Having only been in off-season...

[MrBrady]

My thread about EMH has got me thinking. As I've never been to Orlando in peak season before (previously only visited in late September/early October) what other things go on in the Theme Parks that I should take note of?

What's your favourite thing about going during the height of Summer?

I have to admit that I was feeling a bit off about going in August (needs must - other half is a teacher!) but now I'm more excited than ever and that's just knowing about evening EMH! :pgig:

[SavemySanity]

feeling really blonde here but what is EMH? We too are planning our next trip during august, having previoulsy been oct/nov time.

[essexmick]

feeling really blonde here but what is EMH? We too are planning our next trip during august, having previoulsy been oct/nov time.

extra magic hour, if you are an onsite guest you get in or stay later by 1hr, not sure which it is tho :)

[SavemySanity]

ah thanks that makes sense now

[marioner]

You also get to go in an hour before others not staying on site Disney parks.

[Vabeth]

You also get to go in an hour before others not staying on site Disney parks.

Onsite guests also get to stay in the parks for 3 hours after the official closing time - on selected days! :wave:

[ticky15]

Onsite guests also get to stay in the parks for 3 hours after the official closing time - on selected days! :wave:

does this make the park busier during the day of EMHs or quieter the day after ? Hope that makes sense...:confused2

[Karen Mouse]

does this make the park busier during the day of EMHs or quieter the day after ? Hope that makes sense...:confused2

My own personal experience the parks were definately busier if they had LMH (the late magic hours). We went to MGM on a LMH and it was rammed. Couldnt even get near the Fantamic stadium let alone in it and the queues etc for even counter food were horrendous. We avoid EMH and LMH like the plague nowadays.


If youre on site then EMH is worth doing for that quiet first hour, but it soon gets busy

[ticky15]

Thanks Karen , worth knowing.....:spin::spin: Think we'll be avoid the parks too at that time...:spin:

[Vabeth]

does this make the park busier during the day of EMHs or quieter the day after ? Hope that makes sense...:confused2

If you're not staying onsite then personally i'd avoid any park that has morning EMH!
You will find a lot of American visitors don't have hopper priviliges on their tickets so they tend to spend all day in the park that has EMH, so you could arrive at normal opening time to find it jampacked already! :wave:

[ticky15]

If you're not staying onsite then personally i'd avoid any park that has morning EMH!
You will find a lot of American visitors don't have hopper priviliges on their tickets so they tend to spend all day in the park that has EMH, so you could arrive at normal opening time to find it jampacked already! :wave:

Thanks Vabeth....and the next question is where do I get the info to find out when EMHs are so they can be avoided ?? Perhaps you know this I'm sure you're there the same time as us..thanx....:cool2:

[Vabeth]

Thanks Vabeth....and the next question is where do I get the info to find out when EMHs are so they can be avoided ?? Perhaps you know this I'm sure you're there the same time as us..thanx....:cool2:

Have a look HERE! (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/parkhours.php) The EMH's are all marked on there! :wave:

[MrBrady]

Regarding the nighttime EMH, surely there aren't a lot of parents with children in the parks at 11pm? That's the only time I think I'm likely to get a ride on Dumbo.

Interesting that my rose-tinted-glasses view of EMH isn't supported by people in the know. Ah well!

Back to my original question though - does peak season bring any other benefits?

[Vabeth]

MrBrady - sorry to have hijacked your thread and in answer to your question, we have only ever been in Nov/Dec and will be going in August for the first time this year, so the things i'm looking forward to most are:

Being able to wander the parks at 1am on EMH nights!

Going on the rides that are 'open seasonally'!

Guaranteed hot weather!

The evenings last year were pretty chilly so this year i'm looking forward to sitting by the water at DTD on a warm evening sipping a nice cool drink instead of a hot chocolate!

Seeing some of the childrens wet play areas open that have usually been closed in November!

Drying off super quick after we've been on Bilge Rats for the 6th time!

Oh and free dining!!!!!!!!!! ;) :D :wave:

[Vabeth]

Regarding the nighttime EMH, surely there aren't a lot of parents with children in the parks at 11pm? That's the only time I think I'm likely to get a ride on Dumbo.

Interesting that my rose-tinted-glasses view of EMH isn't supported by people in the know. Ah well!

Back to my original question though - does peak season bring any other benefits?

We did quite a few evening EMH's last year and really enjoyed them! You find the parks start to empty after the first hour! It's a great time to get all the rides done! Evening EMH was the only chance we got to do some of the Fantasyland rides as during the day they were showing 40 minute waits!
DD and i wander over to Toontown at 11pm one night and we were the only people there! :wave:

[MrBrady]

Why thank you Vabeth. I see you're doing the two-centre thing in Orlando like we are - Port Orleans Riverside first week and then onto the Royal Pacific. My other half was completely bemused by the concept of staying in two different hotels in the same city, but quickly came around when I explained why it needed to be planned like that!

I have to say I am really looking forward to all the wet rides too, and the lovely hot weather.

Is 'Carousel of Progress' one of those 'open seasonally' rides? I love that!

[Vabeth]

Why thank you Vabeth. I see you're doing the two-centre thing in Orlando like we are - Port Orleans Riverside first week and then onto the Royal Pacific. My other half was completely bemused by the concept of staying in two different hotels in the same city, but quickly came around when I explained why it needed to be planned like that!

I have to say I am really looking forward to all the wet rides too, and the lovely hot weather.

Is 'Carousel of Progress' one of those 'open seasonally' rides? I love that!

We booked a 21 night package at Coronada Springs so DH was slighlty perplexed as to why i then needed to book 1 night at RPR and 2 nights at SSR - i could see those £ signs whirring away, but he now realises i DO know what i'm doing and tends to just leave me to it - if he knows what's good for him! ;) :pgig:
Carousel of Progress is one of the rides we have never done, along with a couple of others that i can't remember!
Our plan of action is to only visit the parks during EMH and leave when it gets too busy! If we're there early (or late as the case may be) i think we'll get more done rather than struggling with the crowds midday!
I personally love Evening EMH's! The parks look totally different in the dark and it does feel really special wandering round a half empty park at night! Nothing beats riding BTMRR at midnight! :wave:

[ticky15]

Thank you Mr Brady for starting this tread as I've had some questions answered, thanks Vabeth for pointing me in the right direction.I'll keep an eye out for you in Aug in your Dibb Knickers.....:pgig::pgig:

[Gonzo1st]

My thread about EMH has got me thinking. As I've never been to Orlando in peak season before (previously only visited in late September/early October) what other things go on in the Theme Parks that I should take note of?

What's your favourite thing about going during the height of Summer?

I have to admit that I was feeling a bit off about going in August (needs must - other half is a teacher!) but now I'm more excited than ever and that's just knowing about evening EMH! :pgig:

Hi :wavey:
Just thought that i would say hi.
I always used to go WDW in Jan or Feb.
2 years ago went to the WDW in Aug for our honeymoon :D
Can say that i was a bit worried about the long queues that every one talked about.
But we found it great:ccat:mickeybou

Wife is a teacher so we are going back In Aug too:d::d:

One thing i would say is watch out for the afternoon weather it tends to rain a bit.
have fun
Gonzo

[MrBrady]

Thanks Gonzo1st, I've been in September before so I know all about the rain. Isn't there something so different about getting soaked in a tropical rainstorm rather than the ones we get over here! I almost didn't mind getting soaked when I got stuck in the rather exposed bus parking lot of the original Universal Studios, it was so nice and warm.