EMH Vs. Regular Park Hours

[Oz!]

Is it best to avoid EMH or plan your trip including them?

 

[Lou Holtz]

If you have hoppers, it can be fun to use the EMH hours. If you don't, it is NOT a good idea to be in the EMH park all day. That will be the most crowded park.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I would avoid them, even the morning EMH seems busier than a normal rope drop. Evening EMH can be very crowded, especially the first couple of hours. I just got back a couple of days ago from a trip. We went to Epcot on an MK EMH morning and it was dead. Seems like everyone planned on going to MK.

 

[Oz!]

yes we have park hopper tickets...

we are headed to WDW in 4 long weeks, and are finishing our itinerary for our trip.

 

[bukosluvswdw]

I would stay away from EHM unless you just want to go for the fun of it. Every time we go we avoid an EMH park and you would not believe how easy it is to see what you want.

We have always stayed off site but this year we are staying on site but our main thing is that we wnat to avoid long lines and big crowds so for us staying away from EMH parks is wise

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

I also think that you should avoid EMH parks. Really crowded, usually. I also don't like to hop a lot. I feel it really cuts into your day - it takes longer than you think to move from place to place.

 

[DebbieB]

By your ticker, you are going at the beginning of July. When I've gone in the summer, I have made use of morning EMH. Get there early before it gets super hot, hit the big rides and get out of there by noon or 1:00 when the big crowds hit. Take a break at the resort in the afternoon, then head back out late afternoon and evening when it starts cooling off. If you are going back to the same park, be sure to pickup a fastpass for later. I did evening EMH at DHS last year, it was jammed.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I visit during value or regular season. Morning EMHs are worth it because you can accomplish a huge array of attractions during the morning, then take it easy the rest of the day. Evening EMHs are a mixed bag. We use them because we travel when parks close early (AK 6 pm, MK 8 pm -- we can experience the entire 3h EMH and still be in bed before midnight). Even then, the park would be more crowded during the day and first hour of EMH. Crowds dissipate noticeably only during the last hour of the three-hour EMH.

In summary, use EMH only if you're going to be there for morning EMH rope drop, or plan to stay until the last hour of evening EMH. Otherwise, avoid EMH parks.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When it comes to AM Extra Magic Hour my family and I always try to visit the parks when they have them because we can see the popular attractions with little or no wait, plus we can get Fast Passes for the earlier return times. Also we can get Fast Passes before some attractions run out of them for that day like Soarin or Toy Story Midway Mania.

 

[Nadjalu]

Hmmm, seems I go against the grain on this one.

We go to evening EMH. I love having the chance to spend extra time in the parks, whether or not they are crowded.
But I do the "must do things" during regular hours. So if we aren't exhausted we take advantage of them.

LOVED being in MK until 2am one time!!

 

[tarrbear]

Hmmm, seems I go against the grain on this one.

We go to evening EMH. I love having the chance to spend extra time in the parks, whether or not they are crowded.
But I do the "must do things" during regular hours. So if we aren't exhausted we take advantage of them.

LOVED being in MK until 2am one time!!

Haha, yeah I'm gonna be able to stay till 3am in MK this coming trip!

I've never done night EMH but I higly recommend morning EMH

 

[tndisneyfan]

Hmmm, seems I go against the grain on this one.

We go to evening EMH. I love having the chance to spend extra time in the parks, whether or not they are crowded.
But I do the "must do things" during regular hours. So if we aren't exhausted we take advantage of them.

LOVED being in MK until 2am one time!!

I love being in the parks at night too. I love taking pictures of the attractions at night. But I think if you are there solely for the purpose of riding rides, I think EMHs (especially the night ones) tend to be crowded. MK will clear out as the night goes on because it stays open so late, but the parks that only stay open to 11:00 or 12:00 seem like they stay fairly busy until closing time.

 

[knieriem]

I love Animal Kingdom when it has EMH in the evening. Animal Kingdom is amazing in the dark..so pretty!

 

[wildcatfan]

Another vote for AK in the evening. This year we added on an extra day at the beginning of our trip so we could go to the evening EMH at AK. It is so much cooler and a lot less crowded. The only downfall is that we missed the animals. There are not many out at night, but we got to do everything else we wanted to do. We will be there a week from Monday for EMH.

 

[ciera321]

When it comes to AM Extra Magic Hour my family and I always try to visit the parks when they have them because we can see the popular attractions with little or no wait, plus we can get Fast Passes for the earlier return times. Also we can get Fast Passes before some attractions run out of them for that day like Soarin or Toy Story Midway Mania.

Exactly what I was going to say! We always do the AM EMH, and we do the PM EMH at AKL mostly, since the park is so beautiful at night and a lot cooler with lower crowds. I've found that it depends on the particular day you go. I've been to MK in the summer for PM EMH and it's crazy, then a few nights later you can walk on all the rides.... I say give it a try - if it's crazy you can always leave.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

We do EMH (am & pm) at MK without hoppers and it's never really an issue, just takes planning. Don't like EMH at AK or DHS. Epcot really wasn't a problem either but we haven't done that one much

 

[fraggle1_rs]

my boyfriend 28 and myself 29 at the time did epcot EMH evening and loved it sept 09.we didnt find it too crowned. u have to shownur resort ID to get on to ride which was fine. Riding TT at 11:30pm in the dark was fantanstic!!!.

We will be including EMH PM into this yeasr trip in Sept.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

We never do morning EMH, and avoid the morning EMH park like the plague.

We roll out late on vacation -- usually around 11 AM, and generally head for the park with evening EMH. The crowds don't last, especially in the peak seasons when MK EMH can run to 2-3 AM.

All the parks are so beautiful at night; a completely different look an feel.

I don't care whether it's the summer or the winter, I still prefer the nighttime temperatures (and winds) to the beating daytime heat.