Early Openings VS Less People at MK

[gailelle]

We have a choice of going to Magic Kingdom on a Friday (less crowds) or Sunday (early opening - we are staying on property) Which would you suggest? Thanks Gailelle

 

[Deweysgirl]

Everything I have heard is to avoid parks on early entry days, or go early then leave that park when it gets crowded and go to another (if you can park-hop). There is a section on allearsnet.com under planning/attendance which says that the busiest days at Magic Kingdom are Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Hope this helps...

 

[jimmiej]

My experiences say stay away from the early entry park. Way too crowded. Another option would be to park hop if you have hopper tickets. Go to MK for EE, then switch to another park when the crowds build, probably about 10-11 am.

 

[dcmbshafe]

Some of it depends upon the time of year you are going and the nature of your family. We tend to go during less crowded times (which means shorter hours) and everyone in our family are early risers, so the extra hour of touring at the EMH park is very valuable to us. We also usually plan afternoon breaks since we have young kids (DD 4, DS 3), so we leave the EMH park when it starts to get too crowded. If you don't like to park hop, if you like to sleep in, or if you plan on doing something like a character breakfast, I would definitely recommend avoiding the EMH park. On the other hand, if you don't mind park hopping and think you can get everyone to the EMH park by the time the ropes drop, take advantage of the program.

 

[dixielander]

I planned on doing MK on Monday (last week May before Mem.Day), and I already made PS's for that park.

Now I'm worried, reading that Monday is a busy day at MK. I though with EE on Sunday, Monday would be the better day to go.

Make me feel better!

 

[childsplay]

The last three years we have gone to MK for early open on Sunday (second week of June) and it has always worked out great!! We have three little ones 5,3, and 2 and have always gotten a ton done in the early morings of Sunday and then back to the room by 12:00 or 1:00 for a nap and swim and then back to the park for some evening touring. I have found the crowds quite managable all the way until our departure time at around noon, but it does take some planning.........for instance around 11:00 when they are starting to drag a littlle we always go to an airconditioned restaurant for snacks and some rest, the key however is you want to be able to come out of the break and be able to go on a ride without standing in the midday sun for 45min. so.......right before break i walk around and find fastpasses whose window will be open for use right after our break....last year we were able to get two fastpasses at once because of the window being open for both (Peter Pan and BuzzLightyear). Throw in a ride on It's a Small World, Transit Authority, and the Carousel (rarley any waits), and we hit another five rides after our break in about an hour or so.

 

[GrammieMame]

I have read that if you're not doing EMH it's best to go to the park that had EMH the day before (I guess the theory is that everyone did it yesterday and so are going on to other things). That would make Monday the ideal day for MK. But Deb's site says Monday is one of the worst days. I had planned on a Monday - should I rethink (and change my schedule AGAIN)?

 

[PKS44]

Apparently alot of people arrive on Sundays and go to MK first so Mondays, even though they are not EMH days, are crowded...I would agree that IF you can be sure to be there WHEN the park opens--and not later then EMH is worth it...but watch out...especially if you are using Disney transportation as they do not seem too terribly interested in getting most people to the park before 8:45 am or so...and by that time there could be an hour long wait for the most popular attractions...and then leave the MK for another park--as much as possible it is advisable to only hop once--there is just so much time lost moving from one park to another especially when one of the parks is the hard to reach directly MK...

Paul

 

[McKeeFamily3]

We have always gone to MK on EE days.
We do all of fantasy land, the kids get to ride thier favorites over and over again then we do toon town as soon as it opens then have breakfast at CRT. Then we head back to the hotel swim and relax then do another park or whatever. We've never stayed in the park past 11 am so I don't know how crowded it gets.
Works great for us!