looking for EMH evening stories (how crowded, any tips, etc)

[TigerLaw]

While I will join the chorus of those missing extra magic nights, I was wondering if anyone would be willing to go into detail as to their experiences w. the evening magic hours for any of the parks?

What I am looking for in particular is how were the lines? how did you attack it? any recommendations for first timers, etc. for my upcoming sept. trip the extra magic evening hours are:

MK 9-midnight
MGM 8-11
AK 5-8
epcot 9-midnight

I know the basics as far as get a wristband, what will be open, what I need know is that expert advice that will make it all come together

thanks in advance for the help!

 

[JulielovesDisney]

We went this February and did the EMH evening at Magic Kingdom. It was VERY busy. I'm a newbie at this stuff, I've only done the EMH evening once. I'm not an expert, but I would guess that if you just wander around the park and do some of the less popular attractions, then hit the more popular ones later in the night, there'll be less people. I would think that most people would get tired and leave closer to midnight or whenever the EMH is over.

 

[tink1978]

The answer will depend on when you are going....the summer EMH will probably be packed. Also, morning EMH's is something that I would never do...it is always crazy, no matter the time of year. I went in January and had a great time with nighttime EMH. One night the MMK was open until 3am. It was fun and I allowed my son to stay out that late. We both had a blast....and there was hardly anyone there...except for Space Mountain. We were the only two on Splash Mountain and POTC. Space Mountain was routinely a two hour wait.

 

[TigerLaw]

sorry I wasn't more precise, but we're going the last week in sept., so off season (if there is such a thing anymore)

 

[Cllong75]

We've been to WDW quite a few times, but this last year in September was the first time we've ever taken advantage of the EMH, we did it our first mornking at AK because we did the character breakfast and it was great although it didn't matter with the rides, however we left the kids with Grandma and my DH, brother and sis in law went the night EMH at Epcot and I was very disappointed.
I know we should have studied up on it a little bit more and probably have taken advantage of a different park, but it was borderline boring. We had wanted to go around the world without the kids, but almost EVERYTHING was closed. Never again, we'll definately go to another park and take advantage of it for the rides.

 

[mhingher]

We went last March, the 1st week and experienced very short wait times for the whole trip in general. We never waited more than 20 minutes. That being said, EMH were great-- we walked right on the rides!

 

[TigerLaw]

with respect to the AK extra magic nights, I am thinking that EE will make everything else a walk on or close to it, but I wonder how bad the EE lines will still be. I don't think we'll do the epcot extra magic night b/c its the night of the first halloween party, so I'm sure it will be packed.

I am curious to see if anyone can comment on how the MGM extra magic nights went for them during off season

 

[laxfamily52]

Where do you get a wristband?

 

[TigerLaw]

sorry, don't know how to make this a hot link, but...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm

 

[TigerLaw]

one other question I have is do I have it correct that the second the EMH night starts, the FP machines reset and are open again?

 

[Jules76126]

I have done EMH twice now and one time I thought it was great and the other time it was not worth it. In March we did EMH at Epcot and in my opinion it was not worth it. We waited 1 hour to go on soarin and then another hour for test track. However the EMH at MK are worth it. Just this past Friday I was there and they were open until 3 am. After wishes it seemed like the park cleared out and we basically walked on to everything or onl had to wait about 10 minutes. At one point we were on Splash Mountain and they were like if you want to go again just stay seated. There were many logs with no one in them. It is really all up to you and the time of year you go. However I would highly recommend it.

Also with the fast passes. Fast passes do not reset. They only go until the park's official closing time. (for example for us the park closed at midnight and then EMH started, so the fast passes ended at midnight). I believe that it is better that way because you really dont need a fast past at most of the attractions even some of the most popular like Space Mountain.

 

[LuvTony0508]

I went to WDW in both 04 and 05 from June 29 - July 8. We used to EMH wristbands at MK and MGM. All I have to say is WORTH IT. At MK we saw Mickeys Philharmagic with no wait, there was basically NO WAIT for anything. Space mountain, Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, etc. etc. We are going again this year and can't wait to use the magic hours. I think it's definitely worth the investment, especially if you're like my family and don't leave the hotel until 1 or 2PM, we can't stand the daytime heat! We only go to the parks in the AM when there is something special we want to do or when we're getting near the end of our vacation and want to get the most for our stay.

 

[jsmla]

DD went to an Extra Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom after a horrible thunderstorm last June. The hours were 12:00 - 3:00 am. WDW was crazy crowded that week but the EMH at Magic Kingdom was very lightly attended. Every ride except Space Mt. was a walk-on. There had been violent storms for most of the day and into the night and I guess everyone got tired of the rain and left!