Flights of Passage and Disney Officially Suck

[Klayfish]

Disney knows exactly how many people are in the queue, all of the time. That's why they post expected wait times. The guest see the wait times as well. A statement saying "Because of the extremely large number of guest that booked flights before you" has already been built into the wait time shown. There would be no need for that statement. The statement should have been, "Because our equipment is starting to breakdown, and where falling behind on getting guest through the attraction, your wait time will be longer then expected."

Ummm....OK. If that makes you feel better, sure.

 

[Jules76126]

I am sorry that happened to you. You should definitely have gone to Guest Services as they would have been able to give you an anytime FP. In terms of the CM yelling at guests, I do agree that should not be the case, but I also sympathize with them. It can be extremely hard to be a CM some days. Many guests (not all, mind you) don't want to listen to instructions or feel that they don't apply to them. I did two college programs at Disney and had my fair share of ride problems. I worked at SSE before the refrub and it went down all the time. I know its not FOP, but you wouldn't believe the things people said. Also people like to blame the CM for problems that occur beyond their control - long lines, kids not being tall enough to ride, the weather (yes, I'ms serious). I definitely can see where she may have been frustrated and probably could have used more help from the managers. I am surprised they did not give out a paper FP for another ride. They is usually standard procedure (I still have friends that work at WDW so I know this is still the case). Hopefully, the rest of your trip was good.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

We were there when this happened..is it a bummer, sure, but we didn't let it ruin our vacation. Things happen, been in line for many rides through the years to have them shut down, but I try not to let it get me down. Instead we rode other rides, made the best of the situation. Went back on Sat. and waited only 80 mins. and I have to say it was soooooo worth it. It is an amazing ride. I think the best thing we can all do is just realize that nothing nor anybody is perfect. Things will happen, best thing to do is move on from it and try not to let it get us down. JMO

 

[Polybound]

Ummm....OK. If that makes you feel better, sure.

I was being facetious.

 

[Astryd]

We were there when this happened..is it a bummer, sure, but we didn't let it ruin our vacation. Things happen, been in line for many rides through the years to have them shut down, but I try not to let it get me down. Instead we rode other rides, made the best of the situation. Went back on Sat. and waited only 80 mins. and I have to say it was soooooo worth it. It is an amazing ride. I think the best thing we can all do is just realize that nothing nor anybody is perfect. Things will happen, best thing to do is move on from it and try not to let it get us down. JMO

This is awesome coming from @GrumpyFamilyof5

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

This is awesome coming from @GrumpyFamilyof5

LOL, yeah...DH and the kids can get grumpy as well as myself from a lot of things, this is just not one of them.. life is to short to get upset over a ride...

 

[bryanb]

Yes, since 2015 I'm very lucky that we get to go pretty often. I agree that's a huge advantage, no doubt. However, even for a complete newbie, I don't think intense planning is necessary. Reading/researching at least somewhat so you get a basic familiarity with WDW is essential, I would tell that to anyone. But if you do that, I just don't think even a first timer has to do a thoroughly detailed plan. They can if they want, but a great time can be had without it. Again...a lot depends on personality types.

I'd agree with this completely. Some people look at the behemoth that is Walt Disney World and think: there's so much I want to do here and I gotta do it all! Of course, WDW is enormous. You could go again and again and not cover everything. But for some people, the sheer volume of must-see and must-do activities is overwhelming. It's understandable why so many people have the need to plan out every detail. But when people ask me whether it's important to have a detailed plan, I say there's no right answer.

FWIW, I showed up my first time at WDW, and bought a 3-day ticket at TTC (not even in advance!). The CM asked me if I was going to Epcot for F&W, and I had no idea what that was. She said, "oh go check it out!" With zero plan, I hopped on the monorail to Epcot and had a great time. The next day, I went to AK in the morning and MK in the afternoon. Just going with the flow. Hakuna matata. With some planning, I could've checked off more things from a list but I don't think I would've necessarily gotten more "value" out of my vacation, if you define a vacation value as being incredibly relaxed and happy, and just enjoying yourself. I've seen people get so stressed out about their plans that I've thought they most certainly aren't getting their money's worth... but who am I to say that it's incorrect when they value things differently?

 

[Juliet0778]

I'd agree with this completely. Some people look at the behemoth that is Walt Disney World and think: there's so much I want to do here and I gotta do it all! Of course, WDW is enormous. You could go again and again and not cover everything. But for some people, the sheer volume of must-see and must-do activities is overwhelming. It's understandable why so many people have the need to plan out every detail. But when people ask me whether it's important to have a detailed plan, I say there's no right answer.

FWIW, I showed up my first time at WDW, and bought a 3-day ticket at TTC (not even in advance!). The CM asked me if I was going to Epcot for F&W, and I had no idea what that was. She said, "oh go check it out!" With zero plan, I hopped on the monorail to Epcot and had a great time. The next day, I went to AK in the morning and MK in the afternoon. Just going with the flow. Hakuna matata. With some planning, I could've checked off more things from a list but I don't think I would've necessarily gotten more "value" out of my vacation, if you define a vacation value as being incredibly relaxed and happy, and just enjoying yourself. I've seen people get so stressed out about their plans that I've thought they most certainly aren't getting their money's worth... but who am I to say that it's incorrect when they value things differently?

Funny enough, for people like me, "go with the flow" is far more stressful than having a plan. I grew up in a family where most vacations were "go with the flow" and the lack of planning created so many disasters it was comical. My mom has noted how much nicer it is going on vacation with me because we have at least a rough idea of what we're doing. So it really bouls down to personality. Control freaks like me are far happier with at least a roughed out schedule. But if we have to adjust, I don't melt down either.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Vote with your wallet. I have been disappointed before, but when someplace leaves me in disgust and feeling like they "officially suck", it is time to move on.

 

[maxiesmom]

We had a somewhat similar instance in DHS at TSMM. The afternoon storm hit and it was absolutely monsooning. Well, people were staying in the hallway from where you get off the ride to where you exit to back outside. Well, CM's kept telling people to leave, eventually the management had to come out to start getting people moving. Wasn't fun, but it happens. At some point, they have to cross over and not be nice anymore.

Yep. Have witnessed the same thing at night, waiting for the parade go by. People would continually stop in the walkway, and the CMs would try to tell them to move. Nicely at first. But no so nicely once guests refused to move, or started screaming at them about how they were ruining their day by not letting the stand there. You know, in the walkway where people were trying walk.

 

[bryanb]

Funny enough, for people like me, "go with the flow" is far more stressful than having a plan. I grew up in a family where most vacations were "go with the flow" and the lack of planning created so many disasters it was comical. My mom has noted how much nicer it is going on vacation with me because we have at least a rough idea of what we're doing. So it really bouls down to personality. Control freaks like me are far happier with at least a roughed out schedule. But if we have to adjust, I don't melt down either.

Interesting, your post made me realize something! Maybe it was easy for me to say "go with the flow" because my first trip was actually solo. (I had arrived in Orlando on business with a few days to kill.) I just did what I wanted, when I wanted. I didn't have to worry about when others might be getting hungry, or if there was a very specific character they wanted to meet. I'm a more experienced WDW visitor now, so I have some idea of a plan (even if I'm not putting it into a spreadsheet) each day. Perhaps my style would've been a disaster if I were leading a group of people with their own opinions and had no plan at all.

But it sounds like you have a good balance and a flexible style, and that's really important when you're supposed to be on vacation.

 

[Minnesota!]

LOL, yeah...DH and the kids can get grumpy as well as myself from a lot of things, this is just not one of them.. life is to short to get upset over a ride...

LOVE IT! This is how we TRY to live life - don't sweat it.

 

[Satchmo128]

That was probably a 4 hour line too.

We have a friend who is a CM in GR at DAK and she has been sending us updates over the past few weeks about the nightmare of FoP and dealing with all of the complaints because of the ride closures and Pandora closing because of capacity. My request is, PLEASE be kind to the CMs in GR. They are doing all in their power to help with the resources available to them.

 

[mousehockey37]

We have a friend who is a CM in GR at DAK and she has been sending us updates over the past few weeks about the nightmare of FoP and dealing with all of the complaints because of the ride closures and Pandora closing because of capacity. My request is, PLEASE be kind to the CMs in GR. They are doing all in their power to help with the resources available to them.

I'd love to hear the most bogus requests she's getting (ie, complete vacation compensation, dinner with Cameron, Cinderella Castle Suite stay, etc) for compensation for these near-riots that are happening with the opening of the new land.

IMHO, Disney dropped the ball again here. They KNEW ahead of time what was going to happen. They KNEW that the draw was going to be huge. If they thought less of it, they STILL could've changed procedures and had cut-off points. Cap the lines at a certain point, so that there ISN'T 4+ hours of people. Ya know, something of common sense. But hey, if people are content with paying big $$ to stand in line for most of their day to get on a ride that's a few minutes long, Disney's not gonna complain. It's up to the customer to make the best value of their ticket.

 

[Satchmo128]

I'd love to hear the most bogus requests she's getting (ie, complete vacation compensation, dinner with Cameron, Cinderella Castle Suite stay, etc) for compensation for these near-riots that are happening with the opening of the new land.

IMHO, Disney dropped the ball again here. They KNEW ahead of time what was going to happen. They KNEW that the draw was going to be huge. If they thought less of it, they STILL could've changed procedures and had cut-off points. Cap the lines at a certain point, so that there ISN'T 4+ hours of people. Ya know, something of common sense. But hey, if people are content with paying big $$ to stand in line for most of their day to get on a ride that's a few minutes long, Disney's not gonna complain. It's up to the customer to make the best value of their ticket.

I know that they have been giving out a crazy amount of comp park tickets, fast passes, refunds, etc.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I agree with a previous comment...

Star Wars Land is going to be bonkers!

 

[mousehockey37]

I know that they have been giving out a crazy amount of comp park tickets, fast passes, refunds, etc.

I don't see where park tickets, refunds, etc are permissible. If someone chooses to pay to enter the park, go to a ride that has a 4+ hour wait, and loses that day due to a fire alarm, that's poor planning and tough luck. Yes, the FP is good, maybe even something for a free meal, but not reimbursing the whole day's pass price. There's other threads that go along with "how long is too long to wait".

 

[mousehockey37]

I agree with a previous comment...

Star Wars Land is going to be bonkers!

I'm thinking it may be one of the first times you ever see a capacity closing at DHS, and heaven help the CM's if the rides don't work or malfunction.

 

[bladiator]

I agree with a previous comment...

Star Wars Land is going to be bonkers!

I'm going to take a nice leisurely trip to WDW in 2021 once the dust has settled....

 

[rteetz]

I'd love to hear the most bogus requests she's getting (ie, complete vacation compensation, dinner with Cameron, Cinderella Castle Suite stay, etc) for compensation for these near-riots that are happening with the opening of the new land.

IMHO, Disney dropped the ball again here. They KNEW ahead of time what was going to happen. They KNEW that the draw was going to be huge. If they thought less of it, they STILL could've changed procedures and had cut-off points. Cap the lines at a certain point, so that there ISN'T 4+ hours of people. Ya know, something of common sense. But hey, if people are content with paying big $$ to stand in line for most of their day to get on a ride that's a few minutes long, Disney's not gonna complain. It's up to the customer to make the best value of their ticket.

I'm confused. Yes the opening was crazy busy but it was very well controlled. What happens in the lines between guests isn't exactly something Disney can control but I thought the opening went as smooth as it could of.