Emh..

[ddisney333]

Hi all, I know this has probably been asked before but, I cant find it. How does the EMH work? Does everyone in the party have to have a room key? Do they swipe the room key or just want to see that you have one? Do they require small children in the party to have a room key also?
Sorry, so many questions. This is our first time doing the EMH. Thanks for all the help. Leaving in 10 days.

 

[David R]

Each person has a pass to get into the park. THey scan that pass (which normally doubles as your room key as well) before they give you the wristband.

 

[Robo]

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 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.
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.
The ride CMs will check these 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 until further notice from WDW.
Enjoy!

 

[philaround]

They do require that everyone getting a bracelet for evening EMH to have a key card and everyone must be present. One person of your group cannot take all the key cards and pick up all the bracelets for your party. They do not swipe the card, just look at it. They may require that you show a photo I.D. to prove you are the person whose name is on the key card. I don't believe that young children are required to have a key card.

 

[jetprincess]

When we went for the morning magic hours they didn't even check our room key. They just asked us where we were staying before we boarded the monorail.

 

[pezpam]

The kids in the group will have a room key unless they are young enough to not need park tickets. They will issue the kids keys that do not have charging privileges if you ask and you can always hold onto the keys of anyone old enough to need it and young enough to not be trusted to hang onto it. DD gets her key/ticket just long enough to go through the turnstile, then hands it back to me.

 

[karrit2000]

They usually do swipe the room card for each person for the PM EMH. That is why each person must have their room card. I have only on one occasion not had my room card swiped by a CM in MK. All other times I attended the PM EMH they swiped the room card for each person in the party.

 

[Robo]

When we went for the morning magic hours they didn't even check our room key. They just asked us where we were staying before we boarded the monorail.

Of course "boarding the monorail" and entering the park are two very different things.

But at MK, since MOST folks who are at the front gates of the park that early ARE resort guests (most have come in on resort BUSES), they don't bohter checking EVERYONE's room-key-card.
But I will tell you that in the dozens of times we've gone to Morning EMH at all the parks, we have had to show a resort pass more often than not.
(And just one per party, in the mornings).

 

[ddisney333]

Thanks for all the help. I think I got it...