Just back-best tip is go early!!

[Kteacher]

We just returned last night ( trip was from 7/27-8/6 ). It was hot, the parks were crowded, but if you arrive at park opening you will have a much better time! We found the parks to be extremely after about noon, but if we arrived at park opening we were able to do a lot with minimal wait times. As an example, at the beginning of our trip we arrived at Epcot one day at 1:30. All the Fastpasses for Test track and Soarin' were gone, and Soarin' was a 2 hour wait. The next morning we went back at park opening, and were able to ride Soarin' 3 times and test track twice before noon. Soarin' is incredible! It is now my new favorite at WDW I also saw Turtle Talk with crush for the first time- very cute! We did notice a lot of rides breaking down during our stay, more so than previous trips ( I'll post pics later ). We got stuck on Splash Mountain for 45 minutes in the sun before a CM walked us down. Buzz Lightyear broke down ( figures-it was right after the picture taking room, so we couldn't rack up points! ) . What was frustrating about that was we could see the exit, but couldn't get out of our vehicle. Space Mountain broke down a few times during our stay, and of course Test track broke down repeatedly, but that's pretty common.
Most of the people we encountered were friendly, although my husband did get rammed by a stroller so hard it drew blood ! Best strategy to deal with the crowds is just to go early in the day, leave at noon , and avoid the evening EMH parks.

 

[Kteacher]

Here's a pic of where we broke down on Splash Mountain. This is the log in front of us- we were in the sun . I was surprised at how long we had to stay up there before we were walked down:

 

[Kteacher]

Here's a pic of the inside of Space Mountain with the lights on -we rode the TTA so we could see it!

 

[Kteacher]

......here's a pic of the progress on Expedition Everest-I can't wait till this is finished!!!!

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

Here's a pic of the inside of Space Mountain with the lights on -we rode the TTA so we could see it!

Am i theonly one who feels bad seeing space mountain with no lights on?? its kinda like the feeling you get when you find out Santa doesnt exist...or am i just a weirdo ??

 

[nluvwithmickey]

ITA with you!!!


Park opening is totally worth it because you can get sooo much done before 11am.

I did also notice that many rides broke down. We were there a t about the same time. we experienced it at SM,Pooh, Buzz

I still had so much fun though that even the heat and crowds did not affect me.

 

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

Could not agree more w/ respect to getting to the parks early. My DD kept asking "why do those people want to wait in the long lines?" I tried to explain the benefits of fastpasses and research/planning, but she probably still thinks it was just magic for us.

We were there 7/29-8/6 and never experienced a broken down ride, guess we just got lucky

 

[danny1649]

Thak you for sharing

 

[Kteacher]

Something else we tried this trip was what I called the MK 20 minute wait time or less touring plan . This touring plan works best if you go to the MK in the morning, go on all your "must-do " rides, then go back to your resort for a mid-day break and return at night for the 20 minute wait time or less touring plan: Start in Adventureland and work your way clockwise around the MK. The only rule is you ride every attraction that has a 20 minute wait time or less. we did this a few times during our trip and had a blast- we saw the Tiki birds, rode the magic carpets-very cool at night, and my teens actually liked this ride , Pirates, the carousel, Philharmagic, Small World, TTA, the Steam Train-it was a lot of fun

 

[Leota]

Sounds like a great trip. I actually like getting walked out. It's fun to see attractions from a different point of view. We do the early thing too, esp. when we went at Spring Break. I just cannot see waiting in long lines. We go early, ride everything, grabbing FP's along the way for later. After 11-12 when it starts to fill up, we use our passes & ride the minor attractions. Then we break for lunch, swimming naps & come back for some evening 20 min. or less rides & FPs.

Thans for the report & the cool pix.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Am i theonly one who feels bad seeing space mountain with no lights on?? its kinda like the feeling you get when you find out Santa doesnt exist...or am i just a weirdo ??

LOL!!

 

[TXTink]

Sounds like good advice. I just have a few questions.

Do you recommend going to the EMH park in the morning then hopping to another park for the afternoon/evening time? And, do you recommend avoiding the late EMH park for the whole day?

We haven't been since the new EMH have started, so I am wondering how it will affect our typical touring style.

Thanks!!

BTW...I love your pictures Kteacher!

 

[mavanilly]

We were at MGM on Aug. 4th and RnR was down for most of the day. Very disappointing! Then Fantasmic was cancelled due to thunder and lightning. Even more disappointing!

 

[erinch]

We went to MK emh (morning) on August 3rd.

It was very disappointing--we went down for the AKL bus at 7:20. A bus did not arrive till 7:50--by that time 80-90 people were waiting.

We didn't get to the MK till almost 8:20. They were letting all guests in and did not check resort ID. It was already very crowded. We walked right on Snow White, then waited the rest of the day for all attractions. Very little "magic" for us at the MK this trip.

 

[paladin]

They were letting all guests in and did not check resort ID.

I have been there at times when they don't start the boat or monorail until closer to (or even exactly at opening time). This could mean that all the folks who were going in would have come off the resort buses (and thus be eligible for EMH).

 

[Patriotsfan0113]

Sounds like it's just a luck of the draw as it pertains to the breakdowns. I can't wait to go though, we also try to be there early.

 

[Kteacher]

We had minimal wait times on the days we went early up until 10:30-11:00 in the a.m. As soon as the park we were in got too crowded we just headed back to our resort. You will have a great trip