Help with Park choice!

[LindseyM]

Have park hopper tickets for November 11-17. Kids are 5 and 9.
First two days (11/11 and 11/12) are busy on TouringPlans crowd calendar and then the rest of the week should be slower. I am conflicted on which parks to book my FPs for those two busy days. Staying offsite so can't book for a few more weeks. On 11/11 both HS and AK are a 6. On 11/12 MK and HS are a 6. Not sure what to do! Help!! and thanks in advance!

 

[pitpat]

On Sunday 11/11, AK looks like a better choice than HS (the 30 day thing messes up your FOP FP chances anyway).

Depending on your plans the rest of the week, Mon 11/12 at MK would actually be good because it is less crowded on party days (but closes at 6 so no HEA). Epcot and HS also look fine on that day.

 

[Klayfish]

Go to whatever park suits your schedule or desires. The "crowd calendars" are useless.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Honestly, your chances of getting hard-to-get FP+ for any of those parks on days 1 or 2 are slim to none, so you might as well pick the parks you are interested in doing. If you choose DHS, simply RD SDD (if it interests you) and FP+ TSMM and any other 2 attractions you like. For AK, RD FoP, FP+ Nav'i (which will probably be available) and 2 other attractions you would like. In MK, RD 7DMT and FP+ 3 attractions you would like. A "6" really isn't very crowded, IMHO.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Go to whatever park suits your schedule or desires. The "crowd calendars" are useless.

This. With the exception of Slinky, Flight of Passage, and 7 Dwarves Ive been successful getting FPs in as short a time as 7 days. Ask your kids what their favorite rides are, go there, and book as many FPs as you can on your 30 day mark. If you are waiting on something thats not open, leave a FP slot open and check at the 48 hour/24 hour/and the day of mark. I was sitting at Epcot on Sunday eating lunch and just refreshing MDE and saw Soarin'/Test Track/Frozen all pop in even after being unavailable early.

My touring tip for Pandora. Make sure you go in the evening but get in line for FOP BEFORE the sun starts setting. Everyone starts running there at night. You should easily be able to get a Navi FP for around that time. And eat at Satu'li Canteen for dinner. So good!

 

[LindseyM]

Thanks everyone for your help!!!

 

[NH-to-FL]

Have park hopper tickets for November 11-17. Kids are 5 and 9.
First two days (11/11 and 11/12) are busy on TouringPlans crowd calendar and then the rest of the week should be slower. I am conflicted on which parks to book my FPs for those two busy days. Staying offsite so can't book for a few more weeks. On 11/11 both HS and AK are a 6. On 11/12 MK and HS are a 6. Not sure what to do! Help!! and thanks in advance!

to DISboards!

Yes, with the holiday the crowds will be a bit higher through the weekend and Monday. Epcot will be busy, especially in the afternoon and evening, as the Food and Wine festival ends on Monday. Unless you are planning on enjoying the F&W festival I would avoid Epcot until later in the week.

I will second previous posters suggestion and just plan to rope drop which ever park you want. Plan on rope dropping the busiest ride or your top "must do" and get the best FPs you can for the rest. My only additional thought would be, as you are coming from off site, is to avoid the park with the morning Extra Magic Hour, DHS on Sunday and AK on Monday. MK might be a good choice on Sunday. Then rope drop DHS on Monday.
Wishing you a visit!

 

[TinkSassy]

As the previous posters have mentioned - all but the big 3 for FP+ should be available and those will most likely not happen. So plan where you want to be. With 2 little ones, I would try to do the MK on the party day as it does draw a lot lower crowd on those days due to the early close. Also, avoid Epcot on the weekend of F&W as the locals will be there and it will be crazy! I'm going the last week but will be done there by the Thursday to avoid the local crowds. Truthfully the crowd calendar numbers have to change significantly for you to notice difference

 

[Rhianna.07]

Honestly, your chances of getting hard-to-get FP+ for any of those parks on days 1 or 2 are slim to none

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but unfortunately this is true! Flight of Passage for example would be a very hard fastpass to get even if you did have the extra days from staying at a disney hotel. Those early november days tend to not have too terrible of wait times though so it shouldn't be unbearable. Have fun and good luck on your trip!

 

[mentomori1119]

On Sunday 11/11, AK looks like a better choice than HS (the 30 day thing messes up your FOP FP chances anyway).

Depending on your plans the rest of the week, Mon 11/12 at MK would actually be good because it is less crowded on party days (but closes at 6 so no HEA). Epcot and HS also look fine on that day.

I was advised by a CM to NEVER go to MK on a Monday since that's one of the busiest days. Apparently everyone checks in to their hotel Sunday evening and hits MK on Monday.

 

[pitpat]

I was advised by a CM to NEVER go to MK on a Monday since that's one of the busiest days. Apparently everyone checks in to their hotel Sunday evening and hits MK on Monday.

They certainly weren't talking about party days where MK closes at 6pm. But if you'd like some data on days of the week, here are 2018 numbers: http://www.easywdw.com/reports15/average_wait_day_week_magic_kingdom_2018.jpg

From this blog post: https://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/walt-disney-world-crowds-continue-to-shift-away-from-the-summer/