EMH....how do they handle at night!

[investgirlmd]

I've been a posting machine today. Please bare with me we leave in 7 days for our 1st trip. I want to make sure I at least look like I know what I'm doing.

Now I know there is no way they close the park and than only allow Disney guest back in. So how do they handle other people still being in the park?

Thanks

 

[chrome64]

They scan your room key and give you an armband. After the official park closing time they will not let you on a ride without an armband!

Hope this helps!

 

[elastigirl]

They have different areas where they check resort IDs and hand out wristbands. They check wristbands at attractions.

I don't know what they do about day guests who aren't going on attractions.

 

[investgirlmd]

ok... so we will have to go somewhere and have them scan our room key after normal hours. or do they do this when you first enter the park?

Sorry confused!

 

[Robo]

I don't know what they do about day guests who aren't going on attractions.

They don't DO anything.

At MK, while some "day guests" hang around for a while at MK, most generally wander out on their own.
MK is a park where the RIDES are the main attraction.

Since NON-resort guests are not standing in the ride-queues (no wrist-band) they don't slow down the resort guests trying to ride (there are enough folks who DO have wrist-bands to slow that down already ).

At Epcot, its another story.
Especially at WS, its not really "about" the "rides" so folks who don't have a wrist-band can partake of the shopping and food (and Kidcot, etc.) and so there's less incentive for them to "find the exit".

MGM and DAK tend to have slightly lower evening EMH crowds in general, but the day-guests don't hang around there too much during EMH, either.

 

[Hobbes]

They have CMs around the park towards the end of normal hours-they scan your tickets and issue the wristbands-by the way, make sure you have scissors back in your room! Due to more stringent baggage checks at airports I didn't take any scissors last time-had to chew the darned thing off!

 

[Robo]

ok... so we will have to go somewhere and have them scan our room key after normal hours. or do they do this when you first enter the park?

Starting approx. 2 hours before the posted "regular" closing time, there will be several "stations" set up (and marked with signs) that you can go by and get a wrist-band.

If you enter the EMH park DURING EMH hours, you can get a wrist-band at the front of the park as you enter (or go to one of the "stations" inside the park).

Its not difficult. You won't miss it.

The hardest part is suffering through ALL THE PEOPLE on nights when it seems EVERY RESORT GUEST is at the EMH park.

 

[investgirlmd]

Thanks you answered all my questions.

 

[martinp13]

They have CMs around the park towards the end of normal hours-they scan your tickets and issue the wristbands-by the way, make sure you have scissors back in your room! Due to more stringent baggage checks at airports I didn't take any scissors last time-had to chew the darned thing off!

If it's a standard Tyvek wristband, you can use nail clippers to cut it. Takes a few whacks, but it's easier than gnawing.

 

[Corey127]

if im a resort guest, can i enter the park AFTER the official closing time for the EMH PM? or do u have to be in the EMH park before the official closing to take advantage of the EMH?

 

[WIcruizer]

Thanks you answered all my questions.

I would add one thing. If you're going during peak season, MGM is a nightmare. The two times we were there, there were lines near the entrance and another back by RRC and TOT. Both lines were about 30 minute waits. I was told those were the only two lines, but maybe it varies. I would ask a CM or two which is the quickest line, and what is the best time.

 

[DisneyFreq]

I'd also like to mention something about evening EMH at MGM. When MGM is open for extended hours, they usually stage a second Fantasmic showing after the official park closing time. We were there during one such occasion but there was a literal mob waiting to be allowed into the arena for seating. My husband asked how there were SO many resort guests and how they intended to check wristbands. The CM said they didn't....he said that if they reserved Fantasmic for only people with EMH privileges that the stadium wouldn't even be half full.

BULL I say but even if that were the case....isn't the point of EMH to offer guests staying on property a little special treatment??? Then again...I'd hate to have to check so many wristbands.

We WILL NOT be taking advantage of evening EMH on this trip. To be honest, when we did this last trip...the parks were twice as crowded so there really was no advantage. Besides, the regular closing hours are late enough for us. Morning EMH is still a good deal though...its only one hour extra and alot of people are unwilling to get out of bed so early.

 

[DisneyFreq]

if im a resort guest, can i enter the park AFTER the official closing time for the EMH PM? or do u have to be in the EMH park before the official closing to take advantage of the EMH?

I'm pretty sure you can still get in...the problem is there are a limited number of armbands and once they're gone, they're gone. I believe they start handing them out two hours before closing time.

 

[Robo]

I'm pretty sure you can still get in...the problem is there are a limited number of armbands and once they're gone, they're gone. I believe they start handing them out two hours before closing time.

They have an "unlimited" number of wrist-bands.
Yes, they do start ditribution about 2 hours before EMH, and they can run out at a single distribution LOCATION inside the park (when its busy), but you can just go to another distribution location (like the front gate) and get one.

You can enter the EMH park at any time before or during the EMH.

 

[Robo]

I'd also like to mention something about evening EMH at MGM. When MGM is open for extended hours, they usually stage a second Fantasmic showing after the official park closing time. We were there during one such occasion but there was a literal mob waiting to be allowed into the arena for seating. My husband asked how there were SO many resort guests and how they intended to check wristbands. The CM said they didn't....he said that if they reserved Fantasmic for only people with EMH privileges that the stadium wouldn't even be half full.

BULL I say but even if that were the case....isn't the point of EMH to offer guests staying on property a little special treatment??? Then again...I'd hate to have to check so many wristbands.

You have a faulty image of what happens at the "second" Fantasmic!
It is not the same "early seating" situation as the first show, so a comparison is diffucult to make.

For the first show, they simply "open" the theater about 90 minutes to 2 hours before show-time. This allows guests to enter the theater and find a seat and wait for the show. This allows for no "lines" of folks waiting to get in becasue the theater is OPEN.

But the SECOND show takes place more closely behind the FIRST show.
So they CLOSE the seating while the CM's clean the theater seating from the first show (it takes guests up to 20-30 mintues just to vacate the seating, so the clean-up can be completed).
This means that guests arriving early for the second show must LINE UP and form a queue while the theater is being cleaned.
So it LOOKS LIKE there is a JAM of people... much MORE than are actually there. The theater can hold up to 10-THOUSAND people!

So if its the second show, and you're standing in a long line, don't worry, there will be a LOT of room once the line of folks are released into the theater. Generally the second show is not FULL.

 

[Servants of Evan]

One other point to remember. Each guest staying for the evening emh must show their own resort id to get their band. As "Dad" of the bunch, you can't take five IDs and get five wrist bands and then hand them out to your family...

 

[WIcruizer]

We WILL NOT be taking advantage of evening EMH on this trip. To be honest, when we did this last trip...the parks were twice as crowded so there really was no advantage.

That may be your perception, but it's not true. The RRC and TOT area at MGM is just as busy for the first hour or so of EMH. After that it clears out. And the other parks clear out almost immediately.

Understand that regular guests who are in line before EMH begins are allowed in. That's why it takes a little while for RRC and TOT to "calm down." But there's no way it's busier (or even as busy) during EMH.

 

[mrp4352]

We've found that we like to try and time a sit-down snack or late dinner just at the start of evening EMHs. It gives the non-EMH crowd a chance to get out and for resort guests to disperse around the park. After the first 40 minutes, almost everything has a very minimum wait!