EEMH how strict on offsite early entry?

[sethschroeder]

Let me say I am staying on site. In previous trips we avoided EMH typically in the morning because we would sleep in and do late nights in the park. This time around with little ones we are getting much earlier starts at the park.

My question is if we show up as example at AK at 7:50-7:55am (7am EEMH) are we going to be in line with non-resort guests? Or is Disney pretty strict to holding non-resort guests back until exactly 8am?

I know the answer is get there earlier but trying to be realistic for our mornings and if we are running behind at all if I should just put the brakes on so we get there around 8:30am instead of running in to the teeth of the initial bag check lines.

 

[stewart715]

Really interesting question. I would hope that you could just walk to front of line and tell them you're here for magic hours and they would let you scan in.

 

[e_yerger]

I can't answer your question 100%, but I can give you my experience.

When attending a park that has EMH, they will create two separate lines - one for on-site guests, and one for off-site guests. The lines will be on opposite sides of the hold-back point (typically right after the turnstiles/touchpoints).

This being said, I would assume that they keep the separate lines until official park opening.

Other food for thought - if park opens at 8, and you arrive at 7:55, there isn't that much of an advantage IMO. Using the same line as off-site guests will most likely have the same effect as using an on-site line.

 

[AngiTN]

They are very strict
They scan the band and if you aren't eligible you don't get in. I was at HS for EMM in June and went to Starbucks which was outside the area for EMM. At even 5 min before opening they were scanning bands to go past

That said if you are that late you won't gain any EMM advantage. You will be in the middle of those waiting to get in. By the time you get through everything, they'll all be let in

Fort EMM you need to get there at the start or skip it

 

[sethschroeder]

Other food for thought - if park opens at 8, and you arrive at 7:55, there isn't that much of an advantage IMO. Using the same line as off-site guests will most likely have the same effect as using an on-site line.

More so thinking of specifically bag check. It sounds like my worry of a big group of off-site guests waiting to get through bag check wouldn't be an issue then. (Well more so than lines in general to get through bag check)

 

[e_yerger]

More so thinking of specifically bag check. It sounds like my worry of a big group of off-site guests waiting to get through bag check wouldn't be an issue then.

they separate the groups after bag check, actually after entering the park all together. you aren't separated until after you go through the touchpoints.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

If you won’t be there for the early access go to another park. Most parks actually rope drop before official opening, so if you get there five minutes before official opening you might even be behind the non-resort guests who are already in the park! (Especially for popular rides)

 

[cakebaker]

For EMM you need to get there at the start or skip it

These words should be a sticky at the top of the forum. Just about the worst plan anyone could make is to be at EMM 5 minutes after they start, let alone 5 minutes before they're over.

 

[vanderbar]

It may depend on the park. We aimed for 8am EMH at Epcot last month. We arrived at 845am to see a large queue of off site guests. However, there was a separate tap-in ticket gate for hotel guests and we got to by-pass the rope drop crowd - who were all held before spaceship earth.

We got to Soarin (walk on) before the crowds and had a great day.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Yep, the exact EMH mechanics... meaning where they hold non-EMH guests... varies with each park. Some will be inside the tapstyles, some outside. And even then, exact procedures and setups can sometimes change over time.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

So, if you DO want to take advantage of EEMH - for example - MK opening at 7 AM - as an on-site guest, what time would YOU get to MK to enjoy them?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

So, if you DO want to take advantage of EEMH - for example - MK opening at 7 AM - as an on-site guest, what time would YOU get to MK to enjoy them?

For me, I’d want to be arriving at the MK gates 6:45am’ish.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

For me, I’d want to be arriving at the MK gates 6:45am’ish.

Thanks! I'm staying at BLT so it's just a nice little walk to MK

It will certainly be interesting to see how the 6 AM DHS is handled ;-)

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks! I'm staying at BLT so it's just a nice little walk to MK

It will certainly be interesting to see how the 6 AM DHS is handled ;-)

Ohhh... you have it made! Have fun!

 

[CastAStone]

So, if you DO want to take advantage of EEMH - for example - MK opening at 7 AM - as an on-site guest, what time would YOU get to MK to enjoy them?

In September? Probably 6:55 at the gate. In October probably 6:45. But with 3 parks open that early it won’t be crowded, period.

 

[Skippyboo]

MK they hold you in the hub so you basically line up in the section you want to go off to. So if you want to go to Space Mountain you go over by the bridge to Tomorrowland, 7 Dwarfs over by the castle etc.

You want to be lined up in your slot area in the hub before 7am

 

[maxiesmom]

So, if you DO want to take advantage of EEMH - for example - MK opening at 7 AM - as an on-site guest, what time would YOU get to MK to enjoy them?

6:30

 

[cakebaker]

6:30

That’s what we shoot for as well. We try to be on the first bus out. EMH mornings aren’t what they used to be and if you arrive closer to the start, you’re going to be at the back of the crowd. If you’re aiming to rope drop FOP, SDD or even SDMT, you have to be at the front of the pack or it’s a waste of time. When we’re doing secondary rides, it’s not so important.

 

[Robo]

MK they hold you in the hub so you basically line up in the section you want to go off to. So if you want to go to Space Mountain you go over by the bridge to Tomorrowland, 7 Dwarfs over by the castle etc.

You want to be lined up in your slot area in the hub before 7am

At a 7:00AM EMH, this is not going to be nearly as big a "thing" as it is for a 9:00AM opening time.
There likely won't be major "line-up" awaiting Space Mountain in the hub at the bridge to Tomorrowland at 7:00AM.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

At a 7:00AM EMH, this is not going to be nearly as big a "thing" as it is for a 9:00AM opening time.
There likely won't be major "line-up" awaiting Space Mountain in the hub at the bridge to Tomorrowland at 7:00AM.

DH is not a morning person, so we NEVER make it to Rope Drop, let alone morning EMH. And this is a solo trip, and I want to be able to enjoy those early mornings before it gets too terribly hot.

I have FP's to the main headliners I want to ride at MK. (7DMT, Big Thunder) And my main goal is to ENJOY a leisurely time and get some extra rides in without insane lines. To be EFFICIENT as possible without it killing the enjoyable parts.

And there is nothing more beautiful than a mostly empty Main Street as you head towards the castle.

AND to be honest: I am insatiably curious about how things "work" and human reactions to them. I am going Sept. 2nd to 6th - the first week of EEMH....