Avoiding Crowds on Extra Magic Hour days

[kevin harrison]

What are the latest theories on EMH?

I visit in September, when the crowds are low, but missed a trick last summer, where on certain days parks were certainly busier than I would have expected, I suspect that it was due to EMH.

I guess that if a park has evening EMH, then going in the morning would be wise, as resort guests would visit later in the day - would this guess be correct?

Or would it be wiser to just avoid the park that has EMH on a given day?

Thanks

 

[disneyholic family]

in the summer we avoid EMH parks - regardless of whether it's morning or evening EMH...

i don't know if that's a good strategy or not, since i've never tried the alternative..

 

[wideeyes]

I avoid EMH days and also Spectromagic and Fantasmic are not on every night so avoid the days they are on unless you are planning on watching them.

 

[jen_uk]

We do the morning ones at the start of the holiday as we are awake early, we tend to leave at lunch as its getting busier then. The only eve one we do is MK as it is open very late and is not too bad, when we went to the Epcot eve one once it was packed and the wait times were all over 90 minutes, never again!

 

[Lizzybear]

Last time we stayed onsite in September and avoided them apart from one night at DHS (had been there that day anyway) It was sooo busy we ended up leaving before it ended. We followed the unofficial guide's busy day guide and it was pretty much spot on, trying TGM's this year.

 

[wayneg]

My only experience is an evening EMH in MK last August. After that we said never again. It was crazy, in no time at all they ran out of wristbands. Lines for rides were worse than any other time we had been that trip.
We also found that morning the hotel (AKL) pool was overcrowded, I guess everyone had same idea, pool in morning, MK EMH in evening.
This August might try an early morning but don't fancy another evening.

 

[jtlover]

We avoid the parks that have evening EMH as it is mad. We do go to the parks that are doing morning EMH. I dont know why but they seem to always be quiet. Maybe the American's dont do early mornings on their holidays

 

[Twilight Terror]

We always go in September and never have much trouble with EMH, although we don't normally do MK where I imagine most people go.

EMH in the morning are good, because most families are on holiday and don't want to get up early, so you can get in there and enjoy the quiet.

Last year we did an entire day at HS, when Fantasmic was due to take place in the evening. All day the park was relatively quiet (which meant getting to 15 was easy), but about an hour and half before Fantasmic was due to open the door, things started getting crazy - thankfully a day's worth of hording Fast Passes, meant we bypassed the lines and continued on our count. Once the doors opened, the queues immediately died down (went from about 60-90 down to 30-45mins), and then as soon as it started, there was no one around - we were riding in almost empty carts. So while the parks are busy for things like Fantasmic/parades, you'll find the rides are empty because everyone is watching the special event.

There haven't been wristbands since last September for EMH, so they can't run out of the them anymore. However, it does make it easier for offsite guests to stay inside the park for the evening MHs. You now have to show your room key at the entrance to the rides, but how well that is checked depends on the CMs. MK one night everyone had torches and was checking in-depth. Another night at HS, no one really bothered checking at all. As long as you flashed something that looked like a KTTW card, you were in.

We do, and will continue to do, EMH, in the mornings and evenings.

 

[kevin harrison]

I am staying offsite, so have no intention or capability of using EMH, I was just wondering if it's best to avoid parks on the day of EMH?

 

[Twilight Terror]

Perhaps you will find it more beneficial, if you are offsite, to attend the park in the morning which has evening EMH, and switch during the day to the one that had EMH that morning? Or just stay away altogether! There is definitely no doubt that parks with EMHs will be busier.

 

[craigs bride]

can we find out what dates..the parks have EMH ...when we go i sept ?

 

[Twilight Terror]

Yes, check this link out:

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S...pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_Sept.pdf

All EMHs are at the bottom of each park's section.

 

[craigs bride]

Yes, check this link out:

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S...pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_Sept.pdf

All EMHs are at the bottom of each park's section.

thank you will go browse through the times to see which days are best