Re: Yes, all of that planning really does work

[bornwiththeears]

We just returned from a wonderful five day stay at the CBR May 20 - 25th). We have been many times and I am usually teased about my overly obsessive planning......but I cannot imagine anyone going without a game plan. We took advantage of the extra morning hours, except at Animal kingdom. We would go straight to a major ride as soon as the park opened, ride a few more, get a fast pass for another major ride and then ride what we could until the fast pass was good. (Example, we rode Thunder, Splash, Pirates, Haunted House and Peter Pan, then got a fast pass for Space and got in line to ride Buzz Lightyear. Rode the CoP , got a snack and then rode Space) Not once during our stay did we ever wait in line over 8 minutes. We took advantage of the "single rider" lines at Test Track. We did only one extra hours night....that being at MGM. We felt it was a total waste of time. Only a few rides were open and the rest of the park was roped off....tremendous crowds in a very small area. We only stayed about 45 minutes. We also looked at the crowd predictors and in most cases visited the parks on what was said to be their least busy days. I think the trick is to be there about 15 minutes before the park opens.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Glad you had a great trip!!

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Were your MYW passes hoppers? Did you stay all day at the park that had EMH?

I don't have the hopper option and was wondering whether I should avoid the EMH parks altogether. Or should I just avoid the park with nightly EMH and do the ones with morning EMH and leave midmorning and comback for the evening shows.

Any comments would be really helpful.

 

[bornwiththeears]

Our tickets were park hoppers. I really don't think we could stay in the same park all day. The Magic Kingdom is so crowded by 11:30 a.m. that we always feel the need to escape. We usually return to the hotel after lunch, nap or swim and then go to EPCOT in the afternoons. I love the EMH at all of the parks except Animal Kingdom. We found it easier to go to AK on a regular morning, head for safari and get a Fast Pass, take in the Bug movie, head over to Dinoland, ride Dinosaur and the whirl and then go back and do the Safari. We did go to EPCOT for the EMH just to be sure to ride Soarin, which we loved and rode three times and Test Track.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

Glad that you a great time!!! We are down to 30 days. My DH thinks I am planning on too much. He says that we have been there enough to know what to do and not to do. However, this time we are going end of June instead end of August. This time it will be more crowded.

 

[bornwiththeears]

I don't think you can plan too much - you do need to remain flexible but you have to have a game plan. If you don't plan and don't anticipate what you are going to need it ends up costing you so much more in both money and time. I hope yall have a great trip.