CM opinions on EMH?

[Cheshire Figment]

For two years there was a great experiment at the water parks. During the summer they had morning EMH seven days a week at both parks. Apparently the great experiment was considered a failure; we do not have morning EMH at the water parks (except Thursdays at BB) this summer.

Ah, the extra hour of sleep on mornings that I am opening...

[Amphigorey]

Should the parks with MEMH be avoided those days? Some say dont even go to that park if there are MEMH and some say hit MEMH and hop to another park. For EEMH they are saying its too crowded and you wont get anything done. Park hours are early that time of year so theres no 2-3 in the morning and I do want to give them a shot but if the crowds are going to unmanageable I can change things up a bit.

Thanks for the help
Steve

Hi Steve,

If you actually use the Extra Magic Hour (that is, show up at the gate 15 minutes before it starts), then it's a very pleasant experience, because most people are not willing to get up that early on vacation. However, the park with the EMH will be more crowded than the other ones, so I recommend using the EMH, and then switching to a different park when (or if) the crowd levels start to annoy you.

[svickersart]

on the same subject this is a post about no more wristbands http://www.stupidguesttricks.com/showthread.php?t=3535
are they still doing this or did they go back to the wristbands?

Thanks
Steve

[Cheshire Figment]

That experiment did not even last a week.

[mechurchlady]

First of all there is the park capacity so I doubt 10,000 people will be storming through the park. Also it is only available to resort guests so the number is thus limited. When you rule out people who do not want to do that park and ones who are not available such as illness, conventions, and other parks well you have few left.

Also you are going at one of the slowest times of the year. At Disneyland that last hour or so was never as packed as mid day or dinner time. At WDW as with DLR many people want to go home as soon as fireworks are over. Maybe I am wrong and boards are right. I base my info on what I have read and common knowledge plus DLR experience.

If the parks are getting to crowded that day then go over to another park but remember there are three types of people as to Magic Hours.

1. Whatcha talkin bout magic hours?
2. Those who go and use that hour to the fullest on rides.
3. Those who avoid the park with Magical Hour.

We then compare the effect of the second group on parks as added people and those in the third group who are deducted people. Instead use your instincts and training on boards. You could go on a regular day to a park and the park is overwhelmed with special groups and tours while another day a so called packed park is empty for what ever reason.

[kurtisnelson]

Park to park crowds I have found totally follow no other pattern besides MK > MGM > Epcot > AK in crowds. (Epcot is just so big) Unless there is a special event, it generally does not matter what park you go to. EMH only has a slight effect, maybe boosting the crowds slightly during the first normal operating hour. The key to crowds is to go the right time of year. And you have done just that. (And I have found that park hours tend to not mean much either, been at AK on a day it was open to 8 with everest as a walk on, MK open till 9 w/ no special event and it being packed.)

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I think a lot of people "overthink" the crowds, EMH "stratagy", EE, and all the other "special" times. Just go and have fun.

You are going at a time when the POTENTIAL of crowds are slightly less.

To quote a CM from our last trip: "Hey people come to WDW all year round, Who Knew?"

You can find times/dates of hours at the offical WDW web site, and they update it.

[Princess Susi]

I still think APs should qualify for EMH. That might be a biased opinion though.

OOOh, since we just joined the ranks of the APer's at Disneyland, this is a good idea. ;) Of course we usually stay on site anyway, but this trip next week we have to stay off site at the Sheraton. No rooms at the Disney Inns. :(

We get to keep checking up til 24 hrs before our Sheraton ressie and we can change if something opens up at one of the 3 Disney hotels at DL!

I like Early Entry hours. (I guess the same thing as Early Magic Hours at WDW), but not the late night extra hours. It is too hard for this oldtimer to stay up late anymore. And this from someone who was a Band Manager/roadie back in the day and had to help break down the band after the bars closed. I was up ALL night in those days! But I am old now and I like sleep! I like the early mornings. I like the freshness of a new day and the birdies singing and getting in line with all those other onsite guests to rock the Park without the crowds!

Princess Onsite Susi