Avoid Early EMH Parks or Attend?

[disynut]

Trying to decide whether to avoid the parks that have early entry(or emh, whatever they're calling it now). We have EPCOT for next Monday(19th) or Tuesday(20th), but I was thinking of avoiding Monday because it is the am extra magic hour at EPCOt. I thought of doing MGM on Monday, then EPCOT on Tuesday(when it is EMH at MGM).

What do you think of this plan? We will not get up in time for the 8:00 am entry at either place That would be 7:00 am our time! Too early for us!

Thanks for the help!

 

[Cinderpals]

I'll be there in little over a week during the very busy time!! I'm going to make the effort to go early and take advantage of the EMH since I can usually get in a bunch of rides during the 1st 1-2 hrs. I have an annual pass, so I can park hop and go to several parks during the day. I'm leaving in a little over a week, and I'm just now sitting down to plan out my strategy!! Hee-hee... this is so much fun!

 

[JimMIA]

If Soarin' is open during EMH, I would certainly do the Epcot EMH. If you don't, you will face long lines and 3+ hour waits between getting your FastPass and showtime.

 

[goofy4tink]

I like to do the morning EMHs. But I tend to avoid the evening ones. But, then I go to the park in the morning, that had the EMH the night before. I have found that the morning EMH isn't nearly as busy as the evening ones. But, if I wasn't going to be at the EMH park at 8 a.m., then I wouldn't do that park at all that day. I would go elsewhere.

 

[jpolak]

We did the emh for mk on our last trip and it worked out great. We walked onto everything in fantasyland. I think it depends on where your staying. For the epcot emh I walked over and got fastpasses for everyone for soarin. That way we didn't have to rush or wait on line.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We usually do the extra magic hour park, but only if we can actally get there when it starts. We find that park tends to fill up pretty fast, so we leave that park by 10:30 and head to a non EMH park.

 

[DisZip]

My thinking on th AM EMH depends on what I consider the on-site to off-site ratio to be. I could be off, but here is my theory....

If you think about the EMH concept, it gives the on-site guests the jump over those not staying on-site. If you are going at a time when most people are staying on-site, then you are not really getting much of an advantage over the normal crowd level. This time of the year many people stay on-site, while in the summer a larger percentage stay off-site (though as I understand it, Disneys occupancy level stays fairly level all year).

So, for our recent trip a couple of weeks ago, I planned to avoid all morning EMH's - which worked out fine for us. If we ever go mid-summer again, then I expect to plan to go to the AM EMH's - but only if I think I can actually get there for when the park opens.

For the PM EMH's, I usually avoid those parks during the day, but jump on over to them in the evening, but with the plan to only ride a few choice attractions.

Now in your case you state that you would not be there for the 8am opening, so I would say to go to MGM on Monday and Epcot on Tuesday.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I like to do the morning EMHs. But I tend to avoid the evening ones. [...]

This is very important. Remember, for EMH-AM, they only let resort guests in. During EMH-PM, while they only let resort guests on the rides, they DO NOT sweep the parks and kick the rest out, so the parks are still pretty busy regarding dining, parades, shows, etc.

We're going to do most of the AMs and skip the PMs this trip, with two exceptions: there's a PM at at MK until MIDNIGHT! and I love the MK late at night, and there's a PM at the AK - and I've never seen the AK at night.

Be well!

 

[sgtpet]

I just got back from a 12 night trip to WDW and I highly suggest doing the early morning and avoiding the extra night hours.

If you can get up early enough you can do so much in a brief amount of time and then crash at your DVC and hit another park later in the day.