How does EMH affect crowd levels?

[spock]

We are planning to go the last week in August and I want to try and pick the least crowded days expected at each park. Do parks tend to be more crowded on days when EMH is happening at any given park, or slower, or does it tend to have any affect?

 

[DaisyDoesDisney]

The park with morning EMH will generally be the most crowded one during the morning and afternoon. I'm sure that the impact varies depending on the time of year but many onsite guests take advantage of the chance to enter early, particularly at Magic Kingdom. The morning EMH seems to increase the crowds more than evening EMH, at least when I've been there.

 

[JIMINYCR]

The crowd numbers can be affected by an increase. Some sites/ guides recommend avoiding the parks that have the EMH's because they are the ones targeted by guests on property. Some sites say target the ones that have just had them the day before because the numbers drop after having an EMH. Used properly and having a well planned day, you can do a lot more taking advantage of the EMH's. I personally get more enjoyment out of the evening EMH's. In August you will find the parks pretty crowded, the last week can still be crazy, so check out the crowd calendar sites too to help you make your decisions.

 

[WhatJaneSays]

EMH can make a difference, but it tends to impact the 1-1.5 hours after or before more than the rest of the day. But it really depends on if YOU want to make use of the EMH time.

Early EMH at MK is the worst. It’s never NOT going to be busy. Early EMH at the other parks can be hit or miss. In general the actual EMH time is not going to be busier that a regular open day. However, the time right after EMH will get a bit of crowd swell.

Late EMH tends to be quieter no matter the park. How much quieter is going to depend on the regular hours.

If Epcot “closes” at 9, once the crowd from Illuminations clears, the park may look empty but the lines for rides could stay moderate to long until EMH is over as 11 (just not as long as they were during the day). The park might even be busier in the pre-EMH evening for dinner and fireworks because resort people with head there to take advantage of EMH.

But MK on a night that’s open for EMH until 2 AM may have extremely short/walk on lines except for a few rides like Mine Train.

 

[bethymouse]

Well, I know we did night EMH at DHS and the lines were still outrageous ( 120 minutes TSMM).
We did early EMH for MK this past June, and it sadly didn't seem to make a difference. It was very crowded! easywdwmagic.com tells you to avoid all EMH parks at all costs!

 

[sxeensweet]

For us we always go to wherever the evening EMH are because for us We don't find the park more crowded that day and once the evening EMH starts we feel like we have the parks to ourselves. We usually can ride a ride over and over during Evening EMH if we want to etc. We were in MK last year one EMH evening and they told us we could just stay in BTMR without getting off and just ride again and again. Was pretty fun.

 

[sxeensweet]

Well, I know we did night EMH at DHS and the lines were still outrageous ( 120 minutes TSMM).
We did early EMH for MK this past June, and it sadly didn't seem to make a difference. It was very crowded! easywdwmagic.com tells you to avoid all EMH parks at all costs!

Summer is one of the busiest times so that's probably why. When we are there Oct-Dec evening EMH at any park are awesome and always feel like we have the parks to ourselves. Me and DH love evening EMH!!

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I went with my Dad and younger siblings in October of 2012. We did the evening EMH at DHS on a Monday. The crowds weren't too bad.

 

[Mukta]

The last week of August has pretty low crowds, so I skip morning EMH. I like to hop to evening EMH at Epcot and MK. The parks are quiet and beautiful at night that time of year. It is also the only time of day where the incredibly hot weather is tolerable for me.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We love EMH, evening more than morning, but we have never found it to be nearly as bad as the warnings describe. If anything, we've found it to be more like what @sxeensweet described. Back when our girls were younger and we skipped hopping, we always intentionally formed our schedule by the parks with EMH. Hey, we really felt like we were getting or $'s worth! Summer trips are my fave for EMH because the parks are already open late, so evening EMH really gives you a lot of extra time and morning EMH means one more hour of cooler morning temps. I also agree that you often feel like you have the place to yourself. The reality, most guests with hoppers who take advantage of EMH hop to another park shortly after morning EMH ends, and most offsite guests leave the park and make evening EMH feel like a ghost town...so it seems like a no brainer to me to hit EMH.

 

[Goofnut1980]

We skip EMH... I have always found it to be insane!

 

[patch553]

evening magic hours work well,never had any any overly large issues and Mukta said the parks are beautiful at night

 

[Clyde]

We used the EMH in mid march (spring break busy time) and it was the best part of the entire trip. We kept the kids up till about
1:30-1:45am before we started toward the exit. It was delightful and it truly felt as if we had the park to ourself. The flood of people leaving the park after the fireworks was a sight to see as we made our way toward tomorrowland to ride space mountain. 10 min wait in the stand by line. Even most of the guests staying at the hotels have a hard time making it that late after a full day at the parks even using the mid day nap/pool stop at the hotel.
I am planning a trip for the second week of Jan now and I will be making my plans around the late night EMH for sure.

I can see how the morning EMH could swell the crowds but the night time at MK has been wonderful in my experience.

 

[rt06]

I think the amount of rides you can experience makes EMH worthwhile. Whether morning or evening, avoid the midday crowds; enjoy the resort, rest, and recharge. Evening MK EMH is just the absolute best.