MK on Saturday?

[Sarahsal]

Just checked touringplans.com for the dates of our Easter trip. (We've been many times at Easter, we know the tricks to make it work.) However, the plan says the best park for Saturday March 26th is MK. Even before the dis and the unofficial guide, I knew not to go to MK on a Saturday, ever. Why the change?

 

[eeyore0062]

I don't know... doesn't sound right to me either, unless they think that the locals who usually go to the park on Saturday will wait for Easter to go, or guests coming in from out of town will arrive that Saturday and go to the park that Sunday!

 

[lentesta]

Saturday is almost certainly the most frequent day of vacation travel in the United States (we've been looking at this particular question for a couple of months now). And I don't think locals make up the difference.

Len

 

[Sarahsal]

Thanks. I'll give it a try and let you know how it turns out!

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Wow! I find that strange that they would say Saturday. I actually did my itenerary to avoid Sat and Sun at MK.

 

[WDW LOVR]

Our kids had the week before Easter off a couple years ago. We were at the World beginning the Thursday before Good Friday. Thursday was not too bad crowd wise, Friday they picked up and Saturday we thought we'd try MK (thinking all the people from the north would drive down Friday evening and all day Saturday and go to MK on Sunday) and it was a complete madhouse. They were still letting people in so it hadn't reached capacity, but I don't know where else they were putting the people they let in.

We honestly walked in the park around 11:00 and headed to get a fast pass for Splash Mtn. They were (what's the word?) sold out for the day. Made our way to HM, same thing. Headed over towards Tomorrow land and the kids couldn't even get on the People Mover. We left the park without riding a thing and went to Epcot where the crowds were managable. You could never convince me to go to MK on Easter weekend any of the days.

 

[lentesta]

Wow, WDW LOVR. As I've posted here before, holidays are the #1 factor when considering lines at theme parks. Seasons are #2.

Sarahsal, it's not just our research that says this; we've been talking to the Department of Transportation (your tax dollars at work!), a consumer research magazine, and a number of Orlando-area hotels.

Len

 

[Sarahsal]

Sarahsal, it's not just our research that says this; we've been talking to the Department of Transportation (your tax dollars at work!), a consumer research magazine, and a number of Orlando-area hotels.

Len

I believe you are sincere in your recommendation! As I said, I'll give it a try. We'll be at the gates before opening, and if it doesn't work out we'll hop. Many thanks for the input.

 

[WDW LOVR]

Len, Guess we were just lucky , but we wouldn't let it ruin our visit. How can you go wrong going to Epcot and listening to Off Kilter and MoRoccan if MK is too busy?

 

[Mike]

I'm a convert. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical but Len sent me a PM to reassure me. We went to the MK on consecutive Saturdays in late June last year and the crowds were more than manageable. I am glad I took Len's advice.

 

[eeyore0062]

Saturday is almost certainly the most frequent day of vacation travel in the United States (we've been looking at this particular question for a couple of months now). And I don't think locals make up the difference.

Len

I have been to MK on Saturdays....it is VERY crowded... I mean extremely! I don't know where all the people come from, but they are there! This has been verified with statistics! Many people who travel to WDW do it on Friday-- kids get out of school or parents take them out, parents get off work, or take off and drive or fly on Friday. I know we ALWAYS left to go to Disney on Friday to start our week on Saturday, then we would leave on the following Friday) Then they start their vacation at the MK (gotta see the castle, ya know!) on Saturday. The best day to go is Friday... oh, now why did I spill that secret?

 

[Philly81]

In our experience a lot of people arrive in time for the weekend and want to go to MK first. Saturdays have always been crazy for us at MK. Last time we left and went to Epcot and it was wonderfully uncrowded.

I have been to MK on Saturdays....it is VERY crowded... I mean extremely! I don't know where all the people come from, but they are there! This has been verified with statistics! Many people who travel to WDW do it on Friday-- kids get out of school or parents take them out, parents get off work, or take off and drive or fly on Friday. I know we ALWAYS left to go to Disney on Friday to start our week on Saturday, then we would leave on the following Friday) Then they start their vacation at the MK (gotta see the castle, ya know!) on Saturday. The best day to go is Friday... oh, now why did I spill that secret?

 

[Mainebound]

I would be interested to see the statistics that differ from Len Testa's and the UG's research findings. Remember that one person's impression on one given day is not data. It is just one persons's experience. First, that person may not be judging the crowds correctly. Or, second, it may in fact be super crowded, but not because it is a Saturday. Usually there is no way for an individual person to tell which is the case, based solely on their own limited experience. (And yes, a person's experience is "limited" in this sense even if s/he has been to WDW 50 times.)

As for Fridays at MK, I used to LOVE these. But now, unless you are using the MK EE, they are best to avoid. Ugh.

 

[lentesta]

eeyore0062, which statistics show this? According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' National Household Travel Survey , people drive on around 90% of their leisure vacations. For trips of 501-1000 miles from home, the most common departure day is Friday (and we assume those are two-day trips). For shorter trips, it's Saturday and Sunday (and we assume those are one-day trips). Combining all the numbers - the raw data are available here, Saturday seems to be the winner.

Other data support this, too. Hotel occupancy peaks on Saturday nights, according to Consumer Reports. If you've got data that contradict this, we'd love to see it. Drop me a line: len@touringplans.com.

Thanks!

Len