How do EMH's actually work?

[angelhair45]

How do they get all the non resort people out of the parks on EMH nights? I'm confused on how it works. Also how crowded are these nights, is it worth it to go?

 

[Robo]

Many of us go to Morning EMH
which is virtually aways less crowded than other times
(and sometimes "Park HOP" if the EMH park gets busy later).
Some of us like the evening EMH at certain parks.
Some of us avoid EMH parks.

Remember that NOBODY can tell you what WILL happen with ATTENDANCE on any given date, any more than they can predict the WEATHER (which WILL affect the attendance much more than EMH.)

EMH is FREE.
I go.
If I need to, I can always go elsewhere.

Here's how EMH works for all 4 Theme Parks.

Look up the POSTED open and close times
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/index?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage
Pick your Park. Pick your Month.
>> Click on your DATE> <<
Disney publishes dates and times approximately 6 months in advance.
Make sure to check back often, as times and events are subject to change as the actual dates get nearer. The hours listed do NOT INCLUDE the EMH hour(s) so they would be in ADDITION to the posted hours.

For EMH, click on the WORDS > "Extra Magic Hours" < on the official calendar.
Or click HERE:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage

Only WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed EHM privileges and it COSTS NOTHING EXTRA to attend the EMHs.
There are slightly different situations for MORNING and EVENING EMH's.

-------MORNING EMH FACTS--------------------------------------
If it is a MORNING EMH, then WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed entry to THAT park on THAT day starting ONE HOUR before the posted opening time.
At least ONE person in your party should have a room key-card with them (sometimes EACH person needs to show one) to verify your current hotel status and gain entry.
So, only WDW resort guests will be ALLOWED INTO the park.
Once inside, only selected attractions will be open.
See the official WDW website for the latest attractions that will be open during EMH.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage

-------EVENING EMH FACTS--------------------------------------
If it is a EVENING EMH, then WDW resort guests staying on-property will be allowed to stay and ride attractions at THAT park on THAT day for THREE HOURS after the posted closing time. (Don't worry that the site says, "UP TO 3 hours." Thats just legalese... EMH will be 3 hours in the evening.)
You do NOT have to be in the park BEFORE scheduled closing time.
You CAN enter the park at any time during EMH and still get a wrist-band.
You can leave and re-enter the park at will (just like any normal time).

(So, YES, if MK is sched. to close at midnight, the EMH will run til 3AM! Yep, that's 3 in the morning. No, its not a mistake, that would be 3 full hours after the posted time.)
At Epcot, all of the EMH attractions in both FW and WS will remain open. (Ignore FW's "7pm Closing Time".)

All adults and children 3 years and older will be issued a room key-card when you check in to your WDW resort (if they are listed on your ressie). If they are issued a key-card, you will have problems with EMH, because EACH guest (except for very small children) will need to show a room key-card to a CM at special "EMH kiosks" set up in various locations throughout the park. Kiosks are well-marked and are very easy to spot as you are walking in the parks. They open up these kiosks approx. 2 hours before the "regular" park closing time, and a wristband will be snapped on by the CM to each adult and child.
So make SURE the check-in desk issues EACH person in your party a room key-card. An adult can hold onto all the cards for the kids, but don't forget to bring the cards to the park.
Most nights the CMs will SCAN your room-key-card so that it can only be used to get a single wrist-band that evening. The ride CMs will then check for these wrist-bands at each attraction before allowing guests to enter the queue.
So, even though non-resort guests may still be INSIDE the park, only those with wrist-bands will be allowed to ride any open EMH attractions.
See the official WDW website for the latest attractions that will be open during EMH.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage
--------------------------------------------------------------------
You can enter the parks for EMH EVENINGS anytime... during "regular" hours, or even during the actual extended EMH hours.
This 1-hour morning EMH and 3-hour evening EMH rule applies at all 4 parks. Enjoy!

For more info go to the following links:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm
http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/emhour.htm

 

[Cool-Beans]

They don't get them out. Wristbands are issued to those with resort IDs. Only folks with wristbands can ride the rides. I've seen people without wristbands trying to get on rides and get pretty irritated when the CMs don't let them. I've never seen a CM say, "Oh, OK, go ahead."

Everyone else is welcome to stay, shop, eat, people-watch.

IMHO, the nights are way more crowded than the mornings and the lines can be long, longer in summer, of course. I don't like them. That said, they are very popular - most people do like them.

 

[PixiDust04]

I went last summer in June with my boyfriend. Since we aren't morning people if we don't have to be, we didn't do the morning EMH. Since we chose a few days to sleep in, we used those days to do the evening EMH to get on some of the rides we may have passed over at that particular park earlier. I didn't think it was any more crowded than ususal, because the people who don't have wristbands can't ride the rides. I also found that there were more adults and teens in the park than children, especially if the park is open until 1 or 3am! Most families with children seemed to be gone. It all depends on what time of year you go, the weather, and which park it is. I went in summer when WDW is busy, and I still didn't think that the EMH were too crowded. You'll always have to wait in line, no matter the time of day! Its a good opportunity to explore the parks more and catch the things you may have skipped over. Its worth a try for one night at least, and if you don't like it, don't do it again.

 

[Simba22]

DBF and I stay for EMH at night all the time...we can't get up the morning for the regular park opening, we'd never make it to EMH opening! The EMH at MGM stand out in my mind...it wasn't really all that crowded when we went in May. We walked on to ToT(we were the only ones on the final ride at midnight!) and RnRC (at least 4 times each) and got great seats for the EMH showing of Fantasmic!

 

[Groovee]

The last time dh and I were in Florida, we paid about £10 to go to E-ride night. Similar to the evening magic hours. Do you still pay or is it now a freebie to all resort guests?

 

[tkd lisa]

Evening EMH is free to all resort guests. I haven't seen an evening E-night in at least a year or so. The downside is that unless you are a resort guest, you can't do EMH, so if you stay off property then you might wish for E-night even if you have to pay.

 

[Groovee]

Thanks for that. Looking forward to possibly having a lazy morning and a later evening in the park then.