mrdubleyou
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2005
- Messages
- 2
For years my family and I have enjoyed annual visits to Disneyland and I cannot recall one single time that we had an unenjoyable time. We've weathered the crowds, the rain, the cold and the heat. What we hadn't been through before happened on the weekend of December 9, 2005.
We drove from Northern California to Disneyland, which for us was just under 370 miles. Wife and 2 kids (ages 9 and 11). We were all excited about visiting the park again for Xmas. Naturally we expected the crowds. Knowing this, we arrived in the park at 8:15 am on saturday morning December 10, and hit as many popular rides as we could. Since we knew this would be a long day (park hours were 8am - midnight), we (like many families) do, decided to exit the park and do a bit of shopping, eating and looking around Downtown Disney. We left the park at 1:30pm. We also decided to head back to our room for a bit. We got our hands stamped at the exit and had full intentions of returning to the park later.
We returned to the maingate plaza around 6:15pm and were met with the sight of HUNDREDS of angry parkgoers. It seemed that both Disneyland and C.A. were closed because they had each reached capacity. There were throngs of angry people who like us had had their hands stamped and felt that we should have been allowed reentry. Many of those people (just like us) exited the park without being told that if we left the park, there was a chance that we wouldn't be allowed back into the park.
I flagged down a supervisor, who was kind enough to explain what was happening to me and many others who'd gathered around. According to him, ticket sales ceased at 1pm because they KNEW the parks were going to reach capacity. My statement to him (along with others who'd left the park long after we did) was why were people not being informed that the park was closed before they exited?? His answer...."No idea". Naturally, we headed to Guest Services.
Now what I saw there, is something I never thought I would see in a Disney Park, nor will it be something I ever forget. It was complete chaos. I got into line behind nearly 25 other people. Nearly each person that went to the window were either demanding to be let into the park, wanting answers as to why they were not informed of the no re-entry policy before they exited the park, or wanted refunds. Many people in line stated that they were separated from other members of their group who were still inside the park. One frantic mother cried, scream, and completely lost her composure, when she was denied entry to the park. It seemed that her daughter was in the park as part of a dance group. Mom left the park to get jackets, wasn't told that she couldn't re-enter (this was AFTER the park had been closed) and then was denied entry when she tried. The Disney officials, appeared to be unrelenting in initially allowing anyone reentry or refunds.
Things came to a head when a fairly well to do looking couple both lost their tempers at the Guest Services window. I really had mixed feelings about the whole encounter. In my opinion it got completely out of hand. Young children not only saw and heard the couple lose control, but also the Disney Officials. Supervisors were called, Disney police was called, Anaheim police was called. Children were crying and the adults in line (which by this time had grown to more than 100 people booed, and yelled out their frustrations.
I really could not believe that the Disney Officials let things get this out of hand. I have an extremely difficult time in believing that the parks have never reached capacity before. I find it amazing that Disney does not have a protocol that they follow which will appease their guests. As a parent it really broke my heart to see a young girl of about 7 years old crying and pulling on her mother to leave and screaming that she never wanted to come to the park again. This is not the lasting memory that any parent would want for their child.
In response to the chaos, the Guest Services Windows were closed down. After 10 minutes or so, they reopened. Luckily I was near the front of the line at this time. I went to the window, and calmly explained my situation. First I was offered a ticket to visit C.A. I told the represenative, look at the tickets...they are park hoppers I can get in that park without your ticket. Besides...that park was closed also. Then I was offered a ticket to come back to the park anyday...AFTER 4pm. No Dice, I wasn't driving to 350+ miles again for half a day at Disney. A refund was never offered. I finally had to ask for it. Did I get it?? Yes. It seemed that Disney Officials finally rethought their positioning on refunding after having to close the windows. When I left the window, there were easily more than 150 people in line.
I got my money back for the the extra days that we did not use. We left the area the next morning and returned home. Needless to say we were all pretty disappointed. We missed all of the nighttime festivities that were being done for Christmas and the 50th Celebration. The trip was basically a bust.
My wife and I love Disney for all of the things they do right, and while we understand that while things can sometimes go wrong, this is a glaring wrong that's left a sour taste in our mouths and undoubtedly countless others. Disney needs to review their policies and procedures in this area. Guests spend hundreds of dollars planning for tickets, hotels, travel arrangements, etc. To have a vacation turn out in this fashion is appalling and it is events like this, that could cause other Disney lovers like ourselves to begin spending their vacations elsewhere.
We drove from Northern California to Disneyland, which for us was just under 370 miles. Wife and 2 kids (ages 9 and 11). We were all excited about visiting the park again for Xmas. Naturally we expected the crowds. Knowing this, we arrived in the park at 8:15 am on saturday morning December 10, and hit as many popular rides as we could. Since we knew this would be a long day (park hours were 8am - midnight), we (like many families) do, decided to exit the park and do a bit of shopping, eating and looking around Downtown Disney. We left the park at 1:30pm. We also decided to head back to our room for a bit. We got our hands stamped at the exit and had full intentions of returning to the park later.
We returned to the maingate plaza around 6:15pm and were met with the sight of HUNDREDS of angry parkgoers. It seemed that both Disneyland and C.A. were closed because they had each reached capacity. There were throngs of angry people who like us had had their hands stamped and felt that we should have been allowed reentry. Many of those people (just like us) exited the park without being told that if we left the park, there was a chance that we wouldn't be allowed back into the park.
I flagged down a supervisor, who was kind enough to explain what was happening to me and many others who'd gathered around. According to him, ticket sales ceased at 1pm because they KNEW the parks were going to reach capacity. My statement to him (along with others who'd left the park long after we did) was why were people not being informed that the park was closed before they exited?? His answer...."No idea". Naturally, we headed to Guest Services.
Now what I saw there, is something I never thought I would see in a Disney Park, nor will it be something I ever forget. It was complete chaos. I got into line behind nearly 25 other people. Nearly each person that went to the window were either demanding to be let into the park, wanting answers as to why they were not informed of the no re-entry policy before they exited the park, or wanted refunds. Many people in line stated that they were separated from other members of their group who were still inside the park. One frantic mother cried, scream, and completely lost her composure, when she was denied entry to the park. It seemed that her daughter was in the park as part of a dance group. Mom left the park to get jackets, wasn't told that she couldn't re-enter (this was AFTER the park had been closed) and then was denied entry when she tried. The Disney officials, appeared to be unrelenting in initially allowing anyone reentry or refunds.
Things came to a head when a fairly well to do looking couple both lost their tempers at the Guest Services window. I really had mixed feelings about the whole encounter. In my opinion it got completely out of hand. Young children not only saw and heard the couple lose control, but also the Disney Officials. Supervisors were called, Disney police was called, Anaheim police was called. Children were crying and the adults in line (which by this time had grown to more than 100 people booed, and yelled out their frustrations.
I really could not believe that the Disney Officials let things get this out of hand. I have an extremely difficult time in believing that the parks have never reached capacity before. I find it amazing that Disney does not have a protocol that they follow which will appease their guests. As a parent it really broke my heart to see a young girl of about 7 years old crying and pulling on her mother to leave and screaming that she never wanted to come to the park again. This is not the lasting memory that any parent would want for their child.
In response to the chaos, the Guest Services Windows were closed down. After 10 minutes or so, they reopened. Luckily I was near the front of the line at this time. I went to the window, and calmly explained my situation. First I was offered a ticket to visit C.A. I told the represenative, look at the tickets...they are park hoppers I can get in that park without your ticket. Besides...that park was closed also. Then I was offered a ticket to come back to the park anyday...AFTER 4pm. No Dice, I wasn't driving to 350+ miles again for half a day at Disney. A refund was never offered. I finally had to ask for it. Did I get it?? Yes. It seemed that Disney Officials finally rethought their positioning on refunding after having to close the windows. When I left the window, there were easily more than 150 people in line.
I got my money back for the the extra days that we did not use. We left the area the next morning and returned home. Needless to say we were all pretty disappointed. We missed all of the nighttime festivities that were being done for Christmas and the 50th Celebration. The trip was basically a bust.
My wife and I love Disney for all of the things they do right, and while we understand that while things can sometimes go wrong, this is a glaring wrong that's left a sour taste in our mouths and undoubtedly countless others. Disney needs to review their policies and procedures in this area. Guests spend hundreds of dollars planning for tickets, hotels, travel arrangements, etc. To have a vacation turn out in this fashion is appalling and it is events like this, that could cause other Disney lovers like ourselves to begin spending their vacations elsewhere.
