Extra Magic Hour - not worth it?

[kohlby]

We noticed that Magic Kingdom has an extra magic hour during our stay at the resort. BUT it's on a Sunday! Our hunch is that Sunday will be more crowded so it's likely not worth it to do the EMH. (Sunday, Dec 10 if that makes a difference). We're planning on doing MGM that day instead and MK on Tuesday. Is our hunch correct? Or should we try to do half a day in MGM and half a day at MK so we can use the EMH? I thought it would be most effecient to do one park in one day, but we do have never expires, park hopper tickets so we have a lot of flexibility.

 

[disney junky]

If you are talking evening EMH, the parks get unbelievably full. In my experience, the morning EMH still provides a bit of a bonus. I haven't been there this time of year so I can't speak to the crowds that day. Logically, I'd think this time of year, the weekends would be fairly busy as people want to see the decorations. You mention MGM and that's where the Osborne Lights are so maybe it's a wash.

 

[kohlby]

Yes, I am talking about evening EMH at Magic Kingdom. I hadn't considered the crowds at MGM due to the lights. Sigh. We had planned on doing Epcot on Monday but maybe it would be best to move that to Sunday. I think MGM has an evening EMH on Monday, and we would have to do MGM that day if we didn't do it on Sunday. In my experience, Magic Kingdom is the most crowded park so we want to do that Tuesday. We're moving resorts on Wed and have that planned as a down day so our son could get plenty of time at both pools!

 

[Rustyflwr3]

Wanted to add another comment on the EMH! It does get extremely full at the Magic Kingdom during the EMH! However, there are still rides that don't get big lines and you can zip right through. I know that Space Mountain seems always packed during that time! It's still a lot of fun to be in there after "regular close"

 

[kohlby]

There's also the consideration that we very well may not last long enough to use the EMH. I'm more concerned about the crowds before the EMH. Is there any chance the EMH shifts the crowds a little later in the day? We're traveling with two young kids so there's a very real chance we won't make it long enough to the EMH.

 

[mamamary]

We were in the MK for EMH (pm) on a weekend at the beginning of last month. It was definately crowded compared to our weekday visit (non emh day). I felt the whole day was crowded. I thought though that the crowd would sort of die down. But by 9:45 pm or so my kids were pooping out but the lines for rides were still packed. We just packed it in and left. Not sure if the crowds would have dwindled say by 10:30 pm or so - we just couldn't walk any more at that point.

 

[jiminyfan]

Yes, I am talking about evening EMH at Magic Kingdom. I hadn't considered the crowds at MGM due to the lights. Sigh. We had planned on doing Epcot on Monday but maybe it would be best to move that to Sunday. I think MGM has an evening EMH on Monday, and we would have to do MGM that day if we didn't do it on Sunday. In my experience, Magic Kingdom is the most crowded park so we want to do that Tuesday. We're moving resorts on Wed and have that planned as a down day so our son could get plenty of time at both pools!

We love the evening EMH at MK, we usually close the park and find it empties out quite a bit around midnight. This past Summer we did the emh on July 3rd and due to Sapce Mt having a problem we left the park at 4:30am (REALLY COOL TIME TO BE THERE!!!!) and usually do try to stay to the end of the EMH. I only find that the MGM EMHs are not worth it, not enough attractions open to spread the people out.

Just one person's thoughts.

 

[Mo-Yo]

We did the evening EMH at MK the first week of December last year. It was our last day at Disney, so we thought we'd squeeze a few more hours of magic out of our vaction. I wouldn't do it again.

The crowds were oppressive. The lines were long. Then, to top it off it rained at about 10, and EVERYBODY left the park. It took us 2 hours to get back to POR by bus.

With a bit of luck, you'll probably not have to deal with bad weather, so you have that going for you.

But we avoided all EMH parks all together, and we managed to avoid most big-crowd situations all week. Plus, we got to bed and woke up at decent hours. That strategy works well for us.

 

[kohlby]

Should all parks be avoided when they have EMH?
Our plan as of this second is
Epcot on Sunday (there are EMH evening MK)
MGM on Monday (There are EMH evening MGM)
MK on Tuesday (There are EMH morning Epcot - we may try to hit these and then go to MK)

Should we do MK on Monday and MGM on Tuesday instead? I was thinking that MK was the most crowded part which is why I picked Tuesday. But it's been a long time since I've been to MGM.

 

[Kaitysmom]

I agree with the other posters here. I haven't had luck with EMH in the evening (especially the ones that are early enough for most kids to still be up) but the morning ones are usually worth doing if you get there right at opening.

 

[linskypens]

I can't speak for december, although we have had great luck with EMH in january.

 

[MikeAidanEoinMom]

We skipped the first Electro parade and went on all Splash and BTR more than once. Then, WE went through to FL and and did some stuff there…while the parade was occurring. Then We went on something else and got to a spot right before wishes. After wishes, the crowd seemed to thin out considerably (although im sure they were all still at the bus lines). Not bad at all.

 

[spacecat]

OMG, my plan was exactly as your original one was, we arrive the 10th. In the past we have always had great success at EMH's. I did find out though that Mousefest will be at MK on the 10th so I believe that will draw larger than expected crowds, I too have rearrange our schedule. Overall I believe the crowds the first two weeks in Dec are suppose to be the lightest.