Just back! Great time at Peak Season!

[JJsmama]

We just returned from 5 days at WL and the parks. We were very concerned about the crowd levels before we got there. We were (lucky?) enough that it was So crowded the MK had EMH every morning at 7:00AM. We were there each morning about 6:50 and got to do the count down and open the park. It was so exciting! There were so few people there. Each morning we had two hours when we walked onto everything and did things over and over again. The CMs would let us stay on the rides without getting off sometimes. Plus there were characters just standing around, waiting for someone to come see them! If you get the opportunity to be at MK that early, it is SOOO worth it! We had a fantastic time!

For instance one morning in the first hour and a half we did:
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear
Indy Raceway (twice)
Peter Pan
Winnie the Pooh
Snow White
TeaCups
Cinderella's Carousel
Small World
Jungle Cruise
Swiss Family Treehouse
and Main Street Trolley

Then we got a snack at Main Street Bakery and were waiting for Barnstormer to open at 9:00. Then we'd do Railroad, Alladin, Pirates, Splash, Thunder Mtn, Philharmagic.

Each day we'd have lunch around 11:00-11:30 and by that time the kids had done everything they wanted to do! We could not believe our luck.

It was getting really crowded by the time we left and TomorrowLand was a nightmare by lunch time.

If anyone is going this week or next, do yourself and favor and get UP with the sun (literally) and GO to MK! You'll be so happy there.

 

[Poohbear123]

Glad you had a great time. Unfortunately, some won't or can't do what you did, that is get up early, and take advantage of the EMH in the Mornings. This is the ONLY way to get to enjoy yourself during Peak times!

 

[quiltymom]

Thanks for the info! We're arriving at WL on Monday, and I'm so excited that I can't stand it! We have reservations on Thursday at CRT at 8:20, so I'll be sure to drag the family to MK by 6:50 am! I'll be sure to let DH read the post to convince him that it's the best thing to do.

We're planning on getting everyone to be early each night, anyway, since our kids are 4 & 6. It's really worth it getting there early. It's the same for thing for Disneyland. Waiting in lines for those Fantasyland rides can eat up your time, and if you get them out of the way early, then you don't have to worry!

 

[buckeye]

Hey,
We've followed that same strategy at Easter before and had a perfect trip! We leave in 2 days for another Easter trip and will be hoping for as good a time again!

Thanks so much for sharing your happy story

 

[danny1649]

Glad you had a great time and thanks for the tip.I agree if you arrive early youcan get so much done in first few hours.

 

[snappy]

We also go in early and have been at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Memorial Day and were amazed how much you can accomplish early. We are not really "commando" types, we eat a leisurely early lunch and leave for a long break. We also never stay in the parks late, although with the evening EMH I would like to stay at least in MK once late.

Glad you had a great time despite the crowds.

 

[Bedknobs/Broomsticks]

JJsmama, you have my head spinning! We are an "early to bed, early to rise" family normally. However, since the parks are open so late next week (when we'll be in the World), we thought that maybe we should sleep in a bit so that we could stay up later than usual. Your post is making me rethink that strategy.

The calendar at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours indicates that MK opened at 8am this week (during your trip). How did you know that it would really open at 7am?

Did any of the other EMH parks open at 7am, or was it just MK? We had planned to go to MGM on Easter Monday, but it isn't scheduled to open until 9am that day. Maybe we should do MK on Monday (with EMH) and then do MGM on Tuesday (with EMH). Of course, this means changing (and probably losing) 2 PS's.

Okay, I'm stressing out here, but it's a good stress.

 

[JJsmama]

BedKnobs, Check the official WDW website calendar for the days each park will have early entry. There was a notation on each day that said "Extra Magic Hour." That means one hour before opening. It was only a few days ahead of our trip that they announced there would be EMH every day at MK at 7:00. In my opinion, FORGET staying late at night for EMH and GO early. With little kids like ours, there isn't enough time to change everyone's biological clock anyway. Take advantage of the early hours, get up, rush, be there and ENJOY! Then you'll have enjoy time to stroll through everything. We loved the relaxed feeling that we had because we got to do everything we wanted so easily each morning. The crowds were much worse later. If you weren't an early bird family, it might be hard. Since you are, take advantage!!!

As an aside: even the breakfasts were different early. At 6:30, no one else was awake at WL. We'd get coffee, juice or cereal and eat it or take it along and then get another light breakfast later at Main St. Bakery. The one morning we slept in and went to Roaring Forks (same restaurant every day) an hour or so later, it was mobbed with a line out the door.

 

[JJsmama]

QuiltyMom and Buckeye,

GO GO GO next week! I'm cheering for you all to get there early and have a fantastic time.

Seriously, it was so worth it. If there is someone in your party who won't get up early, LEAVE them and meet up later. By the second day, they'll probably change their tunes.

 

[corinascot]

Thank you! It eases my mind to read your post. We leave tomorrow and after visiting family we arrive at POFQ on Monday for 5 nights. I know it's going to be mobbed, but I've been hoping being early risers would help us. We'll be at the MK gate at 6:45. Do you mind my asking if you drove or took the bus to the parks? We planned on taking the bus to MK but maybe driving to the other parks.

Thanks again. Glad you had such a great trip.

 

[JJsmama]

Corina,
Maybe you could ask a bus driver when you get there whether you should drive or not. We took the bus from WL to MK each morning around 6:30. We never went to another park that early. Make sure that the trams would be running in the parking lots since the park is not even open yet.

I'd recommend the bus though. There won't be many people waiting for it at PO at 6:30. Take that one and you'll be fine.

 

[golfgal]

We are early rising people and are hoping to have similar luck with EMH in the AM's for our trip. We will try to do the early entrance at least one day at MK. If the schedule works out right we can go early one day and stay late the other day!

 

[ssdeverell]

JJsmama - you said Barnstormer opened at 9:00. Did Toontown open an hour early while you were there? We are leaving Sunday, so I would need to readjust my plans if that is so. Thanks!

 

[JJsmama]

ToonTown still opened 1 hour after 'park opening' (8:00) which is 2 hours after EMH opening (7:00).

 

[Kaiya]

Thanks for all the info!! We'll be at POR next Tues - planning MK EMH Weds a.m. - Apr.1. Wondering if you were through the turnstiles before 7a.m.?? Is it like the rope drop or do they not start letting you in until 7a.m on the dot?

Also, thanks for posting your itinerary JJsmama. Had no idea we would be able to get to do so much in an hour and a half!!

 

[Harambe]

JJsmama, you have my head spinning! We are an "early to bed, early to rise" family normally. However, since the parks are open so late next week (when we'll be in the World), we thought that maybe we should sleep in a bit so that we could stay up later than usual. Your post is making me rethink that strategy.


I origianlly hated the whole EMH at night thing, but then decided it was a good thing for us early birds because more folks, who hate getting up early, would go to the nighttime EMH. We LOVE running around the parks in the morning. Then when the crowds come in, we shop, eat a leisurely lunch, or go back to our resort to hang around.

 

[JJsmama]

Thanks for all the info!! We'll be at POR next Tues - planning MK EMH Weds a.m. - Apr.1. Wondering if you were through the turnstiles before 7a.m.?? Is it like the rope drop or do they not start letting you in until 7a.m on the dot?

/QUOTE]

We were there before 7 every morning, yes. They let us through the security check and through the ticket turnstiles. Then they did the rope drop before we went under the tunnel through the train station. That way, we got to actually take off and go at 7:00 sharp.

The first morning we had to stand in line for a few minutes for the stroller. I bought all my days that morning. That was super because on the following mornings and at other parks, I just showed my ticket, grabbed one and went.