Hi Lisa,
You are planning a day my family would love! We're big parkhoppers and often begin at
Magic Kingdom and end our day with dinner and
IllumiNations at Epcot. My recommendation would be to park your car at
Epcot so that it will be near you when you are ready to leave. That's what we do when we are following your itinerary.
If you park at Epcot around 8 a.m., you can hop on the monorail there and be at Magic Kingdom well before its 9 a.m. opening. The monorail runs from Epcot to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you will transfer to a monorail or ferry to Magic Kingdom. When you're ready for Epcot, just grab the monorail again for an easy return trip.
By parking at Epcot early, your car should be within easy walking distance from the exit at the end of the day, which will get you on your way faster when you are ready to leave.
Have you made your
FastPass+ choices for Magic Kingdom? Did you know that once you've used all three of your initial reservations, you can add a fourth, based on availability, using the
My Disney Experience Mobile App or an in-park kiosk? If you prefer, you can make the fourth one for a ride or attraction at Epcot in the evening.
Thanks for your question, Lisa. Enjoy your park-hopping day!
Wilma