Can Only Choose One WDW Park... Which One?

[AviaL]

Hi! I'm a college-age student helping plan an Orlando trip with my husband and family, including one day at Disney World. We need your knowledge and advice! Which (one) Disney park should we go to?

More information:

• There will be 7 people on the trip: me, my 24-yr husband, 45-yr mom, 45-yr dad, 18-yr brother, 14-yr sister, and 12-yr brother.
  
• We have 3 days in Orlando, Thurs-Fri-Sat in mid-August.
• Our main objective is to go to Harry Potter World, so we'll be for sure spending 2 days at Universal with a Park-to-Park pass. But we want to spend one day at a WDW park. We like big rides, but it would be sad to go all the way there without doing the immersive magical experience that is Disney. So, Which day (Thurs/Fri/Sat) would be best to go to WDW instead of Universal?
• My family and I went to all the parks in WDW and Universal (for the first time) in late December 2011. What major changes in WDW have happened since December 2011?
• My husband and I have been to Disneyland before (just once for me), most recently in early January 2018. (It's just occurred to me that I've never been to a non-Christmas themed park!) Which WDW park would feel the least like a repeat of Disneyland?

Here's what I remember from our 2011 WDW trip:

• Wasn't too impressed with Hollywood Studios; it didn't have much to do in the way of rides or immersive worlds, and the Star Wars stuff looks like repeats of Disneyland.
• Liked Animal Kingdom for Kilimanjaro Safaris, River Rapids, etc. but not so much for the live animals since we have great zoos near us. How are the Avatar additions?
• Was totally enamored with Epcot for the immersive countries and liked their rides a lot (the bigger ones). Didn't love the Tomorrowland-style stuff (innoventions, labs, etc)
• Loved Magic Kingdom for its pure Disney-ness and lots of iconic rides. Slightly worried about having so much overlap between Disneyland and Magic Kingdom rides, but most of my family hasn't been to Disneyland.

So, I think Hollywood Studios is out of the running. Animal Kingdom could still be in the running depending on what you all think of 'Pandora—The World of Avatar'. Epcot and Magic Kingdom are definitely in the running.

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!

 

[Bostonbeans99]

I would always pick MK if that was my one and only park!
Also you did say most of your family has not been to Disneyland.

Is everyone in your party ride lovers? Would they willing to do a Tower of Terror, Rock N Roller Coaster, etc? By August there will be so much more to enjoy at HS!

My best advice it to look up rides on YouTube. You get a sense of what rides or attractions will interest your family the most.

 

[Mennisdiller]

I agree with Bostonbeans99. Magic Kingdom is the initial go to. Don’t forget to sign up for Fastpass+ 30 days out if you are not staying on the property and 60 days if you are.

Have fun!!

 

[coast2coastmickey]

Wait until you're closer to decide which park, but in general i'd pick Disney on a Thursday, especially if you have express passes for Universal. That way, you go to Disney on a low crowd day, and skip the lines in a more relaxed way at Universal.

 

[BrianL]

I mean, yeah, it's gotta be Magic Kingdom. It IS Disney. You will find it similar to Dinseyland in some ways, but some of the rides at DL are actually somewhat different from their WDW counterparts.

If not MK, then at this moment I might recommend AK for Pandora and you can't go wrong with Epcot.

 

[Tattylou]

I'm with @Bostonbeans99 and @BrianL - I will always pick Magic Kingdom if I only have 1 day in Disney. Always. No question. The Magic Kingdom is my favorite and imo feels the most magical.

 

[maltdizzy]

DL ruined MK for us. For rides and sheer Disney fun, MK may still be tops, I would pick Epcot or AK depending on everyone's interests, they are very different than what DL offers.

 

[fhtpdw20]

You are right to exclude Studio for now unless your trip is after the Toy Story Opening and you are big fans. Epcot has the Flower and Garden Show going on until May 28th so that would be a plus. If your going after August 30th the Food and Wine Festival start in Epcot. My choice would be Animal Kingdom, not just for the animals and Pandora, but you have 2 stage shows: Lion King which is a circque de soilea (sp) type show and Nemo which is done in puppetry. Then there is Rivers of Light for the goodnight kiss. You can get a fast past for ROL at Tiffins. Expensive but sooooo good. If you give up ROL and have the funds the Halloween Parties start in August as well, so you could have MK too.

 

[Pmlocke]

Yep, it has to be the Magic Kingdom. If you want the Disney experience, this is the park. After all, it is somewhat of a clone of the original-Disneyland. This is where the magic is.

 

[OneinThree]

If it's got to be one park only, it's got to be the Magic Kingdom.

 

[maltdizzy]

Yep, it has to be the Magic Kingdom. If you want the Disney experience, this is the park. After all, it is somewhat of a clone of the original-Disneyland. This is where the magic is.

But what about this stipulation...?

Which WDW park would feel the least like a repeat of Disneyland?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I couldn't go to WDW and not go to MK!

ETA: But, if you want the park that is least like DL, I would probably choose AK. Pandora is worth a trip just to ride FOP. If you can swing it, maybe get park hoppers and split the day between MK and AK.

 

[OneinThree]

But what about this stipulation...?

OP says MK is "in the running", so. . .

 

[Lovetherodent]

One park? MK if you like rides. If you don't, Epcot. Another option, whichever park has the longest hours on the day you're going.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

 

[Disneymom1126]

Given the range of ages in your group - I would choose Magic Kingdom just because there will be something for everyone. However - if you are looking for something more uniquely Orlando then I would choose either Epcot or Animal Kingdom. Neither have as many rides/attractions as MK, but they have their own unique things going on. Animal Kingdom has a few great rides and a few great shows and the opportunity to check out different animals and learn about them. It feels the least "traditional Disney Character Disney" though. Everything there is about the interconnections between humans, animals, land, water, light, etc. I admit I'm biased because it is my favorite park.

Epcot also doesn't have a lot of rides, but has a lot of things to experience around the countries (the teenagers may be let down by the lack of rides there, though).

Hollywood Studios is in an interesting spot right now - depending on when your trip is. There are things to do there, but if it's before Toy Story Land opens, I don't know that I would choose it as my "only" park to go to. It's hard because for thrill rides Tower of Terror and Rock-n-Roller Coaster are two of the best across all of WDW, but after that there is less that would appeal to the wide range of ages in your group.

Outside of Space Mountain, the rest of the rides at Magic Kingdom aren't what I would consider "thrill rides" so if the teenagers/college age among the group really want some thrill rides, then I would again suggest Animal Kingdom (Expedition Everest and Flight of Passage are great rides). If you think you'll get your fill of thrill rides at Universal and really want a traditional Disney character experience - do Magic Kingdom. I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you choose!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

MK

 

[NH-to-FL]

First. to DisBoards!

I am sure you will get plenty of input.

I will add my vote for the Magic Kingdom.

Yes, there is overlap with Disneyland but if most of your family has not been to Disney then the MK is the park to visit.

If it was only adults I might suggest Epcot but I would be concerned about Epcot's appeal to the younger folks.

Pandora is quite spectacular but, in my opinion, not worth committing your one day to the Animal Kingdom. Flight of Passage and Everest are great rides but you'll have plenty of rides at Universal.

If I had to pick a day for the MK I would pick Thursday. But keep an eye of the MK calendar and avoid a day with a special event.
Wishing you a visit!

 

[AviaL]

I agree with Bostonbeans99. Magic Kingdom is the initial go to. Don’t forget to sign up for Fastpass+ 30 days out if you are not staying on the property and 60 days if you are.

Have fun!!

Good tip on Fastpass! Thanks!

 

[loves to dive]

I'm going against the crowd here but I'd say Epcot. Since most of your group is adult/teenagers I think it would hold the most appeal. Is it the most Disney feeling park? Nope, but it does have a more adult/teenager feel. There aren't a lot of thrill rides, if that is what you are going after you are going to find more of that at Universal any way. According to what dates in August you are going to be there, it's possible F&W will have started at Epcot, which is always great for tasting around the booths.