Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[Best Aunt]

Occasionally a Cast Member may "Pixie Dust" a Guest with access to the FP line for no reason other than that.

Pre-COVID, I met up with a friend at Magic Kingdom. We stopped to ask a cast member a question, and then my friend explained our situation and how happy we were to be there. I think my friend's enthusiasm must have been contagious, becaues the CM smiled and gave us fastpasses.

 

[SarahC97]

I just got back last Friday, stayed 8/01-8/05 at Beach Club. We're passholders and have had several trips since reopening, the last was at the end of May/start of June. Crowds then still weren't awful though it was noticeably busier than previous trips but wait times were generally under an hour for most things. Our strategy for this trip was to spend each morning/early afternoon at the pool and then go to the parks in the late afternoon or early evening.

The first two parks we went to were EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. I had been reading on this thread about how crowded everything was and I have to admit, once I got there I thought you all were a little insane for thinking the crowds were back to regular levels. EPCOT and HS still didn't feel like pre-pandemic levels to me at all. In fact, in the evenings we were able to walk on almost all the rides in future world with the exception of Test Track and while there were a few bottlenecks in the World Showcase, that was easy to stroll through as well. Waits at Food and Wine booths were not bad either. Hollywood's wait times weren't terrible. I think we waited about 30 minutes for Tower of Terror and 45 for Runaway Railway. TSMM was like a 20-minute wait. We didn't attempt any of the Star Wars rides or RNRC or SDD. Then we went to Magic Kingdom. Wowza. That park was completely nuts. While some of the other parks tend to get less busy as the day goes on, this didn't seem to be the case for Magic Kingdom.

We arrived about 2 pm and the wait times for everything were through the roof. All wait times posted were pretty high, even for smaller rides. And the absolute sea of people you had to wade through to get anywhere was intense. We ended up bailing before the fireworks because we just couldn't take it anymore. I'd say we were there for about six hours and we managed to ride three things and see the Hall of Presidents. It was not great. That park is by far the worst we experienced with crowds and I'm glad we didn't go there first so I could live in my fantasyland of "this isn't so bad" just a little while longer.

Truthfully, they need to open everything back up. This is just my opinion, but I cannot believe they have opened capacity up as much as they have while they still have many entertainment options, shops, and restaurants closed. It is not working out well at Magic Kingdom, but I imagine if I had gone to the other parks earlier in the day, I would have had a similar experience. As someone who was able to use Fastpass to it's fullest capacity when it was around, this was the first trip I lamented not having it (but I'm kind of living in fear of what it will come back as when it eventually returns). I'm going again for a short three-day trip at the end of this month, I'm hoping the crowds will be better then since that seems to be a bit of a lull between school being back in session and the 50th ramping up -- but I think I'll skip out on any more trips until next year after that. I imagine with the crowds coming this fall that any trip would not be an enjoyable experience for me.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Anyone know if CRT or BOG are going to reopen for breakfast/change back to their original lunch menus?

 

[SarahC97]

Anyone know if CRT or BOG are going to reopen for breakfast/change back to their original lunch menus?

I have heard that BOG breakfast is coming back by the end of August. Not confirmed, obviously.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I have heard that BOG breakfast is coming back by the end of August. Not confirmed, obviously.

While its a rumor, I do thank you for the information! Fingers crossed!

 

[123SA]

I spoke too soon. So many non compliant with masks at MK today. They hold up the line by passive aggressively slowly putting it on, making sure we all know they don’t want to, and then take it off 5 steps later. So irritating. There are so many at risk unvaccinated kids around

 

[SarahC97]

I spoke too soon. So many non compliant with masks at MK today. They hold up the line by passive aggressively slowly putting it on, making sure we all know they don’t want to, and then take it off 5 steps later. So irritating. There are so many at risk unvaccinated kids around

When we were there last week I did notice that some people were removing their masks or not wearing them correctly after passing by the CM at the line entrance who asked them to put it on. I didn't see any ride CMs past that point correct those people. There was no enforcement I saw after entering the ride queue.

 

[erin1715]

Obviously everyone’s experience with mask enforcement is different but I did witness a few times last week where CMs went out of their way to tell ppl to pull their masks up while waiting in a que. One instance I remember specifically was waiting in Peter Pan, a CM leaned over the railing to ask someone to pull their mask up. I think if CMs are within view then they will ask. But on other lines like Little Mermaid where you go thru a long que with nowhere for a CM to stand, then it’s harder to enforce. Overall I felt that mask compliance was pretty good.

 

[SarahC97]

Obviously everyone’s experience with mask enforcement is different but I did witness a few times last week where CMs went out of their way to tell ppl to pull their masks up while waiting in a que. One instance I remember specifically was waiting in Peter Pan, a CM leaned over the railing to ask someone to pull their mask up. I think if CMs are within view then they will ask. But on other lines like Little Mermaid where you go thru a long que with nowhere for a CM to stand, then it’s harder to enforce. Overall I felt that mask compliance was pretty good.

I felt overall that mask compliance was really good too. Just a few people here and there in line that I saw, but a large majority of people had them on like they were supposed to.

 

[boop0524]

been awhile since we’ve traveled with our extended family and I forget….do they have to have all their tickets purchased and in my MDE in order for me to make ADRs? Or does it not matter and I can link them later?

 

[cakebaker]

Obviously everyone’s experience with mask enforcement is different but I did witness a few times last week where CMs went out of their way to tell ppl to pull their masks up while waiting in a que. One instance I remember specifically was waiting in Peter Pan, a CM leaned over the railing to ask someone to pull their mask up. I think if CMs are within view then they will ask. But on other lines like Little Mermaid where you go thru a long que with nowhere for a CM to stand, then it’s harder to enforce. Overall I felt that mask compliance was pretty good.

It's the inconsistency on the part of CM's that's the problem. When we were there the beginning of August there was 0 mask enforcement when we rode Star Tours- not when you got in line, not when you got on the attraction. Very few people were voluntarily wearing a mask. It was bad enough that we actually complained at guest services. While I don't envy a CM's job right now, they are supposed to enforce the rules and they just weren't doing it at all. They can't do much about people who want to be jerks, but they can do more than they were doing there. I saw plenty of instances where CM's clearly had to be seeing people not wearing their masks properly and said nothing. They seem to be better about telling them to put them on, not so good at not letting them get away with being mask sniffers. Maybe it's better now, we were there when they actually started the new requirement.

 

[Naomeri]

been awhile since we’ve traveled with our extended family and I forget….do they have to have all their tickets purchased and in my MDE in order for me to make ADRs? Or does it not matter and I can link them later?

ADRs just need to be made for the right number of people, you don’t ever have to actually say who the other guests are besides you (unless someone else would be checking in for the meal, probably)

 

[boop0524]

ADRs just need to be made for the right number of people, you don’t ever have to actually say who the other guests are besides you (unless someone else would be checking in for the meal, probably)

awesome thank you!!

 

[Bahamontes]

Just got back from a wonderful, hectic day at BC (followed by a very warm bike ride across the Sunshine State one day and back the next)

I could not agree more with @SarahC97 about MK. We hit all four parks - RD AK, lunch at Epcot, the evening at HS, and HEA to close out the night. I wish I had just stayed at HS; MK was wild and a stark contrast to the crowds at the other parks.

AK was probably best about mask compliance, with multiple CMs asking folks to mask properly throughout all queues. Epcot was, as Sarah mentioned, low on crowds the whole time we were there (~3-5pm)

If you can live without the Magic Kingdom right now, I’d recommend giving it a pass. It’s frenzied in a way I can’t quite articulate, and I can’t imagine what October will be like.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Yes, signs are posted, but enforcement is inconsistent. When we were at Fort Wilderness, they didn’t even mention you had to wear a mask and we were some of the few who did - most did not. We moved to the BC during our stay and they were very firm in letting everyone know they had to wear masks on the friendship boats .

Trying to think of where a mask would be needed at FW, they aren't required on those boats.

 

[scrappinginontario]

It's the inconsistency on the part of CM's that's the problem. When we were there the beginning of August there was 0 mask enforcement when we rode Star Tours- not when you got in line, not when you got on the attraction. Very few people were voluntarily wearing a mask. It was bad enough that we actually complained at guest services. While I don't envy a CM's job right now, they are supposed to enforce the rules and they just weren't doing it at all.

While I'm not disagreeing with what you experienced, it's just so sad to me the the CMs have to work so hard to get people to comply in areas that are clearly inside. (I understand there are challenges/inconsistencies outside.)

Guests going now know the current rules. I cannot imagine how exhausting it must be for CMs to have to say the same thing day after day and, we have no idea how many rude, unkind guests they have had to deal with over the past year+. Guests are in the parks for a few days. These CMs have been living this for over 12 months now and it must be e-x-h-a-u-s-t-i-n-g.

 

[cakebaker]

While I'm not disagreeing with what you experienced, it's just so sad to me the the CMs have to work so hard to get people to comply in areas that are clearly inside. (I understand there are challenges/inconsistencies outside.)

Guests going now know the current rules. I cannot imagine how exhausting it must be for CMs to have to say the same thing day after day and, we have no idea how many rude, unkind guests they have had to deal with over the past year+. Guests are in the parks for a few days. These CMs have been living this for over 12 months now and it must be e-x-h-a-u-s-t-i-n-g.

I couldn't agree with your more. I hate that CM's are even responsible to enforce and that people give them a hard time is just inexcusable. I know when we were there, we had nothing but great interactions with CM's and maybe it's just me projecting, but most of them just looked tired and stressed.

It's been a long time of having to deal with this. My kids are teachers and they are stressed beyond belief and dreading the start of the school year. They had thought they'd at least be going back to a more normal environment, but it's actually worse. It is exhausting and I feel for anyone having to deal with the public directly.

I know it's not feasible, but I wish Disney had a dedicated work force just to deal with enforcement and policies regarding all this mess. There are people who go right off the edge about policies like this and CM's- especially those who are just college kids, shouldn't have to deal with it.

 

[CarolynFH]

awesome thank you!!

And if someone else is checking in for the meal, they can/should give your name to the CM at the podium. So again, no need to list everyone, unless they have their own MDE and you want them to be able to see the ADR there. They won’t be able to change or cancel it since you manage it.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Epcot today
10:10 left room at Poly, walked to monorail (very convenient).
10:20 on monorail.
From monorail, we could see the TT line being held. By time we entered Epcot, people had been let in. Brisk walk to TT.
10:40 on line for TT (posted 55 min); 11:00 entered design room; boarded at 11:08 so a 28 minute actual wait.

11:18 entered TT single rider line. Last of our group boarded at 11:22 so a 4 minute wait.

Food & Wine booths (so good)!!!

12:52 on the Frozen line (posted 20 min); hot outside in the blazing sun for 10 minutes; boarded at 1:15
so a 23 minute wait.

Roaming World Showcase now.

5:30 on line for Soarin (15 minute posted); 5:35 preshow with Patrick; loaded at 5:36 so 6 minute wait.

5:52 Nemo (walk-on)
6:14 Spaceship Earth (walk-on)

 

[bbn1122]

Epcot today
10:10 left room at Poly, walked to monorail (very convenient).
10:20 on monorail.
From monorail, we could see the TT line being held. By time we entered Epcot, people had been let in. Brisk walk to TT.
10:40 on line for TT (posted 55 min); 11:00 entered design room; boarded at 11:08 so a 28 minute actual wait.

11:18 entered TT single rider line. Last of our group boarded at 11:22 so a 4 minute wait.

Food & Wine booths (so good)!!!

12:52 on the Frozen line (posted 20 min); hot outside in the blazing sun for 10 minutes; boarded at 1:15
so a 23 minute wait.

Roaming World Showcase now.

Thanks for posting. My family will be at the world starting Sunday. We’re planning on heading up Epcot in the evenings.
I am hoping that tropical storm, Fred makes it way quickly through the state. My family flies in Sunday afternoon and we’re hoping not to have any major delays!