Disneyland Florida- 2 days?

[doublebed]

Hello,

We're planning on attending a wedding in August in Boston and on a previous thread lovely Mumsnetters advised going to Cape Cod or local afterwards for some fun with the kids- 2 under 10s.

However we've had a look and can't find someone in Cape Cod that kind of fits what we're looking for- basically a resort with lots of attractions nearby as we're non drivers, but also a little special. We've not been on holiday before as a family so want to be spoilt a little.

Anyway, back to the question, I've had a look online and the price of a fancy hotel in Orlando for four nights with a 2 day ticket for Disney land and flights will cost the same as a four day break in Cape Cod.

Will 2 days be enough for us to spend at Disneyland? We're thinking four days in total in Orlando with a couple of days just relaxing at the hotel. Will it be worth the hassle of flying from Boston?

Any advise/insight will be greatly appreciated

Thanks x

Depends what you want out of the trip.

Is it enough to see everything Disney World has to offer? No. There are 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, several resort hotels, mini golf, shopping and food areas, etc.

However, you could just go to 2 of the parks - Magic Kingdom and one other.

Does the hotel package include transport to and from the parks?

It does seem like a bit of hassle and messing around getting internal flights for the sake of 4 nights though. Cape Cod is much closer, and there are some resort hotels over there. Though, without transport it may be more tricky to see much of the area. There is a great living museum just outside of the Cape Cod area, at the Plymouth Plantation, and the Mayflower boat too.

Thanks @Aragog

I'm just so indecisive.

As it's our first family holiday, I want it to be perfect without spending a fortune but just can't make up my mind what to do...

I’d do Disney but I love Disney.

It would be two long days to get the most out of it. If it were me I’d do magic kingdom and Hollywood studios BUT, HS is just about to open Star Wars so it will be bonkers busy if this is for this year.

When are you planning for and what hotel.P?

It’s disney world in Florida, not land.....you will get slaughtered by posters on here and if you ask for help on TripAdvisor or Facebook!

I am Disney World obsessed but to be honest I wouldn’t do it for 2 days. You’ll lose at least half a day each end in travel and will barely touch the surface.

Have you considered New York or Washington DC instead? Your kids may be too young for DC but New York would be fine, plenty to do there. My brother and I were 6 and 9 when we first went and had a great time. I appreciate that’s a lot different to a resort though.

@Satsuma1234

Sorry! Disney World not Disneyland must bear that in mind!

Looking at Waldorf Astoria and was thinking just sticking to Magic Kingdom. Don't think the kids would be to fussed about Disney Hollyworld Studios.

But honestly don't really know the logistics of it all. Is it even possible to buy a ticket for just one park, would the weather be too unbearable at the end of August I'm so confused!

@Deanetta

That might be an option. Thanks for the suggestion

Maybe if I could find a hotel with a swimming pool, that would keep the kids happy...

I’d go for it- depending what your kids are in to, between 6 and 10 would be the perfect age for a first trip to Disney. Still young enough to feel the “magic” but old enough that you don’t need to worry about a buggy or fitting in a nap etc.

DH had a tear in his eye when he walked into Magic Kingdom for the first time as a 34 year old, despite not being a Disney fan, so a kid’s reaction should be amazing!

If either are them are big animal lovers then Animal Kingdom would be fantastic, and Epcot is excellent for food. I’m not fussed on Hollywood Studios, but some people love it.

There are looooads of planning tools and YouTubers that can help demystify the parks and help you make the best use of time.

If I were to have only 2 days and my kids were real troopers, I'd do it but I'm a HUGE Disney fan(atic). If you will have two FULL days, I'd probably do:

Magic Kingdom and Epcot (one day each)
or
Magic Kingdom (one day) and Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom (1/2 day both parks). Are the tickets hoppers?

Magic Kingdom and Epcot are 'whole day' parks. IMO MK is actually a two day park, but that's me.

Hollywood Studios (as it is now) and Animal Kingdom are half-day parks. That will change for HS when Star Wars opens on 29 Aug, then it will probably be a whole day park, at least at first. It's also going to be hellaciously crowded. There's also the possibility of soft openings in the few days before the scheduled opening date, so that may increase crowds.

One thing to remember is that if you have 1-park per day tickets it normally doesn't cost all that much to add a day. We just got back and it only cost DH and I $40 to add a 6th day to ours. Since you have 4 nights hotel that should mean that you have 3 days in the area, you could probably add a day to your tickets if that's in the budget and have 3 park days. It does cost quite a bit more to add a day to a hopper than it does to a 1-park per day ticket.

If you do decide to go, remember that there will be crowds so just put on your happy face and manage your expectations. You'll have a wonderful time.

Oh, and the weather in August is, frankly, horrible. Extreme humidity, high temps, and days with rainstorms.

It's the humidity that I can't stand, it just kills me! But I'm from California and we just don't have to deal with humidity here.

Hollywood Studios is a lovely park OP. Toy Story Land, stormtroopers too. Animal Kingdom is nice too but you could easily do two full days in Magic Kingdom.

@GrapefruitIsGross

Thank you, will be having a look at YouTube after work today, see if I can make sense of it all

@AcrossthePond55

Thank you for all the information!

Hoping the weather may make it less busy than usual, we'll see...

@doublebed

If it's hot & humid it will normally reduce crowds. The unknown this year is because of the SWL opening. I expect crowds may spike at the end of August due to people planning their holiday 'start date' around the opening. If you're going to be there before, say, 20 Aug you should be OK.

My 'home park' is Disneyland (CA). I've been there when it's been so crowded you could barely move. It's not optimum, but 'the worst day at Disney is better than the best day anywhere else!'.

If you do go to Disney (and I can’t believe I’m saying it but I still think it would be better to stick to the north east, unless you think this may be your only chance ever to go) then I would consider staying in a Disney hotel on their property. You will get benefits such as early access to the parks, as well as all transportation around the World (which really is needed, it’s 40 square miles!).

Disney hotels are expensive but are amazing and you will maximise your time there.

I’d say Disney. Yes it’s massive but Magic Kingdom and Epcot can be done in two days and they are hassle free really and fairly unique in terms of experience.

Most hotels are going to be better than European standards in terms of size and facilities. Flights won’t have any jet lag. Again the novelty of flying from one state to a completely different feel in another is quite special.

I don’t mind the weather in August. The rain is fantastic - super heavy and then gone. And it’s warm the whole time. That’s a novelty in itself after the grey cold rain days. The weather could be rubbish in Cape Cod.

@Deanetta

That's a good point.

Will have a look at hotels in the resort itself especially as we won't be there for long. See if we can do it within budget

@Allhailthesun
There's no guarantee on weather, very true!

I'm swaying towards Disney world as it will probably be our only chance

There are a couple of reasonably priced hotels on property. The All Stars & Art of Animation off the top of my head.

Go to the WDW website and poke on your dates. Select 'value resorts'.

@doublebed

In Orlando, there is so much to see and do. Disney has a lot of parks to see and then there's also Universal studios Seaworld etc.

Can you not extend your trip and do more days in Orlando so you can make the most of it. I would do at least 6 nights (5 days), have three days at Disney and then a day at Universal and then Seaworld.

@Freespirit24

Unfortunately can't extend the trip, neither of us have enough leave from work... love to spend more time on holiday!

The kids are more into minions and Harry Potter so actually thinking universal studios would be more fun for them than Disney world.

Got a lot of research to do. Didn't realise there was so much to Orlando.

I assumed Disney world was a bit like Alton Towers, just one big theme park. Realise it's made of different parks, think universal studios is the same

If you’re going that way, I wouldn’t spend 2 days relaxing, I’d use all 4 days, if they’re Harry Potter fans, then I’d definitely do 2 days there. Stay at the royal Pacific hotel and you get early park access and free universal express passes (but still need to buy park entry tickets). Then maybe a day or two at Disney magic Kingdom (you’d want to move hotels and Disney and universal are about half an hour apart). When you’re at universal you can go to the outlet mall at the top of international drive.

If you decide to do Universal stay in one of the Universal hotels, that will get you early entry which means you have some chance of getting on the popular rides. Even better stay in one of the hotels which gives express passes. We were there in over New Year when it was relatively quiet but queues for the Harry Potter rides were around two hours at peak time. The weather in January was pretty much perfect, warm and sunny (low to mid 20's C). I know that I would not enjoy Orlando's summer weather, Boston is hot enough for me!

I'd do this. In fact, we've already done more or less that (2-3 days in the parks) every couple of years en route to somewhere else for the last 8 year's. Works perfectly for us. I would stay in Disneyworld resort itself for the four nights (it comes with some perks), ideally at a hotel near the magic kingdom and then spend both days at the magic kingdom. You'll all love it. On the 1st day, when you arrive and don't go in to the parks you can have dinner in one of the character/themed restaurants on the site.