Columbus Day Weekend 2012 Tips NEEDED

[Naima1922]

Does anyone have any tips to offer for going to AK, MK, and DHS on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday during Columbus Day weekend? We will not be going to Epcot. I am trying to figure out which park to go to on each day.

Does anyone know if the crowd is smaller than the spring break crowd?

5 WEEKS!!! Can't WAIT to get back to DHS!!

 

[VeeHam]

Looks like we'll be there at the same time.

We've used Ridemax and get to each park at rope drop. As far as which park to go to when, I have no clue. Maybe someone else can help us with that. So excited!!

 

[Finally08]

We were there same time last year...crowds were not an issue. Might have helped that it MONSOONED for 2 straight days, but ...eh...

 

[Kteacher]

This will be my seventh year going at this time. Each year the crowds have gotten a little larger. I would avoid Epcot on the weekend, especially in the evenings as the Food & Wine festival brings huge crowds. We are skipping mnsshp this year because it was so crowded last year, and seemed even more so with parts of Fantasyland closed off. Other than that, as others have said, get to the parks early. The weather is usually nice, although last year it poured buckets on Friday and Saturday.

 

[ckmiles]

I'll be there too! I hope its not too crowded. I have not been to WDW this time of year so I dont have a frame of reference.

But it sure beats being at work!

 

[Scubee]

I've posted this before so anyone searching Columbus Day weekend threads may find it familiar:

We were there from Wed. before to Wed. after Columbus day 2011. The crowds on the Wed/Thur/Fri before the holiday weekend were fantastic. The weekend was hectic and busy as expected but RD and FP ensured we accomplished what we wanted. The Tues/Wed after Columbus day saw a fair drop in the crowd but still seemed more crowded than the previous week.

To be clear, we were at:

Wed - MK evening only
Thur - MK
Fri - MK and MNSSHP party
Sat - AK - great crowds mostly due to rain
Sun - Epcot - very busy by the afternoon
Columbus Day - DHS which was the park to avoid but we didn't mind
Tues - MK
Wed - morning MK before departure

We chose DHS with evening EMHs on Columbus Day. We normally avoid the evening EMH parks, but we were only planning a half day there.

We got there at RD, grabbed TSM FPs (1pm return time), managed FPs for ToT, Star Tours, enjoyed the Indy, LMA, and Disney Jr shows, along with GMR, Backstage Tour, and Muppets. Left around 4pm.

TSMM climbed to 80 minutes, Star Tours peaked around 50 minutes, the Indy stunt show was standing room only in the first 2-3 shows, Backstage Tour was 30 mins. Granted it was an evening EMH park with two Fantasmic showings and was the park to avoid.

 

[Naima1922]

We were there same time last year...crowds were not an issue. Might have helped that it MONSOONED for 2 straight days, but ...eh...

Wow...not cool! We will still party like rock stars...rain or shine! LOL! Thanks for the heads up! We will be sure to pack our ponchos!

 

[Naima1922]

I'll be there too! I hope its not too crowded. I have not been to WDW this time of year so I dont have a frame of reference.

But it sure beats being at work!

I know THAT's right! See you there!!! Until then, I'll be working to pass the time away!

 

[Finally08]

Wow...not cool! We will still party like rock stars...rain or shine! LOL! Thanks for the heads up! We will be sure to pack our ponchos!

Ponchos were a joke in this rain...we ended up at the Columbia outlet the first night buying $70 rain jackets and rubber boots. Hopefully lightening won't strike twice (ba-dum-dum!) and you'll have better weather.

 

[Naima1922]

Looks like we'll be there at the same time.

We've used Ridemax and get to each park at rope drop. As far as which park to go to when, I have no clue. Maybe someone else can help us with that. So excited!!

That is totally cool! The rope-drop tip seems like a good idea. My DH is all about getting there early. Looks like we will need to get plenty of rest...hard to do when you are so excited!

 

[Naima1922]

I've posted this before so anyone searching Columbus Day weekend threads may find it familiar:

We were there from Wed. before to Wed. after Columbus day 2011. The crowds on the Wed/Thur/Fri before the holiday weekend were fantastic. The weekend was hectic and busy as expected but RD and FP ensured we accomplished what we wanted. The Tues/Wed after Columbus day saw a fair drop in the crowd but still seemed more crowded than the previous week.

To be clear, we were at:

Wed - MK evening only
Thur - MK
Fri - MK and MNSSHP party
Sat - AK - great crowds mostly due to rain
Sun - Epcot - very busy by the afternoon
Columbus Day - DHS which was the park to avoid but we didn't mind
Tues - MK
Wed - morning MK before departure

We chose DHS with evening EMHs on Columbus Day. We normally avoid the evening EMH parks, but we were only planning a half day there.

We got there at RD, grabbed TSM FPs (1pm return time), managed FPs for ToT, Star Tours, enjoyed the Indy, LMA, and Disney Jr shows, along with GMR, Backstage Tour, and Muppets. Left around 4pm.

TSMM climbed to 80 minutes, Star Tours peaked around 50 minutes, the Indy stunt show was standing room only in the first 2-3 shows, Backstage Tour was 30 mins. Granted it was an evening EMH park with two Fantasmic showings and was the park to avoid.

Thank you for sharing your approach for last year! This will prove to be very helpful! I am feeling good about the timing of this trip already!

 

[mieuxmew]

I remember that horrible, horrible rain! We arrived that Sat early in the morning, figuring we would go to the parks - wrong! It rained until late afternoon on Sunday. Non-stop flooding rain. 7 inches of rain was reported to have fallen in 3 days!

Let's hope we don't see that again this year!

 

[Naima1922]

I remember that horrible, horrible rain! We arrived that Sat early in the morning, figuring we would go to the parks - wrong! It rained until late afternoon on Sunday. Non-stop flooding rain. 7 inches of rain was reported to have fallen in 3 days!

Let's hope we don't see that again this year!

Oh, my WORD!!! While I adore the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" portion of Fantasia, I am REALLY not trying to float away while I'm in Hollywood Studios! LOL! I am hoping and praying that the weather will be tolerable while we are there!

 

[Naima1922]

Looks like we'll be there at the same time.

We've used Ridemax and get to each park at rope drop. As far as which park to go to when, I have no clue. Maybe someone else can help us with that. So excited!!

Are you PSYCHED OR WHAT?!!! It's almost time!!

 

[Naima1922]

I remember that horrible, horrible rain! We arrived that Sat early in the morning, figuring we would go to the parks - wrong! It rained until late afternoon on Sunday. Non-stop flooding rain. 7 inches of rain was reported to have fallen in 3 days!

Let's hope we don't see that again this year!

OK...accuweather and weather channel are both predicting rain...and I don't even CARE! I just want to be there. I've got my poncho and waterproof sneakers ready! LOL! It's my birthday, and I am ready to PARTY!