About my days at the resort...

[mariogarza]

Hi guys…I’m looking for an opinion about our itinerary for next month…
We are going on mid-July, so I’m expecting HUGE crowds….and hopefully heat like hell instead of a Hurricane, may I say….

We are buying a 5 day ticket (maybe 6) with water parks option (no hopper)…

Arriving on Fri 14 and checking-in at the Sheraton Vistana Resort (seems nice…ever heard something about it?) and we are taking the day to rest and maybe swimming pool….

On Sat 15 all day long for the Magic Kingdom

On Sun 16 we are checking out of the Sheraton and checking-in at Saratoga Springs…we are planning on taking that day too, to rest and to check the hotel (never been there)……maybe….we could buy a 6 day ticket and go in the night again to MK (that day is evening EMH at MK)

Mon 17 - all day at AK (with evening EMH)

Tue 18 - all day at Epcot (evening EMH)

Wed 19 - MGM (evening EMH)

Thu 20 - we are going to Busch Gardens Tampa

Fri 21 - morning at TL, evening at BB and night at DD (PI and Cirque)

Sat 22 - one more full day for MK

Will be leaving Sunday Morning…


As you can see, I planned my days based on evening EMH…but I’ve been reading about negative experiences with this……how bad is it? Should I change my plan?

In case I should change it…I might be doing this…
Arriving on Fri
Sat – BGT
Sun- rest
Mon – MK
Tue – Epcot
Wed – MGM
Thu – DAK
Fri – TL/BB/DD
Sat – MK
Leaving on Sun
But I read at the Birmbaum’s that Monday is the bussiest day at the MK…of course I could easily change that….but what do you think?

Also…one quick question about FP…I’m used to arrive late for the second time printed on the FP at DL….no CM seems to care about it…once I used a FP for Space around midnight and it was for 10am……..do the CM at WDW check it or not?

Thanks guys, in advance…

[Cheshire Figment]

A few things to think about.

To go from a five day to a six is only $3.19 extra and from six to seven is only $2.13 extra per person (including tax).

Once you are stayiing on property you can get into any of the water parks at 8:00 (which is EMH seven days a week). General opening is 9:00. So you might want to hit a water park first thing and then go to a major park. During the time you will be there the water parks will close at 6:00.

Sheraton Vistana is probably one of the best time sahre resorts in the country. It has a very high rating. (I have heard this often, I have never stayed there.)

They restart the FastPasses at park closing for EMH. One issued during regular park hours probably will not be honored.

[brazen wench]

Without crunching the numbers, I'd suggest skipping the extra add-on day to your MYW+ ticket for now, and instead, keep the hopping option in the back of your mind. You can add the hopper portion (or another day) to your ticket onsite if you need it, as it's considered an upgrade, and with the July crowds and heat, you may decide that hopping is worth the extra $42.60/pp (inc. tax). In July, it might be difficult to comfortably stay in the same park all day and night.

With a five-day MYW+, you'll already have four extra visits for the water parks, DQ, and PI, which, in effect, stretches your MYW ticket to nine park visits.

My experience has been that whatever park has EMH evening hours is the most crowded park all day, and I usually visit during less-crowded weeks. I've seen thousands of people enter the evening EMH park starting in the late afternoon, and in July, that means busy. During trips at Christmas/New Year's and during Gay Days, I've literally seen MK gridlocked, and once, my son barely made it into MK before it was closed to guests for a while: I'd guess that July could be similar, although I've never been during that time.

Not to scare you, but that's when hopping is a true benefit. So, unless I have a specific reason to hit an evening EMH park, such as to catch a late parade or fireworks show, I avoid the EMH parks altogether. In July, I'd guess that MK and MGM will be open fairly late before EMH even kicks in, and with a hopper, you can use WDW transportation and still be in a non-EMH park late.

I've found that I get much more done during the day at a non-EMH park, especially if you get there at opening, and generally, I like to plan my days by starting with what I want to do at night and working backwards. Then, I'm able to fit in all the evening offerings and avoid the EMH crowds.

Also, I think it's a little ambitious to try and do two water parks, Cirque du Soleil, and Pleasure Island in the same day and night. If you can do all that without falling down, I salute you!

[Aimros]

I posted in another thread before about questions about EMH...I'm going in November (week before thanksgiving) when it typically isn't as busy...but how bad are EMH's? Should I really do everything to avoid that park on a certain day?

[Mickeymac]

……..do the CM at WDW check it or not?

CM's do check it. They will allow you to ride if it's expired, but not if the time window has not opened up yet. We have used day tickets on EMH rides at night, but they checked our bracelets.

[WDW heart]

We love EMH and have had wonderful experiences with it. I would especially recommend AK EMH. What we did is we went to a different park in the morning, usually less crowded. We took a break at mid day and then headed into the EMH park a little before the hours started. I found that if the EMH hours are 9pm-12am; then the park will be extremely crowded from 7pm-10pm. Then it starts thinning out. You can see a lot in those last couple hours. This has been our experience.

[efoxx]

I'm going to combine what CF and BW and a few others have said. A trip to WDW is rare enough for most people, so don't short yourself any. in the old days of the hopper tickets I probably would have agreed with your thinking, no sense in paying $40 or more for something you may not use. but now I say get the 7 day ticket, and make it a hopper. you may find that on your rest days you won't feel like going to a park all day, but you might get bored sitting around the hotel all day. this gives you an option for a few hours in a park, with no obligations to see the whole park. not a bad payout for only a couple of dollars. and even if you end up not using it that day you are only out that small sum.
and the reason for the hopper add on is to maximise your time with the least crowd level. I strongly suggest that you replan your days around going to the park that just had the EMH evening the night before. IE Tue evening is an EMH at Epcot so Wed morning would be the best time to go. now with the hopper just hop over to the park that is EMH that evening and get a preview for the next day. this will maximise your time at WDW without feeling rushed or crushed.