DHS crowds -- Fantasmic vs. EMH

[44disney]

Hi,

We are hoping to take a 3 day trip to WDW May 23 - 25, and want to go to DHS on one of those days but... 2 of those days the hours are 9am - 9pm plus Fantasmic at 9pm, and the other day's hours are 9am - 7pm plus evening EMH (so 10pm closing time) but no Fantasmic.

We do NOT want to see Fantasmic, but we do want to go on the day that will be the least crowded. We are staying onsite, and will probably head back to the hotel by 8:30pm. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Robo]

Hi,

We are hoping to take a 3 day trip to WDW May 23 - 25, and want to go to DHS on one of those days but... 2 of those days the hours are 9am - 9pm plus Fantasmic at 9pm, and the other day's hours are 9am - 7pm plus evening EMH (so 10pm closing time) but no Fantasmic.

We do NOT want to see Fantasmic, but we do want to go on the day that will be the least crowded. We are staying onsite, and will probably head back to the hotel by 8:30pm. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

This has been asked and discussed a lot over the last year.

Figure it to be a basic "toss-up."

 

[gardener14]

Perhaps it has been discussed elsewhere, but this is the only thread I could easily find on the subject. Is it really a toss-up...are the crowds more or less equal on a EMH vs. Fantasmic day? I would have thought Fantasmic would attract larger crowds. Could someone please point out these other threads if that's not too much trouble or offer first hand experience with both situations. As always, thanks for the advice.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Is it really a toss-up...

Yes

There are too many factors included to be able to figure out which is going to be more crowded. Factors include: weather, how many F! showings are that week, other EMH hours/days, overall crowds of the parks, school holidays/ breaks, special events.

The only thing I can bet you is both will be more crowded than a non F! non EMH day.

 

[g-dad66]

I don't know if it's a toss-up or not, but I know which one I would do.

If I weren't planning to see Fantasmic, I would definitely go on the non-Fantasmic day.

I haven't experienced first-hand the difference in crowd levels on a Fantasmic-day vs. an EMH-day during the same week, but I have read several DIS reports from people who experienced both such days in the same week -- and a clear majority (at least clear to me) said that the Fantasmic-day was more crowded.

 

[Tam1067]

We were there for an AM EMH day and a Fantasmic day back in August. No question--the Fantasmic day was insane whereas the EMH day was pretty typical.

I'm trying to nail down all my plans for our next trip now, and we will be avoiding the Fantasmic days even if that means either getting up early for AM EMH or just getting there at 9:00 a.m. on the morning of an EMH night day.