Should I avoid MK on a Monday?

[pixiedust33]

I am trying to plan our park days for a trip from Sunday, Feb 25 to Friday March 1 and would love advice on which parks to do on which days. I know I no longer need park reservations but I do need to plan dining and don't plan on buying a hopper, so I need to figure it out for that.

Sunday and Friday are travel days so our park day options are Monday through Thursday. It's our 2.5 year old son's first trip to Disney so a big part of me wants to do MK first so his first ride can be Dumbo and other classics. But I'm wondering if it would be smarter to start with HS, which is the only other park we plan to do both morning and evening (with a nap back at the Polynesian midday). We only plan to do a half day each at Epcot and AK (and may even skip AK for a full rest day), so I don't think it makes sense to start there.

So any thoughts on how much more crowded MK would be on a Monday versus Tuesday?

 

[LadybugsMum]

Many people start their trips on Monday and go to MK since it's the flagship park. I would recommend going on Tuesday.

 

[slo]

We always do the MK on our first day, regardless what day of the week it is - I can't imagine doing our trip any other way.

I have always heard that the MK is busy on Mondays, but how much busier, who really knows . IMO, if you want your son to experience the MK first, than that is what is important. Buy Genie+ and you shouldn't have a problem.

Have a fun trip!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We never go to MK on a Monday because it tends to be one of the busiest days. We usually go to Hollywood Studios on Mondays, MK on Tuesdays and then Epcot and AK on the other days.

 

[HopperFan]

I am trying to plan our park days for a trip from Sunday, Feb 25 to Friday March 1 and would love advice on which parks to do on which days. I know I no longer need park reservations but I do need to plan dining and don't plan on buying a hopper, so I need to figure it out for that.

Sunday and Friday are travel days so our park day options are Monday through Thursday. It's our 2.5 year old son's first trip to Disney so a big part of me wants to do MK first so his first ride can be Dumbo and other classics. But I'm wondering if it would be smarter to start with HS, which is the only other park we plan to do both morning and evening (with a nap back at the Polynesian midday). We only plan to do a half day each at Epcot and AK (and may even skip AK for a full rest day), so I don't think it makes sense to start there.

So any thoughts on how much more crowded MK would be on a Monday versus Tuesday?

I've learned to avoid MK on Mondays BUT .......... in your case ............ I'd go. You'll never get back that first visit, first response again. And lots of the crowding will likely be more TRON, SM, BTM, 7DMT ... stuff he can't do. Get there at park opening, hit Storybook and Fantasyland and then just enjoy the rest of the day. With him free might be a good time to do G+. You can then know at the start if you covered it all or if you want to do it again in lieu of AK.

 

[Mle8308]

I am trying to plan our park days for a trip from Sunday, Feb 25 to Friday March 1 and would love advice on which parks to do on which days. I know I no longer need park reservations but I do need to plan dining and don't plan on buying a hopper, so I need to figure it out for that.

Sunday and Friday are travel days so our park day options are Monday through Thursday. It's our 2.5 year old son's first trip to Disney so a big part of me wants to do MK first so his first ride can be Dumbo and other classics. But I'm wondering if it would be smarter to start with HS, which is the only other park we plan to do both morning and evening (with a nap back at the Polynesian midday). We only plan to do a half day each at Epcot and AK (and may even skip AK for a full rest day), so I don't think it makes sense to start there.

So any thoughts on how much more crowded MK would be on a Monday versus Tuesday?

Ok, I checked Touring Plans predictions for crowds on Monday, 2/26/24. The MK is a 5, EC is a 6, DHS is a 7, and DAK is a 6. Looks like the MK is the "least busy" of the parks that day.

On Tuesday, MK is 5, EC is 5, DHS is 6, and DAK is 4. So they basically predict the crowds at MK to be the same for both days. Check out their site!

 

[pixiedust33]

I've learned to avoid MK on Mondays BUT .......... in your case ............ I'd go. You'll never get back that first visit, first response again. And lots of the crowding will likely be more TRON, SM, BTM, 7DMT ... stuff he can't do. Get there at park opening, hit Storybook and Fantasyland and then just enjoy the rest of the day. With him free might be a good time to do G+. You can then know at the start if you covered it all or if you want to do it again in lieu of AK.

Thank you for this! You've articulated what I was thinking about why the crowds might not be that big of a deal for us. I am planning to do Genie + for MK and will rope drop, so I'm hoping we can get through a lot of those classic little kids ride pretty easily in the morning, even if it does get more crowded as the day goes on.

 

[HopperFan]

Thank you for this! You've articulated what I was thinking about why the crowds might not be that big of a deal for us. I am planning to do Genie + for MK and will rope drop, so I'm hoping we can get through a lot of those classic little kids ride pretty easily in the morning, even if it does get more crowded as the day goes on.

Welcome. DS#2 was a bit over three his first visit. The look on his face, the squeal "there it is" when he saw the castle, the pure joy ... I'll never forget that day in detail (and he is now 34). It's the park that I would start with that age.

Magical

 

[MainMom]

I would go MK. We always do MK on our first full day no matter what. We love the mornings and have to start off with the castle. Have a great trip!

 

[CoasterGT24]

Mondays have had the highest average wait time at the Magic Kingdom the past couple years, about 5 minutes higher than Tuesdays.

 

[pixiedust33]

Related question - I just saw some after hours events are being released for while we’re there. How do those events typically affect crowds at that park during the day? More or less crowded during the regular hours at that park?

 

[lynzi2004]

Typically I would avoid MK on Monday, but given your DS age and circumstances, I would 100% start with MK. My kids ages 12/10/5 now love different things about every park, but I specifically remember when my two older ones were 5/4, we were at AK for the day and at one point, they both started crying that they just wanted to go back to Disney World! Cue the confusion on my DH and my faces, until we figured out they wanted to go back to MK. They loved animals, but at 5 years old and younger, MK is JUST SO MAGICAL! (I still think it is at 38 )

 

[DVCjj]

Our last 4 trips found Monday to be extremely busy at MK. We were very surprised as I hadn't researched because we go often over many, many years. But it's definitely changed and very busy....as in annoying. Ha.

 

[Skippyboo]

I would do MK. He is 2.5 so you’re going to be doing the kiddie rides and character meet and greets mostly.

After Hours don’t really affect day crowds because they don’t shut the parks early like they do for holiday parties

 

[gmi3804]

Related question - I just saw some after hours events are being released for while we’re there. How do those events typically affect crowds at that park during the day? More or less crowded during the regular hours at that park?

They don't. Not like a party day, if that's what you're thinking.

 

[pixiedust33]

They don't. Not like a party day, if that's what you're thinking.

Yes, thank you! I was wondering if they had an impact on daytime crowds like the party days.

 

[gmi3804]

Yes, thank you! I was wondering if they had an impact on daytime crowds like the party days.

After Hours events don't shorten regular park hours like a Party does.