Do you use Morning EMH?

[DrMomof3]

I'm trying to plan our August trip so I can make ADRs soon. We're staying at BCV. I have 3 little kids who tend to get up early. I'm not sure if I should plan to use the am EMH or avoid the park with am EMH (like touringplans recommends). I know if you don't get to the EMH park at 8am, it ends up being worse to go for EMH because the park gets more crowded. I do not want to wake up sleeping children just to get there for EMH!!!
I know both Epcot and DHS are pretty close to BCV. Should I use the am EMH for those parks since it'll be quick and easy to get to those parks? Should I plan a few slow, sleep-in mornings? What to do????
We tend to spend the morning at the parks and the come back to the hotel after lunch. We're staying at BCV for the awesome pool which I know my kids will love. We don't always go back to the parks in the evening.

Amanda

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Yes - get there at rope drop and take advantage of everyone sleeping in. You will get a few hours of a relatively empty park. You can do more in that time than the whole remainder of the day. So know which rides develop long lines (like Peter Pan) and knock them out early...

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Since you usually get up early anyway, I think that's ideal to do EMH. Like you said get there on time and leave by lunchtime for a break. We've done that before and it worked out great! DO plan some days where you don't have to get up super early and definately don't plan any late night before an EMH morning. Have fun!

 

[3R1C]

We have kids who tend to be early risers, so getting them up in the morning isn't too much of an issue.

We have gone both ways - and found that the park was more crowded in the morning than we anticipated. We could get quite a bit done, but high tailed it out pretty quickly after regular opening because it was just too crowded.

The strategy that has worked best for us is to open the park that had the late evening hours the night before. For instance, we would open HS the morning after their extra night hours. We figure if people are there late one night, they aren't going to go back there early the next morning.

 

[Robo]

My wife and I love the morning EMH's.

We go nearly every morning when there is one
available.
We used to go to "EE" (early entry) back before EMH
was started.

But she always warns me to NOT TELL EVERYONE about how
fun and easy the AM EMH's are, because then the early
parks will be too BUSY for us to enjoy.

But, I always tell HER not to worry.

Most folks simply will NOT get up early on vacation!
Nothing will change their minds.

So I am here to say,
"THANK YOU" to all of the sleepy-heads...
They make my AM EMH's about the best, most private and
carefree times we ever have at the parks!

And I know I won't be seeing them coming in until,
oh, 10:30-11:00am, when I'm on my way Park-Hopping OUT of that park!

 

[DisneyDreamerMom]

My kids are early risers and that's what we always do. Get up to hit rd, ride until lunch, then back to the hotel for nap/swim until mid-afternoon. By the time we get back to the park mid-afternoon, we're well rested and ready to go.

 

[DrMomof3]

I guess when you post a question like this early on a weekend morning, all the early risers come out!
Thanks for the advice! I'm thinking we'll do a few early mornings and a few not-so-early mornings (our "late" mornings are still probably early for most people!).
I'm already thinking about sending my older 2 kids on the Albatross Cruise one morning (it starts at 9:30am) so that would be a day we could sleep in a bit.
I just don't want to be "that" mom who stresses everyone out on vacation by insisting that we get up and get moving!

Amanda

 

[Robo]

I just don't want to be "that" mom who stresses everyone out on vacation by insisting that we get up and get moving!

I think many folks are not necessarily "natural" early-risers.

I, myself, don't just bolt out of bed with the sunrise on all of my vacations.

But, when I'm at Disney, I find that the benefits of getting to the parks early are so special that I can overcome the groggy haze in my brain with just
the thought of:

My wife and I being the very first to ride, say, Peter Pan, with the CM saying "Good morning! You're up early!" as we (and only we) step aboard the flying pirate ship.

Both of us seeing the Safari animals happily munching on their (carefully-placed) breakfast, with a slight morning mist in the air.

Quick-time "walk" to The Land Pavilion and down the steps to Soarin' to be in the first boarding of the day. (Center section, Row 1.)

And, yes, thundering along, after the rope is dropped, threading through the Animation Arch on the way to TSM.
That ride is THE destination for nearly ALL the intrepid "early risers" at DHS.

Heck! I can sleep at HOME!

 

[dacky041208]

I think Robo's advice is best on EMHs. But that hopper part is really important. As great as the first hour or so is, it can get terribly crowded by lunchtime. This year, we don't think we are doing hoppers (we can always upgrade later if we change our mind), so we plan on totally avoiding EMH parks.

 

[DrMomof3]

I like your thoughts, Robo! Thanks for sharing them!!!
My kids LOVE, love, love TSM. That alone is a reason to get out of bed early!

We always get hoppers. We really enjoy eating in Epcot and not having to plan so much that we lose that option. Thinking back to our last trip (which was a shorter trip), we may not have needed the hopper option but I'm sure we'll use it this time.

Amanda