do you really have to get there first thing?

[jillybeanjo]

Getting to the parks early can make a huge difference in your vacation experience and enjoyment. Early in the morning, even if we are tired, we are making progress through the parks, getting on rides quickly, and the temperature is cooler, so we're all happy. When the park gets crowded, lines are long, and the temp is high, everyone in the family tends to get cranky.

I say absolutely go first thing, then go back to your hotel for a nap in the afternoon.

 

[WDSearcher]

small world and dumbo are both closed while we are there which is a bummer but now maybe worth it to sleep in?

It seems like you really WANT to sleep in, so do that. Just be aware that the later in the morning you arrive, the longer the lines are and the less likely you'll be to get fastpasses that aren't hours away. Then, plan that way. Everyone visits Disney at their own pace, and there are no rules about how many attractions you have to see or anything like that. But if you want to see and do everything -- if that's your goal -- you won't be able to if you sleep in.

So, basically, you need to decide what kind of a vacation you want. Did you come to WDW to see and do everything, or did you come to have a relaxing vacation and also visit the parks? It's all up to you.

 

[lclark0621]

DH & I have never done early morning hours!

In fact we usually end up getting to the parks around 10:00am. We have gone at all times of the year to.

We are still able to do all the rides & have great days. Now we are usually there for 7-10 days, so if we miss something day one we can do it later in the week.

But we have never pounded through the parks (commando style), we never do the early morning hours, and we always have a nice relaxed time in Disney World!

So no you do not have to get there first thing to do everything. Just relax & have fun. Remember you are on vacation!

 

[slp87]

I believe in getting there early. You can do so much more without the crowds or heat. We typically stay till about 2:00 and go back to swim and takes naps. My DH is also one who likes to sleep late, so we usually take about 2 waterpark days and sleep later on those days.

 

[Jillpie]

Everyone keeps saying "it depends on when you are going", so please, tell us when you are going! Everything rides on this. I've been at peak season and slow season. Peak season, forget it, if you don't get there early, you don't get on rides, period. (or you wait for them for hours, unless you use EE). I've been in January, and yes, you could have slept in and gotten on the rides, but we still got up early and used the parks all day. So, when are you going?

 

[kutchyone]

I could you some help with that question too. We are going June 7th to June 16th, first day in one of the parks will be June 8th. We intend on taking advantage of late Magic Hours. Will we need to do early Magic Hours?

 

[WDWprincessloyola]

As people have said before there are a lot of factors that play into this. My family and I have never been the type of "get there when the parks open" kind of people. Also, define sleeping in. Sleeping in for me is maybe 9:30. The hardest part is waking up and getting ready to go, but once you are in the parks, DTD, etc you seem to forget about that. I can't remember what time the parks open but if you get there around 10:00 AM it isn't too bad. After lunch it can get really crowded depending on what time you go. Also, do you plan on staying all day, until it closes? Otherwise maybe leave earlier and get to bed! Another thing to think about is taking a break in the middle of the vacation to sleep in and rejuvenate or maybe plan on going to your favorite parks more than once if you have time. It is your vacation do what you think is best for everyone, no one knows your family better than you.

 

[cookie2001]

We like to sleep later too but try to make it close to opening at least one morning for the MK (Not on EE morning ). I don't think that the other parks are as critical. We have also been dissapointed arriving later at MGM when the lines are long and there are no fast passes left.

The last time we went MK stayed open till 10 one night and that worked out really well for us. We got there about 2 and had a really fun night.

 

[WDSearcher]

I could you some help with that question too. We are going June 7th to June 16th, first day in one of the parks will be June 8th. We intend on taking advantage of late Magic Hours. Will we need to do early Magic Hours?

That's a very busy time, so if you want to make the most of your time and see the most you can see, I'd do early Magic Hours as well. You can always take off mid-day for a nap.

 

[Leota]

I agree - if sleeping in is your thing - do it & enjoy it! If you & the kids want to get going early one day & let your DH sleep in, I bet he'd be VERY grateful. I know we give my DH some sleep in in privacy days on vacation. He gets up early for work all the time & a couple blissful hours alone on vacation is something I think everyone can appreciate. We use our cel phones to meet up but you could just plan the night before when & where to meet.
It's your vacation - do it the way you find most enjoyable.

 

[Brina]

We founf that we spent far less time standing in lines if we went first thing and then took a break and went back in the mid afternoon than if we slept in and got their late morning. With small kids, for whom standing on line can be challending to say the least, there are definite advantages to going early.

 

[matdamom]

We went the second week in January, and my DH slept in every day. We did not get to see and do "everything" but we still got to all four parks during our vacation. With small children, late afternoon got to be a bit much but they really enjoyed being in the parks at night. For our next trip *hopefully* in late May/early June - I have had to convince DH that it would be in everyone's best interests to get up early when it will be cooler and less crowded. Then take a break mid-day to eat lunch, swim, rest, nap, read - whatever. After that go back to the parks in the late afternoon and stay as long as the kids will go. FL heat and humidity in late spring/early summer can be horrible and I'd rather deal with it in the pool than standing in lines.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I agree with getting up early for at least the MK day. When we went in November with my 11,7,3 year old, I did commando style for the am at MK. My kids thought I was nuts. Got us to the park before opening (which has a really cute opening ceremony with lots of characters arriving on the train) RAN to Fantasyland got the 2nd Dumbo ride of the day and knocked off that land in about 1 hour. When we finished I smiled and said done, the rest of the day is yours! When we past through a little later in the day they couldn't belive the size of the lines. I smiled at them and they then understood the need for getting that land done first thing.

 

[crzy4mk]

Still don't know when you are going, so this may not help.

If you still have time to schedule a character breakfast, you might consider doing this and making that day your "early" day. For example, last February we had breakfast at Cinderella's castle at 8:05 a.m., enjoyed a nice meal with lots of character interaction for our 4 dd, and finished around 8:50. Went downstairs and waited for the Fantasyland rope drop right there at the castle. When they let us in at 9:00, we were able to ride Peter Pan, Dumbo, Snow White, Pooh, see Mickey's Philharmagic, and head to Tomorrowland for Buzz Lightyear & Space Mountain all in the first 90 minutes of the day. I will gladly pay for the character breakfast again when we go just to get this early jump on things. Even if you just do it one day, it will help you do a lot of things in a short period of time.

 

[swilphil]

Another vote for getting there early for MK. You will save yourself from having to wait in a lot of lines later in the day. Can you make a deal with your husband that he will get to take an afternoon nap if he wakes up early for MK?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We went the second week in January, and my DH slept in every day. We did not get to see and do "everything" but we still got to all four parks during our vacation. With small children, late afternoon got to be a bit much but they really enjoyed being in the parks at night. For our next trip *hopefully* in late May/early June - I have had to convince DH that it would be in everyone's best interests to get up early when it will be cooler and less crowded. Then take a break mid-day to eat lunch, swim, rest, nap, read - whatever. After that go back to the parks in the late afternoon and stay as long as the kids will go. FL heat and humidity in late spring/early summer can be horrible and I'd rather deal with it in the pool than standing in lines.

We also were there the second week of Jan. Crowds were next to nil. Very light in the AM, but picked up speed by the MLK weekend. Even the EMH in the evening was a bit more crowded than the mornings in the parks. You won't be able to operate the same way in late May/early June since the parks will be waaaaayyyyy more crowded. Southern school are out at the end of May, so lots of southern folks will be heading to WDW - including us.

 

[kutchyone]

Let's see what the crowds are like for spring break and how the EMH & LMH effects them. Make sure to provide us with tons of information if you happen to be visiting then.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

You know, on my last trip I went with family members and I came to this conclusion...There are two types of Disney Vacationers:

A) The type that plan, schedule, make PS's, look at park hours, parade scdueles, park maps, get there at opening, use Fastpass, etc. etc. and do our best to get the "most" out of our trip.

Most of us DISers (Including me) are type A Disney Vacationers

B) The type that just go. They do a little reading up, they get that there are 4 parks, and buses/monorails that tak eyou to each. They sometimes sleep in and get to the parks after 10:00am. They don't have a plan; whatever bus shows up first dictates which park they will go to today.

And you knw what... both Type A & Type B vacationers can have FUN!

The problem comes when a Type A takes her Type B family to WDW. What a frustrating experience that was.

My family wanted to sleep in, I wanted to be at the bus stop at 8:30. They wanted to just walk around and "see what they liked," I already knew the exact order we should do each attraction. They couldn't imagine knowing what they'd want to eat three days from now, I had the weeks PS's done.

And I was absolutely amazed at the end of the week when they said "That was the best vacation I've ever been on!"

So, I said all that to say... No, you don't have to get to the parks right at opening

 

[Idahomom]

We did two days at MK. I wouldn't miss the opening of the park and the train coming in with all the characters. Now I'm a corny duck, but it just gives me goose bumps! The second day we were at MK, it was just me and my 3 dd's. My husband took a shuttle a few hours later. I would say that if it's yours or your kids first time to MK be there at opening at least 1 morning. Besides I think it's kind of fun meeting and talking to cm's or other families visiting the park.
Suzanne

 

[wendy1974]

Do you mind getting up early? If so you may want to do an early morning with your kids at MK and have your husband meet you at a certain time after he has gotten the extra sleep