Disneyland fire trap

[disneegrl4eva]

BUT, that said, with a little online research (which is what many folks are doing on DISboards), you would have known what the prices were like at BB ahead of time - the menus and prices for all the DLR restaurants are in a few places on the Internet - and you could have learned the different between a "reservation" and the DLR "priority seating."

You my dear Sherry, hit the nail right on the head!!! I couldnt have said it better myself...everything that the OP went through could have probably been avoided had they done research before their trip ...making their first appearance here should have been done then and not now...

 

[olivejuice]

Yes i agree that its good to know about the crowds but as far as the op saying strollers and rude people should be banned. How would that ever happen and yes its inconvienent for them but it would be hard for people that have to use the stroller too. and kicking rude people out? what? And yes the crowds of people coming over from DCA when it closes early is crazy but isnt it form the TOTP? I wander what eles they can do. Mabey the OP will have a better time if they went a different time of the year next time. I found that January was the best. If they come back. And yes the blue bayou is expenceive but now you know. I learned the same way. I liked it because of the atmosphire. Its cool.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I agree with Queen...it is good info to have. But I still say a bit of research would have avoided the Blue Bayou situation. Perhaps not the huge crowd at Main Street. (I dont think anyone could have foreseen that happening)

hello...it was a 3 day holiday weekend.....if they had researched they would have known it would be packed as it always is on every 3 day holiday weekend...

 

[Capt.Bane]

You know I kept forgetting Monday was a holiday since I left on Sat.
lol

 

[Sherry E]

You my dear Sherry, hit the nail right on the head!!! I couldnt have said it better myself...everything that the OP went through could have probably been avoided had they done research before their trip ...making their first appearance here should have been done then and not now...

Yep! Even the crowd nightmare on Main Street may have been avoidable by doing advance research, because finding out where crowds gather and disperse before and after a parade could be learned beforehand. But I am not saying that it is an exact science. Sometimes you just run into thick crowds and you can't help it. And sometimes it is more crowded than you think it is going to be.

But as much advanced research one can do - whether you are a 'seasoned' DLR visitor or a first-timer - the better!!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Yep! Even the crowd nightmare on Main Street may have been avoidable by doing advance research, because finding out where crowds gather and disperse before and after a parade could be learned beforehand. But I am not saying that it is an exact science. Sometimes you just run into thick crowds and you can't help it. And sometimes it is more crowded than you think it is going to be.

But as much advanced research one can do - whether you are a 'seasoned' DLR visitor or a first-timer - the better!!

you are right but as I reminded Capt. Bane, it was a holiday weekend and if the OP had done research he would have known it would be crazy busy and could have prepared himself mentally for what was to come....

ok Im just going to throw this out here but personally I think the OP was just trying to stir the pot with us because they are a brand new member..or are they??? how would they know that there are people on here that say disney is their life if they had not been on here before? and why would anybody choose to come on a board of disneyland fanatics and talk crap about our beloved place if that wasnt their intentions hmmm???? so as crazy4DL said...thats one less person we have to worry about crowding our beloved Disneyland

 

[amyamya]

Even the crowd nightmare on Main Street may have been avoidable by doing advance research, because finding out where crowds gather and disperse before and after a parade could be learned beforehand. But I am not saying that it is an exact science. Sometimes you just run into thick crowds and you can't help it. And sometimes it is more crowded than you think it is going to be.

But as much advanced research one can do - whether you are a 'seasoned' DLR visitor or a first-timer - the better!!

I agree with some of this, but I have been to Disneyland tons of times, before and after parades, after Fantasmic!, even been burned by a cigarette on the arm while in a crowd, BUT I've never been stuck, not moving in a crowd. Usually there are CMS with those red beacons and there is a defined "in" walkway, and an "out" walkway. Disney is usually really good with this.

To borrow a phrase from Hound, this was the perfect storm of crowd un-control. Higher than expected crowds, a stream of thousands of people coming in from DCA and not enough CMs on the street to define movement patterns. Not sure if you could plan for that. I know the tricks and that's why we tried to enter thru the store. Even the CMs were shaking their heads and wondering what was happening...

 

[Sherry E]

you are right but as I reminded Capt. Bane, it was a holiday weekend and if the OP had done research he would have known it would be crazy busy and could have prepared himself mentally for what was to come....

Oh yes, you are right, no question. In fact, my friend initially wanted to go to DLR on the Columbus Day weekend - I was reluctant - and the hotel was all booked and I thought it would be too crowded anyway, so I was glad the hotel was booked. So we actually got the 'less crowded' weekend of Oct. 2-5, and that was pretty packed too, but it was probably better than the holiday weekend. It is always good to find out what is going on on any particular weekend that could cause crowds to be thicker in the parks. What I meant in my PP was, sometimes you are walking along and just run into an unpredictable mass of people congregated in one spot (other than Main Street parade route), or all moving in one direction and you can't plan it and have no idea where they came from or where they are going, but you just get stuck. It is not pleasant, but it comes with the DLR territory!!!

 

[Sherry E]

I agree with some of this, but I have been to Disneyland tons of times, before and after parades, after Fantasmic!, even been burned by a cigarette on the arm while in a crowd, BUT I've never been stuck, not moving in a crowd. Usually there are CMS with those red beacons and there is a defined "in" walkway, and an "out" walkway. Disney is usually really good with this.

To borrow a phrase from Hound, this was the perfect storm of crowd un-control. Higher than expected crowds, a stream of thousands of people coming in from DCA and not enough CMs on the street to define movement patterns. Not sure if you could plan for that. I know the tricks and that's why we tried to enter thru the store. Even the CMs were shaking their heads and wondering what was happening...

I totally know what you mean. I was mainly directing my comments about research towards the OP. I know you know all the tricks and have done research, because you are on here - that is a sure sign of someone who is doing their homework!!! As I told you in your other thread, I saw exactly what was happening on Main Street when we were there and we escaped through that walkway/store entrance way in the back by the bathrooms (because at that time, they allowed us to; they must have stopped doing that later on). But I have been there and stuck in standstill crowds and it was a very scary, claustrophobic feeling. And sometimes the crowds just gather in some random areas and you don't know it is coming!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Oh yes, you are right, no question. In fact, my friend initially wanted to go to DLR on the Columbus Day weekend - I was reluctant - and the hotel was all booked and I thought it would be too crowded anyway, so I was glad the hotel was booked. So we actually got the 'less crowded' weekend of Oct. 2-5, and that was pretty packed too, but it was probably better than the holiday weekend. It is always good to find out what is going on on any particular weekend that could cause crowds to be thicker in the parks. What I meant in my PP was, sometimes you are walking along and just run into an unpredictable mass of people congregated in one spot (other than Main Street parade route), or all moving in one direction and you can't plan it and have no idea where they came from or where they are going, but you just get stuck. It is not pleasant, but it comes with the DLR territory!!!

oh I understood completely what you meant...but your words there are golden...preplan plan and plan some more...and just when you think you got it down, redo it and replan again

 

[Sherry E]

oh I understood completely what you meant...but your words there are golden...preplan plan and plan some more...and just when you think you got it down, redo it and replan again

It was funny. We went into Innoventions in TL - not a particulary exciting endeavor but sort of interesting - and we stopped at one of those machines where you type in your name and let it take your photo and answer questions. It asked my friend whether she was a planner or if she likes to "wing it." She chose "wing it." I think a lot of people see it as silly or a pain to plan so much, but she was not the one who did ANY of the planning for our DLR trip, and it could have been disastrous if there had been NO planning. I did all of it, and took on the job of coordinating everything, including listing all the things we needed to see that we could not miss, eating schedules, checking menus and prices and matching times with when people were showing up, finding out all about the Annual Pass and its benefits beforehand and how I could get one for the cheapest amount, and all that. And it was fun too, but things still did not go off 100% seamlessly. So that means, next time, I have to re-plan and redo and rethink and replan again, as you said, to kind of fine-tune the plan and make the trip as effortless and successful as possible, and to maximize our time and get the most for our money. Since last time didn't completely go off without a hitch, then that means I have to reassess and re-work some things and try other options to see if those might be better!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

It was funny. We went into Innoventions in TL - not a particulary exciting endeavor but sort of interesting - and we stopped at one of those machines where you type in your name and let it take your photo and answer questions. It asked my friend whether she was a planner or if she likes to "wing it." She chose "wing it." I think a lot of people see it as silly or a pain to plan so much, but she was not the one who did ANY of the planning for our DLR trip, and it could have been disastrous if there had been NO planning. I did all of it, and took on the job of coordinating everything, including listing all the things we needed to see that we could not miss, eating schedules, checking menus and prices with when people were showing up, finding out all about the Annual Pass and its benefits beforehand and how I could get one for the cheapest amount, and all that. And it was fun too, but things still did not go off 100% seamlessly. So that means, next time, I have to re-plan and redo and rethink and replan again, as you said, to kind of fine-tune the plan and make the trip as effortless and successful as possible, and to maximize our time and get the most for our money. Since last time didn't completely go off without a hitch, then that means I have to reassess and re-work some things and try other options to see if those might be better!

and you know what? in all honesty, now since you are an AP holder, the more you go the easier it will be for you because you do learn when the best times to go are, what to look out for, how to maximize your time and what PS's are best worth getting and which places to avoid altogether as well as what hotels are better than others and which ones suck...I really appreciate being in the know and being the one who can help those who dont go as much as I can to avoid catastrophes...well only if they listen

 

[Sherry E]

I was a secret planner of DLR trips since I was 5 - even when the adults were taking me, I was planning what we were going to do in DL, whether they listened or not! The planning and PS's and restaurants all mostly went off without a hitch this last trip, minus the bad service at Carnation and the not-worth-it wait at Blue Bayou. The thing that mainly needs to be reworked for us is spacing everything out so that there is a good balance of park time and rest time, and nobody is left feeling like they missed out on seeing something or like they got hit by a truck because they didn't rest enough. So if that has to happen or be remedied in more frequent trips or longer stays each trip with more park time spread out over several days in shorter increments, or whatever, then that will be the solution!! You just have to keep trying things out, you know, working different angles of things, and experimenting as you go along to try to find the best results for your specific needs, and it is all a learning process!! But is a fun task to have to plan a DLR trip!!

 

[jory29]

For the first time in my life in the park, I could feel fear and panic welling up like a huge wave in my throat as we tried to get through the parade crowd the evening of Mon., Sept. 22nd. My dd and I were hanging onto each other's hands tightly as we weaved in and out of the crowds.

I took photos to show my DH, who was over at the Indiana Jones ride at the time.

I understand crowds can happen... I take the bad with all of the good, I guess, because that won't stop me from going again.

But wow, look at all the people there!

 

[amyamya]

Thanks, Jory for posting those pics. That is just what we encountered and I'm sure the OP did, too. I don't see any CMs with red beacons in that pic, either. I can't believe Disney doesn't have a plan for these masses of people. It simply is not safe.

 

[bumbershoot]

Over near splash mountain they need to make larger walk ways this is nothing more then a bottle neck, they could take out the trees and planting area and make it much easier to get around , better yet fill in part of the pond and make the splash mountain area connect with the toon town area like on the back side of big thunder moutain. having it dead end back there makes no since.
5. bring out mickey mouse so the kids can see him or better yet have 5 mickey mouses and put them all over the park I saw three different charactors for the 4 days I was there never any princesses.

I didn't notice this part!

I don't even know what part of the park you're talking about with a bottleneck. BUT I don't go on holidays (except for the Monday of Mem Day weekend, which was NOT holiday-like in crowds at all). But it's strange to think about taking out some of the beauty of the park.

In the many days I've spent at DLR this last year, I still dont' have a handle on the layout of everything. I wouldn't have known that Critter and Toon could be connected. So you either have a much better "map brain" than I do, or you've been there more often than I have. Or have spent time on message boards wehre they discuss the layout of the parks.

As for characters, well, I know they say that there IS only one Mickey Mouse, etc. But I do know that I have seen parade Mickey, then gone to ToonTown and have seen Mickey in wizard gear within VERY short periods of time. And then I'll cross to DCA and see him in his safari gear. So he does seem to get around REALLY really fast.

And princeses are only at Ariel's restaurant in DCA and in Princess Fantasy Faire, where they are being held captive.

Thanks, Jory for posting those pics. That is just what we encountered and I'm sure the OP did, too. I don't see any CMs with red beacons in that pic, either. I can't believe Disney doesn't have a plan for these masses of people. It simply is not safe.

Well as has been said, they DO normally have plans for such crowds, and they do normally have methods to deal with them. For some reason, it really seems something went really wrong on that night. Something strange and unusual, b/c they normally do have a handle on such things.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

hello...it was a 3 day holiday weekend.....if they had researched they would have known it would be packed as it always is on every 3 day holiday weekend...

Exactly.

We usually go only on weekends and when you plan to go on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday you should expect crowds....

We ALWAYS get stuck in the crowds in the same places everytime. DL has very narrow walk ways and the best thing to do is just hold on tightly to whom ever you are with and say excuse me, or find a bench and park it until the crowds clear.

I think the CMs do a fantastic job with crowd control. Fireworks, parades, and F! those CMs are directing and FIRMLY telling the guests where they can and cannot go and to keep the traffic moving.

OP, if you would have done your research, I honestly don't think you would have been as disappointed.

 

[JaneJetson]

This is my first post but I think it's very important that people are aware of this problem.

Friday the 10th of October around 7 P.M. we were trapped in the ice cream parlor for over 40 minutes, But first let me set up the what had happened .

We had resevations made at the Blue buyou four weeks before we had planned to be there, we requested and was told that we could get seating next to the water for six and that the dinner ran about 20.00 to 25.00 per plate.

Reality : we showed up ten minutes before are reservation and checked in and waited 50 minutes before being seated next to the kitchen on a table made for four, the dinner prices started at 29.95 and went up from there. The kids menu was for 3 thru 9 year olds so for my daugther and friends son it would have cost us 60 dollars (what B.S.) We walked out mad as hell.

As others have stated...it wasn't a reservation. It's called "priority seating" which is much different than an actual reservation.

On the way out of the park is were all the trouble started , we were diverted thru the hot dog area (which use to be carnation) went thru the candy store to the ice cream parlor which turned into total grid lock we waited about ten minutes and the line of people did not move. So we decided to get in line and have some ice cream that and just sit and wait it out.
But the people just keep coming and pretty soon THE PLACE WAS PACKED things were getting scary, My daughter, wife and friends started to panick so we got out thru the employee only exit.
The people running the ice cream parlor were not very happy about it but at this time I really did not care.

I wonder if the California fire marshall KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM ? I'm sure disney is aware of it. Had there been god forbid a fire or earth quake there would be know possible way for anyone to safley get out.

For disney to shut down california adventures early and push all the people into disneyland is A complete diasaster waiting to happen.

Here are some of the problems that make disneyland the not so happiest place on earth

1 . Early entry and only tomorrowland open, If your going to open the park early open both parks completly .

2. Closing C.a. early this is just plain stupid .

I'm not sure if it closed extra early that day or what. But if it closed a couple hours early...that's how it's always been. We've never had a problem with it in the hundreds of times we've been to Disneyland.

3. Not having a safe way to control crowds, No excuse

Again, I wasn't there the same day as you. But I've been there when the park was at capacity and I always thought the crowd control was actually pretty good considering the lack of space the park has.

4. Over near splash mountain they need to make larger walk ways this is nothing more then a bottle neck, they could take out the trees and planting area and make it much easier to get around , better yet fill in part of the pond and make the splash mountain area connect with the toon town area like on the back side of big thunder moutain. having it dead end back there makes no since.
5. bring out mickey mouse so the kids can see him or better yet have 5 mickey mouses and put them all over the park I saw three different charactors for the 4 days I was there never any princesses.

They have schedules of when/where you can see characters and princesses. You can stop by city hall and they'll let you know when/where to find everyone. They can't have a bunch of different Mickey's around the park. That would confuse a small child to see Mickey in Tomorrowland. Then they walk over to Fantasyland and he's there too?!

6. Make the food more afforable, 2.95 for a .40 cent bottle of water is robbery, I'm all for disneyland making money but this is way over the top.

We always go to target and get a case of water for around $7.00. We bring our own bottles into the park.

7. limit the amout of people who can enter the park just like having a sold out football game. don't keep selling tickets.

They DO limit the amount of people allowed in the park. We've gone on nights where we were turned away because the park was full.

8. ban the double wide strollers.

Why??

9. eject rude out of control people ,I never met more rude get out of my way people in my life.

There are countless security guards around the park...including undercover ones. They do the best they can. You will encounter rude people at Disneyland just like you encounter rude people everywhere you go.

I could go on about many more problems but what's the point.

Reading some of the post on here where people make disneyland there life is so hard to beleive, why in the world anyone would want to go back and deal with this place is beyound me. I have a picture of the way over the top crowds but my post count will not let me post it . gee I wonder why ?

I've been over 200 times in the last 4 years and I LOVE it. I'll continue to go back year after year. It sounds like going to the HAPPIEST place on earth just isn't for you.

OUTOFDISNEY4EVER

My comments are in BOLD above....even though I'm sure the OP won't be returning.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

I didn't notice this part!

As for characters, well, I know they say that there IS only one Mickey Mouse, etc. But I do know that I have seen parade Mickey, then gone to ToonTown and have seen Mickey in wizard gear within VERY short periods of time. And then I'll cross to DCA and see him in his safari gear. So he does seem to get around REALLY really fast.

Bumber!! Of course Mickey moves and changes extra fast!!! He is the Head Mouse in Charge and knows no bounds to the magic in the park!! Plus, it's his Land...don't you think he knows how to manuever it quickly?
HAHAHAHAHA

 

[Capt.Bane]

yeah Those crowd pics looked exactly like the night we followed the last float down mainstreet...the CMs I saw were mostly on sides the walks...not in the middle of Main Street.

As for Mickey...I bet he knows as much as Walt did..lol