Is MK always better in the morning than the evening? Need help with touring plan

[100acreHiker]

We have a short trip (3 days) coming up at the end of April. We're staying at an EP resort and hopping, and generally plan to do one park in the morning, pool/rest in the afternoon, another park in the evening. Originally, I figured we'd go from Beach Club to MK on the morning of 4/26, then do Epcot in the evening. We've always liked MK in the morning and found crowds to be more manageable, but we always stayed at MK resorts. Lately I've been reading about how bag check lines have been long, parks are feeling surprisingly crowded, etc. and I'm now wondering if I will regret doing the whole early morning bus to MK thing, and thinking about doing a morning in EP and then evening in MK. Will we get a lot less done if we arrive at 5pm and stay until 9pm instead of going from 9am until 1pm?

 

[pa. dad]

With just 4 hours in each park, I think you know that this would only allow time for some highlights and favorites.
You can get your FP for the morning park, use them and then get other FP for the evening park while you're on break from the parks.
I would find it hard to leave either park at 1:00 knowing that we have lots of hotels and swimming pools close to home but no theme parks like that. But if you always see the MK in the am, you might find it different seeing it after dark when the lights are on and seeing Fireworks and things like that.

 

[100acreHiker]

Thanks. This is our second trip this year, so we're not planning to see and do everything, just hit our favorites. Our kids are still young-ish (7 & 10) and are usually ready for a break by mid day to get away from the crowds and lines of the parks.

I guess I'm wondering specifically whether crowds are predicted to be higher that week and if a morning touring plan in MK is still thought of as being significantly more efficient than an evening one.

 

[redsbe]

With kids that age and considering if your fav rides are also the most popular, I think RD until mid day is still your best option. In the evening parks can still be busier then the early morning hours. Personally with moderate or higher crowds I have never seen regular evening hours as better time then RD. Also depending on you activities the day before and day after, your kids may run out of stream into the late evening hours.

 

[cassie58]

Doing mornings, especially with EMH or at RD is always going to be the slowest time you can count on, because many people don't tend to want to be and going on vacation. I was amazed on the morning we flew in on the Sat. before Christmas this yr., that when we got to POP to get what we needed from our bags before leaving them to be held till our room was ready, how many people were in the food court at 10:30am, just getting ready to head to parks. We were rushing to get over to HS as quickly as we could, and would never have been heading to a park that late if we had a choice. We of course had scheduled FP for later knowing our arrival time, but would have been there early to do TSMM etc. on a normal day. For evenings, the parks are already full of people, and most will stay till the end for fireworks/parade, so you have less chance of quick lines and small crowds.

 

[MrsDuck]

I think it depends on you and your family. For DH and I, morning is better. We are morning people and are happy to get up early for RD. We are always bagless so that is worth mentioning. As others have mentioned, I think RD is still the way to go for your family.

 

[Mainemama]

Yes, MK in morning, then Epcot at night sounds like a great plan. What are your other 2 days? I have a 4 day trip coming up (like you a 2nd trip and staying at the YC). Our strategy is to take advantage of EMH. We will have 1 morning at MK and 1 evening. The evening we will not plan to get as much done as rope drop day, however. To be honest, MK in the evening came out as my 4th choice for an evening park while staying at YC. I love Epcot at night! I find kids are happier walking around World Showcase in the dark than in beating heat.

 

[100acreHiker]

Yes, MK in morning, then Epcot at night sounds like a great plan. What are your other 2 days? I have a 4 day trip coming up (like you a 2nd trip and staying at the YC). Our strategy is to take advantage of EMH. We will have 1 morning at MK and 1 evening. The evening we will not plan to get as much done as rope drop day, however. To be honest, MK in the evening came out as my 4th choice for an evening park while staying at YC. I love Epcot at night! I find kids are happier walking around World Showcase in the dark than in beating heat.

Thank you for your thoughts! Right now, we plan to arrive (from Universal--gasp!) on a Monday morning and check in to BC, then head over to HS for the afternoon and evening, catching the Star Wars fireworks show. Tuesday: morning at MK, evening at EP and staying for Illuminations. Wednesday: AK and a late lunch at Sanaa, evening at EP. Thursday morning: walk into either HS (maybe to do Jedi Training) or do EP again--we fly out Thursday at 5pm.

 

[Ariel on Land]

Rope drop at MK allows for quite a bit to be done. I don't think the early mornings are as useful at Epcot with their tiering of FPs, and the fact that the headliners back up crazy long almost immediately.

 

[100acreHiker]

Rope drop at MK allows for quite a bit to be done. I don't think the early mornings are as useful at Epcot with their tiering of FPs, and the fact that the headliners back up crazy long almost immediately.

Good point! We're not huge TT fans and will missing Soarin'...

 

[Mainemama]

Sounds like you are thinking like me... Epcot wins (and HS 2nd with Star Wars fireworks) for nights from BC! If you are going to stick with just the half day in MK, I would do the morning. If on night three you feel you didn't get to everything, you can always switch your 2nd Epcot night to MK, and then do the Epcot plan on your departure day.

 

[ColonialMouse]

For lines I prefer MK mornings but for atmosphere I really love evenings at MK. though in the summer we don't do fireworks there with the kids. In the winter at 8 they are fantastic.

 

[100acreHiker]

Sounds like you are thinking like me... Epcot wins (and HS 2nd with Star Wars fireworks) for nights from BC! If you are going to stick with just the half day in MK, I would do the morning. If on night three you feel you didn't get to everything, you can always switch your 2nd Epcot night to MK, and then do the Epcot plan on your departure day.

This is a really useful suggestion, thank you!

For lines I prefer MK mornings but for atmosphere I really love evenings at MK. though in the summer we don't do fireworks there with the kids. In the winter at 8 they are fantastic.

I am desperate for my kids to stay up to see at least one of the fireworks shows. When we went this fall, they were totally pooped out and I didn't get to see a single show in the park the whole week!

 

[To the honeypots]

For me, I still prefer MK in the evening. We may not get as much done, but it is so magical. It is my happy place

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

We've always found the evening hours to be much more efficient for touring than the morning. More and more guests are arriving early and they will eventually tire out and leave early. Here's just an example of what we've been able to accomplish on a recent summer evening from 8 pm - midnight with no FP+. Just keep in mind that posted wait times are intentionally inflated at night to discourage riders.

Big Thunder 3x
Splash Mtn 2x
Space Mtn 2x
Mine Train (10 min wait right a closing time)
Pirates
Jungle Cruise
Haunted Mansion
Pooh
Peter Pan
Speedway
Barnstormer 2x

We also watched the parade and fireworks and had a couple of Dole Whips.

 

[100acreHiker]

We've always found the evening hours to be much more efficient for touring than the morning. More and more guests are arriving early and they will eventually tire out and leave early. Here's just an example of what we've been able to accomplish on a recent summer evening from 8 pm - midnight with no FP+. Just keep in mind that posted wait times are intentionally inflated at night to discourage riders.

Big Thunder 3x
Splash Mtn 2x
Space Mtn 2x
Mine Train (10 min wait right a closing time)
Pirates
Jungle Cruise
Haunted Mansion
Pooh
Peter Pan
Speedway
Barnstormer 2x

We also watched the parade and fireworks and had a couple of Dole Whips.

Oh how I wish my kids were at an age that they could tour from 8- midnight! I have no doubt one can get a lot done, but until they are teens we're stuck with wrapping things up by 9 or 930 at the latest, so we have to pick our evening park based on how things are from 5-9.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Oh how I wish my kids were at an age that they could tour from 8- midnight! I have no doubt one can get a lot done, but until they are teens we're stuck with wrapping things up by 9 or 930 at the latest, so we have to pick our evening park based on how things are from 5-9.

Those kids might surprise you. Lots of pre-teens are in the parks with their families late at night. My fondest Disney memory is chasing my then 3 year old daughter back to the entrance of Space Mountain moments before midnight with her screaming "one more time Daddy" all the way.

My bunch have always felt that they were being punished if we had to leave a park before closing time.