How do you decide which parks to do on which days?

[kangareaux]

I want to do it ALL.....IMMEDIATELY! LOL! So how in the world should I go about narrowing it down to which parks on which days?

We will be gettting there before noon on Saturday Nov 10th. BUT, we have alate check-in because we are staying in a condo. So we figured we'd hit the parks first. Also, I think that's the weekend that food and wine festival is wrapping up. So, I'd like to catch a little of that, but I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to do the magic Kingdom first. But will it be too crowded on a saturday? Or will everyone be at the F&W Fest?

And what about the rest of the week? How do you decide???

DECISIONS! DECISIONS!

So, you seasoned autumned disny-holics.......TELL ME WHAT TO DO!

It'll be me, DH, and 3 kidlets - 7,9,10. We have park hoppers with water parks, etc., so we can go anywhere *in the world*.

HELP!

 

[SLDL]

I like the first full day to be at MK, so if we arrive mid-day we normally go to MGM b/c we don't need a full day there. Then on our 2nd full day we go to Epcot, then maybe you will have time for a rest day or half day at the water park & rest. Always save time for DTD, that is a must. We never need a full day at AK, so maybe you could do DTD on the evening of your AK day. Have fun!

 

[lawlesslovewdw]

It all depends on the length of stay. If it is quiet season
1.EMH days are busier however we do like this perk (so if on site I always plan to be at the park that day)
2. If off site go the day after the park has emh
3. I check to see if all parades are happening on that day (dont want to miss one )
4.Never go to water park at weekend
5.If you are going and there are extra events such as mvmcp or mnsshp we always get tickets for those and go to MK on that day. Have a break in afternoon then go back for event.
6. Then book adr for that park for that day

But then i will spend days planning checking park hours etc but then i am a bit disney nuts! HTHs

 

[kangareaux]

It all depends on the length of stay. If it is quiet season
1.EMH days are busier however we do like this perk (so if on site I always plan to be at the park that day)
2. If off site go the day after the park has emh
3. I check to see if all parades are happening on that day (dont want to miss one )
4.Never go to water park at weekend
5.If you are going and there are extra events such as mvmcp or mnsshp we always get tickets for those and go to MK on that day. Have a break in afternoon then go back for event.
6. Then book adr for that park for that day

But then i will spend days planning checking park hours etc but then i am a bit disney nuts! HTHs

We're staying 7 nights (8 days? Haven't decided if we'll do parks that last day or just head home...)

Offsite

It *should* be slow season....we're hoping anyway.

 

[tink_about_it]

I use www.tourguidemike.com to decide what parks to visit every day. He tells you which parks are the least crowded and gives you an attack plan. His site is a sponsor of the DIS so if you click from the DIS, you get $3 off joining (under $20). I don't go without joining.

 

[kangareaux]

I like the first full day to be at MK, so if we arrive mid-day we normally go to MGM b/c we don't need a full day there. Then on our 2nd full day we go to Epcot, then maybe you will have time for a rest day or half day at the water park & rest. Always save time for DTD, that is a must. We never need a full day at AK, so maybe you could do DTD on the evening of your AK day. Have fun!

But doesn't it just *kill you* not to see the castle first? Wait....I bet you're one of those people who licks their ice cream cones and sucks on suckers instead of taking big impatient bites. Sorry.....this whole disney world thing is making me a little . LOL!

 

[kangareaux]

I use www.tourguidemike.com to decide what parks to visit every day. He tells you which parks are the least crowded and gives you an attack plan. His site is a sponsor of the DIS so if you click from the DIS, you get $3 off joining (under $20). I don't go without joining.

I thought about it, but I feel like I'd be trying to tour *commando* style. We are going to try REALLY hard not to do that. (I'm a little bit of an impatient person...does it show? ) Is tourguide mike good for non-commando touring???

 

[Sorsha]

As a previous poster stated, a lot of it has to do with your length of stay. For me, a lot also depends on whether or not you have park hopping option on your tickets. Another thing to consider is how important is dining to you and your family? For my family, it was very important that we be able to eat in certain restaurants. So here is how I went about determining what days to do what parks.
First, I have seen data (from the Unofficial Guide) suggesting that MK is most busy in the middle of the week (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday) but LEAST busy on a Tuesday! Saturday also seems to be not as busy in the MK. Epcot's busiest days are Tuesday and Sunday, with Friday and Wednesday being lower. MGM is historically most busy on a Friday or a Sunday, least busy on a Saturday. AK's busiest days seem to be Tuesday or Sunday, with Friday least crowded. I used this data as a starting point.
Next I went to http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours.htm to check park hours. From here you can find out what days have EMH and at what park; and also determine when the parades and fireworks shows are running. If you are going to be park hopping you can plan to attend EMH, then go to a different park; this may help to avoid the crowds sometimes associated with EMH days. Also pay close attention to Wishes and Spectromagic. There will be days when neither is presented, and you want to be sure you can see them, if you desire.
Using this information, I sketched out a rough plan for my days , then decided where I wanted to eat and sketched those meals into my plan. With this plan all figured out, I could then call WDW dining and make my ADRs. Now, if I were unable to get a meal when I wanted it, I might have to be flexible and schedule that meal on a different day. I would need to decide whether I would utilize park hopping to go to that meal, or whether I would change my plan around so as to be in the appropriate park for my meal for that day.
Finally, if there is something you really want to do, just go for it! Food and Wine fest is a spectacular event, not to be missed IMHO. If you have an opportunity to get in on the last days, I say do it! Yes, the crowds will be heavier, F&W draws a large crowd every year, but its only one day, and the memories and expereinces would be worth the crowds, IMHO.
Hope this helps!

Edited to add: I just saw that you are staying offsite, so I don't believe you can do EMH. You would want to figure those days into your plan with the intention of perhaps AVOIDING EMH parks, as they tend to be more crowded.

 

[diesel]

thank you Kangareaux for starting this thread. I'll be arriving on Nov. 11th and was just sitting here at work trying to decide what meal reservations to make but first I needed to decide what parks we are going to on what days. Thanks for every ones suggestions and comments. I think we'll do AK on Monday and MK on Tuesday (I'll try and get Crystal Palace reservations for breakfast). The only night while we are there that has the parade and fireworks at MK is Wednesday so we'll do MK at night after eating dinner at Chef Mickeys. This is great my plans are coming together.

 

[Sorsha]

thank you Kangareaux for starting this thread. I'll be arriving on Nov. 11th and was just sitting here at work trying to decide what meal reservations to make but first I needed to decide what parks we are going to on what days. Thanks for every ones suggestions and comments. I think we'll do AK on Monday and MK on Tuesday (I'll try and get Crystal Palace reservations for breakfast). The only night while we are there that has the parade and fireworks at MK is Wednesday so we'll do MK at night after eating dinner at Chef Mickeys. This is great my plans are coming together.

Pay close attention to what time the parade and fireworks begin that evening, you will probably want to be in the parks no later than an hour or so before everything starts. Make your meal times accordingly, giving yourself at least an hour and 1/2 to eat and to get over to MK after eating.

 

[kangareaux]

As a previous poster stated, a lot of it has to do with your length of stay. For me, a lot also depends on whether or not you have park hopping option on your tickets. Another thing to consider is how important is dining to you and your family? For my family, it was very important that we be able to eat in certain restaurants. So here is how I went about determining what days to do what parks.
First, I have seen data (from the Unofficial Guide) suggesting that MK is most busy in the middle of the week (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday) but LEAST busy on a Tuesday! Saturday also seems to be not as busy in the MK. Epcot's busiest days are Tuesday and Sunday, with Friday and Wednesday being lower. MGM is historically most busy on a Friday or a Sunday, least busy on a Saturday. AK's busiest days seem to be Tuesday or Sunday, with Friday least crowded. I used this data as a starting point.
Next I went to http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours.htm to check park hours. From here you can find out what days have EMH and at what park; and also determine when the parades and fireworks shows are running. If you are going to be park hopping you can plan to attend EMH, then go to a different park; this may help to avoid the crowds sometimes associated with EMH days. Also pay close attention to Wishes and Spectromagic. There will be days when neither is presented, and you want to be sure you can see them, if you desire.
Using this information, I sketched out a rough plan for my days , then decided where I wanted to eat and sketched those meals into my plan. With this plan all figured out, I could then call WDW dining and make my ADRs. Now, if I were unable to get a meal when I wanted it, I might have to be flexible and schedule that meal on a different day. I would need to decide whether I would utilize park hopping to go to that meal, or whether I would change my plan around so as to be in the appropriate park for my meal for that day.
Finally, if there is something you really want to do, just go for it! Food and Wine fest is a spectacular event, not to be missed IMHO. If you have an opportunity to get in on the last days, I say do it! Yes, the crowds will be heavier, F&W draws a large crowd every year, but its only one day, and the memories and expereinces would be worth the crowds, IMHO.
Hope this helps!

Edited to add: I just saw that you are staying offsite, so I don't believe you can do EMH. You would want to figure those days into your plan with the intention of perhaps AVOIDING EMH parks, as they tend to be more crowded.

 

[kangareaux]

thank you Kangareaux for starting this thread. I'll be arriving on Nov. 11th and was just sitting here at work trying to decide what meal reservations to make but first I needed to decide what parks we are going to on what days. Thanks for every ones suggestions and comments. I think we'll do AK on Monday and MK on Tuesday (I'll try and get Crystal Palace reservations for breakfast). The only night while we are there that has the parade and fireworks at MK is Wednesday so we'll do MK at night after eating dinner at Chef Mickeys. This is great my plans are coming together.

Maybe we should get together and plan! LOL!

 

[tink_about_it]

I thought about it, but I feel like I'd be trying to tour *commando* style. We are going to try REALLY hard not to do that. (I'm a little bit of an impatient person...does it show? ) Is tourguide mike good for non-commando touring???

I don't tour commando style and use his site. I take his advice and do with it what I want. I do follow his advice 90% of the time.When I went with "him" in 2003, I didn't know the parks well...so I was a little commando. Now that I know them, I'm relaxed. If you know the parks, his advice is great...and you don't have to be Commando TGM!

Edited to say....My DH is such a skeptic, but TGM's advice made him a believer...And we really do rarely wait in lines due to TGM's advice. I think it's soooooo worth the $16 for his advice. He also has articles that give you a touring plan and also Stephen from TGM has spreadsheets to use as a guide....but you have to join to retreive them. I'd say try it. It's $16.....and I (and MANY TGMers) think it's worth every penny! (And NO...I get nothing out of endorsing his site.)

 

[MinnieTink]

We usually end up at Epcot first... I think it just happened the first couple of trips, and now it feels "right" to go there first. The only thing that I like to set in stone as far as which park when, is MK on our last night. Out of 6 nights, we are usually there 3 of the days, but I make sure to end our vacation there.... it just is the most magical park....

 

[kangareaux]

We usually end up at Epcot first... I think it just happened the first couple of trips, and now it feels "right" to go there first. The only thing that I like to set in stone as far as which park when, is MK on our last night. Out of 6 nights, we are usually there 3 of the days, but I make sure to end our vacation there.... it just is the most magical park....

Through this whole planning and thinking period (6 months so far) I don't think I ever gave any thought to what park to visit LAST!

Great idea....and I will DEFINATELY be visiting MK last. Actually, I'm thinking that I'll make the day before we leave our last day at WDW. That way our last view will be of the castle at night.

Thanks!

 

[TravelinGal]

I use www.tourguidemike.com to decide what parks to visit every day. He tells you which parks are the least crowded and gives you an attack plan. His site is a sponsor of the DIS so if you click from the DIS, you get $3 off joining (under $20). I don't go without joining.

Great BIG GIANT DITTO!

 

[tink_about_it]

Hey RObin....It's Jen!

 

[fterie4u]

I have always had success planning things out muself, however,with so many recs for TGM I might have to join!

 

[adabob]

Tour Guide Mike

 

[Kat77]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQOtherPage
From the Disney website:
During regular attendance periods the Theme Parks tend to be the busiest on the following days:
Magic Kingdom® Park: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
Epcot®: Tuesday and Friday
Disney-MGM Studios: Sunday and Wednesday
Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

This info contradicts a PP on a few of the park days though. I am also interested in scheduling least busy parks during July trip to minimize as much stress as possible. We will hit MK our arrival day regardless of attendance #s because I know kids will not be able to handle not doing so.