So, I am wondering if I can get some experienced help on a dilemma I have. We were going to go May 11 to MK and eat at the Crystal Palace for lunch. Seemed okay, but then as I planned out our days saw it is EMH (we are staying off site), plus Mother's Day, so is it going to be zoo crazy? I was thinking we could flip our Sunday and Monday and go to Sea World instead on Sunday, but we would lose our reservation-we have 3 other character meals booked so not a crisis (liberty tavern, chef mickey and princess one in Epcot). What would others do? Thanks guys!

Mother's day is pretty busy. Have you tried to get Crystal Palace for Monday? I think I'd still swap the days, though, even if you can't rebook Crystal Palace - unless you have HUGE Pooh fans in the group.

If you get to the park at opening, do whatever you want to do early, and figure on lunch being the end of your time at MK that day, you should be OK. We were at the MK during spring break week, and got there at when they opened for EMH, at 7AM! We did several rides, before 9AM, and some of our family left around 10:30. Around 11, masses of people started to arrive, and, by 1:30, it was just packed. My daughter and I left and it felt like we were just swimming against the tide of humanity, but we had had a good several hours, so it was fine. We've also been at the MK on Thanksgiving, and pretty much encountered the same thing-not bad before 11AM or so. As long as you can plan on getting a couple of hours in before the massive crowds hit, you will be OK.

Thanks! Part of my challenge is I can't go for the EMH as you did mom22gls, we are staying off site :( By 9, is it crazy already-would we ride anything if we got there for usual opening, or better to skip until next day? I really wanted our first holiday day to be at MK, but not if it means crowds that will put them off.

We were at the MK last year for Mother's Day. It was our first day, and we checked in at POFQ and arrived at MK around 2:30. I don't remember if EMHs were in effect, but I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of crowds. It was my first day ever in WDW, and I expected it to be much worse. Seems hard to believe now, but I had done very little research before that first trip, and I don't think I even knew about fastpass until we arrived, yet we rode SM mid-day with no more than a 15 minute wait. Same with the other major attractions. We had dinner at the Crystal Palace, and crowds were never a problem. In fact, it seemed like there was half the crowd that day compared to the Sunday this past January that we were there. And that was supposedly in the off-season. Someone else can probably help - is it safe to assume that Sundays are usually EMH days in MK, so that last year when the crowds were low it was an EMH day?

It helps that most schools will be in session, so that will keep the crowds down. I think all the spring breaks are over by then. My brother lives in NH, and they just had their break, but the kids will be in school till late June, because of the many snow days they had.

I just checked touring plans and it rates the parks as a 5 for busyness on sunday and a 7 for monday-so maybe i should stick with my original plan? do you find those ratings are typically accurate? Thanks for all the suggestions. My DH says, keep it the way it is, but i think he just doesn't want to miss his time with Pooh!

They are fairly accurate, weather excluded.

A lot of families arrive on Sunday, so that may be why the MK isn't as crowded.

One BIG reason we did Crystal Palace last year was because my Brother-in-law REALLY needed to see Tigger, and to "Bounce" with him. Got a cute picture of the two of them, with my nephews, bouncing!

Thanks Cathy, I will maybe keep it the way it is then and see. We can always abandon ship after lunch with Pooh and go to the hotel. We are doing the Princess Pirate Party so they will have more dumbo time then. have a good trip by the way, it is soon, right?

In the unofficial guide to Disney World it states that Sunday is the m ost crowded day in the park. It also states to stay clear from EMH.
I would follow the advice of leaving after lunch if it's crazy.

A lot of families arrive on Sunday, so that may be why the MK isn't as crowded.

!

Funny! I thought I was being smart to arrive on a Sunday because of the crowds on the weekends! This, though, is for September. But it sounds like a lot of families do this....