Just Back, Some Observations.

[GarrettJD]

I agree SO much about Innoventions. On our first trip in 2003 I was looking forward to it, being a technology and video game junkie. We spent about 10 minutes in each side, and I agree... complete waste of space. We went through briefly again last lear... same deal.

 

[smjj]

1 - If you don't want to deal with strollers then don't go to WDW. Try Vegas.

2 - If you know its going to be crowded and don't take a few minutes out of your hectic schedule to make a P.S.....then tough luck.

3 - If you think that park food is too expensive, then plan ahead so you don't have to eat there.

Sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who whine about things they have control of.

Man, back off, these were not complaints so much as observations to let others know. That is what these boards are all about. Take the bad with the good I found these observations to be very helpful..smjj

 

[bytheblood]

1 - If you don't want to deal with strollers then don't go to WDW. Try Vegas.

2 - If you know its going to be crowded and don't take a few minutes out of your hectic schedule to make a P.S.....then tough luck.

3 - If you think that park food is too expensive, then plan ahead so you don't have to eat there.

Sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who whine about things they have control of.

My, my! Leaving tooth and claw marks.....hope they don't scar.

You are a rude person.

 

[Martiemouse]

Thanks for the oringial post, wow it makes me feel better since I cancelled the trip I had plan and paid for til the first week in May. I am sorry that it was crowded, but at least you were in WDW and not at work.

 

[jlcbshaw]

What is the difference between one person going four times or four people going one time? The four tickets to the park were purchased the same as everyone elses.

Just a side note, I have used the Disney tickets that I purchased for my kids to get FP's on rides that I know that they will not ride. Why, because I have older kids that can do a double ride while the younger ones enjoy a different ride. I understand civileng68's point, but I mean there is no limit to how many times you can ride each attraction. Even without FP, if a child wanted to ride a ride several times in a row I would let them and not feel guilty because of the "extra" space my kid took in line. After all it is their vacation too.

 

[carol1231]

No one has mentioned the finger recognition for the ticket system. This was the first I had experienced that. I understand needing to identify the person to the ticket, but this seemed to make it take longer getting thru the turnstyle. Anyone else notice that?

 

[maxaroni]

Thank you for your truthful observations. For those that are flaming you, they are taking the post to personally, rather than just some thoughts about the trip. We all pay good money to go to Disney and sometimes, we just don't realize, just how crowded crowded is or just how darn hard it is to maneuver with strollers around etc. I didn't get the idea, from reading your post that it was really meant as deragotory as some would make you think. It also doesn't mean that you dislike Disney or wouldn't go back. We all may think food is reasonable or expensive and your point was that in general, park food is expensive.

Anyway, we have done the no PS thing twice, you'd think we would learn. We were good about having PS's for most of the week we were there ('01 & '02), but we went in August and we didn't need PS's 90 days prior, we did them in the morning for that night. Now, the first day we'd get there, we had the ultimate park hopper tkts and would dump the luggage and head straight for MK. We should have learned the first year but we didn't...you can't have a sit down meal in the MK w/o a PS. We did it the 2nd year and still wound up at Cosmic Ray's because we just totally were not thinking. We just didn't put enough thought into it, despite all of our planning.

Now, I'm learning an awful lot on these boards and wished I knew about this sooner.

We will again be going in Aug '05 and will brave the heat and humdity A friend of mine said that they'd never travel to WDW in the summer and that they'd go during spring break...I'll take the heat over the extreme crowds. We really haven't had a long line for anything going the end of august. We do have to bump it up to the 3rd wk this year and hoping the crowds are not much worse.

I guess we all realized it will be hot and humid in the summer and yet, we are still surprised as to how hot and humid it will be. We all realize it will be crowded during peak times and yet when dealing with it, it's still a surprise as to how crowded it is. I think from your observations, it is clear that some things may need to be improved...traffic flow, for instance. I don't know. What I do know is that you don't deserve to be flamed. The motto on boards is 'flame the post not the poster'.....

 

[C.Ann]

1 - If you don't want to deal with strollers then don't go to WDW. Try Vegas.

2 - If you know its going to be crowded and don't take a few minutes out of your hectic schedule to make a P.S.....then tough luck.

3 - If you think that park food is too expensive, then plan ahead so you don't have to eat there.

Sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who whine about things they have control of.

--------------------------------------

I think someone is having a bad day - or month - or year.. Heck - sounds like their entire life is bad!

Incredibly rude and uncalled for..

 

[crzy4dsny]

Here is something about stroller complaints I'll never understand. I push a stroller at Disney. I'm walking with my stroller down a walkway. You suddenly walk directly in front of me, or just walk out into the walkway without looking. I bump into you. You give me a dirty look like it's my fault.

 

[C.Ann]

Any predictions on the crowd levels beginning next Saturday evening?

I'll be going solo - and I don't really do much in the rides department - so is it safe to assume I can weave my way in and out of the crowds without much difficulty?

 

[civileng68]

Here is something about stroller complaints I'll never understand. I push a stroller at Disney. I'm walking with my stroller down a walkway. You suddenly walk directly in front of me, or just walk out into the walkway without looking. I bump into you. You give me a dirty look like it's my fault.

Oh you are totally correct there. I agree with you. I must say that for every crazy stroller pusher there is one OR MORE crazy walkers. I agree though. I think in general it's frustrating that people in general can't act maturely in crowds because they are so anxious to get to a ride that they literally run havoc in heavy crowds.

 

[civileng68]

No one has mentioned the finger recognition for the ticket system. This was the first I had experienced that. I understand needing to identify the person to the ticket, but this seemed to make it take longer getting thru the turnstyle. Anyone else notice that?

The finger scanning was just horriffic. In fact, it was so busy this time that when the crowds got EXTREMELY heavy they wouldnt even charge parking as to not stop the traffic and cause a jam, then they didnt even finger scan tickets, you just put your ticket in, they pushed the button and you're through.

When they DID use the finger scans it really was a joke. First of all, they only have one CM at times working 2 machines. New guests that have never been really do not know how to use the machines. They dont work half of the time. The finger scans really are a massive burden.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Thanks for posting your observations of WDW during peak time. A lot of people who visit WDW thinking it might be crowded really have no concept of what they are in for. This is why it is important for people to plan in advance. Get their PS, get there in the morning when the parks open, understand and use FastPass. Otherwise, they are in for a less than magical experience. There is really not much more that CMs can do to accomodate that many visitors, you can't add more tables to a PS restaurant or make the walkways any wider, or add fore rides or ride vehicles. IMHO, if someone has to go during that kind of holiday crowd they can prepare or end up not having a good time. If people don't want to prepare and plan, early Dec. is a great time to go.

 

[SaraMc]

[

Our first ride this trip on Spaceship Earth was bad show. The bulbs in the TV's on the first incline were burned out and said "The life of the bulb has expired, please replace". We did however notice they were replaced and working fine two days later.


Wow. When we were there in Febuaury we noticed that the TV 's said the same thing!

 

[smjj]

Its all about adjusting and realizing certain times are more crowded than others. In response to the stroller comment. I have had my heels ran over more than once by people who do not watch out for others but I also can appriciate the fact that there are whose who do not watch out for the strollers, boy they hurt when ran up onto the bare heal. The last couple of times we went down, we avoided Fantasy Land because of the strollers. There were so many of them the CM's were having to make little path ways thru them. Since we nolonger have small kids we simply avoid those areas. No big deal. However, our grandkids are now getting to that age and I will probably become one of the stroller people again(can't wait)....smjj

 

[cakimmy]

I was there March 20-25th.

We had a blast, we did get overwhelmed the first day at Epcot, Test Track was 120 minutes and that was the only ride we wanted to go on. We went to get Fast Passes around 1 and they were already timed b/w 8-9. So we got them and a few minutes latere they were out for the day.
World showchase was packed but we enjoyed ourselfs. After Epcot closed at 9 we flew over to MK and it we got on 6 kids in 2 hours which is pretty good. Fantasyland had no waits, we just flew in Peter Pan and all the kiddie rides. Stitch was a 40 minute wait and a WASTE of time, it was a horriable ride.

2nd day at AK was great, NO long lines, the Safari was the longest at 40 minutes, the rest were 10-20 minutes. we did stay for the extra magic hours and got to do all the rides in 5-10 minute waits, the Kali rapids was a 2 minute wait. So much fun!!

3rd day at MK we knew would be crazy, so we went from 6pm and took advantage of the extra magic hours tell 3 am! It was a blast, we did EVERY ride. very fun!

4th day at MGM was CRAZY both tower of terror and Aerosmith were well over 100 minute waits, and that is why we wanted to go, so we cruised over to Blizzard Beach that had already closed due to capaicity and enjoyed the day at the water park than scooted back over to MGM to watch Fantasmic, which still had seating during the show.

All in all we had a great time, I think it worked out for us to go late and stay for the extra magic hours and the spend the mornings at the pool or at Down town disney.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Welcome to the "Happiest Place on Earth"... so we are lead to believe. Crowds will always bring out the worst in some people, it is just natural. Let's just grin and deal with it...there isn't anything we can do other than not to go at those times. People with strollers do bang into others, walkers with no strollers do walk into the strollers... most are accidental. At least they stopped allowing cig smoking... I can remember people walking with cig's & you had to worry that your child will get burned because they were at the level of the person's cig when their arm was down ....so let's be thankful that isn't happening. As far as the price of the food, we all know Disney is expensive, complaining will not lower the price. And last but not least... every one is entilted to their opinion, don't knock it because it isn't the same as yours.... after all, we are all individuals, we aren't clones... we are suppose to have our own thoughts & opinions & we are entitled to them....this is American land of the free ... I think I am not meaning any harm in anything I am saying...just my thoughts.... Happy Easter By the way, I am heading up on Wed 3/30... just to get myself all worked up, upset & complain...

 

[LoraJ]

1 - If you don't want to deal with strollers then don't go to WDW. Try Vegas.

2 - If you know its going to be crowded and don't take a few minutes out of your hectic schedule to make a P.S.....then tough luck.

3 - If you think that park food is too expensive, then plan ahead so you don't have to eat there.

Sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who whine about things they have control of.

When I was first planning my trip for April, someone was asking about how the crowds would be around a certain time. This person got FLAMED for asking that and told not to go to WDW if they don't like crowds.

This person was asking all the right questions, because there are times when you can go to WDW and not have crowds at all. Just because the people who respond and flame can enjoy themselves waiting in line for 90mins for every ride and getting run over by strollers, doesn't mean everyone else can, or should.

That's what these boards are for, to find out when the best time to go for you would be.

And not everyone is a planner, some people are spontaneous, and it is difficult to make a PS for them. I am worried about this for our next trip because we can never decide until day of where we are going and what we are hungry for. Luckily, we prefer late seatings and there are only 2 of us.

 

[OzFan]

I TOTALLY agree about people walking in front of the strollers! I try extremely hard NOT to run over, bump into, or push anyone with my stroller. It is IMPOSSIBLE! People walk in front of you like you can stop on a dime. Don't they realize that there is a child in the stroller? I almost dumped my daughter out while trying to avoid an "in a hurry couple." Like said before, when crowds reach their peek, so does the tempers and manners of most people around them. .
I always try to remember "THIS IS THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!"
And be darned everybody better ACT that WAY!

 

[smjj]

I always try to remember "THIS IS THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!"
And be darned everybody better ACT that WAY!

HaHa.. I like that and have to remember it..smjj