Best resort and parks to take advantage of short trip...fireworks? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Best resort and parks to take advantage of short trip...fireworks?
Hi all!
We are making our first trip in April to WDW and Universal but have enjoyed DL and CA in Anaheim a few times.
It is a short trip to FL during spring break since it is combined with a family visit.
Sunday - arrive Orlando in the afternoon.
I planned to stay in or near Universal that night and do Harry Potter on Monday.
On Monday night we will move to a moderate WDW resort.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we will do Epcot and, ?... (question 1 is, which two parks if we have DL here in California? kids are 9 and 12).
On Wednesday night we drive out towards NASA to stay with family for the rest of the week.
Question 2 is, since I want to see both Wishes and Illuminations, which park should we do Tues and which on Wed? If I do MK I want to do it on Wednesday, since Tues is Magic Hours in MK and I don't think we'll be at the turnstiles for 7!
Animal Kingdom's early magic hours are Wed.
Basically I think we need to see either Wishes or Illuminations from outside the park on Monday night when we check in at WDW. Then Tuesday, we'd see the other show within a park that night, and Wednesday I don't think I can get the family to stay late enough to see a fireworks show before the long drive out to the beach.
I am trying to plan: which park Tues and which on Wed,
and where to stay in hopes of seeing one of the fireworks shows on Monday night and being close to the parks for Tues and Wed mornings.
I saw on this forum that there are a lot of places to see Wishes outside the park. It seems like maybe you really need to be in Epcot to see Illuminations?
Oh, and is it a mistake to leave Universal in the afternoon Monday in hopes of getting to WDW in time to see a fireworks show from outside a park?
Thanks to all who stuck it out through this long post!!
I would try to get a reservation for Monday night at either California Grill or Narcoossee's to see Wishes. I would definitely be in Epcot on Tuesday night to see the show--there isn't a great place to watch the show outside of the park.
I would try to get a reservation for Monday night at either California Grill or Narcoossee's to see Wishes. I would definitely be in Epcot on Tuesday night to see the show--there isn't a great place to watch the show outside of the park.
I'm with Heather on this one. Wishes can be seen fairly well outside of the parks, whereas IllumiNations really can't.
Then my other question would be, since we are from CA and have been to the CA Disney parks, should we skip MK altogether if I only have two days? Is Epcot really two days anyways?
Hi! I am on the west coast, and like you, we spend a lot of time in the California parks. I think if you HAVE to skip a park, due to time constraints, you get a lot of the same stuff at Disneyland as you do at MK. But not everything is the same! For example, I think that POTC and HM are a little bit different.
Since you don't get to experience anything like Epcot, AK or DHS on the west coast, I would say to try and hit those parks instead. We can never get enough of Epcot, though. This next trip, my DD wants to plan 3 days just for Epcot!
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We can never get enough of Epcot, though. This next trip, my DD wants to plan 3 days just for Epcot! 
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