What day, what park - how do you decide?

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

I was on touringplans.com the other day & I am a little confused on how to figure out what days to do what park.

ie: June 10th (Wed) the best park is MK or EP

But under that it says MK's best day to visit is a Tues (which we won't be there on a Tues), then a Sat, then Wed, on & on... So, even 3rd on the list - is it still ok to go?

I know in June it will be tough anyway you go, but trying to plan.

And I keep reading to stay away from the parks that have EMH & late hours. Then I read its not too bad.

OPINIONS.....PLEASE.........

 

[NJ Goofy]

I am a pretty big planner when we go on our trips but I try not to go overboard or "commando" as some people call it. Use the touring plans as a guide, try not to go on the day they say is the worst.

The biggest tip I can tell you that works for us is go in the MORNING ! Be at the park you are visiting before 9:00 am. That time is best to ride the popular rides. We usually get a fast pass for the most popular ride and wait in line for the 2nd most popular, etc.

We usually leave the park about 1:00pm and head back to our resort for some down time and swimming. Then back to a 2nd resort for dinner and some more fun. Good luck.

 

[LVSWL]

I follow the days the "prefer" and don't go to the parks they say to avoid, except that we do like the late emh and so we will hit those and sometimes that will be an "avoid" park, but that is just the end of the day. After we make our plan(chart) then we decide on our meals to fit with where we will be, and go from there. Have a great trip.

 

[Belle1962]

There are also the people who swear by the "day after plan"-----go to park the day AFTER they have had their morning or evening EMH.

 

[btcrane]

And I keep reading to stay away from the parks that have EMH & late hours. Then I read its not too bad.

OPINIONS.....PLEASE.........

The more you read and plan, the more opinions you're gonna get. We're ALL full of 'em! My family personally has had great experience taking advantage of EMH over busy holiday seasons, and leaving the parks around lunchtime. But if your family's not into getting up before the crack of dawn while on vacation, I would avoid the parks offering EMH like the plague! Use the touring plans as guides, not as gospel, and modify them to fit your family. I also don't plan an early day right after a day we're at a park late the night before.

The only cardinal ruLe is: HAVE FUN!!

 

[mcvixen]

We are planning to go to AK on a day where they have Evening EMH. Has anyone out there experienced what those days are like? We're pretty flexible, we could either go very early, hit a few rides, scoot back to the resort for an afternoon rest and return to AK again for the evening, or.... we could just sleep in a bit, and plan to go out there quite a bit later (in the mid afternoon at about 3 pm or so), to take advantage of the extended evening.

The only things DD really wants to experience are going to the Boneyard (go figure!) and the Festival of the Lion King show. She's very easy-going and easy to please - one of the benefits of taking a 5 year old!

DH and I would like to try Kilmanjaro, have no interest in Kali or the other big ride (Expedition? Everest?)... we'd just like to browse and look around, mostly.

We're also planning on doing Epcot on an Evening EMH, but I've heard that it's the park that doesn't really get too crowded and can also handle large crowds the best, so we're not too worried.

 

[Iott Family]

Ok, I will be honest with you and say its really all just a gamble. MK is going to busier on the weekends and Mondays. Its "THE" park for many visitors. I use tour guide mikes best day park forecast and we are always there at the park 20 minutes before RD and we get so much done between park opening and 11am. By 11am the crowds are at full throttle so make sure you FP first thing in the A.M. everything you want to ride later in the day. Grab lunch and plan on going back to your resort for the afternoon to chill out. We do not park hop but we do go back into parks later to use are collected FP's and catch some atmosphere. We use this formula whether we are staying on site or in a rental. Its never failed us yet.

 

[Samantha/NC]

I suggest that you join Tour Guide Mike, there is a fee, BUT he has great touring plans
We went in July and at Thanksgiving and we rode and did everything we wanted. We did not wait for any ride over 20 minutes--so it was well worth the joining fee. We are planning another trip for 2010 so far away
and we will definitely be joining again!!

 

[bobbafett]

What park and when is really also a question back to you, do you want to be at the parks early or sleep in a little and go to the parks latter on in the day? How many days? I went for 14 days once and slept every day and went to every park and every ride, but I had the luxury of time. Do you have time? What is most important to your family? MK, AK, Epcot? If you have little ones you are going to MK! How many visits? If it is your first then you have planning. Read some guidebooks like Pass Porter or unofficial guide. Learn about the attractions to know what you can miss. Everyone will have opinions about there do not miss rides so don’t listen to that. (I would tell you to plan your theme park based on where you want to eat! Doubt that works for a lot of people but it does for me)

But anyway, just get there early and leave. I think the most common answer would be to get up, do the park, take a break and go to another in the evening, but don’t go commando. Your vacation will be frustrating and exhausting. Just get up early for MK once to get to the important rides then slow down. EMH are really good if you are there early before the rope drop, or latter in the evening as well, but any day, by 11 AM, MK is busy, especially in June.

 

[fla4fun]

How do I decide? I go to the bus stop and get on whatever bus comes in first!

Of course, I have an AP and go often, so seeing everything isn't an issue anymore.

I think Wednesday, even if it's listed as "third choice" would be your best bet. It's more important to get up and get to the parks early, both for crowd control and weather issues (heat and afternoon rains) than to go to a specific park on a specific day. Early June won't be as mobbed as late June or July because not all kids are out of school yet. Don't worry about picking the "perfect" park for each day. Make the best choice you can, based on your research and then relax and enjoy the trip!

 

[loveysbydesign]

We've always used TourGuideMike! Definitely worth the price!

 

[Short_N_Sweet]

My husband is the one who usually plans when and what parks we go to.... I just enjoy the day. We have always had the park hopper options so we'll usually do the park that doesn't have the EMH during the day then 'hop' over for the EMH (as we are both night people). Then the next day we enjoy the park we were at the night before and do the same thing all over.

Did anyone follow that???

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

I guess I need to give you more info from the sounds of it:

It will be my husband & I (30's) and my daughter is 8yrs old. Traveling with are my parents (60 & 70 yrs old) and my sister/husband & 2 kids. We are not going to be together all the time - I am now worried about pleasing all, just me (selfish I know)

June 9-16th. This is our 2nd trip, we have a good idea of what we want to do & see, just not sure how to decide what park on what days and EMH or not?

As some has said everyone has their opinion & that is what I want - what worked for who & did you follow touringplans or tourguide mikes or just wing it?

We do plan on getting up & being at park open every day & staying as late as we all survive. We will have time to sleep mid day break or when we get home. Not worried about that - my daughter loves being able to stay out late & not too much of a hastle getting her up in the morning. We are lucky.

Thanks for all the advise & keep it coming if you can.......