How to manage 7am EMH and night shows???

[MamaBear12]

We’re going the week between Christmas and New Years and both MK and EP have 7AM EMHs the days we’re going to each park. We want to take advantage of these to ride some rides without lines since we know mid-day will be crazy at both parks. We also want to see the night shows though. Typically we commando, but I can’t see doing two days back-to-back from 6am-11PM. I wasn’t planning on the 7AM EP EMH (originally scheduled for 8AM). We have important FP+ around 2/3PM both days, so if we did head back to our hotel room for a rest it would be around 4 or 5 (kind of late). The kids can nap in the double stroller, so should hubby and I just power through? Lots of coffee? Other tips?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

2 times in a row on Carousel of Progress. One of you naps the first time - the other the second time

 

[sharonabe]

We’re going the week between Christmas and New Years and both MK and EP have 7AM EMHs the days we’re going to each park. We want to take advantage of these to ride some rides without lines since we know mid-day will be crazy at both parks. We also want to see the night shows though. Typically we commando, but I can’t see doing two days back-to-back from 6am-11PM. I wasn’t planning on the 7AM EP EMH (originally scheduled for 8AM). We have important FP+ around 2/3PM both days, so if we did head back to our hotel room for a rest it would be around 4 or 5 (kind of late). The kids can nap in the double stroller, so should hubby and I just power through? Lots of coffee? Other tips?

Your first day should be fine. It's the second day where you'll feel it the most. I'm hoping EP is your second day, because I would be ready to leave EP around 10-10:30 for an early midday break. Then return to use that first late FP at the end of its hour. I would also be trying to move those FP to later in the day to extend that midday break.

 

[Spork24]

Busting a nap on day 2 is crucial!

 

[Eastern]

I would not power through either day, you will be exhausted. I would plan on leaving the park for a nap each day by 11am. That is plenty of time to do rides and get an early lunch/brunch before going back to your hotel. Go back to the parks around 4 or 5pm for the night stuff.

 

[kwdw]

Honestly - I wouldn't worry about making the EMH at EP. If you have your FP's for that park - do you really need to hit the other rides this trip? Your kids are little enough to be in a stroller. You can manage stand-by lines at Nemo, Figment, Living with the Land. I'm guessing you have a FP for FEA. If you want to ride Test Track as an adult - take turns - one watching the kids and the other single rider - then swap. If you wait until later in the day - Spaceship Earth won't be so bad.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I wouldn't do it. Save yourself and your sanity and go late to Epcot.

 

[MamaBear12]

Your first day should be fine. It's the second day where you'll feel it the most. I'm hoping EP is your second day, because I would be ready to leave EP around 10-10:30 for an early midday break. Then return to use that first late FP at the end of its hour. I would also be trying to move those FP to later in the day to extend that midday break.

Yep, EP day two. And it’s FEA, so no way it can get moved :-( We have an ADR for 10:20 at Garden Grill so I may try to move that up so we can take off to relax from 11-2 if need be. I was anticipating the MK 7am start since it looks like MK has opened that early that week the past couple years, but was planning 8am for EP.

 

[sharonabe]

Yep, EP day two. And it’s FEA, so no way it can get moved :-( We have an ADR for 10:20 at Garden Grill so I may try to move that up so we can take off to relax from 11-2 if need be. I was anticipating the MK 7am start since it looks like MK has opened that early that week the past couple years, but was planning 8am for EP.

Keep trying on the FEA. I was able to move our 7DMT just a couple days before our trip, and it hadn't been available for months before that. You never know. Just go in and try to modify it several times a day.

 

[MamaBear12]

We’re staying at All Star Movies. FEA FP+ is 3:25-4:25. If I can’t move our Garden Grill ADR up, will 11:30-3:30 (4 hrs) be enough time for travel to the resort, relax, and return to the park for FEA?

 

[bizeemom4]

We are doing Christmas thru 1/8. What we ended up doing last time we went for Xmas week was go to the opening park, staying thru a late table service lunch, sometimes later, and then calling it a day. With the exception of the New Years fireworks, we have seen the nighttime entertainment and don’t need to lose sleep to stay up for it. We are staying up late for New Years Eve Eve on 12/30 and then sleeping in so that we can make it to midnight on NYE.

 

[drosenbe0813]

We were at WDW right after new years one trip, and the MK had 7am EMH. I'd have to say that you will probably be able to do more in that one hour, than with your Fast passes. I would plan on hitting the MK at 7 (actually we were there at about 6:30am) and plan on exiting the park by noon. We were all baked by then, but had done all the major rides, some twice. You will not regret taking a break during the busiest part of the day.

As far as EP, I can't really give advice, but my feeling is to sleep in ( a little) and use the fast passes at ep.

 

[amylevan]

No way we could do 6am-11pm for one day, let alone two days, especially with kids young enough to be in a stroller. Just the amount of people in the parks that week would require time for me to decompress. But in any case...

My first choice would be to move those FP+ out of the mid-afternoon, but as noted above, a 11-3 break would work as well.

If you do decide to power through, are you at least allowing an easier day the day after these marathons? Can you schedule a half day or a sleep in day the day after?

 

[LSUfan4444]

We’re going the week between Christmas and New Years and both MK and EP have 7AM EMHs the days we’re going to each park. We want to take advantage of these to ride some rides without lines since we know mid-day will be crazy at both parks. We also want to see the night shows though. Typically we commando, but I can’t see doing two days back-to-back from 6am-11PM. I wasn’t planning on the 7AM EP EMH (originally scheduled for 8AM). We have important FP+ around 2/3PM both days, so if we did head back to our hotel room for a rest it would be around 4 or 5 (kind of late). The kids can nap in the double stroller, so should hubby and I just power through? Lots of coffee? Other tips?

Move your FP+ to later in the evening when you return for night time shows and use standby all morning. When the waits grow beyond your comfort level head somewhere else (either back to a resort, yours or another one, out for lunch, disney springs, mini golf, etc)

Scheduling your FP for early afternoon is a recipe for disaster IMO. They will basically force you to stay in the parks till they are all finished then you'll have to chose between going back to your resort for a short time and heading right back or staying for a very long day.

Another strategy would be to schedule them as early in the day as possible then shoot for the best 4th FP+ you can get but I think you're much better off scheduling exactly what you want after you plan to return to the park in the evening. You's better off playing the EMH standby odds than you are the 4th FP+ odds.