How much value in Extra Magic Hours?

[DisTXMom]

We plan on using the EMH at least the first 3 days of our trip. I've seen it posted that doing it every day may not be realistic so we are going to see how the 4th Morning goes. 4th morning is DLR and I'm hoping our first DLR EMH is sufficient to let us get FL attraction done. We are planning on earlier evenings than what we typically do at WDW to allow for those 7am EMH's. We will see how it goes . I saw a 0
Minute posted wait time for TSMM during DCA EMH one day this week- that made me laugh and look forward to riding a family favorite without the horrendous DHS wait time for that attraction.

 

[Sith]

Another thing to consider is what time the parks open on the days you're there. This can alter the value of early entry. For example, if Disneyland opens at 10am, then the early entry would be at 9am. Everybody who is eligible is able to drag themselves and their families to the gate by 9am. It could be a lot more crowded than you expect, and in that case maybe not worth it.

But, on days when Disneyland opens at 8am, then the early entry is at 7am. It's a lot harder to get your whole family up and at the gate around 6:30 or so to line up for the 7am entry. But, if you can make it happen, you will benefit from the fact that a lot of people can't. You could be rewarded with a park that is relatively empty for your first couple hours. In this case, early entry has a lot of value.

 

[NorthernCalMom]

Resurrecting this thread to share my experience from just having spent three days in the parks to revise my earlier post. I also posted about this in a couple of other threads, so I apologize for serial posting, but I just wanted to get the word out for those who, like me, rely on EMH to take the stress out of the rest of the day, to make sure to figure in the possibility of events beyond anybody's control. Here's what happened on our first day (Wed, Aug 5, EMH at CA): My strategy was to head straight to Paradise Pier, ride California Screaming with my older daughter, while my younger daughter and DH ride King Triton's caroussel, then meet up at TSMM and ride that together. After that we were planning to split around 7:45am with DH & DDs doing more rides, another TSMM, maybe, and then those that open at 8am, while I would get early RSR fastpasses. Great plan, wasn't it?

Just out of curiosity, I asked upon entry if RSR was running, and it turned out it wasn't. So I already expected more traffic at Paradise Pier... so much for our great plan (that had worked wonderfully in the past) to avoid the early morning crowd. Well, we arrived at CA Screaming to find the ride down. We walked to TSMM to find it down, too. The only ride that was running was King Triton! When we got to TSMM, it already had a substantial line (in the past, we walked right on). We weren't sure if we should wait or not and decided to stay there and hope for the best. The ride opened, just to break down again after we made it to the loading area. At that point it was time for me to head to the RSR FP area. Turns out that they had started distributing FPs early, to make up for the closure, I guess... so the RT time was far past what I had hoped for (so no 2nd batch of RSR FPs for us that day...).

The next day, during the DLand MM, we rode Matterhorn first without problems and then got into the line for Alice... posted to be 20 mins long. This is one of the must-dos for my kids, and I figured the line would get longer rather than shorter during the day. After waiting for 20 or so minutes, the ride broke down and, again, a big chunk of our morning time was gone. No make-up FPs or anything, just a big "sorry folks, stuff happens..."

Since we were here for a three day visit, we still got to ride everything we wanted to ride multiple time, so it wasn't that big a deal in the grand scheme of things. We still had a marvelous, magical vacation. Also, we would have stayed at DLH either way. DH has a conference here, so he gets a good rate for our room. The EMH is simply an extra, extremely appreciated perk or us. However, had we paid the premium hotel rate, just to maximize our park tickets' worth by using a productive EMH strategy, or had we only one had one day in the parks, I would probably have been heartbroken...

 

[madmaxx]

We justify the extra hotel cost by associating some value with the DL hotel extras:

* $25 / person per day for EMH - 1 hour gets you 3-4 rides extra (and it feels empty compared to the rest of a busy day)
* $25 / person per day for being immersed in the magic - pool, theme, super-clean, huge rooms (lush, but we really enjoy it)

That's an extra $200 / day, putting the DLH somewhere in range with the Hilton or HoJo (depending on the extra discounts). It's not comparable to the smaller motels in the area. But, the extra cost is still significant, and we always mull it over for weeks before deciding.

 

[StyledSugar]

We definitely choose the Disney hotels, if it's in our budget (which we usually try to make sure of). The EMH is just an extra perk and we don't normally put a "price on it", with the exception of our trip during Christmas (Dec 24 - Jan 1). It was definitely worth the EMH! It's amazing how much you can do during that one extra hour in the park. Plus, it's usually quieter for an hour or two right after as well. So totally worth it!

 

[BigCheese]

For us, Disneyland is all about riding as many rides as possible so that extra time helps a lot. Relative to others, I'm not sure if we are early risers (at home) but in Disneyland, we have no problems getting up early. We hit the available rides (that we like) ASAP and re-ride the quick ones. When the park opens to the rest of the visitors, we are already making our way to other favourite rides and getting Fastpasses. We like to take a break after lunch before heading back to the parks for a "slower" evening.

I agree with this sentiment. Without going all analytical with $/hour/ride/churro valuations, EMH onsite for us has typically been a two to three hour "advantage". In both parks, we've been able to do a lot of things during that first hour, including riding attractions multiple times (at least twice, except for PP. Even before the renovation that was a one time ride first thing in the AM before the lines got too long). After that first hour, we would get a FP for something we would like to do later in the morning and then onto the rides that weren't open during EMH. The majority of the crowds when the park officially opens naturally head toward the rides you just did during EMH, so you can walk-on to mostly everything else during that second hour (BTMM, PoTC, HM, Splash, etc). The crowds then start to chase you, and you're already ahead of the game. By the time late morning rolls around, it equalizes out due to the crowds throughout the remainder of the day, but we've typically gotten so many things done in those first few hours, our ride quota for the day is 75-80% by lunch time. We can then take it slow the rest of the day, watch shows, take in less crowded attractions, sit for parades...this summer we moved to So Cal and have APs so stays onsite will be few and far between, but I will miss those EMH mornings.

 

[madmaxx]

There is something to be said for how the EMH makes you feel ahead in the morning, it's more than just the extra rides you get. The day starts out better, you get more done, and if the rest of the day happens to be busy, it doesn't feel like as much of a drain (somehow). After a good EMH, breaking for a good sit-down lunch seems like a better idea.

 

[hootey]

I have stayed off site several times and OnSite many, many times. This weekend or when you get time do this; get a notepad, a pen, and a beverage of your choice. Now call the Disneyland Hotel and ask for Guest Services. Ask them to list everything you will receive and are entitled to do as a guest of the Disneyland Hotel. Of course you will receive EMH and reserved show seating for every one in your party. What? There is more? Just do it and look at the list when they are finished. I know where we stay or we simply do not go

 

[azdisneylover]

If you can afford to stay on site, I say, stay on site. Even though staying at the PPH, you will see traffic when you go to and from your hotel, (that is the downside of staying at the PPH and their slow elevators). The daily early entry to the parks is a plus, especially if you are a morning person, and if you and your family do not eat first thing when you wake up. Having the option of having purchased items sent to your hotel instead of walking around the parks with them is nice. The feeling inside your room (to me) feels more of a Disney Vacation on site, than off site, even if we are just sleeping in them. Either way you choose, you are going to Disneyland and you will have a wonderful time!

 

[hootey]

We use the EMH to ride the rides which always have the long lines. Toy Story, California Screaming, POTC, Star Tours, Peter Pan and so on, we do like it! We can ride four to six rides in the hour. It can save you a lot of time .

 

[jojomojo]

I agree with this sentiment. Without going all analytical with $/hour/ride/churro valuations, EMH onsite for us has typically been a two to three hour "advantage". In both parks, we've been able to do a lot of things during that first hour, including riding attractions multiple times (at least twice, except for PP. Even before the renovation that was a one time ride first thing in the AM before the lines got too long). After that first hour, we would get a FP for something we would like to do later in the morning and then onto the rides that weren't open during EMH. The majority of the crowds when the park officially opens naturally head toward the rides you just did during EMH, so you can walk-on to mostly everything else during that second hour (BTMM, PoTC, HM, Splash, etc). The crowds then start to chase you, and you're already ahead of the game. By the time late morning rolls around, it equalizes out due to the crowds throughout the remainder of the day, but we've typically gotten so many things done in those first few hours, our ride quota for the day is 75-80% by lunch time. We can then take it slow the rest of the day, watch shows, take in less crowded attractions, sit for parades...

This is exactly how we feel too! We never miss MM/EMH (when we stay onsite that is). The whole day is different, not just that first hour. It is one of the top reasons I like to stay onsite (other top reason is of course, the feeling of staying in the Disney magic....that cloud of magic just kind of goes *poof* when you walk out of the esplanade and wait with 100 other people to cross the street).

 

[Self-Rescuing Princess]

When we did it was right after Elsa and Anna moved to the other park. We went straight there. A few people. Got right in, maybe 5th in line. Saw olaf and then because it was early we got to sled several times in the snow and play without much of a crowd. On the way out we hit a few rides that have lines a mile long and got mickey and mini out of the way... ALL in that hour. Gave us a big leg up on the day and helped us do more rides.

Would definitely consider it.

 

[frank430316]

We love staying on site, and do so whenever possible. But EMH alone cannot justify it. Remember in DL, EMH is only Fantasyland and some of Tomorrowland - POTC, IJ, Splash, etc are not running for that hour. That's fine for us, we ride Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, and others - but some people are very disappointed (particularly teenagers ). Even at DCA where staying onsite is the only way to get in early, it can sometimes be a disappointment. We went twice after a grad night, and the staff did not have time to properly service the attractions, RSR, TT, CS and others were down until much later in the morning, we actually got tired of riding TM (though I would love to be doing that again right now!). Even at the best of times, RSR seems to be down first thing in the morning as often as it is up and running. And you can't get fast passes until EMH is over.