Hearing Bad Reports from WDW this week

[DisDadDoc]

Very saddened to hear some horrendous things from folks down in WDW this week: rude/mean CMs, horror stories with the new Fast Plus +, plus terrible experiences of kids with special needs after taking away the GAC. You guys hearing similar stories?

 

[Carnie]

"Taking away the GAC"s.

These comments dishearten me.

 

[Gracie09]

It's a holiday weekend and in the north east many schools are off for winter break so the parks are crowded. Longer lines are not really unexpected.

I'm not going to address the "taking away the gac" comment . Enough debate has happened regarding the implementation of the das

 

[clanmcculloch]

Nope. Haven't heard this at all. Then again, I avoid the Theme Park board which is full of complaints and "sky is falling" attitudes and stick with boards that seem to be more objective.

The GAC has been gone since I think it was October. It has been replaced by the DAS. There's a sticky at the top of this board if you want to learn more about it.

I tend to follow easywdw's boards. Everything I'm reading is that FP+ is working just fine but people seem to get confused and cause backups in the FP queues making them look really long but that they're moving pretty quickly just like they're intended. Most posts on this board this week and last week have been really positive between FP+ and DAS.

 

[2tinkerbell]

The Parks may be busier this week because of the Princess running events.

 

[clanmcculloch]

The Parks may be busier this week because of the Princess running events.

That's barely a blip compared to the majority of New England (all states besides NH) having a vacation week this week as well as the long weekend making it a fun time to go to WDW for many who live in FL and surrounding states. Next to Christmas, Easter, and the 4th of July it's one of the busiest weeks of the year.

 

[lanejudy]

That's barely a blip compared to the majority of New England (all states besides NH) having a vacation week this week as well as the long weekend making it a fun time to go to WDW for many who live in FL and surrounding states. Next to Christmas, Easter, and the 4th of July it's one of the busiest weeks of the year.

Actually, VT isn't on vacation until next week. But it is true that most of New England and much of northeastern NY state have this week off. Plus the long holiday weekend throughout the country makes it a busy time.

OP, I haven't heard anything usual considering it's a busy time of year. If people went now not realizing that, maybe they should have planned better. But I've read some very positive reports about the DAS and FP+ recently, so I guess you and I don't read the same stuff.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I didn't realize VT also doesn't have this week. I know ME, MA, RI and I think CT all have this week off along with part of NY. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[lanejudy]

I didn't realize VT also doesn't have this week. I know ME, MA, RI and I think CT all have this week off along with part of NY. Thanks for the clarification.

The vast majority of public schools in VT have vacation the very last week of February and roll it through Town Meeting Day in early March. It wasn't that way when I was kid, but that was many many years ago. It's been this way for probably a couple decades now. My local school doesn't even give MLK day off, so it's a really long stretch from New Year's Day to February vacation!

 

[clanmcculloch]

The vast majority of public schools in VT have vacation the very last week of February and roll it through Town Meeting Day in early March. It wasn't that way when I was kid, but that was many many years ago. It's been this way for probably a couple decades now. My local school doesn't even give MLK day off, so it's a really long stretch from New Year's Day to February vacation!

I didn't realize that NH and VT had the same vacation week. Does VT also get the last week of April? We do get MLK day off at least but it doesn't make it seem any shorter. Snow days help though they do sure make June long.

 

[lanejudy]

I didn't realize that NH and VT had the same vacation week. Does VT also get the last week of April? We do get MLK day off at least but it doesn't make it seem any shorter. Snow days help though they do sure make June long.

I didn't realize NH was late in February either! I'm not sure all schools in VT have the same April week -- but our school district does the last full week of April, which this year immediately follows Easter.

 

[Schmeck]

Very saddened to hear some horrendous things from folks down in WDW this week: rude/mean CMs, horror stories with the new Fast Plus +, plus terrible experiences of kids with special needs after taking away the GAC. You guys hearing similar stories?

Nope, have not heard anything like this. I've heard how the DAS is working really well, but the parks are very crowded because it is winter break for many new England states and a long weekend with President's Day as well. Also heard that people are queuing up for FP+ too early, and blocking access so that it looks like long lines.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

My friend is there for the week with her large family and has only had wonderful things to say. It's busy but she's pretty good with the touring plans.

Perhaps OP's definition of "horror stories" and "horrendous" and "terrible" is different from mine. I think things like kidnappings or terrorist attacks when I hear "horror stories," not long lines at theme parks!

 

[OurBigTrip]

Perhaps OP's definition of "horror stories" and "horrendous" and "terrible" is different from mine. I think things like kidnappings or terrorist attacks when I hear "horror stories," not long lines at theme parks!

Concur!

 

[keishashadow]

Nope. Haven't heard this at all. Then again, I avoid the Theme Park board which is full of complaints and "sky is falling" attitudes and stick with boards that seem to be more objective.

The GAC has been gone since I think it was October. It has been replaced by the DAS. There's a sticky at the top of this board if you want to learn more about it.

I tend to follow easywdw's boards. Everything I'm reading is that FP+ is working just fine but people seem to get confused and cause backups in the FP queues making them look really long but that they're moving pretty quickly just like they're intended. Most posts on this board this week and last week have been really positive between FP+ and DAS.

they weren't the two days leading up to MLK weekend. If search is working you'd find several threads with posted FP+ return lines that were ridiculously long...as in stretching back to front of Indy for Star Tours & over the splash mt bridge for BTM. We skipped the 1st line but waited in the 2nd. I really hope that when we return in May they have corrected whatever caused the test to resoundingly 'fail'.

my theory is people were entering the extended lines far ahead of their posted return time. I assume they figured when they finally got to the 'real' start of the FP line I'd be near their actual return time, but it just doesn't seem fair to those who wait for the stated return time. If management feels the need to put up the extra rope lines for crowd control, then they certainly need to station a CM to monitor what time people enter it imo.

fyi, we had absolutely no issue when using the DAS last October, so I am still optimistic they will fine tune the system.

 

[2tinkerbell]

20,000 runners alone - and then you add families, I think that the Princess Half Marathon, 5K and 10K is hardly a blip on the radar.

 

[lanejudy]

they weren't the two days leading up to MLK weekend. If search is working you'd find several threads with posted FP+ return lines that were ridiculously long...as in stretching back to front of Indy for Star Tours & over the splash mt bridge for BTM. We skipped the 1st line but waited in the 2nd. I really hope that when we return in May they have corrected whatever caused the test to resoundingly 'fail'. ...

Also keep in mind that Presidents' Day (weekend/week) is really the first "busy" test of FP+ with full roll-out. I don't believe offsite guests were using FP+ last month during MLK weekend, at least not in all parks. But MLK Day also isn't historically as busy in the parks as it is around Presidents' Day.

Hopefully, things will smooth out. Whether it's new FP+, people not recognizing appropriate time to return, just congregating outside line, or what. This is the first real test, with spring break in March as the next big one before summer crowds hit.

 

[roadtripper]

We are here now, as we have been for nearly every President's Week for the last 12 years. We have NEVER had such a relaxing park experience with DS. Booking FP+ ahead of time made DS so calm; he knew which rides were next, and it added to the predictability of our day. I should note that we have never been park commandos--DS usually cannot stay for more than 3 hours or so, but ths year, he stayed longer and we all got to slow down and enjoy. I actually felt like the parks in general were less frantic--with the notable exception of off-siters waiting in horrendous kiosk lines to book their FP+.

I had no problem getting DS a DAS but we never used it; the 2 times we had them fill it out he changed his mind before the time came up. WE also bailed on one FP+ when he didn't want to wait for the Little Mermaid show. Otherwise, the wait times were lower than usual during Pres Week, and there was no ridiculous backup for Toy Story. We waited about 7 minutes with the FP before boarding the vehicle. That's never happened before.

For our family, and especially DS-- FP+ is a godsend.

 

[SueM in MN]

We are here now, as we have been for nearly every President's Week for the last 12 years. We have NEVER had such a relaxing park experience with DS. Booking FP+ ahead of time made DS so calm; he knew which rides were next, and it added to the predictability of our day. I should note that we have never been park commandos--DS usually cannot stay for more than 3 hours or so, but ths year, he stayed longer and we all got to slow down and enjoy. I actually felt like the parks in general were less frantic--with the notable exception of off-siters waiting in horrendous kiosk lines to book their FP+.

I had no problem getting DS a DAS but we never used it; the 2 times we had them fill it out he changed his mind before the time came up. WE also bailed on one FP+ when he didn't want to wait for the Little Mermaid show. Otherwise, the wait times were lower than usual during Pres Week, and there was no ridiculous backup for Toy Story. We waited about 7 minutes with the FP before boarding the vehicle. That's never happened before.

For our family, and especially DS-- FP+ is a godsend.

Glad it worked out for you.

The ability to schedule specific times has been mentioned before by people as something that would be helpful. Knowing what to expect and when is very helpful to people with a variety of disabilities.

 

[keishashadow]

Also keep in mind that Presidents' Day (weekend/week) is really the first "busy" test of FP+ with full roll-out. I don't believe offsite guests were using FP+ last month during MLK weekend, at least not in all parks. But MLK Day also isn't historically as busy in the parks as it is around Presidents' Day.

Hopefully, things will smooth out. Whether it's new FP+, people not recognizing appropriate time to return, just congregating outside line, or what. This is the first real test, with spring break in March as the next big one before summer crowds hit.

It has to improve or they will lose those who return several times a year and are accustomed to a smooth experience. I'm am thankful not to be anywhere near WDW during spring break this year.

fyi, I've been to the parks on various President's Day weekends, pre MLK on Fri & Sat wasn't all that far behind this year. Quite puzzling, since January (other than Marathon weekend) is usually dead. Perhaps some of the marathon people were still about, but the Thursday was much more do-able.

There were roving bands of CMs out in force, especially @ MGM educating people how to use the new FP+