EMH at HS...bad idea?

[DisneyMomma930]

I was going back and forth between doing EMM at HS or MK and decided to go with MK because it offers more for my 2 year old to do (and my older kids can adapt to whichever). But now I looked at the calendar for the day we have planned to do HS (Sunday 8/18) and it has EMH in the morning. Is this going to be chaotic? Since we arent doing EMM at HS during our trip, our only chance to do TSL is either RD or later in the day but we also have H&V dinner with Fantasmic seating ADR. Now Im stressing that EMH at HS in the morning is going to be chaos with everyone rushing to TSL and SDD right at RD. Is it a bad idea to do HS on a EMH day entirely? Should I switch our plans and do HS the next day on Monday 8/19? We had just planned to do DS for that day and enjoy the resort so its an easy switch minus trying to reschedule ADRs.

My hubby will not like a chaotic crowd and I would like to avoid having to wait in crazy long lines in the heat with a 2 year old. Help!

 

[unrequited23]

For me, the issue I have with EMH is that is you show up 'late' you will feel like you are behind the pack and the advantage of shorter lines doesn't seem as great as it could have been. I know I can get my family up, out of the room and thru security by 8:30 for a 9am open. We can even make the occasional PPO ADR. But trying to get the show on the road by an hour earlier for EMH gives me too much stress.

I would try my hardest to get a SDD FP, because that is where everyone is going in the morning whether there is EMH, EMM or a regular day. We went last month on an EMM day (but didn't do EMM) and it was crowded and a little chaotic with families trying to stay together and not knowing exactly where to go. We just stayed to the left and it was smooth sailing back to A2S, since 8 out of 10 people seemed to be in line for SDD. We were off the ride by 9:02 and on our was to TSM, before our 9:35 FP for SDD. We were on our way to Jedi Training sign up after 10 and the earliest spots open were at 5.

I would go to HS whichever day I could get the SDD FP (Sunday or Monday) at the time I wanted. I would probably try to make back up ADRs for that Monday too and release them once you make your FPs.

 

[DisneyMomma930]

Ah yes backup ADRs...genious! I can do that for now until I decide. I really want to do EMM at both parks but its $700 added cost to do both on top of an already expensive trip. And the 2 year old cant do SDD or TSM (Im assuming she wont be tall enough by then). And I second the thought about getting the family up and out early enough to wait in line for EMH, we would have to get in line by 715 to make it worth while and after 3 tiring park days I doubt that would fly with the older 2 kids LOL

 

[Ds4angels]

After what I experienced at Rope Drop for HS, I would suggest you avoid it. The father next to us was very upset b/c he didn't realize how bad the crowds and pushing and shoving would be.
We have always ED every park and never once have we felt unsafe the way we did at HS trying to get to TSL.

 

[Pigletpal40]

After just getting home from a 7 day trip, I would avoid HS or AK with a youngster at early EMH or Rope drop ,unless you get towards the back and let the "Crazies" go ahead. We did EMH at HS, did Slinky Dog and Aliens and got a Lyft to AK for Rope drop and rode FOP and Navi the same morning.
I have two teenagers and they were shocked at how "Grown ups" were acting to get on a ride "First". The woman in front of us got run into by a scooter at AK, which according to the driver was the woman's fault for getting in the way. I got clipped by a stroller while getting in line at FOP.
No matter how many warnings the Cast Members gave, people still try to get to front of the the crowd. I would get FP's for the things you want to do
with your child and avoid the "Mad Dash".

 

[Moms]

Sadly nearly every park has rope drop chaos anymore. We tried rope drop at MK and actually thought we might try to get onto 7DMT. HA! Thought I was going to be trampled! It was insane and some of the worst were women with babies in strollers! Didn't know that a Maclaren could be used as a battering ram! We did a quick about face and headed over to the other side of the park! We still do rope drop but steer away from the crowds ... we do our best to get FP's for FOP, 7DMT, and skip HS altogether unless we decide to do DAH or EMM. I shudder to think about what things will be like when the Star Wars stuff opens!

 

[DisneyMomma930]

I agree I think I’m going to spring for both EMM at HS and MK and avoid the whole RD at all parks. For AK I’ll get FP for FoP. I’m not going to allow myself to get stressed out or upset at crazy people. I want it to be as relaxing as a Disney vacation could possibly be (I know what a joke lol)

 

[Disxuni]

I suggest if anyone plans on doing EMH to avoid the big rides if that is the case. That's if they really feel the need to go. It's amazing if you plan on doing anything and everything that is far away from what everyone is going to, especially HS since that's Slinky. Even if you arrive as early as possible and first in line, the minute you get in, you'll have everyone pushing, shoving, and running to get ahead of you and you'll be behind the pack.

So, if Slinky is what you're aiming for, I suggest doing that at night during the last showing of Fantasmic as most of the people will either be there, or leaving / left the park.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I agree I think I’m going to spring for both EMM at HS and MK and avoid the whole RD at all parks. For AK I’ll get FP for FoP. I’m not going to allow myself to get stressed out or upset at crazy people. I want it to be as relaxing as a Disney vacation could possibly be (I know what a joke lol)

This is what we did for our trip two weeks back. If it's in your budget it makes for a wonderful morning!

 

[DisneyMomma930]

I am totally doing it. We are not RD people. Getting to the park at opening is enough of a feat with 3 kids but getting there an hour prior to wait at the gate...no thank you.

 

[cakebaker]

Without hopping, I wouldn’t do an emh. Even when we use them, we don’t ride the headliners. We ride the secondary rides, then get out by noon.

 

[chris benton]

Without hopping, I wouldn’t do an emh. Even when we use them, we don’t ride the headliners. We ride the secondart rides, then get out by noon.

100% THIS.
If you can get to EMH in the am ON TIME, you can crush the secondary rides. HS and AK are AWESOME for emh, IMO. Just don't follow the lemmings to TSL and FOP.

 

[Pigletpal40]

Agreed. There were only two people going to RRC and TOT when asked,"Who isn't here for TSL"? during EMH last week. They were escorted by their own CM almost exclusively.