Calling all Disney experts! We are going to FL and trying to decide if we should fit in a daytrip to Disney, specifically Magic Kingdom. I haven't been there since I was 6 I think so I have NO experience with any of it. We will be staying about 2 hours away. It's only a weeklong visit and we're staying with family so we won't be able to do the whole Disney hotel, multiple day experience. Our kids will be 5.5, almost 4, and 17 months. The older kids dont need naps but one of them has disordered eating so we have to factor in food for him. The youngest needs naps but will normally sleep on the go. So...thoughts? Thanks!
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We live an hour and a half away from Disneyland. We would do short day trips all the time (all you really can do with kids that young). I would say depending on the price, I would totally think it’s worth it!
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A one day MK ticket is $$$ but if you don't mind spending the money, definitely do it ! Make sure to book your fast-passes ahead of time.
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@Charm54: Disney is SO expensive but it wouldn't be any cheaper to get a hotel and go more days, right? Like admission per day might be but not in total? Do you pay extra for fast passes?
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@hellocupcake: thanks! We do have to see if it's in the budget because it's pricey but it'll probably be a few more years before we make it back and at that point would have to pay for an extra kid.
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@skipra: you're right...the per day rate goes down but the overall cost for more days would be higher. The first time we took DD1 at 2.5 we only did 1 day at MK and she had a blast. We stayed open - close and she napped great in the stroller. It was a tiring day but so.much.fun.
Fastpasses are included with your admission ... you book 3 in advance then when you use those 3 you can book more. Definitely get the My Disney experince app! It has wait times, maps and directions, allows you to book fastpasses and dining, etc
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One thing to consider might be booking a Disney hotel for the night of your MK day... that would save you from making a 2 hour drive after an already long day. Depending on when you are going, you can often find a value hotel for around 100/125$. With that you would also get free parking at MK which is a $20 savings right there. You would also get other perks such as magic bands, extra magic hours (if MK has them that day) and the ability to book your fastpasses 60 days out instead of 30.
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2 hours away is quite a while. Keep in mind too with Magic Kingdom, you have to park, take a tram to the transportation center, go through security, then take a monorail or ferry to the main entrance, then wait in line to be admitted to the park. You need to budget an additional 30-45 minutes, MINIMUM (maybe longer with kids bathroom stops, slow downs, etc) to get from parking your car into the park. Then, if you're not getting there till late morning, the waits may be prohibitive for most rides.
Especially with little kids who want to do the fantasyland rides, it REALLY pays to get there at park opening. You can walk on most rides with little wait for the first 30 min-1 hr of park operation, but you have to maximize your time (i.e., be at park entrance 30 min prior to opening time!). This would be really hard to do with a 2 hour drive.
If you're going to shell out the $$$ for 1-day tickets, I would splurge and get 1 night at a Disney hotel the night before you go to the park. Then you can be at the park for park opening and really maximize your time/value of money you have spent. Plus as others have said, you save $20 on parking (or if you're at a Disney hotel - ride the bus that drops you off at park entrance), and you can book your 3 Fastpasses 60 days in advance instead of 30.
Then stay as long as you want, and kids can sleep on the 2 hour drive home.
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