time you head out to the parks

[sparkles_grrl]

Hi all....I have a question, what time do you usually get to the park at? Do you go later because you have kids?

Thanks!

Christianna

 

[gianna2006]

We go when the park opens for the most part and always have - on trips before we had the kids and after. Then again, my kids have always been wonderful about falling asleep in the stollers no matter where they are or what is going on!!! Many people with kids get to the park at opening, leave sometime in the middle of the day for rest/pool time, then go back. Still others believe that you are on vacation, so why get up early? Different strokes for different folks, I guess !!!!

 

[Cory's Gal]

This coming January will be first trip for my 2 year old son. I have always gotten to parks early, before official opening time. Luckily so far my son has been an early bird generally waking up between 6:30 and 7:15am. So hopefully we will be able to get there early this time around too!! We also plan to head back for a nap around 12:30pm.

 

[tomerin]

since my DW and my 2 teen sons are avaid sleepers we usually dont get going to the parks until around 930 am. this way they arent cranky and our trip always gets off to a good start. the buses arent as crowded then either. if it was up to me i would be there at the rope drop

 

[my2princessgirls]

We actually go early because we have kids. We are there at opening, leave for a nap after lunch, then come back in the evening, but not for evening EMH since our girls still need plenty of sleep. They are early risers, and are usually awake by 7 a.m. at the latest, so this works great for us!

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I love to be there at park opening, but we usually arrive at 9:15 or so to let the crowds disperse some. Except at the Star Wars Weekends; then we're at the entrance at about 6:45.

 

[sparkles_grrl]

Thanks for all the replys! We were there last year in JULY and we were there right when the park opened and we WALKED onto 3-4 rides. Around 11am it started to get packed with long wait times.
My boyfriend and I are going on Tuesday and I hope we get the same luck as last year!

Christianna

 

[WDWguru]

Christianna, you'll find that this is how it is no matter what time of year you travel. We've been at slow times and the absolute busiest times, and it never fails that the crowds arrive en masse between 10:30 and 11 am. I love to sleep in, but at Disney I am up and ready, at the park for opening (or early EMH if available). We can get more rides in before the crowds arrive than we can the whole rest of the day!

 

[Robmom]

My DH and DD are not early risers like me and DS. So usually we go to breakfast around 8:30 or 9 and go to the parks around 9:30.

 

[kakiegirl]

We always have to go in the summer when it is very crowded, so being there at park opening is a must for us. We go and try to hit the more popular rides before it gets crowded and then go back to the hotel for a midafternoon rest and swim.

 

[Kimberly815]

We usually try to be there for opening, and are fairly successful- most of the time!

 

[DisneyBlonde]

We also try to get there when it opens, it's very cool to be in the park when there aren't many people and you can get through several rides very quickly within the first hour.

 

[garris3404]

We stay off-site and I like to get there very early. You get to park really close (had to wait at the parking toll boths a few times). Early in the morning is best. You can get some pictures outside the parks. Once the parks open, it's less crowded and easier to experience the attractions.

If you get there real early, you might get some pixie dust. On our last trip (Feb 06), we were fortunate enough to be selected to open MGM Studios. We also were selected to help open part of Animal Kingdom. We were selected to carry the rope behind Mickey's truck on the way back to the safari and got to pick our seats on the first safari ride.

 

[CathrynRose]

Depends on the park - and how wiped out we are.

I always get to the waterparks at opening. Dunno why....

Epcot - not at opening.

MK - real close to opening

MGM - not at opening

AK - At opening.

 

[catherines_mama]

We're there at park opening, always! I've traveled with friends and gotten there ONCE after opening.. MISERABLE.

I love to wait with the hordes and be there when it opens. We get a lot done first thing in the morning. We like to rest at lunch time, and then play at night! DD did some EMH (nights) this summer and did really good the next day.. WITH a rest at lunchtime.

One of the perks of staying onsite - its really easy to go back for a rest.

 

[Sabbie]

Opening! Or I make ADR's for around 8AM to go to the park BEFORE opening!

And, yes, I stay ALL DAY. No naps, no breaks.. from 6am/7am waking up, until the park closes!

 

[BeckWhy]

I do the... when I wake up I'll go... thing. Now don't get me wrong, my past trip we were there about 5 min after opening.

I like to get enough sleep (9 hours for me), and my body is amazing and wakes itself up (unlike my boyfriend who needs an alarm clock).

 

[Luv4Disney]

No kids here, but we go after we wake up, shower, and get ready, whenever that it. LoL. We just make sure to get there for our lunch ADR if we have them. We're not morning people, but we do get up if absolutely necessary. We never make it for rope drop (unless we have a breakfast ressie in which we get there way before the park even opens and DF isn't too happy with me ). I'd say usually around 10-11. I guess it also depends on how long we wait for a bus.

 

[NurseW2Kiddies]

Our best trip ever, we got up and were at the parks at or shortly after opening. Did EVERYTHING we wanted to do in 90 minutes, took it easy the rest of the morning and went back to nap/relax in the afternoon, back to the park in the evening. GREAT trip!!!!!!!!

 

[JamesMom]

As close to opening as possible. Cooler weather, fewer people, shorter lines. What better combo can you ask for? We always head back to the room after lunch.