Another look at DHS "super crowds"

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I don't follow enough of the bloggers to know who is who, but it will be interesting to see if the "influencers" see through the red-carpet treatment and report something like, "ROTR is amazing and MMRR is adorable, but ordinary guests will face huge lines so you might want to wait until RotR is a bit more reliable."

They won’t say that. That’s not how they get invited back. Josh, the Dis Unplugged, and there were a couple articles yesterday. I’ll find and post.

Not Glowing

 

[Lady Hiss]

But the issue isn't that there's so much to do at the park. Truthfully, without the insane crowds, it would still only be a one-day park. It's just that the ride capacity is so low, and the non-headliner attractions are so sparse, and the physical footprint of the park is so small that everyone is jammed into a few areas trying to get on those few headliners. Disney didn't build out the ancillary attractions to support a park full of people who are

This. Exactly! There aren’t any alternatives when hanging around in the park. Just long lines and hangry people (all of whom are dealing with nowhere to go if it’s rainy, cold, or scorching hot).

 

[ClapYourHands]

Only Josh at EasyWDW would do that. It's why he never goes to media events.

Well, I guess I'll just have to start following him.

I wonder what would happen if we all started calling out the "influencers" in their comments sections. I realize Dis members are a small percentage of parkgoers, but we are among the most informed guests. Anyone want to link (or list) blogs that are giving an unrealistic impression of the current state of DHS? I'm guessing I'm not the only one who would be willing to (respectfully) challenge the rose-colored-glasses view of going to DHS these days.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Well, I guess I'll just have to start following him.

I wonder what would happen if we all started calling out the "influencers" in their comments sections. I realize Dis members are a small percentage of parkgoers, but we are among the most informed guests. Anyone want to link (or list) blogs that are giving an unrealistic impression of the current state of DHS? I'm guessing I'm not the only one who would be willing to (respectfully) challenge the rose-colored-glasses view of going to DHS these days.

The media influencer day is March 3, so look for rose colored posts after that.

 

[ClapYourHands]

The media influencer day is March 3, so look for rose colored posts after that.

Anyone going to be at DHS that day? I'd love it if some of us could "bump into" those influencers and give them a bit of the lowdown on what's really going on. I wonder if hearing firsthand about the ordinary experience would temper the reports.

It's not that I think they're not going to slam DHS if they want to be invited back, but maybe it would make the reviews a bit less glowing.

I think you can easily praise the attractions, and still be real about the crowds.

 

[g-dad66]

I k now that Muppets has not been opening unti 10am.

Is the same true for Lightning McQueen? Was hoping to do it between 9-10am.

 

[Pnflkc3]

I k now that Muppets has not been opening unti 10am.

Is the same true for Lightning McQueen? Was hoping to do it between 9-10am.

Found out Lightning doesn’t start until 10am. We’re there Tuesday (and Fri) and my original plan w/ our family of 3 (including a 5 yr old that LOVES Cars) was to get ROTR bg and then take in some shows. That’s not an option. We have MFSR fp for later in the day so thankfully don’t feel compelled to line up with crowd waiting at SWGE tunnel at opening. We also have TOT, SDD, TSMM ST fp over the course of our two days so I guess we’ll either trying swirling saucers or RNR single rider (too intense for our son) at opening. Really too bad they don’t have some of the shows open at 8.

 

[Pnflkc3]

Perhaps I’ve missed it but all I’ve really seen from DHS photos/ videos at opening are the massive crowds lining up in front of the SWGE tunnel. Is it just as bad for those trying to get to TSL at rope drop? How far do they let crowds get waiting for it to open?

 

[Robo]

Perhaps I’ve missed it but all I’ve really seen from DHS photos/ videos at opening are the massive crowds lining up in front of the SWGE tunnel.
1. Is it just as bad for those trying to get to TSL at rope drop?
2. How far do they let crowds get waiting for it to open?

1. Yes.
2. Slinky Dog standby line can extend into "Star Wars Launch Bay" and "Disney Jr." area.

 

[blistex]

I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with a four-year-old for the first few hours. Maybe just leave for breakfast somewhere on the Boardwalk, but honestly, if I'm dragging her out of bed before dawn, hopping a bus, and waiting an hour for the park to open, she's going to be pretty hangry if I don't feed her at some point prior to the BG-fast-fingers-death-match.

We just came back from a trip with a 4 and 6 year old and I feel this emotion strongly. What saved us was having Hoppers and staying in a crescent lake resort. We would only stay in HS for 1-2 hours at a time then go elsewhere even if we went back later. It was extremely frustrating that the shows weren't open at opening time as the kids would have been thrilled to do any of those things. My strategy was to get 1 or 2 FPs for things that were open right around opening time (I had an 8:20 Star Tours one day and an 8:15 RnRC another day though the 4 year old isn't tall enough for RnRC) to give us something definite to do after BG attempt (otherwise it's a huge crushing blow when you get no BG or just super boring while you wait for your BG)

One day, we got there, tried for a BG, then one day we did our FP and left and came back around 10:30 for other FPs. Another day, I mobile ordered breakfast at Docking Bay so we checked out the land a bit and ate breakfast then did our FP, at that point the shows were open and I was able to pull FPs to do a two of those and we did the Droid building thing and left for the day right around lunch time. We would have gone back that day but we had plans outside of the park with my mom in the evening.

 

[blistex]

Now that I think of it, I could hop a skyliner, which would be a ride in itself, and take us up to AoA. I realize the pool is off limits to us, but DD would probably really enjoy the playgrounds. It's a thought anyway.

I'm open for any plan B suggestions that won't cost me an arm and a leg.

Oh, yeah, skyliner rides all day. The 4 year old thought that was an actual ride and it takes about 20-30 minutes to do the full loop, or take the boats around the lake. Free, sitting down, shaded, perfect. You can grab a Mickey ice cream bar from the coke stand right at the entrance/exit to eat on the journey for an extra only mildly splurgy treat.

 

[etoiles]

We’re here. Left room at 6:40. Caught bus from Contemporary at 6:48. Arrived at 7. Through entrance by 7:20. Waiting by the tunnel. Two Young kids and two adults so we’re not the fastest group.

I was on latest IPhone and Verizon and waited 3 seconds after 8 and got through. Group 24. Broke down just as we were about to ride but we came back and went through!

Photo of crowd at about 7:05.

 

[cakebaker]

Well, I guess I'll just have to start following him.

I wonder what would happen if we all started calling out the "influencers" in their comments sections. I realize Dis members are a small percentage of parkgoers, but we are among the most informed guests. Anyone want to link (or list) blogs that are giving an unrealistic impression of the current state of DHS? I'm guessing I'm not the only one who would be willing to (respectfully) challenge the rose-colored-glasses view of going to DHS these days.

Some of them have almost cult like followings. You see posts all the time with guests gushing over meeting them in the parks- as though they were celebrities. I only follow Josh. He clearly loves WDW, but calls it like he sees it. Never mind, he’s hilariously funny. If someone is getting something for free because of their opinions, their opinions are worthless.

 

[OSUZorba]

To be fair, Muppets is down for a refurb/maintenance, and every time I go McQueen is broken down. It's not all about cutting costs, some things need to have work done to keep running well, and McQueen apparently has issues lol

We were there in Sept and McQueen broken down while DW and DD were in the show. Seemed to break down multiple times that day. It seems to have pretty poor reliability for a new show that doesn't seem to be that complex.

 

[Thecouch]

Hers a couple negative story from bloggers
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/hollywood-studios-hours-extended-8am-crowds/https://blogmickey.com/2020/02/dont-visit-disneys-hollywood-studios

 

[Disneyliscious]

Disney is expensive but Disney does not cater to people but many people act as if their money spent means Disney owes them something.

Actually, Disney DOES owe guests something. Guests are paying for a service and they are within their right to expect to be reasonably accommodated to enjoy that service.

And yes, this is coming from someone with experience in that department. Disney comped almost $4000 worth of free park tickets with no expiration date for us to return because our last trip was so horrid from crowds and poor service.
I did not ask for a refund, did not ask for anything at all. I just let them know how - after 4 generations and numerous trips - I left with no desire to ever return.

That was last year and I still have no desire or plans to return.

To everyone else, food for thought:

I don’t mind reasonable lines. Lines of an hour or less are reasonable. But lines of 2-4 hours every single day for rides that are YEARS old already is inexcusable.

For the record, my family has yet to ride SOARIN, FOP, SDD, TSM, 7DMT. Yes, that’s correct. Even SOARIN. THIS, despite staying onsite for 60 day FP, being ready as soon as FP booking went live (and rechecking afterwards), and multiple trips.

How many of you here are actually taking the time to voice your complaints to Disney? You don’t have to wait until after your trip to voice concerns. It’s good that we have places like the DIS to discuss among ourselves but at the end of the day we have to get our concerns to Disney.

The current FP system, park hours, and crowd limits are NOT working. Something will have to break before the Anniversary next year and it will. It’s best to get your concerns in now.

 

[cakebaker]

For the record, my family has yet to ride SOARIN, FOP, SDD, TSM, 7DMT. Yes, that’s correct. Even SOARIN. THIS, despite staying onsite for 60 day FP, being ready as soon as FP booking went live (and rechecking afterwards), and multiple trips.

I can’t imagine why you would not be able to secure FP’s for at least some of these rides at the 60 day mark. Even for a very short trip ( less than 3 days), there’s really no reason why you wouldn’t be able to get Soarin’ or TSMM.

Since the beginning of FP, there has never been a trip when we have not gotten FP for SDD, SDMT or FOP. There have been a couple of times I had to check for a few weeks for one, but that’s been rare. They aren’t always at exactly the time I want, but we’ve always gotten them. Our trips have been as short as 4 days, as long as 14, average stay is usually 5-7 nights.


I definitely let them know when we have issues and we have been compensated in the past. But I’m at a loss as to why you couldn’t secure fp’s,

 

[kylenne]

For the record, my family has yet to ride SOARIN, FOP, SDD, TSM, 7DMT. Yes, that’s correct. Even SOARIN. THIS, despite staying onsite for 60 day FP, being ready as soon as FP booking went live (and rechecking afterwards), and multiple trips.

Forgive me, but I have so many questions about this because I’m baffled by it. Particularly Soarin, which is by far the easiest out of this group ever since they built the third theater. It’s ridiculously easy to get day of FP without much effort either. How big is your family? How long is your typical trip? Do you not attempt rope drop, or getting in line at park close as an alternative? TSM was a walk on at park close last time I went, on a busy holiday weekend when SDD had apparently been down most of that day (I went to DHS one evening after dinner on a whim because I was staying at BC, with no real intent to go on rides and still managed Star Tours, MFSR and TSM in short standby.)

 

[wilkydelts]

I did not ask for a refund, did not ask for anything at all. I just let them know how - after 4 generations and numerous trips - I left with no desire to ever return.

This statement in itself is contradictory. The simple act of calling and voicing your displeasure is an act in asking for them to make it up to you. Whether you asked implicitly or not.

The need to directly state the large sum of money you spent to a message board of strangers demonstrates this point

 

[FeaturePresentation]

This statement in itself is contradictory. The simple act of calling and voicing your displeasure is an act in asking for them to make it up to you. Whether you asked implicitly or not.

The need to directly state the large sum of money you spent to a message board of strangers demonstrates this point

I don't think that's fair. They had a negative experience and let Disney know about it. That's what you should do with any product or service you pay big money for. The company needs to know about it before they can fix it. Complaining doesn't equate to begging for refunds.