Lesson Learned: Don't try to be early on EMH morning

[mshanson3121]

If you're not a resort guest, don't bother trying for rope drop on an extra magic hour morning - there isn't any. While I knew they wouldn't let us into the park until 9:00, I didn't realize they won't even let you on the monorails or boat! They make you stand at the TTC until 8:45, and by the time you finally get through the mob, onto your chosen transportation and into the park it's about 9:15. That was a fun meltdown with DD being stuck in the sun for 30 minutes at the TTC this morning. So, tip of the day: sleep in on EMH if you're not a Disney resort guest, or go a different day.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Going to a morning EMH park as an off-site guest is a really poor decision if you are looking to maximize your morning (lower crowd) ride times. Every line has already been established before you are allowed in the parks. Far better to hit rope drop in one of the other 3 parks that day.

 

[crostorfer]

I guess I don't understand what possessed you to want to attempt a rope drop as an offsite guest on an EMH day in the first place? Some part of you had to know that wasn't a good idea.

 

[Jenn504]

Thanks for the tip. I was not aware of that. I would have thought they would have let you wait outside but I guess it makes sense. All the off site guest have to go the TTC so it would be easier to crowd control emh guests. I understand it not being the best tour plans, but sometimes it can't be helped and of course you want to maximize your touring by arriving early. Thanks for the tip. Hope the rest of the day went well.

 

[AngiTN]

Going to a morning EMH park as an off-site guest is a really poor decision if you are looking to maximize your morning (lower crowd) ride times. Every line has already been established before you are allowed in the parks. Far better to hit rope drop in one of the other 3 parks that day.

If there is 1 rule every one on the Disboards knows it's this one.

 

[BrianL]

Right. You always want to avoid the park with EMH for the entire day, unless you can use the EMH. Then, you use the EMH and hop, or hop to the EMH for evening. If you're offsite, steer clear. Sorry you had a rough go, OP. I hope you still had a lot of fun today!

 

[disnut8]

Just to note - I believe this is for the Magic Kingdom only. Wouldn't other parks with the morning extra magic hours allow you to go and park earlier and then stand outside the gates until being let in after the resort guests?

 

[kj2mom]

I am really thankful for this info. We always go to MK on our last day, we are off site and that day happens to be an EMH (we are going anyway). We have a breakfast at 8:20 at Chef Mickey and I was a little sad knowing we won't be done by 9 but sounds like that is really no big deal since we would be pretty much sitting at TTC anyway.

ETA: Could you have taken the Resort monorail from TTC?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

You should have waited until later in the day. I've found that the park with EMH morning really clears out later. I guess folks get up too early and then tire out.

You can get a lot done and avoid the big crowds with this strategy.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I am really thankful for this info. We always go to MK on our last day, we are off site and that day happens to be an EMH (we are going anyway). We have a breakfast at 8:20 at Chef Mickey and I was a little sad knowing we won't be done by 9 but sounds like that is really no big deal since we would be pretty much sitting at TTC anyway.

ETA: Could you have taken the Resort monorail from TTC?

If you're at Chef Mickey's, why wouldn't you just walk to the MK after breakfast? The TTC shouldn't be an issue for you that day.

 

[edk35]

The problem is even if you chose another park to go to on an EMH morning that would allow you to wait outside the turnstyle. ...you would be behind the powercurve by an hour. Let the masses go to the EMH that are resort guests while you sleep an extra bit and go to another park that opens at regular time and THEN YOU WILL BE THERE AT OPENING and not behind the powercurve. We avoid EMH mornings at every park even though we are resort guests and could take advantage of them.

 

[lugnut33]

LOL at all the people Disney-shaming the original poster.
Two years ago at Christmas time the MK had EMH every day for a week solid and they let us take transportation over to the gates and even let us in at around 7:30. During the holiday seasons it's not like you are going to avoid it all week long. This must be new policy.

 

[seashoreCM]

On Extra Magic mornings at Magic Kingdom it has not been unusual for the first Express monorail and the first big ferry to arrive at MK no sooner than 15 minutes before regular opening. This has happened for years (decades?).

The effect has been to hold up (mostly day guests) guests at the Transportation and Ticket Center.

One big ferry holds up to 700 with arrivals about every 10-12 minute at peak times. One monorail train holds up to 300 with arrivals about every 3-4 minutes. If day guests were allowed to wait outside the MK entrance proper, their getting into the park would not have been noticeably quicker compared with being held up at the TTC.

 

[kj2mom]

If you're at Chef Mickey's, why wouldn't you just walk to the MK after breakfast? The TTC shouldn't be an issue for you that day.

We definitely will but if we didn't have the reservation we would have been at TTC. My point was, I was feeling a bit down about the reservation going into regular park opening time but this post helped me to get over that!

 

[ruthies12]

That really sucks! I would have assumed they would have let you get from the parking lot to the front gate so that you can get through security and such and be ready to enter at 9, EMH day or not. I can definitely see why you would want to get the transportation hassles out of the way to be at the gate. Sorry that happened OP and thanks for the warning!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

You could have walked over to Poly. Checked out the sites. Walked the beach and such. I know it's not a perk to stay off site but you could have kept the DD busy for 45 minutes.

 

[Rosebud123]

Thanks for posting. Ouch to some of the replies. It never would have occurred to me that they wouldn't let you on the boats or monorails! I find that shocking.

 

[MataHari22]

Wow, some people need to cut her some slack. This is her first trip! I always stay onsite, but I'm not sure I would have realized this either. I definitely would not have known that they wouldn't let me on the boat or monorail.

Hope you had a good time once you got there OP. I am also glad that you posted so that other people who are new realize this.

 

[sharona]

What if you stay on site but are driving to MK instead of the bus? You can't go to EMH?

 

[ronandannette]

The problem is even if you chose another park to go to on an EMH morning that would allow you to wait outside the turnstyle. ...you would be behind the powercurve by an hour. Let the masses go to the EMH that are resort guests while you sleep an extra bit and go to another park that opens at regular time and THEN YOU WILL BE THERE AT OPENING and not behind the powercurve. We avoid EMH mornings at every park even though we are resort guests and could take advantage of them.

I presume this is some phrase you coined? Totally obnoxious - some of you who are berating the OP need to get over yourselves.

LOL at all the people Disney-shaming the original poster.
Two years ago at Christmas time the MK had EMH every day for a week solid and they let us take transportation over to the gates and even let us in at around 7:30. During the holiday seasons it's not like you are going to avoid it all week long. This must be new policy.

This is very infuriating. OP, thanks for this thread - I'm sure somebody learned from your experience. Not everyone everywhere intuitively know all the best strategies.