Crowds Nov 11, 12, 13- conventional wisdom and park questions

[Mrs~Incredible]

Hi everyone! We are headed to wdw Nov 10-24, staying offsite, 10 day park hoppers. Will be DH, 8 yo DD and myself. With a long trip we are trying to be flexible, but want to have a plan the first couple of days because I think they will be the most crowded.

We usually avoid the EMH park since we stay off site, so that’s really where my questions are....

Mon Nov 11 (Veterans Day, also a party day at MK and morning EMH at AK). DH thinks we should avoid the holiday crowds at EP and HS (last year, the Monday after Veterans Day was pretty crowded). I think MK will be lowest crowd because it is a party day, but it is a Monday so that could bump it up a tiny bit.
DD and DH REALLY want to go to AK first. So, we are expecting high crowds because of the EMH in the morning, but figure we can use FastPass for a few things and soak in the animal trails or go to Rafiki. Is this a terrible idea? I sort of figure all of the parks will be really crowded this day (except maybe MK), so think we should just do what we want and just have realistic expectations?

Tues Nov 12 (party day, evening EMH at Epcot). Similar question- they’d like to do MK in the morning, then monorail to Epcot for a little. Will it be crazy crowded with the EMH in the evening?

Wed Nov 13- Hollywood studios!

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[palavra]

Sounds like a good plan to me! If you get FPs, you should be able to do a lot in AK on Monday. Going in the morning on a party day at MK is usually a good idea. If you are willing to just go with the flow in Epcot that afternoon and evening, you will be fine.

 

[MamaKate]

I will be there around Veterans Day also. According to Touring Plans, the following are the 2 least crowded parks for the 3 days:

Monday 11/11 - MK (5) and AK (7)
Tuesday 11/12 - MK (3) and Epcot (4)
Wednesday 11/13 - AK (2) and Epcot (2)

Even though DHS isn't the least crowded day on any of the 3 days, Wednesday is the best day to do DHS out of those 3 days. DHS is a crowd level of 5 on Wednesday.

 

[Alison S]

I agree with MK or AK on the Monday. MK will be good because it's a party day, and AK has lots to do to fill your time even if the only things you do all day are the three FPs.

I did the same weekend last year and this was my experience-
Sunday AK- crowded, still did lots since there's lots to do that doesn't require a FP or waiting in line
Monday (the holiday)- Epcot, extremely crowded
Tuesday- MK (party day) not crowded
Wednesday- HS, not crowded

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I will be there around Veterans Day also. According to Touring Plans, the following are the 2 least crowded parks for the 3 days:

Monday 11/11 - MK (5) and AK (7)
Tuesday 11/12 - MK (3) and Epcot (4)
Wednesday 11/13 - AK (2) and Epcot (2)

Even though DHS isn't the least crowded day on any of the 3 days, Wednesday is the best day to do DHS out of those 3 days. DHS is a crowd level of 5 on Wednesday.

I agree with MK or AK on the Monday. MK will be good because it's a party day, and AK has lots to do to fill your time even if the only things you do all day are the three FPs.

I did the same weekend last year and this was my experience-
Sunday AK- crowded, still did lots since there's lots to do that doesn't require a FP or waiting in line
Monday (the holiday)- Epcot, extremely crowded
Tuesday- MK (party day) not crowded
Wednesday- HS, not crowded

omg, i think we ran the same exact schedule as you last fall!! And same experience!!

Ok, feeling better about doing AK first. DD has been saving her piggy bank money for a Banshee and is super excited about doing that!!

Thanks for posting

 

[Klayfish]

We're offsite people ourselves. Some people may or may not follow our beliefs but we think the entire "avoid EMH" thing is nonsense. Go to the parks you want on the days you want. Over the course of several hundred visits, we've never noticed any crowd size difference. We're not rope drop people, so we don't show up until around 10am, and I honestly couldn't tell you if they had EMH that day or not. I think it's mostly old wives tale.

Definitely do NOT use a crowd calendar, they're nothing more than wild misleading guesses.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

We're offsite people ourselves. Some people may or may not follow our beliefs but we think the entire "avoid EMH" thing is nonsense. Go to the parks you want on the days you want. Over the course of several hundred visits, we've never noticed any crowd size difference. We're not rope drop people, so we don't show up until around 10am, and I honestly couldn't tell you if they had EMH that day or not. I think it's mostly old wives tale.

Definitely do NOT use a crowd calendar, they're nothing more than wild misleading guesses.

Thank you so much for your post! I’ve been on the dis for a while now and always appreciate your insight, @Klayfish !

Ok. It’s going to feel so liberating to just go where we want to go!

 

[DSLRuser]

pro tip.....go in expecting every day to be Christmas day crowded......come out pleasantly surprised when it is only November 12th crowded.

Disney has entire marketing teams dreaming up ways to make the parks reach full capacity every day of every year. No way around it. Prepare for a 11, be excited when it is only a 8 day.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

pro tip.....go in expecting every day to be Christmas day crowded......come out pleasantly surprised when it is only November 12th crowded.

Disney has entire marketing teams dreaming up ways to make the parks reach full capacity every day of every year. No way around it. Prepare for a 11, be excited when it is only a 8 day.

You are so right. Sometimes i feel like we are still chasing that high from the super low crowd days of old (September 2004)- we’ve been lucky to go many times since then and it seems to be more crowded every year. Still have an awesome time, but it helps to have the right expectations!