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

[keishashadow]

Our first day in parks this week was an EMM day @ MK. IMO it made what turned out to be a challenging day even worse. Curious as to the number of passes they are selling. It has to be a lot IMO. Will avoid the park on that day in the future at all costs

We had arrived late the night before and decided to park @ the CR (CM Dinner that day) and walk over to the MK.

Continued issues with an awful stroller rented from Apple Scooters had me hesitant to use bus or monorail. On-going issues opening and closing that even bell service experts couldn't master. Wound up taking anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to get the thing up and running. Reverse when exiting the park. Finally, took to just putting down the back split seat and shoving it into the SUV. Apple said they had no replacement available btw.

Anyway, by the time we arrived @ MK it was 9:30 am. Security wait was dauntting. Wasn't helped by what appeared to be people straddling both sides leading up to the security line in an attempt to be in the 'faster' line, something I've never observed in the past.

Finally, thru that line, had to stop by GS to pick up my new AP. Was directed over to the kiosk building by a CM who indicated it would be 'faster'.

Ha

We didn't pass under the railroad until almost 12 pm. Cannot believe how hot it gets in that pre-entrance area of the park, but there is little shade, just never noticed in the past. Glad we had water/Gatorade on hand.

Once in the parks, the app wait times were way off, a first I've experienced. It was what I would term 'holiday-crowded'. Didn't help that weather was bad with severe storms. Told to leave 7DMR line several times via a combo of weather and technical issues, eventually did get to ride it. Even buzz light year broke down on us (pretty cool they have automatic gates that pop up between the track and attraction during those times).

Rest of our visit was enjoyable even tho GD's JTA was cancelled for just a few sprinkles. Other parks were busy but certainly do-able. If it were my first visit to the MK, I'd honestly never go back after that first day.

 

[WEDWDW]

EMM in itself doesn't have enough Guests to significantly effect the Park.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Wow. That stinks! I really do wish there was a better way to get your annual passes. Guest relations is a fiasco. I usually try to get it before an official park day. Since you got in late I'm sure that wasn't a possibility. They should allow hotel concierge to do them or something.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm confused. You got there at 9:30 but didn't enter the park until noon?

 

[nanaka]

Just wondering how the EMM guests delayed you entering the park until noon. Wouldn't they all be in the park already?

Either way, I'm sorry you had a rough day. I hope the rest of your trip was wonderful

 

[IrishNYC]

I don't know how any of that was affected by EMM, and like someone above said, how did it take you 2.5 hours to get from the gate until you actually entered the park? If you arrived at 9:30, EMM was just about over and had nothing to do with that.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

With all due respect, it was your 9:30 AM arrival time that was the problem, not EMM. We did EMM on a Tuesday the last week of July and while I of course don't know the number of tickets they sell, it certainly felt like it was in the low/mid hundreds of people IF THAT. Trust me, I spent an hour riding the open rides with the same few folks! It would have absolutely no impact on park crowds whatsoever.

I don't doubt the security line was pretty stout at 9:30 though. On a later day on that trip we had an open morning and took the boat over on a whim. Arrived around 9:45 to probably the longest security line I had ever seen. An unfortunate but necessaery result of extra security screening.

 

[Missyrose]

I've read your post multiple times @keishashadow, and I can't for the life of me figure out how any of your issues have anything to do with EMM.

 

[keishashadow]

EMM in itself doesn't have enough Guests to significantly effect the Park.

It seemed to on my day there...that's why I was wondering how many they sell each day maximum

I'm confused. You got there at 9:30 but didn't enter the park until noon?

Slightly before, made sure to check my watch. I was shocked it took so long.

Just wondering how the EMM guests delayed you entering the park until noon. Wouldn't they all be in the park already?

Either way, I'm sorry you had a rough day. I hope the rest of your trip was wonderful

Yes, EMM would already be in the park. It's those waiting to go thru security and visit GS that messed me up.

I've done rope drops, never seen such backed up security lines (last trip in May btw and I tend to visit 4+ times a year).

I was thinking perhaps the majority of regular guests on EMM make it a point to be there earlier than their norm to try & hit 'rope drop'...ergo backing things up more than usual.

To reiterate, those who would not normally show up until 10 or 11 possibly arrived earlier? IDK, just my guess. I'm just trying to figure out why it was such a mess.

Do need to blame the additional side-trip to GS for the AP as majority of time waster.

Yes, the trip overall was memorable, so happy to be able to take GD for her BD.

I don't know how any of that was affected by EMM, and like someone above said, how did it take you 2.5 hours to get from the gate until you actually entered the park? If you arrived at 9:30, EMM was just about over and had nothing to do with that.

See above, only thing I can think of although the wait for the APs took majority of the time.

With all due respect, it was your 9:30 AM arrival time that was the problem, not EMM. We did EMM on a Tuesday the last week of July and while I of course don't know the number of tickets they sell, it certainly felt like it was in the low/mid hundreds of people IF THAT. Trust me, I spent an hour riding the open rides with the same few folks! It would have absolutely no impact on park crowds whatsoever.

I don't doubt the security line was pretty stout at 9:30 though. On a later day on that trip we had an open morning and took the boat over on a whim. Arrived around 9:45 to probably the longest security line I had ever seen. An unfortunate but necessaery result of extra security screening.

Lol you can speak straight to me, no offense taken. I was lucky to hit security by 9:30 am after delayed arrival, less than 6 hours sleep, broken stroller, slow moving kids...trust me.

We still do a rope drop at least once per trip, but DH & I on our adult trips often don't hit the parks until 1 or 2 pm and stay until they close. We rarely encounter more than a few people in front of us at security...which, I am all for btw!!!

No issues with our MGM or Epcot days as to security lines, they were as expected 5 - 10 minutes. Perhaps I should reset my expectations for the October trip. Regardless, will not chance a do-over of this sort @ MK on an EMM day...YMMV.

 

[Tigger's ally]

are you talking EMM or EMH? EMM people would not slow you down at all. EMH could have if they all showed up later in the EMH, People that pay for the EMM are probably in, and have ridden many, many rides by the time you got there.

 

[mom2rtk]

2 1/2 hours to enter the park, even with slow moving security and a long wait at Guest Relations is WAY beyond typical or reasonable, even on the busiest days of the year. We were held up for about half an hour at Guest Relations once and they apologized and gave us an any time fastpass.

Did you express your displeasure once you got to the window? I'm a pretty hard core fan, and honestly, I would have given up and headed back to my resort or another park after an hour or so.

 

[keishashadow]

are you talking EMM or EMH? EMM people would not slow you down at all. EMH could have if they all showed up later in the EMH, People that pay for the EMM are probably in, and have ridden many, many rides by the time you got there.

EMM. Again, I'm not blaming the people who paid for the early entry at all, good for them!

I'm thinking people stacked up @ security thinking they needed to arrive earlier than normal on an EMM day.

Not sure if this is a trend or a fluke that day.

2 1/2 hours to enter the park, even with slow moving security and a long wait at Guest Relations is WAY beyond typical or reasonable, even on the busiest days of the year. We were held up for about half an hour at Guest Relations once and they apologized and gave us an any time fastpass.

Did you express your displeasure once you got to the window? I'm a pretty hard core fan, and honestly, I would have given up and headed back to my resort or another park after an hour or so.

I had my youngest son along who hadn't been to the parks in years and my GD who was close to melting down once it got past the 1-1/2 hr mark, literally. We were committed. If I didn't have BoG booked for lunch and CM for dinner would've headed to Epcot. A security guard motioned for my son to take GD in stroller over to spot w/some shade we hadn't noticed at least.

I commented when I finally reached GS, was told it was an extra-ordinarily busy day & they were doing the best they could under the circumstances. That said, I did time it from time I reached the window until the time I departed and it was over a half hour. Has never taken that long in the past to process an AP @ will-call. I had my ID, DVC membership card, even the CC used for payment. The CMs have a thankless job at times, wasn't going to give them more grief when I could hear others @ surrounding Windows venting. I did ask if there was a problem and she said no, just had to process it properly.

 

[adelaster]

Oh dear. I didn't even know what EMM was- had to google it. Now that I have, I discovered it is happening on our first and one day only visit to the Magic Kingdom. Really hoping this doesn't happen to us too!

 

[MamaGT]

For what it's worth, I spoke a few times with a phone cast member when there were issues with September EMM online purchases and she told me the cap was 250.

 

[Accident]

Wow. That stinks! I really do wish there was a better way to get your annual passes. Guest relations is a fiasco. I usually try to get it before an official park day. Since you got in late I'm sure that wasn't a possibility. They should allow hotel concierge to do them or something.

You can activate an annual pass at any ticket booth. MK that can be interesting if your taking a bus from the resort but if your passing the TTC, usually very little in the form of a line at a ticket window. Also if you had a travel day the day before you need it, there is guest relations at springs if you happen to stop in there..

 

[Accident]

@keishashadow what date was this because EMM would be at the back of the park and not do anything near the entrance that early. This just sounds like rope drop on a crowded day to me. Now if it was an EMH at night day, then yes those get really crowded in the morning and why many say avoid EMH.

 

[btowndude]

I always use GS at Disney Springs [They are now located inside the Welcome Center - water, A/C, nice chairs] the night before a park visit to take of AP/Magic Band activation.

 

[annemce118]

On my last day last week I couldn't go to a park but decided to ride the monorail. The lines going into MK were SO long between 9 and 11am. I never experienced such long lines since I always did rope drop.

 

[RachaelA]

It seems to always takes forever at guest services at MK. We waited well over an hour last trip at like 9am at MK in the guest service line activating APs and getting TIW and doing something else we needed GS for. They had every single window open too and people with iPads helping off to the sides.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I still think the title of this thread is very misleading. Frankly sounds like a normal AM security line on a reasonably crowded summer day to me, especially with the extra minute or two the metal detectors add. The guest services line is always crowded at MK, EMM or not.