Entering DCA at official opening on EMH day?

[bettymae1121]

So we are going in early June, we arrive DLR on a Saturday, staying off site, and have 5 day hopppers w/Maxpass. Our first park day will be Sunday and will spend it in DL with no plans to hop that day (the plan is to tour all morning, do BB Fantasmic package for lunch, leave for afternoon break at hotel, return to DL for dinner, rides, and Fantasmic/fireworks). I figured we then rope drop DCA on Monday and spend most, if not all, of the day there (we do plan to park hop the remaining 3 days). But I noticed Monday is an EMH for resort guests. Is it crazy to enter DCA at the official open on an EMH day (and a Monday no less, which I understand are busier all the way around)? Even if it's crazy I suspect we'll do it anyway, but what should we expect crowd-wise and FP wise?

 

[HydroGuy]

No it is not at all crazy in my experience. Since DCA EMH is only DLR hotel guests, there are just not that many people using EMH. If it were me I would try to get to the DCA gates a little early. But I do not think it will be crazy.

 

[LilyJC]

So we are going in early June, we arrive DLR on a Saturday, staying off site, and have 5 day hopppers w/Maxpass. Our first park day will be Sunday and will spend it in DL with no plans to hop that day (the plan is to tour all morning, do BB Fantasmic package for lunch, leave for afternoon break at hotel, return to DL for dinner, rides, and Fantasmic/fireworks). I figured we then rope drop DCA on Monday and spend most, if not all, of the day there (we do plan to park hop the remaining 3 days). But I noticed Monday is an EMH for resort guests. Is it crazy to enter DCA at the official open on an EMH day (and a Monday no less, which I understand are busier all the way around)? Even if it's crazy I suspect we'll do it anyway, but what should we expect crowd-wise and FP wise?

If the current ROTR BG trend continues into June, DCA will be great first thing. Almost everyone is trying for a BG on the DL side. We were just there the 14th and 15th (crazy Valentine’s/President’s Day crowds), and DCA was a dream at opening even on our EMH morning. You should be able to accomplish a great deal and may even find that you want to hop over to DL on Monday.

 

[bettymae1121]

No it is not at all crazy in my experience. Since DCA EMH is only DLR hotel guests, there are just not that many people using EMH. If it were me I would try to get to the DCA gates a little early. But I do not think it will be crazy.

If the current ROTR BG trend continues into June, DCA will be great first thing. Almost everyone is trying for a BG on the DL side. We were just there the 14th and 15th (crazy Valentine’s/President’s Day crowds), and DCA was a dream at opening even on our EMH morning. You should be able to accomplish a great deal and may even find that you want to hop over to DL on Monday.

Thank you both! That's basically what I was thinking but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Even if BGs for ROTR dies down a bit, it should still draw the vast majority of people for rope drop for the foreseeable future I would think (I know we'll be among them on that Sunday, that's for sure!).

 

[ironband74]

I often do DCA on an EMH day as an off-site guest.

They will convert many of the EMH entrances to regular entrances starting around 15 minutes after EMH starts. They will typically start letting regular guests in 20-30 minutes prior to OPO.

Since you have maxpass, you'll be able to book a FP for something immediately.

I have had very good luck during this period with riding Soarin' prior to park opening. Usually you can just walk on and they will let you. I am told that sometimes they will ask you for a room key, and if they do, then you can either bail or wait standby for OPO, but so far every time I've gone they've let my family walk right on and we've been out in time to rope drop Pixar Pier.

Have a great trip!