Extra Magic Hours

Since I've referenced Extra Magic Hours (EMH) in a few posts, I thought that today I might give some more details on this popular Disney Resort guest perk.  As with most things in life, there are pros and cons for EMH, and I will try to fill you in on some of those today.

Pros:  I love the morning EMH.  Lots of people want to sleep late on vacation, so if I can get up early and be in the park at 8, beating the heat and the crowd, I'm a happy camper.  When I enter the park for morning EMH, I head straight to those most popular attractions, so I can enjoy them without the long wait.  I rarely use the evening EMH because I have a young child, but I can imagine if you can stay out a bit later, many people are watching parades/fireworks and you can enjoy shorter lines at some attractions.  During the actual EMH times, the parks will likely be less crowded, because only Disney Resort guests will be able to enjoy the attractions that are open.

Cons:  During the midday, parks with EMH tend to be even more crowded because many resort guests are there for the EMH, plus the "normal" crowd.  Some planners will tell you to avoid parks with EMH for this reason.  It can also be tedious trying to plan your vacation around EMH, whether you're trying to use them or avoid them.

So to me, all in all, it looks like the pros outweigh the cons.  Granted, I don't plan my vacation around EMH.  I have used them, and enjoyed them, but I plan my schedule how it works for me, and if the EMH fall on the day I'm going to the park, I take advantage of them.  Overall, if you want to use EMH, I'd recommend getting to the park as soon as they begin, leaving during the midday crowd, and returning in the evening for parades or fireworks, or other attractions.  I can't give a lot of advice about evening EMH, because they just don't work for the stage of life I'm in, but if you can do it, go for it, and let me know how it went! 

Until next time...
Disney Diva