Opinions, please! To "EE" or not to "EE" ...

[ScarletIndigo]

Yep, I've got a good 100-some days to go until my vacation, but I'd really like some opinions on the whole pro-EE/anti-EE debate. I had planned on going to the EE for AK and MGM during the week, and then to the EE for MK on the Sunday that we leave to return home (one last rendezvous with the Mouse before getting on the plane!) However, I've read so many comments from people who are pro-EE and anti-EE that I'm getting terribly confused and I've started to doubt my planning ... Eek! I even ran out and bought the Unofficial Guide to get another point of view. I bought the "TourGuide Mike" tour planner, and he STRONGLY advocates going using the EE, but I want to hear from the people who know best -- the folks on the DIS!

Survey says?

 

[paperboy]

I am a huge fan of EE. I am also really glad to hear alot of people aren't..more time for me in the morning at the parks! I feel like i get sooo much done and then I can relax mid-day when the sun is beaming. I also like it becuase I can lunch in my hotel or take a nap and get freshened up for few evening hours. I always go off season, so the hours are shorter and I still feel like I get to go back and have a few hours in the park. I love it, then again, I get up between 4:30am and 6am...so I am a huge morning person

Paperboy's Wife

 

[ASFCurly]

for me it depends, I like to do EE some days, but I am not a morning person, so I like to sleep in some days too. But if you are a morning person, then go for it.

 

[goofy4tink]

My first trip in '99 we loved EE. Then, in '01, it was stopped. The family we traveled with were not easy to get going in the a.m. so it was probably a good thing it was discontinued! Now, it's back. We are going in Aug (3rd week). I plan to use EE for MK and AK. Maybe MGM and Epcot. The only reason I would use it at Epcot is to get there early for Mission Space!! I think it's a must if you're touring in the heat of summer. When we went the other two times it was late Oct/early Nov. The parks close early then so it helped to have EE to lengthen the day a bit. I'm not obsessing over it this trip. But, I do like it and plan to use it when it suits my needs. Maybe do Epcot when it's EE for MK!!

 

[Eeyore2U]

I'll take sleep any day. I'm on vacation not going to work!!!

 

[dmonroe]

No EE for us! I have to rush to get somewhere almost every morning. We're on vacation and I don't want to feel rushed. I don't mind getting up early--I just like to take my time getting ready and getting out to the parks!

 

[MinnieGi]

I have a hard time waking up in the morning, however when I am at Disney I don't even need an alarm to get me out of bed!!! We really like EE especially for MK!! We also only do the parks until early afternoon, so an extra hour in the morning helps us do alot with minimal crowds.

 

[mickeysaver]

We don't have kids, so that makes it easy for us. We just grab a portable breakfast food, some juice, and book it to the park. Last September was the first time we stayed onsite and EMH didn't debut until a few days after we left. I can't say that EMH would have made that much of a difference on any of the days we were there, but I think it would have been quite handy for the day we went to AK. Anyway, we had a great time even without it.

We plan to make use of it most of the days we are there in December. For my honey, getting up at 7 am is sleeping late, since she works at the hospital and has to get up at 5 am everyday anyway. For me, 7 am is normal time to rise. I much prefer to get a nap for a couple of hours on the weekend. We do have a couple of sleep late days planned for our trip. One in particular is the day after MVMCP. I'm sure we will close MK that night and the extra sleep the next morning will be much needed. We will just do WS at Epcot that Monday. Mickey

 

[Tonyspad]

EE is GREAT. We did it on May 22 and 25. The 22 was great, No crowds until 11 am and by that time we had been on many rides. On the 25th I overheard some people saying that they were surprised that they were not asked for hotel guest ID. Which leads me to believe that they were not, the park was very crowded right from the begining of the day on the 25th. It may also have something to do with the fact it was the Sunday before Memorial Day!

 

[gumdrop]

Though we love to sleep, we do take advantage of EE. It allows us to see the attractions we want and relax by the pool in the afternoon instead of battling the crowds and the heat in the middle of the day.

 

[gepetto]

It's great for MK. With the other parks it's not really worth getting up that early for.

 

[ScarletIndigo]

Originally posted by gepetto
It's great for MK. With the other parks it's not really worth getting up that early for.

Thanks for all the great opinions everyone! Keep 'em coming!

I agree with MK -- it seems like that's one place where EE will really be a benefit. DF and I are visiting in late Sept/early Oct, so we're hoping (fingers crossed!) that the crowds are nice n' light. But with the FTP bringing lots of guests to WDW through the end of October, it may be busier that we'd thought, and with the shorter fall hours, the more time we have to enjoy the parks, the better!

As for AK, I wanted to take advantage of this EE because DF and I plan on doing a commando-style "get everything done in 3 hours" plan, so we can zip back over to EPCOT and enjoy ourselves at the World Showcase the rest of the day. Will it happen? We shall see ... But EE will prolly be a huge help!

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Our family is huge EE fans. We take advantage of it everyday. We were totally dissapointed last year when they temporarily stopped it, but was so glad when it came back. We are big EE supporters!!!

 

[normmo]

Definitely EE!!! You can get on the busy rides without a line up and then when they admit everyone else you're on to the other rides. Therefore you stay a jump ahead of everyone. Don't forget that you can also do EE and then head over to another park. We went two years ago and always used EE and the next year they'd stopped it and we found a big big difference. With EE there's less waiting, more riding (Buzz was done five times in a row and we just walked on) and we were done the parks earlier.
EE Rocks!!!

 

[Sonar]

EE is the way to go! My wife is not an early, or easy, riser in any way, but she got up for the EE (maybe it had something to do with me telling her I'd get up & go w/out her). We got everything accomplished for all parks (except Epcot) by 2:30 every day (and we were pretty ambitious with our tour plans). I had also heard that parks with EE days get crowded way too fast, but that wasn't the case for us (thankfully!).

I guess to each, their own, but I'll take an extra hour of magic anyday!

 

[natcam1996]

My daughter (7) and I are both early risers so we will enjoy EE again. It also gives us a chance to hit the parks early, before it gets too hot, and then do something else.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's up to everybody individually. If you're planning your own trip, plan it for yourself and don't pay attention to what other people do. How important is it to you to 1) avoid crowds and lines at attractions and 2) get right onto the popular attractions in Fantasyland (because this is really where EE is an advantage)?

I never ever use EE. I'm sort of a frequent visitor and it just is not that important to me to get on the rides, and if I'm going to the park to eat, see shows and people-watch, the more crowds the better.

I am also NOT a morning person, and I spend most nights at PI until the Adventurers Club closes, so I can't see myself getting up early just to go do rides at the parks.

 

[feenie]

We like to sleep in, but we like to avoid lines more!!! What we usually do is go to whichever park is open for early entry, stay for a while, then head to a differnent park.
Often we take a nap back at our resort, so the long hours don't totaly do us in!

 

[karen1]

Definitely EE for MK especially in summer!! It is not at all necessary for Epcot and not really for MGM. This July will be our 1st time with EE for AK so we're gonna try it!! That park really gets hot in themiddle of the day so it might be worth it if enough is open for EE!!!

 

[Planogirl]

I definitely like Early Entry for MK and maybe for MGM during the hot, crowded time of year. You can get a lot done before it gets hot and can always go back to the hotel for a nap in the afternoon. It's not necessary for the other two parks IMO.