7am EMH

[bkfamilyof5]

We are going to AK on 12/24 and they have 7am EMH that day. Do people actually show up 60-90 minutes early for that opening time? Is it crazy to think we can show up closer to 7 and still have plenty to do? We have a FP+ for FOP for our other AK day so don’t need to rush to it, but I know several in our party would either like to try to ride it another time, or get some additional EE rides in.

We’ve never done AK for EMH so I have no idea how crazy it gets.

 

[Robo]

Figure many will arrive about 6:15-6:30.

 

[tink2]

We have been Christmas week a couple of times. In a word- yes. My best advice for all the parks that week are- get there early- meaning- walking in the park when it opens at 7am- sometimes they let you through the gate and to the entrance of a land at 6:45. So get to the park about 6:20- 6:30 to get through security in plenty of time. Will it be dark? Probably. We saw the castle lights on one morning at MK. However, it is completely worth it! That is THE best time to ride that week- go strong and go hard early- the crowds will hit about 10am and lines will be very long. Use your FPs then and kind of slow the pace a little- picking up any extra FPs you can get.
We did AK Christmas Day one trip and it was amazing- it was crowded yes- but NOTHING like the other parks.
Enjoy- it is a magical time of year to be at WDW!

 

[soniam]

With it being AK, there is a higher chance that some people will show up by 6am, but the vast majority will show up later. Definitely get up and do it if you can. We did one last Spring Break at AK and will be doing another next month. We got a ton done, including FOP twice (once standby & once with FP) and we did Everest until we couldn't stand it anymore. By 9:30 or 10am we were looking for things to do.

 

[sharonabe]

Those that want to do FoP will want to be there at 6:15 or so. Others could probably get there around 7:00 and be able to do walk-ons for the other attractions.

 

[cruiserkaren]

We arrived at MK at 6:20am last year on Christmas Eve. There were people ahead of us.

 

[jvz82]

We did the 7 am opening a couple times on our last trip and attempted to get there early, but the buses didn't start running to our resort until 6:20. So we didn't even get to the parks until almost 7. Lots of people were already there so apparently their transportation started earlier or they drove! I was disappointed.

 

[RoyalJay]

We arrived at MK at 6:20am last year on Christmas Eve. There were people ahead of us.

Can you tell us how many people were already there approximately? Or when did you get on FOP? We’re doing this on Xmas eve as well and am very curious. 6:15-6:20 is the time we were planning to get there but can go earlier if need be. Thanks!

 

[Robo]

Can you tell us how many people were already there approximately? Or when did you get on FOP? We’re doing this on Xmas eve as well and am very curious. 6:15-6:20 is the time we were planning to get there but can go earlier if need be. Thanks!

Rule of thumb:
If you CAN arrive earlier, you SHOULD arrive earlier.
It can't HURT, and so often it can be an advantage.

The only thing you'll miss out on is extra morning sleep.

 

[sharonabe]

Can you tell us how many people were already there approximately? Or when did you get on FOP? We’re doing this on Xmas eve as well and am very curious. 6:15-6:20 is the time we were planning to get there but can go earlier if need be. Thanks!

The person you quoted didn't go to ANIMAL Kingdom; they went to MAGIC Kingdom. They can't help you with FoP experience.

I've not done a 7 a.m. EMH, but from what others have reported, your 6:15-20 should be early enough to easily get you on and off FoP by 7:30 and probably 7:15.

 

[bkfamilyof5]

What time do busses start running? We are 10 people at GF and worry about ability to get there super early.

 

[wisblue]

On the day after Easter this year we went to DAK for a 7 AM EMH. Because we had FPs for FOP for later in the morning we just wanted to do the Navi ride and then go to other things. We arrived a little after 6:30 and they were already letting guests in. As we walked toward the Navi ride the line for FOP was substantial.

If your goal is to get on FOP first thing I would plan on getting there around 6 or 6:15. I don’t know if they are still doing this but at that time they were letting people on the Pandora rides around 6:40. We walked right on the Navi ride and were off by 6:50. So then we walked over to Everest and did that and Dinosaur before 8 AM.

 

[js]

We were at Disney a couple of years ago from December 26-January 1 and can tell you I believe every day all parks had a scheduled 7 am opening and remember all parks opened before the scheduled 7 am opening. So, if you can Uber there for 6 am, I would. I would most certainly want to stand in line before park opening than while the park is opened and wasting all that time.

My family of four, with older kids, were at parks an hour prior to opening and never waited on any lines, really. We left the parks each day after eating lunch and the crowds were thick. Those hours in the morning are golden and you need to do it if you dont want to wait on lines.

In the week after Labor Day we were at Disney, so not a crowded time, we were at AK about 45-50 minutes prior to opening and were let in about 30 minutes prior to scheduled park opening. We did FoP twice. Once as a walk on at park opening and once using FP. It was worth it.

Good luck!

 

[RoyalJay]

The person you quoted didn't go to ANIMAL Kingdom; they went to MAGIC Kingdom. They can't help you with FoP experience.

I've not done a 7 a.m. EMH, but from what others have reported, your 6:15-20 should be early enough to easily get you on and off FoP by 7:30 and probably 7:15.

Oh man, that’s my bad. Reading comprehension and all . Sounds like from yours and the other responses I should be there by 6 so that’s the plan. Thanks to all!

 

[soniam]

What time do busses start running? We are 10 people at GF and worry about ability to get there super early.

I would not take this as gospel, because I have never actually seen anything official from Disney. Whenever I have asked an employee, I have always gotten a different answer, even from the bus drivers At the latest, it seems that buses usually start by 6:30am. However, they might start about 6am for a 7am EMH. I would not gamble on that though. They also might not run very many buses during such an early time, so there may only be 1 or 2 that come before 6:30am.

 

[soniam]

Oh man, that’s my bad. Reading comprehension and all . Sounds like from yours and the other responses I should be there by 6 so that’s the plan. Thanks to all!

It won't hurt. We usually spend that time eating breakfast in line at the park. Good luck! You won't regret getting there early.

 

[tink2]

What time do busses start running? We are 10 people at GF and worry about ability to get there super early.

I believe the buses start running one hour before park opening- that has always been the case for our trips. If parks open at 7, I would get to the bus stop about 5 till 6- they could be a minute or two early and well- if you're gonna be there for early opening- may as well not miss the first bus. On our Christmas trips- the buses started right at an hour before opening- we always got to the bus stop a few minutes before that time- meaning 5:55ish

 

[Robo]

I believe the buses start running one hour before park opening...

Sorry, but that is just not the situation to expect on most mornings.

On most mornings "park opening time" does not directly affect what time the earliest buses will be running.

 

[tink2]

Sorry, but that is just not the situation to expect on most mornings.

On most mornings "park opening time" does not directly affect what time the earliest buses will be running.

Good to know- somehow it's always kind of worked for us- I guess we've gotten lucky.
Is there a definite answer to the time buses start running or is it a mystery and ever changing?

 

[Robo]

Good to know- somehow it's always kind of worked for us- I guess we've gotten lucky.
Is there a definite answer to the time buses start running or is it a mystery and ever changing?

To make this more clear with just one example:
If the buses only started running to the parks an hour before the posted opening time, how could
all the hundreds (thousands?) of guests who don't rent cars but stay at WDW resorts, and who have booked early breakfasts, etc. that begin an hour or more before the parks open, get to those events?