Totally Confused

[dzorn]

I've got my ADR's all planned, but I've been reading UG and now I'm totally confused. I planned for doint EMH morning every day then most days fairly early lunch, back to hotel then EMH evenings. According to the unofficial guide EMH parks are more crowded and to avoid them for those days. Should I change my plans? Should I try to make my lunches even earlier then leave EMH park for the rest of the day? I love planning but DH thinks I'm becomming a little obsessed. We have 10 day park hoppers with Plus's and not expiration so I know we will be back.

Saturday Arrival 10:30 possilbe park, DTD or Pool till dinner
20-May
Boma-Animal Kingdom Lodge
5:50pm

Sunday-Epcot EMH morning, hotel then MK EMh evening
21-May
Coral Reef Restaurant-Epcot
12:30pm

Monday-Water Park morning then hotel then Dinner
22-May
1900 Park Fare-Grand Flordian Resort & Spa
5pm

Tuesday- MK EMH morning, hotel pool then Epcot EMH evening
23-May
Crystal Place-MK
1:00 PM

Wednesday- Flexible morning Possible sleep in then MGM EMH
24-May
Hollywood & Vine-MGM Fantasmic package
4:00pm

Thursday- MK EMH morning then lunch, Hotel rest then Back to Epcot EMH
25-May
Ohana Character Breakfast-Polynesian
10:50am

Friday
26-May
No Plans yet flight out at 6:40 pm

DH, DD4, DD7 and DSis will be traveling with me. I know we cannot do it all and refuse to rush. DD7 has food allergies and autism so I need to atleast have TS meals planned and will have plenty of her acceptable snacks with us. Usually will eat in room for breakfast sometimes supplementing in with food court items. We will have a GAC for DD, but also know her ride limitations. DSis is also Developmently Disabled. Character meals are a must for them. DD cannot really wait in the long lines to see characters, but loves them. We are staying in POR.

Even though we will have used up our TS credits I'm considering adding Donald's at Ak or anothe one on check out day.

So many choices to so little time.

Denise

 

[100AcreWood]

If it was during the summer I'd worry but May shouldn't be a big deal. If you guys don't mind getting up early and hitting the parks go for it. I've read thread on the Dis that encourage people to enjoy the EMH.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

NO WAY ....emh hours are definate must do! All the crowds are thinned since only resort guests are allowed in....I would definately plan on it!

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I would say stay with your current plans. I have also read the warnings about the EMH and IMHO I think it depends on the time (calendar-wise) that you choose to go because we went in August 2004 and I was sorry that I didn't arrange my ADRs to accommodate the EMHs. But I thought the best thing would be to avoid the "crowds" but when we went a lot of schools had already started their fall sessions so the parks weren't crowded during the week. You will be on the other end, school won't be out for summer yet when you are there so you should be fine.

 

[jkmmah]

We love EMH in the morning, as long as you are there right at opening and then LEAVE before noon. I haven't gone in May so maybe it won't be much of an issue with the crowds as others suggest, but our plan is always to be out of the AM EMH park before lunch. I make our ADR's so we are having our lunch before the crowds hit the restaurants, meaning 11:30 or earlier, if possible.

 

[DisneyDork712]

The EMH in the AM are wonderful! But I've heard many people (including myself!) say that the PM EMH are terrible - long lines, crowded, etc. I think it's probably because there aren't very many people willing to get up early and be at the park at opening. (Their loss!!) If you simply want to be in the park, and not actually visit any of the attractions in the evening it's a great opportunity to just wander around the parks.

 

[MeLaNie9]

We did the same thing...made our DDP TS ADRs based on plans to go to the AM EMH parks. Then we also read UG and got nervous about the parks being too crowded on their EMH days. We will be touring at DS2's pace so didn't think we could reliably leave the EMH parks in time to avoid the big crowds described by the UG. Soooo, we did change our park plans, however not our ADRs if they were in a particular park on EMH days. We figured we will test out both theories - doing some parks on non-EMH days and others on their EMH days!!! 11 days until we find out which way is best

 

[themudd4]

Personally I try and avoid the EMH. We have not had very good luck with them at all. Mornings are not as bad as evenings...unless you are trying to use Disney transportation. I would not change my ADR's for breakfast...and if you are planning on leaving the parks during the day or right after dinner I don't think you will have to much of a problem.

 

[nickelsfamily]

I Think That Emh Are Wonderful And We Have Never Had Any Problems...

The Only Thing That I Would Worry About Is Trying To Do Both Emh In The Am & Pm. I Know That For My Family, Even With Some Downtime At The Hotel In The Afternoon, We Couldn't Make It For The Pm Emh. Especially To Get Back So Late To The Resort And Then To Get Up So Early Again To Do It All Over..... Gosh, It Makes Me Tired Just Thinking About It!

But, You Know Your Family Best And As Long As You Plan For The Unexpected, Everything Should Work Out!
Have Fun!!

 

[dzorn]

Thanks everyone I feel a little better. I think I will keep most Adr as is. Possibly try and change Pooh to a little earlier if available. Will try and go to different park than EMH evening after down time at hotel. I cannot see us staying late at most parks anyway except possibly AK. Kids would enjoy Animals there even if we did not go on any rides. Refuse to worry about Fantasmic on an EMH evening. Have dinner package will be okay. Play it by ear if necessary, except to make sure DD will be able to eat.


Denise

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My Bullet points on emh. None of these are absolutes except perhaps #1. You'll just have to figure out what's best for your time of year and your situation etc by trial and error.

Both Morning and evening.
1. If you are staying off site, avoid an emh park entirely. You can't take advantage of it and the parks fill up more. Bad Deal.
2. If you don't have hoppers, avoid emh. The park being more crowded will eliminate any advantage gained by the EMH. Go a non-emh park and use the time to rest and relax instead.
Morning.
3. If you have hoppers and intend to go take a nap mid-day anyway, the morning emh is most likely a good deal. The evening one is a crapshoot.
4. If you have hoppers and you intend to hop straight to another park, it's still an ok deal, but not great.
Evening
5. Itt is best to avoid that park for the day and hop over to it for the emh.
6. The less crowded it is in general, the better emh's are likely to be for you.
7. the later the emh, the less crowded. keep in mind, you'll also be less wanting to get up early for prime touring time the next day.
8. If Disney ever adds an emh the week you are down there, avoid that park at all costs if you can. They added it last minute for a reason. The reason is they expect crowds.