Just got back...Thoughts

[NVDisMom]

We took the kids for a quick three day trip. We come home exhausted and happy as heck every time We are in love! Wanted to share some general thoughts...

1. I prefer busy with the AP crowd versus busy with the tourist crowd. Different people, different experience. The passion for Disney just isn't there in mass. People yelled at their kids more, were far less patient with one another, less likely to stand in line and chit chat between groups. No stories being shared, more pushing and shoving, less smiles. AP peeps and there brethren that go when they go seem happier to be there.

2.WoC creates chaos. We bagged it. Tried the first morning to get FPs and gave up. Pushing, shoving, yelling...not fun and that was at 10ish. I don't want to know what it was like lining up to wait to be corralled into Paradise Park. We will catch it next year.

3.Closing the Paradise Pier attractions at 8ish creates very unhappy guests. The balancing act has tipped too far to the WoC experience rather than balancing DCA overall guest experience.

4.GlowFest...A rave in Disney. Okay, there was definitely a market for it. People seemed to enjoy the overall experience. I found it to be lacking, but thats me. I don't mind the extra alcohol carts or the entertainment, but I have a few suggestions. Turn down the music, its louder than F!. You cannot talk to your companions at all. The performance on the main stage is meh, at best. It felt very international, not cohesive with Disney or WoC. I would have liked to see some sort of tie in. The food at the Greek cart was good.

 

[JaxsonsMom]

1. I prefer busy with the AP crowd versus busy with the tourist crowd. Different people, different experience. The passion for Disney just isn't there in mass. People yelled at their kids more, were far less patient with one another, less likely to stand in line and chit chat between groups. No stories being shared, more pushing and shoving, less smiles. AP peeps and there brethren that go when they go seem happier to be there.

I totally agree with this statement!
Its much easier to deal with people that know the "flow"... Things seems to move easier and there is a lot less yelling and a lot more getting along.
I find myself in many conversations while in line in the fall, in the summer- forget about it, the lady next to me is usually trying to plot her next stop with child whinning in tow. haha!

 

[ChickenCarlos]

i agree with the tourist crowd vs. the AP crowd, but the WoC is well worth every penny you spend on a dinning package(recommended) and being hurded into the pier, there are no words for how amazing that show is, it makes F! look like crap, also i thought the Glow Fest was a great Marketing idea, i was shocked that disney would have something like that, who ever thought that idea up should be promoted.

 

[pixiewings71]

It's nice to see someone say they prefer the AP crowds over the tourist crowds. I do think that APers are pretty cool people....

 

[Raindown]

Glad you had a good time! If anything WoC organization will only get better, hopefully. I too have found touch and go.

 

[Funball]

We took the kids for a quick three day trip. We come home exhausted and happy as heck every time We are in love! Wanted to share some general thoughts...

1. I prefer busy with the AP crowd versus busy with the tourist crowd. Different people, different experience. The passion for Disney just isn't there in mass. People yelled at their kids more, were far less patient with one another, less likely to stand in line and chit chat between groups. No stories being shared, more pushing and shoving, less smiles. AP peeps and there brethren that go when they go seem happier to be there.

2.WoC creates chaos. We bagged it. Tried the first morning to get FPs and gave up. Pushing, shoving, yelling...not fun and that was at 10ish. I don't want to know what it was like lining up to wait to be corralled into Paradise Park. We will catch it next year.

3.Closing the Paradise Pier attractions at 8ish creates very unhappy guests. The balancing act has tipped too far to the WoC experience rather than balancing DCA overall guest experience.

4.GlowFest...A rave in Disney. Okay, there was definitely a market for it. People seemed to enjoy the overall experience. I found it to be lacking, but thats me. I don't mind the extra alcohol carts or the entertainment, but I have a few suggestions. Turn down the music, its louder than F!. You cannot talk to your companions at all. The performance on the main stage is meh, at best. It felt very international, not cohesive with Disney or WoC. I would have liked to see some sort of tie in. The food at the Greek cart was good.

i like your review.. but the thing i wanted to add is that the rides in PP cannot be rode during WOC, the sound would interfere with the whole theme of WOC,they close that area down at 8pm cause they get the group for the 9 :15pm show ready to line up, etc. i found that for the 10pm show we waited in a seperate area from PP an then were brough into PP an then waited 10 min for the show to start so it was not bad.glowfest--well it takes certain types of people to like it.. it's not everyone's cup of tea. but those that do enjoy it -like me- feel that it's better then any club or rave--it's more family oreintated..and you are soo right us AP peeps do appreciate being at the park and are happy to be there,. i also like you have seen mother's screaming at the top of there lungs at there kids "this is the happest place on the earth, now get happy"..etc. i always wondered that if your gonna be unhappy at disneyland--why did you go?

 

[disneymom23]

I agree with all posts. I'm here now. Waiting for my dd to do screamin single rider. It is busy and chaotic in dca. Lines are very long. It's hard to have a plan when the only fp choices are soarin, screamin and mm. My kids don't really like mm so one time is enough for them.

We are doing the woc dinner package tonight. Hopefully it will go well.

We always come at busy times but this seems different. People don't seem to know where to go which creates chaos. We're having fun but now I really can't wait until we come for the holidays.

 

[whimsy87]

I had this same thought but didn't realize I was having it! My friends and I had been wondering why sometimes the crowds were so cranky and other times it was fun to be around some other people, and it really does have to do with the APers!

We're going this weekend and I'm expecting a lot of cranky. Can't wait to go again during the off-peak season.

 

[Funball]

I agree with all posts. I'm here now. Waiting for my dd to do screamin single rider. It is busy and chaotic in dca. Lines are very long. It's hard to have a plan when the only fp choices are soarin, screamin and mm. My kids don't really like mm so one time is enough for them.

We are doing the woc dinner package tonight. Hopefully it will go well.

We always come at busy times but this seems different. People don't seem to know where to go which creates chaos. We're having fun but now I really can't wait until we come for the holidays.

Tower of terror has FP, GRR has single rider so does MM and screamin. And soarin! Just to let you know dinsneymom! And of course it’s busy and little chaotic in the PP area, it’s summer!!!.and a tip--saturdays the only pass that is not blocked is the premium pass, everything else is blocked..so saturdays are much lighter as far as crowds,wellit should but i just rememberd its summer and the tourist crowds are now here...

 

[ChickenCarlos]

Tower of terror doesnt have a fast pass anymore, they said it is under construction.

 

[Funball]

Tower of terror doesnt have a fast pass anymore, they said it is under construction.

oohhhhhh that is right i forgot!! thanks carlos!

 

[Belle Ella]

Tower of terror doesnt have a fast pass anymore, they said it is under construction.

I heard they are still honoring the GAD fastpasses for TOT at least

 

[NVDisMom]

I know the sounds from Screamin' could interfere with the show, but you could shut it down much closer to show time...But Silly Symphony Swings and TSMM wouldn't interfere at all. Another thought with Glow Fest. They need to start it at dusk. The main stage performance was beginning well before the sun was going down. Glow implies lighting up the night to me! DH called it lame. I'd say its "interesting".

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

I heard they are still honoring the GAD fastpasses for TOT at least

In June we could use our GAD FP on ToT. A few of the CM's looked at us like we were crazy, moved the chain and we walked where I would assume the FP used to be. It was our first DL trip, so I don't know where it was before.

 

[HydroGuy]

I know the sounds from Screamin' could interfere with the show, but you could shut it down much closer to show time...But Silly Symphony Swings and TSMM wouldn't interfere at all. Another thought with Glow Fest. They need to start it at dusk. The main stage performance was beginning well before the sun was going down. Glow implies lighting up the night to me! DH called it lame. I'd say its "interesting".

TSMM is now open during WOC, and SSS is open for 30 minutes in between shows.

 

[NVDisMom]

TSMM is now open during WOC, and SSS is open for 30 minutes in between shows.

That is what I thought too. But,TSMM was not open during WOC when we were there on Monday. At about 7:30 they closed the line and turned guests away with the explanation that it would be closed for the rest of the evening. SSS may open back up in between normally, but it spent most of the our trip down anyway.

 

[jodeja]

1. I prefer busy with the AP crowd versus busy with the tourist crowd. Different people, different experience. The passion for Disney just isn't there in mass. People yelled at their kids more, were far less patient with one another, less likely to stand in line and chit chat between groups. No stories being shared, more pushing and shoving, less smiles. AP peeps and there brethren that go when they go seem happier to be there.

I also noticed this! I guess I don't know if they were actually AP holders, but they were definitely locals and they were fun to be around
They were more relaxed and enthusiastic about Disneyland ~ probably because they weren’t as overwhelmed as the newbies.
I liked sitting behind some regulars on Pirates who had the ride memorized and obviously loved it. I also thought it was hilarious in Haunted Mansion when half of the room all shouted “one more!” at the same time. And, when I was a little nervous on Star Tours, it helped me that we were sitting next to 3 local teens/early 20’s who not only had the ride memorized but were laughing enthusiastically and having the time of their lives right next to us. It was a fun, Disney-fanatic atmosphere. We did meet some first-timers who were very nice and fun to talk to, but you could always tell the first-timers by the deer-in-the-headlights type of look in their eyes

 

[never2muchdisney]

We took the kids for a quick three day trip. We come home exhausted and happy as heck every time We are in love! Wanted to share some general thoughts...

4.GlowFest...A rave in Disney. Okay, there was definitely a market for it. People seemed to enjoy the overall experience. I found it to be lacking, but thats me. I don't mind the extra alcohol carts or the entertainment, but I have a few suggestions. Turn down the music, its louder than F!. You cannot talk to your companions at all. The performance on the main stage is meh, at best. It felt very international, not cohesive with Disney or WoC. I would have liked to see some sort of tie in. The food at the Greek cart was good.

I found it lacking too. We just got back from July 11 – 18 trip.
Glow fest = retro sixties, NOT to groovy in a far out way! Spent 45 minutes there, seen it, done that, most likely won’t spend another minute there unless we’re on our way to TOT. Because ½ of CA park shuts down during the World of Color show, the park needs a place to cram the WOC non-fastpass park guests.

So rumor has it that Disney hired a non Disney company to put together a fun party and show for those who are left out of the grand WOC show. The glow fest adventure starts out on a poorly decorated stage. It’s obvious that the glow fest budget left out this staging area and used whatever materials and paint left in the supply shed to cover up the beautiful fountain that was once a crowd pleaser. When the sun starts to go down, the amateur designed stage plays host to several dancers who perform to fun music in colorful costumes. They aren’t top dancers you’d see in a Vegas show, but our kids thought they were fun to watch and the dancers looked like they enjoy their job. And then, all of Hollywood lights up with a crazy sixties, bazaar colored, non-Disney theme of who knows what is going on. The street has three portable bars, some solo dancer stages, a VW bus that has a wooden box that goes up and down with a dancer (oh wow), and several interactive dancing areas that show up on screens that are no longer entertaining to watch after 10 minutes. Several of the cast dancers get guest groups together and lead them in a dance aerobics class. The music loops over and over with different vocals and songs, but the same 6 beats. Boom, ba, boom, ba, ba, boom. The view and colors are exactly the same all the way up and down the entire street, just crazy colored shapes, mostly lime green, pink, & orange with colored lights shining on the store fronts.

So what was the crowd like during our 45 minute stay? Didn’t encounter anyone abusing the available liquor. Most the families walked up one side of the street, down the other side, then left the area. There’s nothing for young kids to do except bounce around for a few minutes in the street. The senior crowd didn’t seem very impressed and I didn’t see many of them participating in the aerobics classes. Actually, I can’t recall seeing any seniors participating in any of glow fest, including myself. The group that seemed to be enjoying glow fest the most was the 18 – 25 year olds, but even they couldn’t do aerobics for more than 15 minutes in the heat, and they left.

Seriously, I didn’t get it. I didn’t get the feeling that people were excited to be there. You know that feeling you get when you’re watching Fantasmic? It’s not here at glow fest. Sorry, not trying to sound negative, but the Disney fun sure is lacking.

 

[HydroGuy]

That is what I thought too. But,TSMM was not open during WOC when we were there on Monday. At about 7:30 they closed the line and turned guests away with the explanation that it would be closed for the rest of the evening. SSS may open back up in between normally, but it spent most of the our trip down anyway.

Thanks for the tip! My comment was based on Disney's announcement - TSMM and MM Officially Staying Open During WOC . Sounds like they still cannot make up their mind!

 

[blackjackdelta]

In June we could use our GAD FP on ToT. A few of the CM's looked at us like we were crazy, moved the chain and we walked where I would assume the FP used to be. It was our first DL trip, so I don't know where it was before.

The area was across from the TOT entrance.

Jack