How much will I miss if we skip EMH at DCA?

[BriannaRuth]

Since we're staying onsite and planning to do EMH for DL on the days it's available, I'm thinking of skipping EMH at DCA just to be able to sleep in a little. Will be there in the middle of summer, so EMH is 7 am -- and we always get there early, so EMH means getting to the parks at 6:30.

I've read that if you don't have EMH, you should go to the other park, but I don't really want to do that since I do plan on being in DL on the DL EMH days.

With RSR FPs online now, my plans for DCA would be to go directly to Soarin' to pull an FP there, then do TSMM and get a FP for RSR as soon as I'm able. Will there be much of a line at TSMM right at regular opening since EMH guests have already been there for an hour? This would be on a Sunday and a Wednesday.

Also, does anyone know about what time the RSR FPs are for evening returns?

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[hpfan100]

The line for TSMM could be up to 45 minutes by the time you get there and ride Soarin. I really don't see Soarin as a high priority in the morning.

If you skip EMH at DCA and arrive around 8:30???? then you can expect 1 hour or more at RSR and 45 minutes at TSMM. Usually once the line builds at TSMM it stays that long.
If you are going to arrive that late then I would grab a RSR fastpass first then head to TSMM. After that you should be able to tour things as you pass them.

 

[BriannaRuth]

What I meant was that we would grab the Soarin' FP first before going to TSMM, not that we would ride it first. My thought was that Soarin' would have a fairly early return time, enabling us to still get RSR FPs before they're gone.

We would still try to be at the park by 8.

 

[grnflash]

How about getting to the park at 7:30? You'll just be giving up 1/2 hour of sleep but that 1/2 hour will make a big difference for riding TSMM. Your plan works well in this case - you'll be able to walk right into the park, go pull a Soarin' FP on your way to TSMM, ride, then go get your RSR FP.

**You should have a short line at TSMM at 7:30, in the 20-25 minute range - whereas waiting until 8 will bump you into the 45 minute range.

 

[Rubygoose]

I personally found EMH at DCA a lot more useful than at DL, since it's only hotel guests at DCA early. DL is quite crowded during MM because hotel guests and guests with 3day+ PH tickets can get in.

 

[jeaneg]

We also found EMH at DCA to be much more useful than those at DL. I'd sleep in on a DL day and start at Adventureland or another land that's not open for EE.

 

[superlarz]

I have gone to DCA plenty of times after EMH and pretty much everything is a walk on except TSMM and RSR ( and maybe Mater.) DCA doesnt develop lines longer than 15 minutes for anything else until after 10 every time I have been there.

 

[94bruin]

How about getting to the park at 7:30? You'll just be giving up 1/2 hour of sleep but that 1/2 hour will make a big difference for riding TSMM. Your plan works well in this case - you'll be able to walk right into the park, go pull a Soarin' FP on your way to TSMM, ride, then go get your RSR FP.

**You should have a short line at TSMM at 7:30, in the 20-25 minute range - whereas waiting until 8 will bump you into the 45 minute range.

I agree with this: we never make it to the beginning of EMH. Usually, we're in the parks maybe 20-30 mins late. We still make good use of that extra 30-40 mins before regular park opening. If you get there for part of the EMH, it'll help tremendously.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I thought the FP machines weren't open until regular park opening? Or is that just RSR?

 

[jina]

Agreed EMH at CA is so much more productive than MM at DL (I've done MM twice and EMH at CA once). I'd much prefer going to DL for regular park opening drop (if it's a MM head over to the left hand lands at rope drop since it's when they open for everyone) and get up early to make the most of EMH at CA.

During Spring break for EMH we got there for the beginning EMH and did Soarin' over California first- we had tried doing it via fastpass the day before but the fastpass return line was 30+ min as they were renovating a theater so going first thing the next day was wonderful. Then we headed to TSM which was walk on (twice), DH went to get in line for RSR fastpasses (which would not start until regular park opening ), DD and I then did the carousel, the swinging fun wheel, and goofy's sky school, all walk on. Then it was 9am and the masses descended. DH met us for our 2nd ride at Goofy's and we then went on the swings, then down to Monster's Inc, then did all of the Animation studio, including a "learn how to draw Donald duck class", then it was time for our RSR fastpass return. We did all this by 11:15am for an 8AM EMH. We did so much more than what we had imagined we could do in such a short period of time and at least twice as much as what we've accomplished in our MM's at DL.

 

[msmama]

Another agreed that EMH at DCA was great. At times it felt like we were the only people in certain parts of the park. And like others said, it's not an all or nothing thing.

We got there "late" on an EMH day - they were letting people in, but holding them back. We got to bypass all those people and still managed to ride a few things before the masses were let in.

 

[ArchOwl]

I find EMH at DCA to be much better than at DL. I was the the GCH a few weeks ago and we found the DL EMH to be very crowded. Because they only open up select attractions at DL, and there are resort guests and people with parkhoppers sharing the morning, it is very crowded. Fantasyland was packed within a few minutes of opening, there were waits for Pinocchio and Snow White. Peter Pan quickly turned into a 30 minute wait.

The DCA EMH was much better. Virtually the entire park is open and we got so much done! Screaming and Toy Story were walk ons. So was Soarin'. It was great. I much prefer the DCA EMH. I would definitely make time for at least one DCA EMH.

 

[Blue32]

I find EMH at DCA to be much better than at DL. I was the the GCH a few weeks ago and we found the DL EMH to be very crowded. Because they only open up select attractions at DL, and there are resort guests and people with parkhoppers sharing the morning, it is very crowded. Fantasyland was packed within a few minutes of opening, there were waits for Pinocchio and Snow White. Peter Pan quickly turned into a 30 minute wait.

The DCA EMH was much better. Virtually the entire park is open and we got so much done! Screaming and Toy Story were walk ons. So was Soarin'. It was great. I much prefer the DCA EMH. I would definitely make time for at least one DCA EMH.

Can I ask what the hours were when you were there? I am wondering if MM at 7 am is still worth doing or if that one is becoming really crowded as well. I have quite a few reports of the 8 and 9am MM's at DL becoming more and more crowded.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I've always done DL MM because we've had luck riding PP and a few other Fantasyland rides during that time in the past ... but as I said, we always get there early, even for MM (I've been first in line at the gate more than once). And I've never gone in early/mid August before.

Maybe I'll do one DL MM for a chance at PP and the other MMs in DCA given what I've read here. It does sound like I _don't_ need to be in line at 6:30 for DCA EMH?

 

[ArchOwl]

Can I ask what the hours were when you were there? I am wondering if MM at 7 am is still worth doing or if that one is becoming really crowded as well. I have quite a few reports of the 8 and 9am MM's at DL becoming more and more crowded.

Sure, the EMH at DL began at 8am when we were there a few weeks ago. Last summer we did EMH at DL at 7am. It was less crowded at 7am for sure. I think 7 am EMHs are the best, it is difficult for people to be at the gates at that time. I still think most EMHs are worth it, except 9 am at DL, which is just crowded and crazy.

 

[ArchOwl]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I've always done DL MM because we've had luck riding PP and a few other Fantasyland rides during that time in the past ... but as I said, we always get there early, even for MM (I've been first in line at the gate more than once). And I've never gone in early/mid August before. Maybe I'll do one DL MM for a chance at PP and the other MMs in DCA given what I've read here. It does sound like I _don't_ need to be in line at 6:30 for DCA EMH?

Unless you are gunning for first group on RSR or TSMM, I don't see a reason to be at the gates at 6:30am. Just a reminder, this is assuming you are using the main gate and not the GCH entrance. The GCH entrance is really crowded in the morning and I would avoid it.