July Park Strategy??

[cruise-o-matic]

We are going in just over 6 weeks. We arrive Sat for one night at POR, then my sis and fam are coming in Sun and we're sharing a 2BR at BCV for 5 nights. We have PAPs this year, but since this their only trip, they'll probably only get the basic MYW tix - no park hopping or plusses.

When we get there Sat, we plan to do a waterpark after 2pm on Sat. Our strategy is to go to a park the day after its evening EMH, with the exception of EP on Wed. (DW & I have a Segway tour and DD and DNep are doing an Albatross tour. Plus my Gdad will be coming for one day, so it looks like Wed is a "no park" day.) So we are looking at EP on Sun, MK on Mon, AK on Tue and MGM on Thu. We have a trail ride Friday morning, and will possibly hit the other waterpark after that.

Is this a good strategy? Has it been anyone's experience with the new MYW tix that people aren't adding on the "park hopper" feature and trying to max their park time with EMH? Are the parks noticebly less crowded on the days after Eve EMH?

Thanks.

 

[MJMcBride]

my strategy would be "don't go in July". Barring that I would pick up the Unofficial Guide. I would stick as closely as I could to their suggestions. I tend to go in the offseason and get away with going on what I want when I want other than hitting the "biggies" early. For you, I would get a plan and stick to it. I hope this was some help.

 

[ryley26]

We go July-Aug the last four years and the emh didn't help much. If you use them be there at opening and push early the parks are stuffed by 11:00. We have gone with the day after approach and found the crowds more manageable. I think the key is to get there when the park opens and tour heavily early. We have had little trouble the last three years with wait times have the parks major rides done by noon and coast or return to room and swim till later in the day.

 

[PixieDustTink]

We were there for two weeks on July and went with a plan. We hit the parks as early as possible and were out by no later than 1 in the afternoon. We'd either go and get something to eat and then head back to our resort to swim OR we would go to the waterparks till it cooled down in the evening. We also took advantage of every single late night ticket they had while we were there. We found the late night much better than the early entry. Fewer people, much cooler and we practically walked on to all of the rides. If you plan properly going in July can be wonderful!! Bring one of those fans and some water bottles with you when you go in even early in the a.m.. we had clips that we could attach our bottles to our fannie packs with and it was easy! But whatever you do, don't try to tour the parks in the heat of the afternoons. It's awful!!

We got stuck one day in a long, long line for Haunted Mansion, I was feeling ill as was my son and just as we'd decided to get out of the line and go back to the room the woman in front of us collapsed from heat stroke. NEVER again. I would NOT stay in a line past noon in July at WDW.

Go prepared and you will have a great time!! I really loved walking around at night the air was warm and the breeze was like silk. Loved it! Have fun!

 

[Greg K.]

PixieDustTink is right: stay away from the afternoons!

We've gone in July the last three years, and we're going again this year. We usually stay for two weeks, and pace ourselves. Hit some early mornings, and get out by noon!

Last year, my inlaws joined us for a few days (they're doing that again this year) and we took some nice 3-4 hour afternoon breaks, napped, went swimming, then regrouped for a nice dinner and fireworks or some rides. My f-i-l was astounded. "Everyone I know comes back from Disney exhausted," he said. "But we came back refreshed!"

 

[Tam1067]

Our last trip was in July, and we're going this July as well. I advise doing what the others have done: getting an early start, eating an early lunch (11:00 or 11:30) and then heading back to the resort to swim/relax, and then havinga nice dinner. Your evenings will then be free to go to a park or not, depending on how you feel. My kids were really little when we went last time, so they were not up to evening shows in the parks, but this time, we're planning to do Fantasmic, Spectromagic, and Illuminations, and the only way we can possibly do that is to rest in the afternoons.

Also, I'm having two cases of bottled water delivered to my room before I arrive. Then each of us will bring a bottle to the park in the morning (I have a small cooler to put in the bottom of the stroller and the big kids will carry theirs with a strap). As others have said, the heat becomes really nasty if you don't drink enough, and I hate to spend $10-$15 a day on bottled water in the parks.

Also, remember sunscreen!

 

[boomhauer]

My advice is don't worry about it. The only park you really run into problems is (on a regular basis) is the Magic Kingdom. Hit the biggies first thing in the morning. If you're like me, and don't like to leave the parks, save the less crowded, bigger capacity attractions for the afternoon hours, such as:

Carousel Of Progress
Hall Of Presidents
Mickey's Philharmagic
Country Bear Jamboree
Tom Sawyer Island
Enchanted Tiki Room
It's A Small World
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Walt Disney World Railroad

Those attractions can easily keep you busy during the crazy afternoon hours. Once you've finished with those, have dinner, and by that time, crowds will have died down enough to go hit more of the biggie attractions again.

 

[dbm20th]

This is not going to be much help, but may get you going in the right direction...

I know there are websites out there that offer customized touring plans that break down which ride and when for the time you are there. I am sure someone here can think of what I am talking about. I've heard some good success stories about them. Personally, I avoid July as much as humanlly possible

 

[MJMcBride]

This is not going to be much help, but may get you going in the right direction...

I know there are websites out there that offer customized touring plans that break down which ride and when for the time you are there. I am sure someone here can think of what I am talking about. I've heard some good success stories about them. Personally, I avoid July as much as humanlly possible

Doesn't that Tour Guide Mike deal do that? Its linked to this site.

 

[MelanieC]

We went last July, it really wasn't bad at all. I had scary visions of it being super crowded. We were there for 2 weeks. Hit the major rides first thing and save the shorter line rides for later in the day when the lines are long at the majors. Make good use of your FP's.

 

[mattsdragon]

My July Stategy. . .

Hydrate or die. . .

 

[tinkerbell60]

We were there last July and found the strategy of hitting the parks the day after EMH to be really effective!!!

 

[cruise-o-matic]

My July Stategy. . .

Hydrate or die. . .

We did July in '04, when they had e-ride nights instead of EMH. We bought a couple of Britta squirt bottles and filled them with ice before we left. Orlando water is horrid. Also filled up our "mister" with ice too.

BNL has a camelback and will probably fill his with ice too.