Originally Posted By LuLu Normally I'm a big proponent of a semi-commando approach to theme parks: get up early to hit a park, back to the room for a swim/rest, hit another park in the evening. This time I feel like taking a relaxed approach. It started with the idea of keeping to an LA time schedule rather than fighting jet lag - so, arising maybe 10ish, and planning on enjoying the late nights. I'm trying to figure out a rough schedule. I'm guessing noontime will find me relaxing at the pool, then showering/dressing/heading to a park or another resort for early dinner, and enjoying the cooler evening hours at the park, followed by the cooler-yet, and less crowded, EMH. On this plan, I'd only be going to the park with EMH, and only enjoying the attractions there from 6pm-ish til after midnight. Does this make sense? Will the park with EMH be extra crowded in the evening hours? Is there any reason I'd need the park-hopping option? It's not that costly to add, I jut don't want to pay for it if I won't use it. Thanks!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Is there any reason I'd need the park-hopping option?>> Not really, but it's nice to have the flexibility, which is what a hopper gives you. You can mentally relax more knowing that if you aren't having all that great a time in the park you're at, you can 'get outta Dodge' and go someplace else. Another reason: myself, I really like IllumiNations, and would want to see it more than once, but I might not want to spend a full day at Epcot just to see it. A hopper would allow me have my cake and eat it too. You might find yourself in such a situation.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I always like the ability to Park Hop. Although we typically don't hop around much during the day, we like ending our day at Epcot. Especially during the off-season when we usually go, the other parks close so early... it is nice having the option of going over to Epcot to finish the day.
Originally Posted By LuLu One thing I didn't mention - we won't have a car, and we're staying at Pop. So I don't think it's that easy for us to get around. To get from one park to another, are there direct buses, or do you have to go to a resort, then catch a bus to another park? We would want to end our day at the park with EMH that night. If we *start* our evening at that park, I don't think we'd hop to another and then back, all in one evening. We're going in June, and I'm guessing that the park with EMH won't close til midnight or later. Good points tho - I'm afraid I'm getting close to overplanning/overanalyzing this vacation!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip There are USUALLY Disney transit options from one park directly to another. This is not always the case though, so be sure to check before you count on it (sometimes I believe you have to switch transit at the TTC).
Originally Posted By LuLu Ah, ok. That shouldn't be too tough, I'm sure buses run frequently from there. There is just so much to learn, and tho I've done WDW once, I feel like a newbie! I don't think my plan will work with AK either. Is there even much to do at AK at night? I think I need to plan 1 day where we get out of the hotel fairly early, to see AK.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss DAK isn't open at night, as the animals like to sleep.The latest that park would close is 6:00pm, but usually it's 5:00pm.
Originally Posted By LuLu Apparently it does offer EMH at night tho, but I don't think it would be worth it. Even if it stays open til 8 or 9 with EMH, the other parks still would be open later!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss ^^ I wouldn't have guessed, but now that I have seen the schedule for EMH for 2006, I stand corrected. Still, I don't think it's worth it to stay later at DAK either, because the only things that will be open are the attractions there, and those the weakest parts about the park!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss The schedule, along with the attractions that will be operating for EMH, is on Disney Online, of course! <a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage" target="_blank">http://disneyworld.disney.go.c om/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage</a>
Originally Posted By Chelledun Just to let you know, when we did EMH in October the parks were VERY crowded, especially the MK. Probably because only selected rides are open, we had longer lines during the first couple hours of EMH than we had all day! After our experience there, we just decided to get up early on a couple of the days, see what we wanted to see with virtually no lines, then go back for a big nap and to lay out in the sun. Not that you have to get up early every day, but you will see more in those first hours than you could during EMH unless it is very empty at the parks when you visit.
Originally Posted By kangaand2roos and there isn't an evening emh every day. each park only has it once per week
Originally Posted By LuLu Thanks trek! I didn't think to look, since DLR is so pokey about posting their schedule. EMH for June is posted, but not the general schedule yet. And we need to book PS in less than 2 weeks! Thanks so much for your input, Chell! Now I'm going to start a separate topic on that issue! kanga, in June there actually is a park with EMH 6 of our 7 nights. MK & Epcot each have it twice in that week.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Park Hopping forme is great because we end many evenings withmeals at EPCOT -- also it allows you to go back to a park where maybe you missed a late attraction ( i.e Fantasmic)- onenight and catch another. Also with EMH, it allows that flexibility on the days you just don;t want to go back to the hotel at 9 or 10 and can get 3 more hours in another park
Originally Posted By LuLu You guys have convinced me on the parkhopping - thanks! I've been noticing that the best restaurants are at Epcot too! I almost want to eat one meal there every day!
Originally Posted By Labuda "The latest that park would close is 6:00pm, but usually it's 5:00pm." Actually, during summertime, DAK is frequently open until 8 or so, meaning you could have EMH until 11 pm. AND, from what I hear, it's TOTALLY worth it to see DAK after dark. Plus, by next summer the park will be a bit more fleshed out, what with Everest open then. As for me myself, and I - I say park-hopping is a necessity, Lulu. But, that's just me bieng crazy and getting bored if in the same park all day long. Also, the only time you get routed through the TTC when park-hopping is when going to or from the MK. But as a word of advice, if, for instance, going from Disney-MGM studios to DTD, it's actually faster to take a bus to CBR then get a bus to DTD than it is to go back to Pop and then to DTD. Bus ride from MGM to CBR is literally no more than about 2 or 3 minutes.
Originally Posted By LuLu CBR is... Coronado Beach Resort? Or something like that. A resort tho! So take the bus to the closest resort, not necessarily the one you're staying at. Thanks!
Originally Posted By Labuda Luluu - it's TOTALLY worht it. Best service I've ever gotten at WDW is a tie between two places - Victoria & Albert's where I dropped $200 on me, myself, and I back in May and Alfredo's di Roma in Italy at Epcot when Eric & I ate there for free on the dining plan! Anyhow, we went to Epcot almost every night that trip, just for dinner & then a small amount of WS touring.
