What is your plan of "attack" when staying off site? re Disneyworld

[Camping Griswalds]

Do you look at park days that are historically less crowded and go then?(info gathered from the Dis or Unofficial Guide Book)

Do you look at which park had an Extra Magic hour the night before and go to that park?

Do you go to the park that had Extra Magic hours the day before?

Do you just avoid the parks that have Extra Magic Hours for that day?

Do you just do what you want and hope for the best?


We are planning on being at the parks when they open to the general public, and not having park hoppers. Thanks

 

[Mainebound]

We avoid EMH parks. We go the the parks recommended by the Unofficial Gudie best days chart or Tour Guide Mike, whatever we happen to be subscribing to for that trip.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Avoid EMH days.....even when I stay on disney property and go to EMH, I'm out of that park by 11 or 12 noon.

As far as going in lower crowd times. As far as I'm concerned, that is more and more becoming a thing of the past. Sept is generally quiet after Labor Day but last year they had free dining on wdw property and it got quite crowded. Early Oct used to be generally slow, but we were there the first week of Oct 2006 and it was quite crowded. Sat, Oct 7 was PACKED solid in Epcot (which to us, usually feels like the best place to be to handle crowds because it's so spread out and has wide walk ways). But MNSSHP got earlier and earlier.....and Food & Wine also goes on earlier than it used to many years ago. The first week of Nov used to be generally quiet.....not anymore. There's Food and Wine, Jersey Week, ABC Super Soap Weekend, and this year there is a DCL pirate pin trading event mid-November.
We were also in WDW the first week of Dec this year. Again....used to be quiet....all wdw resorts were sold out for the first weekend.

Our plan of strategy is get to the park bright and early. Be in the parking lot by 8:15 am. Avoid an EMH (morning or evening EMH) park of course. Fast Pass all you can and get out by noon. Return late, by dinner time, and plan to wait. Fast pass when you can. If you are at a park where it is the only one open late for the night...think long and hard about whether you want to be there. The MK was open until 11 pm on Feb 24. Epcot closed at 9 pm and MGM and AK were closed even earlier. The entire guest population (on and offsite) flocked to the MK that night. It was a nightmare. Why wdw can't keep at least 2 parks open late during a busy season (it was Pres Week), is beyond me ! We got there and left within about 90 min and headed out to see a movie. Also, some nights during the week the MK may have Spectro. It may be only a night or two during the week---count on the MK being packed to the gills those nights.

In the past 6-7 months, we've been to WDW in early Aug '06, early Oct '06, early Dec '06 and mid-late Feb '07. Each trip we encountered very large crowds most days. There were exceptions here and there, but they were a rare treat.
Since you will not have "hoppers", I think you really need to be prepared for whatever comes your way. Hopping is one of the best perks one can invest in (that and the Fast Passes) in order to survive the crowds. Best of luck to you.

 

[rie'smom]

Every year we go for a week beginning with the Memorial Day weekend and ending with Gay Days. It used to be a PIA,however,since I subscribed to Tour Guide Mike it it hasn't been bad at all. 10 minute waits were the longest.
We went at Thanksgiving for the first time in 2006-again followed TGM for least crowded days -no problems. I also subscribed to RideMax and this was great too for day by day park itineraries.
Since we became DVC members in 2006,we plan to go at these times every year-maybe even throwing in a couple of other trips!

 

[karriern]

Not to plug TGM, but I'm going to WDW for my 3rd trip 12/07--and I always subscribe to that site. I've bought all the books and read them cover to cover, but I get the most out of TGM. I tell everyone about TGM. It takes your particular vac specs into consideration--before making suggestions. A really good investment esp when your racing 30,000 other people!!

Good Luck!!!

 

[KayR]

We used to just go where we wanted when we wanted, and if / when it got too busy we would go back to the vacation home and swim.

This time we are going over the easter period, so I am trying out TGM for the first time. Hopefully that will work out for us! (But we do have a large crowd of 16 of us all ages from 1 - 51 so it will be interesting to see how it all works out).

-Kay

 

[robynv]

So tell me how TGM is diffrent and why I should pay for it? I'm on the fence and cheap if I'm being honest. Sell it me!!!!!

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Thanks for the helpful ideas! Anyone else?

 

[5mins2disney]

So tell me how TGM is diffrent and why I should pay for it? I'm on the fence and cheap if I'm being honest. Sell it me!!!!!

We're known for giving our honest opinions, not being sales people! LOL

Most people here on the DIS swear by TGM! Why? Simple... it saves you hours of waiting long lines at all the parks!

Well worth the $20 you'll spend on the website to save yourself hours of waiting in long attraction lines if you ask me... you're already spending what.... well over $1000 for a family Disney vacation...why spend (waste) it waiting in lines?

 

[Brian Noble]

I will never visit WDW without TGM. Ever.

Sign up, and see if there's information of value to you. If so, it's $20 well spent. If not, just ask for a refund. As far as I know, you'll get one, no questions asked.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Do u all think TGM can tell someone who've been vacationing in wdw for 15 years consistantly ? I always hear about his site mentioned here on the DIS (I know he's a sponsor now), but just wondering if there's any info worth my $20 since I consider myself a wdw veteren having been there at least 30 times or more.

 

[rie'smom]

Do u all think TGM can tell someone who've been vacationing in wdw for 15 years consistantly ? I always hear about his site mentioned here on the DIS (I know he's a sponsor now), but just wondering if there's any info worth my $20 since I consider myself a wdw veteren having been there at least 30 times or more.

I've been going almost every year since 1973 and I learned strategies from Mike.

 

[lovindonald]

Same as it is onsite. Offsite or onsite doesn't make any difference to me. I go to the park I feel like going to or that we want to see the most that day. EMH make no difference to me. Last time we were in MGM on an EMH day there was a line for bracelets that was about 200 people deep - no thank you! It can't really be worth wasting all that time in a line.

 

[MiaSRN62]

EMH make no difference to me. Last time we were in MGM on an EMH day there was a line for bracelets that was about 200 people deep - no thank you! It can't really be worth wasting all that time in a line.
__________________

I'll give you my tip on those EMH bracelet lines. Get to the park before the EMH actually starts. The lines start up to an hour or more before the EMH actually kicks in and they are MUCH shorter early on. Say EMH starts at 8 pm. Get to the park by 6 or 7 pm and get your bracelet early---there is virtually no line and once the park empties from the regular offsite visitors and those not staying for EMH---it makes for a nice night.
Also, morning EMH does not require a bracelet and we can get ALOT of attractions in before the offsite guests are allowed in.
I think during the summer and other busy times in WDW, EMH are invaluable.

 

[tbrenk]

I've been going almost every year since 1973 and I learned strategies from Mike.

Are there any links from here that will offer a discount?

 

[rie'smom]

At the top of the theme parks page is a TGM ad. Click on that and I believe it goes to his page and there's a discount included.