Please tell me the evening EMH isn't a joke...

[marriedmarylander]

Also all these posts about EMH being a joke scare me. I purposely plans EMH days to get my resort perk. I am fine with if it is just normal crowds, but is it more crowded than it was during the day? Do a whole bunch more people just show up late? Also, I'd be pissed if I went and all these non-resort guests got to ride rides as well.

How do you usually look at EMH? For instance, Do you think of it as the park is open from 9-midnight (instead of 9-9) and make a touring plan based on that? Or do you just think if you need tit sorta thing you will go to the EMH?

I guess I'm asking if you went to the evening EMH during the day would you "save" the EMH attractions until later that evening, or would you go ahead and get them done early anyway. If you do them during the day, I guess that means you really wouldn't have to stay for EMH would you?

 

[MamaQuack]

Lots of the same questions I have - we always avoid the morning EMH parks and have done well. This will be our first trip with the evening hours and I am wondering the same things - will it be bedlam?

 

[marriedmarylander]

Maybe that was just for MK???

I don't feel like changing my itinerary around just to avoid those days since I figured I'd give it a try. I'm always one who wants to see for myself!

 

[WDSearcher]

The evening EMH's are naturally more crowded, since in addition to the people coming over to the EMH park after closing, you also have all the people who were in the park that day. And, I'm thinking, more people prefer to stay late than to get up early. But during the times I have been at evening EMH, I have noticed CMs very diligently checking wristbands, and people without them are not allowed on rides. They are still allowed to be IN the park -- shopping, strolling, whatever. So while the streets may be crowded, the rides themselves may not be.

As for whether or not to "save" the EMH rides for the actual EMH hours ... for me, that would depend on how high those rides are on my list of "things to do" at that park. If my entire reason for going to MGM is to ride Tower of Terror, for example, and I've been looking forward to it, I'm still going to ride it during the day when I'm at the park, and then use EMH as a way to get a couple more turns in. I guess I'd look at how crowded the ride is during the day when I'm there and use that as my benchmark. It's going to be different for different people.

Obviously evening EMHs aren't "a joke" to everyone -- you can find lots of posts that talk about them in a positive way as well. Every single element of WDW -- from fireworks to resorts to rides to characters to shows to food to strollers -- is loved by someone and hated by someone else. The only way you'll know if EMH works for you is to do EMH and find out for yourself.

 

[KevinM]

When we were there in February (which is a fairly quiet time anyway) we noticed that EMH evening hours were more crowded than during the day at any particular park. The morning hours were great, but as the non-EMH parks close earlier in the off season, we noticed that a lot of people were streaming into the parks (MGM and MK) late in the afternoon.

 

[marriedmarylander]

When we were there in February (which is a fairly quiet time anyway) we noticed that EMH evening hours were more crowded than during the day at any particular park. The morning hours were great, but as the non-EMH parks close earlier in the off season, we noticed that a lot of people were streaming into the parks (MGM and MK) late in the afternoon.

Thanks. But is it unbearable? I'm not expecting to be a walk on any ride with no line. I actually can bear crowds fairly well but if it's like over an hour to wait for each right that does sound ridiculous ....

 

[KevinM]

Again, being February there were different factors working as opposed to a near-peak or peak season trip. That being said, the standy lines were longer during eveing EMH than they were in the early to mid-afternoon. I remember ToT had a 15 or 20 minute wait at around 2 PM but it was around 45 minutes during EMH. Needless to say, we didn't stick around too late!

My sister just returned and said that the EMH hours at MK were until 2 or 3 AM and everything was basically a walk on after midnight. With a 5 year old in tow, we would never make it past 8 or 9 PM (she actually slept through Wishes this year!), so that wouldn't help us!

 

[goofy4tink]

I am going to compare the EMH in the evenings to MVMCP crowds. I've done the party, and I've done E-nights but not an EMH night before. When I did the E-night and the MVMCP, the crowds were fine. The lines were not long at all. Yes, sometimes the wait was 20 minutes but not very often and as you went later into the evening, the less crowded it got. I can only imagine that will be the case with the EMH. Since MK will be open until 10 the night we go for EMH, it won't close until 1 a.m. I really can't see there being huge hour long waits at the attractions then. I wouldn't even think it would be the 20 minute wait at midnight. I guess I could be assuming too much but that's how I'm planning. Will it be crowded? Yes, but it all depends on what you feel is 'too' crowded. I've done MK on a beautiful Sat afternoon and let me tell you..that's crowded!!!
So, yes we are planning on doing the EMH in the evenings. We will most likely go to the park that had EMH the evening before around park opening time. Hoping that works out okay.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Yes, it's going to be crowded, but I still go for two reasons :

#1 - Just being in the parks at night is magical. I don't care for DTD very much - I only go to WDW for the "big 4" parks. So even if I only get on a few rides, it's worth it for the extra magic.

#2 - In that last hour or so, you can really get a bunch of rides in. Especially over at the Splash Mountain/BTMRR area. I love to just ride Splash over and over until they close, then slowly walking back to Main Street.

If you want to use nighttime EMH for intense touring, it's probably not going to do it for you. But if you just see it as some extra time to be in the parks, with no specific plans, then it's great. The crowds tend to move together much more on EMH/party nights - when you see them, go the other way.

N.E.D.

 

[LoraJ]

I'm dreading this. I wish I had planned my days in the park better. I wanted to do MK tonight and tomorrow night, but BF isn't feeling well, so tomorrow may be our only time and I have a feeling we won't get on anything.

The lines for most rides in the other parks haven't been more than 30 minutes. Most average 15mins. I have a feeling it will be a lot worse tomorrow night.