WWYD - go to MK after 3pm or do Epcot

[castlegazer]

We will be arriving at 2 pm into WDW - we will have two children in tow, one 4 and one just over a year old. We have a day and a half prior to our cruise to tour. We want to hit Epcot and MK. We will be arriving on a Wednesday, so it will not be an EMH for MK until Thursday.

Would you,

1) Go to MK the arrival afternoon and stay till close at 9pm? Thereby avoiding EMH crowds. Then go to Epcot for the full day the following day.

2) Go to Epcot for the afternoon and evening. Then go to MK the following day which is an EMH evening day at MK.

 

[Shells9]

I would do Epcot on arrival day, and MK on Thursday (more time), since your kids would probably enjoy MK more than Epcot.

Arrival afternoon everyone might be tired or too pumped up from the traveling. Epcot is much more leisurely than MK, especially with kids.

 

[castlegazer]

Should I fear the crowds, though, on an EMH day?

 

[goofy4tink]

Nice to hear from you again..it's been awhile since I've seen you here. The little one is getting big!!!
I would be very tempted to do MK on my arrival day. Then head over to Epcot the next morning and stay there till mid-afternoon. If you find that you have done what you want to do, then you can head over to MK for the EMH. Sure, it will be a bit crowded but what can you do. Otherwise, I would stick with MK on arrival, go back there first thing in the morning on Thursday, and then head to Epcot after lunch. Since there isn't a ton of stuff for the little ones there, you don't need to spend an entire day there.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Should I fear the crowds, though, on an EMH day?

When are you going? If it's off season, I wouldn't worry too much. If it's the middle of June, my answer would probably be quite different. Even if it's an EMH, your kids are going to probably be more interested in the kidcot stations than the rest of EPCOT. I'd Grab some FPs for Soarin' (if they're still available when you get there) and spend your time walking through world showcase... Don't push for Illuminations if you've spent all day traveling, and you're planning on seeing the MK the next day. Let the little tikes get some needed rest and be up and at the park EARLY to maximize their MK experience!

 

[Wendy1953]

the previous poster is right...depends on the time of year you are going..if it's peak season or holiday season...crowded (and actually its crowded anytime during these seasons)....off peak ....not crowded unless there's a special event like marathons and such going on.

 

[castlegazer]

Its the last week of April - moderate and Flower and Garden show - hence why I want to go over to Epcot so badly. I also am dying to do Soaring and, hprrors, I have never done Mission Space.

Any further thoughts would be much appreciated as I am totally angsting over this issues for some reason.

Goofy4Tink, nice to see you too - I miss you! I have been hanging on my cruise meets thread and at the Tagliarchy, but that's it as work is a bit of a bear right now.

Thanks guys for your help! Seems trivial, but I am trying to decide on ADRs (feels so funny saying that after so many years saying PSs)

 

[addicted2disney]

If I were you, Id avoid the EMH day at MK. Its going to be crowded. We never go to the parks on their EMH. Even though you think you will have more time there going on Thursday, you are going to get less done due to heavier crowds. Id take Goofy4tinks advice.. Go to MK on Wednesday and stay until close. Either spend the entire day at Epcot on Thursday, or get up early, be at MK BEFORE the opening time for EMH and head out of there before noon. Then you can take the monorail over to EPcot for the day/night. If you get there by 12, you will have at least 9 hours there. Let the 4 yo make a mask, you can ride maelstrom, the boat in Mexico, Ellens energy adventure, soarin', Figments ride, Spaceship Earth, all with the kids (not sure about a 1 y.o. on soarin'.. I dont know if there are restrictions on that) Then you can child swap on test track and mission space. Let the kids wander around the countries looking for the kid cot stops and charcters to keep them interested. My son loves the train set up outside of Germany, and the kids like to climb in the viking boat in Norway.
If you are looking for a character breakfast, You can do that early Wednesday instead of EMH, then you can still hit MK for a few hours, or take the monorail over to Epcot from the Contemporary. You could also do the EMH at MK, then book a late morning character breakfast at Crystal Palace with Pooh characters, and then head out of the park towards Epcot.
We leave in 2 weeks from Saturday for our 12th trip! WOOHOOO

 

[castlegazer]

Thanks. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. This is super difficult. I have to keep reminding myself that this trip is about the cruise, not WDW -any time at WDW is just gravy - I don't have to get everything in in one day.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. This is super difficult. I have to keep reminding myself that this trip is about the cruise, not WDW -any time at WDW is just gravy - I don't have to get everything in in one day.

I feel your pain!!! I would be doing the exact same thing you are doing...obsessing over being able to do as much as humanly possible in that day and a half

 

[princesstommi]

I would probably do Epcot the first day in order to finish your vacation with a full day at MK.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

I would probably do Epcot the first day in order to finish your vacation with a full day at MK.

Ditto! We almost always do Epcot the first night.