Just back and my views on the hours

[coachv]

I can't post for OneMoreTry but it was not fun that night. When we got to the park about 8:00 pm for the 9:00 parade it was a madhouse. It was so crowded you could not work your way through to any spot. We found a spot between train station and city hall where it was roped off for people coming through. Talked to a really nice CM from Chicago and she helped us a lot. They waited until nearly 9:30 to cancel the parade and people were not happy!!!! We had to clear out of the way for the mass of people coming out. We cut through the shops to the garden area in front to watch the fireworks. I never did see Tinkerbell and even though I had the perfect seat to see her. Disney needs to have this parade more than once or twice a week. The crowd was there to see the once a week parade and it was packed. The security checks were also a joke from time to time. Most of the security just glanced in my bags and then there was the one at MGM who was looking for the mother lode. He made our line last about 10 times longer than it should. I hope Disney does a better job with its summer hours in the future.

 

[peachgirl]

What I don't understand, however, is why everyone rushes out of the park exactly at closing times or at the end of a parade.

I couldn't agree more! Taking our time leaving the parks is one of our favorite things to do!

After the fireworks at the MK, we hung around for what seemed like forever. We watched the kiss goodnight and had the best time taking our time and enjoying a nearly empty park. We also love doing this at Epcot after Illuminations. During our Christmas trip leaving the AK after it was dark was absolutely one of the highlights of our trip!

Why anyone would want to fight the mobs stampeding out of the parks is beyond me!!!

 

[Sandybottom]

Can't stand the suspense...what happened on the 18th

 

[OneMoreTry]

Well, on the 18th,

It was hot all day and crowded. It started raining about 7-ish. SpectroMagic was scheduled for 9. People were lined up on Main Street for the parade before 8. At eight we found a spot on the circle by the castle -- by the walkway to Crystal Palace. Not a front row but close enough.

Shortly after that they put up a rope where main street meets the circle -- to close off Main Street -- directing crowds down the sidewalks on either side. So far OK -- except everyone was tired and the sidewalk was wet so we had to stand instead of sit while waiting.

Between 8 and 9 nothing was unusual. Security had to deal with keeping people off the street and making sure people were waiting in front of the ropes and not behind. Not pleasant, but not out of control.

At 9 came the first announcement that the parade was "delayed" for the safety of the performers, blah, blah, blah. That's when some people became very restless. They'd been standing for two hours and had decided to leave but security wouldn't let them down main street. A couple ducked under the ropes in defiance and one guy was getting in a guard's face. Still not out of control.

Then came the second announcement "the parade is delayed" again "blah, blah, blah."

Shortly after that announcement a HUGE crowd completely filled the circle massing toward the two guards trying to keep people off main street with a little rope. Reminiscent of the crowd hunting the Beast on Beauty and the Beast. Grumbling, angry, some shouting. Many were ducking under the rope and heading down main street. The guards (insanely) were trying to confront some of them. It looked like it might come to blows.

That's when it was on the verge of being totally out of control. There were hundreds pushing toward those ropes trying to get out. Thank God the guards finally opened the ropes and just let them down the street. If they hadn't done that I don't know what would have happened. A huge cheer went up.

Minutes later came the announcement that the parade was cancelled "for the safety of the performers blah, blah, blah." The appearance to me was that it was cancelled because the crowd had gotten out of control. It was raining a little. who knows.

I was distraught that things could get so ugly in the Magic Kingdom. Everyone around us was upset and complaining. A complete downer.

 

[RyMickey]

We just got back today after two weeks there. There was a noticeable increase in crowds as our stay progressed, however, I must say that the hours the parks stayed open (MK and MGM, at least) increased over several of those days. We only experienced unmanageable crowds on two days (I believe it was a Monday at AK and this past Sunday at MK) and both of those days were early entry days for those parks. We had never done early entry before and we will never do it again, nor will we go to a park that had early entry that day. It just crowds the park too much.

Overall, though, we never experienced that bad crowds that others seemed to have experienced. No long lines...no problems.

RyMickey

 

[bobcat]

I know it's disapointing when a show or parade is canceled but the safety of the performers is first for disney. It sounds like there were a lot of out of line guests that night and security was doing what they always do. There was also more security that you couldn't see, not just the two guys with ropes.

I agree that it's not enjoyable to fight the crowds so we usually take our time out of the park. That's when the magic happens. It's wonderful to sit and watch the castle change colors, watch the people leaving, talk to the CMs cleaning up, have a late night snack.

I also agree that hours should be lenghthened in the summer but disney usually does a pretty good job of ajsting the hours on a daily basis to deal with the crowds. It's always a nice suprise to walk into the MK expecting to have one closing time and finding out that you actually have another hour added.

It's all in your traveling perspective.

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by bobcat


I also agree that hours should be lenghthened in the summer but disney usually does a pretty good job of ajsting the hours on a daily basis to deal with the crowds. It's always a nice suprise to walk into the MK expecting to have one closing time and finding out that you actually have another hour added.

It's all in your traveling perspective.

This happened to us in March. They made several announcements during the day that the hours were extended yet right after the fireworks there was a mass exodus. We walked on about 6 rides that extra hour because everyone thought the MK was closed!