disappointment

[daisy_77]

I hope you have a safe and wonderful trip! Try not to fret too much. Just go and have a great time!

My DH refuses to go to DL. He really enjoys WDW, though. I love BOTH! In different ways. I like to go to DL because it really is a special place. I will continue to take solo trips or trips with DD. He will just stay home and fish and then in a few years we will take our next big family trip to WDW.

 

[lcasa]

I would like to ask about the above bolded line, actually.
Which rides were "dangerous" in the 90's? And in what way were they less "dangerous" in recent years and more "dangerous" now?

I never went to Disneyland in the 90's so I'm just curious.

We (ok. I think of it as my park - i've been an AP holder for 20 years) had 2 deaths that were not the fault of the guest - virtually unheard of before - due to cuts in staff/training/supervision and ride maintence schedules that were done during the Pressler years ( why they put a guy from Mattel in charge of the parks is beyond me. There's a lot more to the parks than marketing). In one a cleat pulled off the Columbia due to an inexperienced operator and hit someone in the head and killed him. The other wasn't until 2003, when Big Thunder derailed. Employees interviewed off the record said that regular replacement schedules were changed to 'inspect and get the max wear out of any part - replace when ready to break down' - but it was a Pressler policy change.

There was also a truly sad story of a 4 year old trapped under the Roger Rabbit vehicle - and the employees did not react in any kind of appropriate matter according to the people in line at the time. He suffered severe brain damage and recently passed away at the age of 13. I haven't been able to ride that ride since - the details of the story were so sad.

Everytime I happen to see Pressler's brick in the entrance plaza I stomp it thoroughly. I was also happy to see he failed as CEO of the Gap after leaving.

Things are definitely improving now.

 

[Lisa1851]

On a side note, we were just at the DLR on Ths and Fri last week. The park was scheduled to close at 9:00 (I believe) and it was announced while we were riding the Monorail that they would be open an additional hour. So even the posted hours can change at the last minute.

 

[redsox721]

Being a WDW veteran, I was abit apprehensive when my DH wanted to go to DL for our upcoming 25th anniversary. I wanted to go back to WDW as it would have been our first time without the kids. Once I started planning, reading the boards and doing research, I am very excited to be going to DL.

As someone else posted, we should all be grateful to be able to have the luxury of a vacation.

 

[mnasf]

I'm happy we are getting to go on vacation and to Disney - but right about now I wish we were doing WDW. Unfortunately, too many factors are in place to contemplate switching. Park hours just came out for our stay. No parades and no Fantasmic during our time. That is just really disappointing....Could they adjust the calendar once it is out? Why no Fantasmic during spring break?

Our Spring Break begins at the end of March. I hope things clear up for yours and you get to see a parade or Fantasmic. I am probably in the minority, but I prefer Fantasmic at WDW. I'm sure you want to decide for yourself. We own DVC at WDW and had annual passes there last year. We were able to go a couple of times. Right now, I am holding a Disneyland pass. People ask me all the time to compare the two and it's really hard. I am sure you'll enjoy Fantasyland at DL as I think it's better than WDW. I miss some of the rides when we're in Orlando. There are also other things unique to DL and CA. You will so surprised at how easy park hopping can be. I wish you a wonderful trip! I hope you get some parades or fantasmic added to your calendar. I love the electric light one at CA. Have fun!

 

[bluedoll]

We (ok. I think of it as my park - i've been an AP holder for 20 years) had 2 deaths that were not the fault of the guest - virtually unheard of before - due to cuts in staff/training/supervision and ride maintence schedules that were done during the Pressler years ( why they put a guy from Mattel in charge of the parks is beyond me. There's a lot more to the parks than marketing). In one a cleat pulled off the Columbia due to an inexperienced operator and hit someone in the head and killed him. The other wasn't until 2003, when Big Thunder derailed. Employees interviewed off the record said that regular replacement schedules were changed to 'inspect and get the max wear out of any part - replace when ready to break down' - but it was a Pressler policy change.

There was also a truly sad story of a 4 year old trapped under the Roger Rabbit vehicle - and the employees did not react in any kind of appropriate matter according to the people in line at the time. He suffered severe brain damage and recently passed away at the age of 13. I haven't been able to ride that ride since - the details of the story were so sad.

Everytime I happen to see Pressler's brick in the entrance plaza I stomp it thoroughly. I was also happy to see he failed as CEO of the Gap after leaving.

Things are definitely improving now.

Yeah, I knew about all of those. I was just curious how the park is somehow becoming dangerous again? Have there been accidents lately because of park cutbacks?

Accidents happen. They can happen at any park. They shouldn't, but sadly they do. Luckily there haven't been accidents at Disneyland like ones that occur at other parks where large groups of people are injured (except when Screamin' trains collided at the station.)

I don't know all the details of any of the above accidents but there are things parents can do to help protect their kids from things happening. Always put kids on the inside (never by the car opening, even on kiddie rides like snow white.) Always make sure the bar is down and secure. Don't completely rely on the CM's. Hold onto your kids, just in case. With the Roger Rabbit accident, yes the CM was at fault and there should have been a door on the ride. But there are also things the parents could have done that would have prevented it. I don't put the blame solely on Disney for that one. I just think parents need to remember that just because it's the Happiest Place on Earth doesn't mean bad things can't happen.

For the other two accidents, I do though.

 

[fairykin]

we love disneyland over wdw.
*hugs*
i hope you have a good time on your trip and make special memories.

 

[bluedoll]

we love disneyland over wdw.
*hugs*
i hope you have a good time on your trip and make special memories.

I can't pick one over the other. Whenever I come back from a WDW trip, I want to go back to Disneyland. Whenever I come back from a Disneyland trip, I want to go back to WDW. Haha!