Best use of our Park days?

[musika]

Hoping for a little assistance with deciding which park day goes where. Family of 4, DD will be 6, DS will be 2.5. We arrive late on a Wednesday night 4/11, so our first possible park day is 4/12. We depart on 4/18 for home.

Staying onsite - We have 5 day passes (no hoppers) and little early bird children who are up at the break of dawn at home (which will be roughly 4:30am ET, ugh lol). So... EMH will likely be something we can take advantage of. I am thinking:

Thurs 4/12: MK (because, first day of Disney ever for the kids)... But... this is the only day for EP EMH during our stay. Then again, we get in late so may be the only day we wouldn't be up in time anyway.

Fri 4/13: MK for EMH, afternoon naptime, back in the evening for HEA (potentially dessert party if any openings left but not holding my breath)

Sat 4/14: DHS or off day

Sun 4/15: DHS or off day

Mon 4/16: AK (EMH)

Tues 4/17: Epcot (EMH until 11pm - we won't be there that late, will it impact crowds during the day?)

At this point we are still really flexible, no ADRs to worry about... but I do want to nail down before our FP day in Feb.

What else should I be taking into account? Help?

 

[pitpat]

The EMH parks are usually the most crowded choice. I'd avoid the evening EMH parks if you aren't taking advantage of them. Green parks would make your days easier.

http://www.characterlocator.com/?p=cal_index&tdate=04/08/2018

http://www.characterlocator.com/?p=cal_index&tdate=04/15/2018

I would bookend your trip with MK (Thurs. and Tues.) It's kind of a bummer to be done with it and have 4 more park days.

 

[hakepb]

I think DHS has EMH in Sunday the 15th

I, too agree to bookend the trip with MK. That will most likely be the Kids favorite park, and they’ll be asking to go back to “Disney World”
As much as I, also, love a 1st day at MK, I’d say either hit Epcot EMH on the 12th, or choose AK. (The AK EMH is more beneficial for rides with height restrictions like FoP, EE, etc, but I’m not sure if that works with a young family) then have MK as the last day.

You definitely don’t want to move Epcot to the weekend (Flower and garden food booths draw lots of locals)

If your last day is Tuesday, you might consider EMM at MK.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/early-morning-magic/

 

[musika]

Appreciate the links, @pitpat . @hakepb Will keep the EMM in mind, but not sure I am willing to pay to go earlier... it was hard enough to convince DH to go in the first place, lol.

Re: AK- Judging by the descriptions for FoP, DD is tall enough to ride (I think she is 46in, but she's also only barely 6 at that point... And DH leans towards pooh sized so may have restraint issues... that one I'm not too tore up if we miss it.)We will also be using Ride swap a fair bit as DS is only 36inches. Good point about Epcot and the F&G festival.

Revised...

Thurs 4/12: AK or EP

Fri 4/13: MK for EMH, afternoon naptime, back in the evening for HEA (potentially dessert party)

Sat 4/14: DHS or off day

Sun 4/15: DHS or off day

Mon 4/16: AK or EP

Tues 4/17: MK - Only downside is this is an early close night at 6pm for a ticketed event. If we are early risers though... and it's our 2nd time in the park... do you think this is still worthwhile?

Next question - better to go to Epcot first for more of the first time "Disney" experience, but potentially missing EMH and hitting worst park day per KtP map? If we leave AK to 4/16, we could also take advantage of EMH there...

 

[hakepb]

I wonder if early close on the 17th is showing the wrong park? I think it’s supposed to be AK having the DVC event on the evening of 4/17.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/11/mark-your-calendars-for-more-moonlight-magic-in-2018/

If you won’t be up to Epcot EMH on the 1st day, then stay away from Epcot. Lines build up during the EMH, so it messes up the rest of the morning. I’d rather avoid both EMH than arrive late to one.

 

[musika]

Interesting! On the hours site, AK is showing open: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/calendars/day/2018-04-17/

That would definitely make MK more palatable as our last park day.

 

[bopper]

Always remember: For little ones, they have no idea what is going on. They have no idea what they are missing if you don't get to something. They will enjoy everything. They will enjoy the playgrounds more than the rides. They will get tired. Get a double stroller so even the 6 year old can ride.

If you go to the park all day, then don't do more than 2 of those days in a row.

 

[3gr8boys]

I wonder if early close on the 17th is showing the wrong park? I think it’s supposed to be AK having the DVC event on the evening of 4/17.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/11/mark-your-calendars-for-more-moonlight-magic-in-2018/

If you won’t be up to Epcot EMH on the 1st day, then stay away from Epcot. Lines build up during the EMH, so it messes up the rest of the morning. I’d rather avoid both EMH than arrive late to one.

I have asked about events 4/17 on another thread....My understanding is that the MK 6pm closing is for a DVC event other than Moonlight Magic and that the AK Moonlight Magic will not affect regular park closing time.

 

[Cameron1515]

Appreciate the links, @pitpat . @hakepb Will keep the EMM in mind, but not sure I am willing to pay to go earlier... it was hard enough to convince DH to go in the first place, lol.

Re: AK- Judging by the descriptions for FoP, DD is tall enough to ride (I think she is 46in, but she's also only barely 6 at that point... And DH leans towards pooh sized so may have restraint issues... that one I'm not too tore up if we miss it.)We will also be using Ride swap a fair bit as DS is only 36inches. Good point about Epcot and the F&G festival.

Revised...

Thurs 4/12: AK or EP

Fri 4/13: MK for EMH, afternoon naptime, back in the evening for HEA (potentially dessert party)

Sat 4/14: DHS or off day

Sun 4/15: DHS or off day

Mon 4/16: AK or EP

Tues 4/17: MK - Only downside is this is an early close night at 6pm for a ticketed event. If we are early risers though... and it's our 2nd time in the park... do you think this is still worthwhile?

Next question - better to go to Epcot first for more of the first time "Disney" experience, but potentially missing EMH and hitting worst park day per KtP map? If we leave AK to 4/16, we could also take advantage of EMH there...

Sounds like a great plan.

Thursday- Personally I would do AK on the Thursday, as mid week seems the time where there is the least amount of people in the park. However, this is obviously not always the case.
Friday- Sounds great, just keep in mind their will be a lot of people for the EMH however that should not deter you in anyway. Just ensure you get to the park entrance before the scheduled opening for EMH, to ensure you are towards the front.
Saturday / Sunday- It really depends how you feel after the first two days, as to whether you need a break on the third. DHS at the moment is only a half day park, unless you love Star Wars or some of the attractions there. So on the Saturday or Sunday you could do half day at DHS and the other half of the day at Disney Springs.
Monday- I would do Epcot
Tuesday- I don't think it is a massive issue if their is a ticketed event, if you are early risers and at the park at rope drop you will get a fair amount in being your second time there.

 

[Aflyingbuttress]

I completely agree with bookending the trip with MK. Your Kids will probably be asking to go back and in my opinion it’s the most magical of Disney parks so you’ll end your trip with that. Especially if you plan to stay and watch the fireworks at the end of the day.

As for the extended magic hours, I know a lot of people say to avoid them but I’m not sure how much of a difference it really makes. I was really worried about that on the trip we took in Oct 2016, which was mid level in terms of crowds at the time. I almost avoided them but then decided to take advantage of them and didint regret it at all. The parks were crowded but totally manageable and if you go with a good plan it will barely impact you. Planned FPS for the most popular rides and the. Looked at wait times in the app and just went where the lowest crowds were.

 

[musika]

Ok, I think I have sorted it!

Thurs - AK (Really don't think we will be up and on the road in time to take advantage of EP EMH)
Fri - MK (EMH), break in afternoon, back for HEA with dessert party (still openings! woo!)
Sat - Off day (due to late night on Fri) - DH wants to take DD over to see Blue Man Group Sat evening so DS and I will just chill
Sun - DHS, maybe swimming or offsite stuff, low key day.
Mon - Epcot (will decide on the day if we go back for Illuminations or not)
Tues - MK for last day, try to RD. Leaving at 6pm won't be a bad thing as we will have time to relax for dinner and pack for the next day. No fireworks, but I'm sure we will survive lol.

Thank you all for your replies, they were very helpful in directing my thoughts. Next step - Planning any FPs/ADRs/Character dining!

 

[Aflyingbuttress]

I think your plan looks great. It’s a good idea to do AK your first day since you’ll still be tired from traveling.

It’s all a matter of opinion, but personally, I don’t think I would waste a day of a 5 day ticket without park hoppers on HS. I don’t think there is a whole lot to do there. A lot of shows and it just sounds like a long day of sitting through show after show, which for young children can be difficult. It seem the perfect place if you have park hoppers.

But again, I know most people really love HS and I’m probably the exception. We decided to skip it last trip and didn’t regret it and we decided to skip it again this trip. Even at Epcot, which my 5 year old daughter loves, she was asking where the rides were. And Epcot has more rides than HS. Just a thought...

 

[DavidNYC]

Without hoppers, I might even stay clear of EMH parks. Not sure the one hour extra in the morning balances out the increased crowds the rest of the day. Hit the parks at rope drop on an non-EMH morning and you'll still have a great low crowd hour.

 

[musika]

I think your plan looks great. It’s a good idea to do AK your first day since you’ll still be tired from traveling.

It’s all a matter of opinion, but personally, I don’t think I would waste a day of a 5 day ticket without park hoppers on HS. I don’t think there is a whole lot to do there. A lot of shows and it just sounds like a long day of sitting through show after show, which for young children can be difficult. It seem the perfect place if you have park hoppers.

But again, I know most people really love HS and I’m probably the exception. We decided to skip it last trip and didn’t regret it and we decided to skip it again this trip. Even at Epcot, which my 5 year old daughter loves, she was asking where the rides were. And Epcot has more rides than HS. Just a thought...

Curious, what would you do instead?

 

[Aflyingbuttress]

I would do 3 days in MK. There are tons of rides there and the ambiance is great. The parades and shows are spectacular. Everything is worth doing at least twice, especially when watching your kids get so much joy out of it. Or 2 MK and 2 EP, depending upon how much you like EP. EP has more rides than HS but you can't FP all the top ones so its worth going more than one day. At the same time its a bit more low key than MK so great for a half day or a leisurely day where you don't feel like you have to cram as many rides in as possible.