Do you avoid parks on extra majic hour?

[TallyLassie]

The unofficial guides advise to avoid the days that each park has extra majic hour. Their theory is that everyone goes to the parks on that day. Do you follow their advice or do you find it to be true?

 

[oogieboogie]

I've tried both morning EMH and evening EMH several times, during winter time, spring and just recently in the summer.

My observations:

Morning EMHs are great because they're not too crowded. MK gives you the best bang for the buck, then Epcot, MGM, and then AK. You can pretty much finish off a lot of rides before the main crowds get there (typically around 10/11am). Morning EMH is so much better during value season when the crowds are low. In the summer, it's still good to do, but it tends to get a little bit crowded.

Evening EMH. This one is interesting. I find that during the low months it's actually nice to have evening EMH because the park hours are shorter. EMH gives you a good amount of extra time. However, because its in the evening, the park has had a chance to get the crowds built up, so it tends to be a bit more crowded. This is especially true during the summer when the one-time visitors see the perk as a way to maximize their dollar expenditure.

I've also gone to EMH parks the day after their EMH and found that the park was slightly empty. This is especially true for MK after evening EMH.

It's really a preference issue. When we go to WDW, my family will do morning MK, morning Epcot, skip morning MGM and AK. We tend to skip evening EMHs except for MK and only during low season because usually MK closes real early and it's a good way to maximize park visit.

 

[mhingher]

I was at WDW the 2nd week of March. Crowds were low, we never waited more than 20 minutes on line... we didn't go to any AM EMH...we went to a non-pm EMH park in the am and early afternoon, and then went to the pm EMH park later afternoon/early evening. We loved it, especially at MK and MGM. We went on our favorite rides over and over!

I think I'm going to try this strategy for our trip next May!

 

[tekmom]

We avoided each EMH park last month. We never waited on long lines. Originally was going to do EMH, but on the first day could'nt get it together, went somewhere non EMH and had such a great experience.....avoided them all week. It was great! For the most part, we virtually walked on everything!

 

[lsutigger2]

I usually avoid the morning EMH park. Find the other non-EMH parks much more managable. Have only done EMH at MK in May once and I think I remember it as being okay.

 

[TallyLassie]

Thanks for the input. Those unofficial guides are pretty specific as to what days they recomend for the parks according to past attendance. Not sure how accurate they are since, WD won't release actual numbers.

We are going the first part of October. We were there that same time last year and the attendance was higher than I expected. I heard it was due to the Food and Wine at EPCOT.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

We always skip the morning EMH parks.

We haven't been there yet for evening EMH. We may do one this trip, we'll play it by ear.

We have done EE nights at the Magic Kindgom. From what I understand EE nights are worth the extra money compared to the free evening EMHs.