EMH--Is it worth it?

[dizzneebabe]

Since DH and I have been going to WDW, we've always traveled in Sept., when the parks generally close early. Because the crowds were lower, we always were able to see everything. I don't even remember if they offered EMH at night during these times before. I know they had the morning hour--which we were always told to avoid. Is this still true?

Is it worth it to stick around for the nighttime hours? We will have DD 2 (almost 3) with us, as well as DS 13 and DS 11.

DH is questioning why I am even asking about this--he doesn't see the need for it for us.

Thanks!

 

[Joyce Kingkade]

EMH are usually worth it. September will now be the time when free dining is offered and the parks may be more crowded. I would still get my wrist band and see how the crowds are. MGM was wonderful last Oct. MK will be the most crowded because of MNSSHP, of course those nights will not have EMH. We have also found AK EMH to be well worth it. Of course that was pre EE! If it is too crowded you can leave, you have nothing to lose. Morning EMH was a different story. Well worth the effort in all parks!

 

[Robo]

Many of us go to Morning EMH (and sometimes HOP).
Some of us like the evening EMH at certain parks.
Some of us avoid EMH parks.


NOBODY can tell you what WILL happen with ATTENDANCE on any given date, any more than they can predict the WEATHER (which WILL affect the attendance much more than EMH.)

EMH is FREE.
I go.
If I need to, I can always go elsewhere.

 

[dizzneebabe]

NOBODY can tell you what WILL happen with ATTENDANCE on any given date, any more than they can predict the WEATHER (which WILL affect the attendance much more than EMH.)

I realize that. But never having had the opportunity, I was just trying to see if others have found EMH (particularly nghts) to be worthwhile or not, generally speaking.

Thanks!

 

[Ragnrok23]

I went late August last year and EMH at the MK was great. All the characters came out to take pictures in front of the castle. We were able to get a picture with both Mickey and Minnie

FYI- we waited 45 minutes for that pic (It was by far the longest line we waited in all week) All the other characters were 5-10 minute waits

 

[Robo]

I realize that. But never having had the opportunity, I was just trying to see if others have found EMH (particularly nghts) to be worthwhile or not, generally speaking.

The point I am trying to make is that it doesn't really matter what happened last night, last week, last month, or last year.

Each day at WDW will be unique as there are thousands of guests who come and go, choose different parks, make last-minute changes... all as unpredictable as the weather.

There are the folks who simply will NOT go to any EMH.
That may be fine for them.
But, as I said in the last part of my post, I will actually GO to EMH to see what its like.
I've had some great evening experiences (and a few that were too crowded).

The technique of "going to see" is the only method that will be "accurate" on the night(s) that YOU are there.

The late baseball great, Yogi Berra is quoted as saying, "That restaurant is so CROWDED, nobody goes there anymore!"

I think evening EMH's are just like that!

 

[tmt martins]

We did almost all of Both EMH's during our week in June and enjoyed and got much extra stuff done during all of them.

I wake early and don't go to sleep until late so they are great for me to not just be in the room watching TV.

DD kept up for all of them and the rest of the family hit most of the night ones.

Now as it was JUNE we do take a break in the day for the pool or waterparks and just relax.

 

[4forWDW]

We loved the evening EMH at MK when we were there in July 05
We went back to the room to swim and rest and went back to MK around 6:30. DH and I decided when DD-7 and DS-4 were tired, we would go back to the room. That evening MK was open until 2:00AM. At 1:55AM we were riding Buzz Lightyear!!! DD & DS still talk about it!! From around 11:30 on - there were only short/if any lines. I liked it better than early EMH.
I agree with the other posters--just give it a try
Enjoy your trip

 

[mking624]

DH & I personally love evening EMH. We're night owls and enjoy exploring the parks when it's dark. We did them last year and found that they were busy at first, but people were leaving as the night got later and later. Robo is right in that you can't really depend on what other people view as "worth it" or "not worth it". What one person experienced one day may be exactly opposite of what you experienced another day. For me, evening EMH is worth it. But that's me. The best thing for you to do is to simply go and try it...and if you don't like it, hop on a bus back to your resort.

 

[dischick4778]

How does it work? Where do you get the wrist bands from? And do you have to get them by a certain time of day? Can we show up at 10 pm for a late night and still get in? Thanks!!

 

[Robo]

How does it work? Where do you get the wrist bands from? And do you have to get them by a certain time of day? Can we show up at 10 pm for a late night and still get in? Thanks!!

Here's how EMH works for all parks.

Look up the POSTED open and close times for any day, any park.
Only WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed EHM privileges and it COSTS NOTHING EXTRA to attend the EMHs.
There are slightly different situations for MORNING and EVENING EMH's.

-------MORNING EMH FACTS--------------------------------------
If it is a MORNING EMH, then WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed entry to THAT park on THAT day starting ONE HOUR before the posted opening time.
At least ONE person in your party should have a room key-card with them (sometimes EACH person needs to show one) to verify your current hotel status and gain entry.
So, only WDW resort guests will be ALLOWED INTO the park.
Once inside, only selected attractions will be open.
See the official WDW website for the latest attractions that will be open during EMH.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage

-------EVENING EMH FACTS--------------------------------------
If it is a EVENING EMH, then WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed to stay and ride attractions at THAT park on THAT day for THREE HOURS after the posted closing time. (Don't worry that the site says, "UP TO 3 hours." Thats just legalese... EMH will be 3 hours in the evening.)
You do NOT have to be in the park BEFORE scheduled closing time.
You CAN enter the park at any time during EMH and still get a wrist-band.
You can leave and re-enter the park at will (just like any normal time).

(So, YES, if MK is sched. to close at midnight, the EMH will run til 3AM! Yep, that's 3 in the morning. No, its not a mistake, that would be 3 full hours after the posted time. 3AM for a posted 12mid close-time. 3AM, yes sir!)

EACH guest (except for very small children) will need to show a room key-card to a CM* at special "EMH kiosks" set up in various locations throughout the park, and a wristband will be snapped on by the CM to each adult and child. Children older than 3 years old will be issued a room key when you check in if they are listed on your ressie. If they are not listed you will have problems... if they don't get issued a room key.
So make SURE the check-in desk issues each one a room-card.
With each room-key, a guest will be issued a wrist-band (it will actually be put on your wrist BY a CM).
The ride CMs will then check for these wrist-bands at each attraction before allowing guests to enter the queue.
So, even though non-resort guests may still be INSIDE the park, only those with wrist-bands will be allowed to ride any open EMH attractions.
See the official WDW website for the latest attractions that will be open during EMH.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage
--------------------------------------------------------------------
You can enter the parks for EMH EVENINGS anytime... during "regular" hours, or even during the actual extended EMH hours.
This 1-hour morning EMH and 3-hour evening EMH rule applies at all 4 parks. Enjoy!

 

[dischick4778]

WOW!! Thank You!!

 

[DisneyLover1091]

Personally, I tend to avoid EMH both morning and evening. It's usually just because of the crowds.

When we went to MK once the park closed at 10:00pm and it was WALL-TO-WALL crowds.

 

[PortieOwner]

I have written about this here before. My experience last September/October was that early morning hours were only worthwhile at the MK, and there only for the first 90-120 minutes they were open. It was worth it to get a Dumbo, a Carousel, a couple of Peter Pans and a couple of Winnie the Poohs along with some playground time for our son in the first hour the park was open. But the crowds build very quickly.

Other parks especially the AK seemed worse. I plan to follow the touringplans.com crowd suggestions to the letter the next trip. My mistake last year was not following their expert advice.

Portie

 

[badblackpug]

I LOVE evening EMH. We were there aroung July 4th, and at MK we were able to practically walk on all the "big" rides (space mountain, big thunder, splash, buzz). I am not, by nature, a morning person, so I thought that this was great.
I have to state, though, that even though I have been to WDW at some of the most crowded times, I have never found the crowds/lines daunting. I think the crowds and lines are much better handled at WDW than they are at our local 6 Flags. I have never waited in line at a WDW attraction as long as I have been forced to wait at 6 Flags! So maybe it IS all relative.