How have the crowds been this week?

[shellyof4]

Hey, we're coming in 11 days so I'm trying to get an idea...We'll be there Tues-Friday. Thanks!

 

[JasonShannon76]

I was there on Saturday January 6th and Sunday January 7th. The crowds were pretty light....

 

[shellyof4]

Well, that's very promising! Thanks!

Anyone been there this week?

 

[Albort]

I went on Monday 1/8... i was a bit disappointed cuz it was crowded... It took me about an hour to park in the Structure, then another 1 hour to take my friend into the structure. then i realized, Disneyland was sooooo understaffed.

Like Mattahorn, 2 ppl to operate one side... kinda BLAH... this one girl nearly got herself killed cuz she tried to get in the bobsled at the exit... the CM almost didnt see her... then she did it twice, the CM wasnt too happy...

 

[boiseflyfisher]

We spent Monday, Tuesday, and today in the parks. I was thinking they have been pretty uncrowded. The majority of rides have been walk ons or waits of less than 5 minutes. Indy was 15 minutes and Peter Pan has been no more than 20 minutes. There is a chance of rain and highs in the upper 50's tomorrow, so I'm expecting crowds tomorrow to be about the same or possibly a little less than the past three days. You picked a great time to enjoy the magic!

 

[honeymom]

I went on Monday 1/8... i was a bit disappointed cuz it was crowded... It took me about an hour to park in the Structure, then another 1 hour to take my friend into the structure. then i realized, Disneyland was sooooo understaffed.

Like Mattahorn, 2 ppl to operate one side... kinda BLAH... this one girl nearly got herself killed cuz she tried to get in the bobsled at the exit... the CM almost didnt see her... then she did it twice, the CM wasnt too happy...

That was the one thing that really stood out to me on this trip - DL is really understaffed (at least compared to trips I used to take years ago). Is this due to a lack of spending by DL, or a shortage of workers?

 

[shellyof4]

Thanks Boiseflyfisher....I'm hoping (along with all the other late Jan folks) that you are right!

 

[cookees]

Thanks Boiseflyfisher....I'm hoping (along with all the other late Jan folks) that you are right!

I have to agree...less crowded would be nice!

My brand new dvd arrived today and my DS (4) is watching it over and over and is over the moon with excitement.

We got our passports yesterday so everything is in great shape!

 

[godalejunior]

I got my stuff today and was very excited. The added DTD card was nice, free kids meals at ESPN zone and Rainforest Cafe are nice. My son loves his "gold" coin. 19 days and counting!!!

 

[shellyof4]

cookees--I know, my dd (almost 4) is going cuckoo as well...She asks everyday to look at the website and she says, "Mommy, it's just the big girls going to have lunch with the princesses right...no boys right?" Apparently she and I are the "big girls"... Even my boys 11 and 8 are excited...don't the think the baby dd 11months cares too much either way...hahaha

 

[fenfur]

That was the one thing that really stood out to me on this trip - DL is really understaffed (at least compared to trips I used to take years ago). Is this due to a lack of spending by DL, or a shortage of workers?

It's due to several reason I have heard from some management I still know.
1) They have done a REALLY big push to hire only full time workers. So this in turn has turned off the local college students who worked there as a part time job for evenings and weekends (what I did years ago).
2) No offense to anyone with this next one: Because they only want full time workers the quality of people they hire are not going to be as good as if they were open to part timers, because in reality, working full time at DL and living in So Cal does not provide enough to support yourself or a family, working as a basic employee. It used to be that DL was selective in who they hired, now if you have a pulse you will get hired.
3) They have run thru A LOT of the local people and they no longer want to work there.
4) Since it is in the middle of a LARGE urban area, there is no lack of jobs for those looking for one, the area is not dependant upon Disney for employment.
5) People can't afford to work there, the cost of living is not proportionate to the pay. The average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in the area is $1000-$1400.

So it's a combination of lots of things. Of course this is my take on it. but yes, they are SEVERLY understaffed.

 

[Albort]

It's due to several reason I have heard from some management I still know.
1) They have done a REALLY big push to hire only full time workers. So this in turn has turned off the local college students who worked there as a part time job for evenings and weekends (what I did years ago).
2) No offense to anyone with this next one: Because they only want full time workers the quality of people they hire are not going to be as good as if they were open to part timers, because in reality, working full time at DL and living in So Cal does not provide enough to support yourself or a family, working as a basic employee. It used to be that DL was selective in who they hired, now if you have a pulse you will get hired.
3) They have run thru A LOT of the local people and they no longer want to work there.
4) Since it is in the middle of a LARGE urban area, there is no lack of jobs for those looking for one, the area is not dependant upon Disney for employment.
5) People can't afford to work there, the cost of living is not proportionate to the pay. The average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in the area is $1000-$1400.

So it's a combination of lots of things. Of course this is my take on it. but yes, they are SEVERLY understaffed.

some of that maybe true, but not entirely...
1) Not True, in fact, you have to Apply to get full time. In the ODV department, id say 50% are Part, 30% are Full, and 20% are Seasonal.
2) Selective? I always thought you had to answers the questions correctly and you passed
3) I think what scares people away the most is # of hours... and how IMPOLITE the guest can be. Though enjoy interaction with the guest, but some people just pisses me off badly...
5) umm... im currently living in a 2bed2bath payin around $1250 per month. i live with 1 other person so it is $625. I only work Fridays, Sat and Sun and i can still make my $625 quota. So it isnt THAT bad... December wise, i made that much in a week and half.

Disneyland is never severly understaffed. I just think the people who does scheduling just didnt anticipate the number of people there. I went on 1/8, i see A LOT of kids... now school should have started, why are there kids?

IF you look at the previous week, most of us had to stay over an extra hour because Disneyland didnt anticipate the crowd. many actually were forced to work over... tis funny moment when my shift ended at 9PM, but i have to push in a cart at 9:15... my manager were like "umm, your off at 9PM and yet you got a 9:15 push in?"