Would you do MK w/out morning EMH?

[DawgDad93]

We're making our first trip to WDW in a couple of years this October. On previous trips I have been a planning commando, did tons of research and utilized touring plans. I remember that the conventional wisdom was to NOT visit a park when it has morning EMH if your are not eligible (and able) to get there for the early rope drop.

But what about on a day that's forecast to be a 2 crowd level? Is that sufficiently low that, when combined with FastPass+ and a touring plan, it's an exception to the rule?

 

[Matty_Disfan]

Yes

 

[JimmyV]

It depends on what you want to do. More and more we are seeing the after-the-fact summaries of days that were supposed to be "2s" being reported as: "What we predicted: 2. What we observed: 5". Which still isn't bad. But I put absolutely no stock whatsoever in any day that is now being predicted to be a "2". For your sake, I hope I am wrong. But it doesn't seem as if 2's or 3's exist any more. So if the day is really going to be a 4 or a 5, there will be sizable lines at several of the most major attractions by the time the "regular" admission hour arrives. If you are hoping for some easy early morning standby rides followed by FPs later in the day, it may not happen. But if repeat riding is not a priority and you want to go on 7DMT once (with a FP) and on Space Mountain once (with a FP) then you should do fine. But it sounds as if you are not eligible for EMH, so it sounds like you won't be eligible for FPs at the 60 day mark. That could hurt. The best strategy at all parks remains early arrival. So if you are not eligible for EMH, then you can't be "early" if you arrive at 9:00. It will always be better for you to arrive by 9:00 on a day when 9:00 is the opening time.

 

[Shanti]

We're making our first trip to WDW in a couple of years this October. On previous trips I have been a planning commando, did tons of research and utilized touring plans. I remember that the conventional wisdom was to NOT visit a park when it has morning EMH if your are not eligible (and able) to get there for the early rope drop.

But what about on a day that's forecast to be a 2 crowd level? Is that sufficiently low that, when combined with FastPass+ and a touring plan, it's an exception to the rule?

No. There are no truly low times anymore. Crowd calendars preserve the myth of low times by labeling days with 2's and so forth, but you need to then read their articles about how "a 2 in 2016 is nothing like what a 2 was in 2011" . Basically a cover for the fact that the parks either have moderate or heavy crowds all year round now, but never truly low crowds.

So no, I would not make the exception.

 

[DawgDad93]

Thanks for the (albeit conflicting) responses! They have given me two thoughts:

1. How is FastPass+ availability at the 30-day mark in general? (Only prior experience with FP+ was when we were staying on site.)
2. We are planning 4 days in the parks October 5-8. I had planned on doing 3-day Park Hoppers + WP and spending 3 days in the parks with 1 day at Typhoon Lagoon. Given the EMH at MK on that Friday, I'm now wondering if I should do a 2-day PH + WP and make that Friday a water park day with the MNSSHP that night (with at least a couple of hours back at the hotel in between for rest). It's actually a few bucks cheaper that way. Anyone have thoughts on that as a strategy?

 

[Abro1975]

Thanks for the (albeit conflicting) responses! They have given me two thoughts:

1. How is FastPass+ availability at the 30-day mark in general? (Only prior experience with FP+ was when we were staying on site.)
2. We are planning 4 days in the parks October 5-8. I had planned on doing 3-day Park Hoppers + WP and spending 3 days in the parks with 1 day at Typhoon Lagoon. Given the EMH at MK on that Friday, I'm now wondering if I should do a 2-day PH + WP and make that Friday a water park day with the MNSSHP that night (with at least a couple of hours back at the hotel in between for rest). It's actually a few bucks cheaper that way. Anyone have thoughts on that as a strategy?

Hi, we are staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, also doing a 3 day Park Hopper, so 30 day booking as well. Our first Park hopper Day will be June 21, so on May 22 I had no trouble booking the 3 fast passes we wanted for Epcot (Soarin, Mission Mars, Spaceship Earth), Day 2 I booked on May 23 again no trouble booking Fast Passes for Magic Kingdom (we took Splash and Space Mt, and Big Thunder RR, 7 dwarfs was available) . We are taking a poolside day after Park hopper day 2 and for our 3rd Park hopper day we Fast Pass for AK and took Expedition Everestt, Kali River Rapids and Safari. We hope to get additional Fast passes asap when our 3rd FP ride is used.