ESPN Weekend While We There. Assuming MK Will Be Busy That Friday?

[viluvsdisney]

Curious about feedback during ESPN weekend on Feb 27. We get there on the 25th...but won't be attending parks until the 26, 27, 28, and March 1st. The ESPN weekend marathon is the 27th on Saturday. Are we correct in thinking MK will be busy the day before the marathon at HS? Any other advice about ESPN weekend is appreciated....we're not there to attend the ESPN functions....just happen to be there at the same time. Thanks for any input!

 

[viluvsdisney]

givin a bump

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Espn weekend is held at Hollywood Studios. I didn't know if you knew that. Friday at MK should be a good day!

http://allears.net/tp/mgm/espn.htm

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I read more of your post. MK early entry is the day before and there is not Spectro on Friday but there is on Saturday ... meaning Friday at MK should be great am and pm.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

We also arrive that weekend on the 27th. We have been many times the weekend of ESPN and do not notice much of a difference in crowds at all. Hollywood Studios is busy in the hat area and other than that we did not notice much of a change in crowd patterns.

 

[viluvsdisney]

Fantastic info. Greatly appreciated! If you don't mind my asking.....what days will you be attending which parks? I'm not hip to which park for what reasons anymore. Trying to figure out the four days we'll be there.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Are you park hopping?

Magic Kingowm should be good all day on Friday and Wishes is showing that night as well. Let me look at our plans.... but we do park hop.. but mostly I wing it these days but I don't mind looking at it for you.

 

[viluvsdisney]

Yep - we hop. We're staying at the Dolphin for the few nights we're there. We'll hit the parks starting the 26th (we get into the Orlando are mid morning the 25th). Our kiddos are 10 and 7 yrs. We're good about getting around and we'll have a car with us. Thanks again...I really appreciate it

 

[viluvsdisney]

Sorry - i made a quick edit there on the dates....tired brain today

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Friday ~ Magic Kingdom in the am and Hollywood Studios after (no Fantasmic or EMH conflict)

Saturday Epcot and Animal Kingdom ~ Epcot PM Emh was the night before or go to Animal all day and go to Epcot all day on Monday.

Sunday ~ Epcot and Animal Kingdom both good these days as well and Magic should be good in the morning.. Sunday am at Rope drop at Magic Kingdom is always good until after lunch. You might go to Magic this day and stay until the crowds get to bad then go somewhere else.

Monday ~ Epcot is good!

The only good day for Hollywood that I see during those 4 days is Friday the 26th. You have early morning hours at Hollywood on Saturday and then Fantasmic draw on Sunday. and then the evening EMH at Hollywood on March 1st.

Not sure this helps but that is what I see going on.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I did not see your post before I wrote mine.

I would go
Friday ~ Magic Kingdom in the am and Hollywood Studios after (no Fantasmic or EMH conflict)

Saturday Animal Kingdom and then Epcot or Animal all day

Sunday ~ Magic Kingdom and Fantasmic? if your wanting to see it I would just hop int to do a few things and see Fantasmic

Monday ~ Epcot is good! Not sure what time you are leaving.

Thsi gives you 2 mornings at Magic Kingdom.

 

[viluvsdisney]

Thank you so much. Our primary goal this trip is to get our son (7) into jedi traning When I read about that marathon I wasn't sure what effect it would have on the park and when to go. I really appreciate your feedback. Thanks again!

 

[TaraPA]

Hi gang! Hey Mom Poppins, I recognize you from the S/D board! We'll be The Dolphin that weekend too! I had no idea it was ESPN weekend when I booked it, but DH & DS12 & DS9 are THRILLED! I'm actually hoping to leave the 3 of them at DHS for a few hours while I go off on my own!

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Hi TaraPA I recognize you also. I will be at the Boardwalk this time around. Surprising DH for his bday!

 

[TaraPA]

Lucky you! I've always wanted to stay at BW. I actually have a ressie on hold for BWV for the following weekend (on points) but then DH came home & said his company was hosting a conference at The Dolphin the week before...so I figured we'd take advantage of the free room!

 

[viluvsdisney]

this is OT - but do you know anything about the spa at S/D? I'm looking to get a massage while there. I posted on the resorts board, but it appears you may know the resort well enough....thanks again and again

 

[paras4ri]

We also arrive that weekend on the 27th. We have been many times the weekend of ESPN and do not notice much of a difference in crowds at all. Hollywood Studios is busy in the hat area and other than that we did not notice much of a change in crowd patterns.

I agree with your observations of the activities at the Studios for the weekend - and would like to add one more observation. When we attended in 2007 it seemed fast passes went quickly those days as family members who weren't watching the sports figures went on rides more often.

Yep - we hop. We're staying at the Dolphin for the few nights we're there. We'll hit the parks starting the 26th (we get into the Orlando are mid morning the 25th). Our kiddos are 10 and 7 yrs. We're good about getting around and we'll have a car with us. Thanks again...I really appreciate it

Hi gang! Hey Mom Poppins, I recognize you from the S/D board! We'll be The Dolphin that weekend too! I had no idea it was ESPN weekend when I booked it, but DH & DS12 & DS9 are THRILLED! I'm actually hoping to leave the 3 of them at DHS for a few hours while I go off on my own!

We'll also be at the Dolphin from the 24th to the 28th for the festivities - it's our 18th birthday/early graduation gift to DS who will be majoring in sports management in college. He didn't go the last time we did as it was a work event for me and had been jealous ever since.

I would like to add two observations about parks for the weekend. Splash Mountain is scheduled to re-open from a long rehab on Sunday 2/28 so I suspect MK will be busy that morning. We're planning to be there as it will be our only chance to ride it on our trip. Also, the ESPN the Weekend 5K will be run on the morning of Saturday, 2/27 and the race is actually run through and around the Studios. DD, DS and DH plan to run! It begins early, 7 am, but it's also EMH there that morning and the combination of those two things should put more people at that park on Saturday.

 

[TaraPA]

Hmmmm......I smell a DIS Meet at The Dolphin or Boardwalk! DH's conference runs through Friday at The Dolphin so it will just be the kids & I from Wed. night til Fri. night (he is arriving Sunday 2/21 for the conf). Then we'll have the weekend together & fly back to PA on Monday. Short trip, but it's getting harder & harder to take the kids out of school.

I've never used the spa at The Dolphin. Maybe while they're at ESPN weekend.....

 

[MsPoppinsTX]

My husband and I went last year for ESPN the Weekend (and the following week) and the crowds were really very doable. We ran the 5k that Saturday morning and since its only 3.1 miles most people are done in a 1/2 hour and you have to be done in less than 1 hour (or something like that) or they pick you up on a golf cart. You start and finish outside the park and so when its over most of the runners leave. We actually stayed until park opening just so we could go in and do Toy Story Mania at least once that day since we knew we wouldn't be back in time for rope drop. Even with the ESPN crowds (which we didn't even notice were any different than any other time we've been there "off season") we were able to ride TOT and RnR at least three times each throughout the day without much of a wait...we even did Toy Story Mania another 2 times. The activities they have are actually pretty cool too. The interactive sports is behind the TOT and then there are live interviews under the hat as well as in some of the other theaters.

 

[viluvsdisney]

great info. Sounds like, overall, crowds are manageable.