Hi Lindsay! Welcome to planDisney!
You have chosen your theme parks well! Both have very unique themes with lots to explore. Of course, you can't go wrong with any of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. You are sure to have a great time!
First, to visit two theme parks on the same day you will need to have the
Park Hopper Option on your Walt Disney World theme park ticket. This option allows you to "hop" over to another theme park once park hopping hours begin (currently at 2:00 PM). In your case, you can make your way over to
Disney's Animal Kingdom at 2:00 PM or after.
Next, you will need to make a
Disney Park Pass reservation for the first theme park you will visit and you must visit that theme park before trying to hop to another one. Since you are going to EPCOT first, you only need to make a Disney Park Pass reservation for
EPCOT. You do not need a reservation for the theme park or parks you will hop to later in the day. It makes planning your Disney day much easier and more flexible!
Once the sun goes down in Disney's Animal Kingdom, I highly recommend heading over to
Pandora - The World of Avatar. This section of Disney's Animal Kingdom lights up and comes alive at night!
I hope you have the BEST vacation, Lindsay! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Tabitha