To EMH, or not to EMH?

[JustinS30]

Trying to gather opinions and insight friends!

Historically when planning my WDW trips (typically very small groups) I’ve always prescribed to purchasing a base ticket (no hopper), and avoiding parks with EMH in order to try to avoid crowds. And it has worked very well. However, for our trip next year, my will-be-DW and myself have splurged and gotten APs since we’re planning more than one trip.

Now, that we have the ability to hop parks, is it worthwhile to take in morning EMH, with plan to tour the park through the AM, and likely hop elsewhere for the evening? Or is avoiding the EMH parks overall the better strategy to avoid (somewhat, I know) crowds?? Morning EMH v Evening EMH?

Thoughts? Ideas?

 

[DWillowBay]

That depends on crowd size and the popularity of the rides/ attractions that you want to be a part of. As a general rule, we do EMH, but concentrate on the less popular rides and get those done early on. We either FP the popular rides in that park or in the park we are hopping to, again depending on preference, the crowd size and popularity of the ride.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

I think some of the parks are better for EMH than others, I always felt EMH was not much use in Epcot, but, I prefer mornings in the other parks as in the evenings you still have non resort guests around and not filling up lines before official park closing. And you can't do FP for EMH, so you can't avoid lines.
It all comes down to whether you are a morning or evening person.

 

[JustinS30]

I think some of the parks are better for EMH than others, I always felt EMH was not much use in Epcot, but, I prefer mornings in the other parks as in the evenings you still have non resort guests around and not filling up lines before official park closing. And you can't do FP for EMH, so you can't avoid lines.
It all comes down to whether you are a morning or evening person.

I’ve never been a “morning person” but I essentially turn into one at WDW. I will always do rope drop (granted, on normal hours). Granted yes you will need to wait in line, but (for morning EMH) isn’t the crowd going to be lower and therefore you can manage a few E-ticket attractions prior to lines really developing??

 

[Bete]

We love the extra magic morning hours. We will take a break in the afternoon. Sometimes we go back to the same park, sometimes not.

 

[RamblingMad]

How good in shape are you? Can you keep going like an energizer bunny? If so, I’d do it. Of course, weather usually turns bad in the afternoon, so plan accordingly.

 

[JustinS30]

We love the extra magic morning hours. We will take a break in the afternoon. Sometimes we go back to the same park, sometimes not.

I do always plan a mid day break anyway (especially since I typically go during summer). I’d imagine if I took advantage of hopping with the AP I’d do the EMH in the morning trying to beat the crowds, then in the evening visit a different park. Not sure yet.

How good in shape are you? Can you keep going like an energizer bunny? If so, I’d do it. Of course, weather usually turns bad in the afternoon, so plan accordingly.

We’re both in excellent shape so blasting through wouldn’t be an issue. With that said, we plan a mid day break either way.

 

[sharonabe]

Historically when planning my WDW trips (typically very small groups) I’ve always prescribed to purchasing a base ticket (no hopper), and avoiding parks with EMH in order to try to avoid crowds. And it has worked very well. However, for our trip next year, my will-be-DW and myself have splurged and gotten APs since we’re planning more than one trip.

I say you try it. We always do the morning EMH park and then hop elsewhere for the afternoon/evening. You know what avoiding EMH looks like, so why not try a morning EMH on at least a few days of your trip and see what the difference is. MK has the most attractions open during that hour, but AK and HS are close to MK's numbers. EP is the one park that early EMH doesn't always work just because there isn't enough open to distribute the number of people.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

I’ve never been a “morning person” but I essentially turn into one at WDW. I will always do rope drop (granted, on normal hours). Granted yes you will need to wait in line, but (for morning EMH) isn’t the crowd going to be lower and therefore you can manage a few E-ticket attractions prior to lines really developing??
[/QUOTE

I’ve never been a “morning person” but I essentially turn into one at WDW. I will always do rope drop (granted, on normal hours). Granted yes you will need to wait in line, but (for morning EMH) isn’t the crowd going to be lower and therefore you can manage a few E-ticket attractions prior to lines really developing??

That's what I mean, the lines will be there, but, not like they would be for evening EMH when non resort guests join the line at 2 minutes before official closing, something that won't be an issue in the mornings.

 

[Klayfish]

I've never understood the notion of "avoiding EMH parks". We were AP holders and stayed offsite, so we were never eligible for EMH (we tried it once and found it very meh). We don't even look to see what park has EMH that day. When we walk in a park at 10am, I couldn't even tell you if it had EMH that morning, I don't really notice any difference in crowd size. The real difference in crowd size we notice is time of year, beyond that it's all the same to us.

 

[evlaina]

We always stay on site and we always avoid EMH parks. Unfortunately, our next trip (in a few weeks) has only EEMH at all parks but Epcot, so that put a kink in our plan! In the past we have always done PPO breakfasts so we get a head start on the crowds. We also always get hoppers, but make sure we're hopping to a park without evening EMH.

 

[JustinS30]

I say you try it. We always do the morning EMH park and then hop elsewhere for the afternoon/evening. You know what avoiding EMH looks like, so why not try a morning EMH on at least a few days of your trip and see what the difference is. MK has the most attractions open during that hour, but AK and HS are close to MK's numbers. EP is the one park that early EMH doesn't always work just because there isn't enough open to distribute the number of people.

That’s about where my mind is trending with the idea. Try a different strategy, put the passes to good use, and learn new experiences. And thanks for the point about Epcot, I did not realize that!

I've never understood the notion of "avoiding EMH parks". We were AP holders and stayed offsite, so we were never eligible for EMH (we tried it once and found it very meh). We don't even look to see what park has EMH that day. When we walk in a park at 10am, I couldn't even tell you if it had EMH that morning, I don't really notice any difference in crowd size. The real difference in crowd size we notice is time of year, beyond that it's all the same to us.

It’s always played off the idea that if a park has EMH, and is advertising such, many resort guests will attend, leading to higher crowds. Likewise, the idea that if a park has had EMH the previous day (especially evening) and resort guests have utilized those, fewer will return to the same park the following day, leading to slightly lower crowds. I’ve always traveled in July/August so I look for any advantage I can. If you’re not a rope dropper (as I think you implied) you may not notice as much of a difference either.

 

[JustinS30]

We always stay on site and we always avoid EMH parks. Unfortunately, our next trip (in a few weeks) has only EEMH at all parks but Epcot, so that put a kink in our plan! In the past we have always done PPO breakfasts so we get a head start on the crowds. We also always get hoppers, but make sure we're hopping to a park without evening EMH.

Ah great point! Making sure to avoid the evening EMH as well.

 

[shocker]

I DO EMH. But, only recommend if you can truly embrace it in its entirety. If you can really make it to RD then do morning EMH. If you can really stay awake & active til a park closes, then do evening EMH. If you arrive 30 minutes after it starts or leave an hour before it ends, you'll have only enjoyed larger crowds for the rest of your time there. Think now in half day blocks as you plan to park hop. Hop out of an AM EMH park or into a PM EMH park, enjoying less crowded parks that other half day.

The general rule of thumb is...the earlier or later an EMH is...the less attended it will be & therefore the more valuable it will be to you. Many people can make it to an 8am opening but many people cannot make it to a 6am opening.


I always plan my first 3 FP's at my morning park & usually enjoy a 4th & 5th FP (usually mid-level rides but sometimes headliners) at that same park & leave after lunch for a/c & a nap during storms. I can usually get a headliner FP #6 for evening before I leave morning park. Then I get FP #7-9 at the evening park.

 

[JustinS30]

I DO EMH. But, only recommend if you can truly embrace it in its entirety. If you can really make it to RD then do morning EMH. If you can really stay awake & active til a park closes, then do evening EMH. If you arrive 30 minutes after it starts or leave an hour before it ends, you'll have only enjoyed larger crowds for the rest of your time there. Think now in half day blocks as you plan to park hop. Hop out of an AM EMH park or into a PM EMH park, enjoying less crowded parks that other half day.

The general rule of thumb is...the earlier or later an EMH is...the less attended it will be & therefore the more valuable it will be to you. Many people can make it to an 8am opening but many people cannot make it to a 6am opening.


I always plan my first 3 FP's at my morning park & usually enjoy a 4th & 5th FP (usually mid-level rides but sometimes headliners) at that same park & leave after lunch for a/c & a nap during storms. I can usually get a headliner FP #6 for evening before I leave morning park. Then I get FP #7-9 at the evening park.

Thank you for the excellent insight! That’s an excellent way to look at it. We are definitely rope drop people, so I think the morning EMH might be more attractive to us but I’ll have to see how it unfolds.

What time of year are you going when you have that much luck with FP?

 

[bluezy]

Ah great point! Making sure to avoid the evening EMH as well.

I wouldn't just flatly avoid evening EMH -- unless you don't plan to participate in that EMH. We've done the MK evening EMH a few times and mostly find it to be worthwhile (always planning to sleep late the next morning). When evening EMH was 12-2 a.m. we got a TON of rides in during those 2 hours because a lot of people don't want to stay up that late. The park would still be a little crowded at midnight but by about 12:30 ride lines were nearly non-existent other than some of the headliners -- 7DMT was about 15 minutes, Space Mountain was 5. Last year the evening EMH was 11pm-1 am and that wasn't quite as good -- park stayed more crowded than previous years due to the earlier hours. Still got on a lot of rides, but not as many as prior years. Not sure we'll bother to do it again on our next trip if it's still 11-1. Would definitely do it if it was 12-2.

 

[JustinS30]

I wouldn't just flatly avoid evening EMH -- unless you don't plan to participate in that EMH. We've done the MK evening EMH a few times and mostly find it to be worthwhile (always planning to sleep late the next morning). When evening EMH was 12-2 a.m. we got a TON of rides in during those 2 hours because a lot of people don't want to stay up that late. The park would still be a little crowded at midnight but by about 12:30 ride lines were nearly non-existent other than some of the headliners -- 7DMT was about 15 minutes, Space Mountain was 5. Last year the evening EMH was 11pm-1 am and that wasn't quite as good -- park stayed more crowded than previous years due to the earlier hours. Still got on a lot of rides, but not as many as prior years. Not sure we'll bother to do it again on our next trip if it's still 11-1. Would definitely do it if it was 12-2.

Understandable point. The comment was more driven at utilizing morning EMH, then trying to find a lower crowd for the evening. I say this only bc we’ve always done rope drop. So late night EMH may make that tricky. However, I’ll have to take a look at how the schedule plays out.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've been on the DISboards a long time. Whenever this subject comes up, a large percentage of folks say they avoid EMH and go-the-day-after EMH.

I suspect this is why the PM EMH hours were reduced; not enough folks in the parks.

Now that you have hoppers, experiment for yourself. Choose hopping when it makes sense, and skip it when it doesn't. There are (too) many variables. There's no correct or wrong answer. It is all opinion and specific circumstance.

Seasons: Parks are coolest in early AM/late PM. That's a benefit on hot/dry days, but not great on wet/cold days. In winter, nights are chilly. Summer often = afternoon storms.

Room location: BC +hopping between HS and Epcot +stopping by your room on the way = easy. In other scenarios, a trip to your room costs 60+ min each way =less value.

Dining: Hop into a park for an ADR? +EMH = good option if you love multiple ADRs (in a specific park).

Other reasons to hop/not hop: FP availability, time cost (Epcot/HS/AK hops=short, MK hops usually=longer unless staying near MK.)

For us, we've done both hopping an not hopping many times. There's no correct or wrong answer, just opinion and specific circumstance.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Ah, the BIG fly in the ointment- is anything that throws off your plans. More than once, we have PLANNED on going to EMH, but something kept us from arriving on time or being able to stay that late.

On the other hand, changing plans mid-day is also very easy if you decide you want to hop. (esp. after using your 3 FP).

Mind, over at Universal, hopping is always super easy. We hop back and forth between the two US parks all the time without any thought at all.

 

[JustinS30]

Seasons: Parks are coolest in early AM/late PM. That's a benefit on hot/dry days, but not great on wet/cold days. In winter, nights are chilly. Summer often = afternoon storms.

Room location: BC +hopping between HS and Epcot +stopping by your room on the way = easy. In other scenarios, a trip to your room costs 60+ min each way =less value.

Dining: Hop into a park for an ADR? +EMH = good option if you love multiple ADRs (in a specific park).

Good points! As I’ve mentioned, we’ve typically gone summer time, so the mid-day breaks have almost been essential. This will be our first fall trip.

I agree with the dining options with hoppers as well (albeit not the greatest for time if we plan to hop to MK or AK) as we really enjoy many restaurants in Epcot’s World Showcase, and one leg of our trip is going to be staying at the Dolphin resort.