New EMH--frustrated over what to expect this trip

[jennypenny]

I wish I knew how the new EMH was affecting crowds. We're going next week. After years of doing this I knew when to go where and how to anticipate crowds. This year I have no idea what to expect. For example, we are arriving Sun afternoon. Normally we would go to MK on monday (1st) morning, but that's always so crowded. Sun night is a late EMH for MK, but will that be more crowded? Will that make MK less crowded on Monday???

There is one day where DS (am) and AK (pm) have Extra Hours. We were going to do the opposite and do AK in the morning and DS in the evening. Normally the *avoid the crowds* theory would work. But what if people aren't getting the hopper options? Should we be going with the flow and doing the EMH part?

Ugh. I have a feeling we'll guess wrong a few times on this trip and do lots of park hopping. I've hardly made any PS's because we're not sure where we'll be on any given day. I don't think I would really care if it was just our family, but I'm taking my whole family with us this time, and I'm going to look like I don't know what I'm doing

Sorry to vent, but I used to be a disney expert! But they changed the tickets, then changed the hours, and now I'm a novice again

Jenny

 

[disneymania]

We just got back & I understand your dilema. We just decided to do the parks we want on days we wanted. We did end up starting in MK on Sunday & it was not very crowded (although it was EMH at MGM that day). Monday was also not very crowded at MK. We only went for evening EMH part of Wed at MK & also about average crowds. Went to morning EMH on Friday at MK & thought that lines were longer than I had seen other times of week at MK. The good thing about when you are going is that it is a slower time of year so it won't be that busy (hopefully) even on traditionally busy days. We were shocked by how short lines were but Fantasyland always had lines when we went thru. Peter Pan always had a 30+ min wait posted. Have fun!!!

 

[java]

I'm with you. But from what I have read it seems like the evening hours are more popular than the AM hours. So I think you may make out OK on those EMH places. But I will anxiously await your report so I can plan our commando days.

 

[WDSearcher]

We just got back & I understand your dilema. We just decided to do the parks we want on days we wanted.

This is the best strategy to use on almost any vacation! If there's a holiday (or holiday week, as in between Christmas and NYE) in your vacation schedule, then you definitely do need to plan around that. But on any other given week, just go where you want to when you want to. Yes, some parks are more crowded, historically, on such-and-such a day, but there's no way to guarantee that from year to year. And you can make yourself crazy trying to anticipate which crowds will be where based on books or last year or three years ago or last week. And, generally, you won't notice a difference day to day. To an everyday guest, visiting at a non-holiday time, it honestly doesn't make that much of a difference.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Just relax and have fun, it's your vacation! If you pick a park and when you arrive it feels really crowded or it gets that way while your there, leave and try another.

As far as PS try calling the day you want something, with the exception of the super hard to get(CRT, California Grill) we've always managed to get every one we've wanted while we were already there. If a restaurants booked then try for the next day.

Relax, have fun and don't worry, that's what vacations are all about!

 

[jennypenny]

I will definitely take notes when we're down there and give a detailed report when I get back (2/22). I hope it helps someone. I've been going during the same week in Feb for a few years so I should be able to make some comparisons.

Now if I could just figure out how to make the weather perfect . . .

Jenny

 

[tjkraz]

You won't find me complaining about a perk that gives us 3 extra hours per night in the WDW theme parks.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

What is DS that you referred to as having an EMH (am)?

 

[WDSearcher]

I think DS = Disney Studios (a/k/a Disney-MGM Studios).

 

[QueenOfCelts]

What is DS that you referred to as having an EMH (am)?

I am pretty sure it means Disney Studios.

 

[Kallison]

We loved the evening EMH we did at MGM and AK. The parks were deserted, we got all the attractions done, at a very leisurely pace. The CM's were so friendly and fun to talk too when they weren't rushed with a million people around.

 

[bjakmom]

We did EMH at MGM last Sun night - we got to our 5:25 Prime Time PS at 5:05 - they seated us right away. By the time we left (right after 6, the lobby and outside were full of people waiting for tables). DS and friend went right to ToT and RnR and rode several times. DH and I walked through the Animation Studio (because it was closing at 7 and not on the EMH list, even though it had been listed on-line) and then went back to ToT and RnR - both were basically walk-ons (did ToT 3 x in a row - new drop sequences are AWESOME !) because everyone else was at Fantasmic - they did not open any FP machines after 7 as other posters had reported (actually none were open before 7 either). Once the Fantasmic crowds got out (just after 7:30) the park was mobbed and the lines got so long so fast in that area that DS and friend called us and said they were going over to ESPN for a while. DH and I had a short wait for Muppets and then walked around a bit - when we got to GMR at about 8:30 the wait was over 25 mins- I spoke with a 'suit' who said they just underestimated the # of people in the park that night. We went and did some shopping instead and later did RnR again with about a 20 min wait. At about 9:30 the wait for GMR was back down to 10 mins, so we did it then. So my advice is - ride ToT, RnR and GMR while everyone else is waiting for and watching Fantasmic - then after 9 when it seems to slow down again. This was a very slow time of year, during the days the waits were minimal. I'm not sure how they are going to make this work at peak season with so many people staying in the parks for EMH and so few attractions operating.

 

[msn1]

Just got back - Did EPCOT AM, and MK AM and PM EMH. It's amazing how many things you can do when the crowds are not there. At MK we did Buzz twice back-to-back and then the Speedway twice. For the morning hours, I would go to the EMH park, and only leave if you felt the crowds got too heavy later on.