Park hours question

[Rock'n Robin]

Please forgive me--I haven't been to WDW since 1/2/04 and I need to make sure how the park hours are working these days.
In the olden days (say 2000-2002) if a park opened at 9, it really opened about 8:30--say you were at MK, you could get in the park and at least walk around main street and to the castle before any rides opened. Is it still that way, or do gates OPEN at 9?
And what difference does EMH make? When I'm down there, TL is listed as an EMH every day. The posted opening hour is 9AM--so does TL open at 8? I am also going to AK and MK on early EMH days--do these parks open at 8 on those days, or can I actually get in earlier?
I do not want to think I'm all prepared arriving at 8AM (which for me means I'd get there at least 7:45) and find out people got in the park at 7:30!
Thanks for the help. You miss a couple years of WDW, you miss a lot!
Robin M.

 

[PolyFish]

EMH is a great thing to use in the mornings for MK and such. You can actually go on the rides, walk down main street also. But the minus is, that some of the lands don't open until later IE.Frontierland etc.

 

[brentalex]

The parks will generally open earlier than the posted time. However, you will be stopped from getting all the way into the park until the official opening time. So if the EMH opening time is 8, then you generally will be allowed onto main street earlier than that, will be stopped by ropes before you can get to any of the lands, and will need to wait there until 8. Having never been to EMH at a water park, I am not sure how it works there.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Thanks--my main concern is AK; we want to get there early and either get right on EE or get a fastpass. I will get to MK early but have really done everything there before (except Stitch) so it's not that big a deal.
Anyone familiar with the EMH at the waterparks?
Robin M.

 

[brentalex]

Thanks--my main concern is AK; we want to get there early and either get right on EE or get a fastpass. I will get to MK early but have really done everything there before (except Stitch) so it's not that big a deal.
Anyone familiar with the EMH at the waterparks?
Robin M.

At Easter my experience with the EMH at AK was a complete disaster. There was absolutely no attempt to keep the park open only for resort guests. There was a sign that only resort guests were allowed in, but no one was checking ids. There were only a few turnstyles open and it took almost an hour to get into the park. We got a fastpass for evererst and then rode the safaii with a short wait. The park got packed by 9. could hardly move around.

 

[LadyZolt]

When we were at AK on Saturday, Jun 3, it wasn't EMH and the park was to open at 9. They let in people for Breakfastosaurus at 8:30 early. Everyone else did not get in until 9 when they let us in. We went right to Expedition Everest and those us brave enough to ride it did (no line) and liked it, so got Fastpasses to do it again, which they did. (Not me -- I'm a chicken. LOL!) So, no one but the people who had reservations for the character breakfast got in before 9, and those people were let in only at one spot, and the CMs were checking with a list, so I assume that the list had names on it of expected guests. That's my exerience -- hope it helps.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Thanks--any water park veterans of EMH out there?
Robin M.