This itinerary planning is driving a newbie crazy! Help! To EMH or not to EMH?

[Castillo Mom]

Ok, I was just over on the restaurant board and I'm trying to fit our dining choices into our itinerary. The problem is that I'm wavering between doing EMH or not. We're on the West coast so I don't know how jet lagged we'll be. But I digress.

Should we do EMH or not? I already have a list of what parks not to go to if we decide not to. I just don't know whether I should get my family up at the crack of dawn, especially on the days we decide to have a sit down breakfast beforehand.

 

[mudnuri]

Well, I might be the minority here on these boards, but this is what we're doing..

I have planned that we're doing EMH, and the parks scheduled for them....when I'm there MK is closing VERY early on 2 days- our 2 MK days, so we'll leave MGM on it's day and go to MK for the parade's fireworks etc...

HOWEVER....that said, if my DD's DH or I do not get up in time, we dont get up in time....we will still go to that same park, and since all the other 'disser's " leave the EMH park at noon, we'll be okay!

The thing I keep in my mind, is we're on vacation, we're not at a marathon, if we stay at MK late on Tuesday for instance, we may not get up early on Wednesday- so be it! WDW isn't going anywhere, and if we decide to go back, what we might miss, will still be there!

Go with the flow!...I didn't plan any sit down breakfast's, we're eating breakfast in our room, I made PS's for late lunches- 2pmish..

Have fun
Brandy

 

[danny1649]

If we a EMH arrive early and try to be in the first few hundred guests in park.We go rope drop area and wait then do EMH attractions with little or no wait.By 10:30 and crowd is catching up with you,we stop and eat early lunch at EMH park then head to another park and finish up that day touring anywhere but EMH park.The other plan we use is simple avoid what park was EMH park for that day.I hope this helps you a little.

 

[jordanyosh]

Hey fellow Californian....We will go to EMH if, and that's a big if, we can get up. Normally, we sleep in....I think we hit AK for EMH once and while great, we were still kind of waking up throughout the day......I do think the time change does affect you...

Whatever you decide have fun

 

[Castillo Mom]

Originally posted by jordanyosh
Hey fellow Californian....We will go to EMH if, and that's a big if, we can get up. Normally, we sleep in....I think we hit AK for EMH once and while great, we were still kind of waking up throughout the day......I do think the time change does affect you...

Whatever you decide have fun

Thanks so much for the reply, not too often I meet up with a Californian here on the DIS. The time change is one of the things I'm worried about. I don't want to push my family too much. I mean, what's the point of being at WDW all cranky? I may do EMH at MK and AK only and sleep in a little later the other days.

What's your opinion on the water parks? I know they don't have EMH at BB or TL, but is it necessary to arrive first thing in the morning or is it better to in the afternoon around 2:00? I've heard differing opinions on this one.

 

[xmatt0926x]

Why not just be spontaneous and just do what feels right when you get there? Thats my advice. Enjoy the trip and forget the obsessive planning. Iknow people that run around Disney with those planners and itineraries and its not worth it. Get a general plan of things you want to do while at Disney and just go with the flow. Just be free and have fun!! You'll thank me for this advice!

 

[Kaycee]

First of all, relax...you're going to WDW! You'll have a magical time no matter what you decide! Probably the only thing that can mess you up at this point is worrying too much!

If I'm calculating right (and I may not be, math isn't one of my strengths!) it looks like you'll be there in August. Usually, when we go during hot months we take advantage of EMH on at least a couple of days so we can get some fun in before the heat cranks up. Having said that, given the time difference you'll be dealing with, I think you'd do better to go with a non-EMH plan. Just get to the non-EMH parks as soon as they open, plan on taking a break during the heat of the day, and plan on going back and closing down the parks since you won't be getting up for EMH. That's what we end up doing some days anyway, because EMH doesn't always fit into our plans either. And it works just as well, if not better, than EMH. The main thing is getting there when the park opens, getting out of the heat middday, and taking advantage of late closing times. Oh, and don't forget to drink lots and lots of water and use sunscreen!

We haven't done the water parks yet, this trip will be our first time, so I can't help with that question. Hopefully some of the water park vets can help you out.

No matter what you decide, smile, you're going to have a great time!!

 

[MinniMama]

OK I'll be the nay sayer- this is the most crowded park of the day! several cms have quoted this to me and have outlined how many more sales they make on that day-Tony's sells twice the soda on EMH days! Also I have been in an Early open park at 8:00 by 10:00 its mobbed the next day I've gone back and gotten way more from 9:00-11:30 so that's my advice still go early be at gate 10 min before 9:00 to the nonearly open parks and have more of the park to yourself and not have to rush out by 1:00 when the early open park is wall to wall- when are you going by the way- you can probably get away with early open in the slowest tiems of year only.

 

[DisKim]

On our last trip, we did EMH every single day - not a good idea. We were exhausted!! I think EMH is wonderful, but you need to vary it with regular park opening on some days. The other thing that really annoyed me was the fact that I would go to EMH and it would be great for about an hour or two and then the park would be mobbed. I had family members who for some odd reason kept going to non-EMH parks and they told us that these parks were empty and they got right on everything. I think it all depends on what feels right for you. I'm only planning on doing two EMH days on my next trip.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Thank you all for the great advice! After mulling things over I realized that I'm stressing out over this way too much. Most days we'll go to a non EMH park, so if we sleep in, no big deal. I've definitely decided to only do MK and AK on EMH days.

Now all that's left is figuring out what time to be at the water parks.

 

[jordanyosh]

Hello again

Waterparks are very, very crowded from opening til 2-3pm...you are correct. They do start emptying out at that time. So you may enjoy it more later in the day...However, mid to late afternoons are when the brief to 2 hour thunderstorms roll in....We prefer Typhoon Lagoon to BB. If you have teens, they may like BB better. We like the laid-back atmosphere of TL. Although this year we did all the waterslides and raft rides. Very fun for folks in their 40s and teens alike

Typhoon Lagoon:

We go when it first opens, we try and get there before the gates open. Once in we get a locker and towels(once you get over the hill on the right side). At the shop, they also have waterproof containers that hang around your neck. You can keep money,ID and resort card in them so you don't not have to lug around a purse.(I think they have them available at WDW resorts as well). We try and secure a place as soon as possible, as chairs go quickly. If you are facing the wave pool, on the right hand side above the wave pool, there is an area that overlooks the pool. It's nice and isn't a high traffic area. It is also close to one of the two main food areas...

Hope this helps......

 

[Castillo Mom]

Thanks for the tips Jordan. We'll definitely be doing both water parks. Judging by the theme, I think the DH and I will enjoy TL better and the boys BB.

 

[bengalfreak]

Here is my recommendation. You don't really say when you are going, but if you are going in the summer months, mid June to late August, I would avoid EMH. Our strategy during that time of year is to attend the park that had EMH the day before. The crowd is much less than the EMH park.

If you are going in a traditionally non-crowded time, definately take advantage of EMH, it adds more time to an already short touring day. If it gets too crowded head to the park that had EMH the day before. Great strategies that work very well.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Bengalfreak, that sounds like a great stragegy. We'll be there 8/14-8/23. I hear kids in the South start going back to school around that time but I get the impression that it still may be crowded, so better safe than sorry. Since we're only doing 2 EMH days, the other days we'll go with your game plan. Thanks!

 

[dizagain]

Hi!

I'm a non-EME girl myself - I say don't kill yourself!!

Typhoon Lagoon is great - I must say that this IS a park you need to get to at opening. We got two great lounge chairs under an umbrella - probably at the same location a previous poster described. My family DID NOT rent a locker, and didn't regret it. We felt comfortable leaving towels, shoes, clothes, sunscreen, etc. in a bag at our "spot" and nothing happened to our things. I wore the waterproof necklace with our cash/passes in it the whole day and had no problems on slides. Don't forget the water-proof disposable camera and water shoes!!!

Oh yea...my Texas gals will indeed be hitting the books again by the time you make it to WDW - you are right in thinking that many southern schools will be in session already! In fact, I have a friend who has taken her girls out of school the 2nd week before to hit the World and said crowds were considerabely less than her earlier summer trips!

Have fun!!!

 

[javaj]

This was easy for us, non-EMH for us because DH and DS are late-risers (about 830 am Mountain usually), so with the 2 hour time difference, EMH would not be pleasant!