What are the best 1/2 day parks in 2025? I need one for an evening and one for a morning.
I’m already going to each park for a full day, using LL each time. So my half days will likely be no LL.
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My last couple of trips I have taken advantage of park hopper tickets to maximize rides on GotG and Tron and it has really paid off. You could do something like this (mix up the order as desired):
- Day 1: Morning EP / Evening HS
- Day 2: Morning HS / Evening MK
- Day 3: Morning MK / Evening AK
- Day 4: Morning AK / Evening EP
- Day 5: Morning EP / Evening MK
This five-day plan gives one full day at each park, plus an extra half day at EP & MK in order to have 3 opportunities to ride Guardians and 3 for Tron.
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I wouldn’t ever make AK my evening park. It closes too early.
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Yeah when I say “evening” I meant “second half of the day.” We did it when it had a rare 8pm closing, but these days those happen less and less.
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I’m leaning towards MK for the evening park to watch fireworks… We are going in August so maybe the nighttime parade will be up and running by then. Seems like they do characters into the even hours too… so I could enjoy the entertainment and characters with this option. Side note: I have a full day planned at MK for LL/rides and then a full day set aside in the middle of the 8 day vacation to rest in AM and enjoy Mickeys Halloween in PM.
Then I’m leaning towards Epcot for the morning park to rope drop GOTG, ride rides & maybe use LL (is that crazy to do LL for 1/2 day?). Then we can use the planned full day at Epcot to enjoy the world/lands, meet characters and eat good food without the stress of LL/rides.
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I love AK!!! So I spend a whole day here every vacation… using my mid-day for shows and eating. I’m not sure I can do a full day and then a half day on top of that… doesn’t seem like there’s enough to do for 1.5 days.
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Oh me too. It’s not by any means a half day park for me
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When rope dropping Tron, did you get in line at EE? Or ride something at EE (say space) then get in line for Tron before rope drop begins?
Curious how that works.
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I haven’t been since VQ was dropped for Tron.
I just listened to an episode of the Disney Dish and Len suggests not rope dropping Tron either for EE or at regular park opening, because a considerable number of guests use their entire early entry to wait for Tron, which is a waste of 30 min + pre-early entry. He said instead, rope drop 7DMT, Peter Pan, or Space Mountain. He said to ride Tron later in the day. You will wait about 70 minutes, but you’ll save more time riding 2-3 major rides in the morning.
Personally, I would just buy LLSP for Tron. 
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Agreed. I’d rather pay for the ride than wait like that. Plus then maybe we’ll get to ride it at night this time.
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We always have an evening we close AK but as you know - we don’t tour like you do 
This was taken at nearly an hour after close last May. 
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With the later hours, MK is always one of my evening half days. Especially in the summer when you can take advantage of the cooler weather at night.
I also like HS as an evening park. Somtimes it clears out, sometimes it doesn’t, but I really kike Fantasmic l, ir being in TSL or SWGE at night.
AK is always a great rope drop park, but if you are doing a full day, I see not choosing it. That leavea me with HS - which I find great to rope drop, and EP to knock out some ridea. EP tends to be way less crowded in the mornings so I enjoy it at that time of day. The only challenge is if you really want to enjoy a festival, they don’t really get going until later.
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I wish I could climb that tree
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Thank you! I appreciate the suggestions.
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AK is always my “go to” park for a morning half day. I’m not interested in the animal exhibits / trails. I can do all the rides before lunch.
When it comes to the evening, I tend to go to either MK or EP. It depends on if they close around the same time. If they do, then my criteria is, “Do I want to eat at EP or focus on rides at MK?”
Hope that helps!
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Thats about right! For me the answer is always going to be some live music and a food festival snack in Epcot ha ha. I love just sitting down somewhere in World Showcase in the evenings and enjoying the vibe of where I am but kids will always choose the rides so therefore MK or DHS.
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