Which order would you do the parks -- 5 days

[AngiTN]

When will the crowd calender for June 2015 be available?

May became available 10/23. So look for June about the same time in November.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

When will the crowd calender for June 2015 be available?

I believe the preliminary travel agent calendar is usually out about 6 1/2 months in advance. I know that is what Josh uses to update his site. My last trip was end of Oct. I want to say he had it updated for the whole month of Oct within the last 2 weeks of Mar. I would think June would be done in 2 weeks or so.

 

[Crystal824]

It's a tradition that we always do MK first - it's just not a Disney vacation for me until I walk down Main Street, hear the music, see the castle under the Florida blue sky - my smile grows, my steps lighten and my heart is happy!!

This is us too. We look at crowd calendars for everyday except the first and try and choose the best days for each park, but we always do the MK on the first and last day. We usually go for at least 7 days though.

 

[ArwenMarie]

duplicate

 

[DavidNYC]

Depends on if you have hoppers and are going to take advantage of EMH.

If you're not going to take advantage of EHM, do not go to that park that day. You also want to take into consideration things like what day is Wishes that week and whether you want to see it? For things that are not offered every day, you have to adjust sometimes especially if you don't have hoppers.

If you will do monring EMH, I like going for a few hours and then hopping to second park where I use FP+.

I'd also avoid MK on Monday in general.

But really to many factors to consider - read EasyWDW, look at what is happenening on each day (really looking for things that aren't every day that you want to do), and go for it.

 

[Ava]

In all our trips we've never taken advantage of EMH, especially not morning ones. Getting up for regular park opening is a chore, no way on earth to make anything earlier.
But by going with the green parks we have gotten everything done without needing to get up extra early.
For early birds EMH are nice, if it doesn't wipe you off your feet from being so tired

This. I booked two 8:00am breakfasts on our Sept trip, and it was tough to get the kids up for them. I thought DD5 would be so excited she'd be up at the crack of dawn, but I discovered that she is not a morning person, no matter what her day is about to entail. They were much happier getting up at 7:00-7:30 to make a 9:00 opening.

In the past I've always insisted on doing MK first, but I'll see what the crowd calendars say for next trip. We've also always gone Sat-Sat (or Sun) but next year we're arriving on a Thurs and staying for 10 nights. So we have more time, and our first full day will be a Friday.

 

[Lalalyn]

When are you arriving?

We arrive Sunday Feb 1. No park on Sunday between arrival times and the Super Bowl. We are doing 1900 Park Fare for dinner. My parents are coming with us as we have a five year old and two year old twins. I'd say our pace will be medium to slow all things considered.

If I could get Hollywood and Vine on Monday we could do that Monday and MK Tuesday. I will stalk ADRs until we book FPs in early December. All three kids go wild over Jake so meeting him and the Dusney Junior shows are a must. Anyone guess the chance of something opening up for Monday morning between now and then? Should I just plan to switch and pray for the H&v ADR?

And can someone call my dad and tell home six nights is a "short trip?" He flipped when I told him we were going for five nights and then I called to tell him I extended to six!

 

[TXTransplant]

Amen! On a trip with adults, I'll do morning EMH and late EMH with most recommended in between, but wasn't gonna put my niece and nephews to that test. I can see tho if kids are early risers anywah...go for it!

My son and I are both early risers, so morning EMHs are great for us. We made it to a 7 am EMH opening at AK on our last trip! That was an exception, though. All of the other EMHs have been at 8 am, which is not a problem for us at all.

We (mainly my son) aren't late night people, though. I don't think we have ever taken advantage of evening EMHs because by 9 or so, he is ready to call it a day. Sometimes just making it through the fireworks was a challenge.

 

[AngiTN]

And can someone call my dad and tell home six nights is a "short trip?" He flipped when I told him we were going for five nights and then I called to tell him I extended to six!

Do they have to stay as long as you do? Maybe let them leave and you stay a few days longer with your family?

 

[Lalalyn]

Do they have to stay as long as you do? Maybe let them leave and you stay a few days longer with your family?

We don't have to and I sort of wish we would have added a day or two but our flights are booked. With all three kids it would have been hard to convince DH to stay without the extra help.

But, my secret plan is to make sure he knows there is way more to see at Disney so he agrees to go next year!! Our oldest will be in school so we couldn't do more than a week but maybe a Saturday to Saturday!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

My son and I are both early risers, so morning EMHs are great for us. We made it to a 7 am EMH opening at AK on our last trip! That was an exception, though. All of the other EMHs have been at 8 am, which is not a problem for us at all.

We (mainly my son) aren't late night people, though. I don't think we have ever taken advantage of evening EMHs because by 9 or so, he is ready to call it a day. Sometimes just making it through the fireworks was a challenge.

I usually live by the motto "I'll sleep when I'm dead" while on vacation. I love hopping and trying to get the biggest bang for my buck, but totally different when kids are being included. We did have one late night on the recent trip....did the pirates and pals fireworks cruise on 10/28. 10/29 was our AK day and brunch at 10:15. Thankfully we didn't have to wake up too early.

I do think early EMH are a fantastic way to get lots done, but I also agree that if you don't have hoppers or are not gonna use EMH it makes sense to skip that park.

 

[Lalalyn]

Thank you all so much! Based on this feedback and thinking about how we will feel on the trip, I've modified our plan to this -- with a few things still up in the air. Would love any additional guidance, advice!! With a five year old and a pair of two year olds, not to mention our fourth child in the party (my dad), hope this is a good balance.

Sunday: Flight arrives 12:30, ADR at 4:45 for 1900 Park Fare

Monday: AK; ADR at Tusker House at 10:40
We will likely only spend 1/2 day here -- ride safari, FOTLK, Boneyard, maybe a ride or two in Dinoland and then head back for a nap. Our twins NEVER sleep well the first night traveling so my guess is we will be tired today. This will allow us to sit on the safari, not have far to walk to FOTLK and Tusker House. After naps, if we are energized, off to MK to start exploring.

Tuesday: DHS; ADR at Hollywood and Vine (still deciding which one to do -- have ADRs at 8:15 and 12:20)

Wednesday: Maybe Epcot in the morning with Akershus at 10:50 (or might skip that to rest more and do 'Ohana and MK) with Pirate League for DD and DH at 3:15.

Thursday: MK; This is a EMH day so maybe we can take advantage of that.

Friday: MK; BBB at 8:30; BOG at 4.

 

[ruthies12]

If it makes any difference in your decision on which ADR to keep at H&V, keep in mind that they usually seat you late. I know we waited a good half hour for our noon ADR and it was on a weekday in January. Not sure if the early morning ADR would get seated on time or not. Just a little something to keep in mind if your two year olds get cranky if they don't eat on time.

 

[silenttuba]

If staying on site, I would go to whichever park has morning EMHs. You are paying more to stay on site, and EMHs are one of the big perks. Particularly in MK, those morning hours up to about 11 am are going to be the least crowded and will allow you to ride the most attractions with the shortest lines. That extra hour in the morning can really make s big difference. I would also do AK on the day that it has PM EMHs. AK always closes earlier than the other parks, and it has been our experience that it really clears out on afternoons/evenings when there are EMHs. We typically did not take advantage of PM hours at the other three parks because we were always at the park for rope drop (regardless of what time the park opened) and my son was usually pooped by 8 or 9 in the evening. One thing to remember about the recommended parks...IIRC, the groups that put together those recommendations do them for all guests, not just on-site guests. I believe at least one popular touring site specifically does NOT recommend the park with morning EMHs because that park will fill up with on-site guests and off-site guests end up at a disadvantage once the park opens for them. However, I can't imagine staying on-site and not taking advantage of all morning EMHs.

That depends on if you're a morning person or not (the OP said her family is, so I agree, take advantage of EMH). This is also where Park Hoppers are useful. You go spend a few hours in the morning, taking advantage of EMH, then go somewhere less crowded for the afternoon/evening.

I really like evening EMH at Magic Kingdom, but that's because my wife and I don't have kids yet, and don't mind staying in the park until 2:00 AM. That's not really advisable with little ones (which is one of the reasons I like it; most of the crowd leaves). Animal Kingdom doesn't offer evening EMH.

 

[cuches]

I know most people say avoid the parks on EMH days but if you are NOT a morning person like me, and are staying onsite, I say go to the parks that stay open the latest each day. Our usual day starts with a breakfast by the pool (we typically get ground floor pool side room...another thing most people avoid but we love to people watch) do a little swimming, weather permitting, then head to the parks around 11-12. I find going super early for us ruins it and we are pooped by 4pm. This is just the way I plan our days because of past experiences. I have never made it to rope drop and never lost an ounce of sleep over that but I am sure there are some who would think I am crazy! I also think MK mid week would tend to have lesser crowds.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I will be doing 5 days next month. I like to save the best for last and sometimes I skip AK so here's what I normally do

Day 1 -- HS
Day 2 -- MK
Day 3 -- EP
Day 4 -- MK
Day 5 (if I use the 5th day) - AK

 

[RustManFan]

We generally do Epcot our first day and then pick others by where EMHs are NOT. We have never gone to a park on arrival day. We usually take a monorail run, a boat ride or two, walk around the resort (POR!) and relax before the mayhem begins