evening extra magic hours

[caretaker.thms]

my family are staying on site and entitled to the extra magic hours.
a friend is staying off site and not entitled.
can he stay on with us in the evening extra hours if he dont go on anything?
another thing is that my mrs wont go on many of the rides , can he go in her place with her ticket and she just browse?

thanks

 

[crabbie1]

I think he may be able to stay in but not go on the rides.If I can remember right they normally stamp your hand???? Obviously anyone could say they are staying onsite to get the perk(or not at times) and not be staying onsite hence I dont think he can use your wifes ticket as it is scanned for her.Not a 100% sorry but someone that attends will be able to help.Normally avaid EMH in an evening as it normally means the park with EMH is busy leaving the others a bit lighter.Do like the morning EMH especially at MK

 

[EvertonCJ]

Last year they tied a band around your wrist. It was very secure so you couldn't take it off without breaking it. The only time that the bands were checked was when we tried to get on the rides. To be honest, the EMH was incredibly busy. All the new fast passes disappear in about 2 minutes and wherever you look there are queues. We tend to avoid them as well.

 

[stephensmum]

You used to show your cards toget a band, then show the band at each ride, but last year at MK, they had stopped using the bands & you just had to show your card.

 

[2Tiggies]

No more bands. They have been using your KTTW card for some time now. Some folk reported in the past being randomly asked for photo ID.

It seems like they are clamping down on this now. There is nothing stopping your friend staying with you but he/she won't be able to ride anything. On the Theme Parks board people have mentioned that they were unable to make purchases without showing resort ID. You won't be allowed to let your friend ride in place of your DW unfortunately. In other words, your friend can stay with you for the company but won't be able to see any shows, ride anything and depending how strict the CMs decide to be on that night, may not be able to make purchases either.

Also, for morning EMH your friend won't be allowed to access the park before official opening.

 

[disney_princess_85]

CMs can (and do) ask to see KTTWs at any point, even when you're not queuing for a ride. They need to ensure that it's only onsite guests left in the park (as it's supposed to be).

It's not a good idea for your friend to use your wife's KTTW either. Not only is it bad form, he wouldn't 'get away with it' anyway as it will have a woman's name on it.

 

[2Tiggies]

CMs can (and do) ask to see KTTWs at any point, even when you're not queuing for a ride. They need to ensure that it's only onsite guests left in the park (as it's supposed to be).

It's not a good idea for your friend to use your wife's KTTW either. Not only is it bad form, he wouldn't 'get away with it' anyway as it will have a woman's name on it.

I totally agree with this. I didn't even think of the woman's name on the card. Aside from being bad form, I wouldn't want my friend to be embarrassed and there is a very strong likelihood of this happening. You wouldn't be the first to try it and Disney is very familiar with all the different methods used to try and cheat the system. You can be sure they will be on the lookout. When are you going? If it is during the Summer or busy season the parks are open really late anyway and you could enjoy a full day all together. If you have UK tickets you can park hop so you could start at the park of your choice and move over the a park that is open later. On the bright side, by avoiding the EMH parks, you will have fewer crowds and probably achieve more with your time anyway.

 

[wayneg]

We tried EMH evening in MK August 2008, nightmare, they ran out of wristbands it was so busy. August 2009 avoided them, August 2010 we are going to try morning ones but avoid evening ones as much as poss.

 

[EvertonCJ]

We tried EMH evening in MK August 2008, nightmare, they ran out of wristbands it was so busy. August 2009 avoided them, August 2010 we are going to try morning ones but avoid evening ones as much as poss.

I agree with Wayne. The early EMH are great and give you a chance to go on all of the popular rides. The evening EMH are more of a punishment than a reward. I remember trying to go on Test Track and the wait time was 150 minutes. The park was only open for 2 extra hours, so went back to the hotel instead.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

We have tried the morning EMH once - utter nightmare. Have never seen a park so busy. We avoid them all like the plague now!!!

 

[Disneymad]

Evening EMH (for me anyhow) is probably best left for times when you're happy wandering around a bit aimlessly and enjoying the atmosphere anyhow rather than shopping and riding - it can get horribly busy. I have very pleasant memories of snagging a seat over on the path connecting Liberty Square and Frontierland and just people watching on a balmy evening If I wanted to actually 'do stuff' though, I'd be inclined to skip - morning ones are way more useful in that respect.

With regards specifically to your friend. Evening EMH - at least in the past - wouldn't be a problem for them to hang about with you in general, that's the primary reason evening EMH is so mobbed anyhow, lots of people stay inside. I'd not switch out the tickets to get on the rides or anything though - very embarassing if you got caught and even a small possibility that your entire party could get evicted from the park for it. Highly unlikely of course, but not worth the risk imo.

 

[2Tiggies]

In terms of what you can achieve, I could back up Wayne and Everton's statements this way:

Morning EMH:
You access and empty park. No guests have entered to start generating long queues. By the time the park opens for everyone else, you have already nailed all the main attractions at least once, maybe more. Once the park opens you are now heading to other attractions, ones which the guests entering the park at the time are leaving for later as they try to get to the headliners as early as possible.

Evening EMH:
Guests have been in the park all day. Some have FPs to redeem and if they are not resort guests and have entered the line 5 minutes before EMH begins, they are entitled to redeem their FP. Same applies to the standby line. This is why at the start of EMH the lines are ridiculously long. To get any possible benefit from the extra hours you really have to grit your teeth through the first 2 hours. The only EMH we found worth doing at night was when the MK was open to 3 am and then we have been sleeping at the resort and try to arrive when the |EMH are already under way. It can work out brilliantly. It can also be a headache.

 

[crabbie1]

The only EMH we found worth doing at night was when the MK was open to 3 am and then we have been sleeping at the resort and try to arrive when the |EMH are already under way. It can work out brilliantly. It can also be a headache.


Christ tiggs did you have IV caffeine that night 3am. You are so dedicated my love

 

[2Tiggies]

did you have IV caffeine that night 3am. You are so dedicated my love

I am a nocturnal person by nature. My DD had a very strict routine however and would walk herself up to bed by 7.30 pm if I wasn't on the ball Last year I decided to introduce her to night life ..... We got to Epcot for rope drop in the morning, stayed until 2 pm, went to the resort for a swim and shower and went to sleep. We got up again at about 10 pm and headed for MK shortly afterwards. I know we arrived somewhere after 11 pm. So we had rested quite nicely. We had no problem staying up until 3 am and still lingered for coffee/cocoa and a snack at MSB before leaving the park, getting us to bed around 4 am. Bonus: by about 1.30 or 2 am the lines subsided. They were VERY long until then and the place was PACKED!!! DOWNSIDE: I now have a DD who will NOT go to sleep. Seriously, she never got back to her routine after that.

Another point to mention if you do a very late night like that, the best part of the next day is a write off.

 

[wideeyes]

EPCOT is horrendous on EMH at night, people who can't ride still stay as they can have a drink and shop etc. The best thing about it was the buses were less busy after illuminations.

 

[2Tiggies]

EPCOT is horrendous on EMH at night, people who can't ride still stay as they can have a drink and shop etc. The best thing about it was the buses were less busy after illuminations.

Oh yes! Although they seem to be clamping down on it now by randomly checking for resort ID for drinks, food purchases, shopping ..... It may be that they are trying to discourage off site guests from using the EMH by making sure that all they can do there during this time is, er .... be there.

 

[disney_princess_85]

EPCOT is horrendous on EMH at night, people who can't ride still stay as they can have a drink and shop etc. The best thing about it was the buses were less busy after illuminations.

It's funny you say that, as I've personally found Epcot to be very quiet during evening EMH! One time, it seemed like it was just DBF and me walking through WS. I guess it just depends.

 

[scottishgirl87]

Evening EMH (for me anyhow) is probably best left for times when you're happy wandering around a bit aimlessly and enjoying the atmosphere anyhow rather than shopping and riding - it can get horribly busy. I have very pleasant memories of snagging a seat over on the path connecting Liberty Square and Frontierland and just people watching on a balmy evening If I wanted to actually 'do stuff' though, I'd be inclined to skip - morning ones are way more useful in that respect.

I would agree with this! We only did 1 Evening EMH in May at Hollywood Studios and TOT was over 60 minutes everytime we checked! Now at anytime during the rest of the week it was 10-20 minutes max! It was nice to just have a wander in the dark!

 

[disney_princess_85]

It was nice to just have a wander in the dark!

This is what I like about evening EMH. It feels a bit weird and special to be in a park so late. Easily amused I suppose!

 

[2Tiggies]

This is what I like about evening EMH. It feels a bit weird and special to be in a park so late. Easily amused I suppose!

There is something amazing about it. I did find that the WS was quieter, not so with all the attractions open like TT, Soarin', etc. I think that' where everyone gathers once the park closes, leaving you to stroll around WS. So different at night.