Avoiding Early Entry

[petecaler]

Hi! I've lurked for quite awhile on the boards now and found all my questions were answered by searching threads, but can't seem to find an answer to this one.

I'm planning a trip for 10 days in June. I've scheduled our park visits using the unofficial guide and Deb's site for least crowded days. We'll be staying at POR so EE is an option, however using the tips it looks like we will not be at a park on an EE day during our visit. Here's the itinerary:

Mon: MGM
Tues: AK
Wed: BB
Thur: Epcot
Fri: MK
Sat: Epcot
Sun: MK
Mon: TL
Tue: Free

We're bringing our 8 year old twins, and planning early afternoon pool breaks back at the resort each day. My question is : Am I hurting our available tourig time by avoiding EE?

Thanks for any info or advice from y'all.

 

[stacy6552]

crowded days coincide with early entry. so the first question is, will you be up and ready to play at the early entry hour? if not go to a different park. if so then hit the early entry park. you can always switch to another park later if you want.

 

[petecaler]

I'm not worried about starting early, but this being our first trip I want to give the kids a full day at each park in order to sort of "maintain the theme" instead of park hopping. Of course after AK closes we will probably hop to MGM for the evening. Thanks for the info!

 

[tinkerbee]

You might want to take a break in there some where instead of at the end. It will give you time to regroup. Because no matter how many times you go you can't do everything. That's the best part(an excuse to go back.)

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We have four kids so those afternoon breaks are much needed and enjoyable. Since you are going to take the break, I say do ee and get done what you can before leaving the park. This has always been our strategy and it has worked well. Especially when you combine it with the use of FP.

HBC

 

[welovemickey]

We were there in December and went to the MK on Sunday morning for EE. We were finished touring the park by lunchtime. It was quiet all morning, the crowds started around 11am.

 

[petecaler]

Originally posted by tinkerbee
You might want to take a break in there some where instead of at the end. It will give you time to regroup. Because no matter how many times you go you can't do everything. That's the best part(an excuse to go back.)

Yeah, I've been worried about 4 days in a row at the parks. I'm hoping TL won't be a full day and give us a little break. I guess I need to re-adjust the schedule. Still, my question is, if I rearrange the schedule am I hurting our touring time by picking the least busy days at each park? Or should I take advantage of EE and switch parks during the afternoon break. Thanks for you replies!!!

 

[ahutton]

For many years and before we had kids we did not go to EE - it was just too early for us on vacation. However, now I find my best days are to tour the EE park until about lunch time, get something to eat, take a rest and then we go to another park - usually the one that was EE "yesterday" because typically that is least crowded park. The exception to that is if we are done with our break around dinner time I would prefer to just finish the day at EPCOT because it is open latest and is really spectacular at night.

 

[Hayley]

The way to make EE work is to leave the EE park by 11:00AM. We've done this for years and it never fails us. No matter what anybody says, the crowds are just not that bad at 8:00 AM - people just aren't that good at getting up early!

We use EE, especially at the MK, and then go have brunch or lunch, and then relax at the pool in the hot mid-day while all the hopelessly clueless masses pack themselves in like sardines.

Then we return to the parks just as many of the families are leaving with sunburns and crying children .

 

[petecaler]

What I'm also wondering is if it would be a good strategy to go to a park the day after EE in order to enjoy a lower crowd all day (still including a early afternoon break of course) instead of hopping. Thanks for all of the advice!!!!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

What I'm also wondering is if it would be a good strategy to go to a park the day after EE in order to enjoy a lower crowd all day

That would defeat the strategy of taking advantage of ee at whatever park has it on that day plus you lose an hour in the morning by having to wait for that park to open. It is amazing how many people DON'T do ee.

Just the advantage of getting a one hour jump on the FP distribution is well worth it.

Hayley is absolutely correct. This strategy really works.

HBC

 

[petecaler]

Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat
That would defeat the strategy of taking advantage of ee at whatever park has it on that day plus you lose an hour in the morning by having to wait for that park to open. It is amazing how many people DON'T do ee.

Just the advantage of getting a one hour jump on the FP distribution is well worth it.

Hayley is absolutely correct. This strategy really works.

HBC

Great! I'll rework my schedule. Thanks for the info!

 

[sha_lyn]

Some will tell you to leave the EE park by 11. My little secret is to make a PS inside the park for 11 or 11:30. Do the high demand rides and or the rides in the back of the park first.Take your time eating. By the time you are done many of the EE'ers have left and those arrving later in the AM are away from the front of the park.