Evening Extra Magic Hours

[CapnNoogs]

Can anyone point me in the direction of or give personal experiences of the crowdedness of evening extra magic hours at the parks during peak season

 

[WEDisney]

Last July I was there and to be honest we had to avoid the extra magic hours at night. I love the parks at night but EPCOT and MGM were so crowded that it was more stressful staying. The shops and streets were packed. World Showcase really thins out during EMH so its a great time to head there but Future World was like the NYC subway at rush hour. This is why I am going the week after Labor Day this year.

The Magic Kingdom, however, when open until 2-3AM was dead. If you are doing the MK head there around 11PM and you will have a great time because the park starts emptying out. Another part of the EMH that upset me was the massive amounts of people in the park that did not have the bracelets. I know they could not go on the rides but the crowds while walking is what really turns me off. The Animal Kingdom was only open until 10PM and the crowds there were manageable but many attractions are closed so unless you just want to stroll around and take pictures (like me) I would avoid the main attractions.

I know this might scare you but each night is different. The nights MGM was packed the cast members even commented that they didn't know why. The great thing about the peak times is that every night the parks are open pretty late and every night there are EMH somewhere (maybe one night there isn't). We found it hard to make it to the 1-3AM hours for EPCOT and the MK and then actually be fresh for the next day. I love the parks at night so I always close them when there are EMHs but the crowds do thin out about 90 minutes after EMH start.

Hope this helped.

PS: Make sure to hit Typhoon Lagoon for EMH on Saturdays because it is an amazing place at night.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Another part of the EMH that upset me was the massive amounts of people in the park that did not have the bracelets. I know they could not go on the rides but the crowds while walking is what really turns me off.

But if they can't ride they can spend money - thats why they don't get thrown out

 

[Craig & Lisa]

Also alot of the more popular rides are always packed, in fact I would say more crowded than during the regular hours. And it also irritates me to see people in the parks without the wrist bands too, I think that if a CM has a problem with someone who does not have one I will become very loud to try to embarass them to the point they just leave, then again I'll be loud to let anybody else who doesn't have one they are on notice, which more than likely won't do a thing, but it will make me feel better.

 

[Nansafan]

I miss E-Ride Nights. We didn't mind spending the extra $$ to have the park open later and with much less crowds. If you can hang on until the last hour of EMH, you stand a better chance of walking on rides than the early hours.

 

[Lightyear]

We go the first two weeks of July every year. I always make it a point to do late night EMH. The main reason is the lack of the blazing Florida sun. It is still hot but bearable. Our best times have been at MK and MGM nights. The lines always seem long to me but they move fast in my opinion.

 

[daverube]

The Magic Kingdom, however, when open until 2-3AM was dead. If you are doing the MK head there around 11PM and you will have a great time because the park starts emptying out.

Agreed. MK late is great....just conserve your energy during the day and understand that you're not making it to any early meals the next day. ON a side note, the wife and I hit BTM just after the CMS started checking bracelets....by the time we past the first lift, the wishes fireworks were big and crazy...it was the best BTM ride I can remember....

I miss E-Ride Nights. We didn't mind spending the extra $$ to have the park open later and with much less crowds. If you can hang on until the last hour of EMH, you stand a better chance of walking on rides than the early hours.

We do, too. E-ride nights was fantastic for the extra $12.....

my 2 cents...

dave

 

[Laura]

I miss E-Ride Nights. We didn't mind spending the extra $$ to have the park open later and with much less crowds. If you can hang on until the last hour of EMH, you stand a better chance of walking on rides than the early hours.

I miss them too.

I avoid the nighttime EMH at all costs. The times I've tried them it has been so crowded it's not even worth it. The e-ride nights used to be so cool!

 

[ThinkTink721]

Can anyone point me in the direction of or give personal experiences of the crowdedness of evening extra magic hours at the parks during peak season

We took advantage of the EMHs last summer & those nights were pretty crowded.
However, we were able to catch some attractions that we had missed during that day.
:wave:

 

[majortom1981]

hmm

thats good . We arrive at the world on July 1st and will be at the magic kingdom that day wich is a sunday. The park is open late and has emh . So its basically busy ?

Hmm oh well atleast it will be dark out and no sun.

 

[danyoung]

And it also irritates me to see people in the parks without the wrist bands too, I think that if a CM has a problem with someone who does not have one I will become very loud to try to embarass them to the point they just leave, then again I'll be loud to let anybody else who doesn't have one they are on notice, which more than likely won't do a thing, but it will make me feel better.

So what's the official policy within the parks about who gets to stay late? With a wristband, of course, you get to ride the rides. Does it say anywhere in the rules that you absolutely HAVE to leave if you don't have a band? If not, then you don't have a right to mock those who don't have the bands, as they would have every right to be there (just no riding rides).

 

[disneyworld07]

You have to admit though that when you shell out the money to stay on site, the crowds are pretty annoying - even if they are not riding you know? I dont have a real problem with the non resort guests, its just that the magic hours should really be a special thing for those people who have paid for the privalage in their room rate. Please dont bombard me or others with replies, but i just feel its slightly irritating that the crowds are still there - you kinda picture it a lot emptier etc etc anyway, just an opinion!

 

[Zummi Gummi]

The first hour is always very busy, because people who were in the park anyway decide to "just stay a little longer." It definitely thins out after the first hour, and is almost empty by the middle of the third hour.

The exception was one night at Epcot, where Soarin' had a 45 minute wait the entire EMH night. Everything else was walk-on.

 

[bluejayx]

the people that are not resort guest also have the right to shop and eat on mainstreet for any hour after the park closes, just like any other night the park does not have emh.

i have notiec the fan-land is perty empty after the the first 30-45 min or so, that when to go to peter pan they have fast pass for peter during emh too if you still don't want to wait.

 

[erasure fan1]

I miss E-Ride Nights. We didn't mind spending the extra $$ to have the park open later and with much less crowds.

The last 2 years EMH has been just about worthless for us. The crowd level was real bad. We went in Aug. and we waited a lot, splash was over 30min and so was thunder and space. that was almost 2hrs for 3 rides. E-night was awesome, I would spend the extra money every time.

 

[SorcererMickey]

If you want my opinion, avoid EMH at all costs and go to a park that doesn't have EMH that day (Evening or morning) And you're bound to have less crowds at that park. Just my 2 Cents.

SorcererMickey

 

[Texas84]

We always go in December and we now avoid the extra evening hours even then. Too crowded. But you have to do AK at night just once. Very cool in the dark. And, yes, anyone can stay, even without a wristband. They just can't ride. So leave them alone.

 

[tecowdw]

Last July I was there and to be honest we had to avoid the extra magic hours at night. I love the parks at night but EPCOT and MGM were so crowded that it was more stressful staying. The shops and streets were packed. World Showcase really thins out during EMH so its a great time to head there but Future World was like the NYC subway at rush hour. This is why I am going the week after Labor Day this year.

The Magic Kingdom, however, when open until 2-3AM was dead. If you are doing the MK head there around 11PM and you will have a great time because the park starts emptying out. Another part of the EMH that upset me was the massive amounts of people in the park that did not have the bracelets. I know they could not go on the rides but the crowds while walking is what really turns me off. The Animal Kingdom was only open until 10PM and the crowds there were manageable but many attractions are closed so unless you just want to stroll around and take pictures (like me) I would avoid the main attractions.

I know this might scare you but each night is different. The nights MGM was packed the cast members even commented that they didn't know why. The great thing about the peak times is that every night the parks are open pretty late and every night there are EMH somewhere (maybe one night there isn't). We found it hard to make it to the 1-3AM hours for EPCOT and the MK and then actually be fresh for the next day. I love the parks at night so I always close them when there are EMHs but the crowds do thin out about 90 minutes after EMH start.

Hope this helped.

PS: Make sure to hit Typhoon Lagoon for EMH on Saturdays because it is an amazing place at night.

Gee...were you reading my mind?
I couldn't agree more with every one of these statements!

 

[danyoung]

You have to admit though that when you shell out the money to stay on site, the crowds are pretty annoying - even if they are not riding you know?

I tend to agree with you on this - it'd be nice if they'd all clear out. I'm not sure what the best way would be for Disney to accomplish this. It'd take about an hour to do a park sweep and then re-admit those with the bands.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

As someone who has been in MK from 2-3 AM, it is one of the coolest experiences ever. One of the benefits of traveling at peak time is how LATE the Evening EMH's are. It tends to clear out a lot of the kids. Gotta love it.