Am I the only one who doesn't want to go early?

[EmmaAndQuinnsMommy]

I feel like I am the only person who has no plan to go to the parks super early! I told DH that we would try to be there for rope drop one day at MK just to do it, but otherwise, I just have no plan at all to be there first and try to run to rides. Am I being crazy? At AK, the safari is the big deal for us, not EE, so I figure we should get there early because the animals are more active, but other than that I made late breakfast ressies, etc and have no plan to try and be at park openings. Will we miss out because of this philosophy? Will we really not be able to ride things or something? Here is my plan. Tell me what you think because I am a little worried now.

Thursday (arrival day) We won't get to the resort until probably 4pm. Plan to check in and head to MK to check it out then later have dinner at the Poly. If we want, we could head back to the park this day after dinner to see the parade and Wishes - would be a nice way to end that first day.

Friday (Magic Kingdom 9-7pm) Be there at rope drop, have ADR for Crystal Palace for 9:30am. Want to try and ride the classic rides for the kids like Dumbo and Pooh, but want to be flexible. Any advice since we will be at breakfast for awhile? Lunch is Pinnochio Village, try to see 3pm parade, and we leave before closing to get to Whispering Canyon for 7pm dinner ADR.

Saturday (Animal Kingdom 9-5pm) Be there at opening to try to get to the safari right away. Otherwise, we want to be leisurely here. We LOVE animals and want to enjoy this park! Lunch at Tusker House, see parade at 4pm, leave at closing. Early night, so head to Beaches and Cream for dinner after freshening up.

Sunday (Magic Kingdom 9-10PM Evening EMH) I guess this we should be here at opening? We have CRT for 10:15am. What should we try and do before CRT then? We would only have an hour ... this day we plan to leave for lunch at the Contemporary as a break during the day and then come back and try to stay for Spectromagic and Wishes, etc. That is a very very long day for my kids so I am worried about it. Could care less about EMH. =)

Monday (MGM 9-9pm Evening EMH) Plan to stay at our resort until after lunch this day. Swim and have lunch there first then head over to MGM. We want to see the parade at 5:30pm. I have no idea about the rides or anything here. We will wing it I guess. We have Fantasmic ressies for Mama Melrose at 6:20 and then we will see Fantasmic at 9pm. *IF* my kids want to do something after the show, we can but I bet they will be tired.

Tuesday (Epcot 9-7 and 11-9) and Downtown Disney day) Head to Grand Floridian for 1900 Park Fare ADR at 10am. After, go to Epcot for 3 hours or so, then to DD for late lunch at Earl of Sandwich. Back to Epcot for a couple of hours, get photo cd, then back to DD for 6pm ADR at Wolfgang Puck. Shop and enjoy DD before heading back to resort to pack up.

Wednesday we go home.

What do you guys think? Sorry this is so long!

 

[salmoneous]

If you goal is to get on as many e-ticket rides as possible, then you really should get there early. If you goal is to relax, have a good time, and enjoy everything Disney has to offer, getting their early isn't manditory.

As you sip your coffee in your jammies, think about all those people who have been up for hours and are currently waiting 45 minutes for rope drop to sprint across the park and avoid waiting 45 minutes in line

 

[BarbWB]

The only real problem I see is your plan on Friday to be flexible and try to ride the Fantasyland rides (Dumbo/Pooh) in the middle of the day. The waits will be very long. I just got back and on Saturday (1/28, a day rated a 6 by Unofficial Guide), we walked on Pooh, etc in the early morning. By afternoon, the waits were 40 minutes, which is crazy for those attractions.
On Monday (1/30), the weather was a little rainy and we went back to MK in the later afternoon, around 5:00. At that time, the rides had very short waits (10 min). I'd say avoid Fantasyland in the mid-day ....

 

[JRawkSteady]

Getting there early has its advantages. A lot of people feel like you and will get there later in the day. There will be huge lines for everything! Huge lines = whiny people I've found out. hehe.

If you're just going for the ambience and only feel like doing a few specific rides, it's a great idea to sleep in. But if you're going for a lot of the rides, you'll definitely want to get up early or you'll regret it. Unless you're going in Jan., Feb., (excluding Presidents week and cheerleading competitions) or Sept. If you're going during those months, the lines are short throughout the day and you should have no problem. If you're going in the summer...that's the busiest time...

 

[carone0318]

I
Friday (Magic Kingdom 9-7pm) Be there at rope drop, have ADR for Crystal Palace for 9:30am. Want to try and ride the classic rides for the kids like Dumbo and Pooh, but want to be flexible. Any advice since we will be at breakfast for awhile? Lunch is Pinnochio Village, try to see 3pm parade, and we leave before closing to get to Whispering Canyon for 7pm dinner ADR.

Sunday (Magic Kingdom 9-10PM Evening EMH) I guess this we should be here at opening? We have CRT for 10:15am. What should we try and do before CRT then? We would only have an hour ... this day we plan to leave for lunch at the Contemporary as a break during the day and then come back and try to stay for Spectromagic and Wishes, etc. That is a very very long day for my kids so I am worried about it. Could care less about EMH. =)

What do you guys think? Sorry this is so long!

My only concern would be your MK days. The times of your ADRs I would say to be there first thing when they open and get to Dumbo and do that. As for Pooh or Peter Pan, you can get FastPasses and you will be fine for later in the day, but Dumbo is a whole other ball game, do it first and be done.

 

[krismom]

I know all about the "get there before it opens" mentality- but for my family.... it just seems to work out better if they wake up naturally (usually about 8:00 am) and we head out soon after. I have been blessed with kids (DD 7, DS's 5) who actually sleep in on the weekends 'till 9:00 am!) Non cranky kids on line are better than cranky kids on Dumbo!

 

[Brian Noble]

No, you aren't alone. Most people don't want to get there early.

That's why getting there early works so well!

 

[lorli]

As much as I would like to get there early from time to time, I agree with the poster that said waking up naturally has worked well. We don't get there very late but we don't wait 45 minutes for the ropes to drop either. We like our rest and to be relaxed prior to getting to the park because once there there is nothing restful or relaxing about it.

 

[TinkrBeth]

I like to get to the parks shortly after they open- standing around in a crowd of people just waiting makes me very nervous... and cranky

 

[nicolemarie]

This November was our 5th trip to Disney in five years - but the first trip after discovering the DIS!!! What a difference the first hour or so makes! I could not believe how easy it was to get on everything we wanted when we were there at rope drop. We had ridden SM, Buzz, Peter Pan, Pooh - all without waits and SM and Buzz two and three times in a row. By 11:00 (the park opened at 9) we marveled at what wise advice being there early was. We have always just gotten there whenever and I will say this made for a much better "ride" day. We went to the MVMCP that night, so the next morning we didn't make rope drop and it was a huge difference. If you want to ride rides, I'd make the effort. If you just want to "wing it" and know you might have long lines, arrive however you want.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I think alot depends on when you go. I am NOT a morning person. I've never made it to a park opening or a morning EMH. I've tried a couple times, but I've never made it. But I don't go to WDW during peak or summer times, I've always gone off season and I've never had a problem. I'm sure it'd be different if I went during spring breaks or busy holiday times, but so far...knock on wood...not being an early riser has not hurt any of my trips.

Last year I REALLY wanted to get to MK for opening, I wanted to see the opening ceremony, just once. My intentions were good, but I didn't make it.
MK opened at 9am, but we didn't get there til 9:20am. We headed to Fantasyland and it was packed! I think the Dumbo line was 45 minutes. So we left FL and just wandered around, watched Cindabrellaration, went to Belle's storytime, had lunch, then left the park and came back around 5pm. We shopped and headed to FL at 6pm...what a difference! It was practically deserted! Dumbo was 10 minutes, Ariel's Grotto was 10 minutes and Small World and Pooh were walk-ons!

 

[RC Fan]

Getting there early means that I can do the rides I want and get out before it gets crazy. If the crowds and the waiting in line aren't a concern, by all means wait a bit. I guess it depends upon which style of touring works best for you.

 

[lclark0621]

We never get to the parks early.

Most days we have ADRs for breakfast around 9:00am. We have a 2.5 year old, and I am NOT waking him up early to head to the parks, especially since he will stay up as late as we are in the parks (he LOVES it!).

But even before we had DS, DH & I never rushed to the parks early. We usually get there about 10:00am or a bit later. Just depends on our morning.

None of us are morning people, so we do do well with wake up calls...

I have never done Disney "comando style" & never plan on it. We get to see everything we want. We have never missed anything & always get to ride things multiple times during our trip.

We always park hop & are in the parks about 8 days each trip. And we always know there is another trip. WDW will always be there. No need to kill ourselves on vacation. We dont want to need a vacation from our vacation

 

[NMAmy]

DH and I are just both naturally early birds. Even on vacation, we are up no later than 6:00. And, oddly enough, even my teenager will hop out of bed early at WDW. We just don't want to sleep when we could be at the parks. So we do early entry and hang out and have lunch at the parks or a resort. Then we head back to the hotel to relax in the afternoons--we read, watch tv, go to the pool, nap, or wander the resort. Sometimes we head back to the parks for the evening, sometimes we just veg.

It works out well for our family. We can do so much in the morning that we don't feel like we're missing out by missing the afternoons and even evenings if we decide to do that.

 

[dis-happy]

I see your plan as being do-able. First question: are you staying on-site? (you do mention late EMH). I believe that Friday morning is usually morning EMH at MK---so take advantage of that if possible. Otherwise I would do this: enter park, grab a FP for Buzz and then go ride Peter Pan. That ride is the worst later in the day. Another option, if the line isn't too long, you could go to Dumbo instead of PP and do a FP for PP later. Do your breakfast. Before you do anything else get another FP, go ride Buzz, and follow whatever other plans you have for the day.

Depending on when you go, you don't necessarily have to be there first thing. A lot depends on the crowds. If you prefer to do late EMH, do it instead! Just don't try to burn the candle at both ends too often, it will kill you.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

DH and I are just both naturally early birds. Even on vacation, we are up no later than 6:00. And, oddly enough, even my teenager will hop out of bed early at WDW. We just don't want to sleep when we could be at the parks. So we do early entry and hang out and have lunch at the parks or a resort.

Same with us - early risers, work days I am up no later than 5, weekends by 6:30 at absolute latest. DS14 likes to sleep on weekends until 11 !, but in WDW, he is up and about with the rest of us, he knows how much we can do before the late sleepers arrive. It is much cooler in the morning too. We don't do things commando style, as there is no need at that hour.

In late June 2002, we were in the MK early for CRT, and did a few rides in fantasyland and also did the Carousel of Progress. It was hot, and we wanted to go back to the hotel to eat and swim.

It was around 11am when we started the PUSH down main street, I was shocked at how many people were entering at that hour - it took us a good 30 minutes to fight our way out of the MK that day.

 

[Caylin]

My friends and I are not early risers by any stretch of the imagination. We almost never get to the parks when they open and yet we always manage to ride everything we want to. We tend to prefer the evening extra magic hours. We also make a pilgrimage to WDW once a year, so some things are not as important to us as others. If you're not into rope drops, being flexible about crowds and slightly longer waits is a good thing. There are very few things in my life right now that I'm willing to get up early for. (However, getting on a 7am flight to Orlando is something I'll get up early for!)

 

[jennyl772003]

My family has NEVER been to a park at opening, or utilized EMH, but we have still managed to do everything we intended to do.

Sure, we don't get to ride 7 rides in a row. But between FP and riding rides with short wait times when we come to them, we have managed to have a terrific time that does not cause us to feel sleep deprived. We also REALLY enjoy Disney in the evenings, when the heat is not as unbearable and the crowds are light.

 

[MomofKatie]

The only big problem I have with your plan is the Epcot day- you seem to be doing an awful lot of traveling back and forth, from b'fast to Epcot, to DD, back to Epcot, back to DD for dinner... the way I understand it, I estimate you will only end up with about 4 hours total at Epcot (once you factor in all the travel time). Seems to me that you'll be wasting A LOT of time just getting from one place to another. I don't think you will end up with enough time to spend at Epcot, with all the time spent going back and forth. Traveling between the parks/resorts really does eat up lots of time.

I propose instead of going to DD twice in one day, you just head over to Epcot after b'fast. Stay there through lunch (believe me, you will be able to fill the time with things to do- we usually spend 2 days there with no problem), then head over to DD in the early evening for dinner and hanging out. JMHO- have a great trip!!

Oh, and you will REALLY want to do Dumbo first thing in the morning, as stated upthread. It can get downright UGLY later in the day!!!

 

[Eeyore2003]

A few problems that many people don't realize until they finally get there and I see in your schedule.

Allow at least 1 hour travel time to anywhere on Disney from anywhere on Disney unless it's something on the monorail to something else on the monorail. Even from your room at the Epcot resort area to MGM takes on the average 45 minutes by boat. When we took my brother and family for thier first time they were very surprised at the size of the Disney complex. I usually allow 1-1 1/2 just to be sure esp if it's a dinner reservation. If you have a car, you can cut that somewhat, but still have to be careful in planning.

If you want to sit on the curb for Spectromagic, people begin sitting down 1-2 hours ahead of the parade. You just gotta watch and grab and spot when people start sitting down.

For example, a day like you have planned for Friday, will probably run like this with your plan
10:00 1900 Park Fair character meal
11:00-11:30 finished with breakfast
11:30-12:00 monorail to Epcot
3:00 I'm not positive about "from park TO DD", but I think you''ll have to go to a resort, then from the resort to DD. I don't think there are direct busses from the parks to Downtown Disney. This will take you at LEAST 1 hour and I actually think the fastest might be the bus to OKW, they are the first bus stop and usually have pretty good service, then from OKW take the bus to Downtown Disney so....
4:00 (if you're very lucky) Arrive at Downtown Disney, lunch at Earl of Sandwich
5:00 I know the busses do not run from Downtown Disney to the parks, so you will definitely have to take a bus to a resort and then back to Epcot.
6:00-6:30 back at Epcot for a couple hours
8:30 Back to Downtown Disney via resort again
9:30 Arrive back at Downtown Disney, eat at Wolfgang Puck

I see this problem for allot of your days. You need to count for travel time and if you want to do Dumbo and the Safari esp. Dumbo without a long line, I'd be there before the gates open. The Safari at least has FP. If you don't really care what you get done and what you don't get done and just take your time, your way will work. You're planning May sometime right??? Realize that the first Friday in May is Grad Night at MK.

If your kids are little, they may not care what they get in. I've gone both and off season and during season are two very different ball games. Also, you have no time for relaxing by the pool etc. If your kids are little, they'll appreciate that. It will be hotter than you think in May and sometimes that's hard on kids. My niece went the last two summers with us and lasted about 4 hours max in the parks and then just needed a refresher break. She actually liked her pool time just as much as the parks.

If you want to just relax and do as many rides you get in, I think it's OK except for the travel time problem.