UG Touring Days Contradiction & EMH In "Off Seasons"

[turnerx5]

Hello all. I am in the process of planning out my family's five day visit to WDW the third week of this November with DH, DS (9), DD (7) and DS 5. I've been using the Unofficial Guide to WDW to plan our trip, and I've come across what appears to be a contradiction in the Guide (which I find to be a remarkable and amazing resource).

On the one hand, the Unofficial Guide tells folks to go to early entry parks to make use of the extra hour, but in its calendar of which parks are best to visit and avoid, the early entry parks are listed as the parks to avoid each day. I know I'm overplanning the trip, but I don't know whether to take the extra hour, or the less crowded park.

I would really like to hear anyone's thoughts who has toured at this time of the year, or the off season, on their experience with EMH during these periods. I've read reports here of people regretting EMH during busier times of the year because the crowds are focused on a particular park's EMH limited ride selections, but again, we'll be in the parks in November.

I really appreciate the work which went into the Unofficial Guide, and like the honest tone. If the various guide books had theme songs, I think the "official" guide's song would be "It's A Small World After All." I think the Unofficial Guide's theme song would be "A Pirate's Life For Me." These boards are great too, with lots of great tips.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[lentesta]

Hi Turnerx5,

First, thanks for reading the Unofficial Guide. And the Pirates theme would indeed be a good anthem for the book; I'm a huge fan of the attraction. Wasn't it great that the Pirates movie started and ended with the song?

Regarding the best days to visit the park, I'm not sure the Guide makes a blanket recommendation to visit a park on its Extra Magic Hour Day. We do say that it's a decent park-hopping strategy for Disney resort guests, I think, but I'm not sure we recommend it as part of a full-day, single park strategy. If I'm wrong on that, please let me know. That would explain why EMH isn't recommended on the day-by-day calendar, too.

Thanks again for reading the Guide. If there's anything we can help with for your trip, drop me a line: len@touringplans.com.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[Jill Schwartz]

My 2005 copy arrived just the other day and I stayed up until 2 am last night reading it (sad, I know! especially since we just borrowed 2004 from a friend and I read that!).

I recall that the suggestion was that if you are staying on site, take advantage of early entry, and maybe stay until that park starts to get crowded. Then go to one of parks suggested for that day. But, if you're not on site, avoid the early entry park altogether.

I don't have my calendar in front of me, but if you are outta there before the Tgiving crowds start warming up, you might find that you can just stay at the ee park.

Anyway, that was the "just" of what I remember reading.

 

[jann1033]

we go in Dec or Jan( early in the months so off season) and usually go to emh and have never had to leave the parks due to crowds since , well if they "are" more crowded, those 2 extra people in line are not enough to warrent park hopping! we have been able to ride everything we want before "official" opening as a walk on( some like tot can get up to 15 mins or so later on) so we think it's worth it even in slow times. the only park i might be lazy and sleep in for is ak, just not enough open to warrent going for imo, but do like the safari the earlier the better so maybe not plus the cinnamon rolls at tusker house make a prettty good breakfast!

 

[Harambe]

We go in the "off" season, too. January, mostly, but we did go in Nov. in 2001. This is our first Sept. trip, and we'll use EMH (if Ivan let's us come down!) IMHO, EMH is made for the off season! You get so much done in that hour, especially at MK! In the busier times, I think too many people show up for EMH and that defeats its purpose, but in the slower times its great.

We always park hop - that's how I plan our trips - so we don't stay in the EMH park all day. Our travel time to another park is a way to relax (if you're taking WDW transportation), coupled with lunch right before or right after our "hop".

Have a great trip!

 

[kathmzh]

When we went lat November, we found that EE worked well for us in Fantasyland. We followed the UG's recommendations to the letter, and completed nearly all of the rides there quickly and without lines and even without fastpasses. Maybe use it for MK, then plan to hop if it gets busy.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I've read the UG and several other planning books (The Passporter is great, too). Between the UG, Birnbaum's OG, The Passporter and the DIS board and www.allears.net -- that's all you would need to plan a great trip!

I've been during moderate times (May & Oct.), and we usually go to the EMH park for opening and stayed until about lunch time. Then we would take a break at our hotel and hit a different park later in the day. This works well with heat and crowds.

I don't have a calendar in front of me (Len, Remember me? I'm the "calendar girl" from the testing stages of the planning pages Those pages turned out great!!) -- Anyhow, the third week in November -- Is that before Thanskgiving week? If so, you should have less crowds and might be oK to stay through an EMH park without it getting too crowded, but if it is Thanksgiving week, you will find huge crowds at the EMH parks (from what I've read). Then you would want to "park hop" -- starting in an EMH park and then "hopping" to another.

As for peopel staying off-site, they can't start at the EMH park, so they should follow the recommended list for least crowded parks -- and NOT go to an EMH park on an EMH day since they can't start early.

Hope that helps!

 

[jann1033]

i thought ( could be wrong) they (Ug) don't really say you "need" to follow the plans off season anyway, it's up to you. it seems most of that type of info is more directed at busier times ( not that it isn't useful in other times, just not as critical)

 

[turnerx5]

Thanks folks for sharing your experiences with EMH during this time of year!