Help w/Jersey Week planning!

[wdwphanatic]

Hi, everyone! We're planning to be at WDW late Tues., 11/8, through midday Sunday, 11/13. We need input from all of you on our tentative touring plans, as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point! Anyway, we really need to maximize our full days there, so this was what I was thinking of doing:

Wed., Nov. 9: Day at MGM; night at MK (EMH)
Thurs., Nov. 10: Morning at AK, then TL (?); see Fantasmic at MGM (?)
Fri., Nov. 11: Day at MK; nice dinner out
Sat., Nov. 12: Day at Epcot; back later for F&W Festival
Sun., Nov. 13: Few hours at MK before departure (we're staying @WL)

I tried to incorporate the suggestions at touringplans.com while also thinking about what would work with our basic goals: at least a full day at MK and Epcot; at least half a day at AK, MGM and TL; seeing Fantasmic; and enjoying an evening at the F&W Festival. The only things I'm worried about are as follows:

1. Will MK be jammed during its EMH night on 11/9?? Should we bother heading over there that night??

2. Is it possible to do TL if you don't get there first thing in the morning? Could we enjoy AK and TL in one day without feeling overwhelmed by it all or should we devote a full day to TL? The kids aren't really crazy about AK, so I figured this would be the best day to try for TL. Of course, the weather could certainly throw a wrench into these plans!!

3. We couldn't get the Fantasmic dinner package for Thurs. night (11/10) or Sat. night (11/12), which are our 2 free nights. Even though I'd like to go to Epcot's EMH at night on 11/10, I'm leaning more towards trying Fantasmic that night since MGM will be a zoo over the weekend (Super Soap Weekend)... How early would we have to queue up for Fantasmic? Would we have better luck if we went to the second show on 11/12 vs. the only show on 11/10??? Any advice on this would be MUCH appreciated, as we've never been to this show and don't know what to expect.

4. Will Epcot be mobbed on Sat., 11/12, since it's the last weekend of the F&W Festival? Would it be better to go on Thurs., 11/10, for the EMH night??

Thanks so much for any and all help you could provide me with. I'm planning this trip for a pretty big group and I don't want to let everyone down!!

Thanks again,
Sarah

 

[kilee]

First, Jersey Week doesn't really effect the crowd levels too much. I was really worried the first time we went during it, and I worried for nothing.

As for Thurs--- I think you have too much in one day. I don't know your family, but mine would start to riot. That is a lot of transferring and such too.

Another thing to remember is on shorter trips- you have to go w/ the attitude that it is in fact a "SHORT" trip and you cannot do it all. I would try to concentrate more on the parks you really like. It seems like you have a lot of short blocks for different things.

As for Epcot- you mentioned going for EMH- did you want to spend day hours there too to enjoy the F&W Fest?

You know your family best and how much hopping around they'll want to do.

 

[wdwphanatic]

Thanks for the response, Kilee... We've been before during Jersey Week, but I fear this year will be quite a different experience due to the timing of it (i.e. no time off close to Halloween, Veteran's Day falling on the Friday of the convention, Super Soap weekend, etc.). I think it will be VERY crowded at the parks and I want to get as many suggestions from people who've been during busy times as possible, as we're not used to it at all (we usually go in late Jan/early Feb!)... I agree that trying to fit in AK and TL on the same day would be tough. A lot will depend on the weather, as I said in my last message. If it's too cold, TL will be out of the running anyway!

Anyone else have any feedback/suggestions for us??

Thanks so much,
Sarah

 

[Kath816]

Hi,
We're going the exact days as you! Probably the same flight, as we're flying late too!!

As part of our extended group are DVC owners, we go fairly often & will not be packing our days as full. I do know we will be avoiding Epcot on Saturday as it is the last F&W weekend. But, we're going over to MGM to see some soap stars early Saturday. We have a reservation for Raglan Road on Saturday, but not sure we'll go to DDT. We're going to Epcot on Weds. or Fri. & MK on Thursday. Some of the group may go to AK. DH & I are not.

Enjoy!

 

[Luv4Disney]

When we did TL, we did everything within 3 hours. LoL. AK we can usually do in 4-5 so yeah, that's definitely possible. We went in May btw. We've gone during Jersey Week as well and Soap Weekend didn't really make a difference in my opinion. Neither did the F&W.

 

[wdwphanatic]

... I appreciate it! Hope we'll find that F&W and Super Soap Weekend won't be as big a deal as I fear... Guess we'll find out soon enough!!

That being said, does anyone have any advice as far as fitting in Fantasmic during our trip? Should we take advantage of Epcot EMH on Thurs. and save Fantasmic 'til Sat. night or would it be less crowded at Fantasmic on Thurs. night? If we went to Fantasmic on Sat. night, should we go to the first or second show?? How early would we need to get there if we're not able to do the Fantasmic Dinner Package?? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks again,
Sarah

 

[Luv4Disney]

... I appreciate it! Hope we'll find that F&W and Super Soap Weekend won't be as big a deal as I fear... Guess we'll find out soon enough!!

That being said, does anyone have any advice as far as fitting in Fantasmic during our trip? Should we take advantage of Epcot EMH on Thurs. and save Fantasmic 'til Sat. night or would it be less crowded at Fantasmic on Thurs. night? If we went to Fantasmic on Sat. night, should we go to the first or second show?? How early would we need to get there if we're not able to do the Fantasmic Dinner Package?? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks again,
Sarah

I wouldn't dwell on the crowds. Everyone had me nervous that WDW was going to be insane because we went at the start of the Celebration. It was nothing.

For us personally, we always say we're going to do the Epcot EMH, but we've found that we don't really need to because we've been able to get everything done during the day. We usually leave and play mini golf or something. We've always found the second showing of anything to be lighter in crowds. You can see anywhere in the amphitheatre. We once waited 2 hours for Fantasmic and it was pointless. There's no need to be in line that early. Even when we go in 30 minutes early (we've always had the FDP) I've seen seats available for "regular" guests (we go in May). We've always done Fantasmic on the weekends and we've never had a problem. Hope some of that helps!

 

[Eeyore2003]

We'll be there that week also, actually arriving when you do, although we will be there the whole next week too, so therefore not really planning much in the parks for Jersey week. I would have to agree, just realize that it's "unpredictable", so plan what you'd "like" to do, but then realize that you will just have to flow with the crowd. The worst would be to get frustrated when you're there. Just enjoy. (Funny, I give this great advice, but then when I get there too on vacations I'd like to "do well", I get all nervous, like the one in NOVMEBER!!! ) Have fun!!!

I know it looks like you do the parks, but it also seems like you've been there often. The Festival of the Masters Art Show is also going on at DTD that week-end, just in case the crowds are bad and you just want an idea of something else to do. It says they have activities for kids, but this will be a new thing for me, so we'll have to see. That's what we're doing Friday afternoon, then reservations for early dinner at Raglan Road. I'm excited to try it!!!

 

[**mersee**]

Hi Sarah~
We went down on "Jersey week" 4 yrs. ago, but it was right after 9/11. Needless to say it was not crowded, but I could'nt believe how many people we ran into from Jersey! We are going again this year, but we are taking the entire "teacher convention" week off. My kids have 1/2 days on Mon, Tues and Wed. I am pretty sure it will be crowded based on how hard it was for me to make advanced reservations at some places, but I have decided not to let it worry me. The weather should be perfect! Enjoy!

Maria