DHS/Toy Story Land "Early Morning Magic" (EMM) FAQ & Discussion

[GADisneyDad14]

I need to get my thoughts down from this AM in one spot before I forget them all.

Set the alarm for 6am.

DS8 and I left YC via foot just before 6:40am. We walked - around a 20ish min walk at a medium to fast pace and the detour through the temporary bus stop.

DW and DD4 said to heck with my plan to be there at/before 7am, so told us to go ahead and they'd come later. They took a boat that YC around 7:18am and were at HS around 10 mins later. She said they went directly from BC/YC dock to HS and skipped Swolphin.

6:51am, at the BWI/YC/BC/Swolphin walking path where it detours temporarily around the new bus stop construction.


6:56am. The DHS front entrance is a serious hot mess right now, but construction is moving very quickly it seems. This appears to be quite an upgrade over the prior bus station setup.



6:56am. Still making our way around the detour.



7:00am. My goal to make it before 7 didn't work out so well. They were already letting people in at this point, so I'm not sure when they first let folks in. You really notice the DHS background music when it's still quiet at this hour.



7:05am.



They funneled everyone to the ABC Commissary - you didn't have a choice at this point. As we were going past the Chinese Theater, a CM told us TSL would be open at 7:30am. Other than that, there really wasn't much communication that we experienced. Pretty much just going with the flow at this point.

This pic was taken at 7:12am. I would estimate the ABC Commissary was roughly 80% full at this point. The multiple buffet setups kept the lines short but the lines at the hot entree ordering stations seemed long. I did not personally wait in them so not sure true waits. Honestly, I was surprised just how many people were already there eating breakfast - at 7:12am - who had obviously arrived well before us.





We had a cinnamon role and decided to head out, where we found this queue forming. Time stamp is 7:19am. Not going to lie, I was starting to get a little down as this (plus the amount of people in the Commissary) was more than I expected. Not entirely unexpected I guess, maybe just a bit more than I had hoped.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm assuming they do this to prevent running/stampedes, but they made everyone use the ramp which is kind of near the red circle below (map is not drawn accurately). You can pretty much only go double/triple file through the archway/ramp, so it slows people heading in.... vs if they were to let you use the steps just to the right of this.




This was the scene at 7:23am.


We headed straight to SDD, as most people were doing. I am not sure of the total wait, but we were loading the ride at 7:31am. I didn't think that was bad at all.

Went to meet Woodie and Jessie, time stamp of 7:37am. At that point DW and DD joined us. Pics with Buzz time stamped 7:42am with only a few people ahead of us. I said above I was glad we did characters early because I saw lines towards the end that didn't look all that attractive.

Rode SDD two more times in the roughly 8-8:30 time frame. Actual waits were right around 8 mins both times.

We bounced around to the other two rides several times during the event as well.

We did TSM one last time, entering around 8:49am, at which point the rope drop crowd had not arrived in TSL yet. The wait time was posted at something much higher than I thought it should be (30 mins, I think) but I shrugged it off as inaccurate. Turns out the wait was 17 mins, which I'm assuming is because everyone saved it until the end! It was walk on the other earlier times we did it. There was only one track running during EMM.

Some more random pics.

Can't tell from this pic, but SWGE is starting to look very impressive from the ground (and from SDD). It feels to me like when Pandora was up/visible from the AK entrance - the excitement of something new/significant progress.



AS2 is not wearing particularly well in a couple of spots. I would really love this ride if it weren't so bumpy.



Had to convince my kids to not stop to watch good ole' Mr. Potato head each time. They don't seem to understand the per minute pricing associated with this event.


Overall... my thoughts...

- Great morning. I'm a TSL fan and our kids are into it too. This was a fantastic family morning in our book. We had to do this on our departure day (not ideal) but it was a great way to cap off a short trip.

- The guest count was higher than I expected. But yet we still did everything we wanted to do with what I feel were reasonable waits. It just didn't have that 'intimate' feeling that we've experienced at MK EMM or the TSL AP event a few weeks ago. I'm curious to see comments from others about crowd levels as this event gains momentum going forward - I could see this having mixed reviews from some.

- The whole beginning of the event / funneling people to the Commissary / limited communication is a bit odd, in my opinion. I was glad I had been reading up on the DIS to have an idea of what to expect.

- We're early risers and even we sort of struggled to get going for the early hour! MK EMM with a 7:45 entry is more forgiving if you're running late.

- I always feel MK EMM goes by very quickly. Some of that is given the first 5-10 mins is eaten up just getting to Fantasyland. I didn't feel as rushed/frantic with TSL EMM. We enjoyed the land, took Photopass pics, enjoyed the music, shopped for toys, rode rides when we wanted to. I was never really clock watching.

Sorry for the long posts. Happy to answer any questions.

 

[cdurham1]

Characters were not out when we first walked by... which would have been 7:25ish (give or take a few mins). PhotoPass photographers were there as if they’d be out at any minute - I assume it was pretty close to 7:30 but not sure (we were on SDD).

We got off SDD and went to Woodie/Jessie. Time stamp for that pic was 7:37am.

We happened to be walking by and were the very first group to meet Woody and Jessie for the day. Quite good luck. My guess is that it was in between 7:30 and 7:35.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We happened to be walking by and were the very first group to meet Woody and Jessie for the day. Quite good luck. My guess is that it was in between 7:30 and 7:35.

You might have been right in front of us. I thought I heard them say to the folks in front of us that they were the first guests of the day, but wasn't sure I heard it correctly.

 

[cdurham1]

Great trip reports from today! Saves me time writing much. I agree with everyone's comments so far. It seems like everyone there must be regular disboard readers.

We only come every few years, so the value question is a moot point to me. It was 1000% worth the cost to be able to knock out those 3 attractions before park open.

My DD7 is doesn't care about the quality of food. The food quality is way down my list of importance. That being said, it was fine. She got the shrimp and grits and I got the smashed avocado. We had to eat breakfast anyway, so we ate it. Honestly, she would have been just as happy with a sausage biscuit from McDonald's and I thought it was just standard quick service level food. She would have skipped it to get to the attractions faster.

As we were leaving TSL at 9, I video'ed the line that formed for SDD. Judging by that and the 3 hour line that formed for TSMM later (a previous poster commented that the ride capacity was down so that makes more sense to me now), I would have happily paid the same price even without the breakfast.

We also did EMM yesterday at MK. Today was a bit busier. The MK EMM was basically just continuously ride the 4 attractions (including the carousel). Today, it was more like 5-7 minute waits on SDD.

I have no idea why they posted a 25 minute wait time at one point. And if I remember correctly, touringplans was estimating just slightly less than that. Both were WAY off. We waited about 8 minutes at the peak.

I don't come to Disney as often as I would like. The last time we were here was a slow September week in 2014. The crowds at MK yesterday and HS today dwarfed the 2014 crowds. All caps, DWARFED. If nothing changes, I would recommend to friends that EMM should be essential to their plans if they are coming at above average crowd times.

 

[cdurham1]

You might have been right in front of us. I thought I heard them say to the folks in front of us that they were the first guests of the day, but wasn't sure I heard it correctly.

Maybe so. It was just the 2 of us. We happened to be in the middle of running to the bathroom. It was just random luck that they happened to be setting up at exactly the same time. It looked like the line that formed even a few minutes later was substantial.

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

One thing I was surprised about, in HS all morning but esp at EMM was the lack of PhotoPass photographers. I thought there would be one at Woody as we entered TSL, but the only ones we saw were with the characters, and then 1 doing a frame and another doing a magic shot (though I didn’t see that, my sister got a photo there so I know it exists!).

I left HS at 11:15am and the only other photopass photographer I saw was one with a pride heart, near the main entrance.

In MK yesterday the only one I saw was 1 on Main Street. Either I’m exceptionally unobservant, they are hiding to avoid taking my photo, or there are fewer than I expected. I got Memory Maker with my package, but after 2 full days of crooked selfies, I’m getting frustrated, and if I had paid $100 for it, I would not be pleased.

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

I don't come to Disney as often as I would like. The last time we were here was a slow September week in 2014. The crowds at MK yesterday and HS today dwarfed the 2014 crowds. All caps, DWARFED. If nothing changes, I would recommend to friends that EMM should be essential to their plans if they are coming at above average crowd times.

This is really helpful to know. This is the 2nd day of my first ever trip. We were also in MK yesterday and HS today, and while the crowds were heavy, they were not as horrendous as I had been imagining. Granted, we left at lunch time, but even so, this is really useful. It’s very hard to judge just how busy is “busy”, but I think I was imagining that it would be worse than it was.

 

[Babs1975]

Those who have tried to head to TOT or RnRC at ropedrop, how did that go? What time do I need to leave TSL in order to beat the regular rope drop crowd? Is that even possible or will we get hung up behind them? Will we get stopped anywhere? I guess I need to know what I need to do NOT to be behind the regular ropedrop crowd?

 

[kat_lh]

Those who have tried to head to TOT or RnRC at ropedrop, how did that go? What time do I need to leave TSL in order to beat the regular rope drop crowd? Is that even possible or will we get hung up behind them? Will we get stopped anywhere? I guess I need to know what I need to do NOT to be behind the regular ropedrop crowd?

It was super easy. We left TSL at 8:48 and walked to RNRC. We got there at 8:52 and it was posted 25 minutes but was basically a walk on.

For whatever reason, the line for TOT was crazy long (like lined up outside against the wall.). We had a FP from 9:35-10:35 and had no problem eating breakfast and making that FP

 

[RachaelA]

20 minutes is an insane wait for what they are charging! I feel like they have upped the numbers a bit too much.

 

[maiapapaya]

20 minutes is an insane wait for what they are charging! I feel like they have upped the numbers a bit too much.

Maybe they "pushed" the numbers a bit today because of the holiday? (although not fair for those attending). Hoping this won't be the norm.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

FWIW, SDD was posted 20 min every time I went on it today and it was 8 mins two out of the three times. I didn't time the other one but it was <8 mins.

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

Thanks for all the trip reports. I am really disappointed to hear about the crowds...I thought the whole reason it was worth roughly $400 for my family was that we wouldn't have to think of a touring plan and wait for things. Everyone is saying their waits of 8 minutes, 15 minutes, etc. wasn't too bad... and it's not of course when compared to park open hours... but it is hardly the exclusive run around and enjoy type experience I thought we'd get. I thought we'd be walking on SDD, being able to let the kids ride it over and over and over. Meeting the characters with a very short wait.

Plus we hate mornings.

I'll appreciate hearing more reports and reviews to see if this was a one-off or whether it's going to be the norm. We've got a few more weeks to decide.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I’ll be keeping an eye on reports. I think it’s too early to judge just yet. This is a pretty new event and the multiple time slot thing is just silly.

I hope they get the kinks worked out and cap the attendance tighter.

 

[karensi]

Sorry, I guess I should know this...but I don't , where/how can I find out when EMM will take place? We are going in April, Easter week and I think it would definitely be to our advantage if we could do EMM at one or both of the parks. TIA, Karen

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Sorry, I guess I should know this...but I don't , where/how can I find out when EMM will take place? We are going in April, Easter week and I think it would definitely be to our advantage if we could do EMM at one or both of the parks. TIA, Karen

See here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/early-morning-magic-toy-story-land/

Dates for April 2019 aren’t our yet. Feb and March were just added a few days ago.

 

[MIAMouseketeer]

Sorry, I guess I should know this...but I don't , where/how can I find out when EMM will take place? We are going in April, Easter week and I think it would definitely be to our advantage if we could do EMM at one or both of the parks. TIA, Karen

Dates for April aren’t out yet but I would be surprised if they offer this Easter week. They tend to not offer EMM during the peak times of the year. This is only my guess but I wouldn’t count on it being added.

 

[Babs1975]

It was super easy. We left TSL at 8:48 and walked to RNRC. We got there at 8:52 and it was posted 25 minutes but was basically a walk on.

For whatever reason, the line for TOT was crazy long (like lined up outside against the wall.). We had a FP from 9:35-10:35 and had no problem eating breakfast and making that FP

So you were behind the rd crowd then at RNRC? Is it possible to leave TSL and be ahead of them? Where will CM's hold you if you leave TSL at maybe 8:40? Or was that long line of people from EMM? Just trying to envision this! Our plan is to head to RNRC and TOT at rd but would like to time it NOT to be behind rd, but ahead of them. Should be a perk to EMM ya know??!!

 

[karensi]

See here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/early-morning-magic-toy-story-land/

Dates for April 2019 aren’t our yet. Feb and March were just added a few days ago.

Dates for April aren’t out yet but I would be surprised if they offer this Easter week. They tend to not offer EMM during the peak times of the year. This is only my guess but I wouldn’t count on it being added.

Thank you both. I'll keep checking now that I know where to look but I guess I won't count on it being added.