Early Entry or Avoid Early Entry?

[fdecker]

I know we could debate the psychology of which method to use, but for people who have been to the parks in that last year or two, which do you prefer and why. It does seem like it funnels so many people in the the EE park that day, but it is nice to get the extra hour and there is often the possibility to take the afternoon and do to one of the other parks.

Fred

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I have the same question! I made a spreadsheet with the days of my trip on it and filled out the park hours and our confirmed event (Wishes, MVMCP). Then I just started putting in PS's that I would like and it just so happens that I chose AK on Monday (EMH), MGM on Tues (EMH), and Epcot on Wed (EMH)! I wasn't even trying to!

Now I'm trying to decided if this is OK or if I should rearrange the whole thing.

D4D

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We do use EE and have been very satisfied. Get there before opening and get on whatever attractions are on your "A" list. Don't forget to grab Fast Passes for another major attraction you want to ride. The first couple of hours of EE are fine. It's when the "normal" crowd for the day starts to arrive that things can get crazy. You then have the EE group and the rest coming in and it can get really crowded. We normally get out of the EE park by around 11am - noon. We head back to the hotel for a break and then on to another park later on.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I'm trying to remember what we've done in the past. I guess the good thing about EE is you can get in early and head to the BACK of the park! Do all the things you want to do there and then start heading up front and catch those attractions as the crowd starts to rise.

I love the afternoon-nap way of planning. Get to park early, ride rides, eat, go to hotel, swim, nap, and back to another park.

Luckily, we're going in the low season. So even "busy" times aren't that busy.

D4D

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Someone recommended a while back to take the train at the MK entrance to get far into the park before the walkers going up Main Street. We did this and it was great. Saved a lot of time and the Frontierland area was quiet when we got off the train.
We were able to do Big Thunder and Splash Mountains with little waits. We also grabbed Fast Passes for more rides on these two.
Amazing the tips we all get from each other on these boards.

 

[swilphil]

We do EE in MK and find that worthwhile. We leave right before or after lunch and hop to another park. We go to the other parks the day after they have had EE.

P.S. Is Frontierland open during EE? I thought when we were there that it didn't open until 9 on the EE day.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

They were two years ago, but I don't think Frontierland opens early any more.

 

[hezreck]

We don't go to the EE park on any day. We have never really needed to. We stay at the parks all day until closing, so we have never had a problem doing everything we wanted to do.

Both times we did this it was a very slow time. Last time was 2 weeks after Sept. 11. Parks were deserted with no lines.
First time was our Honeymoon. Not a slow time (June/July) but we didn't have kids so we skipped quite a bit of the rides.

This Nov/Dec I don't plan on going to the EE park on any of the days either. Hoping the other parks will be less crowded.

Well, have a great trip!

 

[goofydad621]

We always do the EE at the MK, but last 2 trips have been during School vaca in the nort east and Thanksgiving week. The extra time allowed us to do some major attractions before there was a huge wait. (it was before fast pass too) Then we would leave the park around 11:30 when it was getting really busy have a swim and lunch at the resort then off to another park, Worked well for us with 2 kids at the time. This next trip in Jan. not sure what we are going to do since it won't be as crowded.

 

[dmaz]

Last trip I set up our schedule to go to EE at all of the parks. By Day 2 we scrapped the plans and went to parks w/out EE. It was a hassle with 2 little one and the crowds. It's probably better with older children who are all on foot.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would have it depend on two things. First, are you able to get up early without your family hating you? If it's too much of a hardship--stay up late at night, etc, then it might not be worth it. However, if you're up anyway you might want to consider it.

Also, I would be more likely to do EE if I was going to take a mid-day break, anyway. Then go to EE, stay until it starts to get crowded, take the hotel nap and/or swim break and then return to a different park.

We've done EE during slow times without park hopping, and then it's nice to have the extra hour since the parks close early.

Also, you don't have to do EE every day--you can try it and see if it works for your family. Just make sure you get there at least an hour early if you are going to do EE.

T&B

 

[Got Quattro?]

we skip the EE parks at all cost.

most people dont make it at the rope drop (us)

but go anyway....we have found in our vast years that EE = crowded

so we just head to a different park all together

 

[huckster]

we used to be die hard ee days this past trip we did not we went to other parks . we found them to much less crowded we now will not do ee days again.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

For us it depends on a lot of things. We typically only used EMH for the MK and AK. Our strategy is to be there a few minues before the park opens for EMH and spend from 8:00 to maybe 11:00 at the latest there then get out. We eat and take breaks then and head to a different park for the evening. The only exception is that we avoid EMH parks like the plague during really really busy season. We went Christmas week last year and will do it again this year. All the parks are crowded every day, all day but EMH just makes sure that THAT park is the MOST crowded right up untlll park closing. Also, regular opening is at 8 am so EMH is at 7 am. That extra hour of sleep is important especially since the parks are open later at night.

 

[NotUrsula]

I find EE to be a good strategy as long as you make it an absolute *rule* to be on your way out of that park by 11 am. (Or in the case of a sit-down lunch in a park, on your way to the restaurant.)

With babies & preschoolers, I consider EE at MK a must-do. You can do ALL of Fantasyland before the waits get long, which is imperative with small children who do not do line waits well.
We send one parent to get a FP for Buzz on the way in, then hit Buzz on our way out of the park. Voila! every kiddy-fave ride except the Barnstormer, done before 11 am.

EE works best when you park-hop; if you don't, it won't be nearly as worthwhile.

 

[BCVBRUCE]

Originally posted by wdwgoofeeee
Someone recommended a while back to take the train at the MK entrance to get far into the park before the walkers going up Main Street. We did this and it was great. Saved a lot of time and the Frontierland area was quiet when we got off the train.
We were able to do Big Thunder and Splash Mountains with little waits. We also grabbed Fast Passes for more rides on these two.
Amazing the tips we all get from each other on these boards.

Exactly what we do. It is great!

Have Fun,
Bruce

 

[Laralyn]

I looked into the same issue for our upcoming trip. Early entry seems to work great if:

1) You don't mind getting up really early; and

2) You don't mind park-hopping.

I know my BF doesn't consider it a vacation if every day starts at 6 AM, and since it's his first trip, I would rather not park-hop. So I changed all of our PS to move to non-EE days.

 

[sorchamac]

So, if I'm staying at WL and I want to get to MK for the rope drop on a EE day, what time should I plan on leaving my room?

Thanks-

Sorcha

 

[Robo]

The message is getting MIXED here.
To say that an EE park is more crowded on it EE day is just ODD!

1. EE park is open 1 hour early to on-property guests only so...
a. It is NEVER as crowded FOR THAT FIRST HOUR as it will be later in the day.
b. You get to enjoy selected rides with short lines for an EXTRA HOUR more than if you go to any other park that day (and that's why I'm at WDW!)

2. You simply can NOT go wrong if you get to the EE park ahead of its (early) opening time because... (even if you stand in line at the entry-gate, once you get inside:
a. You will be ahead of THOUSANDS of others who "can't" get up early (or are not staying on-property).
b. If you know what you're doing, youi can ride/re-ride your favorite (EE) attraction many times as the crowd scatters and re-groups... WDW attractions can "eat up" so many more folks than you think possible.
c. You don't HAVE to STAY in that park that day... just HOP to any other park or area you'd like with the knowledge that you got to be "special" and enjoy some of the shortest lines of the day anywhere!

3. If Disney is OPEN and I'm down for a visit... I'm going to go IN... that's why I'm there... I can always SLEEP at home.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Robo, of course hopping can take an hour, so that extra hour in the park for EE can be eaten up if and when a person hops, unless they would take a mid-day break regardless.

What works for one person doesn't work for everyone so everyone needs to make a plan based on what they think will work for them and their family and be ready to change that plan when need be.

My DH would not have been a happy camper if I had of made him wake up early every morning since we were up late at night (late for us) at Pleasure Island, Cirque, MNSSHP (actually, we did go to EE the morning after MNSSHP, but it was our last day and were fine with that).

T&B