Which Park Which Day General Guidelines

[jrt1176]

I was wondering is some of the WDW pro's around here could post some tips and general guidelines on how to decide which park to go to on which day to avoid the bigger crowds, etc.

 

[hubb1972]

I am not a pro but I did a ton of searching for my trip on this subject and here is what I came up with:

Parks are historically the busiest on the days below:

Magic Kingdom: Monday, Saturday & Sunday
Epcot: Wednesday & Friday
Disney-MGM Studios: Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday
Animal Kingdom: Monday, Tuesday & Friday

As you can see from above, you should try to avoid going to a park when it has the EMH.

Also, most guests arrive on Sat, Sun, which mean MK is the busiest on Sunday and Monday.

Hope this helps.

 

[DisneyLover75]

LOL Well, I guess I'm screwed. I'm apparently going about my trip all wrong. Oh dear.

Well, I'm not changin it now! hahaha

Here's my plan:

Sunday MK

Monday MGM

Tuesday either MK or MGM, not sure which

Wednesday - AK

Thursday - MK

Friday - Epcot

Saturday - MGM

Sunday MK


Oops. I guess I'll be wading through crowds. It'll be great no matter what.

I'm not going to change it all now, because it would mean having to change my ADRs and I don't want to do that.

 

[Praying Colonel]

If you're within 30 days of your visit, touringplans.com has best/worst days available for free.

As for us, generally we find that a park will have lower attendance the day after it hosts an evening EMH.

 

[jrt1176]

Any reason you're hitting MGM 2 or 3 times in a week?

We usually knock it out in half a day and we start late. Granted we only do what we want, etc.

LOL Well, I guess I'm screwed. I'm apparently going about my trip all wrong. Oh dear.

Well, I'm not changin it now! hahaha

Here's my plan:

Sunday MK

Monday MGM

Tuesday either MK or MGM, not sure which

Wednesday - AK

Thursday - MK

Friday - Epcot

Saturday - MGM

Sunday MK


Oops. I guess I'll be wading through crowds. It'll be great no matter what.

I'm not going to change it all now, because it would mean having to change my ADRs and I don't want to do that.

 

[jrt1176]

I've seen that "busiest day" chart on intercot, I think?

I've made a rough plan. I pretty much tried to avoid EMH or Fantasmic, etc.

We have been many times, but its the first visit with my 3 y/o niece, so I want to hit the less busy parks if possible. We have park hopper if something is too busy.

I was just wondering what some of the pro's thought on the board. Most seem to plan 10x as much as we do!

I am not a pro but I did a ton of searching for my trip on this subject and here is what I came up with:

Parks are historically the busiest on the days below:

Magic Kingdom: Monday, Saturday & Sunday
Epcot: Wednesday & Friday
Disney-MGM Studios: Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday
Animal Kingdom: Monday, Tuesday & Friday

As you can see from above, you should try to avoid going to a park when it has the EMH.

Also, most guests arrive on Sat, Sun, which mean MK is the busiest on Sunday and Monday.

Hope this helps.

 

[wilde_oscar]

Every day is good in every park with some foresight. Often you can get more done before lunch by arriving at park opening than you can the rest of the day. People do not want to get up early on vacation.

In general, always do EMH Morning in conjunction with park hopping. The extra hour in the morning allows you to hit major attractions often more than once. Around lunch time when the crowd really starts to roll in, use touringplans.com best park recommendation... hop on over, have lunch and continue power touring.

Evening EMH can be hit or miss, often with in the same week. The later the EMH the more likely people have gone back to the rooms.

There is also a strategy of hitting the park that had Evening EMH, the morning after.

Many of these work in conjunction with each other... however, everyone that is an experienced power planner will tell first timers to do your home work. Make a list of "must see" attractions and "would like to see" attractions and plan around those. Goto the library or a good book store with a coffee shop and read the tour guides. There is a reason the travel section on WDW is large... WDW is twice the size of Manhattan with a lot more to see and do. There are professionals that write the tour guides that have not done everything there is to do at WDW.

 

[DaveStroem]

Look at it this way, most people will do at least 1 day each in a park and with the 4/3 deal they will do 7 days. Many will do each park for 1 day before hitting a park for a second go round. EMHs seem to play the biggest part of scheduling as most people (including myself) will look at EMHs as a bonus. They will flock to those parks and leave the others lighter. Remember this too if you only go to a park and it is full, you might just assume that all the parks are full. Also remember that many if not most do little research on their trips. They just know they are going to disney.

 

[seadd67]

we go by the EMH park schedule,but kind of the opposite of the norm here,we do all the openings and late night closeings.Its kind of how we been doing since we started going,its easier If you kind of sit down and make out a plan with your Family,and take suggestons off of here.We are all little diffrent In how we do the schedule.

 

[jrt1176]

I always hear that quote...but, WDW is not twice the size of Manhattan. Maybe the overall property is, etc. But, the parks could all fit in Manhattan rather easily...

There is more to do and see in NYC...

I just think those quotes are wrong...

Thanks for replying though and I agree with your planning ideas.

There is a reason the travel section on WDW is large... WDW is twice the size of Manhattan with a lot more to see and do. There are professionals that write the tour guides that have not done everything there is to do at WDW.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Also, keep in mind what the UG folks say in the free section of their crowd calendar: "Statistically speaking, the time of day is 5 times more important than the day of the week."

http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14

 

[lisaross]

i'm planning on doing MK on a early morning day! i figure in that 1st hour we could hit most of the rides they have open then at official opening go to the next popular ride and go from there! planning on hitting lunch at about 12p at Crystal Palace then just stay in the park till about 2 or 3 before going back to the hotel for a swim/dinner -etc early night!

I will also go back to MK at the end of our stay on a Tuesday - which is a recommended day to go! hit the rest of the rides that we missed the 1st day ad stay for the night parade fireworks...

what do you think?

 

[jamstew]

Also, keep in mind what the UG folks say in the free section of their crowd calendar: "Statistically speaking, the time of day is 5 times more important than the day of the week."

http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14

I think what it actually says is that having a good touring plan is five times more important than the day of the week. That said, arriving early is part of having a good touring plan

 

[Praying Colonel]

I know what you're saying, and they mention earlier that a plan is very important, but if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you see it's a direct quote (3rd paragraph from the bottom, last sentence). Either that, or Len Testa is playing games with my mind.

 

[jamstew]

I know what you're saying, and they mention earlier that a plan is very important, but if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you see it's a direct quote (3rd paragraph from the bottom, last sentence). Either that, or Len Testa is playing games with my mind.

That's pretty funny. I actually went to the link you posted before my first response, and the first sentence on the page is: "If you're trying to minimize the time you'll spend waiting in line, having a good touring plan is about five times more important than choosing the right day of the week." I know I've read that sentence so many times that's it's totally imbedded in my brain, so I almost didn't look back to check. I definitely didn't scroll to the bottom of the page to see the other sentence, so it says both

 

[Praying Colonel]

That's wild!

 

[DisneyLover75]

Any reason you're hitting MGM 2 or 3 times in a week?

We usually knock it out in half a day and we start late. Granted we only do what we want, etc.

Yes, the main reason is because I want to try American Idol. And if by some chance I actually do get in, it could take up alot of the day. So I wanted to be sure and have time there to see Block Party Bash, Playhouse Disney, TSM, and a bunch of other fun stuff. We really like MGM so spending two or three days there is a good plan for us.

My kids will undoubtedly like Epcot and AK too, but not for more than one day. The main focus is still on MK, but we enjoy MGM, and I don't want to miss anything.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.tourguidemike.com/index.asp?promoCode=AG9MF-AQ#TGM-home

Works quite well.

 

[seadd67]

We hit we every park,every day(with our Prk hoppers)! HS Is one of our Favorit parks, RnR Is my DS Favorit ride we do that at least once a day(If I am lucky) I can see If you are doing the one park a day,but Its fun to hit two or more parks a day,to your favorit rides

 

[wilde_oscar]

I always hear that quote...but, WDW is not twice the size of Manhattan. Maybe the overall property is, etc. But, the parks could all fit in Manhattan rather easily...

There is more to do and see in NYC...

I just think those quotes are wrong...

Thanks for replying though and I agree with your planning ideas.

Use of the term "WDW" is intended to encompass the entire property...

Yes there is a lot to see and do in Manhattan, for the average vacationer the number of things to see and do is often paired down to the "touristy" stuff.

My comment is hyperbole to make a point. Would you go to other major tourist destinations with out some research as to what there is to see and do? I have made 10 day reservations and touring plans for WDW on the back of a napkin and on my cell phone while doing 90 in the back of a cab on the van wick on the way to La Guardia. Some people have traveled a little more than others, if you ask the question... expect a broad range of answers.