October 2011 planning-please help :)

[amy-momofthree]

Now that the October hours are out, I can start planning. I make my ADRS on April 4th.Our dates are OCT 1-8.

I need suggestions please.

We are not planning on going to the MNSSHP. I heard that those days are low crowd levels before the party? I have 3 MK days planned. Is it better to attend MK on a MNSSHP day if we plan on leaving the park around 4pm?

We missed Fantasmic last time and want to see it this time. Is it better to see it on a SUN or Thurs? Sun is EMH PM so I am guessing that would be crazy busy right?

We will be there during F&W. Is Epcot less busy on any certain day?

Should I usually avoid EMH at all parks?

We will arrive sometime during the afternoon on Oct. 1 and really want to go to MK since it's the 40th anniv. Is that going to be impossible? Should I plan on anohter park that evening?

There will be me, dh, ds8 , dd7 and dd17months.

Thank you! I was so excited to see the OCT hours but now I am more confused.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

I'd like to hear the answers too since we will be there at the same time!

 

[juliebug1997]

Now that the October hours are out, I can start planning. I make my ADRS on April 4th.Our dates are OCT 1-8.

I need suggestions please.

We are not planning on going to the MNSSHP. I heard that those days are low crowd levels before the party? I have 3 MK days planned. Is it better to attend MK on a MNSSHP day if we plan on leaving the park around 4pm?

We missed Fantasmic last time and want to see it this time. Is it better to see it on a SUN or Thurs? Sun is EMH PM so I am guessing that would be crazy busy right?

We will be there during F&W. Is Epcot less busy on any certain day?

Should I usually avoid EMH at all parks?

We will arrive sometime during the afternoon on Oct. 1 and really want to go to MK since it's the 40th anniv. Is that going to be impossible? Should I plan on anohter park that evening?

There will be me, dh, ds8 , dd7 and dd17months.

Thank you! I was so excited to see the OCT hours but now I am more confused.

I was just okay with Fantasmic. I was there by myself so maybe I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I could have. I'm taking DH with me this summer so we'll see if my opinion changes.

I know it costs more, but why don't you want to do MNSSHP? I enjoyed the Christmas party immensely and can't wait to some day do the Halloween one. Plus there's the special parade and fireworks.

I would take advantage of morning EMH as opposed to the evening ones. We found the parks to be a little more empty in the morning.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I am glad I saw this thread as I didn't realize October 2011 hours were out yet and I was looking for them as we are going to The World this October (arriving on the 8th) ...

... one big thing we are trying to plan is a big family dinner at California Gril and then watching the fireworks which I know don't happen when there is the MNSSHP


as to some of your questions, we always go down in October for the Food and Wine festival and the only thing I would say is if you can avoid it on Friday evening and Saturday (all day, but evening especially) that would be best as that is when the most "locals" come and some do get a bit drunk - so since you have some young ones you might want to avoid that

 

[amy-momofthree]

I was just okay with Fantasmic. I was there by myself so maybe I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I could have. I'm taking DH with me this summer so we'll see if my opinion changes.

I know it costs more, but why don't you want to do MNSSHP? I enjoyed the Christmas party immensely and can't wait to some day do the Halloween one. Plus there's the special parade and fireworks.

I would take advantage of morning EMH as opposed to the evening ones. We found the parks to be a little more empty in the morning.

We have a dd who will be 17 months in OCT. She is in bed by 730pm so I think going to a nighttime party would be difficult Maybe next year though. It sounds like fun.

Thanks for the advice on the morning EMH. I was planning an Epcot day on a morning EMH

 

[SoScary'09]

Was looking today and didn't even notice. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[jkluttrell]

If you are planning on leaving the park by 4 anyway then yes I would go on a party day. The crowd calendar typically has low numbers that day even though it says that would be a park to avoid. Last year we went to MK the morning of the day we were leaving so we just wanted to spend a few hours there. I think the crowd calendar had the day as a .3 and we walked on a few rides (this was about 11:00 on a Friday).

 

[jkluttrell]

as to some of your questions, we always go down in October for the Food and Wine festival and the only thing I would say is if you can avoid it on Friday evening and Saturday (all day, but evening especially) that would be best as that is when the most "locals" come and some do get a bit drunk - so since you have some young ones you might want to avoid that

Thanks for reminding me of this, I am trying to plan a week in Oct. and I had us going to Epcot on a Saturday. I will have to rework my week now, I forgot about the F&W festival.

 

[kydisneymom]

I am interested in October hours, where are you seeing them?

 

[LisaTC]

I've scrapped our Fantasmic plans based on friends with children and without who I know have attended and to quote them: We did Fantasmic once...Never again. 10,000 people crammed in to a stadium, doesn't sound too bad right? Wait until you have to leave...OH MY!! Wall to wall people and you hold your child's hand for fear they will get swept away with the crowd. Wasn't fun. Epcots Illuminations is just as lovely and no stress...lol. I don't see that my DD7 would appreciate it like maybe others would. I've checked out <spoiler ALERT> youtube videos of it and decided to opt for other things.

EMH seems to be the way to go, if you can get up and get there, as everyone I've spoke to and read on here, is that is optimal with regard to getting your rides you want, fast passes you want and meeting characters you want to and the crowds are very minimal.

However, from what I've read here on the forums and wdwinfo.com you can find Epcot very nice in the evening, however, I'd avoid Fri & Sat like one of the PP indicated. I realized it is F&W and I saw several posts here that indicated they had a great time at F&W after the lunch and before the dinner crowd.

I know everyone says when they have MNSSHP that the other parks are so busy because MK closes early...well, that seems like a great time to go to MK, jmo.

 

[ChrisHartman]

Now that the October hours are out, I can start planning. I make my ADRS on April 4th.Our dates are OCT 1-8.

I need suggestions please.

We are not planning on going to the MNSSHP. I heard that those days are low crowd levels before the party? I have 3 MK days planned. Is it better to attend MK on a MNSSHP day if we plan on leaving the park around 4pm? If you plan to leave at 4pm anyway, then a party day will be a good choice as it will be less busy than non-party days. But...I have to qualify that the party is a lot of fun and you really would enjoy it if you changed your mind and decided to go.

We missed Fantasmic last time and want to see it this time. Is it better to see it on a SUN or Thurs? Sun is EMH PM so I am guessing that would be crazy busy right? I would opt for the non EMH evening, but I'd also try and get a Fantasmic dining package since it will shorten the wait time for getting in to see Fantasmic.

We will be there during F&W. Is Epcot less busy on any certain day? During Food and Wine, we found Epcot to be less busy during the week as opposed to the weekends, but the times that there was an evening EMH, it was also really crowded.

Should I usually avoid EMH at all parks? The PM EMH's seemed to be more crazy than the AM EMH's. I'd only avoid the AM EMH's if I were staying offsite. We have a little one though, so the evening EMH's weren't really for us.

We will arrive sometime during the afternoon on Oct. 1 and really want to go to MK since it's the 40th anniv. Is that going to be impossible? Should I plan on anohter park that evening? Its a Saturday, so it'll be busier than your other days, but I still think it'll be manageable on Oct. 1. If you really want to be there on that date, I would try it. It'll just depend on what you plan to accomplish that day. Do you have park hoppers? Because if it does get too crazy for you, you could always leave and go elsewhere. We all know about Disney's 40th anniversary, but I'm guessing its like touring plans and that the general population has no clue.
There will be me, dh, ds8 , dd7 and dd17months.

Thank you! I was so excited to see the OCT hours but now I am more confused.

My comments are in blue have fun!!!

 

[2binak]

I am interested in October hours, where are you seeing them?

I just looked at Disney's site and I only see hours posted through Sept 12th.

OP - where did you see Oct hours posted?

 

[LisaTC]

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_oct.pdf

 

[amy-momofthree]

I've scrapped our Fantasmic plans based on friends with children and without who I know have attended and to quote them: We did Fantasmic once...Never again. 10,000 people crammed in to a stadium, doesn't sound too bad right? Wait until you have to leave...OH MY!! Wall to wall people and you hold your child's hand for fear they will get swept away with the crowd. Wasn't fun. Epcots Illuminations is just as lovely and no stress...lol. I don't see that my DD7 would appreciate it like maybe others would. I've checked out <spoiler ALERT> youtube videos of it and decided to opt for other things.

EMH seems to be the way to go, if you can get up and get there, as everyone I've spoke to and read on here, is that is optimal with regard to getting your rides you want, fast passes you want and meeting characters you want to and the crowds are very minimal.

However, from what I've read here on the forums and wdwinfo.com you can find Epcot very nice in the evening, however, I'd avoid Fri & Sat like one of the PP indicated. I realized it is F&W and I saw several posts here that indicated they had a great time at F&W after the lunch and before the dinner crowd.

I know everyone says when they have MNSSHP that the other parks are so busy because MK closes early...well, that seems like a great time to go to MK, jmo.

I was wondering about Fantasmic and am so torn
We went in January and didn't go to Fantasmic but were there on a Fantasmic night and it was crazy !! It was also Osbourne Lights which is why we went.

I loved HS and maybe would enjoy it much more if we didn't go on a busy night.

What about Fantasmic dinner package? Does that help you manage the crowds better? ALso, is Oct a less busy time to take advantage of Fantasmic??

as we were leaving HS in Jan, Fantasmic was just starting and the kids were begging to go! However, the line was soooo long, I doubt we would have gotten in

 

[2binak]

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_oct.pdf

Thanks!

 

[ChrisHartman]

I was wondering about Fantasmic and am so torn
We went in January and didn't go to Fantasmic but were there on a Fantasmic night and it was crazy !! It was also Osbourne Lights which is why we went.

I loved HS and maybe would enjoy it much more if we didn't go on a busy night.

What about Fantasmic dinner package? Does that help you manage the crowds better? ALso, is Oct a less busy time to take advantage of Fantasmic??

as we were leaving HS in Jan, Fantasmic was just starting and the kids were begging to go! However, the line was soooo long, I doubt we would have gotten in

For F! dining, you enter through a reserved seating entrance. You should be there about 30 minutes prior to the show, but you won't be stuck waiting for 60-90 minutes like everyone that didn't get the package. You have to get your seating pass at the restaurant when you check in for your package. When you book it, you have to specifically ask for the dining package and reserve with your credit card.

Last October, during our trip, HS was incredibly busy on F! days, so I don't know that the crowds will be any lighter for you than they were in January.

 

[TandLMommy28]

We did our MK long day on a MNSSHP day last year and it was wonderful. A lot of people don't go because of the shorter hours and honestly, I think that we fit more in with short hours than we would ahve with longer hours, just because the crowds were almost non-existent (I believe that Touring Plans had our day at a 1!). We stayed until about 5:30.

 

[Nadia_disfan]

Regarding fantasmic...
I've been every trip starting from ds being aged 2 ... I and the rest of our family see it as the very epitome of Disney and cannot miss it, last time I just watched my daughters (then 6) face more than the show, she was mesmerised, ... Sure if you don't book a dinner and ressie package you're in for crazy waiting and crowds, but, book the dinner, leisurely stroll to your reserved seating area, soak up the great crowd fun of the Mexican waves..(such a giggle) ... Enjoy the incredibly moving and magical show, then hang back until enough mob have left and calmly exit... Please don't be put off, I'm just and average mum who plays safe always and I've never found it scary or difficult, .., though the time i did it without the ressie was queue hell!!
Fantasmic dinner package all the way for our family!!!

 

[amy-momofthree]

Thanks everyone!!! you all are so helpful.

I think we will try fantasmic with the dining pkg.

I think we will also do MK on a party day but leave around 4pm (we have 3 MK days).

Now, what about MK on oct 1?? It's 40th anniv and also a park to avoid. Do you think it will be impossible??

 

[Pixie Princess]

I was wondering about Fantasmic and am so torn
We went in January and didn't go to Fantasmic but were there on a Fantasmic night and it was crazy !! It was also Osbourne Lights which is why we went.

I loved HS and maybe would enjoy it much more if we didn't go on a busy night.

What about Fantasmic dinner package? Does that help you manage the crowds better? ALso, is Oct a less busy time to take advantage of Fantasmic??

as we were leaving HS in Jan, Fantasmic was just starting and the kids were begging to go! However, the line was soooo long, I doubt we would have gotten in

I wouldn't scrap your Fantasmic! plans if it is something you really want to see. The one and only time I've seen was in Oct, and the crowd was not horrible. There was quite a line outside the theater, but entering and leaving were not bad at all. My caveat to this is we went in 2008, and I think they were down to the two nights per week, but I can't remember for sure. If more nights were available to view the show, the crowd would have been spread out.

Last year, they added a show to one for sure, but I think both, of the days we were there during the first week of Oct. Closer to time you may find that you'll have the opportunity to go to a second, later show that won't be quite as crowded. If you don't do the dinner package that is.