Extra Magic Hours or Not?

[3smithboys]

It’s been several years since we’ve been to the World, and when I used to plan I think the advice was to avoid EMH. We are going this July with our teenage sons, and we haven’t seen Pandora yet or Star Wars (of course) so they are top priority. Would it be best to go at RD on an EMMH or avoid those days like the plague? Also, I like the idea of the EMEH at MK. Does that get less busy or is it still jam packed? Thanks for any info!

 

[SamFaniam]

If you actually get there for RD, which might be hard with teenage boys, I think it is a good thing. There’s a lot of people who won’t get up that early. Yes, the other early arrivers will mostly be headed for the same attractions as you are, but the lines do nothing but get longer all day. Go to the early park, enjoy some morning time there, and then head back to your resort or to a different park.

 

[3smithboys]

I agree that getting teenage boys up and out for RD is going to be a challenge! I think my best bet is going to be to have a few RD days with a couple of days when we sleep in and don’t go to the parks until late afternoon/evening. I think the only EMEH we might do is MK when the park is open to 12am. We’ve never done that before, and it sounds like it could be fun!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I’ve (mostly) always been an avoid the park with EMH person. So much so I couldn’t tell you if it’s really a valid strategy or not since my actual experience with EMHs is not very extensive. But it helps me form my general park days/trip agenda, and to me that alone has some value.

Plus less pressure to get there super early if we’re just not feeling it that day.

 

[3smithboys]

I’ve (mostly) always been an avoid the park with EMH person. So much so I couldn’t tell you if it’s really a valid strategy or not since my actual experience with EMHs is not very extensive. But it helps me form my general park days/trip agenda, and to me that alone has some value.

Plus less pressure to get there super early if we’re just not feeling it that day.

That has always been our strategy too... from back to the Tour Guide Mike days! We always avoided the EMH parks like the plague. However, since I’ve come back to reading/researching for our upcoming trip I seem to be seeing so many people saying they are going to RD, I thought that avoiding them might have changed???

I still like the idea of MK super late... does anyone have any experience with that?

 

[YawningDodo]

Current consensus seems to be that morning EMH is a good idea if you have park hoppers, bad idea if you're doing a single park per day. The reason to avoid still stands: more onsite guests will be at that park that day in addition to the rest of the crowds. But if you have park hoppers, you can take advantage of that morning EMH hours when it's only onsite guests and then leave within another hour after the regular park opening, before things get really packed.

As for evening EMH, I'm not sure. I'm tentatively looking at taking advantage of the evening EMH at MK and/or Epcot during my own trip, but my expectations are not super high for it being a low crowd time. Yeah, it's only onsite guests, but if it's the only park open it seems like a lot of people will funnel into it.

 

[glocon]

I think that if you have hoppers and can be at the park an hour or so before opening, RD can work for you. Especially for the elusive FPs like FoP and SDD. Then once the parks start for fill up hop to the park that had emh the day before.
And my teen boy never had a problem getting up early at wdw so you know what your kids are capable of, set realistic expectations.

 

[3smithboys]

Thanks everyone! We will not have park hoppers. Never got them before and have always gone back in the afternoon for a swim/rest and then headed back in the evening. I think I will stick with the old strategy of avoiding EMMH but still going to RD. We have TP, so I will see what they suggest for best park days but also doing the schedule that works best for us. My boys will be 17 and are fine with RD, but I’m sure wouldn’t mind a morning to sleep in.

 

[Cinderella94]

If you can be early enough to be standing at the gates at least 30 min (we always do 1 hour) before the EMH starts, then yes, it's a great way to get a lot done. If you can't commit to being that early then I would not bother.

 

[OasterP]

We didn't do it every day because we have a 9 and 4 year old, but it was so worth it when we went. We were "done" in the EMH park usually by 10/11 and then went to a park that wasn't having EMH or closed early so it was less busy. We had a great time and got everything done that we really wanted to get done.

 

[3smithboys]

We could get there early enough, but we don’t have park hopper tickets so I’m worried that the parks are going to be super crowded later. Our plan is to hit RD and stay until lunch then come back in the evening. It’s way too hot for me to stay all day. I think we’ve may have one day where we sleep in and hit the parks in the evening... that might be the MK night when there is the EMEH until 12am.

 

[mullysisters]

Yes, yes, yes. I attend every extra magic hour! I cant bear waiting in line more than 30 minutes, that's my limit. I can sleep in at home, not during my $3000 vacation. I go pretty serious at the parks, I love Disney so much.

 

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

I think EPCOT is a good morning if you want to split up your visit since you can do Future World in the morning, leave to rest/get lunch, then come back for World Showcase. The only tricky part is that it's morning EMH are the day after MK's evening EMH. So depending on your teens and how late those hours last, getting to that morning EMH might be a little tricky if you use the evening EMH. That and as others have pointed out, you can usually get most of the big attractions at EPCOT done relatively early anyway.

I've also read various sites saying evening extra magic hours are still typically crowded though the last hour might die down. I have those hours in the "maybe" column to do a few of the smaller rides I've never been on, but otherwise may not use them at all.

 

[shocker]

We are a RD family at every age. The earlier EMH starts or later it stays open the better it is for you. If you will come late or leave early from an EMH time then, yes, avoid that park.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We avoid parks with emh from here on out. Just too busy all day. We will be hitting the park that had emh the day before. Less crowds my opinion.

 

[mamamelody2]

I just read a blog entry by Josh at easywdw and he says that for years EMH days have not had higher wait times so there is no need to avoid them even if you aren't there for the EMH time. I was surprised, but he does in-depth analysis of wait times and usually has great information on touring techniques that work.

 

[mrsap]

I plan my evenings around EMH. I love getting to stay as late as I can. It’s definitely more crowded than a regular park day, but I enjoy it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We tend to look at our trips more as a vacation rather than a mission. We like park opening, not emh.

 

[goofy Jr. 88]

We always avoid EMH for reasons stated above, but this trip we hit 2 EMH parks to make sure we did FOP, SR, SD...
Extra magic hours went like this AK 10/2 and HS on 10/ 3.
AK - EMH 7-8AM, got to the park about 8 (MNSSHP night before made it hard to get there earlier). Were able to do FOP 2x's in less than an hour.
HS - Were on the skyliner at 6:05AM, got to the park about 6:15, rode SD, TSM, SR, SD, TSM then Starbucks in that order all before 9AM (regular park opening).

Dan

 

[3smithboys]

Thanks everyone! You’ve definitely given me a lot to think about!