UG's New #s -- Can you Help Me?

[PatsGirl]

We're going over T'Day weekend and then for the next week and were only going to do AK on Saturday because we expect the parks to be too busy over the weekend but wanted to do at least one day somewhere.

Now with UG's, Saturday is a "6" and AK is the worst park to visit. It actually states that the best parks would be MK, EP and DS, all three we were waiting unti later in the week. I had read/heard that AK can be a 1/2 day park so thought we'd be best doing this. It's also EMH (a.m.) at Ak that day so I thought we'd wait until late a.m. to go.

Please help.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We have always been there early to take advantage of EMH and been able to do everything we like to do without too much waiting. Typically, we do AK in two 1/2 days in the mornings. We've never had a problem with huge crowds in October or November.

 

[Bob P]

Hey again PatsGirl,

So as I was saying, the Jets are going to win the...

Oops, wrong forum.

The UG numbers are nice for general planning, but they are just estimates. They are very educated estimates, but still estimates.

Here's another example: if you had asked me (or a real meteorologist) a few months ago what the weather would be like the first week of June, I'd say sunny, hot, and humid, and average highs are about 90, and lows around 70. But last week, on June 1, it only got up to 77 degrees in Orlando with rain much of the day.

Bob

 

[sunnygirl]

From what I understand, the new UG system of 1-10 actually indicates a multiple of 10 for the worst case scenario number of minutes you would have to spend waiting in line for the big three attractions -Splash Mnt, Space Mnt, and BTMRR. So a 6 means that at the peak time of the day you would have to wait in line for 60 minutes (6 X 10). While intuitively a 6 seems high, it's actually an average size crowd on this new statistical rating scale. I read this in a thread from a few days ago with Len Testa explaining it probably much more clearly than I just did, if you want to do a search.

But the main thing is that a 6 sounds worse than it actually is.

 

[PatsGirl]

BobP: Real/fake meterologists are like Pats/Jets football players. The real ones know their job well and get it done, the fake ones are just guessing at the outcome Well, maybe not, can't trust any meterologist when it comes to Cape weather -- it does what it wants, when it wants, here.

Do you think we can do Ak late A.M. until close on Friday after T'Day without commando operation? We intend to stay until close, head to AKL for dinner at Boma and other activities at the lodge.

 

[lentesta]

PatsGirl, is T'Day Thanksgiving? If so, I can explain our reasoning for the AK recommendation.

A still embittered Steelers fan,

Len

 

[BethR]

A still embittered Steelers fan,

Len

A STEELER'S Fan!!! Now that's what we like to see!

(How did a southerner end up a Steeler's fan???)

 

[lentesta]

Hi BethR!

I was born in Youngstown, OH, halfway between Pittsburgh and some other semi-professional football town.

Len

 

[betterlatethannever]

Hi BethR!

I was born in Youngstown, OH, halfway between Pittsburgh and some other semi-professional football town.

Len

Where's the debate board when you need it

Ed

 

[BethR]

Ahhhh Len! I grew up in Meadville, PA. And in our house, there WAS no other team besides that "other" semi-professional team - even though my mother grew up in Pittsburgh. My Dad, his dad, and now my brothers and THEIR sons are die hard fans of that team. But since I am basically NO fan, but I am MARRIED to a Pittsburgh-er and have RAISED Pittsburgh-ers, there is only ONE team in this house.

And Youngstown, OH! We grew up hearing about Youngstown (and New Castle) all of the time - it being the capital of "Family" related activities and all.

 

[BethR]

Where's the debate board when you need it

Ed

No Debate here, Ed. Just some neighborly conversation!

 

[zdad]

Aliquippa born and riasd here !

Living in Philly is such a pain. Always better toalk about our four Super Bowl wins than listen to their two losses.

 

[PatsGirl]

Len: Yes, T'Day = Thanksgiving Day. As I said earlier, AK is rated the worst park for the Saturday of that holiday weekend, but we didn't intend to rush in the a.m. for EMH in hopes that the rumors that it's a 1/2 day park would allow us to visit say 11-5 and be able to see everything. All suggestions are welcome. TIA.

 

[lentesta]

PatsGirl, here's why. When we've observed wait times at the Animal Kingdom during holiday EMH mornings, we've noticed that you can actually end up waiting longer in line than if you'd gone during a non-EMH morning. That is, you're worse off for using EMH mornings at the AK. This isn't true for any other park. That's why we don't recommend AK during EMH mornings. Unless you're just going to soak up the atmosphere or ride a couple of rides, I'd avoid getting there late on an EMH morning.

Of course, Disney could always change the EMH morning schedule after Thanksgiving, but for now, that's why we don't recommend it.

Where's the debate board when you need it

Actually, it's tough to hate the Brownies these days. And we can all agree that there's a special circle of Hades reserved for Art Modell.

Len

 

[MSC]

Bite your tongue, Len! It's never tough to hate the Brownies.

Go Stillers!

(Steubenville, OH born and raised (even closer to Three Riv--- er, Heinz Field than Y-town!)).

 

[PatsGirl]

Len: I've had a few days to digest the news that I'll have to come up with a better/different plan it seems. We're arriving on T'Day and want to do one park, probably Saturday, taking Friday and Sunday off and then going commando for the next 6 days after checking into POP.

Given this info, where would you suggest we go? I really do not like crowds so if there isn't a park that will be reasonable, we'll just not go at all and enjoy CSR. I'm thinking maybe MGM and make ressies for Fantasmic?

So, I guess what I'm asking is this: If UG gives Saturday a 6 with MK, EP, DS recommended parks, which of these parks will be the least crowded? And, if EMH days do change and AK is not an EMH park on Saturday, would you then recommend it?

I know, it looks like I want personal service doesn't it? I just don't know how others with kids can wait in lines like they do. I did it once and swore never again...

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Brenda

 

[lentesta]

Sorry about that, PatsGirl. Assuming the same 11-5 schedule, you've got a couple of decent options.

One is to use FASTPASS on a few headliner attractions at the MK or DS, and fill in the remaining time with shows and live performances. In the MK, something like this might work:

FASTPASS Jungle Cruise
Ride Pirates
FASTPASS Splash Mountain or Big Thunder (taking advantage of the Jungle Cruise's FASTPASS loophole)
Country Bear Jamboree
Lunch, possibly at Pecos Bill's
Hall of Presidents and Liberty Belle Riverboat
Enchanted Tiki Room
Jungle Cruise (using FASTPASS)
Splash / BTMRR (using FASTPASS)
WDW Railroad round trip

There's not much backtracking there. Do be careful about the parade, however, as it cuts off Adventureland and the Country Bears side of Frontierland from the rest of the park. It also stops the railroad from running. And while the parade's usually run at 3 pm, it may run at 2 on holidays.

In the Studios, I'd suggest FASTPASSing either RnRC or ToT, then concentrating on shows like Indy, Motor Stunt, BATB, and attractions like Muppets and Sounds Dangerous. MattH, also on this board, might have more suggestions on what to do in the Studios, as he's the webmaster of MGMStudios.org.

Regardless of actual crowd numbers, Epcot's size and ride capacities will probably make it feel less crowded than the other two parks. In that case, you could again use FASTPASS and/or single-rider lines to get through a couple of the three Future World headliners (Soarin', Test Track, Mission:Space) while visiting other attractions like Living Seas, Universe of Energy, Imagination, HISTA, and so on. I'd save Spaceship Earth for later in the afternoon (say, after 2 pm), when most of the crowd has already arrived at the park and dispersed throughout the park.

Let me know if none of that makes sense.

If the EMH schedule does change, we'd update our recommendations based on the changes, of course. It's possible that the AK would become a recommended park, too, but depends on the schedule.

Hope this helps!

Len

 

[LadyLuc361]

Sorry, I am going to continue with being off-topic, but go Steelers and Browns I grew up about halfway between the two.

BethR - I am from Erie Pa, not too far from Meadville. My Dad, however, grew up in Meadville. Know anyone named John Wood?

The internet makes you realize what a small world it is.

 

[Brian Noble]

How can you like both the Steelers and the Browns? That's like enjoying both Six Flags *and* Disney, er...hold that thought.

And Len's a Stillers fan? I *knew* I liked that guy. Seven years of gradual school at Carnegie Mellon (aka "Robber Baron U") will result in a seriously rabid case of Steelermania. Now I'm stuck in SE Michigan. The good news is that professional football is played in Michigan. The bad news is that it is played by the Wolverines. I'm also happy to note that I'm having Directv installed this very morning so that I can catch the Stillers games next season. That, combined with the NFL.com radio feed (to satisfy my Myron Cope addiction---yoi and double yoi!) and I'll be all set.

 

[taximomfor4]

Actually, it's tough to hate the Brownies these days. And we can all agree that there's a special circle of Hades reserved for Art Modell.

Len

Yeah, what HE said!

Some of us LIKE to root for the underdogs. Makes us feel WooHoo GREAT when they actually do something!