Help! January EMH threw a wrench in my plans!!

[harleyquinn]

AHHHH!!
I'm going January 25-Febuary 1 and staying at POP on the dining plan.

Here are my plans:
Arrive Wednesday @ 6pm--go to PI
Thursday--MK, ADR for 5:30 at Ohana MK Morning EMH
Friday--EP, ADR for Le Cellier at 6:30 EP Evening EMH
Saturday--DS (MGM), ADR for Cali Grille DS Morning EMH
Sunday--non park day
Monday--AK, ADR for 6:30 at Boma AK morning EMH
Tuesday--catch-up day for EP and MK.

Okay, for some reason I was SURE there were no EMH on the days I was going to the parks. I KNOW I was trying to aviod them like the plague. Well somehow, I managed to pick every park that has some kind of EMH EVERY SINGLE DAY besides the non-park day!

I am going in January to avoid crowds! Did I put myself in a horrible position or will the EMH days not be so bad since it is January? I don't mind the AK day, because its a morning. I'm really worried about my EPCOT day, which has an evening FW EMH. All the others are mornings, so if it gets too bad we leave. We have Park Hoppers. But that will be a pain, because of the ADRs.

What do you think? Should I redo the whole thing and try for new ADRs? Or will I be okay?

 

[Lucky4me]

I think that is the new slowest week of the year. I doubt you will have to worry about any crowds, EMH or not, except (possibly) MK on a Saturday.
Don't worry and have fun!!

 

[harleyquinn]

I think that is the new slowest week of the year.

That's exactly why I picked it!!

Thanks! I hope you're right. I'm actually hoping that I can be more flexible and not actually NEED my ADRs, but I wanted to make sure just in case.

I figured out where I had looked to see historic EMHs. It was allearsnet.com. I only looked at December, figuring it would be similar, but when I went through the rest each month had the basic same set up for each week, but every month was different. AHHHH!

 

[kilee]

I don't think it will make the parks massively croweded. However, if it's possible to switch things still, I might try to move a few of them around. It won't be crowded, but it's still going to be the busier park.

 

[SandrainNC]

The exact same thing happened to me!!! We are going Jan. 21 - 30. I had to completely switch things around except for the early morning Thursday at MK. We were able to get CRT and there is no way to get it another day now, so we will just have to deal with it that day.

Sandra

 

[riu girl]

Same situation here, but we are going the first weekof Jan (MUCH busier week I'm sure). I rearranged ADRs as best as I could but will still be at parks on two of the EMH days but will just hope for the best I guess.
I was in shock when I first saw the new EMH schd.!!!!!

Suzy V

 

[JerseyJ]

Same situation here, but we are going the first weekof Jan (MUCH busier week I'm sure). I rearranged ADRs as best as I could but will still be at parks on two of the EMH days but will just hope for the best I guess.
I was in shock when I first saw the new EMH schd.!!!!!

Suzy V

Looks like we'll be there the same time & I echo your sentiments. Had to totally rework our plans. Would love to see your park schedule to get another perspective.

 

[riu girl]

Sun - EP/FW /WS- whole day adr for early dinner, illuminations
Mon - EP - half day (afternoon) to finish up WS
Tues - MK - half day - CRT lunch ADR
Wed - MK - half day (afternoon only including wishes in the evening), but first late morning ADR at a resort
Thurs - MK - half day
Fri - MGM - whole day including fantasmic
Sat - MGM - half day (just to finish up what we missed on Fri and to eat at Sci fi)

I have not checked this tentative plan against www.touringplans/bestdays.com
but will shortly to see if this makes any sense.
With this plan I am still hitting parks during two emh days Thurs MK and Sat MGM, but these will be days when we will spend not mcuh time in the parks so this should be ok.
What do you think?
Suzy

 

[harleyquinn]

I was so excited when I thought we could do MK and EP our first two days. I think i'll try and switch some things. I can't believe the 27th is a 7 according to UG! Yuck! And they put MK as a park to go to--on a saturday!! Doesn't that sound nuts? I've always avoided MK on the weekend.

 

[kilee]

Now all we can hope is that they don't up and completely switch it around again. With the hours coming out earlier now (I know we're in the January zone now anyhow) I'm a bit worried they may change them up 100 times before.

 

[JerseyJ]

Sun - EP/FW /WS- whole day adr for early dinner, illuminations
Mon - EP - half day (afternoon) to finish up WS
Tues - MK - half day - CRT lunch ADR
Wed - MK - half day (afternoon only including wishes in the evening), but first late morning ADR at a resort
Thurs - MK - half day
Fri - MGM - whole day including fantasmic
Sat - MGM - half day (just to finish up what we missed on Fri and to eat at Sci fi)

I have not checked this tentative plan against www.touringplans/bestdays.com
but will shortly to see if this makes any sense.
With this plan I am still hitting parks during two emh days Thurs MK and Sat MGM, but these will be days when we will spend not mcuh time in the parks so this should be ok.
What do you think?
Suzy

Are you skipping AK? Looks like you've build nice rest periods in.
Looking forward to see how you make out on www.touring plans.

Our plans:
Mon: Animal Kingdom then Park hop to Epcot for dinner @ LeCellier/Illuninations.
Tues: Epcot then park hop to MK for Spectomagic & Fireworks.
Wed: Epcot & Segway Tour - PM rest - California Grill for dinner & another view of Fireworks
Thurs: MK then Hoop Dee Doo @ 7:15
Fri: Crystal Palace for 8AM + Park Opening MK @ 9AM. Park hop to AK in PM
Sat: DS/MGM
Sun: Early AM for BIL running Marathon.
Bal of Sunday & Monday = go to whatever parks we want to spend more time in.

Alot of park hopping due to need to work around Segway tour, EMH & Marathon while trying to avoid Monday late night fireworks.
Comments on plans appreciated.

 

[riu girl]

We are skipping AK this trip since we were there last year. Plus this year prior to coming to Disney we will spend two weeks (Dec 17-Dec 31) in Siesta Key and will have unlimited passes to Busch Gardens (planning on going three or four times in a two week period). I understand that Busch Gardens is not AK, but it will have to do this year. I feel that doing 3 parks in 7 days (with lots of breaks/downtime) is enough for us. By adding AK, I think we would not be able to tour the other 3 parks completely.

Your plan looks great, I can tell you have put a lot of thought into it. I really like how you have most of Sun and Monday for whatever park you feel you need more time in.
Have you checked touring plans out yet? They have increased the expected wait times for most days that week. It is a great site and I look at the areas where I don't have to pay (expected crowd levels and best days etc).

Having to redo the touring plan/ADRs (due to changed EMHs) was something I didn't expect to have to do. Even if my plan isn't perfect, I think I have put enough time/effort into it. I just want to get on with this holiday (3.5 weeks total!!!)

Suzy V

 

[JerseyJ]

Susie V
2 weeks in Siesta Key - I'm jealous. Love it there. Used to go there every year when my MIL & FIL lived in North Port however they've sold the Fla home due to health reasons & are back @ the Jersey Shore.

Wish we had time to put the breaks in during the day like you did but since Sunday's park days may be somewhat limited because of the Marathon likely making it difficult to get around (plus we are starting the day before 5AM to cheer my BIL in the Marathon & ending it @ DD for the awards) we didn't want to depend on that day. Luckily, our flight on Monday was changed from a 5PM departure to 7PM. Gives us 2 extra hours.
Hopefully since it's just us adult kids this time we can get around quicker. Are you touring w/ kids?

Have not had a chance to check touring plans or tourguidemike yet. How does the touring plan site work? Do you imput where you want to go what days? Do you have ability to change tour plans around on touring plans if the EMH change.

 

[riu girl]

This will be our first ever visit to the gulf coast so we are really excited. Can you offer any tips for the Siesta Key area?
As of right now are are going to visit:
Busch Gardens, MOTE, pelican man bird sanc, Venice beach (for sharks teeth), sunday night drum circle, take a pirate cruise, myakka state park (and go on both the tram and boat tour), warm mineral springs, plus tons of beach/pool time.
Plus we are hoping to enjoy some live island music at the new tiki bar at captain curts? Are you familiar with any tiki bars with live or DJ music on the beach anywhere in the area??

RE: disney touring plan I just go to www.touringplans.com/bestdays.htm and scroll down to the dates I will do there. This web site provides approx. attraction wait times on those days as well as what park is the most/least desirable to go to that day. I'm sure there is a ton of other info. on the site but have not had the chance to look at it.

At Siesta Key it will be me, DH and our two kids. My mom will join us near the end of our Siesta Key holiday and then DH will drop all of us in Disney Dec 31 for 8 nights. DH flies home on Dec 31.

Let me know what you think of the touring plans web site.
Suzy V

 

[JerseyJ]

riu girl - you've got alot of the places listed that I would have sent you. Venice Beach is great for sharktooth hunting. Over the years, our family has even found a few that were 2" long but most are much smaller. Really sparked an interest in sharks & ocean life for my son. Pick up a Sharptooth catcher when you get down there. ( a mesh basket that is on the end of a pole like a broom stick pole.) Makes it alot easier on your back & lets you dredge the sand at the water edge & makes for better shark tooth finds.

Used to love a place called Sharkey's that was on a pier overlooking the gulf near Venice Airport. (the infamous airport where some of the 911 hijackers trained) Not sure if it is still there but they had good food & music. It's been over 10 years since we've been down. I will pick the brains of some of our family & see if they have any other suggestions.

Haven't gotten to check touring site yet but will tonight or tommorow. Thanks for the link.

Tired tonight - not thinking clearly but can't remember where you are staying @ Disney.

 

[riu girl]

We are staying at POP due to the fact that we were originally going to just go to Siesta Key for two weeks and then discovered that the kids don't go back to school until Jan 9. There was no way I was coming home Dec 31 when I didn't have to. So we added a budget (Pop Century) type week at Disney!!!!

The kids know about S Key but not Disney. DH will be dropping us off there on the way to the airport for his flight home. He is going to pretend that he got lost taking us all back to the airport and we will end up at POP. He will then casually say " I (DH) really need to get back to work but since we are already here, would you kids like to stay here for a week with mommy and your grandmother?"

I think we will check out Sharkys. Living north of Toronto, the kids have never experienced much in the way of "island music" so we are looking for a place that we could eat, see the beach , listen to some island music and maybe let the kids dance. So far we have come up with Captain Curts and Gilligans in Siesta Key (but not on the beach).
I would really love to find a tiki bar on the beach with live island music but I can't seem to find one in that area.

Thanks for the heads up on Sharkys!!!
Any other info. would be greatly appreciated.
Suzy V

 

[JerseyJ]

What a great surprize for the kids!
Will let you know about any other places after I talk w/ family.