Here now and my (and my husbands) observation about difference in guests

connorlevismom · Aug 26, 2016

we are WDW vets, go at least twice a year. We have been to DL 3 times since April of 2015. We have noticed a huge difference in guests and guest behavior between the 2. We have been here since last Friday and I was ready to go home by yesterday-because of the guests. Like I said, this is only my opinion.

1. There are so many more locals at DL. It is very clear that many people are here to just waste some time. I have never seen so many people walk so slowly around a Disney Park. And with it being smaller, it is impossible to get around them. And people just stop and stand anywhere they please.
2. The guests behavior seems so much worse here than it is a WDW. People are continuously budging in line and just being plain rude.
3. It is almost like it is a teen hang out most of the day and especially at night. I feel like I am at six flags! Teens all over and the selfies, my god the selfies. They are taking them everywhere and it is highly annoying. I had a bunch in front of me (3 rows full) on pirates and they were taking selfies the entire time!
4. Finally, a lot of the people seem very "rough" never in my life of going to Disneyworld have I been called a dumb *** *****. But I was tonight by a guy that I was walking by with my 12 year old son. He apparently was mad that I walked in front of him. But I was just trying to get around him as we were trying to get somewhere and he kept stopping every 3 second to see if it was a good spot for fireworks. Mind you, we were all in the middle of the cattle call from one side of the park to the other. You were not even supposed to the stopping where we were walking.
Anyway, we leave Saturday and I am very ready. Unfortunately we have decided we are done with DL for a very long time.

BriannaRuth · Aug 26, 2016

Wow, so sorry you didn't enjoy yourself. We were there about 10 days ago and had none of the problems that you did. Five days in the park and I think I noticed people cutting maybe twice. Even then I wasn't 100% sure it was cutting or just someone rejoining their group, so it didn't bother me too much.

I do hate it when people use the flash on their cameras on the rides, though. That happened a few times. Although the couple times it happened with us it was adults, not teens. No excuse for profanity, though.

I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that you were there right before school resumed? Maybe kids getting their last blast.

connorlevismom · Aug 26, 2016

I think part of it is Probably that we came that dreaded week where SoCal AP's black-out days end.

SMD · Aug 26, 2016

connorlevismom said:
we are WDW vets, go at least twice a year. We have been to DL 3 times since April of 2015. We have noticed a huge difference in guests and guest behavior between the 2. We have been here since last Friday and I was ready to go home by yesterday-because of the guests. Like I said, this is only my opinion.

1. There are so many more locals at DL. It is very clear that many people are here to just waste some time. I have never seen so many people walk so slowly around a Disney Park. And with it being smaller, it is impossible to get around them. And people just stop and stand anywhere they please.
2. The guests behavior seems so much worse here than it is a WDW. People are continuously budging in line and just being plain rude.
3. It is almost like it is a teen hang out most of the day and especially at night. I feel like I am at six flags! Teens all over and the selfies, my god the selfies. They are taking them everywhere and it is highly annoying. I had a bunch in front of me (3 rows full) on pirates and they were taking selfies the entire time!
4. Finally, a lot of the people seem very "rough" never in my life of going to Disneyworld have I been called a dumb *** *****. But I was tonight by a guy that I was walking by with my 12 year old son. He apparently was mad that I walked in front of him. But I was just trying to get around him as we were trying to get somewhere and he kept stopping every 3 second to see if it was a good spot for fireworks. Mind you, we were all in the middle of the cattle call from one side of the park to the other. You were not even supposed to the stopping where we were walking.
Anyway, we leave Saturday and I am very ready. Unfortunately we have decided we are done with DL for a very long time.

You came to the board where you asked for trip planning advice and asked APs to do searches for room rates while logged into their accounts to complain about those same "locals," as you've labeled them. If you'd like everyone to move at the pace of WDW, go to WDW. Going around people to cut them off will be seen by many as rude. Rudness cuts both ways, and it seems that it's not just the "rough" locals and hang out teens who rubbed someone the wrong way.

theluckyrabbit · Aug 26, 2016

In my experience at DLR, the locals are usually the ones who go the quickest because we know where we're going. We're usually not the ones wandering about trying to figure out where we're going. We're also usually the ones who readily help people who clearly look lost (even to the point of carrying extra maps to give out when needed). I don't ever consider my visits to the parks as wasting time. We ran into some very rude guests this evening while waiting for PTN. It was rather clear that they weren't locals. Their attitude is their choice. Mine is mine. We chose not to let those people ruin the magic. It sounds like you are really letting your frustration get to you and ruin your trip. Hope you see some magic before the end of your visit.

redkop1969 · Aug 26, 2016

We must have been lucky on our 2 visits, nothing but helpful and friendly locals. Only annoying thing is people keep asking what part of Australia are we from, and get confused when we say we are from the UK

, looking forward to being there in a few weeks

damo · Aug 26, 2016

We've never had any problems with guests at DL either. We go to both WDW and DL and I haven't had an issues with behaviors at all.

hsmamato2 · Aug 26, 2016

sorry you had no fun... the week we spent there a few years back was chock full of locals (I could tell) and a ton of fun! I have to say, I have seen way too much rude behavior at just about any park,even WDW. I tend to ignore stuff unless it really impacts me though, I'm too busy enjoying my vacation to worry about 'lazy locals', teens with selfie sticks, or much else!

beachdreamr1229 · Aug 26, 2016

Wow, this is the complete opposite of what I've seen. In fact, usually I've felt it's the tourists who stop in the middle of pathways because they're staring at a map trying to figure out where they're going. Most locals know better. And I've literally never felt like I was at 6 Flags. You must have had a terrible time to feel that way. I hope you go back again sometime and have a different experience.

Kindermouse · Aug 26, 2016

I dont think rude people are isolated to Disneyland and think some of the people who were rude to you were indeed tourists and not locals. Locals dont need to hmmm and hahhh all around the castle to pick a spot for PTN and DLF. they know what the best spots are and they snap them up pretty early. Actually that what usually bugs me about locals. They have it planned out better than I do. And those people who stop in the middle of Main Street while I am push a stroller or wheelchair right behind them-those are tourists who are are so confused that they dont realize that they are stopping the middle of traffic-You cant stop and look at your map in the middle of the Interstate folks. But they arent trying to be rude so you just forgive them and apologize for hitting them with your stroller/wheelchair and you keep going.

I have seen rude locals and some rude Rude RUDE tourists who have cussed at me-I know they were tourists because of their midwestern accent. Rude people exist everywhere and rude people take vacations too. I also wish the rude people from near and far would just stay home but alas-Disney uses metal detectors and not *** **** detectors. Where is the tech ingenuity coming up with that one.

Darkbeer1 · Aug 26, 2016

As someone who has grown up with and still love Theme/Amusement Parks (Native SoCal) and have been to way too many different parks of multiple chains including Disney, Six Flags, Cedar Fair, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens (how I miss the Los Angeles park), and other smaller chains.

One of the strongest memories in regards to crowds and "locals" was my first trip to Cedar Point (Ohio) as an adult. Since it is mainly a local/regional park (though it is becoming a bit more of a tourist location) and focuses on roller coasters. Even queue I was in and loading platform was fast, and efficient. When folks sat down in their seats, it was amazing to see how fast they got the safety devices attached and hands up to allow checking of them. It was almost a challenge to see how fast you could load the ride and get dispatched. If you took your time, well, there was some group pressure to get with the program, and save it for when you are out of line. Amazing to see, and made the lines move quickly.

As compared to Disneyland, where it was just hanging out and hanging out with friends.

As for Six Flags, some parks in the chain are better than others, and I have also had some of my best experiences at their parks, park employees that have gone amazingly out of their way. Heck, Wayne Brady worked at Six Flags, Terry Favor worked at LEGOLAND California, the amount of folks that worked at Knott's over the decades is too long to list, and today, many employees work at both Knott's and Disneyland, especially performers.

And then we can get to the stroller complaints,it is the locals that bring in the strollers the size of a small car and block pathways. I remember once at Disneyland, sitting on a bench talking to friends,and got my foot run over by a stroller. I looked up, and Mom looked at me like "Hey, why did you put your foot out in my way attitude", even though I didn't move it at all, and was sitting normally. Every park has good guests and less than great guests.

5forMickey · Aug 26, 2016

Goosh, I guess I really live in the "Disney bubble" because I wouldn't know, care, or be able to tell you who is a local and who is a tourist when we are at the parks. I do occasionally see <edit> but I tend not to pay attention to them as I refuse to let them ruin my vacation.

I'm just gonna stay in my bubble and sing zipadeedoodah to myself.

OP -- sorry you didn't have a great time, hopefully your next trip will be filled with more magic.

5forMickey · Aug 26, 2016

Darkbeer1 said:
If you took your time, well, there was some group pressure to get with the program, and save it for when you are out of line. Amazing to see, and made the lines move quickly.

So glad this isn't the attitude to the Disney CM's and most of the guests. Some of those rides are really difficult for those with a mobility (or other) issues and it's really refreshing when people are kind to each other.

My Father who used to be a big strong man that helped everyone he could now deals with some real challenges when we tour due to medical conditions. I get teared up several times a day at the compassion he receives from the majority of people at Disneyland, I like to think of it as good karma coming back to him for all his years of helping people. The few that are to self absorbed to be kind, I just figure they will reap what they sow and pay no attention to them.

Let's not let a few bad seeds pit us against each other. The majority of people at Disneyland are kind, fun loving, fellow Disney lovers like the rest of us.

mamapenguin · Aug 26, 2016

We didn't have any problems in early August, everyone just seems happy to be there. It's been a while since I've been to WDW, but we are going in March. The tour groups at WDW are something to avoid. I don't label, but if I see a flag (indicates a tour group) I go the other way. I have encountered rude people at WDW, the key is not to dwell on it and like others have said not let it ruin the magic. Let it go.

Stacy's a freak · Aug 26, 2016

If you want to go home, go for it and send me your unused passes and hotel accommodations. People can be rude anywhere. It's your choice to be annoyed or to ignore and make the most of your day. Maybe if you are feeling annoyed, you yourself need to take a break away from the crowds and regroup. I have encountered rude or inconsiderate people at the grocery store or any other everyday place. When I get too flustered by these people, I realize that my BS meter is on overload and I take a break. I know that I can't control others so I do what I have to do to get myself back to even keel and I try again.

Darkbeer1 · Aug 26, 2016

5forMickey said:
So glad this isn't the attitude to the Disney CM's and most of the guests. Some of those rides are really difficult for those with a mobility (or other) issues and it's really refreshing when people are kind to each other.

Oh, a person with an mobility issue would be welcomed, it is the group of friends (say a group just chatting and not paying attention to what is going on) slowing down everything and focused just on themselves, it is those type of groups that got the peer pressure that implied, you are in line, please keep it moving and when you get to the platform, pay attention, and load as quickly as you can. In fact, someone who needed some assistance would be offered it by other guests.

The point was, if you want to sit around and just chat and gossip, find a bench, seats at a restaurant, etc. and not hold up the line for others. Which I have seen all over the place including Disneyland, similar to the groups that walk side by side down the walkways and stop for no known reason, causing a traffic jam. Ran into some friends, don't just stand in the middle of the pathway, be polite and take it to at least the edge of the pathway.

But alas, we are in the Pokémon Go! era where folks don't pay attention to their surroundings and others when they walk...

bumbershoot · Aug 26, 2016

redkop1969 said:
We must have been lucky on our 2 visits, nothing but helpful and friendly locals. Only annoying thing is people keep asking what part of Australia are we from, and get confused when we say we are from the UK , looking forward to being there in a few weeks

Fwiw there must be some regional accent in England that just really sounds Australian. (Well...I would guess that the Australian accent sounds like that/those part(s) of England)

I'm good with accents but I've mixed it up a few times. Enough so I just ask where people are from instead of guessing.

And no one ever says what part of England or the UK (some answer with England, some answers UK) they are from, which is actually part of what I'm asking. Feel free to bore us nosy and too chatty Americans!

Stacy's a freak · Aug 26, 2016

bumbershoot said:
Fwiw there must be some regional accent in England that just really sounds Australian. (Well...I would guess that the Australian accent sounds like that/those part(s) of England)

I'm good with accents but I've mixed it up a few times. Enough so I just ask where people are from instead of guessing.

And no one ever says what part of England or the UK (some answer with England, some answers UK) they are from, which is actually part of what I'm asking. Feel free to bore us nosy and too chatty Americans!

I agree with this! After visiting England, I now know that accents can very greatly from one region to the next which I find fascinating - not to mention the slang. The overall area of England is about the same area as New York State and while our accents here can vary, they do not seem to vary as much as in England.

bumbershoot · Aug 26, 2016

And I'm sure that if that particular British accent were heard at the same time as an Australian accent, we would hear the difference. It's just that that one accent sounds so similar to an Australian accent that it's hard when you're just hearing the one.

Speaking of mis-hearing an accent, I have been taken for a Canadian by the way I speak* on many occasions! I love that! Can I become Canadian based on that?

* except for when tipsy and tired...that's when the latent Californian comes out.

GatorChris · Aug 26, 2016

connorlevismom said:
I think part of it is Probably that we came that dreaded week where SoCal AP's black-out days end.

I think this is probably what caused your issues. I can certainly sympathize though. WDW seems to attract more families who have more of that "vacation mindset" as it's a worldwide tourist destination. DL is definitely more local, and when the SoCal passes come back online, you get a flood of that younger gen you were speaking about. There's definitely a different vibe at each resort. Plus when you squeeze all those people into the small DL walkways, it really makes it tough when you just want to travel from one spot to another. You can definitely feel closed in at DL, especially in the evenings.

Sorry you won't be back for a while, but I'm sure you'll love the WDW trips that much more.

Here now and my (and my husbands) observation about difference in guests

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