Magic Kingdom - EMH or Monday?

[bkaz]

I know this question has been asked in so many ways, but here is my bottom line question. We arrive in Orlando Saturday evening, March 4th. There is no way my kids will wait until Tuesday to go to MK. We are staying off site, so we can't take advantage of EMH. So...would you go to MK on Sunday when they are having evening EMHs or go on Monday...the rumored busiest day of the week? We have not decided yet if we are getting park hopper passes...our kids are 8 and 4 and we're not sure if they will have the stamina to make use of much hopping! Would love suggestions from seasoned veterans!

 

[Kristina]

Good question! According to the Unofficial Guide website, which I have used when planning both of our previous trips, it says to avoid the MK on March 5th, with the least crowded park expected to be Epcot on that day. On Monday the 6th however they state that it is the studios that should be avoided, so the Magic Kingdom should be alright on that day . If they are correct then it would be a drag to go to the MK on Sunday and then have it become really crowded in the early afternoon. Although if it were me I don't know if I could hold out either to be honest, we always go first thing! Here is a link to the site if you want to have a peek yourself, and good luck!
Touringplans.com Best days

Edit to add..one thing that is important for the kiddo's if you want them to have enough stamina to enjoy themselves in fantasyland..get to the park early, before it opens, watch the show infront of the train station, then high tail it to Fantasyland where there will be no waiting . Then, when the afternoon folks arrive, well you will all have gotten to experience a whole lot already. The morning really is the best time.

I'm sure you will all have a wonderful time no matter what you choose !

 

[mtdevine615]

We were at MK this past Sunday the 22nd and the park was not very busy at all. After Wishes we stayed for EMH and left the park about 11:15. It wasn't very crowded for EMH but that was the other day not in March. I agree with the kids go to MK and have a great time.

 

[snowy76]

I would go Monday based on the fact that EMH is the night before. MK tends to get packed during evening EMH... so your chances are better these days that you'll have a quieter morning after.

That being said, I would be sure to be there for the opening and have a plan ready to hit the must-see attractions first. Then, even if the crowds swell by the afternoon, you can take your time and enjoy yourself knowing you did a lot of attractions already.

As for the hopping, I would say go for it, just because the kids may NOT have the stamina for a long day in a single park (even with an afternoon break). The hopping might give you guys enough of a change of pace to re-energize. We've done days before where we started out at MK, headed to the resort mid-afternoon, and then hopped to MGM or Epcot for dinner and a few attractions because we didn't feel like heading all the way back to MK for a long evening (this is when we stayed near Epcot).

 

[horsegirl]

I would go Sunday, if you have hopping option and if gets too crowded leave and go somewhere else. Then if you want to do more MK go Monday am too. Again if you have the park hopper option, you are all set. Also, it appears that getting to MK early is key to avoiding crowds. It was never packed when we've been in the ams during the winter, until 11-12. The touring plans list best days as a lot less important than your touring strategy in the park. I am trying to figure this out for our trip in 18 days! Good luck and have a blast.

 

[loopner67]

I know this question has been asked in so many ways, but here is my bottom line question. We arrive in Orlando Saturday evening, March 4th. There is no way my kids will wait until Tuesday to go to MK. We are staying off site, so we can't take advantage of EMH. So...would you go to MK on Sunday when they are having evening EMHs or go on Monday...the rumored busiest day of the week? We have not decided yet if we are getting park hopper passes...our kids are 8 and 4 and we're not sure if they will have the stamina to make use of much hopping! Would love suggestions from seasoned veterans!

I'm going to be there at the same time. We get there on Friday 3/3, though. We had to chose between Sunday or Monday for MK and we chose MK on MONDAY. I'll tell you why.....

Sunday is EMH (which you know) and I've been in parks when it's their EMH days and found them to be unbearable. I just can't do it.

I also went to a site that was recommended by someone on these boards that shows parks to avoid and best parks. MK is listed as "Avoid" on Sunday 3/5, but not on Monday 3/6 (goes against the whole Monday theory, huh?). I think with EMH being on Sunday, that Monday won't be as traditionally bad in the MK. I hope I'm right!

Here is the site I mentioned.... http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

So my vote is go on Monday 3/6! I'd love to know what you decide to do, just out of sheer curiosity.

 

[kelleigh1]

Hubby and I were at WDW last week. We arrived on Sunday the 15th and Monday was MLK day. We went to MK on Monday morning...right when it opened...and proceeded to walk onto Space Mountain (him, not me) then counter clockwise around to all the rides including Winnie the Pooh, Small World, Snow White, Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion. It started to get a little busier by the time we got to Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, but the lines were still reasonable.

We did leave shortly after Noon and you could see the crowd growing exponentially, but getting there first thing the morning after their evening EMH was probably the smartest thing we did during the whole trip.

I say go on Monday!