AVOID EXTRA MAGIC HOURS - EMH Creates more crowds?

[FUNDAD]

We are very excited about going to WDW in August....

Upon the suggestion of some of you, we purchased the Unofficial Guide, and have found it very helpful in our planning....Thanks!....But in selecting which days to go to which parks, it states we should in general avoid parks with Extra Magic Hours, as they tend to fill up faster, than non-EMH parks....(They did say however that if you arrive first thing in the morning at an EMH morning park, that it works good, but only if you leave by noon and hop to another non-EMH park)....

So I am a bit confused......several members on this site suggested I go to parks with EMH, which is opposite the advice in the book.....So what has been your experience?....And do you think I should avoid EMH or not?

Daryl.
A bit Confused, but still optimitic and excited about upcoming trip....

 

[Craig & Lisa]

My wife and I bought the "Unoffical Guide," for our next trip, since we like to buy a different guide each time we go, and I've got to say, I think it's mostly garbage. The woman that wrote it is kind of a wet blanket in general. She complains about too much Disney at Disney World! But regarding this topic specifically, she seems too obsessed with staying away from the hustle and bustle at all times.

My wife and I don't have kids, so we're rarely up at the crack of dawn and have never done morning EMH, but based on the low levels we find when we get to parks at 10am, I have to believe you'll find a benefit from morning EMH. I DO believe that EMH does increase the overall crowd levels at a park for a day, however, since not everyone buys park-hopper tickets. So if I were you, I would go in the morning and then park-hop out of there around lunchtime.

I agree that in the evening you're not going to get much benefit. For my wife and I, our hope would be that we would get a benefit as parents take their kids home to bed, but they don't. I'm constantly amazed at the young kids up at midnight in the parks or even DTD.

The unofficial guide sounds like it complains is because it's the only book that Disney does not approve, because of one thing........ it tells the truth. The other books that are out there are candy coated you hear nothing negative. The guide tells you what you need to know so you can get the most out of your vacation, and the book is filled with suggestions, not do this or die. My wife and I have gotton the book every year since we started going in 1997. In most prints it does'nt really change but over the years we give them to friends who are going for the first time and need to get info so they can gave as much fun as we do, we talk about it alot so they figure they can get from it what we do.:wave:

 

[lentesta]

Daryl, thanks for reading the Guide. It's a lot of fun to write, and we hope it's fun to read. Let me know if your EMH questions haven't been answered - I think the basic gist of our advice is that if you're going to use EMH, use morning EMH (except at the Animal Kingdom), and leave around lunchtime. We don't advise using morning EMH at the AK because of the relative lack of rides and small ride capacity - the crowds can overwhelm the attractions easier than at the other parks, and you can end up waiting longer than on non-EMH days.

And feel free to drop me a line any time: len@touringplans.com. It may take a couple of days to get a response, but I'll get to it.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[kachow]

It's not enough to get me personally up early to go to AK, but I've heard the animals along the Safari ride trail are more active in the morning before it gets too hot. Is that increased activity enough to make it worth going to EMH? No idea.

 

[FUNDAD]

Daryl, thanks for reading the Guide. It's a lot of fun to write, and we hope it's fun to read. Let me know if your EMH questions haven't been answered - I think the basic gist of our advice is that if you're going to use EMH, use morning EMH (except at the Animal Kingdom), and leave around lunchtime. We don't advise using morning EMH at the AK because of the relative lack of rides and small ride capacity - the crowds can overwhelm the attractions easier than at the other parks, and you can end up waiting longer than on non-EMH days.

And feel free to drop me a line any time: len@touringplans.com. It may take a couple of days to get a response, but I'll get to it. Sincerely, Len Testa

Thanks Len for the encouragement....Great job on "The Unofficial Guide"!....
Boy what a job you must have as a field researcher and data collector for the book....
Before I found this forum, I never knew such a book or plans/strategies existed....

I definately feel better about the various EMH strategies presented in the book, and also from this forum....
Kind of a "Planned Spontanaety" ....

Final thoughts:....
1. the book is well written for me, even if I don't agree at first with all that is said.....
2. It is very helpful to have varying perspectives...It's makes me think about ideas in a way I never would of thought of.....
3. Individual experiences you quote, along with what I've learned from this board, greatly enhance my understanding....

So between the Unofficial Guide and their website, the Passporter, and the differing viewpoints expressed on this site along with all of your encouragement, we feel very prepared.....THANKS ALL!!...We think we have a great EMH strategy now....(And to think, just a over a week ago, we had never heard of the phrase EMH, or knew about any of these planning sites, etc...WOW...)

Daryl, Connie & kids.....
Excited, motivated, encouraged....
DISNEY BRINGS OUT THE MAGIC IN PEOPLE....

 

[raven]

EMH can be great during the slower times of the year, especially since the parks hours are shorter. True, they are a little more crowded than the other parks but at least it expands your day a little more.

 

[kachow]

EMH can be great during the slower times of the year, especially since the parks hours are shorter. True, they are a little more crowded than the other parks but at least it expands your day a little more.

I agree. You can only take "maximizing" your trip so far. Not everything is about finding the absolutely shortest wait times, and smallest crowds. You want to be smart, but sometimes places are crowded for reasons other than people just being stupid. Maybe there's actually something there worth fighting a crowd for.