Confused - Any opinions??

[Goingforbroke]

We'll be visiting WDW from 11/20 - 11/25. We're not planning on visiting a park on the Sunday we arrive. We would like to spend 2 days at MK and then one day at the 3 other parks. I was originally thinking we should try to avoid MK altogether on Wed., Thurs., & Frid. since this is when the Thanksgiving crowd starts to get really crowed! So that leaves Monday and Tuesday. But I've heard Mondays can be very crowed at MK as well. I guess we could go on Tuesday and Wednesday. What do you think?? Should we stick to going to MK on Monday and Tuesday since these might be the least crowed days over Thanksgiving week? Or should we try going on Tues. and Wed. instead?
Any suggestions? After I get MK figured out, maybe it will be easier to pick a day for the other parks. Thanks for your help!

 

[40-Something Kid]

Congratulations and have a great time!!!! Make sure you see the incredible Osborne Family (not Ozzy, much more conventional family) Holiday Lights at MGM Studios!!! Learn the FASTPASS system RIGHT AWAY, so you make best use of your time.

Now to your question.

Based on years of experience at WDW during the dreaded holiday weeks, by all means go to MK as far away from the holiday, in your case as early as practical Monday and/or Tuesday. I have been to MK I would estimate about 100 times. It is the most consistently crowded park. (Yes, I have a Disney addiction problem--my Virginia family and my sister's Connecticut family spend about 3 weeks a year together in Disney--this year 4 trips, 3 weeks total. But since I don't drink, smoke, gamble, cause trouble or run up debts I can't pay, I figure my addiction is not so bad!!!!)

Like you, I have also heard that the park is more crowded on Mondays. That may have been true when MK used to have early opening on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. But that has changed. I don't notice a difference on Mondays, but I do notice a difference in all of the parks during Extra Magic Hours, which replaced early openings.

I recommend that you take into account in your plan the Extra Magic Hour schedule. There is usually one of the four parks per day that will either open early or stay open late. The schedule is posted on the Disney website, http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour and maybe this website, too. The EMH is available to on-site resort guests only.

My advice is---if the park opens early, don't go to that park unless you are staying on site (which makes you eligible) and you go early yourself. Likewise, if it is staying open late, don't go to that park unless you are staying on-site and plan to stay late yourself.

The Extra Magic Hours for MK during your stay, according to Disney, is early EMH on Friday, 11/25 and late EMH on Wednesday, 11/23, so no EMH crowds at MK on Monday and Tuesday. Crowds, yes, but no dreaded Holiday Week EMH Crowds.

EPCOT opens early on Monday, 11/21, and closes late on Thursday, 11/24.

MGM opens early on Tuesday, 11/22.

Animal Kingdom stays open late on Tuesday, 11/22.

Have fun, fun, fun!!! Don't forget to see Soarin' Over California at EPCOT.


40-Something Kid