Extra Hours for Resort Guests?

[CerysG]

I can't make up my mind if they are worth it or not as there seems to be lots saying don't go on these days as they are crowded and lots saying go on these days! When we were there last March we only did one extended hour and I don't know how they could tell you were a resort guest or not as everyone just seemed to stay. We are planning to go again next August (2013) at the end of the month when its suppose to be way less crowded so I don't know what the impact of the extra hours will be. Any thoughts on them from some of you vets?

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

We go end of August first few days of September..and we always utilize the EMH during the evening..can't seem to get us out of the hotel when it is morning EMH. They tell if you are a resort guest when you attempt to go on a ride and you will be asked to show your resort key. No key no ride. I have seen many unhappy people turned away from rides..sorry for them but lucky for us One night at MK we were able to ride on my DD6 favorites w/o even having to get off! DHS is another good one for evening EMH...rode ToT 3 times in a row..once we were able to have our own car with just the 3 of us ...not all rides are operating but the majority of the big attractions are...defintiely well worth it IMHO.

 

[CerysG]

LeeLee's Mom how do you find the crowds at the end of August? Sounds like the extended hours work well then. We only did one extended hours when we where there last March and they didn't ask for Keys or anything so I don't know what was happening with that.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

Not bad at all. We used to go mid September which was the best but my DD6 started kindergarten last year so bumped it up a week or so. The longest wait I recall was maybe 15-20 mins and I believe it was for Expedition Everest. I was willing to wait..but instead we got Fast Passes and just rode on all other rides until return time..pretty much all rides were within 5-10 mins and if not we used FP. The EMH was great..less crowded at night and the parks just have a different look & feel to them. It was hot though, very hot..but still loved it..just went back to the hotel in the afternoon to swim & cool down and hit the parks again in the evening.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

They DEFINITELY asked for keys (Disney Resort Key (card) during evening EMH last year when we were there...THe other thing that is nice about going in August/Sept is they have Fantasmic every night...I remember a few years ago they only had 2 shows during the week and both were on nights we would not be at DHS.. Also, just our luck we have tried 3 times to do the Characters in FLight balloon ride at DTD and all 3 times ...we couldn't due to wind..really wasn't that bad but they have to be careful..Usually quick down pours in the afternoon which is sometimes great because it can clear the parks

 

[CerysG]

We did the extra hours at DHS and I asked when we went in and they said you just stay and no one asked us for anything so either I got the hours mixed up or they didn't care I don't know. Maybe that's why I didn't really understand about them. If they are quite in late August then they would be great to go to. Not sure how much luck I'm going to have getting them out of bed in the morning but I said we should be there early this time if it's going to be hot. Not so worried about the rain as we don't mind it and it sounds like its a quick storm and over. So I'm thinking more and more that late August is the time to go for us as it won't be so busy. I would love to go in Sept. but oldest DD is in highschool and we really can't pull her for two weeks. They don't start back until after labour day so not a big issue. Oh have you been there over Labour day? Is it busy that weekend or not so much. I've read it isn't to bad but it's always good to hear it from someone who's been there at that time.

 

[tzolkin]

I can't make up my mind if they are worth it or not as there seems to be lots saying don't go on these days as they are crowded and lots saying go on these days! When we were there last March we only did one extended hour and I don't know how they could tell you were a resort guest or not as everyone just seemed to stay. We are planning to go again next August (2013) at the end of the month when its suppose to be way less crowded so I don't know what the impact of the extra hours will be. Any thoughts on them from some of you vets?

Some of the difference in opinion depends on whether or not you will have park hoppers.

Those who advise that you should avoid parks with EMH (morning or evening) do so because the park may be more crowded during regular hours. For example, at MK on a day with morning EMH, you have all the EMH people in the park and then add in all the general public who have also decided to go to MK that day. The park is mostly empty during the EMH and you can do a bunch of attractions with little to no wait during that time, but if you were going to stay in MK all day it may be more crowded in the afternoon than another park that didn't have EMH that morning.

This makes no difference to us because we have park hoppers. So we can attend the EMHs, but spend a good part of the day at another park that is less busy.

 

[Disney-Chick]

We only go in Dec but LOVE EMH. We stayed at MK one night until 3am as EMH started at midnight. What a site to see the castle when there is nobody around. Our family could never make morning hours and really it's only an hour. When we stayed until 3am we went to a different park for the afternoon as we don't usually leave until around 1ish and then stayed at our resort until around 11ish and headed over. For us the EMH are worth it and always utilize it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The other great thing about EMH is that during the hot months we are able to leave the park when it starts getting hot and spend the afternoon by the pool. Then once the sun goes down and the temps drop a bit we head back to the park. The crowds are very lite and the wait times are less than 15 minutes. We love the 2:00 a.m MK EMH because after mid night there is almost no one in the park!

Last month at "every" ride they asked to see everyones room key. So make sure everyone in your party has their room key with them.

Friends of ours had a 6:00 a.m flight so they stayed at the MK till 2:00 a.m the morning of their flight and then walked back to the BTL and caught their 3:00 a.m ME bus to the airport. Talk about making every minute of your vacation worth while.

 

[rellinge]

I think I agree with most of the posters here. The parks are more crowded during regular hours in the park with EMHs, but if you are hopping, it doesn't really matter. If you aren't I would avoid the park with morning EMHs and for evening ones, I would get up early, leave the park during mid-day and then come back in the evening.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I'll second or third what others are saying. If you're going to actually be there for the extra magic hours, it's a great time. Morning hours are exceedingly better than evening hours for getting rides in. But the Evening hours are the most interesting.

We would normally do morning hours, get the park "done", and then leave around 11:00 or 12:00 for another park without extra hours.

 

[LHARPSTER]

Does anyone know what they do for The Fort Wilderness Campers for EMH. We won't get a room key. Do they give you a pass that will work or are we not alowed to use the EMH if we are in the campgound/resort?