Some random strategies questions for the experts.

[KathyM2]

Just starting my planning for our trip in October and I have a few questions because I'm trying to decide what parks to plan for on each day...so then I can pick ADR's and so on. Here goes:

1. We want to go to MNSSHP. While we are there, the party is on Thursday Oct 8, Friday Oct 9, or Monday October 12. My first thought was that the Monday would be least crowded, BUT that day also has morning EMH...SO....thoughts on that? Would Monday be the best? I'm guessing the Friday would be the worst...

2. Epcot Food and Wine will be on the whole time we are there. But is it on every day and all day during the span it says on the website? Is there any difference depending on what day you go? Weekdays, weekends etc? Weekends are probably more crowded I imagine...

3. We are NOT planning to buy hopper tickets. So bearing that in mind, since we are staying on property, do we take advantage of EMH as much as possible, but then live with an extra crowded park that day? Reco's?

Thanks so much in advance...I know these answers are probably somewhere but I'd have to do a lot of searching!!

 

[snowwhite84]

Hi! I would attend MNSSHP on the Monday. Yes, Food and Wine is every day, if you can avoid the weekend, it get SLAMMED with locals. As for EMH, I always like to take advantage of them when I can, even though that typically draws more people to the park that day. Have fun!

 

[KathyM2]

Hi! I would attend MNSSHP on the Monday. Yes, Food and Wine is every day, if you can avoid the weekend, it get SLAMMED with locals. As for EMH, I always like to take advantage of them when I can, even though that typically draws more people to the park that day. Have fun!

Wow, you are FAST!! Thanks so much for the input!! I think you are probably right about doing the EMH and the party on the Monday...but we only have so many NON- weekend days...I will have to check out the crowd predictions to figure out what to do on the weekend days...probably spend less time in the parks those days and just use our FP+ and not much else? Who knows...

 

[Alesia]

1. I don't think EMH will make much of a difference as far as the party goes.
2. Weekends are much busier.
3. Without hoppers, you should absolutely avoid the parks with EMH.

 

[smitch425]

All of those parties should sell out, so pick the one that best fits your schedule.

 

[monica9]

Hi. Congrats on your new booking!
1. MNSSHP_ Fridays are historically the busiest so Monday makes the most sense with Thursday being next.
2. F&W- Weekends are so busy. We have gone during F&W and noticed Friday and Saturday being so busy you can't move.
3. Base Tickets- I would definitely take advantage of the EMH regardless of the crowd level. The parks close so early in the fall so it's nice to be there a bit later. I suggest you try to make the most of your Fast Passes and try to get there at rope drop (when the park opens) and hit all the big rides first or at least the rides most important to you that way you can relax the rest of the day and not rush around. We weren't going to do Park Hoppers for the first time this year but got the Free Dining plan and had to switch to it. But we are still going to go to one park each day for the most part since we've been there so much and want to make this trip more relaxing. We are hoping to hit the parks at rope drop and then leave and swim mid day and back at the park with EMH for night. No matter what, the crowds won't be as bad as other times of the year. I can't say that for MNSSHP though. We have gone to MVMCP and know others that went to MNSSHP and it's hard to even move throughout the park but it's still super fun and an experience worth doing once.

Good Luck! BTW, WL is my favorite resort!!

 

[LaurenT]

F&W is MUCH more crowded on the weekends and is more crowded in the evenings in general.
For that reason alone, I would do the party on Friday, while the locals are at F&W and then do F&W on Monday starting in the afternoon, before locals are out of work.
And if you're nor hopping, I would avoid EMH parks like the plague. The crowd difference is more noticeable during slower seasons that during busy ones.
I would follow Josh's recommended parks (EasyWDW)

 

[nilla]

We used to intentionally avoid EMH days for crowd reasons. Though, given the time you're going, crowds shouldn't be a huge problem anyway.

This year will be our tenth annual trip in a row, and we've never once gotten Park Hopper. The only thing I'd consider it for would be more nights dining in Epcot.

 

[Shmily01]

We usually don't do park hoppers and we always avoid the park with EMH's. We do still get there prior to RD and can get a lot done in that first hour. I use Josh's site (easywdw.com) to pick the park I'm going to. We did MK on a Saturday once when it was not recommended and it was CRAZY!!! In SEPTEMBER!!! Never again. We had to get PH this year due to the FD promotion so we will most likely utilize EMH's this year.

 

[6bowmans]

We usually don't do park hoppers and we always avoid the park with EMH's. We do still get there prior to RD and can get a lot done in that first hour. I use Josh's site (easywdw.com) to pick the park I'm going to. We did MK on a Saturday once when it was not recommended and it was CRAZY!!! In SEPTEMBER!!! Never again. We had to get PH this year due to the FD promotion so we will most likely utilize EMH's this year.

Another vote here for avoiding the EMH parks and to go with Josh's recommendations. The early hour or two of EMH and small crowds is not worth the trade off of smaller crowds for an entire day at another park. The beauty of hoppers is that you can enjoy EMH and then head to another "less crowded" park. We have been in October several times and tried just about everything. For us it has been more relaxing and we have accomplished more by going to the non-EMH parks.

 

[cc-atl]

Another vote here for avoiding the EMH parks and to go with Josh's recommendations. The early hour or two of EMH and small crowds is not worth the trade off of smaller crowds for an entire day at another park. The beauty of hoppers is that you can enjoy EMH and then head to another "less crowded" park. We have been in October several times and tried just about everything. For us it has been more relaxing and we have accomplished more by going to the non-EMH parks.

same here

 

[smitch425]

We used to intentionally avoid EMH days for crowd reasons. Though, given the time you're going, crowds shouldn't be a huge problem anyway.

This year will be our tenth annual trip in a row, and we've never once gotten Park Hopper. The only thing I'd consider it for would be more nights dining in Epcot.

Columbus Day weekend is not a low crowd period.

 

[nilla]

Columbus Day weekend is not a low crowd period.

Ack! I overlooked that. My bad. Thanks for the correction!

 

[6bowmans]

Columbus Day weekend is not a low crowd period.

Concur. Following Josh's recommendations becomes more imperative.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Your MNSSHP ticket will get you in to the MK at 4:00PM without having to use a regular park entry. Since Monday is AM EMH at the MK I would avoid going there and take the opportunity to hit another park in the morning. Maybe EPCOT for some F&W before heading to the MK for the party.

 

[Kathryn777]

I agree with the last post. I'd start the day somewhere different than the party. Hop without buying a hopper I was there that weekend last year. All the parties sold out I believe. People were annoyed.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Just starting my planning for our trip in October and I have a few questions because I'm trying to decide what parks to plan for on each day...so then I can pick ADR's and so on. Here goes:

1. We want to go to MNSSHP. While we are there, the party is on Thursday Oct 8, Friday Oct 9, or Monday October 12. My first thought was that the Monday would be least crowded, BUT that day also has morning EMH...SO....thoughts on that? Would Monday be the best? I'm guessing the Friday would be the worst...

2. Epcot Food and Wine will be on the whole time we are there. But is it on every day and all day during the span it says on the website? Is there any difference depending on what day you go? Weekdays, weekends etc? Weekends are probably more crowded I imagine...

3. We are NOT planning to buy hopper tickets. So bearing that in mind, since we are staying on property, do we take advantage of EMH as much as possible, but then live with an extra crowded park that day? Reco's?

Thanks so much in advance...I know these answers are probably somewhere but I'd have to do a lot of searching!!

1. I would choose the Monday first (EMH will have limited effect on party crowd since it is a hard ticket event), or maybe the Thursday.

2. F&W goes on every day, but as others have said, the locals really turn out on weekends.

3. We always stay on site and rarely have hoppers. My strategy is to avoid morning EMH parks. That helps us miss the crowds and also takes the pressure off of having to get up early and make the EMH opening. We tend to stay at the park we choose all day, with maybe a break in the afternoon on our DHS or Epcot day.

 

[KathyM2]

Thanks everyone!! This is very helpful!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Answers below:

Just starting my planning for our trip in October and I have a few questions because I'm trying to decide what parks to plan for on each day...so then I can pick ADR's and so on. Here goes:

1. We want to go to MNSSHP. While we are there, the party is on Thursday Oct 8, Friday Oct 9, or Monday October 12. My first thought was that the Monday would be least crowded, BUT that day also has morning EMH...SO....thoughts on that? Would Monday be the best? I'm guessing the Friday would be the worst...

I don't have a suggestion other than to possibly avoid arrival day. We were quite exhausted when we opted to go on arrival day following a mega early flight. We also did not have a park day planned.

2. Epcot Food and Wine will be on the whole time we are there. But is it on every day and all day during the span it says on the website? Is there any difference depending on what day you go? Weekdays, weekends etc? Weekends are probably more crowded I imagine...

Weekends are definition busier. I would choose an anticipated low crowd day. But folks seem to migrate over anyway, so not sure how helpful that will be.

3. We are NOT planning to buy hopper tickets. So bearing that in mind, since we are staying on property, do we take advantage of EMH as much as possible, but then live with an extra crowded park that day? Reco's?

We did not have park hoppers and very much used EMH when possible. We were traveling for a birthday, though--so she got to pick the park day for they day. I have no recollection if it was EMH or not. We are morning EMH people. We used crowded times for meals, snacks and activities off the beaten path. Examples: Kimpossible, now Phinneus and Ferb; Sorceror's of the Magic Kingdom, playground time, etc.

We did not do this, but it can also be used for pool time back at the resort.

 

[LaurenT]

Concur. Following Josh's recommendations becomes more imperative.

Josh himself tells people that its even more important to follow the recommended park during "slow" seasons because of the bigger difference in what's offered. If the electric parade is only a few times a week .... Everyone is going to be in MK. Go to Epcot that day - empty. Go to MK and you'll wonder why anyone said it was slow season.