Extra Magic Hours - Worth Going?

[Jollean]

Hey this is my first post here!!

I am wondering is it worth it if you are a Disney Resort guest to take up the extra magic hours if those days that park ends up being busier?

We opted out of the hopper so we just want to decide...head to the park that has EMH or avoid them?

Thanks!

 

[idlewoman1]

According to the "Unofficial guide to DisneyWorld" the early morning extra magic hours are worth it more so because less people make it to the parks earlier than those who are already in the parks and stay later. So, if you are a morning person and can make it to an early morning day you can practically walk on some of the popular rides and then by noon head out of the park and go to a less crowded one. Also if you are limited in your amount of days at WDW then I would think it would be worth it to go. Staying until 1 a.m. on evening magic hours has always been a good thought but by end of the day exhaustion has set in!!

 

[Mocharilla]

I was wondering the same thing myself.

It'd be the difference between staying onsite/offsite to us, and I keep hearing people say "Avoid the parks with the EMHs!", and that's why we'd stay onsite.

 

[Donald is #1]

I have only limited expereince with EMH, but here are my thoughts:


Morning EMH:
- Only did it once, it was great not very crowded. Will definitely do it again

Evening EMH:
- The 3-4 times that I have tried it, it was very crowded at least in the beginning.

- To be honest, I have only made it at most 1 hour into the EMH due to me just being too tired.

- However, if you are at EPCOT during the F&WF, then the booths stay open at least in the begining of EMH!

 

[PetrPan]

For us, we had good intentions to make the early magic hours, but by the time we got there it was like 10 minutes until the park opened anyway!

I've found the evening is a good deal especially towards closing time. THe princess and pirate party was a REALLY cool time, although it cost quite a bit, but we walked onto almost every ride. Peter pan was still a 10 minute wait or so, but seems it is normally 60 so that was good too!

 

[merfsko]

I'd say it's worth it, for the rides that aren't the most poopular.

Late EMH: We stayed at MK once, half our party went on Big Thunder Mountain (the line was incredibly long, so that was really all they got to do), but my mom and I walked onto Buzz Lightyear four or five times in a row (to the point where the CM recognized us and started joking around with us). We also stayed at EPCOT, which was fun, not too crowded.

However, I went at the end of August, which is not as busy as the rest of the summer (or so I am told.)

Here's to wishing you a magical trip!

 

[xipetotec]

Hey this is my first post here!!

I am wondering is it worth it if you are a Disney Resort guest to take up the extra magic hours if those days that park ends up being busier?

We opted out of the hopper so we just want to decide...head to the park that has EMH or avoid them?

Thanks!

Well I for one *ALWAYS* go to the EVENING Extra Magic Hours. I have found that it's only crowded in the first extra hour. As not everyone wants to be out extra late, the crowds tend to dwindle quite quickly ( at least in my March and October experience ). Not only is it great to have walk-on attractions, but the park at night is simply unbeatable.

 

[MAGiCAl lOVE]

During my last trip to disney my family stayed on property and had the extra hours. We though we could go early in the morning, go home when it got really hot (we went in august) and come back after dinner or so to do the late hours. It didnt work out very well. In the morning the extra hours worked really well. We got a lot of the rides done in the two or three hours because there was no line. Unfortunatly the night hours weren't so good. It was really crowded at night and we barley got anything done. Thought id put in a little advicee.
Hope you have fun on your trip.
<3Justine

 

[MommyBuzz909]

EMH's are only for resort guests, right?

And that's when we have to go get the little wrist bands??

 

[Dopey420]

We don't think the EMH is worth it.

We go to the park on the morning following EMH. Most people stayed there until midnight or later the night before, they are less likey to go back firtst thing the next morning.

 

[Jollean]

So are the other parks (that are not EMH) less crowded? So for example if it EMH at Magic Kingdom would Epcot and the other parks be noticeably less crowded?

 

[ntsammy5]

We've use EMH, both morning and night, a lot over the years. They don't really matter to us any more (we're staying off site next trip). But I'd say if you have a choice and haven't been to WDW much, they are definitely worthwhile. After all, even if the park is a little crowded, it's still more time at that park!

 

[merfsko]

EMH's are only for resort guests, right?

And that's when we have to go get the little wrist bands??

Yes and Yes.

My cousin and I refused to take off any wristbands, so by the end of the trip we had a little collection of coulourful wristbands on our arms

 

[I Love Pluto]

Well I for one *ALWAYS* go to the EVENING Extra Magic Hours. I have found that it's only crowded in the first extra hour. As not everyone wants to be out extra late, the crowds tend to dwindle quite quickly ( at least in my March and October experience ). Not only is it great to have walk-on attractions, but the park at night is simply unbeatable.

I totally agree. We also enjoy the walk-on attractions. And - it's a lot cooler at night in July!

 

[GrammyJudy]

Morning EMH are great

 

[tink4ever]

We love the nightime EMH because at 9:00 we are just not ready to go home. We have never however stayed until the end of EMH. It is usually crowded but who cares.

 

[Becky521]

We have only done evening but for us it was worth it. I'd say it depends on how old your family members are. When we went in Dec. 2006 we were 3 adults and 3 kids: 19, 14 & 13. We never stayed the full 3 hours but it was fun leaving at 1:30am. We only get to go every 2 years so we like to pack in as much park time as we can.

 

[King Tritan]

We had some younger kids and the mk early extra hours were great. Got to see a lot of princesses and minnie and daisy etc.
We were like drill sgt.'s in the morning and we stayed up late etc. we stayed 6 days I think and took 1 day in the middle for a little nap...it was also the day we went to typhoon lagoon. then went to the extra hours @ the park @ night.
Kids didn't get cranky and loved every minute. seeing princesses helped that out.
Early extra hours are worth it..but then leave and go to another one when that park is about to open. And stay late too...the later ones were more crowded than the early ones for sure.

Adopted a couple of nieces and taking them for the 1st time this sept...if it was not for free dining we could not go...so I really love that they do this!!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

We love doing evening EMH. It can be somewhat crowded, but I still think it's worth it. It's also fun to ride some of the rides in the dark - especially BTMRR. I'd absolutely love to ride EE at night. It was also special for us b/c I took my seven yo nephew to the EMH at MK and he thought it was so cool he got to stay there until 1am. It really made for a memorable evening for us.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

Our first trip is in August 2008. I did plan my ADR around EMH. My question is about fast passes. Can you still get them and then use them during the EMH? How does the machine know that your are a resort guest?