Do DVCers like to use EMH?

[disgirl]

Hi! As always I do apologize if this has been discussed here before, but I did a quick search and could not find this question. I was wondering with the EMH hours in effect now, how many of you DVCers take advantage of the extra hours, expecially the night time ones? For those of you who visit WDW usually only once a year, do you feel it is worth it to plan for EMH nights or better to avoid the crowds, knowing you can visit the parks and attractions again next year?

I am planning our August trip already because I am so ready for warmer weather and some Disney fun!! Would love to hear from those who have experienced EMH(was it worth it) and from those who think it is better to avoid those parks that night! THANKS so much!! You are the best!

 

[spiceycat]

I use it and i LOVE IT.

this trip used it at night for AK and Epcot.

got on the last safaris at AK!!!

at Epcot the only wait was for Mission to Space. Everything else we just walked on.

 

[disworldnum1]

We havent used used it yet this year but WDW used to have e-ride nites at the MK that let you stay at the park 3 hours after closing.This had to be some of our greatest trips there because we did everything but the rides available at nite,we saw all parades and fireworks.Last year due to rain they kept MK open till 11pm which allowed us to stay till 2am.We walked out of the MK at 2:30 am and was an unbelievable time.

 

[kathleena]

We just used EMH at MGM Sun 3/6 and it was awful for the first 1.5 hours - very long lines for everything - even the Great Movie Ride. It finally calmed down, but discouraged us from doing MK and Epcot later in the week!

 

[Tooneric]

Some of our best times at WDW were during the old ERide nights. We also did EMH at Epcot and MK on our trip early February this year. Epcot was rather crowded, but it was still fun. MK was also crowded relative to the old ERide nights. Still, it was a lot of fun. We were able to get quite a bit in during the 3 hours.

I would recommend taking advantage of EMH in August. First of all, it's not as hot later in the evening and a lot of the smaller kids have pooped out, so it shouldn't be as crowded. Last summer we did ERide night twice and it was great. I just let everyone sleep in late, swim in the middle of the day, and play in the parks late afternoon into the wee hours. Enjoy!

 

[NMW]

We plan to use the night ones, but avoid the AM ones like the plague. We like to do early character breakfasts in the parks on non EE days. After we eat, we are the only ones in the park when they drop the ropes (besides the rest of the people we ate with)!

 

[1BigDisneyFan]

I'm a new DVC'er so I may not be the best person to answer this, however:

In the past I have made use of the early morning hours to schedule an early character breakfast and hit the parks early. Especially in September, you can hit a number of the other rides pretty quickly without lines.

I have not yet been at WDW for the evening hours, however, I am planning my June trip with the EMH in mind, trying to schedule the parks to coincide with the extra hours. Nice thing about being a DVC'er is that if the there are crowds, we can always change plans and come back another time.

I tended to be a commando before I was a DVC'er. I am trying to break myself of the habit, but old habits die hard.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks everyone for your replies so far! Anyone else have recent experience with the EMH at night? I think we will give them a try in August. THANKS!

 

[Greg K.]

Two summers ago, I did an e-night in mid-July at the MK. I was worried it would be packed. It wasn't. It was incredible! Walking down Main Street at midnight when it was deserted was bewildering. I felt like I owned the place And there were characters EVERYWHERE -- it was very easy to just walk up and have a snapshot taken with Minnie or Pluto.

Don't know if the wider availability of EMH at night has changed that. But on one summer night two years ago, it was truly MAGICAL.

 

[disgirl]

Just bumping to see if anyone else has recent experience with EMH. I am still going back and forth in my mind about going to that park that night or avoiding the crowds and going to another park instead. THANKS!!

 

[spiceycat]

do you have young children you insist upon during Dumbo?

if you do then I would definitely put it in on the list. Yes there is still a line - but believe me it is shorter and as the night goes on will be much shorter.

My niece loved it so much she didn't mind a wait for several hours. This is definitely a repeater with the younger crowd.

I am so glad that WDW decided to add Dumbo to both the morning and night extra hours. there are lots of little kids who want to ride this thing, again and again, etc.

if you have older kids - remember you don't have to be there when it first opens - sometimes waiting an hour can get rid of most of the people. but don't count on it.

However this time I didn't heard "It's free - we are staying!!!" - so much this time - just once in the AK - at Epcot I never heard it.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks Spiceycat. No, we won't be doing Dumbo. My ds is 12, so we would be doing the more "adult" rides. That is nice they added Dumbo though cause I know that was always a popular one with the little ones.

That was interesting about the "It is free, we are staying" comment. I was wondering about that, if the fact that the extra hours are free would attract more people. A few years ago we did go to an E ride night and it was not so crowded, but now with these EMH with no extra charge, I wondered if more people would use them and it would be really crowded. Anyone else think that this draws more people to stay for the longer hours?

Tooneric: You made a good point about taking advantage of the later hours when it is cooler out since I will be there in August when it is so humid.

Thanks again for any responses.

 

[CharlesTD]

To be honest we have never used it but we like E ride nights so the new extended hours after the park closes are something we will take advantage of for sure.

 

[Alexander]

We use EMH for MK only. The night time ones are just too late. DS absolutely refuses to take a nap no matter how tired he is. So there is no way we can stay out too late.

 

[lsutigger2]

I love the parks after dark! There is something really special for me. I'm going to try them in May. If it is too crowded and DH gets grumpy, we'll just leave.

 

[DebbieB]

I did the night EMH at MK on 3/2. It was 7 to 10. It was very crowded.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks everyone.
DebbieB: Did you find the crowded EMH worse than a "crowded" day at MK? I was thinking we would atleast try the MK one cause I do love the park late at night, too. However, if it is really crowded, like 45 minute plus waits for the popular rides, maybe it won't be worth staying up so late and being exhausted for the next day. I am still not sure what to do, but I guess I have 5 months to figure it out. Ha!

 

[Copper3]

I returned last Friday and attended all four EMH nights. MGM was crowded. Great Movie Ride was a posted 45 minute wait, but when I returned later in the night found it to be only about ten minutes (45 minutes was still posted). Muppets and Star Tours were walk-ons early in the night and RNR was a long wait all night. I don't do TOT so I can't comment on that. There were a lot of people in the park and a cast member confirmed this and said it was not normal. It was also Sunday night so that may have contributed to the crowds. AK was Tuesday night and was not at all crowded. It's Tough to be a Bug was a walk-on. I just missed the last movie but because there was no line I was able to walk around the queue area and video a lot of the animals in the Tree of Life that I normally would not take the time to see. A cast member pointed out some that most miss. Tarzan Rocks was a walk-on although the theatre was full during the show. It was too cold for Kali River Rapids. Primeval Whirl was about a 15 minute wait. Dinosaur was a walk-on. Later in the night Primeval Whirl became a walk-on. This was a night I would definitely do again. MK (Wednesday) was crowded but was not as noticeable as MGM because a lot more was open and it was cold and rainy. Most everything was walk-on except Space Mountain, Stitch and Buzz Lightyear later in the night. The best part of this night was the character greetings by the castle after closing. Mickey and Minnie were signing together as were Lilo and Stitch and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. The lines were not bad, what looked like five minutes. Goofy and Pluto had their own lines. Epcot was Thursday and was crowded. If you plan on eating dinner in Epcot during EMH night, priority seatings are a must. Most countries were a 45 minute wait. All lines were walk-ons except Test track which was still accepting Fast Pass around 10:30. Mission Space was a walk-on for singles and about a 15 minute wait around 11PM.

I thought all nights were worth it to attend. I used one fast pass all week and it was for Rock N Roller Coaster on Friday, my last ride.

Hope this helps,

Copper3

 

[disgirl]

Thank you so much for your detailed report Copper3. I think we will try atleast MK and maybe Epcot, since we will be staying at BCV and will be close to Epcot so that if it is too crowded we can just walk "home". Thanks again. I love hearing others' experiences!

 

[sweetp267]

I'm curious, do you just have to flash your keys to get the wristbands for the EMH or do they check them electronically? The last time I did that was when they were doing the initial trial during May 2004 and I just flashed them. I will have one extra child that we do not have a room key for, so I will be one key short. It is only for the one night that she will be with us because we are babysitting and she will stay over with us in our room.

I am hoping that they aren't as dilligent as I might think and if the kids are with the adults they won't insist on the kids cards.

Thanks