MGM Night EMH

[BostonTink85]

What are they like? Crowds? In the past we have usually stayed away from all night EMH but this time I scheduled a late dinner (8 pm) for Sci-Fi and figured we would take a stab at a night EMH. There's 4 of us (in our teens and 20s) so it's not like staying up is an issue, I'm just worried about how packed it may be. We are going the last week in August Thanks for any experiences or stories on this!

 

[Dan Murphy]

No experience as I shy away from EMH, AM and PM.

 

[Robo]

What are they like? Crowds? In the past we have usually stayed away from all night EMH but this time I scheduled a late dinner (8 pm) for Sci-Fi and figured we would take a stab at a night EMH. There's 4 of us (in our teens and 20s) so it's not like staying up is an issue, I'm just worried about how packed it may be. We are going the last week in August Thanks for any experiences or stories on this!

I amazed at the folks who just "never go" to EMH's.

I always go to AM EMH (virtually every day of the trip that we did not do a PM EMH late the night before)... never ONCE regretted an AM EMH... they are amazingly empty and easy to ride the open attractions.
If that park THEN starts to fill 2 to 3 hours later... WHO CARE'S? Were DONE and we can HOP elsewhere or do lunch and take a rest until later.

PM EMH's are a mixed bag. I've been when they were PACKED... but on other nights, they were just like the AM's... "free rides" on all the open attractions.

And considering its FREE to go... if its busy, just people-watch or hit the exit (where ELSE are ya gonna go at 10pm, anyway?)
But if its not busy... you're ALL SET for EXTRA FUN!

I can't see the problem.

 

[BostonTink85]

I amazed at the folks who just "never go" to EMH's.

I always go to AM EMH!

We also go to all AM EMH but like you said I've heard mixed reviews of the PM ones. I guess we'll just try and like you said if it's too crowded just leave.

 

[erinch]

when we were there last summer the MK evening EMH was insane. Wait for SM was over an hour. Has it calmed down any?

 

[Robo]

when we were there last summer the MK evening EMH was insane. Wait for SM was over an hour. Has it calmed down any?

The point is, it might have been "insane" when you were there and it might have been "heaven" a few nights later. You simply don't KNOW until you go.

NOBODY can predict what a constantly changing diverse universe of guests from around the world WILL or WON'T decide to do on any given day.

On our last trip (this spring) we watched Wishes from the Poly beach on a Sat. night, then waited an HOUR after MK closed and took the monorail to MK to catch a bus back to All Star. The bus queues were still a ZOO by then.
NEXT NIGHT we did the same Wishes from the Poly beach thing, but decided we'd chance PM EMH at MK.
We "knew" that since MK had been SO BUSY the night before that it would be over-run on EMH...
to our pleasant surprise, everything was a "walk-on"... it was AMAZING!
We "closed" the park, that EMH night, riding all the way (and wished we had MORE time).

So... you never KNOW unless you GO!

 

[dsnymomof4]

We were at MGM evening EMH last July and we managed to see Fantasmic and then afterwards headed over to RnR (apparantly everyone else in the park did as well.) The wait was over an hour with no FP available. Same with Tot. At that time, there were not that many attractions open - I'm not sure if it's different now. We ended up leaving as we did not want to wait in line for an hour.

 

[MickeyDee]

Well, I just got back and my sister and I attempted a MGM EMH and ended up leaving 10 minutes in. It was PACKED and we were frustrated, because no restaurants were open except for the couple next to RR and ToT. Granted, it was July.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

As for MGM... I have never done the evening EMH hours there, but I am wondering if it would merit an extra three hours . Don't get me wrong, I enjoy MGM, but it just doesn't have very many rides. I would hope everyone does not pour into ToT and RnRC at the same time. If so that would not be enjoyable.

NOBODY can predict what a constantly changing diverse universe of guests from around the world WILL or WON'T decide to do on any given day.

On this I disagree... having visited WDW during various seasons and having read anecdotal observations like your own, I would argue that there are some principles that can applied to the perceived chaos of crowd migration at WDW. I don't know about micro-managing it to the point of knowing what is "best" to ride at any given hour of the day. But I am convinced that there are principles that will serve as pretty accurate predictors about whether a park is going to be crowded on any given day.
Disclaimer: I am not advocating any certain person or provider's principles; I'm just saying they do exist and they do help.

 

[ciera321]

I amazed at the folks who just "never go" to EMH's.

I always go to AM EMH (virtually every day of the trip that we did not do a PM EMH late the night before)... never ONCE regretted an AM EMH... they are amazingly empty and easy to ride the open attractions.
If that park THEN starts to fill 2 to 3 hours later... WHO CARE'S? Were DONE and we can HOP elsewhere or do lunch and take a rest until later.

PM EMH's are a mixed bag. I've been when they were PACKED... but on other nights, they were just like the AM's... "free rides" on all the open attractions.

And considering its FREE to go... if its busy, just people-watch or hit the exit (where ELSE are ya gonna go at 10pm, anyway?)
But if its not busy... you're ALL SET for EXTRA FUN!

I can't see the problem.

Well said, our thoughts exactly. On our trip next week, we plan on being at every morning EMH and a few evenings, too...

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....there are principles that will serve as pretty accurate predictors about whether a park is going to be crowded on any given day......

Very true, Zip.

 

[Robo]

I don't know about micro-managing it to the point of knowing what is "best" to ride at any given hour of the day. But I am convinced that there are principles that will serve as pretty accurate predictors about whether a park is going to be crowded on any given day.
Disclaimer: I am not advocating any certain person or provider's principles; I'm just saying they do exist and they do help.

The proof that its an "inexact science" is that there are differing "predictions" from EACH of the gurus for the same park dates... and apologies posted from the gurus (who don't HIDE) when they make a colossal miscalculation... as well as the "anecdotal" reports that say, "We did X, but Y happened."

OF COURSE its possible to make predictions based on "past performance" (like predicting the outcome of sporting events)...but the REALITY is that the OUTCOME will not be certain until AFTER the event.
Many gurus say, "Avoid EMH parks".
If I had listened to this "advice" I would have MISSED many extended hours of FUN!

 

[Samantha/NC]

We went into MGM one night last week during EMH--it was horrible---it was so crowded-we only stayed for a few minutes (we went early around 8:00)--my sis and her hubby visited MK early (8:00) and once again they just stayed around Main Street area b/c it was so crowded.

 

[Robo]

from
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1183883

We have only did EMH night twice and both times was the week of New Years. It was the best time to be in the park, yes the crowds were very thin, we did everything. I would always do the evening hrs over the morning hrs for now on.

 

[Simba22]

I think that the crowd levels of all the parks on EMH nights are also determined by what time of year you are there. We were there in May and did the night EMH at MGM and it was AWESOME! Way less crowded than during the day...we walked on to RnRC, ToT, and got great seats for the EMH Fantasmic Show.

 

[I-4WDW]

I did night EMH at Epcot, MK, and the Studios 2 weeks ago while I was there. Yes, it was still crowded during the first hour and a half or so, but after that, the crowds quickly thinned out. The EMH at MGM was til 1am, and I didnt get to the park til 12:15, after being at the MK that night, which closed at 12am.

The streets were still pretty crowded with people, but dont let that fool you. I was able to walk-on Star Tours, and ride Tower of Terror 3 times in a row with no wait at all, even though the posted wait time was 40 minutes. I did all of this in less than 45 minutes. I would highly reccomend doing night EMH, but if you are not one who likes to stay in the parks til 1 or 2am, when crowds are lighter, or have small children (even though many did bring their crying kids) then it probably isnt worth it to you.

I was also able to go to two different MK night EMH, where the park didnt close til 2am, and the crowds really started to dwindle around 12:45am. I was able to do Big Thunder twice in a row with no wait, and Splash 3 times in a row with no wait, as well as many other attractions in the park, like Buzz and Philharmagic. It was worth it to me just to be in MK at 2am, and be able to walk down an empty Main Street after the park had closed and actually be able to hear the music and see the sidewalk

I did EMH 5 nights during my visit to the World, at every park except AK, and each one exceeded my expectations. I just might have to stay at a Disney Resort a couple of nights when I become a CM in a couple of weeks, since EMH is for only resort guests It is THAT worth it for me, IMO

 

[*NikkiBell*]

We plan around EMH nights and don't go to the park in late in the day and then do EMH at night. They are never crowded and we have gone at the busiest seasons of the year. MGM was dead as ever during Easter week's EMH at night.

 

[mammoth_fan]

So... you never KNOW unless you GO!

Thanks, Robo! That will be my rallying cry for EMH. I also figure, sleep? Who needs sleep? This is vacation, man!!

 

[Robo]

Thanks, Robo! That will be my rallying cry for EMH. I also figure, sleep? Who needs sleep? This is vacation, man!!

We have always said, "We can SLEEP at HOME! This is DISNEY!"

Great minds and all that...

 

[punkin]

If you are going in late August, the emh will end comparitively early (way before 2 am) because the park closes at 8:30 pm so an additional 3 hours only puts you at 11:30.