Is it me or are is Disney taking out benches and seating?

[crostorfer]

Side note: I'd like to welcome all of our future new members of the FP+ Haters Club. Seeing as it's kind of hard to just sit around and soak up the atmosphere with no places to sit, whatever will you do all day?

 

[rockiesfan]

We went to Disney Last September with my 88 and 87 year old inlaws..... I would appreciate any suggestions of places to sit and relax.

Just back and kept this thread in mind while we were there (my parents are in their 80s and I can't imagine them doing Disney anymore.) I don't know if you're looking for long breaks or short stops while others are riding rides, but here's what we found:

DHS - 1) Inside the Animation Academy line are padded benches that hold about the first 16 people in line (the rest of the line stands.) If you got in line 30 minutes before the next class, you'd get an padded seat with a back in the air-conditioning, and then have the 25 minute seated class, making a nice hour-long rest (and we love the classes!) You can see the Incredibles M&G which is mildly entertaining (lots of guys with big biceps in that line ) 2) Across the street from the space between TSMM and the Jack Sparrow building (near the Woody M&G) is a wide metal bench, empty whenever we saw it. It's not particularly scenic but it's there. 3) Character Palooza on the Streets of America was really fun. I don't remember any benches but some people were sitting on the steps up to the different buildings. They could see the interactions from there.

MK - 1) Tomorrowland has a lot of benches. Most are in the sun but we found a set of four between Astro Orbiter and SM that were shaded. There are lots of ice cream carts etc. around, the People Mover going overhead, etc. so it is a pleasant place to wait for people using their (your) FPs on SM (we gave our bands to our kids so they could ride twice.) There is also a bench inside the SM gift shop right at the ride exit, so it's air-conditioned, and there are outlets next to it if you need to charge anything. 2) In New Fantasyland, Gaston's Tavern has tables with stools in the shade by his M&G area. Gaston is really entertaining and at least when we were there Friday, his M&G is almost like a show; he talks to everybody rather than just to the guest in front of him, and he walks out from his spot a lot, especially when someone is dressed as Belle. This area was much less congested than the Tangled bathrooms/charging area, which also has seats.

AK - 1) Nemo is a great show that lasts about 40 minutes; the benches are wooden slats with backs. 2) There are skinny picnic-bench style benches near Everest for non-riders to wait. It was raining on our AK day but I think they would usually be in the sun.

Hope this helps

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I can't speak to the change, but last year when my partner and I, both DLR vets, visited WDW for five days, we keenly noticed that there were not many places to sit and rest in the parks. (Mostly because we wanted/needed to sit and rest since it was so hot/humid while we were there.) We thought it was just a difference between Anaheim and Orlando--at DL and DCA there are many places to sit and rest (and a lot of them shaded, too!) I would imagine they're disappearing at WDW so they can cut maintenance costs. Still, kind of a lousy thing for Team Disney Orlando to do from the guest perspective.

 

[wannabatwdw]

Thanks Rockiesfan! I will make note of these and see if they are still there when we go in the summer. Then we plan to bring my inlaws back next winter. This time I think they will both have scooters. Sometimes I just like to sit and take in the scenery. I hope that Disney rethinks this policy and adds some more seating - not on the main pathways but in some nooks and corners. I wrote Disney last week, but other than the - we got your inquiry - I have not heard back from them.

 

[powellrj]

I am now part of the scooter club at WDW, but we have a local casino that we will take out of town guest to and I finally broke down and bought my own seat to take with me places.

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/healths...t&adid=18170&gclid=CNLwu7Wmvb0CFe5aMgodn14Adg

Its amazing how comfortable it is. My dad was in ICU 2 weeks ago and they had no chair s available and it was a lifesaver for me. I have even noticed that malls are also doing away with benches and adding chairs which really limit the number of seats available.

 

[wannabatwdw]

I just talked to Lynn at Disney. She was very polite and said that my concerns had been forwarded to the appropriate people. Disney wants all their guests to be comfortable. She says that sometimes benches are removed for Kiosks and that we should always be able to find benches near the shops, rides and park entrances. Perhaps if anyone finds a good place to sit and relax, post a picture of the bench and the location. Sometimes I just like to sit and take in the view.

 

[rapunzels]

Disney had benches and seating to remove? What are benches and seats?

 

[mom2rtk]

I just talked to Lynn at Disney. She was very polite and said that my concerns had been forwarded to the appropriate people. Disney wants all their guests to be comfortable. She says that sometimes benches are removed for Kiosks and that we should always be able to find benches near the shops, rides and park entrances. Perhaps if anyone finds a good place to sit and relax, post a picture of the bench and the location. Sometimes I just like to sit and take in the view.

That's an April Fool's joke, right?

I mean, how many times does someone ask something, and someone chimes in and says "blame FP+" as a joke.

Surely you don't mean that this time that's really true?

 

[wannabatwdw]

I don't think it had anything to do with FP+. I did not even ask, I just assumed it was for a kiosk for something like food and wine, or garden or just extra snacks or souvenirs. Never even crossed my mind that it could be connected to fast Pass but this is the truth... no April Fools.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

Just back and kept this thread in mind while we were there (my parents are in their 80s and I can't imagine them doing Disney anymore.) I don't know if you're looking for long breaks or short stops while others are riding rides, but here's what we found.

Shouldn't be long before those are gone too... now that we kindly pointed them out for them!

"Zut alors, I have meeeesed one!"

 

[noahdove]

In my opinion Epcot has little to no seating..Last August it was tough finding a spot to sit and wait for others while they were on ride.. It was mighty hot
and I ended up just sitting on the ground..