Wow. (To all of the above post, not just the quoted part)
Okay, I'll bite, I suppose. For starters, I've been to WDW LOTS of times when Kali was not running FP's. Getting soaking wet does not hold all that much appeal when it's 50 degrees outside. Many mornings in the cooler months are that cool. Even if the afternon highs are 75, when you are out in cooler weather much of the day, having to trudge all the way out of the park while wet - then sitting on an AC'd bus for 30minutes hold little appeal.
The same is true for Splash Mountain. Most of the day it's walk-on in winter. That said, there is aSHORT time even on cool days when the line sometimes DOES get 30+ minutes long - then it gets short again. Being new to WDw, you did not kow this. You probably got in line at the worst time of day, and did not stick around to see if the lne got shorter. You got upset, and left the park after riding once, right? Ifyou'd only stuck around a little while longer....
Next, I disagree that Disney really lied. It was true that all the fastpasses had been distrbuted for the day - even if that number was zero. It doesn't strike me as anything more than typical corporate-talk. If they told you they had distirbuted a 1,000 FP's, THAT would be lying. They didn't say that. They told you essentially that you should not expect the FP machine to be turned on later the same day. not what you wanted to hear, but potentially useful information nonetheless.
Next, the wait time was NOT 40 minutes all day. It was probably only that long for a very short time. You already said it was short in the morning. If this ride was a priority, why didn't you do it first? (see below about ride breakdowns) Always, always be willing to modify your plans at WDW. one of my WDw rules, "If riding an attraction is a top priority, and the line is short, don't wait until later."
I speak from experience when I say that most rides have an afternoon peak - but few rides hold that peak all day. I sort of agree with Lou Holtz's points. I have WALKED on to EVERY attraction at WDW, except maybe TSM and Soarin'. (I've only come close on those two without a fp.) Soarin' has a terrible loading system. The LOADING on that thing alone takes ten minutes- Unless you are first rider of the day, which I have not done - you basically MUST wait at least 20 min to ride it - just because o how it loads. TSM, I have done NEARLY walk-on; we only waited 15min standby and it was NOT first thing in the morning, or last at night.
I don't say this to brag, but to support Lou's points. If it's super crowded, then certain non-fp attrations do get long waits, and crowds do greatly limit your ability to get from point A to point B. However, I once rode BTMRR over 14 times in a row on Easter week with almost no waiting. Multiple times that night we were allowed to simply STAY on the coaster! (That has alos happned for us on other nights too.)
Severla folks have chimed in about long waits this past July. Um, two nights this past July we practically had the parks to ourselves: Epcot and HS. I went on RnRC four times in a row with only about a five minute wait each time tops. (that one as far as I know you always have to get off and walk around)
I'm sorry that you are upset over this. Fastpass is a perk however, and not a guarentee. Disney states quite clearly that they can change the terms of almost anything at almost any time. If you are staying onsite with a package the terms are on your paperwork. Otherwise, I think they are on the website. At one point I've seen them there, I just haven't looked recently.
I further sense you are new to WDW. I see you only have 15posts onthe DIS, for example. I've been to WDw many, many times. (again not bragging, just explaining) Not every trip is perfect. I agree that Disney is not perfect. I've encountered rude, uninformed employees and far less than stellar room conditions, for example. I don't say this to be critical, but well...not getting FP's at Kali is kind of a small glitch really. Not when you think of everything else that was offering in AK to you that day. As another poster said, there's at least 100 other things to do in AK alone!
Making a single attraction the basis of your sense of happiness for the day (the week?) is not a healthy way to approach WDW. I may not have worded that well, but hopefully you get the gist of what I'm saying when I add that ALL the attractions at WDW are mechanical. They DO break down. In my extended number of years visiting the parks WDW does an AMAZING job of keeping them going, but they do break down. Kali closes down every time there is a thunderstorm - just for a start. Disney DOES change park hours at the last minute. Disney DOES close down individual FP machines. It is not AT ALL unusual, esp during a relatively slow week. It's also high hurricane season - Disney always has the right to close the entire park if a storm is coming. Of course Disney does everything in its' power to control line lengths - including making them sometimes (appear) longer.
You did do the right thing in one sense - you voiced your concerns to WDw staff, then you left the park and took a break (One of my big WDW rules, "When you are no longer happy; leave the park. Take a break.")
Now regroup, and please make the most of the rest of your visit. While I'm sure your daughter loves Kali, I'll bet she also loves much else at WDW. The kids I know live mostly in the present. At four, I'm sure there are other attractions that will thrill her just as much, or nearly so. If this is only your second trip to WDW - then she will find a new favorite this trip. Even after MANY trips, I make at least one new discovery just about every visit! You WILL almost CERTAINLY have a magic moment somewhere else along the way. Please, please, please - try to let go of this and focus onthe smile on her face, or the way another adult family member lets loose and acts like a little kid, or savor a delicious Mickey Bar.
(OH, that's another rule of mine, "If things aren't going well, it's time to stop for a Mickey bar. If you can't find a Mickeybar, find a cookie, preferably a fresh chocolate chip.")
Beyond that, well...Disney doesn't owe you smaller crowds. That you trusted touring plans is not Disney's fault inthe slightest. (I'm not a fan of planning guides. Simply put, they are often incorrect. ) But it kind of sounds like that is part of why you are upset, crowds were higher than you (and maybe WDW) expected.
Last, and well....I'm going to go WAY out on a limb here...buuuut - if you are at WDW, and you encounter something that you think was a fault, problem, etc. The best method for getting it resolved is NOT to yell at a cast member. I have no idea what you actually said tothe staf or how you said it, but clearly your tone HERE is one of being upset. Words like "CHEATED" and "LIED" puts folks on the defensive. (Even the folks here.)
Much better to tell a cast members that your daughter was looking forward to riding it multiple times with fastpasses, but the wait is making that difficult. This part of your post is why I am responding. If you had simply siad that - and the FP machines' weren't on and laft it at that - I'm betting your response here on the DIs would have even been different.
Disney is not 100% all the time, but they FREQUENTLY do amazing things to make magic happen when they see a deserving soul. Some businesses would not care that your daughter was disappointed, but WDW staff members often do care about making kids happy. It's why I've been to WDW as many times as I have.
But in July, many people stand in lines way longer than that. Why? Because it's very busy, and FPs have been all given out by mid morning for some attractions. So, the stand by lines are typically at peak wait times pretty much the entire day. It doesn't matter if you think that 40 mins is long to wait in line...during peak season, it's not a long time to wait based on the crowd patterns.
