Advice needed on AK/Epcot...

[Muppet1980]

Hi y'all,

A couple of quick questions:

We plan to do Animal Kingdom from 9am-1pm and Epcot from 2pm-close all on one day. We are 10 adults and whilst we are interested in riding the bigger rides we feel we can get round these 2 parks in one day with a healthy dose of Illuminations to finish it off.

Question 1: is this majorly ambitious? I haven't been to epcot since 1991 (when I was 11 LOL!) and I have never been to AK - should we be allocating more time to these two parks (bearing in mind that we might not want to watch all the parades/shows or ride some of the smaller rides for children)?

Question 2: How do you travel between AK and Epcot? We would ideally park the van at Epcot and go to AK first, then returning to Epcot for the afternoon evening - does the monorail operate between these 2 parks? or is it buses?

Any help, greatly appreciated x x:D

[Chesterbhoy]

1. We did both parks in October in a single day. That was with two boys who went on everything.
2. Buses operate between parks, would advise to drive to AK and then drive to Epcot, you are only charged a single days parking.

[tessdog]

Sorry I can't help, i just wanted to bump you back up to the top so another dibber could help you.
x

[Muppet1980]

Thanks peeps, thats perfect xx

[Elouise]

If you want to ride the big rides in Epcot ie Soaring Mission space and Test Track, these Fassspassess CAN GO BY NOON. Can you do a morning in each park ???

[Bob_and_Dawn]

What time of the year are you going??

It may be possible in the quiet seasons but impossible at busier times.

Bob

[pboniface]

Question 1: is this majorly ambitious?


Yes.
I have never been to AK


and you want to rush round it in 4 hours ????
- should we be allocating more time to these two parks (bearing in mind that we might not want to watch all the parades/shows or ride some of the smaller rides for children)?


Depending on what time of year you go.. and what you do actually intent to do.. lets do the maths.. 1/2 hour queue/ride/discuss for each of the following . Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, The Safari. Theres 2 hours.
You cant miss Festival of the Lion King... You also have the parade (Usually around 3ish i think) Chester and Hesters Dino-Rama, Its Tough to be a bug. Theres your four hours.. now. do you want to sit down, smell the roses, have a bite to eat.....(Although you could get to miss that bit out if you are going to Epcot)

Question 2: How do you travel between AK and Epcot?


There is no monorail.. as for the buses.. probably a bus back to the TTC and then a bus onwards to EPCOT.. I dont actually know if there are any direct ones. between the 2 parks.
Probably quicker to park at AK.. then get in the car and drive to EPCOT.Bearing in mind that depending on your time of year, by the time you get to EPCOT.. all the Fastpasses for Soarin, Mission Space and TestTrack will probably have gone.. but as you do have a few hours to waste before Illuminations, I can thoroughly recommend Spaceship earth a couple of times, then El Rio Del Tempe in Mexico.. and finishing off with Norways Maelstrom.. dont forget to watch the film at the end. that should take some weight of your 'Parks Commandos':cool2:

[belleoftheball]

we have been and done both parks in a day but this wasnt the first time we have been to both parks so have already done all the rides. when we first did them we did them both separate and in two differnt days.

[lindylou2_2002]

I would suggest maybe doing 2 mornings in the parks if you are set on only spending half a day in each. As Soarin and mission space can both get fairly long queues. If you dont have a fast pass.

Also if you are rushing around you will miss so much.
WE tried to do Epcot and MGM on our 1st trip and failed miserably and there was only 4 adults to round up on that trip. Not the huge amount you have to contend with. people get side tracked and want to stop and shop etc.

I would also drive between the parks, the Bus on the one time we used it seemed to take for ever.
Also you still have to bus back to the 1st park at the end of the day. When I would imagine the buses would be at the busiest.

[Sooty]

We did both parks in one day this time but only because we have done each park before, did most of the rides in AK and left at 3 drove to Epcot but only got to do Soarin which we had to wait over a hour and a half as the fast passes must have run out at lunchtime. Most of the other rides had closed by then as they close at 7 or they did two weeks ago when we were there.
I think you will find it difficult to do all the rides at both parks especially if its busy.

[Pebblesuk]

always do AK in a morning and only ever missed the afternoon parade.by doing so. IF you are going at a busy time of year it may be difficult to do all the rides in epcot if an afternoon, at quiet times it shouldnt be a problem, but there is a lot to see in epcot,and you could spend more time here.

[Muppet1980]

Thanks guys - we are going the first 2 weeks in May.

Its not that we want to rush around and not appreciate the parks... its just that we can afford to go for 2 weeks and fitting it all in (and allowing for a couple of days rest) is quite difficult.

Appreciate the varied opinions though x

[galaxy]

when we go for 2 weeks we try to get to all the parks at least once first thing. (We usually have 3 early starts and then a morning off). Even if you are only there till lunch time then leave and have alittle resr and relaxation by the pool in the afternoon and leave shopping till later...but dont forget to return for the fireworks too.

Janie

:smile:

[ali-s]

Thanks guys - we are going the first 2 weeks in May.

Its not that we want to rush around and not appreciate the parks... its just that we can afford to go for 2 weeks and fitting it all in (and allowing for a couple of days rest) is quite difficult.

Appreciate the varied opinions though x

By juggling your itinerary & making good use of early mornings & late nights ( maybe a short rest inbetween ) you should be able to fit it all in. We went for our first time for 2 weeks, 2 adults 2 kids under 10, we did each park once ( inc IOA , Seaworld, wetn'wild & universal ) managed a visit to typhoon lagoon, crazy golf & a repeatfull day visit to both MK& Epcot & 2 short return visits to mgm & Ak. We also went to boggy creek & had a day out at clearwater.Proof that in 2 weeks you should certainly be able to manage more than 1/2 day each at the parks ! :D Maybe have a look at the itinerary forum for an idea of how to fit it in ? :)

[Muppet1980]

This is how the itinerary looks at the mo:

Day/Night 1: Arrive LOL!

Day 2: MK
Night 2: MK Spectromagic and Wishes

Day 3: USF
Night 3: Free

Day 4: WetnWild
Night 4: Rainforest Cafe

Day 5: IOA
Night 5: Free

Day 6: Shopping/mini golf
Night 6: Pirates dinner adventure

Day 7: Sea world
Night 7: Sea Wold - Shamu rocks America

Day 8: Busch Gardens (til 4.30pm)
Night 8: House of Blues

Day 9: MGM
Night 9: MGM - Fantastmic

Day 10: Shopping/mini golf
Night 10: Medieval Times

Day 11: AK and EPCOT
Night 11: EPCOT - Illuminations

Day 12: Blizzard Beach
Night 12: Wolfgang Puck

Day 13: Busch Gardens (til 5:30pm)
Night 13: Disney Quest

Day 14: IOA/USF
Night 14: Hard rock Cafe

Day 15: MISERABLE!

[ali-s]

I would say you don't need full days for the water parks, if you left say wetn'wild early/mid afternoon, you could fit some shopping in the rest of the day. That would free up some time on a shopping day ! Maybe if you went to AK before Blizzard beach, & rainforest cafe on that day ( as rainforest is at AK ), then hop over to epcot or MK to see fireworks ? Free night after IOA, you could do citywalk ? sure others will make more suggestions :)