Disappointing extra magic hour

[AustinTink]

We got up early the last two mornings for 7am EMH in the parks. We were in line each day at 6:30am and were disappointed both days.

The first day Toy Story was down. We got up early specifically to ride TSM multiple times then get our Rsr passes at 8. Today Matterhorn was down. Our plan was to ride it multiple times. So both mornings EMH didn't work for us. We would have benefitted just as well from an extra hour of sleep and showing up at the parks at 7:30 instead of lining up at 6:30.

We won't bother with 7am next year since it's such a crap shoot as to what rides will be down. This is the second year in a row we tried for Toy Story with no luck.

As you can tell I'm a little sleepy and grumpy right now. Time for a nap!

 

[GatorChris]

Can't blame you for being upset. Getting up early stinks. Getting up early to get a load of bad news from Disney would make me go crazy. So....I never do EMH for that reason.

And this would've been perfect to put in a "I'm at the parks and I'm mad" post. We really need one of those right away!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Definitely a bummer! Those are the two rides that I tend to notice are most often not open immediately, even on mornings with no early entry. (We haven't had the benefit of early entry for several years now.) We usually only visit during the busiest times of the year, so the park hours are long and I suspect that affects the maintenance windows. Toy Story has disappointed me more than once with not being open first thing, and we have often noticed while riding Alice as our first ride at DL that Matterhorn is still in maintenance cycle.

 

[Angrose]

I feel your pain. The one and only time I've done a 7am EMH at DL I was met with super long lines at bag check, then sloooowwww lines to get passed the turnstiles. With all that I was still one of the first 10 people in line for Peter Pan only to find that it was not up and running and berated by a CM for "forming a line." So I rode Dumbo, came back and ended having to wait 30min because the ride must have opened like a minute after I left it! Ugh! Oh well, I still look at it as getting an extra hour in the park that I would not have had otherwise.
I hope you feel better after your nap, or a nice soak in the hot tub does wonders!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

That's too bad. I know we've done EMH a few times over the years. It really is hit or miss. We've gone to Peter Pan only to discover that there's a "technical difficulty" with a 60 minute wait on top of it right away. We've also gone on days, though, where you walk onto 10 rides in that first hour. For us, it's still a nice option if we stay onsite, but if you aren't naturally an early riser or if you have high expectations, it's not really worth it. We don't even stay onsite anymore really because EMH in general isn't worth the extra money to us when you can just go to the park that doesn't have EMH that day and have a similar outcome.

 

[bcla]

That's too bad. I know we've done EMH a few times over the years. It really is hit or miss. We've gone to Peter Pan only to discover that there's a "technical difficulty" with a 60 minute wait on top of it right away. We've also gone on days, though, where you walk onto 10 rides in that first hour. For us, it's still a nice option if we stay onsite, but if you aren't naturally an early riser or if you have high expectations, it's not really worth it. We don't even stay onsite anymore really because EMH in general isn't worth the extra money to us when you can just go to the park that doesn't have EMH that day and have a similar outcome.

I've found really short lines just before closing. We did several rides before closing and finished with Peter Pan, where we got in line a couple minutes before closing. It did need a complete recycle without passengers, but we got on after about 35 minutes.

 

[avalon451]

Ugh, been there, done that. Trying to get on TSMM last year right after rope drop, they were running the test cycles but not open yet, and CMs were telling us we couldn't form a line by the ride. They told us that we needed to form a line across the walkway, so maybe 20 of us moved over there, and the people who had been behind us simply moved up into our place. After a few minutes, more and more of us defected back (now behind where we'd been in line) and again the CM came over and berated us. Calmly I said, "Well, you told us to move, and we did, then those people took our place in line. They were allowed to stand there, and are now ahead of us. Some consistency would be much appreciated." He looked embarrassed, and left us alone after that, and the line continued to form. We did get on eventually, about 15 minutes later, and it moved pretty quickly.

 

[LizzyS]

That's a bummer, buy oh do I love EMH/MM. We've never been terribly unlucky with it.

 

[mmmears]

That's really a shame. They only have a certain number of rides that are suppose to be up and running early, and those rides should be ready to go on time. What's the use of getting there early if those rides aren't working?

 

[AustinTink]

Thanks for letting me vent. I did some laundry and now I'm going to nap before a long bubble bath. Then it's back to the parks for our dinner reservation and hopefully some good luck with the lines. Did I mention it's HOT here right now? Calgon take me away.

 

[rentayenta]

We've had both successful and unsuccessful EMH's. Hope you have a better evening!

 

[hlbtimes2]

. Did I mention it's HOT here right now? Calgon take me away.

Its almost 20 degrees cooler than it was last Monday when I was there. I was seriously afraid our shoes might melt if we stopped walking.

 

[bcla]

Its almost 20 degrees cooler than it was last Monday when I was there. I was seriously afraid our shoes might melt if we stopped walking.

Could be worse. On Disneyland opening day they were still working on finishing touches including fresh asphalt. It was also an unusually hot day. Apparently so hot that some women wearing high heels lost their shoes in the soft asphalt. Im pretty sure it's all concrete these days.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Thanks for letting me vent. I did some laundry and now I'm going to nap before a long bubble bath. Then it's back to the parks for our dinner reservation and hopefully some good luck with the lines. Did I mention it's HOT here right now? Calgon take me away.

Look on the bright side. It's cooler than it was earlier in the week. I'm not at DL right now, but I live nearby and the humidity is really what's killing it for me. It's suppose to cool down this weekend though if you'll still be there. Good luck. Hopefully the rest of your trip is better.

 

[Indiana Scott]

MM or EE was a non-issue for us when we were deciding whether or not to get AP's because the whole west side of the park is closed.
I wish Disney would reconsider that policy. My favorite Disney experience is enjoying that area with super light crowds.

 

[BriannaRuth]

and CMs were telling us we couldn't form a line by the ride. They told us that we needed to form a line across the walkway, so maybe 20 of us moved over there, and the people who had been behind us simply moved up into our place. After a few minutes, more and more of us defected back (now behind where we'd been in line) and again the CM came over and berated us.

That has happened to us more than once!! If they're going to tell people to move they need to stay on top of that and enforce it for everyone.

Love doing TSMM first thing but it's often problematic being closed.

 

[Metalliman98]

I've had the same issues with EMH at DL and DCA, plus it's like pulling teeth to get DW and DS up and out the door to be in line at the turnstiles before the park opens. Between the two, it's no longer worth staying on property.

We're doing our first onsite stay at DW next year. Is EMH there better?

 

[Astylla]

I've had the same issues with EMH at DL and DCA, plus it's like pulling teeth to get DW and DS up and out the door to be in line at the turnstiles before the park opens. Between the two, it's no longer worth staying on property.

We're doing our first onsite stay at DW next year. Is EMH there better?

EMH at WDW is VERY different in terms that some are at NIGHT , which is so cool !

Our arrival day we went to Magic Kingdom from 9pm - 2am ( EMH was 12-2am) and it was so amazing riding so many rides so late at night , it was practically empty ! It's one of our favorite memories actually.

We've stayed onsite at DL several times and honestly would every time if we could afford it because we like going very early , breaking off around 1:30/2pm , nap/and or swim break ( my hubby LOVES the DLH pool slides) and going back later plus walking through DTD is fun for us. Overall we've stayed probably 15-20 nights and used at least half of the EMH with little issues. It's luck of the draw sometimes as things are mechanical and sometimes don't work as intended , but we make the best of it if we can.

I think even if plans go askew being in the parks early ahead of the game still has so many advantages. The busier time of year the more value IMO. It's why I'm really tempted to do it for our Thanksgiving trip.

 

[Metalliman98]

EMH at WDW is VERY different in terms that some are at NIGHT , which is so cool !

Our arrival day we went to Magic Kingdom from 9pm - 2am ( EMH was 12-2am) and it was so amazing riding so many rides so late at night , it was practically empty ! It's one of our favorite memories actually.

Ah, to be married without children again. The evening EMH sounds lovely, but with a 5 yo in tow, no can do. Something to look forward to when he's grown perhaps, if we still have the energy.

How is the morning EMH at DW?

 

[Astylla]

Ah, to be married without children again. The evening EMH sounds lovely, but with a 5 yo in tow, no can do. Something to look forward to when he's grown perhaps, if we still have the energy.

How is the morning EMH at DW?

It was great , sometimes it's at multiple parks so you have to choose. WDW takes much more planning as the "best" dining reservations book 180 days in advance and FP plus selections, etc. but we had a blast.

The WDW side of the boards are full of great info.