Extra Magic Hours in September

[Steveromo]

I've seen lots of discussion about utilizing / avoiding parks that have Extra Magic Hours. Most refer to the parks at some crazy-late times like midnight, 1am. This could only be referring to peak summer days. What about off-peak? Particularly September? Do strategies differ then? AM and PM EMH get you only one extra hour. That's likely only one ride for my family. I don't see it being worth the added crowds. What do you guys think? ALSO - in Mid-September, I actually would like to hit Animal Kingdom on an AM EMH day. Are the animals on the Safari out and active at 8am? Thanks for any feedback!

 

[Robo]

I've seen lots of discussion about utilizing / avoiding parks that have Extra Magic Hours. Most refer to the parks at some crazy-late times like midnight, 1am. This could only be referring to peak summer days. What about off-peak? Particularly September? Do strategies differ then? AM and PM EMH get you only one extra hour. That's likely only one ride for my family. I don't see it being worth the added crowds. What do you guys think? ALSO - in Mid-September, I actually would like to hit Animal Kingdom on an AM EMH day. Are the animals on the Safari out and active at 8am? Thanks for any feedback!

Never attending EMH's because they will be "too crowded or overly-stressful,"
is like never eating grapes because they will be "too sour."

CAN be that way.
Doesn't HAVE to be that way.

Each EMH experience can be different.

We always go to AM EMH (virtually every day of the trip
that we did not do a PM EMH late the night before)...
never ONCE regretted an AM EMH... they are amazingly
empty and easy to ride the open attractions.
If that park then starts to fill 2 to 3 hours later...
We're happy with "doing" that park for the day and we
can HOP elsewhere or do lunch and take a rest until
later.

PM EMH's are a mixed bag. I've been when they were
"packed"... but on other nights (sometimes within the
same trip), the crowds were basically so low that it
was like "free rides" on all the open attractions.

The rule seems to be, it is far easier for guests to
STAY UP at the end of the day, than it is for them to
GET UP at the start of the day.

Generally speaking:
Expect a PM EMH which begins before 10PM to be much busier than one that begins much later.
Expect the first hour of PM EMH to be busier than the last hour.

Those who have attended PM EMH's and say that "they
are too crowded" are right... but that may have been only on the nights
they have attended.
I can say from personal experience that EMH's CAN be
virtually empty, or overly full... or somewhere in-between for attendance,
often within the same week.

The crowd situation at PM EMH can change so much (either way,)
that saying it was "like X" on a given night, can have little relation
to another night in the same time-period. So, you
simply "won't know unless you go."
It's similar to saying
that you attended on a given night and it rained, so
guests should never go on that night because it will
probably be rainy.

But, it can all boil down to your particular timing.

If you just consider that EMH's are FREE to attend...
You might just take a chance.
If it's too busy, just people-watch... or hit the exit.
(Where ELSE are ya gonna go at 10pm, anyway?)

But, if its not busy... you'll be ALL SET for EXTRA FUN!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Steveromo]

Thank you for such a thorough and detailed answer. Very interesting insights. Still wondering if Safari will have animals active at 8am for the Monday EMH on my planned trip. Anyone know? Thanks again!

 

[Robo]

Still wondering if Safari will have animals active at 8am

Absolutely.

 

[ConnieB]

I always thought that those touring schedule places were telling people to avoid the morning EMH not because it was crowded during those early mornings, but because those who came to the EMH stayed...and then the regular crowd shows up too, and NOW it is crowded for the rest of the day (or until the early risers go home to nap, lol).

Maybe it's because I go during lower crowds, but I've never paid much attention to those crowd calendars.....and in reading more lately about how inaccurate they are because the new stuff (Fantasyland, FP+) have changed how people do things from last year, so using last year's data doesn't work.

As for AK....I've always found that the animals are more easily visible during the early morning....presumably because it's cooler so they're out and about and as the heat rises they seek shelter from the sun, so they're harder to find and not as actively moving around.


If you have park hoppers then I wouldn't worry too much about it....go where you want and if you aren't enjoying the crowds, move to another park. The times we have gone in summer when it's especially crowded, I've found that EPCOT is typically the least crowded....not sure if it's because it is so much larger so the crowds are better dispersed or if it's that many people don't like EPCOT because it doesn't have as many rides.....for my family it's a favorite park because we like World Showcase so much.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the dis, Steve.

Yes, the emh parks will typically be your high crowd parks each days, as that is where Disney encourages people to go. I prefer the lower crowd parks, not having to leave the park due to crowds, but rather only if going for a meal, rest time, or other, not in that park. The limited advantage of super early or super late touring, to me, is negated by either or both the crowds themselves and/or the time consumed by having to leave the crowds.

Low crowds for me are more relaxing; I am on vacation, not a mission.

And yes, animals will be out any time the safari is running.