Taking advantage of EMH?

[aubeone]

The Unoffical Guide to Walt Disney World recommends avoiding parks on days with Extra Magic Hours. What are your thoughts on this advice?

 

[nluvwithmickey]

If you happen to visit during the slow months, I'd take advantage of it. We did once this past Jan, (evening EMH at MGM) and it was really alot of fun.

But if you go during the busy times AND you do not have the hopper option....skip it. You will be stuck in a very crowded park with no way out.

If you DO have the hopper option, I would say go for the morning EMH. People like to sleep in when they are on vacation so you have more chances of getting more done than during the evening EMH when the parks are so much more crowded.

If you do AM emh, you can hop to another park once this one gets too crowded.

 

[Robo]

The Unoffical Guide to Walt Disney World recommends avoiding parks on days with Extra Magic Hours. What are your thoughts on this advice?

We always go during MORNING EMH because the parks are "EMPTY" for the first few hours (that's true on NON EMH mornings as well, but you get an EXTRA hour with EMH).

You hear "trip reports" BOTH WAYS on any given theme-park on any given day, because "actual mileage may vary" with the TIMING of where you are, and when you are there.

NO ONE can KNOW what a constantly-changing body of people WILL DO on any given day.
There can only be predictions IN GENERAL.

So, I just go early and, if the park gets too busy (regardless of EMH) I can "hop" or just go elsewhere to relax or shop.

I would never buy any WDW ticket without "hopping" options.

 

[snowy76]

My quick answer:

Enjoy morning EMH if you are hopping. Do the EMH park until it gets a bit too crowded and go elsewhere.

Enjoy evening EMH at Animal Kingdom. Our experience was that it was not crowded at all -- and AK at night is a unique experience.

I would generally avoid the other evening EMH's unless you're going in a slow season -- you'll stand around and wait for attractions a lot until at least an hour or two into it.

We like to go to whatever park had evening EMH the night before. So many people were at that park the night before that they tend to avoid that park in the morning and go elsewhere. More room for us!

 

[nliedel]

I have found the best way for our family to take advantage, seriously, is to avoid the park with EMH like the plague. I know a lot of people who will not agree but we stay on site. We eat breakfast a little later and get the restuarants practically to ourselves at the resorts, the busses are still crowded but not jammed and the crowds seem to be lighter at other parks. I just don't have the energy to park hop and I am a triathlete!! I just really like non EMH parks.

 

[Alice Sr.]

If you happen to visit during the slow months, I'd take advantage of it. We did once this past Jan, (evening EMH at MGM) and it was really alot of fun.

But if you go during the busy times AND you do not have the hopper option....skip it. You will be stuck in a very crowded park with no way out.

If you DO have the hopper option, I would say go for the morning EMH. People like to sleep in when they are on vacation so you have more chances of getting more done than during the evening EMH when the parks are so much more crowded.

If you do AM emh, you can hop to another park once this one gets too crowded.

Totally agree, I would just add that the late EMH at MK is great after Wishes, many people leave then and the park stays open a few more hours, my DD's love this time. Of course if you have small children it probably wouldn't be worth keeping them out that late.

 

[ciera321]

We usually go in the summer when it's pretty busy and we definately use the morning EMH. You can really get in some of the most popular rides early and have FP for a little later on...As for the evenings, we do go, but never plan on getting a lot done, just walk around and go on what we can that's not really crowded. Works for us...

 

[Chrisypoo]

We're going to WDW the first full week of November, and I'd planned on taking advantage of evening EMH at MK. I thought my son would get a kick out of it and figured that we're going in an off-season, it would be that bad. Any opinions??

 

[MouseWorshipin]

If it is a busier time, I'll use the morning EMHs if I can. Otherwise, I generally skip them.

 

[MNborn]

My 20-year-old daughter and I are going to WDW in mid-May of this year. What would you suggest for taking advantage of the EMHs are the various parks during that time of year? We need to get serious about booking our ADRs, but haven't decided which park to be at which days! HELP!!

 

[Robo]

My 20-year-old daughter and I are going to WDW in mid-May of this year. What would you suggest for taking advantage of the EMHs are the various parks during that time of year? We need to get serious about booking our ADRs, but haven't decided which park to be at which days! HELP!!

From this and many, many, many other EMH threads:

Many of us go to Morning EMH (and sometimes HOP).
Some of us like the evening EMH at certain parks.
Some of us avoid EMH parks.

So, in your case:
Make a plan, make your ressies, and go and have fun.



Because NOBODY can tell you what WILL happen with ATTENDANCE on any given date, any more than they can predict the WEATHER (which WILL affect the attendance much more than EMH.)

EMH is FREE.
I go.
If I need to, I can always go elsewhere.