Early Admission (MM/EMH/APEE) Super Thread

[disneychrista]

Is DCA EA for onsite guests a permanent fixture or just a promotional thing for the summer? I almost have DH convinced of the merits of staying onsite for that extra hour in Carsland, but it would be just my luck that we'd get there and not have EMH anymore, leaving us out $800.

At this time is a temporary summer promotion. Same with the APEE. Only time will tell if it becomes a permenant feature/perk of staying online.

 

[DLR29]

My guess (and it has not been confirmed by Disney) is that EMH at DCA will remain for onsite guests even in the fall, but APEE will be only a summer thing.

 

[kristenm514]

At this time is a temporary summer promotion. Same with the APEE. Only time will tell if it becomes a permenant feature/perk of staying online.

Well, poo. We'd need the DCA early entry for the last Monday in August, which seems to historically be the first "non-summer" day in regards to entertainment schedules, hours, HM going down for overlay, etc. Sigh, DL, your uncertainty is killin' me.

 

[disneychrista]

Well, poo. We'd need the DCA early entry for the last Monday in August, which seems to historically be the first "non-summer" day in regards to entertainment schedules, hours, HM going down for overlay, etc. Sigh, DL, your uncertainty is killin' me.

Well the APEE is through Sepetember 13th. I would expect the EMH for hotel guests to last at least through then also.

 

[LAWalz23]

Are there any other rides beside Carsland open on EE days? We will be sating at GCV and RSR seems to be down a lot in the am so we might choose to ride later at night.

 

[DisDancerina]

Wowee! I had no idea about APEE! Thank you for the information!

 

[8timesblessed]

All the big rides were open for APEE. Most of the cast members don't know what's open but there are alot of higher ups in the park and they have cheat sheets as they call them that told what was open and it was most of the big rides.

 

[AngelDisney]

All the big rides were open for APEE. Most of the cast members don't know what's open but there are alot of higher ups in the park and they have cheat sheets as they call them that told what was open and it was most of the big rides.

Will the same be for the onsite hotel EMH? Do they vary on a day-by-day basis? Thanks!

 

[DLR29]

All the big rides were open for APEE. Most of the cast members don't know what's open but there are alot of higher ups in the park and they have cheat sheets as they call them that told what was open and it was most of the big rides.

What constitutes 'big ride'? ToT? TSMM? Screamin? Soarin? GRR? I consider all of those 'big rides' but I don't think all of those are open in addition to Carsland.

 

[hellokitty1]

So I think I understand that if I stay "on property", I get EMH for every day of my stay. And the post here says DCA and DLR alternate which parks have EMH based on the day of the week. But it seems like the park schedule on the official Disney website contradicts this. For example, if you pull up the park schedule for Monday, it lists both parks as opening at 8am and BOTH parks having EA at 7am.

So that confuses me if Monday is only EMH for DCA.

 

[disneychrista]

So I think I understand that if I stay "on property", I get EMH for every day of my stay. And the post here says DCA and DLR alternate which parks have EMH based on the day of the week. But it seems like the park schedule on the official Disney website contradicts this. For example, if you pull up the park schedule for Monday, it lists both parks as opening at 8am and BOTH parks having EA at 7am.
.

Both are true.

EMH for hotel guest are as follows:
Disneyland - Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
DCA - Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Annual Passholders are also getting early entry APEE is as follows:
Disneyland - Monday, Wednesday, Friday
DCA - Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

And of course regular MM:
Disneyland - Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

So both parks have either APEE, EMH or MM early entry every day of the week.

 

[PinkBudgie]

And then I believe people with parkhoppers of 3 or more days still get the DL MM on Sa,Su,Tu,Th. I think I saw that in a Disney blog recently.

I'm wondering if the APEE crowds are less than the DLR hotel crowds. Does anyone know? I'm thinking especially the DL APEE must be pretty light because maybe locals only care about going to DCA and are not using their DL EE?

 

[ajgardner]

I'm a little confused... My family is staying a GC in August and on our invoice it says that we will each be given 1 MM pass. But if we are staying at a Disney hotel, then isn't that meaningless since I should get EE every day? I just want to make sure I am understanding how it works before we get there (first trip!).

 

[DLR29]

I'm a little confused... My family is staying a GC in August and on our invoice it says that we will each be given 1 MM pass. But if we are staying at a Disney hotel, then isn't that meaningless since I should get EE every day? I just want to make sure I am understanding how it works before we get there (first trip!).

Yes, you'll be able to take advantage of Extra Magic Hour (EMH) every day because you'll be staying at the GCH. The OP has the specific days for the specific parks' EMH.

 

[debloco]

To clarify between #2 and #3, the line for FP has started at 7 for anyone with EA. My guess is that the people who are getting those first FPs at 8AM have waited during their entire EA.

For #3, regular guests will be allowed to join the line for FP at 8.

Well, this is disappointing to hear. IIRC, in the past they admitted on-site hotel guests early to DCA for Soarin' and, more recently, WOC so they could obtain FP's before the general public was admitted to the park. Not so they could enter the park and then wait in a line for an hour before being allowed to even obtain a FP. There wasn't any of this "waiting until the attraction or the park opened to the public" before FP's even started to be available nonsense.

I feel like I'm missing something here or am not understanding it right since I don't see the way Disney is working it now as much of a "perk" for either APEE folks or for the EMH for on-site hotel guests.

 

[disneychrista]

I feel like I'm missing something here or am not understanding it right since I don't see the way Disney is working it now as much of a "perk" for either APEE folks or for the EMH for on-site hotel guests.

Those with EMH or APEE can do not only get to stand in line for FP during that hour, they actually get to ride the rides - Carsland is open during the early hour and those with admission can hope in line for FP or ride RSR, Mater, Luigis.

 

[DLR29]

Well, this is disappointing to hear. IIRC, in the past they admitted on-site hotel guests early to DCA for Soarin' and, more recently, WOC so they could obtain FP's before the general public was admitted to the park. Not so they could enter the park and then wait in a line for an hour before being allowed to even obtain a FP. There wasn't any of this "waiting until the attraction or the park opened to the public" before FP's even started to be available nonsense.

I feel like I'm missing something here or am not understanding it right since I don't see the way Disney is working it now as much of a "perk" for either APEE folks or for the EMH for on-site hotel guests.

Those with EMH or APEE can do not only get to stand in line for FP during that hour, they actually get to ride the rides - Carsland is open during the early hour and those with admission can hope in line for FP or ride RSR, Mater, Luigis.

Like disneychrista said, the whole EMH/APEE is not designed so that these guests can enter to get in line for RSR FP. The idea is that these guests can get a head start on actually riding many DCA attractions, including Carsland...just like Magic Morning has been at DL for several years. But some people (not most) have been using this hour to wait in line for the FP machines to open up. Disney can discourage this, but they can't stop guests from forming an unofficial line for an hour to get one of those first FP return times.

Also in the past, Soarin and the WoC FP machines (and even more recently Ariel's Undersea Adventure) have opened 30 min prior to "official park opening" for ALL guests, not just onsite guests. There was a point when WoC had just opened when they let onsite guests in earlier than that, but that went away after the rush to get WoC FPs died down.

 

[brenda1966]

Also in the past, Soarin and the WoC FP machines (and even more recently Ariel's Undersea Adventure) have opened 30 min prior to "official park opening" for ALL guests, not just onsite guests. There was a point when WoC had just opened when they let onsite guests in earlier than that, but that went away after the rush to get WoC FPs died down.

Does anyone know if they are letting regular guests head to Soarin at 7:30 when they start to let them in the park? Or are they being held back for official rope drop at 8am? I'm guessing it would be too hard to keep them from sneaking around and trying to get to Carsland early if they let them get to Soarin.

 

[DLR29]

Does anyone know if they are letting regular guests head to Soarin at 7:30 when they start to let them in the park? Or are they being held back for official rope drop at 8am? I'm guessing it would be too hard to keep them from sneaking around and trying to get to Carsland early if they let them get to Soarin.

From reports I've heard that regular guests cannot ride Soarin (or even go over there) 30 min prior to park opening unfortunately. The rope is on Buena Vista Street, and then all guests have free reign at 8.

 

[debloco]

Thanks for the clarification! I'm relieved I wasn't understanding it correctly.

...the whole EMH/APEE is not designed so that these guests can enter to get in line for RSR FP. The idea is that these guests can get a head start on actually riding many DCA attractions, including Carsland...

So the Cars Land attractions are up and running for the EMH/APEE guests during that hour before the park opens! See, now that makes it worth it to get up early.

What are the logistics for admitting EMH/APEE guests to the parks? How early in the morning are these guests starting to line up? I have memories of the craziness of EMH opening time for resort guests at TSMM at WDW when it first opened; not the type of experience I'd like to repeat.

But some people (not most) have been using this hour to wait in line for the FP machines to open up. Disney can discourage this, but they can't stop guests from forming an unofficial line for an hour to get one of those first FP return times.

To quote Jack Sparrow "to what point and purpose?"

Do they not want to ride it that early in the morning?
Are they hocking these FP's to other guests?
Because DCA has been having trouble getting RSR up and running first thing in the morning?
Because FP's have been running out within the first couple of hours the park is open?
So maybe they can get FP's for later and then get in the stand-by line so they can ride twice?

Seems to me if you hauled your butt out of bed that early to be there and had EMH or APEE you'd just go ahead and get in the *hopefully* shortest line of the day and actually ride the attraction. And it also seems like you could be one of the first to ride during EMH/APEE, and afterwards have enough time to get a FP before they run out for the day.