Longer days or lower crowds?!

[tentaguasu]

Hello Everyone,

Which makes more sense for one day in a park - extended hours on a really busy day, or shorter hours on a less busy day? Consider that this is in early May when "busy day" is better than mid summer.

Here are the details. I've been to WDW on a number (3 or 4) of occasions, so I know the parks fairly well. Unfortunately, I can only stay two days on an upcoming trip.

I'm ruling out DHS due to time. I'm thinking I may try:

Day One: Start at AK then hop to Epcot.
Day Two: All day at MK.

In both cases I have two choices - either pick a day that easyWDW predicts as a heavy traffic day, but that has longer hours or instead pick a day that they predict as low traffic, but has shorter hours. (We're talking a difference of a couple of hours.)

Since I want to pack in as much as I can, I'm willing to go wall-to-wall, no rest touring. But not sure which option makes more sense.

Thoughts?

(Remember, we're talking about early May so ALL days are rated a 5 out of 10, overall.)

 

[bradisgoofy]

I'd rather go less crowded. Might have shorter lines and get more done. When they say shorter hours, that time of year may only mean 2 hours less. That being said, I like late night extra magic hours, if you are staying on property. After the last fireworks of the night the park empties out and you can do most rides one after another.

 

[Alesia]

Since you have hoppers, the smartest plan is to go to the park with am EMH in the morning and then hop to the most recommended park around lunchtime. Or, if you prefer later nights, Start out in the most recommended park and then hop to the park with pm EMH.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

I'd go to the park that is predicted to have lower crowds & shorter hours...I would avoid EMH.

 

[TeamSy]

I would do less crowd shorter hours for sure!!! Although I've found when MK has those 12-2am EMH you can get SO MUCH DONE, but unless you're just coming in for those, the day itself (because it's usually on a weekend and so much more crowded) can be cumbersome. I find it less frustrating if it's your only day there to sacrifice the shorter hours for a more enjoyable experience crowd wise.

 

[DizDaD7]

I'd also say Lower crowds as well.

 

[larryz]

I'd rather go less crowded. Might have shorter lines and get more done. When they say shorter hours, that time of year may only mean 2 hours less. That being said, I like late night extra magic hours, if you are staying on property. After the last fireworks of the night the park empties out and you can do most rides one after another.

Might is the key word. Longer hours almost guarantees there will be slack periods at rope drop and at the end of the day...

 

[larryz]

I'd also say Lower crowds as well.

Prior to FP+, that was a given. In the FP+ era, rides that used to be walk-ons are running often substantial SB lines, even in traditionally "low crowd" times.

 

[DizDaD7]

Might is the key word. Longer hours almost guarantees there will be slack periods at rope drop and at the end of the day...

True....And I'm not opposed at getting up real early to do RD, but as things have progressed in the last 4 years or so, we've found that adding a couple days more to a trip, like we did both summers, really keeps the hassle of having to rush to everything... We'll spend a bunch of tim e going at a leisurly pace knowing that we'll be able to visit it again multiple times during that trip..... Going during lower crowd timesjust means an extra ride on something that we've already gone on plenty of times....

I do agree things were easier to get on with the old traditional FP's , But Me being the runner, I never got time to relax and enjoy what your supposed to, just going from ride to ride.