After Fireworks Dessert Party - EMH or non EMH night?

[Minkishly]

I'm planning to do an After party at MK during my August trip, but can't decide whether to do it on a night with EMH (until 11pm, HES is at 9pm) or a night without EMH (park closes at 9pm). * all timings are based on what I currently see on Disney's calendar

Which should I do? I definitely hope to get some attractions in during EMH, and thought that the dessert party would be a way to fuel ourselves in comfort while the rest of the crowd disperses. I'm also hoping that it won't be as rushed, since the park wouldn't be closing that soon (unlike on a non EMH night).

Then again, our priority is to snag a nice spot in the Plaza Garden without too much of a crowd. I feel like EMH nights would be more crowded than a non EMH night, and might be less pleasant.

Also, I'm thinking that I should try to get my party done before the season of MNSSHP begins? My first day at Disney is Aug 8, so I'd have a good week before the first party. Although, there is a party on the last night of my trip, and I thought it might be a nice "kiss goodbye" before we pack our bags and depart (have a late afternoon flight the next day).

I can't decide on what to do! Would appreciate any and all help / advice!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just making sure I’m clear, your night has HEA and 9pm, parking closing at 9pm, and EMHs 9pm-11pm?

Mind if I ask when this is?

 

[sharonabe]

I would do it on a non-EMH night. Even though the park is closing, they won't rush you. Then when you are done, you have an almost empty MK to get some GREAT pictures.

 

[Minkishly]

Just making sure I’m clear, your night has HEA and 9pm, parking closing at 9pm, and EMHs 9pm-11pm?

Mind if I ask when this is?

I was looking at Aug 14. Park hours are 9am to 9pm, HEA is at 9pm, EMH are 9pm to 11pm. (Attached a screenshot of the calendar page.)

I would do it on a non-EMH night. Even though the park is closing, they won't rush you. Then when you are done, you have an almost empty MK to get some GREAT pictures.

Ohhh that does sound quite lovely! Especially if DAH isn't available during our trip.

 

[Kaufeegurl]

I am in the same dilemma for September during MNSSHP season - so glad you started this thread! HEA at 9:15. Sooo EMH night (12am close) or on a non-EMH night? AND whether to do an after or before fireworks party. I *think* I have decided to do a before because I'm just not sure I would enjoy eating desserts at 9:45 at night (and don't get me wrong - I AM a dessert person). And thinking to do it on the non-EMH night (park close 10pm) because I think it will be less crowded that day in MK.

 

[Kaufeegurl]

I would do it on a non-EMH night. Even though the park is closing, they won't rush you. Then when you are done, you have an almost empty MK to get some GREAT pictures.

This is a great suggestion and something to think about!

 

[cakebaker]

We did our last one on an EMH night. I liked it because we could eat desserts while the lines cleared of off site guests.

 

[Kaufeegurl]

We did our last one on an EMH night. I liked it because we could eat desserts while the lines cleared of off site guests.

How does Disney clear off site guests if they are already in the park? We have never done an EMH at night.

 

[sharonabe]

How does Disney clear off site guests if they are already in the park? We have never done an EMH at night.

They don't, because they don't have to leave. Off-site cannot ride anything (everyone has to touch their bands at the entrance to rides), but they can shop and eat and just hang out as long/late as they like.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I was looking at Aug 14. Park hours are 9am to 9pm, HEA is at 9pm, EMH are 9pm to 11pm. (Attached a screenshot of the calendar page.)



Ohhh that does sound quite lovely! Especially if DAH isn't available during our trip.

Ahh, ok. I’d (probably) bet those hours will get extended. So you’re probably looking at 10pm or 11pm closing with either 10-12 or 11-1 EMHs. Not sure if that factors into your plan.

 

[cakebaker]

How does Disney clear off site guests if they are already in the park? We have never done an EMH at night.

I meant let them work through the line. People tend to get in line right at closing for 1 last ride so that the lines for popular rides can be quite long. It After closing, they don't allow off site guests to ride, but they don't make them leave the park either.

 

[Minkishly]

I am in the same dilemma for September during MNSSHP season - so glad you started this thread! HEA at 9:15. Sooo EMH night (12am close) or on a non-EMH night? AND whether to do an after or before fireworks party. I *think* I have decided to do a before because I'm just not sure I would enjoy eating desserts at 9:45 at night (and don't get me wrong - I AM a dessert person). And thinking to do it on the non-EMH night (park close 10pm) because I think it will be less crowded that day in MK.

My husband and I aren't sweet tooths (sweet teeth?) but I am also very paranoid about getting my money's worth. So I know if I go for a before party, the goblins in my head would be constantly nagging at me to leave ASAP so we get a good fireworks viewing spot. I think I'd enjoy myself a lot better eating at the end of everything, even if I don't end up eating a lot.

We did our last one on an EMH night. I liked it because we could eat desserts while the lines cleared of off site guests.

That's what I was thinking! It does sound awesome, but I wonder if we would be better off skipping the fireworks on a EMH night and just going for rides while most of the park is watching the fireworks. (If that plan comes to be, I intend to be as far from main street as I can be).

Ahh, ok. I’d (probably) bet those hours will get extended. So you’re probably looking at 10pm or 11pm closing with either 10-12 or 11-1 EMHs. Not sure if that factors into your plan.

We plan to nap like vampires in the heat of day and do rope drop / close the park down, so I would actually be quite pleased if that happens!

 

[Kaufeegurl]

And just to throw another thought in there: we want to do an AK after hours and those times have not been posted yet. Historically they have been offered on a Tuesday (mostly) and Wednesdays. That date may make our decision for us as the EMH for MK is on a Wednesday.

 

[Minkishly]

And just to throw another thought in there: we want to do an AK after hours and those times have not been posted yet. Historically they have been offered on a Tuesday (mostly) and Wednesdays. That date may make our decision for us as the EMH for MK is on a Wednesday.

ME TOO. I would throw any other plan I had to do AK after hours.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I'm planning to do an After party at MK during my August trip, but can't decide whether to do it on a night with EMH (until 11pm, HES is at 9pm) or a night without EMH (park closes at 9pm). * all timings are based on what I currently see on Disney's calendar

Which should I do? I definitely hope to get some attractions in during EMH, and thought that the dessert party would be a way to fuel ourselves in comfort while the rest of the crowd disperses. I'm also hoping that it won't be as rushed, since the park wouldn't be closing that soon (unlike on a non EMH night).

Then again, our priority is to snag a nice spot in the Plaza Garden without too much of a crowd. I feel like EMH nights would be more crowded than a non EMH night, and might be less pleasant.

Also, I'm thinking that I should try to get my party done before the season of MNSSHP begins? My first day at Disney is Aug 8, so I'd have a good week before the first party. Although, there is a party on the last night of my trip, and I thought it might be a nice "kiss goodbye" before we pack our bags and depart (have a late afternoon flight the next day).

I can't decide on what to do! Would appreciate any and all help / advice!

We did the after fireworks dessert party in early November at MK, a night with no EMH. The park crowd level that day wasn't insane but not low, maybe a 6.

Leaving the park was quiet but not as empty as I thought it should be.

 

[shocker]

I did the dessert party at MK when there was an evening DAH (not an EMH).
I can highly recommend this for those who:
1) Don't want to stake out a spot hours before HEA
2) Don't want to be shoulder to shoulder with others while enjoying this show
3) Wouldn't do DAH anyway (in other words, I wouldn't book on a night where I would want to use a PM EMH or I wanted to do the DAH)
4) Have money to burn! I did this party years ago with my kids but is priced at a choking level at the moment, so I booked while on a solo trip and was a splurge birthday treat.
ETA: I used this as my dinner, there are savory options too.

 

[Minkishly]

We did the after fireworks dessert party in early November at MK, a night with no EMH. The park crowd level that day wasn't insane but not low, maybe a 6.

Leaving the park was quiet but not as empty as I thought it should be.

Oh, that's a bit of a bummer. The park should be at least as crowded when I get there, possibly more, since it'll be the last days of summer vacation for the first half of my trip. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I did the dessert party at MK when there was an evening DAH (not an EMH).
I can highly recommend this for those who:
1) Don't want to stake out a spot hours before HEA
2) Don't want to be shoulder to shoulder with others while enjoying this show
3) Wouldn't do DAH anyway (in other words, I wouldn't book on a night where I would want to use a PM EMH or I wanted to do the DAH)
4) Have money to burn! I did this party years ago with my kids but is priced at a choking level at the moment, so I booked while on a solo trip and was a splurge birthday treat.
ETA: I used this as my dinner, there are savory options too.

Thanks for sharing your advice! This is very helpful. Why wouldn't you do it on a PM EMM night? To maximise the lower wait times on rides?

I agree that it isn't the cheapest thing. I'm giving up a meal at CRT to do this since we already ate at the castle on our trip. It is rather testing my self control to still see available CRT ADRs though.

 

[shocker]

Why wouldn't you do it on a PM EMM night? To maximise the lower wait times on rides?

I wouldn't do it on an DAH night that I planned to attend, I wouldn't want to feel rushed at either event, when I've paid that much for both. I did do it on an DAH night where I paid for the dessert party but not DAH. I took my sweet (pun intended), leaving the party, I think there was one other guest & they we're cleaning tables, I just wanted to enjoy & not rush to a ride line. If I'd paid for 2 things that night I would have had to slight at least one of them, if not both of them.

Hope that's clear as mud.

 

[Minkishly]

I wouldn't do it on an DAH night that I planned to attend, I wouldn't want to feel rushed at either event, when I've paid that much for both. I did do it on an DAH night where I paid for the dessert party but not DAH. I took my sweet (pun intended), leaving the party, I think there was one other guest & they we're cleaning tables, I just wanted to enjoy & not rush to a ride line. If I'd paid for 2 things that night I would have had to slight at least one of them, if not both of them.

Hope that's clear as mud.

Oops, I meant PM EMH. I understand not wanting to do it on a DAH night.

 

[shocker]

Oops, I meant PM EMH. I understand not wanting to do it on a DAH night.

Oh, ok, makes sense. I guess for me it would depend on timing, if the dessert party were at 8pm & PM EMH started at midnight, then I would. But, if EMH started at 9, then I wouldn't, I don't want to pay & linger then miss some of EMH or pay & hurry out so I don't miss EMH. This will all come down to time of year.

Probably best I just meet you there to make sure it gets done 'right'