Park hours - my brain hurts!

[Hilary]

I'm trying to work out a plan for my girls' trip in April with eldest DD. What should be a pleasurable pastime is turning into an administrative nightmare!

The EMH schedule on the official Disney site differs from the schedule on every other site I've checked (including this one). Can ALL the others be wrong? Should I plan based on the Disney official line and forget I've even looked at any others?

I'm pretty sure that Sunday mornings on our past vists have been EMH at MK - can anyone who has been recently confirm/deny this, please? The Disney site agrees with this, but all the other sites have Sundays as MK EMH in the evening.

I know from past experience that the chances are that there will be changes made by the time we arrive anyway but, as we're usually up very early on the first few mornings , planning around the morning EMHs would get us off to a good start. We can happily adapt our plans for the rest of the trip if necessary.

Help!

 

[jtlover]

Sundays have always been evening EMH at MK

 

[Elise79]

Sundays hve always been evening EMH at MK for us too - Thursday mornings have been AM EMH.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks

I am now even more confused, having found differing information on different parts of the disney.com site - it tells me one thing if I go to the general site, and another thing if I log in as me. Grrrrrrrr!

 

[Twilight Terror]

Sundays hve always been evening EMH at MK for us too - Thursday mornings have been AM EMH.

We have one day in May when the EMH evenings are on the Monday night for MK instead of the Sunday (hours have been switched with Studios) But that is because on that particular Sunday, MK is closing at 5pm for a private function, and therefore cannot host EMH that night. Perhaps something similar is happening/has happened to throw you off kilt with what is happening when?

 

[Hilary]

We have one day in May when the EMH evenings are on the Monday night for MK instead of the Sunday (hours have been switched with Studios) But that is because on that particular Sunday, MK is closing at 5pm for a private function, and therefore cannot host EMH that night. Perhaps something similar is happening/has happened to throw you off kilt with what is happening when?

That sounds logical and, given that the week we'll be there includes a couple of 'Grad Nights', I'm sure that changes have been made. However, it doesn't explain why the same disney.com site gives me two completely different sets of information depending on whether or not I log in. I'm losing the will to plan anything!

 

[2Tiggies]

We traditionally go in April. I can agree with the other posters on the Sunday hours. What I can tell you as that because it is the next busiest time to Christmas week, Disney extends some of the hours at very short notice based on attendance/crowds etc.

Last year MK had EMH every morning from 7 am to 8 am and EMH each Sunday over the peak two weeks around Easter evening EMH from 12 to 3 am. They also had evening EMH on both Fridays during our trips. Interestingly enough, because I had printed off the park hours before we left, I could see that this hadn't been reflected. Also, I just checked on the historic hours and it doesn't show this at all, even though it happened. I know it did - we were there!

Epcot has standard hours throughout the year. AK is pretty stable as you are restricted as to what you can do there in the dark due to the nature of that park.

DHS is one to watch for changes as well though. What I can tell you is that if you are talking Easter period, they will only add, not take away.

How are you getting on with your planning? Are you okay?

 

[Hilary]

How are you getting on with your planning? Are you okay?

I'm okay, thanks - the planning is not quite as okay!

This trip will be after the Easter period (17-24 April) so I wouldn't think the anticipated crowds will lead to too many additonal EMH, but I'm sure you're right that it's unlikely they will take away any EMH that are currently scheduled. My frustration is that I am finding conflicting information about exactly when those EMH / parades and fireworks might be!

Because we will be there for only one week we need to nail our plans to ensure we hit the fireworks, etc. we want to see, especially if they are on only a couple of nights while we're there. Illuminations is the only one we know we won't miss because it's on every night!

 

[2Tiggies]

I must admit, much as I love Disney in April, it is the ONLY holiday period where you can't use the previous year's dates as Easter "moves" with the moon or whatever .....

I am trying to apply some logic here. We arrived on Easter weekend and stayed 16 days, so we were effectively there during the first part of the period 2 weeks after Easter - thus similar to when you will be there. Also, it isn't solely easter that accounts for the crowds. Spring Break!!! Now SB dates vary according to states and counties, but most are back by the latter part of April. There tends to be a marked drop in crowds from around the 15th -20th, but it is by no means quiet.

I have fished out my Times Guide for the 19th - 25th April 2009. This is what I found in terms of Fireworks, etc:

MK: EMH - Thursday morning 8-9 am
EMH - Sunday Evening 12-3 a m
Wishes: 10 pm every evening

DHS:EMH - Tuesday morning 8-9 am
EMH - Wednesday evening 7-10 pm

Fantasmic: Sunday, MOnday Thursday 10 pm

I have a feeling one of those fantasmic days was added after we left for our tripm, together with additional shows the previous week or so. You can try googling historic park hours and have a look and see what you find.

I don't have the same pressure as we stay at least 2 weeks and can always reschedule if necessary.

You would need to check on all the above though. With Disney, nothing is written in stone and sometimes you have to risk it and hope for the best So effectively, my info my give you a framework for guessing, but possibly is no help at all!

 

[2Tiggies]

Here's another current thread re. fantasmic and being uncertain about hours when making ADRs. May be of some help (or at least, support)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2385053

 

[UKDEB]

Grad nights at MK are on Friday and Saturday nights. Not sure whether or not that helps.

 

[UKDEB]

Having checked numerous sources, my inclination would be to go for evening EMHs on Sundays and mornings on Thursdays during your stay. I know that doesn't answer your question about conflicting information, but that would be my bet.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for all your advice and very useful input I think I'm going to just decide on the most likely set of information (based on what I've found so far and on what's been suggested here) and plan accordingly. If I have to change things when we're there, it will be frustrating, but not the end of the world, really!

I am going to re-visit the planning in a couple of days when my head has had a chance to clear from the information overload of the weekend!

Deep breaths and a few chants of "I can plan, I will plan" should do it

 

[Lindy Loo]

I'm okay, thanks - the planning is not quite as okay!

This trip will be after the Easter period (17-24 April) so I wouldn't think the anticipated crowds will lead to too many additonal EMH, but I'm sure you're right that it's unlikely they will take away any EMH that are currently scheduled. My frustration is that I am finding conflicting information about exactly when those EMH / parades and fireworks might be!

Because we will be there for only one week we need to nail our plans to ensure we hit the fireworks, etc. we want to see, especially if they are on only a couple of nights while we're there. Illuminations is the only one we know we won't miss because it's on every night!

Hi there I am going on the 15th April with my DD (7yrs old) i have done our plans, taking into consideration park times, shows etc. Happy to share if it will help. Been many times before, however since my ex husband left, its been 2 hard yeares of saving, so really want to check we " see it all"

Maybe you might fancy meeting up?

 

[Hilary]

Hi there I am going on the 15th April with my DD (7yrs old) i have done our plans, taking into consideration park times, shows etc. Happy to share if it will help. Been many times before, however since my ex husband left, its been 2 hard yeares of saving, so really want to check we " see it all"

Maybe you might fancy meeting up?

Hi Lindy Loo

It's good to hear someone has succeeded with their April plans! Where did you take park hours, etc. from? Have you used the disney.com information?

I expect you and your DD are really looking forward to your trip after two years of saving and planning - I'm counting down the weeks now . Eldest DD and I have also been to WDW a fair few times (she's 25 now and first visited aged 10), but never just the two of us before. So, although it wouldn't be a disaster if we missed a show or parade this time, we'd like to tick off as much of our 'wish list' as we can.

How long will you be there? Where are you staying? We're splitting our week between Boardwalk Villas and Old Key West (we are DVC owners). I'd be happy to try to have a mini-meet (if it fits in with both sets of finely-tuned plans! ).

 

[Lindy Loo]

Hi Lindy Loo

It's good to hear someone has succeeded with their April plans! Where did you take park hours, etc. from? Have you used the disney.com information?

I expect you and your DD are really looking forward to your trip after two years of saving and planning - I'm counting down the weeks now . Eldest DD and I have also been to WDW a fair few times (she's 25 now and first visited aged 10), but never just the two of us before. So, although it wouldn't be a disaster if we missed a show or parade this time, we'd like to tick off as much of our 'wish list' as we can.

How long will you be there? Where are you staying? We're splitting our week between Boardwalk Villas and Old Key West (we are DVC owners). I'd be happy to try to have a mini-meet (if it fits in with both sets of finely-tuned plans! ).

Hi there, sorry didnt realsie your DD was 25!!!! Guess a meet up for the girls to "play" might not be on the cards !
I used all my hours off the website here and put it on a spreadsheet. so I could shuffle it all about at my leisure!

I did this in order of what we HAD to see, and worked backwards, to stuff like "its ok, but not desperate to do ! "

Hope that makes sense. Have fun!

 

[Hilary]

Hi there, sorry didnt realsie your DD was 25!!!! Guess a meet up for the girls to "play" might not be on the cards !

LOL! Agreed