Choosing Park Days - Suggestions?

[TI double-GUH ER]

Hi,
We're going to be in the World August 19-27. The newly released Halloween party is throwing a new wrinkle in my planning. I'm not sure DH is sold on actually attending the party (I think it would be fun to try...) I'm just not sure if I should move days around, which might mean moving some ADRs, and therefore is something I'd rather do sooner than later... It's four of us, two kids who aren't great at staying up late, so we are more likely to hit the parks early and head out early than go to a late night magic hour. We were going to finally have them see the fireworks this time though!!

So - here's what we had planned:
Sat. 19- HS
Sun. 20 - MK
Mon. 21 EP
Tues. 22 Day off (possible water parks day)
Wed. 23 AK
Thurs. 24 EP
Fri. 25 MK
Sat. 26 - day to revisit favorites - or get to something we missed...
Sun. 27 MK

Friday is the big snafu. I don't know how to guess the crowds, or the effect the early close will have on our touring.

So if we change it, I thought we could either:
1. Make Thursday and Friday 1/2 days at each park, hopping between the two just after lunch
2. Switch Tuesday to be a MK day, Wednesday a day off and Friday AK.

Of course there are other options, but I wasn't sure how much to tinker with things. Am I better off just getting a party ticket?

So - DIS friends, what do you suggest?
Thanks!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I subscribe to the "go to MK on a party day" theory. The idea being that with the limited hours and no nighttime shows, the "average" guest will go somewhere else. I have generally found this theory to be valid in my experience. Not like the park will be empty by any means, but I do think it has a slight impact on overall MK crowds.

 

[Ambehnke]

I agree that you can get a lot done on a party day. And other days the crowds will inflate for people trying to go when they will get night entertainment. The parties are nice to attend though if you can make it a go! Our kids only made it til ten or so but we still felt it was worth it.

 

[sharonabe]

I say leave it, and I wouldn't worry about going to the party. Wait until the kids are older and you know you all can stay through the whole night. That's an expensive ticket to not do all the hours.

If your kids are at all into Star Wars, you may want two nights at HS so you can see both the Star Wars Spectacular and Fantasmic! Of course, that assumes you were planning on staying up late for all the night time shows.

 

[glassslippergirl]

You have two other MK days, so I don't think the park closing at 7 will really affect you doing everything you want. If you want to see the MK fireworks that night, you could go to one of the monorail resorts or Fort Wilderness and watch from their viewing areas. There's a great balcony on the fourth floor of the Contemporary.

 

[Tomh]

Since you said your family are not late night people anyway, I wouldn't mess with things. As others have said, I would expect slightly lower crowds in MK that day anyway, and you have two other MK days planned. Go ahead and enjoy your trip just as you have it planned.

By the way . . . We'll see you on the 20th in the MK

 

[TI double-GUH ER]

Thanks everyone!!!
I'm the planner of the family and it's nice to have someone to talk to about this! I tend to get blank stares and shrugs from DH.
It's nice to know that the party won't interfere much with touring. DH isn't sold on the party - he doesn't like parades, and think spending the $ to watch a show in front of the castle and meet "2 people" isn't worth it. My kids are old enough that they SHOULD like it, but I'll be honest - they are too chicken to ride Haunted Mansion - so...
As for the fireworks, I'm trying to be flexible about that - but we were tentatively aiming to watch the MK show at some point and maybe the Star Wars one at HS. I don't think the little one will be able to handle Fantasmic just yet. We haven't had them in the parks past 8 before, I really love getting there for rope drop, and I don't want to be one of those angry families who tour on too little sleep.

Tomh- how fun!! If you see a mom and 2 kids singing along to pretty much any song being played anywhere - say hello, because that will be me! (My kids are the ones who sing along on the Carousel of Progress... )

 

[Accident]

Check the MNSSHP dates, I believe at least 1 of your MK days is now a party night if that might interfere or your interested in going to it. It would be a you have to exit at 7pm after the park is really packed from 4-7 with party ticket guests coming in.

 

[siskaren]

Check the MNSSHP dates, I believe at least 1 of your MK days is now a party night if that might interfere or your interested in going to it. It would be a you have to exit at 7pm after the park is really packed from 4-7 with party ticket guests coming in.

That's the whole reason for her question - she had planned MK for a date that she now knows is a party date and is wondering if she should change it.