Extra Magic Hour

[vacay77]

I'm *tentatively* planning a trip to Disneyland next year. We would be staying at a Disneyland owned hotel, so we would get extra magic hour early admission, assuming it's still an option since I know that WDW has temporarily suspended it for now and DL will probably follow suit when it opens. But assuming it's still available, would you rather have 2 days of extra magic hour at Disneyland Park or 2 days of extra magic hour at California Adventure?

 

[tink89]

Why not one of each? Which days are you planning on going? They offer EMH at the parks on different days. DCA is better because there is no MM so there are way less people . But you are able to do so much during EMH at DL. Depends also on what are your must do rides.

 

[vacay77]

Why not one of each? Which days are you planning on going? They offer EMH at the parks on different days. DCA is better because there is no MM so there are way less people . But you are able to do so much during EMH at DL. Depends also on what are your must do rides.

We will definitely be doing one of each - my family and I have 3 day park tickets that expire next year. So I'm basically trying to make a decision with respect to the third day. Normally I'd say Disneyland Park because of Galaxy's Edge but hopefully Avenger's Campus is open by then (who knows though) so it might be nice to spend 2 days in California Adventure. I know that Galaxy's Edge isn't open during EMH and it's probably unlikely that Avenger's Campus will be open during EMH, too.

 

[tink89]

We will definitely be doing one of each - my family and I have 3 day park tickets that expire next year. So I'm basically trying to make a decision with respect to the third day. Normally I'd say Disneyland Park because of Galaxy's Edge but hopefully Avenger's Campus is open by then (who knows though) so it might be nice to spend 2 days in California Adventure. I know that Galaxy's Edge isn't open during EMH and it's probably unlikely that Avenger's Campus will be open during EMH, too.

Our third day for EMH I try and choose before hand while planning, but usually change it. I choose our 3rd day on our second EMH day lol. By the middle of the day when we usually go back to the hotel and go to the pool or relax and check in with everyone and see what rides we have not done that are in either park and choose based on that.

We are always able to do mostly all the EMH rides we like by the second day, so we might just choose based on what rides we want to re do or which non EMH rides we want to do and go to that park.

We usually end up doing 1 DCA and 2 DL. Also MP helps a ton.

 

[vacay77]

Our third day for EMH I try and choose before hand while planning, but usually change it. I choose our 3rd day on our second EMH day lol. By the middle of the day when we usually go back to the hotel and go to the pool or relax and check in with everyone and see what rides we have not done that are in either park and choose based on that.

We are always able to do mostly all the EMH rides we like by the second day, so we might just choose based on what rides we want to re do or which non EMH rides we want to do and go to that park.

We usually end up doing 1 DCA and 2 DL. Also MP helps a ton.

Our third day is usually similar - by then, we've ridden what we absolutely wanted to, etc, so we just take our time and go to the areas that my son would like to go back to. I think I might end up winging it depending on what happens with Rise of the Resistance (i.e. whether we are able to get a virtual boarding pass the first day, assuming that system is even still in place). I was able to ride it during a trip in Feb before the parks closed but I was on a work trip without my husband and our son so they haven't been able to experience it yet.

 

[tink89]

Our third day is usually similar - by then, we've ridden what we absolutely wanted to, etc, so we just take our time and go to the areas that my son would like to go back to. I think I might end up winging it depending on what happens with Rise of the Resistance (i.e. whether we are able to get a virtual boarding pass the first day, assuming that system is even still in place). I was able to ride it during a trip in Feb before the parks closed but I was on a work trip without my husband and our son so they haven't been able to experience it yet.

I think once DL opens all the plans we have are probably not going to work out. And we will have to adjust to whatever the days throws at us.

 

[vacay77]

I think once DL opens all the plans we have are probably not going to work out. And we will have to adjust to whatever the days throws at us.

this is so true.

 

[tasha99]

CA. The reason is lots of people get in early to Disneyland, but it's only hotel guests at California Adventure. The extra hour there is a different level of benefit.

 

[vacay77]

CA. The reason is lots of people get in early to Disneyland, but it's only hotel guests at California Adventure. The extra hour there is a different level of benefit.

That’s a great point!

 

[gelatoni fan]

One thing to pay attention to is Rise of the Resistance. In the past, doing extra magic hour at DCA meant you would not be riding Rise of the Resistance that day forcing people to forgo extra magic hour to go to DL. I haven't paid much attention to how the staggered virtual queuing has affected queues at WDW but I assume Disneyland will implement a similar system.

I suspect that if Disneyland implements staggered queuing, it'll decrease early morning attendance at DL and boost morning attendance at DCA. It'll also increase evening attendance. That makes me favor Disneyland for EMH. But seeing how Fastpasses are not available at the parks right now, you may be going when Fastpass is not available. In that case, it would be best to do EMH at DCA for Racers. It's hard to create a strategy unless you have all the information for your dates: Will there be fastpass? Will Avengers stuff be open? What is the throughput for rides (social distancing can dramatically increase wait times for some rides)? How are virtual queues handled?

 

[cruisehopeful]

I've always loved the early morning at DCA and haven't cared about it at DL. The main reason is because of the rides. I get to ride Guardians of the Galaxy several times in a row and/or Radiator Springs. Usually, in the first couple hours of the day I will have ridden every headliner that I am interested in and had multiple rides on Guardians.

There are only certain rides open in DL for the first hour and it's not anything that I am in a big hurry to go on. Actually when I've had early entry at DL, I have gone to eat at Carnation Cafe instead of doing rides.

 

[whoever]

For what they charge for a night at DLR hotel vs. WDW, I can't see them rolling back EMH. It's a HUGE selling point vs. staying at the motels on Harbor.