time. Of course...my flights are only about 2 hours to get to WDW...so, that's a factor.

But, it's an idea.

 

[SagamoreBeach]

Oh, and if you want to see an 8 year old at Uni / IoA, watch the first part of this video. It's from our 2012 trip. She had a blast there!

[/quote]

That was absolutely wonderful!
-T

 

[SagamoreBeach]

She's not a huge fan of Harry Potter, but I am. She's bigger on the Disney characters. I'm skipping Animal Kingdom because I am not doing the park hopping option, and I've read in many places that Animal Kingdom can be done in half a day and was trying to get the most park for my dollar.

I can't imagine going to WDW and not seeing "It's a Bug's Life." Or going on Safari and catching the poachers----or riding the rapids!
-T

 

[englanddg]

That was absolutely wonderful!
-T

Thanks. If you go to my youtube channel (same nick) you will find I've made a video for each years trip. You can also find most of the videos in the intro to my trip report from the 2013 trip (links in my signature).

The 2013 video is still in draft phase, so...not sure what I'm going to do with that one yet. I had some custom music written for it by Chuck Folds and crew (Ben Folds little brother), but I'm not sure if I'm going to use it or not. Anyhow, some people scrapbook, some people make photo albums...I make videos.

Anyhow...I'm glad you enjoyed it.

 

[englanddg]

englanddg I so much appreciate all the info in your last post. This is great and it's really going to help me in my decision making this year on our trip. Thank you so much!

Any time! Glad to help. If anything else pops in my mind, I'll share it with you, but that's all I could think of at the moment. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. The board is full of people who love to help out with this sort of thing (including me!).

 

[SagamoreBeach]

Thanks. If you go to my youtube channel (same nick) you will find I've made a video for each years trip. You can also find most of the videos in the intro to my trip report from the 2013 trip (links in my signature).
Anyhow...I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Incredible talent you have there...I just saw What happened to the EPCOT I know and the walkabout on the Fantasy. Thoroughly enjoyed them both. Will be checking out some more of you work!
-T