MK Open Until 3am EMH

[famsen]

This will be our first time going to WDW over Easter and I know it will be crazy. I want to be in the parks during the least busiest times of the day. I noticed on our arrival day MK will be open for EMH until 3am. What would be a good time to arrive at MK if we plan on staying until 3am?
Will the park be less crowded say after dinner? After the first fireworks show? We are staying on property and driving ourselves and I don't know what is better at that time, MK buses or our own car? Please help!

I think we are planning to go to Epcot on Saturday and avoid the parks altogether on Easter Sunday(maybe hit Kennedy Space Center and the outlet mall.

 

[lugnut33]

I would say get there about a half hour after Wishes. The park will probably be busy until midnight no matter what, but people will begin leaving immediately following the fireworks. Your sweet time should be from 1 am until 3 am.

I have been in the MK at 1am and the wait for Peter Pan was 45 minutes.

 

[famsen]

Thanks for the tips.
Anyone know if there is any benefit to taking our car versus using Disney transportation at that time? I really want to drive ourselves but I don't know if the parking lots would be to capacity at that time given MK is open until 3am.

 

[Raenstoirm]

3 am is the best time! After midnight it starts to empty rapidly, by 3 you will be the only soul in the park!

One night my husband and I rode Dumbo by ourselves and played with Goofy afterward. We were the only ones in that part of the park. Goofy hung out with us for 20 minutes.

As for arrival, we get there at park opening and stay till it closes (two adults only). Yup we're nuts!

 

[lugnut33]

Thanks for the tips.
Anyone know if there is any benefit to taking our car versus using Disney transportation at that time? I really want to drive ourselves but I don't know if the parking lots would be to capacity at that time given MK is open until 3am.

We love to drive our own car except when going to the Magic Kingdom. The busses stop right outside the entrance/exit, so it's just a short walk. If you drive to the Magic Kingdom you have to find a spot to park, take the tram to the Ticket And Transportation Center, and take a boat or monorail to the MK. If you drive to the MK around noon you'll probably find the packing lot closed due to capacity during Easter. It is almost always quicker to take the bus to the MK than to drive.

The busses will run until 5 am if the MK closes at 3, so there's no fear of not getting a bus. I came out of the MK one time at 2:45 am (MK closed at 2) and waited at my stop for about 2 minutes. A bus pulled up, I hopped on and off he went. Just me and the driver.

 

[goofy's_gurl]

IMO I prefer to take the buses only because like lugnut33 said that they drop you right off in the front of the park.

 

[2Tiggies]

IMO I prefer to take the buses only because like lugnut33 said that they drop you right off in the front of the park.

And collect you from there too! At 3 am, you won't really feel like going over to get your car - trust me!

 

[thunderbird1]

Another bonus to taking the bus--if you make it until 3 am (and beyond), there will be no lines for them!

When to arrive depends on how much you want to do. Like others have said, the best time to hit the most rides will be 1-3, but you can easily do some of the less popular attractions and shows before the park closes at midnight. Also keep in mind that some attractions have earlier closing times, so if you arrive too late, you'd have to skip those.

We did the night before NYE in the MK and NYE in DHS last year, both of which had EMH until 3 am, and loved it. Have fun!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

When we go in May we plan on staying in the MK until 2 am. We can not wait!! We plan on doing AK that morning and then MK that night! Yes we're nuts too!

 

[bmalonef45]

We love EMH at night. Last time we used them was over Thanksgiving a couple years ago and around midnight the park was really empty. Definitely a different feeling. I'm a night owl anyway so thats my speed. My kids get a kick out of it because they feel like they are getting a special deal staying up past their bed time. Maybe when they get to be teens we'll give staying up until 3 am a try.

 

[poohscrew]

We love the parks late at night. It is the best time!!!!!!! There is something very magical about being there so late with hardly anyone else there. We always take full advantage of the late EMH's. We have 3 kids and they love being there too. We usually are at the parks from open to close. You can take breaks relaxing in a restaurant during the day. IMO, it is a pain to go back to the resort to rest for awhile!

Have Fun!!

 

[nicki.momof3]

We will also be there Easter week - and we last year also. i can tell you from last years experiences that the park CLEARS OUT after wishes. Most nights spectro is done at 9pm and 11pm. At 9pm it is elbow to elbow at 11pm prime curb seat are easy to fine and rides are walk on.

We LOVE MK after 11pm. We usually go for a dinner at Crystal palace at 5pm and stay late.

Enjoy

 

[Softball Mom]

We love that 3am closing time! We usually sit and watch the crowds pour out. Then we hit the rides! It's something to try.

We went back to MK for the last wishes and spectromagic. Then just relaxed as the crowd shuffled out. Around 1am, the park was pretty much cleared out and the waits were barely noticeable. It's very relaxed and you can actually move in the park. The stores seem to be crowded for quite a while after closing but the CM are very good about looking for resort guests only.

Enjoy!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

We did the super late EMHs last spring. We would go into the park in the morning around 9, take a super long break, go back for dinner, and stay the rest of the night. It was fantastic! The WHOLE park emptied after Wishes and walked onto HM, JC, POTC. Only the mountains had a wait, and I don't think it was that bad.

Dinnertime worked good for us (some nights we at late, depending on how long the kids napped during the day). We got in the parks with time to do 1 thing, line up for fireworks and then make the big push for the other rides.

Good luck!