Evening EMH at Animal Kingdom?

[GEM]

What do you guys think of the evening EMH at Animal Kingdom? AK is our favorite park, and I was thinking it might be neat after dark. Is it worth it? What can you actually do? Is it usually really crowded? (We'd be there Dec. 20th.) Any thoughts?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Last Jan when they started the evening EMH, the safari was not open. Kali was not open. Dinosaur and the rest of Dinoland was open. Festival of the Lion King was open. Tree of life was open.

 

[2belles'mom]

Evening EMHs are usually pretty crowded. We tried MGM Studios in April YUCKKKOO!!!!! Never again.

However, we also tried Animal Kingdom. and it wasn't too bad! In Dinoland, I remember there being no line for Dinosaur--I took pictures of it being nearly empty. I think Africa and the Sararis was pretty crowded though, but other than that, it was great!!! I was very pleased and made a mental note to myself that evening EMH at AK was a GO--and that was the ONLY park that was a GO for evening EMH!

Before we attended AK evening EMH, I remember being worried about going since the Studios was such a disaster, but a friend we were traveling with pointed out that since the AK EMH was starting at 5:00--about the time peopled were POOPED and looking for dinner--it shouldn't be so bad. And she was right!! So perhaps it is the timing--people are too tired to get up and get moving at 5:00, whereas the other EMH start later, when people have had time to nap and eat dinner.

 

[Simba's Mom]

AK is also my favorite park, and when I went in late August, there was hardly anyone there for evening EMH. When I entered the park around 4:30, I felt like a salmon swimming upstream-so many people leaving! At that time of year, when EMH ends at 8:00, it doesn't really get dark til after that, so I didn't see it after dark. The last FOLK show was at 5:30 and a CM stood outside Pizzafari, not letting people without wristbands past, so I would think it would be a great time to get to see the characters as well. The last Safari was at 7:00. About 5-10 minute wait for KRR. I've heard that the Tree of Life is beautiful when it's all lit after dark, so I can't wait to see that on my next trip, when it gets dark earlier.

 

[2belles'mom]

Yes, in April and August, it was light out later, so Safari was open--January EMH will be different since it is dark--no Safari, for example...

 

[Teresa Pitman]

When I went in February, we felt the EMH at AK was wonderful. It was almost like having the park to ourselves. My friend and her daughter did Primeval Whirl four or five times in a row without getting off, and we did Triceratops Spin several times too. Saw Tough to Be a Bug twice. The whole atmosphere of the park was different as it began to get dark - really enjoyable for us.

Teresa

 

[stm61]

I have one suggestion for you: see if you can find out what attractions are open before you plan to attend the evening EMH. We went in Sept and there wasn't much open at all. CM's were actually turning people away at the gate, telling them not to waste a ticket if they didn't have hopper passes. Safari was closed, Camp Mickey/Minnie was closed, the last showing of Lion King was at 530, and the trails were all closed. The only things open were dinosauer, Kali, Primevil Whirl, Tough to be a Bug, Boneyard, and the dino ride that's like Dumbo. My kids were so disappointed! We got there at 545, planning to finish the passport stamp book things they'd started earlier that wk. They weren't able to get one stamp! If we had known nothing would be open we would have planned another day at AK.

 

[disneytraveler]

I was at evening emh last month and i felt i had the whole park to myself. Kali was open and so was Safari and the Lion King show. Tough to be a bug,
and Dinoland were also open. I rode Kali 2 times without getting off ,it was
super.

 

[Valjean13]

Do any of the counter service places stay open during EMH? I am planning on heading to AK around 5, just wondering if I should eat first in the MK?

 

[kmkja1]

This is great info. We definately plan on attending on our May trip.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Do any of the counter service places stay open during EMH? I am planning on heading to AK around 5, just wondering if I should eat first in the MK?

I don't know about now, but in August, both Pizzafari and Flame Tree BBQ were open for 2 of the 3 EMH hours. Tusker House wasn't. Pizzafari better be open when I go this month-I'm counting on having a hot deli sandwich for supper.

 

[jcemom]

I love the hot deli sandwich at Pizzafari too...mmmmm!

I have a question...okay, a couple of questions. Although in January most likely only the Dinoland stuff will be open, we'd be okay with that. I'd be happy to use the evening EMH to knock out Dinoland and then we could use our AK morning for everything else. I see the Boneyard listed as and evening EMH attraction, but it gets dark in January by 6:30 or 7:00. Do they have lights in there? Or will that end up closing early too? Are the games also open?

 

[Teresa Pitman]

We went to EMH at AK one evening in February of this year, and spent almost the whole time in Dinoland. The Boneyard was well-lit and the children had a wonderful time playing there. It was very uncrowded - no waits at all. We did Triceratops so many times in a row that I was feeling quite queasy, and I didn't go on Primeval Whirl but the others did it several times. The games were open too - in fact, the youngest child we had with us (my friend's daughter) was too small for Primeval, so the CM gave her some tickets to play the games and she was thrilled to win two toy dinosaurs (which were arranged in the window to greet us each subsequent day as we returned from the parks!).

Teresa

 

[Kanga1]

Are any of the trails open? Or Conservation Station? This would be in the summer when it's still light.

 

[jcemom]

We went to EMH at AK one evening in February of this year, and spent almost the whole time in Dinoland. The Boneyard was well-lit and the children had a wonderful time playing there. It was very uncrowded - no waits at all. We did Triceratops so many times in a row that I was feeling quite queasy, and I didn't go on Primeval Whirl but the others did it several times. The games were open too - in fact, the youngest child we had with us (my friend's daughter) was too small for Primeval, so the CM gave her some tickets to play the games and she was thrilled to win two toy dinosaurs (which were arranged in the window to greet us each subsequent day as we returned from the parks!).

Teresa

Thank you, it sounds perfect for us! My DD (3) absolutely LOVES TriceraTops (of course). I know some people don't like Dinoland, but that handful of attractions is enough to keep my family busy for a couple of hours. DD will ride Triceratops over and over (and over) again, and DS (11) will ride Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur multiple times. Throw in some games and the Boneyard and we're all set!

 

[Mama Penguin]

We were there Nov 6-11. Basically nearly everything with animals shuts down at dusk. We were told by the CM that the animals have to be returned to their quarters. We took the last train to Conservation Station right after the parade, and spent less than 30 minutes out there, when we took the train back, they were closing everything in Africa, even the merchandise and food carts. However, much of Dinoland, ITTBAB, etc. was running, and they scheduled extra performances of Lion King and Tarzan, and some character greetings that are not listed on the daily entertainment schedule. If you go to guest relations in the park they should be able to give you the EMH schedule anytime in advance for that day(we did this at Epcot), well before they give out the bracelets, so you can plan accordingly. See any animal exhibits you want before dusk.

Personally, we would not go again for EMHat AK. We were just waiting for our DR at Boma.