October Visit MK Stategy

[KLK622]

We are going to be visiting Disney from October 20th-27th. Due to flight times on those days we will have 6 available park days (but will likely build in one mostly rest day). We are visiting with our 6 and 3 year olds so we plan to allocate 2 or possibly even 3 days to the MK. Due to the ages of our kids, we currently don't have plans to visit the Halloween Party. I don't have plans to get park hoppers but I can if needed...again with our kids ages hopping doesn't really make a ton of sense.

Our first day in the parks in a party night, so we plan to do a daytime visit to the MK that Sunday and then spend the evening relaxing. Should our next MK day be a party or non-party day? I keep reading how busy the non-party days are, but we don't be able to go to the fireworks unless we visit one of those days.

I have three thoughts:

1) Visit MK on Sunday and Friday (party days) for daytime visits and then on our rest day (Wednesday) enter the parks in the evening just for the fireworks. I do have the fireworks dessert party booked for Wednesday if we go with this option, but honestly the only reason I booked it is for comfortable fireworks viewing. I don't think our family will really get $220 of value out of it..but if its the only good way for us to see the fireworks without horrendous crowds then I will go with it.

2) Visit MK on Sunday and Friday (party days) and view the fireworks from the TTC or other good out of park location on a non-party night. This would allow us to pop into the WS in Epcot on the evening of our rest day...with the food booths for the F&W festival we think we might enjoy two evenings eating at Epcot.

3) Visit MK on Sunday (party day) and Wednesday (non-party day). Wednesday we would go for the morning, having an afternoon rest and then go back to the park for the evening. I could keep the dessert party booked for Wednesday with this option also. We would pick Tuesday or Thursday as our rest day if we did this. I am very worried about the crowds with this option...

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated...I am trying to make ADR and need to figure out our MK days to do this!

 

[sharonabe]

I like Option 1. Seeing HEA from outside the parks is just not as good as from inside. There are projections on the castle that you cannot see, and IMHO, they do add to the overall show. Once you've seen HEA, then just seeing the fireworks from outside would be okay, but you need one time inside the park.

With Option 1, you have two relaxed days at MK instead of one relaxed and one busy. That means you forfeit the extra night in EP, but to be honest, with kids at your ages, doing the F&W booths will be hectic anyway. There aren't any tables at the booths, so you have to find your own makeshift place to sit and eat off your laps. If you want to try more than one, you're standing in line for more than one. It's doable, but I wouldn't want to do it more than once with kids.

 

[KLK622]

Thank you...thats what I was thinking would truly be the best option.

 

[2binak]

We go every year in either Oct or Nov so we are there during the Halloween or Christmas parties. We now always visit MK on party days because we found the crowds are much more manageable than the non-party days. Non-party nights are really hectic though because Disney usually also schedules those nights as EMH (9-11pm). We have annual passes so we've gone in on non-party nights to catch the fireworks and then immediately left because it was just too crowded to enjoy much of anything after that.

I think option 1 is your best bet for relaxed days and easy viewing for HEA. Just be prepared for CRAZY crowds getting to/from the dessert party. You may want to hang out in the viewing area as long as you're allowed so the crowd has time to thin out before you leave the park.

 

[BrianL]

Desert parties are really fun. I mean, yeah, you'll never eat the cost in desert items, but you get a great viewing spot and some delicious food. I did the Star Wars one at HS and it was well worth it.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you...thats what I was thinking would truly be the best option.

I am in agreement with everyone else, and woudl choose Option 1. I am also considering a dessert party for the fireworks in December. It is crazy crowded on non party nights!

WE tend to get there late afternoon, have dinner in the park, and book our three Fast passes. It makes for a fairly relaxed time even though the Crowds are otherwise.

 

[KLK622]

Desert parties are really fun. I mean, yeah, you'll never eat the cost in desert items, but you get a great viewing spot and some delicious food. I did the Star Wars one at HS and it was well worth it.

I know, I know...my last visit was the last week of the fast passes in the plaza viewing location (which is the party viewing location we have booked) and I am just a little sad that we have to pay for what was a wonderful, free experience last time. I somehow got lucky and snagged those fast passes a couple of weeks out. My kids and husband have a big sweet tooth so I know they will enjoy the desserts.