Just back ~ disappointing trip

[stargazertechie]

Interesting...

and so following on it seems difficult to solve with maintenance. All the maintenance in the world isn't going to get around the unknowable variable of humans loading/or unloading conescutive cars too slowly...

I've been on Splash when they had to do what is known as a zone reset- basically some genius stood up, so the ride stopped... which meant all of the logs backed up at the emergency stop points in the ride path. The water drained out from the portions of the ride with chains/conveyors (so the big drop, the drop inside, etc), the lights came up, and we waited.

At first we were being told we were going to be evacuated, but they were able to do a reset zone by zone. What it resulted in was a 65 minute wait where we sat before our log finally made it back up front to the unloading area. They basically had to re-launch all of the logs with the proper spacing, but they had to create backups in other portions of the ride first to do so until everyone was off the ride.

Hence why my golden rule is if a ride has been down between 35 and 60 minutes I will wait it out to see if it comes back up. If it's not back up within 90 minutes of closing it is probably more than just a reset issue.

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

The last time we visited in October 2012, we noticed a disturbing trend of rides being down and facilities that were not working. As part of our pre-trip planning I read some reviews of unhappy guests that stated that the escalators in the Land were not working, and that many of the big rides experienced breakdowns. Sadly, that was our experience as well, and it alarmed us at the time.

Starting with EMH Toy Story Mania was down the day we scheduled to visit. We got fast passes for the ride and kept our fingers crossed that the ride would be working before we left for the day. This was our only day scheduled in the Studios for this visit. In addition, as this park is not a full day for us, we were left with some free time, as we had hoped to ride all of the big ticket rides and then leave mid day and come back for dinner and Fantasmic. The breakdown of TSMM disrupted our plans. We did eventually get to ride it, but just once instead of twice as we had planned. We tried to ride it again, but after waiting an hour and 30 minutes the stand by line just wasn't moving.

In Epcot, we found that the escalators down to Soarin were not functioning. While I can walk the stairs, a previous surgery doesn't make climbing stairs very fast or easy. We didn't want to wait for the elevators, so we trekked down and back up again to get fast passes for Soarin.

In the Magic Kingdom Splash Mountain was down at various times when we tried to ride. We did eventually get on this ride.

Disney World is not an inexpensive vacation, and my expectations are on par with our spending. Was it a Magical Experience, yes. Was the trend of rides and facilities being non functional disturbing, yes. Did we notice fewer workers sweeping up trash, yes. We realize our vacation is just a snapshot in time, yet I hope these types of trends do not continue.

 

[afinnteach]

I'd like to respond to OP comment about people "cutting" in line. (Hopefully I won't get flamed for my opinion I have traveled several times with my MIL, FIL, SIL, DH, DS, and DD (both preschoolers at the time) to DW. We would often leave 2/3 adults in the line to wait and have the other 2/3 take the kiddos to the bathroom or to play at a playground, sit on a bench etc... basically do anything that would keep them from fussing and annoying everyone around us in line. This also helped my FIL who can sometimes have difficulty standing (especially in heat/sun) for longer periods of time. I always felt like we were giving the people around us a break (from our children). I think it was pretty obvious to those right behind us as we would all get in line together and then figure out who was taking who where. We would return before the line started to get too far into a queue so we didn't have to say excuse me to a million people.

I've personally never found this irritating at a park, but obviously some people do. I'm not sure it would stop me from doing it with small kiddos (or in a potty emergency with my primary age kiddos now). We always try to be polite and kind to anyone around us and I don't mind if other do it as well and are polite about it. Just wanted to add my perspective. Those "cutters" may have saved you from listening to a 2 year old scream cry or a 3 year old run around your legs for 40 minutes! LOL

 

[LucyBC80]

Cutting is cutting no matter how you word it.

 

[flea1267]

There were more people in the FP line than last time we went. I figured it was a combination of more people period and return times enforced. We rode a lot with FP, I do not recall seeing a 25-1 ratio. Seemed like it was about 10-1 on our rides.

My DD is a former CM and she worked at Dinosaur - she said they are instructed to let in 80% of the FP line then just 20% of the stand by line...so you all were right about them letting in much more FP guests than stand by guests.

 

[bolognehead]

I must be really lucky, every disney vacation I been on the only rides that were ever down and for about an hour were Everest and Splash Mountain. I've been going for 10 years every, year now.

 

[Lehuaann]

My DD is a former CM and she worked at Dinosaur - she said they are instructed to let in 80% of the FP line then just 20% of the stand by line...so you all were right about them letting in much more FP guests than stand by guests.

Well either the CM's are not following the instructions...or need to learn to count!

As you stated, for every 100 combined: the ratio would be 80 FPs to 20 SBs.....or for every 50 combined: 40 FP to 10 SB. This would be fine.

But this was clearly NOT the case for many of us. It was 50+ FP for every 3-5 SB. We stood there and counted.

According to the ratio for every 50 FP, around 13 SB should have been let through.

 

[DVCJones]

I'd like to respond to OP comment about people "cutting" in line. (Hopefully I won't get flamed for my opinion I have traveled several times with my MIL, FIL, SIL, DH, DS, and DD (both preschoolers at the time) to DW. We would often leave 2/3 adults in the line to wait and have the other 2/3 take the kiddos to the bathroom or to play at a playground, sit on a bench etc... basically do anything that would keep them from fussing and annoying everyone around us in line. This also helped my FIL who can sometimes have difficulty standing (especially in heat/sun) for longer periods of time. I always felt like we were giving the people around us a break (from our children). I think it was pretty obvious to those right behind us as we would all get in line together and then figure out who was taking who where. We would return before the line started to get too far into a queue so we didn't have to say excuse me to a million people.

I've personally never found this irritating at a park, but obviously some people do. I'm not sure it would stop me from doing it with small kiddos (or in a potty emergency with my primary age kiddos now). We always try to be polite and kind to anyone around us and I don't mind if other do it as well and are polite about it. Just wanted to add my perspective. Those "cutters" may have saved you from listening to a 2 year old scream cry or a 3 year old run around your legs for 40 minutes! LOL

I've been taking my kids since they were infants. We have always stood in line together. My kids learned at a very young age that WDW meant standing in lines and we taught them how to behave in line. It has NEVER been a problem. They learned quickly that if they misbehaved, we left the line and they didn't get to go on the attraction. With that being said, I have left the line to take them to use the potty and then rejoin my family when finished. I think that is different than not entering the line together or not until well after the rest of the family.

 

[dpuck1998]

I've been taking my kids since they were infants. We have always stood in line together. My kids learned at a very young age that WDW meant standing in lines and we taught them how to behave in line. It has NEVER been a problem. They learned quickly that if they misbehaved, we left the line and they didn't get to go on the attraction. With that being said, I have left the line to take them to use the potty and then rejoin my family when finished. I think that is different than not entering the line together or not until well after the rest of the family.

I for one, thank you. I have three kids and never (barring bathroom emergency) let them leave and get back in the line.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'd like to respond to OP comment about people "cutting" in line. (Hopefully I won't get flamed for my opinion I have traveled several times with my MIL, FIL, SIL, DH, DS, and DD (both preschoolers at the time) to DW. We would often leave 2/3 adults in the line to wait and have the other 2/3 take the kiddos to the bathroom or to play at a playground, sit on a bench etc... basically do anything that would keep them from fussing and annoying everyone around us in line. This also helped my FIL who can sometimes have difficulty standing (especially in heat/sun) for longer periods of time. I always felt like we were giving the people around us a break (from our children). I think it was pretty obvious to those right behind us as we would all get in line together and then figure out who was taking who where. We would return before the line started to get too far into a queue so we didn't have to say excuse me to a million people.

I've personally never found this irritating at a park, but obviously some people do. I'm not sure it would stop me from doing it with small kiddos (or in a potty emergency with my primary age kiddos now). We always try to be polite and kind to anyone around us and I don't mind if other do it as well and are polite about it. Just wanted to add my perspective. Those "cutters" may have saved you from listening to a 2 year old scream cry or a 3 year old run around your legs for 40 minutes! LOL

You're either in line or your not. So it's okay to take them to the playground while someone else stands in line, but where do you draw the line?

Can my wife take our daughter to eat while I stand in TSM line? Can I take my daughter to take pictures with Buzz while my wife stands in line for Peter Pan?

If people cannot handle extended wait times, there are measures that can be taken to reduce them. If they are health related, see guest relations for a GAC. If it is because kids get out of hand, they either need to behave better, arrive to the parks earlier or use FPs better. Not waiting in line but having other people hold your spot is not a valid option in my opinion.

 

[5mouseketeersforus]

I've been taking my kids since they were infants. We have always stood in line together. My kids learned at a very young age that WDW meant standing in lines and we taught them how to behave in line. It has NEVER been a problem. They learned quickly that if they misbehaved, we left the line and they didn't get to go on the attraction. With that being said, I have left the line to take them to use the potty and then rejoin my family when finished. I think that is different than not entering the line together or not until well after the rest of the family.

Exactly this. Not just at Disney but pretty much anywhere where you stand in long-ish lines (airports, movies, other theme parks, visiting Santa at the mall, etc).

Not saying it was an easy lesson to teach them but it was just one those things we felt was important enough to do when they were little.

 

[LucyBC80]

I've been taking my kids since they were infants. We have always stood in line together. My kids learned at a very young age that WDW meant standing in lines and we taught them how to behave in line. It has NEVER been a problem. They learned quickly that if they misbehaved, we left the line and they didn't get to go on the attraction. With that being said, I have left the line to take them to use the potty and then rejoin my family when finished. I think that is different than not entering the line together or not until well after the rest of the family.

This.

Posted from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

Well either the CM's are not following the instructions...or need to learn to count!

As you stated, for every 100 combined: the ratio would be 80 FPs to 20 SBs.....or for every 50 combined: 40 FP to 10 SB. This would be fine.

But this was clearly NOT the case for many of us. It was 50+ FP for every 3-5 SB. We stood there and counted.

According to the ratio for every 50 FP, around 13 SB should have been let through.

There are people who still use sb? The only time we ever use it is if the wait is 10 min or less or if there is not a Fp option.

 

[jjskribs]

I'm at Disney right now and I need to get a money order. (forgot checkbook at home) Does anyone know if there is a place to get one besides the Sunbank at DTD or the Bank of America in Celebration... hoping to find a closer option. I'm at Shades of Green .

 

[jjskribs]

Sorry for my previous post about the money order... thought I was starting a new thread but my question wound up on this thread... trying to delete it but I can't.

 

[ses1230]

I'd like to respond to OP comment about people "cutting" in line. (Hopefully I won't get flamed for my opinion I have traveled several times with my MIL, FIL, SIL, DH, DS, and DD (both preschoolers at the time) to DW. We would often leave 2/3 adults in the line to wait and have the other 2/3 take the kiddos to the bathroom or to play at a playground, sit on a bench etc... basically do anything that would keep them from fussing and annoying everyone around us in line. This also helped my FIL who can sometimes have difficulty standing (especially in heat/sun) for longer periods of time. I always felt like we were giving the people around us a break (from our children). I think it was pretty obvious to those right behind us as we would all get in line together and then figure out who was taking who where. We would return before the line started to get too far into a queue so we didn't have to say excuse me to a million people.

I've personally never found this irritating at a park, but obviously some people do. I'm not sure it would stop me from doing it with small kiddos (or in a potty emergency with my primary age kiddos now). We always try to be polite and kind to anyone around us and I don't mind if other do it as well and are polite about it. Just wanted to add my perspective. Those "cutters" may have saved you from listening to a 2 year old scream cry or a 3 year old run around your legs for 40 minutes! LOL

Potty breaks are acceptable, IMO. But the notion that you are going to cut in line to "save me" from your (generally speaking) child's behavior is ridiculous. Your child's behavior is not my problem and I shouldn't have to put up with your child running around my legs, etc. Either they can wait or not, and if they can't you should come back when they are calm.

 

[Lisa D]

On the RnR this afternoon they were loading 6 stand-bys and ALL the rest fast passers. We waited twice as long as the advertised time with fast passes to Tower of Terror in our pockets

 

[lugnut33]

Cutting is cutting no matter how you word it.

I must be the dumbest person on earth because I don't notice line cutting as a big problem at WDW. Rarely see it, but then again I don't go looking for it.

Don't get me going on double wide strollers or people stopping in the middle of walkways though. Those two things drive me crazy.

 

[Lehuaann]

There are people who still use sb? The only time we ever use it is if the wait is 10 min or less or if there is not a Fp option.

Yes. Standby entrance is for guests not using FASTPASS.

Are you getting SB confused with single-rider line?

However, if the SB reads 40 mins - I'm not expecting to stand for 90+.

 

[Lehuaann]

On the RnR this afternoon they were loading 6 stand-bys and ALL the rest fast passers. We waited twice as long as the advertised time with fast passes to Tower of Terror in our pockets

Yep, just like I said in my PP, the CMs apparently are not following their own ratio instructions (80/20)...or they can't count.