Doubting my plans...please help!

[MS_mom_1965]

Our last trip, we stayed off site at a condo. We got there at RD each day, but of course, lines quickly formed. We stayed at the parks until wiped out each day, eating CS at the park for lunch, then just finding somewhere nicer off site for dinner. It was Thanksgiving that trip too.

I had wanted this trip to be a little more relaxed. I have reservations at a DW moderate resort, and the DDP. I have 7 day park hoppers. I had thought we could hit the morning EMH, stay until around lunch (having a CS lunch at the park), then go back to hotel, swim/rest, and have nice sit-down dinner, possibly at a park so we could get in a few more rides/attractions.

Now I've decided I would really like to get a campsite. Would save me almost $900 over the hotel cost, less around $150 extra gas to pull the camper down. However, I could cook breakfast and we wouldn't have to eat pop-tarts, ets. Then, I joined a planning site, and I see I should avoid EMH both morning and evening for all parks. Hmmm...

I'm wondering now if I should stay at a hotel off-site, pay for our our meals instead of the DDP, and save a lot of money. Or would we be more likely to go back and rest if we stayed on site? Are the morning EMH really that bad during Thanksgiving week? I feel like I'm paying for an "extra" I won't be using.

I hate wondering if I should just start all over with my planning.

Please help!

 

[dizneyluv]

that our experience with a.m. EMH was great, we did not avoid despite our "touring plan". The p.m. EMH at Epcot was great, crowded p.m. EMH at Magic Kingdom.

We loved the emh's. I know the touring guides say avoid them but especially the a.m. ones were hits with us.

DH LOVES the dining plan so that is on for next year as well. We love staying on site.

We didn't like staying off-site once we stayed on! And my idea of camping is the Value resort! Which we LOVED.

It's all a matter of preference and the personality of your family. You should try it once if in the budget and experience it first hand. That way in the future you know for sure.

Being on site and enjoying the restaurants was all part of the magic for us.

 

[AJKMOM]

We are early risers and always use the AM EMH. We didn't have such good luck with the PM ones, though. You will get many opinions though.

 

[MS_mom_1965]

Has anybody used the early EMH during a busier time at the parks? We'll be there Thanksgiving week.

 

[BabyFu18]

Last year we were at Disney in July (a very busy time) and did both morning and evening EMH and never thought it was any more crowded than regular park hours. I guess since I've only ever been in the summer I find the parks always crowded of course but never to the point where I'd rather leave than stand in line. To me, crowded parks are just part of the whole Disney experience.

As far as being more likely to go back to the hotel during parts of the day, when we stayed off-stie when I was little we never went back to the hotel during the day but staying on site now we tend to take advantage of the bus services to get out of the hot sun during the heat of the day. I guess that's just a personal choice though.

 

[MainStreetFireman]

We stayed off-site for free with hotel points in 2001, then paid to stay on-site in 2004. It was no contest. Given the choice in 2006, we paid to stay on-site again.

It is not cheap. We are a two income family who can only afford a trip about every other year, and we make a little ritual of it in our bi-weekly additions of $50 when we recount the "Disney Fund". This is because we know it is more expensive for us to stay on-site, and that is because of what "vacation" means to us.

It means no food shopping, cooking or cleaning for anyone. It means getting to the parks for the RD, skipping out after an early lunch for naps and/or pool at our nearby resort, and then going back to the parks for more attractions and dinner. From the moment we arrive at the airplane gate until we board ME for our return trip, we maximize our magic.

It is a tough balance of the magic and the money, but we all have to have our own equation for that. Good luck in your search!

 

[CanadianGuy]

I use the EMH's extensively. If you get there early and hit the big ticket items hard.. it's not so bad.

The only catch here is this doesn't work so well at VERY peak times like Thanksgiving.

The EVENING EMH's, however, work GREAT during peak holiday times because the EMH parks are open VERY late.. (usually well after midnight except for AK) .. you can get a LOT done between 10:30pm and 1am at most of the parks with a late evening EMH.

This usually means an afternoon nap and rest for me.

Knox

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Staying on site is simply an entirely different experience than off site. it is being an "insider" and you actually feel the difference. and yes it is easier to return to your hotel for a rest, bath, swimming what ever and return to the parks later.
Follow your first instincts and stay at the Moderater resort on site.

 

[WindyCityDisney]

We got to Epcot last week at 7:35 for EMH. There were only 4 turnstiles open and the lines went all the way back to the tram drop-off point. It was a nightmare! We didn't get through the gates until 8:25. I was so angry that I lodged a complaint when we left the park in the

On the other hand, we did MK early EMH with much less of a problem throughout our stay. And the evening EMH at MK on Friday 8/3 was great! The park was open until 3:00 a.m. It was crowded for the first 60-75 minutes and then the park seemed to empty.

My 6YO DD was a trooper and made it through the whole thing! We were on Pirates as the clock struck 3. She was nodding off a bit on the bus ride home, but was able to walk back to the room with no problem. (She was casted from her right fingertips to above the elbow and is very large for her age, so there was no way I could have carried her.)

 

[MS_mom_1965]

We normally try to vacation "cheap". I like the on-site idea. I WANT TO FEEL THE DISNEY MAGIC THE WHOLE TIME!

There, I said it...

Anyway, now to decide campsite or moderate hotel room?

Pros for hotel room - maid service! prettier pool
Cons - less privacy in room, I expect more people to be around the hotel room than around my camper ( like hearing the people in the next room), only cold food like Pop-Tarts or leftover desserts for breakfast.

Pros for camper - my own bed! hot breakfast, plenty of activities to do at the campground (marshmallow roast w/movie, petting barn, more playgrounds), should save around $800 - even after paying for more gas
Cons - pool is pretty plain looking, have to wash towels a couple of times


Can any of you add to my pros and cons for each?

Anybody else used early EMH at a peak season? I don't think we'll be out late enough to use the late EMH, unless maybe at AK.

 

[carcam51]

You've already made the decision to stay onsite in a moderate and have budgeted for this vacation, so why are you second guessing yourself? IMO, staying in a camper is not a relaxing vacation. Yes, you could have a warm breakfast, but other than that I'd rather pay the extra money (which isn't really extra since you've been planning to pay it anyway) and stay in the hotel. All of those other activites at the campground like the marshmallow roast and movie that were mentioned as 'pros' to camping are available to anyone on Disney property, so you really can't count those. You have to ask yourself what will really make your trip the most enjoyable it can be.

As for EMHs I was there last May, which I know is not peak season, but I had no issues with crowds and actually planned my days around when there would be EMHs so I could go back in the evening. It was very hot when we were there, so most days we did go back to the hotel for a swim and a nap before heading back to the parks.

Good luck to you and have a great time whatever you decide

 

[carcam51]

You've already made the decision to stay onsite in a moderate and have budgeted for this vacation, so why are you second guessing yourself? IMO, staying in a camper is not a relaxing vacation. Yes, you could have a warm breakfast, but other than that I'd rather pay the extra money (which isn't really extra since you've been planning to pay it anyway) and stay in the hotel. All of those other activites at the campground like the marshmallow roast and movie that were mentioned as 'pros' to camping are available to anyone on Disney property, so you really can't count those. You have to ask yourself what will really make your trip the most enjoyable it can be.

As for EMHs I was there last May, which I know is not peak season, but I had no issues with crowds and actually planned my days around when there would be EMHs so I could go back in the evening. It was very hot when we were there, so most days we did go back to the hotel for a swim and a nap before heading back to the parks.

Good luck to you and have a great time whatever you decide

 

[Miniefan]

I have stayed onsite and stayed offsite only once, the first time. Once you stay onsite, you will be glad you did. As for the camping, it really isn't my cup of tea, and for my family camping would not be very relaxing. If you are concerned about the $$, look into staying at one of the Value Resorts, for us they work great, because we can't honestly justify spending so much money on a room that is really only going to be used to sleep and shower in.

As for the EMH's we always use them even though many people avoid them like the plague. The only park that it has ever really been that busy is MK evening Emh but even then the waits are only 20 mins tops.

I would either leave my original plan or maybe change to Value's if the $$ is an issue. Either way, enjoy your trip!!

Kim

 

[ldo]

1st, if you are an early riser, then EMH can work--just leave that park after the 1st 2 hours and go to another park. We can't get going that early--so it is a total waste forus.
If you stay off-site and can't use EMH you have to have different attitude. Mine is: we are saving enough $$ to come back again--we won't wati in line too much and we won't be miserable.
We get there by 9 AM--even when park opens for all at 8 AM. We have a "plan" of what rides to ride at a certain location (all in Adventureland, all in Futureworld, etc.) and we hit those 1st thing in AM (many times walking on them at 9:15 or so, and getting FP to come back later.

Once 11 AM hits, it's getting crowded---we use our FP and then go to a ride that is a show where a lot of people can get it (country bear, phil, etc.). We have to skip other rides (and promise to do that one another day). We either stay, eat lunch and go to another park and do more Show things, or go back to hotel, relax and come back later in the evening (for shows).
I find that you have to go on rides during the AM and shows in the PM and this works VERY well--

AK and MGM also works well for 2nd 1/2 of the day if you go only to the SHows and FP a lesser ride. Epcot does well for lesser rides and walking aournd the countries.
WIth a Park hopper, you can do this plan everyday--just go to a different section of MK each AM, ride your favorites and then off to another park.
You HAVE to be willing to give up NEW major rides---no EE, Soarin, etc.--or you need to go 1st thing in the AM and make that your priority---MK is more ours and we are willing to give up the others.
FtW is really fun--so, if you are into trailer camping, it's really fun--we did this as kids in a motor coach and they werew some of our BEST trips---don't even remember the PArks as mch at Ft. W!!

 

[twinspluscade]

Since you already have a camper--and it would save you so much money--I would camp. I've heard the campground is really nice--in fact, if the cabins weren't so expensive I would love to stay there.