Evening EMH -- Packed?

[Terk-1]

I've been to the parks when they had morning early entry, but have not been since they started doing evening EMH. How crowded to the parks get during the night EMH? Do you have to get a special wristband? If so, where do you get those? Do they empty the park, then let you back in?

 

[BTown]

Usually, the evening EMH are, in my experience, much less crowded than the park would normally be during the day. There are also fewer kids during the later EMH. I personally never take advantage of morning EMH, but the evening ones are always great.

You do need wristbands. Generally, there are CMs toward the front of the park and they will scan your hotel key, make sure it is valid, and give you a wristband. They dont clear out the park per se, but you do need a wristband to get into any rides or attractions, so eventually non resort guests filter themselves out.

 

[mmmears]

We went to an Epcot EMH night. There were wristbands give out near both entrances, as well as several central locations throughout the park, starting a few hours before the EMH. We rode all the Epcot rides with NO lines at all (except for Soarin') and had a great time. The EMH at the MK was quite crowded, however, as we expected. We didn't thy the other two. We were there during a really busy time, so it should be even better during a regular or slow season.

 

[diswedwish]

We did AK's EMH. If you enter the park after it begins and there is a huge line for wristbands just ask the CM at the end of the line where the other lines are for wristbands. Ours helpfully directed us to several other locations where we didn't have to wait quite so long AK was packed, but it was May... My whole purpose of going was to see AK at night, not to ride rides, so that was easily accomplished. Oh, and I did wait over an hour to ride EE at night too, so if you'd like to do that you might want to snag a FP sometime when the park is open - don't be like me and simply assume that there won't be long lines at 11:30 pm At AK be aware that all of the animals are in after it gets dark - no Safari, no animals out on the trails around the Tree of Life, etc. It is still very neat to see the Tree of Life lit up though. Have fun!

 

[nightowlky]

My DD and I did a MK EMH evening exactly two weeks ago.

It was very crowded. Lines at CS restaurants and snack stands stayed long (as long as at a lunch-time peak) and the major rides all had long lines (at least 20-30min for even Snow White). It didn't really start clearing out until about 1am.

IMO, it's worth it to get in bed early a couple nights and take advantage of EMH mornings (esp. if you're following TourGuideMike advice) and you can be out of the park after lunch for a long break

 

[BlindTyldak]

Nothing can beat Epcot EMH at night, especially if you have the luck to be travelling alone. Touring and windowshopping the pavillions is just so relaxing, as is snagging a drink and just sitting on a bench. We never saw any ride lines either, except for Maelstrom (Soarin' was not open at the time). And the CM's, tired as they are, are often very happy to chat it up because they have less people to keep an eye on after everyone clears out after Illuminations.

okay, one thing could beat it, the old E-Pass at MK, that rocked.

 

[Annam26]

Against all advice, we went to the MK EMH night last Sunday. I was afraid that it'd be a waste of time, the crowds would be awful....but it was great! Lines were 15 minutes tops -except for Space Mountain, long long line- and by midnight the park was quite empty. I enjoyed it a LOT, and hope to do it again.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

WE were also at MK last Sunday. We got a wrist band and watched the fireworks. We then went to Tomorrowland, rode the cars, the peoplemover and headed to Space. By this time it was about 10:30ish. We decided the line was too long and headed out for the Dolphin. We returned the next morning about 9:30 ( after opening time) and were very happy with our choice. The lines were MUCH shorter and we were able to ride all of Tomorrowland and Fantasyland plus Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder, Pirates and the flying carpets by the time we had to leave for the airport about 3:00.

Given the choice again we would choose to take the kids to bed earlier and then hit the park the day after the EE day.

 

[Terk-1]

I'm an early riser anyway, so I always do the morning EMH. As this is a solo trip, will have more flexibility getting around the parks and deciding if it's worth the wait on an attraction or not. As far as AK evening EMH, it's not for alot of the attractions, but more for seeing the tree and the park lit up at night. Have not seen it like that before. I'm definitely not one that can stay at a park until 1 or 2am, so not a problem there. Would probably stay until I get tired, then head back to my resort.