Picking Park Days- Does It Matter?

[TikiTikiFan]

Hi folks! Disneyland park goer switching to WDW for our dates in November.

I'm booking my Park Pass reservations today and would love some input.

This is what I have so far for our dates of 11/14-11/19

Saturday: Hollywood Studios
Sunday: Magic Kingdom
Monday: Animal Kingdom
Tuesday: Epcot
Wednesday: Hollywood Studios
Thursday: Magic Kingdom

Now I originally had my weekend days as Epcot and Animal Kingdom but then after reading how much things pick up on the weekends I switched it. I read some of the reports on the Disney Tourist Blog that Hollywood Studios is busier no matter what regardless of what day you pick.

What do you all think?

 

[DWillowBay]

We'll be there the same time as you. Welcome to WDW. I was just at DLR last year for the Oogie Boogie Bash. SOOOOOO glad we did that last year. Anyway, to your question... Personally, I would avoid HS on a Saturday. Crowds are high anyway for this park, but the weekends tend to be even more crowded. Can you swap the AK day for the HS day? Otherwise, looks like a great trip. Hope you have a great time!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I disagree with the above - I would absolutely keep AK on a weekday. It is a much bigger difference crowd and line-wise than HS. Plus you have another HS day too.

 

[hlrubin507]

Which park IS best if you are forced to visit on a weekend day?

 

[Nanceliz319]

Great question. I will be making our park reservations this weekend. our days are sat thru Wed so would be good to know which for weekends

 

[stinkpickle]

Good call. The differences between weekdays and weekends are less noticeable at MK and HS, especially HS.

 

[RetiredDave43]

Can anyone recommend a specific order for which park on what day - focusing on crowd levels only?
We will arrive 10/31 and be in the parks 11/1 - 11/8 for my retirement trip and want to get in the most attractions per day, no matter which park we are in, but still want to hit all 4 parks.
Thanks in advance!

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Personally, I try to put Epcot or AK on weekends - they are the biggest parks and handle the crowds the best. I agree with DWillowBay and would avoid HS on Saturday at all costs.

Just my 2 cents. But in this new world, there are no right or wrong answers because the truth is we are all just guessing. Patterns are starting to form, but not in any reliable enough predictable graph yet. So my statement is based on Park and ride handling more than any empirical data. The rides at Epcot generally can move greater crowds with ease. HS has a lot of log jams.

 

[disneydentist]

It's going to be different with almost everyone you ask, including the bloggers and paid services.

They do seem to agree that Studios is about the same everyday and Epcot is more crowded on weekends. Other than that your guess might be as good as theirs.

Josh at EasyWDW has a post that shows wait times by day but since this is trailing, you mileage might, and likely will, vary.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Can anyone recommend a specific order for which park on what day - focusing on crowd levels only?
We will arrive 10/31 and be in the parks 11/1 - 11/8 for my retirement trip and want to get in the most attractions per day, no matter which park we are in, but still want to hit all 4 parks.
Thanks in advance!

11/1 to 11/8.... Given what we know now and taking into account what I said above that we are all just figuring out this new world, I would think something like this.

11/1 (Sun) Epcot (Alt: AK)
11/2 (Mon) AK (Alt: Epcot)
11/3 (Tues) MK
11/4 (Wed) HS
11/5 (Thurs) HS (2) Alt: Rest Day / DS
11/6 (Fri) MK (2) (Alt: Epcot)
11/7 (Sat) Epcot (Alt AK)
11/8 (Sun) AK (Alt: Epcot)

The priorities are:
Sat / Sun Priority - Rest -> Hotel -> Disney Springs-> Epcot -> AK (in order)
Monday Priority - generally busy, but not as. AK -> Epcot -> MK -> Rest Day
Tuesday - Thursday - HS -> MK -> Anything
Friday -> MK -> Epcot -> HS -> AK -> Anything (rest, minigolf, DS)

These are just best guesses.

 

[RetiredDave43]

11/1 to 11/8.... Given what we know now and taking into account what I said above that we are all just figuring out this new world, I would think something like this.

11/1 (Sun) Epcot (Alt: AK)
11/2 (Mon) AK (Alt: Epcot)
11/3 (Tues) MK
11/4 (Wed) HS
11/5 (Thurs) HS (2) Alt: Rest Day / DS
11/6 (Fri) MK (2) (Alt: Epcot)
11/7 (Sat) Epcot (Alt AK)
11/8 (Sun) AK (Alt: Epcot)

The priorities are:
Sat / Sun Priority - Rest -> Hotel -> Disney Springs-> Epcot -> AK (in order)
Monday Priority - generally busy, but not as. AK -> Epcot -> MK -> Rest Day
Tuesday - Thursday - HS -> MK -> Anything
Friday -> MK -> Epcot -> HS -> AK -> Anything (rest, minigolf, DS)

These are just best guesses.

THANK YOU! This helps greatly!

 

[Handykapper]

Always do Epcot or AK on the weekends

 

[Albee]

I agree with the above post. I would avoid Magic Kingdom & Hollywood Studios on the weekend. Have fun!!!

 

[MomOTwins]

I agree with the above post. I would avoid Magic Kingdom & Hollywood Studios on the weekend. Have fun!!!

Agree.

 

[kittylady1972]

Can anyone recommend a specific order for which park on what day - focusing on crowd levels only?
We will arrive 10/31 and be in the parks 11/1 - 11/8 for my retirement trip and want to get in the most attractions per day, no matter which park we are in, but still want to hit all 4 parks.
Thanks in advance!

We are going to be there the same time...though a shorter duration (Sat - Wed). I have waffled so many times on our plans, but right now my thoughts are this:

10/31 Sat: AK (arrival day...so won't be at park until after 11am)
11/1 Sun: MK
11/2 Mon: EP or HS
11/3 Tue: EP or HS
11/4 Wed: MK (this is our travel day)

With Halloween weekend, I think the BIG draw is going to be MK on Saturday and so I figured people will go elsewhere Sunday. I feel AK will be the least likely park on Halloween...but of course I'm just guessing. Monday/Tuesday are EP/HS days. I figured schools are liklely close on Tuesdays...so parks could see additional crowds that day. I'm leaning towards HS on Monday but have to work a schedule around kids who will be with us and doing virtual learning throughout the day. EP on Tuesday I'm hoping is a good move, and we have people travelling home that evening. Wed is our last day with an evening travel time.

I may change this a few more million times before we leave of course.

 

[MomOTwins]

We are going to be there the same time...though a shorter duration (Sat - Wed). I have waffled so many times on our plans, but right now my thoughts are this:

10/31 Sat: AK (arrival day...so won't be at park until after 11am)
11/1 Sun: MK
11/2 Mon: EP or HS
11/3 Tue: EP or HS
11/4 Wed: MK (this is our travel day)

With Halloween weekend, I think the BIG draw is going to be MK on Saturday and so I figured people will go elsewhere Sunday. I feel AK will be the least likely park on Halloween...but of course I'm just guessing. Monday/Tuesday are EP/HS days. I figured schools are liklely close on Tuesdays...so parks could see additional crowds that day. I'm leaning towards HS on Monday but have to work a schedule around kids who will be with us and doing virtual learning throughout the day. EP on Tuesday I'm hoping is a good move, and we have people travelling home that evening. Wed is our last day with an evening travel time.

I may change this a few more million times before we leave of course.

MK on Sunday will be packed, and AK closes so early it is odd to have it on a day you are arriving lat. Plus I expect Epcot will packed on Tues—I know I for one do NOT intend to be sober on election day night and I expect there will be folks looking to drink around the world that day

Here’s what I would do in your shoes:

Sat: EP (since you are arriving late)
Sun: AK
Mon: MK
Tues: HS
Wed: MK

 

[RetiredDave43]

We are going to be there the same time...though a shorter duration (Sat - Wed). I have waffled so many times on our plans, but right now my thoughts are this:

10/31 Sat: AK (arrival day...so won't be at park until after 11am)
11/1 Sun: MK
11/2 Mon: EP or HS
11/3 Tue: EP or HS
11/4 Wed: MK (this is our travel day)

With Halloween weekend, I think the BIG draw is going to be MK on Saturday and so I figured people will go elsewhere Sunday. I feel AK will be the least likely park on Halloween...but of course I'm just guessing. Monday/Tuesday are EP/HS days. I figured schools are liklely close on Tuesdays...so parks could see additional crowds that day. I'm leaning towards HS on Monday but have to work a schedule around kids who will be with us and doing virtual learning throughout the day. EP on Tuesday I'm hoping is a good move, and we have people travelling home that evening. Wed is our last day with an evening travel time.

I may change this a few more million times before we leave of course.

Thank you so much. We are still pondering the possibilities.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

We managed to score dining at Hollywood and Vine (booked trip after dining window)for saturday so that pretty much seals the deal on our weekend day choice! I’m really hoping they keep extending hours, makes the day a bit more relaxed.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I won't say it doesnt matter but unless you know the true capacity it's nothing more than a guess and anecdotal evidence. Obviously Magic Kingdom will have the most to do, Epcot gives you a big area to walk around but you can't really plan on what you don't know.

What we do know is early is better, and the earlier the better. Late is good too, the later the better.

 

[bakerworld]

We based our day reservations on our location. Because our November vacation is a mashup reschedule of a cruise sandwich we're starting at AK - so Park is AK, moving to the Dolphin - so Parks are HS and Epcot, moving to SSR - Park not sure.