EMH Questions...

[myers2170]

We will be visiting WDW July 2-9 and staying at CBR. This is our first trip where we will be staying on site at a disney resort. We usually stay off property and avoid the EMH days to avoid larger crowds due to resort guests taking advantage of the EMHs. This time we plan to take advantage of the EMH days.
What advice can you provide??
How much difference in crowd levels are there during the EMH hours??
What are expected wait times at some of the headliners during EMHs??
Are the EMHs overrated or well worth the extra time with less crowds??

Thank you in advance for your input!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

We're always onsite and use the emh parks as a guide as to which park to avoid. We prefer lower to higher crowds. For us it is a vacation, not a mission.

 

[LSUfan4444]

The only time I am in a park during EMH is during the extra hours and no other park is open. I truly use them as extra.

 

[willwork4cruise]

We use the early extra magic hours all the time. We get there at open and spend all morning touring with very low and often no waiting. We eat lunch at 11 and are out of the park by noon for a break at the resort just as the crowds get heavy. We avoid evening extra magic hours however.

 

[minnie mum]

We only use EMH if we have PHs. In the mornings we'll switch to the most recommended park by late morning. Or in the evenings, get to the EMH park just as EMH starts. But MK is the only park we do late EMH.

Sat-Mon of your trip will be ridiculously crowded, and will no doubt see phased closures at MK on a couple of those days. Something to keep in mind.

 

[myers2170]

Thank you very much for your input. This is very helpful. I look forward to hearing from others on how they plan and manage the EMH days.

 

[DisneymomCT1123]

I am wondering the same thing. We have evening EMH on the days we visit EPCOT (4/5) and MK next week (4/6), I'm not sure if our kids will be able to stay up that late, but liked having it as an option. Are the crowds really unbearable on EMH evenings?

 

[cassie58]

Morning EMH are great especially in the summer heat. You can get in a few rides before regular opening, and there are still lower crowds for another hr. till people get further into the park and push up the lines. And even though onsite guests can use it, many do not want to get up early, and will not take advantage. It is also nice with the tiered FP parks, because you can go straight to one of the rides you cannot FP from level one, and then have a FP for another one later, or do one that you like to do twice, like we like to do with TSMM, so we can ride again with FP later. Then you can take a midday break, and come back in the evening, or hop to another park. With the busy week you will be there, you may want to break in the park with a midday meal, air conditioned attractions, etc. if you want to be in the park for night activities, in case of closures.

Evening EMH is more iffy because many people are already in the park, and you don't know how many will stay, and there are already lines for rides. It also depends on how late they are open. When we were there a few yrs. ago Thanksgiving week, MK was open till 12, with EMH till 2 or 3, and by 11:30-12, we got onto rides in 5-10 min. We did PP, BTM, Splash, Buzz, Pooh, and others easily that nt. after hopping over from AK around 4 with FP for LM, Enchanted Tales, and HM.

cassie58

 

[WEDWDW]

IMHO,taking advantage of AM EMH is a "no-brainer" if armed with an AP or PH.

Instead of the usual 9 AM-10:30 AM "sweet spot",you get an 8:00 AM-10:30 AM "sweet spot".

Then you can park hop or whatever.

PM EMH isn't really advantageous as far as crowds especially since they took one hour away-the 3rd hour used to be the "Golden Hour".

One exception is World Showcase-I love to tour WS during PM EMH.

Just look at PM EMH as "lengthening" the day in that Park.

 

[Shellyb84]

We like to take advantage of morning EMH, but don't always plan our whole trip around them. We usually stay at a park for about 5-6 hours then head to the resort, then sometimes we hop to another park after dinner. I like getting there earlier which means we get back to the resort for pool time earlier which makes DD happier. We rarely do evening EMH as we find the crowds to not be any better and sometimes worse, and since we are rope drop people it's hard for us to stay up past 10 or so.

 

[ajwolfe]

We love the evening EMH!! We don't necessarily avoid the park with the EMH for that day but we may go to another park in the morning and then hop over to the park with the evening EMH. IMO evening EMH is some of our favorite times in the park. We love the look of the parks late at night and the ability to ride things multiple times just adds to that magic.
I know on here most folks seem to enjoy the morning EMH, but it's just not our cup or tea.