Help me, a type A personality---going crazy trying to plan!

[meganbear]

I'm a planner and a definite type A personality. I've posted numerous questions on these boards and haven gotten so much help --thanks! I've also bought the Unoffical Guide to WDW 2004, I love the book---it's like the Bible to Disney World!

I'm in the last stages of planning for this trip which will be from May 9 thru the 14th. I need to make PS at all the restaurants that I've choosen so far. I'm wanting to eat at the RC in Animal Kingdom, Liberty Tree Tavern in MK, 50's cafe in MGM (still am undecided about epcot for now).

This is my problem, in the book it says that EE is the way to go~that you can get so many rides in before the crowds, BUT then it goes on to say that the least crowds will be on days that it isn't EE on that particular park. Another person on this board said it wasn't always so easy to get from one park to another, although she did say I could easily get from MK to EPCOT's, or from EPCOT's World Showcase to MGM via boat, she said that to get to other parks from AK might prove to be time consuming. So what do you do? Go in for EE, then spend the whole day there or do you always park hop to another less crowded park??? I really can't make my PS until I know what do to about this! And it's driving me nuts!!!!

ps I'm really sorry if I'm driving you all crazy too!

 

[cheerdaddy]

we almost always go to the EE park and then leave that park mid to late morning and head somewhere else....we have never really had any problem getting from one park to the other....at very most, you're looking at one hour(that would be extremely long) to get from one park to another....

 

[CamColt]

We usually only do EE at MK and AK. We arrive at the park around 7:45 to be there for opening, and stay until about 12:30(give or take an hour depending on what we get done and how everyone is holding up). We then return to our hotel for a swim, wash up, and then arrive at another park around 4:00-5:00.

 

[litlpixie]

Yeah, I agree...EE is the way to go and then we go back to hotel for swim, lunch , nap and then head back to a park. You are not going during a holiday week like we are (we're just crazy people) You are going when we usually would go (ya know, before we went nuts) You're going to love WDW in May. Crowds are definitely manageable, but it does get hot (sizzle-sizzle) You'll know when its time to take a break. Breathe easy, it's gonna be alright. As I say to all my DIS pals....See you in therapy!!

 

[BrerMama]

You're at a disadvantage because you don't know park hours and yet you need to make PS. I hate that Disney does that. If the parks are open later, I think it's a good idea to go to EE, eat an early lunch at the park, and then go for a break. After your break, you can "hop" to a different park to avoid crowds. If the hours are short, however, you're going to want to stay in the parks when they're open. If that's the case, I'd probably avoid EE except at MK and stay in the same park all day.

 

[lentesta]

Hey meganbear,

First, thanks for reading the Unofficial Guide. Let me know if you have any questions about the touring plans. I wrote the computer software the Guide uses to create those plans.

Second, the benefit of park hopping depends on your particular circumstances. If you're going to take a mid-day break every day, park hopping per se doesn't hurt, as you're already going back and forth to your hotel.

If you're not taking a mid-day break, the usefulness of park hopping depends on the park you're at, the day of week, and where you're going.

It's sometimes a good idea to park hop to Epcot, especially if the other parks close before 9, or you're looking for something different for dinner. Or you just like Epcot, like me.

Park hopping to the Magic Kingdom isn't a bad idea unless it's an Extra MagicHour day, in which case I'd avoid the MK. You could park hop from the MK to, say, Epcot on an MK EMH day.

For what it's worth, it rarely pays to park hop *to* the Animal Kingdom, as that park usually closes first.

Hope this helps. Thanks again for reading the Guide.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[meganbear]

You guys are angels! I think now I know what I'll do and I really do appreciate your help!

Len Testa!!!! It is so cool that I actually got a reply from someone who helps research for the Unoffical guide to WDW, I swear that book has helped me so much and I would highly recommend it to anyone ~especially to people like me that doesn't get to go to Disney but once every four or five years. You and the rest of the authors are amazing!!! Thanks!

 

[dcmbshafe]

I'm heading down roughly the week after you are and I'm completely beside myself because the hours haven't been established yet for the month of May. There are a couple of PS arrangements I want to make that are dependant upon the park hours and whether there will be fireworks/spectromagic at MK on any of the nights we'll be present.

 

[meganbear]

Glad to see I'm not the only one going crazy!!! I, too wish they'd post the hours for the park--I mean May is only three months away!!!

 

[poohnpiglet3]

I've got the same type of planning thing going on and I'm not leaving till September!! heehee

LOVE the Unoffical Guide!!!

Great work!

Sherri

 

[jcemom]

for what it's worth, i'm a "planner" too. i spent a full year planning our trip, and we've followed almost none of my plan...LOL we followed it for the first half of the first day at MK and that was about it. the kids were very uncooperative...LOL they don't ever seem to want to do what I have planned! and they keep wanting to go back to akl for a break! sheesh! but, i had a great time planning, and we are having a great time even though we aren't using my plans!

we have had no real problems park hopping, and we're doing a lot more of it that i had "planned" to do!

having said that, DH gave his "okay" for me to bring DD on a "mommy-daughter trip" in September of next year and I will be "planning" that one too...just because I enjoy it and I couldn't NOT plan!

 

[tassie42]

i also have a problem planning. we are going april 1 and they only have hours posted till March 31. I just have to assume what the hours will be. I already made my ps. anyway. i love the unofficial guide too! I bought the official guide and the unoffical guide at the same time. the official guide was just fluff (telling you what happens on each ride etc) the other one is great! i read the entire book in a couple days! I keep picking it up again hoping I missed something. My dh and kids think i'm crazy!

 

[tmfranlk]

tassie42- The April hours are posted now. You can also call and they will give them to you.

Good luck with your planning!!!

 

[sarahsmom73]

I'm so glad you asked the question about EE... I have been wrestling about what to do as we will be at WDW from the Wed. night before Easter until the Thursday after...