How bad is a red day...

[Meriam]

So how bad is a red day (least recommended), really, if you've got fastpasses? My family (DH, Me, DD9, DD7, DD4, DD1) are planning for our next trip May 1-7. I really don't want to give Hollywood Studios a full day and would like to go the afternoon we arrive, which is a red day with a 5 on the crowd calendar. I don't want to buy park hoppers. We plan to eat at Mama Melrose for Fantasmic dinner package, FP Toy Story, Frozen, and Rock N Roller. Are the crowds really so bad that we're going to hate going even if all our activities are reserved?

 

[Robo]

Are the crowds really so bad that we're going to hate going even if all our activities are reserved?

That last bolded part is critical.
If you truly mean that, then you'll be fine.

BTW, even with the Fantasmic! Dining Pkg., arrive at the F! theater at least 45 min. before show-time. (On a "red day," it would wise to be even earlier.)

Also, I hope that you have a RESERVATION for Mama Melrose's and that you are prepared for the meal to take an extra long time. (Arrive early for check-in and still expect to be seated "late.")

 

[Dis703]

A 5 on the crowd calendar really isn't bad at all. Just for reference we chose to do HS on the least recommended day on our last trip. It was least recommended on EasyWDW and had a crowd level of 4 listed for TouringPlans. We wanted to take advantage of EMH on that Saturday for HS so we decided to go with it anyhow. That day HS crowds were awesome. After the fact it was actually reported as a crowd level of 3. We did everything we wanted to do and scored a FP for Fantasmic around 7:30pm which gave us enough time to squeeze in a ride on Rockin Roller coaster and walk into the show at the lasted possible time.

This was also during May. Crowd levels just aren't that bad that time of year so least recommended that time of year isn't the same as least recommended during a peak crowd level week.

 

[siskaren]

You can't FP both Toy Story and Rock n Roller Coaster - they're both tier one choices and you can only choose one tier one.

 

[minnie mum]

You will definitely want to make that F! Dining package ADR as soon as your ADR window opens up. And I agree with Robo that you need to allow extra time for your meal at MMs- we have always had an extended wait to be seated, whether it was lunch or dinner. We always try to be in our seats for F. at least 30 minutes before showtime.

DHS has EMH that morning - that's why it isn't recommended. Easywdw has it at a 6. Which is still not that bad. If you've never been to WDW before, you may be a bit daunted by the size of the crowds, but don't be. You haven't lived until you've experienced a crowd level 10.

As noted by another poster, you can't FP both TSM and RNRC- they are both tier one. Consider doing RNRC standby or single rider if your kids are old enough. Also, if you aren't arriving until afternoon, you will probably find little to no availability for a 4 th FP by the time you've used up your first 3. But that doesn't mean you can't do anything else- with only a few hours in the park, and time out ( at least 1.5 hours) for your meal), you'll only have time for one or two other attractions anyway.

 

[Happy_2_B]

A 5 isn't bad- but it means 'average' crowds, and with an afternoon/evening touring plan you are going to have long standby lines to contend with- as all the FPs for the headliners will probably be long gone. I agree that DHS isn't worth more than a day- but if you are planning to fit a tier one FP in with a standby wait for the other- expect an hour, maybe more, of a wait in a standby line at the one you don't FP. Frozen probably won't need a FP- I would personally use it for something else. It's red because it is an EMH morning at DHS, so expect some waits since many of the onsite guests will be there. You should be able to get into the theaters for the shows as long as you show up 15 min or so beforehand, though. I would guess the PP that said the park was great in early May went in the morning at park opening and knocked out the super headliners before the park got full- but with an arrival in the afternoon you are going to wait for stuff without question.

 

[Dis703]

. I would guess the PP that said the park was great in early May went in the morning at park opening and knocked out the super headliners before the park got full- but with an arrival in the afternoon you are going to wait for stuff without question.

We got there early in the morning, but no we didn't knock out the headliners in the a.m. Other than a FP for TSM. We don't ride all the headliners, but R&R was a 25 minute wait in the evening. ToT was a 1/2 hour when we walked by early evening as well. I can't recall the wait for Star Tours, but it wasn't bad. We considered it which means it must have been 30 or under, but skipped it worried about motion sickness. Did mostly shows through the afternoon. Great Movie Ride had a short wait most of the day. We added additional FP but used them for shows. We booked Jedi Academy at 9:10 (with an 8am EMH opening) and there was no line and options available from lunchtime through the evening.

All in all it was one of the less busy days we've had at HS so I worked myself up worrying for nothing.

 

[Baklava]

You can't FP both Toy Story and Rock n Roller Coaster - they're both tier one choices and you can only choose one tier one.

True. RNR has single rider line though, right? OP might consider FP for Toy Story and SR for RNR.

 

[gap2368]

True. RNR has single rider line though, right? OP might consider FP for Toy Story and SR for RNR.

yes it dose and I have heard that some times you wait longer then the stand by line and the OP has 4 kids 2 of then really small and I do not think the other 2 can ride alone

 

[Meriam]

Thanks for the quick responses. We went to Disney in September and only encountered dreaded crowds the night of Wishes, when it was sandwiched between the Halloween party nights. I wasn't thinking about tiers, but we're not big roller coaster people, so we could forgo R&R if the standby is too long. So glad to hear the positive May experience! I think we're going to make a go of it. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[Baklava]

yes it dose and I have heard that some times you wait longer then the stand by line and the OP has 4 kids 2 of then really small and I do not think the other 2 can ride alone

I was assuming kids too young to ride alone are *probably* too short for RNR but you're right, there might be a 48" six year old in the mix. At 5 1/2 my girl is tall for her age but still several inches short of RNR, but there are always outliers.

We're West Coasters and I've never seen a single rider line that wasn't much faster than standby. That may be one of those differences between the parks that surprises me from time to time. Thank goodness for the DIS! I'd have made some rotten mistakes without these boards.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

Hi! I went on the exact same dates as you this past May, and it wasn't crowded at all. I think the most I waited in line for something was maybe 15 minutes? It's a really great time of year to go Weather's not too bad, and the neither are the crowds

 

[gap2368]

I was assuming kids too young to ride alone are *probably* too short for RNR but you're right, there might be a 48" six year old in the mix. At 5 1/2 my girl is tall for her age but still several inches short of RNR, but there are always outliers.

I have seen parents put paper towels in the child shoe then tell the child how to stand taller when being messed to be able to get on

 

[SaraMc]

We also have gone during this time and we found that the time before star wars weekends start pretty quiet and manageable for crowds. Its actually one of our favourite times to visit the parks