Extra Magic Hour questions

[northwds]

Getting excited......only 37 days left, visiting the Mouse the 1st week in November. Want to take advantage of EMH at MGM, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. I understand the parks open 1 hour early for resort guests and that I should be on the first bus to the park, 7:00am....okay.....but what is the earliest you can get through the turnstiles? I have read about ropes blocking off attractions in the park, Main Street being open before 8:00 am. Do you line up at the turnstiles at 7:15 am? What really happens at each park? Asking all veterans for their help.
My husband asks why get on a bus at 7:00 for a park that opens at 8:00 that is only a 10 minutes ride? I can understand the advantage of getting there early......Please can someone explain it in a way that helps my better half see the light.

 

[CamColt]

Last month we did EE at both AK and MK. On EE day they didnt start letting people through the turnstiles until exactly 8:00. We were at the bus stop at ASMO between 7:15-7:30 both days and arrived at both parks 15 minutes prior to opening. I dont see any advantage to leaving earlier unless you really want to be one of the first people in line.

 

[frannn]

We plan on getting to the bus stop by 7 for a few reasons.
1) Usually, if I say 7, I probably won't get there till 7:20;
2) In busy times, I would think the first bus would be less full;
3) If you plan on 7, and miss that bus, another one will still come in time to get to EE at opening
4) If you don't get to the bus until 7:30, you will be in line behind all the people that got there earlier
5) You could always soak in the atmosphere and build up your excitement at being moments and footsteps away from getting your first morning glimpse of the castle, the gorillas at AK, or whatever floats your boat
6) I believe there are opening ceremonies or something special each morning when the park opens; not sure what time that happens

Hey look! I've even convinced myself!!!! (Actually, who cares what time you get there, as long as you're really there!)

 

[eeyore0062]

I have to agree that it is best to get on one of the 1st busses going to the EMH parks. Usually there are only a couple of lines open at the gates for everyone to funnel through, therefore it takes a bit of time to get through, when they usually only open the gates maybe 5 minutes ahead of time. Many times it has been well into the EMH by the time we have even gotten through the gates when we have waited to get to the parks until 15 minutes prior to EMH.

Yes, they do rope off the areas leading to the the EMH attractions until exactly 8 am. Then the ropes are dropped and you are escorted by CM's to your destination. No more Space Mountain Marathon...sorry

I hope that you are able to convince your DH to go along with your plan. We have been able to ride many more times by giving up that extra 1/2 of sleep!

 

[Safari Steve]

The turnstiles will open at 8am.
Not all attractions are open early, only select attractions. Be sure to pick up an EMH schedule from your front desk so that you can plan. (For instance, at MK Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open early).

 

[PKS44]

We arrived at the BWV bus stop at 7:40..the bus arrived at 8:00..though we were amongst the first ones at the bus stop we moved to make room to load some wheelchairs and lost our spot in line and the bus was full and we were left with no ride...only after begging the driver was another bus sent for...which came over before going to the Swan and Dolphin...we arrived inside the gates about 8:40am...my son's plan to ride Space Mountain twice was gone...1 hour waits already...he got a fastpass and did other stuff with us...all in all it is up to you to get there early if you want any Extra Magic in the EMH.

Paul

 

[northwds]

Thanks for all the feedback......I have a better idea of what it involved in taking full advantage of EMH. We have planned on only doing the EMH parks until 12:00 or 1:00 then returning to the resort for pool time. And off again to another park around 4:00. Hopefully, this will work.

 

[billybaruch1]

Originally posted by PKS44
We arrived at the BWV bus stop at 7:40..the bus arrived at 8:00..though we were amongst the first ones at the bus stop we moved to make room to load some wheelchairs and lost our spot in line and the bus was full and we were left with no ride...only after begging the driver was another bus sent for...which came over before going to the Swan and Dolphin...we arrived inside the gates about 8:40am...my son's plan to ride Space Mountain twice was gone...1 hour waits already...he got a fastpass and did other stuff with us...all in all it is up to you to get there early if you want any Extra Magic in the EMH.

Paul

Ironic, is it not? I'd say you were more deserving of the "extra magic" than those who "got it." Some people say no good deed goes unpunished. My hope is that we all eventually get everything we deserve - no more and no less.

 

[MinnieGi]

On two different trips EMH entrance to MGM seemed to go very slowly! We were there just a few minutes prior to the 8:00 am opening and there were long lines already standing with more buses unloading. The lines did not move until 8:05 and at first they moved very slowly. We did not get in until 8:15. Now luckily we were headed to Muppets as we have a young DD, but it seemed like all the others were headed to TOT and RNR and I'm sure they had long waits. Now all the other parks we have done EE with seemed to start moving the lines right before 8:00 and had their lines moving in pretty swiftly. I don't think we'll be in a hurry to get to MGM this time around - probably still during 8:00 but not right at park opening.

 

[CalGal]

When we were there last month, MGM and MK opened up the turnstiles well before 8 with ropes at the end of Hollywood Blvd and Main Street. As eeyore0062 notes, the ropes dropped at 8 A.M. and CMs escorted the crowds to the attractions. At AK, the security and turnstiles were not opened until 8 A.M. Since I managed to get into the world's slowest security line (he made everyone empty their bags including opening up camera cases), I didn't get into the part until around 8:20 even though we were in line well before 8.

Like you, northwds, I like to do EMH park until after lunch, take an afternoon break, and then return to another park for the evening. I found I didn't get out of MGM until mid afternoon though, because WWTBAM or another show would grab me.