May need a new game plan....

[pigelet]

Our first park day will be on Friday. We plan to go to AK all day and maybe Fantasmic at night. I've been reading AK is packed lately and have never found that to be the case. Regardless our plans will stick for Friday.
Sat, we will go to US/IOA not sure if only one or both. Has anyone been on a Sat. recently? Definately want to avoid MK.
Sun night we have tickets for MNSSHP. It is also early entry so we planned to go at 8 and stay til noon, then come back at 4 or 5. Is this a good idea?
Mon we have a princess breakfast at Epcot with no grand plan to follow, it a "whatever" day
Tue we plan to go to MGM, another EE day.
Wed we only have a half day since we take off at 4 for home.
My question is do we stick with EE days? Will the parks be extra crowded in the am since everything is sold out? I have always used EE as my basis for planning but now am re-thinking it. My plans always seem to work but FTP is screwing me up.
HELP.....

 

[XStAnt]

You don't say who is in your party and there ages, as well as when you're going. It's a little difficult to say if you should do things differently or not. But, I will try...

I think your plan looks fine. I think EE is a great advantage as long as you get there at the early entry opening and take advantage of the extra time. Don't worry too much about crowds on EE days. If it gets too crowded you can leave the EE park and go to a different one. Then, on your next EE day go back to the first park that afternoon. For example, if you find AK to be crowded on Friday leave it and go to MGM. Then, on Tues, leave MGM in mid morning, go to AK to finish up (and go to whatever park you want that evening, after AK closes).

However, I think you'll be able to do everything in AK on Friday, and you'll do fine at MGM on Tues. Don't change your MK strategy. I like the idea of going for early entry, leaving at noon and returning at 4 or 5 pm and staying for MNSSHP.

 

[pigelet]

XSTAnt: Thanks for the advise...We are a party of 8, 4 adults, one is 7, 2 are 5 and one is 3.
We don't live too far from you.

 

[Harambe]

I agree! Go to AK on Friday, then leave midday and go over to MGM (don't miss Fantasmic!). On Monday leave Epcot around 1 or 2 and head back to AK to see the parade. This parade is great and your little ones will really love it!

We are also "EE" people, and I find going early, leaving the parks for awhile and returning late afternoon works well for us. The only hard part is fitting in the parades!

Have a great trip. Don't stress over the crowds. It's beyond your control, and it will just ruin your trip!

 

[XStAnt]

Pigelet,

8 in your group. WOW!! That could be a lot of fun but add a whole new level of potential problems. I don't know how many times you and the rest of your group has been to Disney, and whether you've ever gone with all these people before. I hope I don't insult you but allow me to make a suggestion:

Don't try to do everything together. It sounds like there are two families going. I don't know if one group has been to Disney many times before and the other has only been once or twice (or never). But even if everyone has been numerous times (or never at all) everyone will have different priorites about what they want to do and when. Some may want to stay in the park all day and others may want to take a midday break. Some may want to ride Space Mountain 6 times and others may want to do Snow White 6 times. If you try to accomodate everyone all the time you will spend a lot of time doing things you don't care for and won't enjoy yourselves as much.

Before you go get everyone together and make a list of "must dos" for each person/group. Decide which ones you will do together as a group and which ones people can do individually or in smaller groups. Figure which meals you'll do together and which ones you won't (or at least won't mind if one family decides not to go at the last minute).

I hope this suggestion hasn't offended you. I've just heard horror stories when 2 families go on vacation together and insist on doing everything together. Time planned with your own family or in smaller groups can be helpful to everyone.

PS Where is Convent Station?