Just back, I've never seen so many......

[Sammy]

We just returned from a 2/27 to 3/7 trip to the World. Weather was amazing and the crowds were not too bad! Did EMH evenings for the first time at AK, EPCOT, and MK. What fun to be at MK at midnight!!

A few observations we made:

I've never seen so many.....

CELL PHONES!! Maybe it's because people are using them instead of the old 2-way radios, but I can't believe how many I saw! I even saw one woman talking on her cell as the boat was coming out of the Small World tunnel to the loading dock! People were talking in the ride lines, in the restaurants, on the rides, the busses, everwhere!

Wheelchairs and ECV's. There was only a handful of times that a bus did not have to load or unload a wheelchair or ECV. No judgements being made here, just mentioning that I noticed a big increase.

Little ones out so late! I was amazed at how many little kiddos were at the late EMH parks. We saw lots of tired, cranky toddlers even at 11:30 pm at EPCOT. One little one was having a total meltdown around 10:30 or so, but it didn't look like his parents were in a hurry to take him home....I felt so bad for him!

Nothing too earth-shattering, but just wanted to share a few thoughts. We had a terrific time and were pleasantly surprised to have such warm weather for Feb/March....got some nice pool-time in! The parks were not as crowded as we expected and wait times were not too bad. Did Disney Quest for the first time and had a ball! EPCOT evening EMH was insane until about 10:00 when the crowds started to disperse. There's so much to see and do at EPCOT, that you can stay without a bracelet and still have a great time, so it took a while for the crowds to lighten up.

I'd be happy to answer any questions....I miss it already!

Sammy

 

[danny1649]

For sharing and welcome back to the Dis

 

[hockey mom]

Welcome home.

We agree with the cell phone issue. I find alot of husbands forget that they have thier families at Disney and continue working all day long. Sad.

 

[thelionqueen]

Welcome back! I noticed a lot of electric vehicles as well. Didn't pay too much attention to cell phones, but know DH and I used ours a lot (only to talk to each other).

Stupid question, was El Pirata y El Perico Open? I love this place and am trying to figure out when it is ever open

 

[Tigger22]

Glad to hear you had great weather!!! I looked at the Orlando forecast for the coming week and noticed that the day after we arrive (Wed), the weather is supose to go from highs in the 80s/lows in the 60's, to highs in the 70s/lows in the 50s. Hope it's not us!!

In any case, it's got to beat snow!

 

[julieannbabe]

i know - just back too - people loved being on their cell phones!

also - why do people spend like 8 hours in the parks with small children?

i saw so many children having meltdowns - i felt so sorry for them.

xjx

 

[OhMari]

I think common courtesy with cell phones have flown out the window. I don't mind them-but when people talk so loud and you wonder if they are adressing you and asking you a question, and then find out they are on the phone, it is kinda of embarassing.

I was with my husband and I knew a older lady was behind me in the booth. All at once I heard her say, "hey, guess how many breakfast burrito's I had. Both me and my husband looked at each other and thought she was talking to us. We turned around and here she called someone on her cell. Then we had to listen to her whole conversation. When people are on cell phones, why do they tend to talk really loud.

 

[cocodog]

I usually frown upon all the cell phone use. However, my family found them really convenient at WDW. My dh and dd would go one way, and I would take ds and go another. Sure is nice to be able to call each ohter for time and location changes....

 

[HeatherFeather]

Agreed about the LOUD talking. I have a friend who does this...I am always wondering how many people around us really want to hear about her Brazilian wax.

 

[Sammy]

Welcome back! I noticed a lot of electric vehicles as well. Didn't pay too much attention to cell phones, but know DH and I used ours a lot (only to talk to each other).

Stupid question, was El Pirata y El Perico Open? I love this place and am trying to figure out when it is ever open

Not a stupid question at all! Nope, it wasn't open. I looked specifically for this restaurant because it has never been open during any of our Disney trips (5 since 2000). I wonder when it IS open???

Also, just an FYI that Pirates of the Caribbean closed the night of 2/28. We missed it by one day!!! I guess that means another trip to check out the renovations when it reopens. I can't wait to see what they will do with the characters from the movie!

 

[frankenpooh]

What did you particularly enjoy at Disney Quest? I think we will head there with our boys as well (they're 13 and 10). How many hours did you spend there? I fear never being able to get my kids out!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

One woman was on her cell phone at the baggage check line entering AK. It was her turn and she had 10 bags to check which most of them were in the stroller (so she had to get each one out and since she was talking on the phone she only had 1 hand). It was ridiculous. There was a long line and she could of cared less.

 

[snowglobe girl]

We used our cells strictly for times that we split up to find each other again - no work for me while at Disney!! Leave me alone in my happy place for a week!!! I threatened the lives of all of my staff to even dare call me with something work related. For us, cells work a whole lot better than our walkie-talkies (we just wasted money on those a couple of years ago)...but my brother on the other hand - who went without his fiance, talked to her (and fought with her) numerous times a day on that darn thing. By the end of the trip, I was ready to jerk the phone away from him and toss it into the lagoon - but he didn't try talking to her on rides or in shows or anything like that. That's when the phones aggravate me. Use them, fine, because I'm one of them, but I just wish people would be courteous about it.

 

[nhmomx2]

Hello neighbor (we live in Pelham!). We were down there about the same time (2/26-3/4) at the BWV's. The weather was wonderful, especially compared to what it was at home!

We noticed the cell phones as well. I think you hit it right on that people use them instead of the two-ways. We tried the two-ways one year and it was more of a hassle than anything - too much interference. I did not notice more ECV's or wheelchairs than usual, but we do not use the bus service at all when we are there. As for the cranky kids - don't even get me started on that one. It is probably my biggest pet peeve at WDW. Those parents are irresponsible. The one piece of advice we give to anyone who is going there with little ones is to let them set the pace. There is nothing worse than hearing a poor exhausted little one crying and the parents telling them (at 10:30PM!) they should have taken a nap! Like it's the kid fault!!

Anyway...glad you had as good of a time as we did. We missed POTC also, but it was because our neighbors kids didn't want to go on and we didn't get back to MK before it closed Oh, well, another trip will have to be planned - isn't that horrible

 

[Azure]

Welcome back! I'm glad that you had fun.

 

[riopooh]

This could happen to you.

I was barely sitting down when I heard a voice from the other stall
saying:
"Hi, how are you?"

I'm not the type to start a conversation in the restroom. I don't know
what got into me, but I answered, somewhat embarrassed, "Doin' just
fine!"

And the other person says:
"So what are you up to?"

What kind of question is that? At that point, I'm thinking this is too
bizarre so I say:
"Uhhh, I'm like you, just sitting here."

At this point I am just trying to get out as fast as I can when I hear
another question:
"Can I come over?"

Ok, this question is just too weird for me. I figured I could politely
end the conversation. I say:
"No.......I'm a little busy right now!!!"

Then I hear the person say, nervously:
"Listen, I'll have to call you back. There's an idiot in the other
stall who keeps answering all my questions!!"



This was an e-mail my 78 yo MIL sent me and it just cracks me up. My husband works for a cell phone company and he is one of those annoying guys that always has the phone at his ear (or worse- his ear plug in so it just looks like he is crazy and talking to himself)!! I had to confiscate his phone our last trip!!!!

 

[Matt]

Cell phones I can deal with. Those stupid Nextel phones drive me insane though. I don't want to hear your conversation..but I can tune that out. The constant BEEEP BEEP and then hearing the other person's conversation is insane.

I hate them!

 

[disneyluv4]

We used walkie talkies a couple of years and while they sometimes served the purpose they were full of interference. So this year we plan on using our cell phones. We have 2 teenagers who want to do some things with their cousins and this way we can still be in touch. We went with SIL a few years back and all she did was talk on that thing constantly, with her friends, and her DH. She ignored her kids. Talk about wanting to toss the thing!! We plan on using it to keep in touch with our group (15) and that is it! We are on vacation after all!!

 

[granmaz]

Some of the folks on cell phones didn't look where they were going, and some certainly were not in charge of their children at the time!
We were actually surprised how well the majority of children did with the long hours, queues, and pace of the parks. Plus it was getting hotter all the time(just back too!) Must be awful for them in the summer.

 

[HockeyGoddess]

riopooh, tooo funny

i think cell phone use has become ridiculous, don't get me wrong...as a means of keeping in touch with your family in the parks, great. but how often do you hear "hey, what are u doin?", "nothing, what are u doin". blah blah blah. i go on vacation to get away from it...all of it.