Will Be Avoiding Future EMM Days @ MK After This Week's Trip!

[adelaster]

7:50 ADR and then park at 8:40 is realllly tight.

Yeah, I know. It is our first time and I found the level of planning involved insanely stressful. I reserved as far out as possible and that was the best time we could get. If we miss rope drop at this point, oh well. Kind of over it all. I honestly don't know how people find disney planning fun! Happy to assist others with our first (quite possibly only) visit though.

 

[BlueLion]

We were at MK on an EMM day this past Tuesday, 8/16. We had an early BOG ADR, so I can't comment on security and entrance lines, but the park crowds did seem about what I'd expect from 9-11 or so - not "light" but easy enough to get on the 2nd/3rd tier rides around Fantasyland/Storybook Circus with a 5-10 minute wait. At about 12, after our lunch, crowds were heavier, which I believe is typical for around that time. My guess is that most people probably didn't plan around EMM - agree with the earlier comments about aiming for RD and getting there late, from firsthand experience all week.

I did encounter a couple bag check lines that felt very long at MK this week: Tuesday 8/16 returning around 5:30, and then Friday morning 8/19 for EMH ~7:45 am. That Tuesday evening, the bag check lines were actually stopped for a bit when we first got there. Neither was probably more than about 10 minutes in reality, but with the anticipation to get in, they felt long.

Seems Guest Services was the worst part of the problem - I'm shocked it took that long, and would have been very annoyed. Sorry to the OP that you had to experience that.

 

[Jennasis]

Yes that's my thought that I'm holding onto tightly.



If anyone does have links to their own or other's TRs specifically as to attending MK as a non EMM guest, I'd love to see them posted here as I haven't found any thus far. It'd be nice to see that my experience was a fluke based upon overwhelming reports otherwise and I wouldn't worry about working around the days in the future.

Maybe you haven't found any reports because there is nothing to tell? EMM being offered doesn't affect the crowds in the AM.

You showed up to the park in the middle of the summer, a half hour after park open. Then Guest Services gave you the run around. EMM played no part. And I am far from a fan of EMM.

 

[Delphinidae]

We were also at MK this Tuesday, August 16, which was an EMM day. We had an 8:15 ADR at Crystal Palace so I also can't comment on the lines to get in other than there weren't a whole lot of people there yet when we got there a little before 8. We finished just a bit before 9 and headed to Splash Mountain and there weren't many people around. Matter of fact we rode Splash twice and then headed off to do other things. I was nervous about EMM possibly affecting crowds or wait times but honestly it didn't seem to affect anything that I noticed and even though crowd level didn't seem that awful. We spent SEVENTEEN HOURS in MK that day and did so much. It was a great day.

I'm sorry you had such a delay getting into the park. I will say that we hopped to the MK from Epcot that Thursday, around 3 or 4, and it seemed like it took us forever to get through security at both parks and the lines weren't even that long. Same thing Friday morning at Epcot.

 

[Missyrose]

I think everyone is missing the point here. The original poster made a mistake blaming his delay on EMM. But seriously, on what planet is it okay to have a two and a half hour delay at Guest Services entering the park? Even if you arrive at the busiest time of day on a peak day, that is totally unacceptable. At least in my opinion.

Bingo! There shouldn't be this long of a wait at GR, there's no way I would have waited that long without flagging a manager over.

I will be going to the Magic Kingdom on a Tuesday EMM event day. We have an ADR for Ohana at 7:50, and while we hope to make the rope drop scheduled for 8:40 we might not, as I've heard/read that Ohana is really slow. It's our first time visiting and we only have one day tickets. I can definitely share our experience here if this thread is still going. Really hope it doesn't take two hours! to even enter the park. We can't change parks or just try again another day.

You likely will arrive at MK between 9:15 and 9:30, just as an FYI.

 

[keishashadow]

I will be going to the Magic Kingdom on a Tuesday EMM event day. We have an ADR for Ohana at 7:50, and while we hope to make the rope drop scheduled for 8:40 we might not, as I've heard/read that Ohana is really slow. It's our first time visiting and we only have one day tickets. I can definitely share our experience here if this thread is still going. Really hope it doesn't take two hours! to even enter the park. We can't change parks or just try again another day.

That is tight. Not show of the wait to be seated for breakfast but have always waited @ dinner time.

Would it be possible to try for an ADR the next day (even if you don't have park tix?). Keep checking right up to the last minute as people cancel ADRs @ the 24 hr mark and bit earlier to avoid paying the $10 pp no show.

I'd keep checking for earlier O'hana time too, good luck

Maybe you haven't found any reports because there is nothing to tell? EMM being offered doesn't affect the crowds in the AM.

You showed up to the park in the middle of the summer, a half hour after park open. Then Guest Services gave you the run around. EMM played no part. And I am far from a fan of EMM.

Could be, even tho this community is large, it is just a percentage but I've gotten such good info here over the years.

 

[DisDadDVC]

I think everyone is missing the point here. The original poster made a mistake blaming his delay on EMM. But seriously, on what planet is it okay to have a two and a half hour delay at Guest Services entering the park? Even if you arrive at the busiest time of day on a peak day, that is totally unacceptable. At least in my opinion.

I'll be honest, I don't believe they waited 2.5hrs at GR. To start with, she said they "arrived" at MK at 9:30. Maybe they got through security at 10? Maybe it was more like 11:30 when they got into park? Simply stated, I think there is either more to the story at Guest Relations, or the OP is exaggerating a bit.

 

[KrazeeK120]

There is no confusion in my mind. I still think EMM contributed to what I experienced as to crowd arrival.

Appears most are of opinion I am incorrect & that's ok, their opinion, whether it's based on their personal experience or just what they think is likely. All are entitled to their thoughts.

When I read posts here or hear first-hand accounts that EMM days don't tend to take longer overall to clear security, then I will consider visiting MK on EMM days.

Certainly, not about to tell others what to do with their Disney time, just being clear on what I won't be doing in October.

It's not opinion that you're incorrect. There are literally zero reports anywhere that indicate EMM impacts touring in any way, shape, or form.

What facts do you have to prove you're right? Unless you have some definitive proof, the title of your post is misleading.

You ran into trouble because you arrived with the masses...people who would have arrived at that time regardless of if there was EMM or not. Arriving at the park at 9:30 is not early.

 

[cmarsh31]

I'll be honest, I don't believe they waited 2.5hrs at GR. To start with, she said they "arrived" at MK at 9:30. Maybe they got through security at 10? Maybe it was more like 11:30 when they got into park? Simply stated, I think there is either more to the story at Guest Relations, or the OP is exaggerating a bit.

As to your specific concerns with the timing:

I checked my watch when entering the security line, it was 9:30 am, a little over an hour later I was re-directed to the kiosk from the normal GS line by a CM with a tablet. Starting to think I should've refused. I had already texted DH, back at home to share re the long wait. Going by my text time, and fact we were getting 'close' estimated the total of that portion of wait.

OT - my DS, in his early 20's, was pulled every single time we entered a park for extra security, which never took more than a few minutes. He had no issue with it, nor did I, but we assume he fit a profile or just looks shifty.

The 2nd line took longer, probably not that much more than the first, but it 'felt' much longer at that point. when I finally was face to face with CM @ the kiosk, checked time again to relay it to DH. That's how I knew that portion of GS wait took 30 minutes.

Didn't take long to go thru turnstyle, no more than 10 minutes. Walked into park a little before noon and headed back for BoG ADR.

Since you are paying close attention & following my time line very carefully, I'll let you do the math as to estimating the over-all time I spent in the GS line lol.

I'm with you - 9:30 arrival to enter security line, a little over an hour later directed to kiosk (so it's now 10:30, but we're not sure how much of that first hour was in the security line - esp given the comment that DS was pulled for extra security?), 2nd line to face to face with CM was 30 min, get the AP (no time given), then through the ticket line & turnstiles by a little before noon. You can't have 2.5 hours in line at just GS if in less than 2.5 hours you've covered the security line AND guest services AND turnstiles.

And again, you can't profess that you'll believe it when people say there's no issue, people say there's no issue, every single other poster tells you there's no issue, but you continue saying that "you'll believe what you want" and refuse to believe anyone. Well, then again, you can, and you are, so go for it... other message boards have an awesome dead-horse smiley. Consider it inserted here. If I wasn't so wound up about doing my ADRs tomorrow morning, I'd be smarter and stop reading this whole thread for distraction.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Ummm

X # of people already in the park, better get there ASAP to grab possible 2nd set of MB FP, etc. or just get a head start on standby lines before the throng hits.


I believe I've covered all the bases here.

As stated earlier, please post any actual accounts here or elsewhere if EMM disrupted your MK arrival/experience as a non EMM guest please!

How would that affect getting more Fast Passes? EMM guests can't use Fast Passes before park opening, and everyone has the same limit of three to originally select.

 

[keishashadow]

I'll be honest, I don't believe they waited 2.5hrs at GR. To start with, she said they "arrived" at MK at 9:30. Maybe they got through security at 10? Maybe it was more like 11:30 when they got into park? Simply stated, I think there is either more to the story at Guest Relations, or the OP is exaggerating a bit.

I've been around the boards for a long time and part of the community. Am not prone to stir the pot or exaggerate. Frankly, find your comments insulting.

Never said I spent 2.5 hrs at GS, the whole process from start to finish was slightly under that time.

Certainly, not my intent to try and convince anybody here to agree with me. I merely shared my experience and indicated why I think it happened. Then, I asked for comments as to whether it went the same for others.

For the posters who shared their first-hand experiences on the next EMM day, thank you!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We did EMM twice over the last 11 days. No way the experience here is due to that event. There simply aren't enough people participating for that to be the case.

We were able to do 7DMT at least 7 times, Peter Pan twice and Pooh twice before 8:45 each time. Essentially all walk-ons. No way that small EMM group is noticeable come 9:30 or later.

 

[IrishNYC]

There is no confusion in my mind. I still think EMM contributed to what I experienced as to crowd arrival.

Appears most are of opinion I am incorrect & that's ok, their opinion, whether it's based on their personal experience or just what they think is likely. All are entitled to their thoughts.

When I read posts here or hear first-hand accounts that EMM days don't tend to take longer overall to clear security, then I will consider visiting MK on EMM days.

Certainly, not about to tell others what to do with their Disney time, just being clear on what I won't be doing in October.

You can opine all you want that EMM delayed your entry, but it simply cannot be true. EMM begins at 7:45. With little exception, those people are all inside by 8am. You arrived a full 90 minutes after that. You arrived well after rope drop, already with a bad taste in your mouth due to the faulty stroller, and are misplacing your blame and frustration on EMM.

I will be going to the Magic Kingdom on a Tuesday EMM event day. We have an ADR for Ohana at 7:50, and while we hope to make the rope drop scheduled for 8:40 we might not, as I've heard/read that Ohana is really slow. It's our first time visiting and we only have one day tickets. I can definitely share our experience here if this thread is still going. Really hope it doesn't take two hours! to even enter the park. We can't change parks or just try again another day.

You will not make it to rope drop. Even if service isn't slow at Ohana, it is doubtful you'd make it. Take your time and enjoy Ohana.

 

[macraven]

Some of the insults I have read are not necessary

Try to tone it down

 

[adelaster]

You likely will arrive at MK between 9:15 and 9:30, just as an FYI.

Would it be possible to try for an ADR the next day (even if you don't have park tix?). Keep checking right up to the last minute as people cancel ADRs @ the 24 hr mark and bit earlier to avoid paying the $10 pp no show.

That's fine, as long as it doesn't mean waiting hours to get in, like the OP. I guess I will keep an eye on the app to see if a 7:30 spot opens. At this point though, I have pretty much relegated this thing to Murphy's law and an expensive learning experience.

We are only going to be on property briefly, arriving Monday afternoon and departing Wednesday morning. I have another ADR for Wednesday morning- with a place that fortunately doesn't have the same reputation of being slow, as we have to catch a ME bus back to MCO.

Since we aren't necessarily going to "meet" characters at the breakfast, I am hoping we can be fortunate enough to get seated and get decent service and get out. Wanted to see what the experience was all about, but engagement is not necessary. Hoping that will shave off some time.

I thought I chose a "quiet" time to go, but I am learning there are no truly good times to visit! At any rate, I will definitely report back here after we go.

 

[Hezzy04]

If anyone does have links to their own or other's TRs specifically as to attending MK as a non EMM guest, I'd love to see them posted here as I haven't found any thus far. It'd be nice to see that my experience was a fluke based upon overwhelming reports otherwise and I wouldn't worry about working around the days in the future.

Back in April I was a non EMM guest on a EMM day. It was actually the first one. I was extremely nervous about how it would affect crowds. We were there for rope drop (as we always are, for any park we plan to hit first for the day), and really didn't feel any difference at all! We were in the park very quickly and the day didn't seem any more crowded than a non-EMM day.

Just sharing since you said you hadn't seen a lot of EMM firsthand experiences from non-EMM guests! My advice is that in the future, I wouldnt worry too much about avoiding Magic Kingdom on EMM days. i would just recommend arriving for rope drop.