This question has been addressed, I'm sure, but.... Early November and EMH?

[momto3girls]

I know that many DISsers avoid the EMH like the plague. We are going (first time as a family - DH and I haven't been in about 10 years) November 5 - 11, staying at POR. My plan is as follows:

Arrive Sunday after driving over from St. Pete (going to wedding there on Saturday): ADR 4:00 Crystal Palace and spend afternoon and PM EMH at Magic Kingdom
Monday: AK w/ breakfast res at Restaurantasourus (sp) but this is an AM EMH - should I avoid this one?
Tuesday: day at Epcot (again, it's AM EMH) w/ ADR at Marrakesh 6:00 PM
Wednesday: no definite plans except Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at 4:00 and Narcoosee's ADR at 7:15.... depending on weather, may do water park or just stick around resort and visit Downtown Disney
Thursday: day at MGM - want to do this before Soaps weekend so this seems like a good day
Friday: Epcot again, Les Chefs de France ADR 6:00 PM, PM EMH
Saturday: LAST DAY (flight out of Tampa at 6:00 PM - must leave park/resort by 1:30. planning morning at Magic Kingdom

Here are my questions.... What would you do? My girls are 9, 7, and 7 (yes, twins). Should I try to schedule one of the Epcot days as Magic Kingdom and have our last day elsewhere? Is hitting Magic Kingdom on two weekend days a mistake? One thing is certain. I definitely want to go to Magic Kingdom the day we arrive. My girls have been dreaming of seeing the castle for years and they won't want to wait for that. Should I switch my Monday and Tuesday to avoid EMH? Or, will EMH actually work to our benefit during this time of year? I know there are no definite answers.... We also did not get park hoppers and I think I'll wait and see if we want to upgrade to those. So, if I switch any of my days, I'll also need to redo my ADRs... No big deal, though, since I haven't picked really popular restaurants. And, I know this week is "Jersey Week" - should I expect crowds like you get at Thanksgiving or is it still going to be pretty quiet?

TIA!

 

[BlindTyldak]

We'll be there the same days - actually getting there two days earlier, but also leaving on the 11th - and also staying at POR.

I've always been AROUND this time of year, but not this particular week, but from prior experience I'm trying the EMH's this time at the beginning of the week, including that Sunday night one. if it ends up being packed, no biggie, we'll just use that night to stake out the primo spots for Spectro and Wishes instead and if it stays packed after the fireworks, we'll just head out.

We've got park hoppers though, and from everything I've heard, I'd upgrade if I were you. it's sounding like it's going to get VERY busy toward the end of the week and I think we're going to be relying on them a lot by Thursday.

 

[Jennasis]

Hiya! Dh and I will be at Epcot on the same day as you! Keep an eye out for the Disney couple with pin lanyards with the lime-green mickey heads on them. We'll be staying all day at MGM and doing Fantasmic at 7.

I wish we could do EMH this trip but we are staying...gasp...off-site at one of the hotels on hotel plaza blvd across the street from DTD. I say go for it@

 

[kidsgobears]

Just so you know...Fantasmic is closed from Nov 1-8, so Thursday, Nov 9th will probably be pretty crowded at MGM for the re-opening. Folks who've been at WDW all week will try and fit it in before they leave.

You might want to check out touringplans dot com or TourGuide Mike for their recommendations for "Best Days'. Both pretty much say to avoid EMH unless you have no other choice (need to go to see Spectro or such). TouringPlans' best day calendar is free. HTH

 

[3darlings]

We are going on the Nov 1st and coming back on the 7th. I am doing Disney at the beginning and then Universal. I wanted to be out of Disney before the Jersey Week crush occurs. Alot of school up here in the northeast are off much of the week of Nov 5th so it may be pretty crowded. The Sunday eveining EMH at MK probably will be very crowded. If all you want to do is see the castle, etc. and not ride the big rides you should be ok. Just expect it to be crowded. You should ok with the AM EMH as long as you get out of that park by early afternoon. I agree with the recommendation to upgrade to a hopper - that way you can move around when it gets crowded. Good luch and have fun!

 

[momto3girls]

bumping for more opinions.... Thanks....

 

[dawgsgirl]

My general rule of thumb is to avoid all EMH. This is especially true if you do not have park hoppers. EMH is not as good of a deal as Disney makes it sound. EMH is only good for VERY low attendance times or when it is raining. My favorite EMH story--I was on a solo trip at POFQ in September. I was at the bus stop around 8:15. At POFQ, Epcot and AK share the same stop. The AK was the morning EMH park. The bus stop was PACKED!! The AK bus arrived just as I did. Every single person at that crowded bus stop got on the AK bus, except little old me! No way they were in the park before the EMH was over! In addition, I talked with several people that evening that complained how crowded AK was that day. I enjoyed a very relaxing day at Epcot. Good luck on your decision!!!

 

[lucky1]

Monday: AK w/ breakfast res at Restaurantasourus (sp) but this is an AM EMH - should I avoid this one?

Actually depends on what time your reservation is. Generally what we like to do is arrive early enough to do a ride or two and then head over to your reservation. Might be a good time to ride Everest before the crowds get too bad. Then after eating would go walk through Asia (walk off all the good food) and then if it seems to crowded head out to another park.

We have been during "Jersey Week" in the past and while it can seem crowded at times, it is just fun to be there with so many enthusiastic Disney fans.

We will be there at POR the same time as you. But looking at your schedule we have different park plans.