Just returned...some observations and thoughts

[Bay in TN]

People watching is great at WDW. Sit at a bench for a while and watch and listen to the world pass by. It's interesting. I'm sure any cast members who read these boards can tell dozens of stories of what they encounter daily while working there.

I'll agree with the statement above. I love people-watching at WDW. I love watching happy people being happy. I love watching young couples in love, old couples enjoying the fireworks arm-in-arm, little children at play, and adults who are enjoying the peculiarly grown-up delights of the World. I love watching people rush for their favorite attractions while other people stroll by and enjoy the ambience. I love watching the CM's make guests happy. I love watching that expression of recognition pass over a woman's face when she realizes the music playing on Main Street was a song in the musical during which she met her husband 20 years ago.

I love watching children spy a bunny on the lawn in front of the Plaza Restaurant. I love watching parade performers as they smile and wave at guests. I love watching kids when they get their first taste of a Mickey bar -- or the shocked disappointment that comes when they drop their ice cream, and then the expression of happiness when they're soothed by their parents over the mishap. I love watching people's mouths drop open in wonder when they examine the carvings on the Tree of Life. I love watching everyone -- young, old, and in-between -- point and gasp when they see the tigers on the Maharaja Jungle Trek. I love watching entire families laugh and talk about their day so far while they ride the train to Toon Town Fair.

I love, love, *love* seeing a child's face when she finally gets to hug Cinderalla. I love watching children run out of the exit from Buzz Lightyear, yelling at their parents about how *cool* the ride is. I love watching the CM's at the Haunted Mansion as they cast their spell over guests waiting to enter the doors. I absolutely adore the way the whole audience slowly turns around to face the back wall at the end of Mickey's Philharmagic as it dawns on them that there's something important going on back there.

I love people watching at WDW.

I can't wait to get back there, myself.

--Bay

 

[kmk160]

I too must chime in on the children issue in Disney. I just returned from a weeks stay with a 3yo and a 5 month old. My 3yo son has been to Disney now 3 times, the first being at 18 months.
He now notices EVERYTHING there and appreciates the trip in each way that a 3yo can. My 5 month old dd was an angel. Didnt whine, fuss, cry. Instead, she went with the flow and enjoyed her first magical trip.
Will she remember it? Never in a million years. But I teared up each time I saw her and my son in the best place on earth. Its a kids' place, for big and small alike!!!!

 

[dana1003]

thanks about the reply about the toddlers..we're bringing 3 year old twin toddlers an i think they're gonna love it. myhusband thinks its a waste of time blah blah blah...but thankfully we have 5 adults going so the stress can be divided. thanks for the positive outlook

 

[LindaBabe]

this isnt the Weight Watchers web site. You offended ALOT of people with the Fat cracks alone! People of size have the right to go on vacation too, believe it or not.

Believe me, If I could weigh a lot less, I would, JOYFULLY. If I could have normal lung capacity, and a strong painfree body, I would leave the ecv behind, HAPPILY!

Using an ecv makes it possible for me to enjoy a vacation at Disney World, with my family and friends (and yes, I have LOTS of them, despite being overweight and mobility impaired.)

My Disney trip has a lot of views of other peoples behinds and cigarettes in their cupped hands down at child eye level. I've learned that even waiting my turn at a character or event, I often get overlooked because I'm not at the cm's eye level. I've learned there's a lot of rudeness at Disney as well as a lot of kindness.

My message to YOU, OP, is - before Someone greater than all of us judges YOU - you might want to learn NOT to judge others until you walk a mile in their shoes.

 

[OhMari]

I would truly like to lock this thread, but I think the OP came back and explained himself, and he also received some great replies, especially the very positive ones, "why you attend WDW". Let's let this thread go, otherwise it will turn into a huge debate, and this is not a debate board, it's a Trip Report Board and sometimes we have to take the good with the some times not so good.

Ohmari
Trip Report Moderator.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have to agree about the scooter use. I have no problem when DISABLED people use the scooters. But i do think there are people who take advantage of using these scooters when they really don't need them.

I just wanted to say that the word "advantage" often comes up when people are talking about others using a scooter or wheelchair.
Many people seem to think that there is some great advantage to using wheelchairs or ECVs (scooters), like getting to the front of lines.
People think that, but that doesn't make it so.
People using wheelchairs or ECVs don't get out of waiting in line.
Most of the lines at WDW are wheelchair accessible, so there are very few situations where someone actually goes thru a wheelchair entrance. In most cases, they wait in the same line with everyone else. For a very few attractions, there is an alternate entrace because the regular one isn't accessible and was not able to be made accessible (most in MK or Epcot since they were built before accessibility was thought of). There are some others, where the boarding area is not accessible and wheelchair/ECV users wait in the regular or Fastpass line and then are pulled into a different area for loading (Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain are examples).

One of the other things that people who don't use wheelchairs don't know is where people with wheelchairs go when they are taken out of the line. They assume those people who 'disappear' from the line are boarding right away, but that is not usually the case.
If they can't board at the regular boarding spot, they are pulled out of the line - usually just before the regular line gets to the boarding area (so they have already waited as long as everyone that got in the line the same time as they did).
For example, at Buzz Lightyear, the 'pull off point' is after you have gone thru the room with the large Buzz Lightyear, near the point where regular line is beginning to enter the actual boarding area. Guests with wheelchairs/ ECVs are pulled out of line at that point and sent to the exit - not to board right away, but to wait. If there are too many people with disabilities already on the attraction, you have to wait for some to get off (for fire safetly and evacuation reasons). Because our DD can't get out of her wheelchair easily, we have to wait extra for a special car that the wheelchair can be loaded on. We usually see the people who were right ahead of us in line getting off after riding while we are still waiting to board. In some rides, boarding at the accessible area means you miss part of the attraction; for example, at Haunted Mansion, you miss the entire 'stretching room' part of the attraction.

The Safari at AK is notorious for extra waits for people with disabilities. Our longest wait there was an EXTRA 40 minutes at a time when the regular line was walk on and Safari Trams were pulling out partially loaded because people were not walking up fast enough to fill them.

Spaceship Earth is a ride with a handicapped entrance, but during times when other passengers are able to walk right on, our wait is usually 20-30 minutes.

AK and the Studio were built with what are called 'Mainstream Lines'. These are lines where the regular line is wheelchair/ECV accessible and a person using a wheelchair or ECV waits in the same line with everyone else.

Here's what it says in the official WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities about Mainstream Lines and the list of attractions with Mainstream Queues:
As you can see, most of the lines are Mainstream Queues:

Magic Kingdom® Park
Ariel's Grotto
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Donald's Boat
Judge's Tent
Mickey's Country House
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Mike Fink Keelboats (seasonal)
Minnie's Country House
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain®
Splash Mountain®
Stitch's Great Escape!™
The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacres Farm
"The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management"
The Hall of Presidents
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Timekeeper (seasonal)
Tomorrowland® Indy Speedway
Toontown Hall of Fame
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress (seasonal)

Epcot®
FUTURE WORLD
Imagination!: All Attractions
Innoventions East
Innoventions West
Mission: SPACE
Test Track
The Living Seas: All Attractions
The Land: All Attractions
Universe of Energy: "Ellen's Energy Adventure"
Wonders of Life: All Attractions (seasonal)

WORLD SHOWCASE
China: "Reflections of China"
France: "Impressions de France"
FriendShip Boats
Norway: Maelstrom
The American Adventure: "The American Adventure"

Disney-MGM Studios
Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour
Fantasmic!
Lights, Motors, Action!™ Extreme Stunt Show
Muppet*Vision 3D
Playhouse Disney - Live On Stage!
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Sounds Dangerous - Starring Drew Carey
Star Tours
The Great Movie Ride
The Magic of Disney Animation
"The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™"
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Walt Disney: One Man's Dream
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It!

Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Caravan Stage: "Flights of Wonder"
DINOSAUR
Grandmother Willow's Grove: "Pocahontas and Her forest friends"
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Lion King Theater: "Festival of the Lion King"
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Primeval Whirl
Theater in the Wild: "Tarzan Rocks!"
The Boneyard
TriceraTop Spin

I wanted to add that Soarin' and EE are missing from the list. They are both Mainstream Access.
And, some attractions have limited number of spots for wheelchairs. We have already shown up for shows where there was still room for ambulatory people, but the wheelchair spots were already filled for that show and we had to wait for the next one (Voyage of the Little Mermaid, where we had Fastpasses; and ITTBAB, where the CMs were practically begging people to come into the queue because there was no wait in the standby line.

So, the biggest advantage to using a wheelchair or ECV is having a spot to sit while you are waiting. People who write about wheelchair/ECV 'abuse' usually add something like this:

I have to agree about the scooter use. I have no problem when DISABLED people use the scooters.

First, since there is little advantage to using them, why does it really matter to anyone besides the person who is shelling out the money - not cheap - $10.00 rental a day (wheelchairs); $35.00 rental a day + $5.00 deposit (ECVs).
The second reason is that you can't tell by looking who is DISABLED or not. While we have been resting at WDW, with DD out of her wheelchair, sitting on a bench, we have heard people say she was "one of those people, cheating with a wheelchair" to get ahead in line. That was said because the person saw her out of her wheelchair and decided that meant she didn't really need it. That's despite the true fact that my DD can't walk unless someone is standing behind her holding her up and is not even able to get from the wheelchair to a bench without a great deal of assistance (she can't even walk with a traditional walker and needs something more supportive called a gait trainer that takes 2 people to put her in).

 

[Ladybugsy]

My message to YOU, OP, is - before Someone greater than all of us judges YOU - you might want to learn NOT to judge others until you walk a mile in their shoes.

Couldn't have said it better myself. It's too bad that character flaws are not physically visable. Wouldn't it be nice if child molesters had big moles on the end of their noses so we could snub them. Wouldn't it be nice if abusers had hairy warts on their hands so we could identify them? And if gossipers had green and purple lips? Yet characterless people talk about others they don't even know, or have any idea of what goes on in their life like they have the right to judge them. Fat, disabled, not well behaved, whatever their 'flaw'...they all paid for their trips the same as everyone else and deserve to be treated with just a tad of RESPECT. It's just shameful when people think they are better because of such trivial things. When in fact, it's just none of your business in the least! Enjoy your vacation and let others enjoy theirs. If what you SEE bothers you...go somewhere else.

 

[Sooze]

I love people-watching at WDW. I love watching happy people being happy. I love watching young couples in love, old couples enjoying the fireworks arm-in-arm, little children at play, and adults who are enjoying the peculiarly grown-up delights of the World. I love watching people rush for their favorite attractions while other people stroll by and enjoy the ambience. I love watching the CM's make guests happy. I love watching that expression of recognition pass over a woman's face when she realizes the music playing on Main Street was a song in the musical during which she met her husband 20 years ago.

I love watching children spy a bunny on the lawn in front of the Plaza Restaurant. I love watching parade performers as they smile and wave at guests. I love watching kids when they get their first taste of a Mickey bar -- or the shocked disappointment that comes when they drop their ice cream, and then the expression of happiness when they're soothed by their parents over the mishap. I love watching people's mouths drop open in wonder when they examine the carvings on the Tree of Life. I love watching everyone -- young, old, and in-between -- point and gasp when they see the tigers on the Maharaja Jungle Trek. I love watching entire families laugh and talk about their day so far while they ride the train to Toon Town Fair.

I love, love, *love* seeing a child's face when she finally gets to hug Cinderalla. I love watching children run out of the exit from Buzz Lightyear, yelling at their parents about how *cool* the ride is. I love watching the CM's at the Haunted Mansion as they cast their spell over guests waiting to enter the doors. I absolutely adore the way the whole audience slowly turns around to face the back wall at the end of Mickey's Philharmagic as it dawns on them that there's something important going on back there.


--Bay

That was amazing . Thanks for that!!

 

[sorul82?]

This was my first time experiencing Disney from the disabled point of view. We got FP's for Kali. We entered through the FP line, but near the ride entrance, we had to go over to the handicap entrance. Here we waited an additional 30 minutes. A few times we waited an hour for buses because either the lines were too long and we didn't want to roll up ahead of those who had been waiting, or there were already chairs in line, so even though the bus was not full, we had to wait for another bus. Some rides require ECV riders to transfer to a wheelchair. This sometimes added 15 minutes to our already long wait while the CM went to hunt down a wheelchair. At shows, wheelchairs sit at the very back, so hopefully they have good eyesight. If the wheelchair bound can't transfer to a seat, they miss bugs running under their fannies, and mice between their legs. I personally did not find one perk that went along with EVC's.

 

[SueM in MN]

This was my first time experiencing Disney from the disabled point of view. We got FP's for Kali. We entered through the FP line, but near the ride entrance, we had to go over to the handicap entrance. Here we waited an additional 30 minutes.

welcome to our world.
Thanks for your report about the realities of travel with an ECV.

 

[JillL.]

WOW!

I'm so glad walt didnt share some of these opinions!!!

we took our 10 month old with us last year...he had a blast! when one particularly Grumpy lady at work asked "why do you take your children to disney while they are so young and espeacially taking a baby! what a waste they will never remember it!"

I told her 3 things:

1. How could I go on family vacation and leave part of my family at home?

2. at the age my kids are at (3 kids under 7) the magic is real..that is cinderella..that is mickey mouse !

3. I take them because i will remember. did she not get christmas gifts from santa or take her kids to sit on his lap untill they were 5 or 6 because they wouldnt remember...does them not remembering make the wonder of christmas through their eyes a waste!?

Disney Is like christmas morning to us! seeing the wonder and joy in their faces is worth the schedule to fit in naps and taking it slower!

 

[UtahMama]

WOW!

I'm so glad walt didnt share some of these opinions!!!

we took our 10 month old with us last year...he had a blast! when one particularly Grumpy lady at work asked "why do you take your children to disney while they are so young and espeacially taking a baby! what a waste they will never remember it!"

I told her 3 things:

1. How could I go on family vacation and leave part of my family at home?

2. at the age my kids are at (3 kids under 7) the magic is real..that is cinderella..that is mickey mouse !

3. I take them because i will remember. did she not get christmas gifts from santa or take her kids to sit on his lap untill they were 5 or 6 because they wouldnt remember...does them not remembering make the wonder of christmas through their eyes a waste!?

Disney Is like christmas morning to us! seeing the wonder and joy in their faces is worth the schedule to fit in naps and taking it slower!

Good Post! I am getting SOOO excited to take my 2 year old! She likes Minnie and Rella-Rella! They are real to her and Disney IS like Christmas morning for all of us! Probably even the OP!

 

[chigirl]

Ok...I should clarify what I wrote earlier today.
We truly enjoyed our trip and are looking forward to heading back. The attractions have always been first rate (except maybe 'Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey' at MGM...basically sitting in the dark with headphones for 10 minutes listening to Drew chase down some bad guys....the only clunker we've experienced at WDW). We still loved to see Muppet Vision 3D, Tower of Terror, Pirates of the Caribbean (my wife loved the new Jack Sparrow figures), The Adventurers Club is still a hoot, Thunder Mountain Railroad, the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon, etc etc... All of those are wonderful!! The meals we had were terrific. The Disney cast members were always polite and helpful.
I just wanted to pass on some observations. WDW is a great place to people watch. You'll see and hear just about everything.
The whole weight thing is not just a WDW occurance. It's just a reflection of what our western society is moving towards. Our kids spend more time on their backsides on the computer or Playstations than ever before. They just are not getting the physical activity they should have. It would not surprise me to find out that their trips to the water parks are the most exercise they get all year. At Pop Century, the food court has many fruit cups, fresh fruit and juices to start your day with and it was sad to see so many kids head straight for the desserts and sodas. They'll be eating enough of that during the day, how about at least starting them off with something healthy??
Also, I never said anything about needing to wait while the buses load guests with disabilities or on scooters. WDW is exceptionally accomodating when it comes to people with disabilities. I honestly don't think anyone minds waiting while a driver assists someone boarding the bus first. We spend all day waiting in lines so what is a couple of minutes extra??
Our vacation was not ruined in the least (actually it was comical watching a woman with 3" heels trying to walk through the sand at Typhoon Lagoon). As I said above, we live in a heavy society (I need to lose 25 pounds myself). I was just making observations of what I saw. I was not being judgmental or critical (well trying not to be anyways).
People watching is great at WDW. Sit at a bench for a while and watch and listen to the world pass by. It's interesting. I'm sure any cast members who read these boards can tell dozens of stories of what they encounter daily while working there.

Unfortunately, Iron Shemp...
on any discussion board of any kind, as in politics, they thoughtful sharing of opinions and different views is unexceptable. People want it their way or the highway.

Plus, sarcasm is NEVER appreciated! I should know, as 99.5 % of my posts are taken the wrong way. I am glad you enjoyed your trip!

 

[S.Poppins]

Plus, sarcasm is NEVER appreciated! I should know, as 99.5 % of my posts are taken the wrong way. I am glad you enjoyed your trip![/QUOTE]

Wow, that should tell you something. Some sarcasm is fun and witty and I think people appreciate it. But I found your comments more offensive than the OP. My MIL and FIL both used ECVs last year. One was overweight with bad knees and one has diabetes and a heart problem. I did not enjoy traveling with ECVs, if you thought it was frustrating to have to wait an extra few minutes for the bus, you should have tried all the waiting we did all day. We missed the beginning of attractions, sat in the back of theaters, dealt with rude people making unnecessary sarcastic comments, etc... Not to mention the expense of 2 ECVs per day. It made me very thankful that I can walk for hours at WDW. To me it was sad that the OP only focused on the negative aspects of his trip. I had much rather focus on the fun.

 

[SleepingBeautyDreamr]

WOW!

I'm so glad walt didnt share some of these opinions!!!

we took our 10 month old with us last year...he had a blast! when one particularly Grumpy lady at work asked "why do you take your children to disney while they are so young and espeacially taking a baby! what a waste they will never remember it!"

I told her 3 things:

1. How could I go on family vacation and leave part of my family at home?

2. at the age my kids are at (3 kids under 7) the magic is real..that is cinderella..that is mickey mouse !

3. I take them because i will remember. did she not get christmas gifts from santa or take her kids to sit on his lap untill they were 5 or 6 because they wouldnt remember...does them not remembering make the wonder of christmas through their eyes a waste!?

Disney Is like christmas morning to us! seeing the wonder and joy in their faces is worth the schedule to fit in naps and taking it slower!

I am glad you posted this. But I can tell you from experience don't count out your children remembering any of it. I was taken to DL when I was 2 and I have 2 very good memories of it 32 years later. So they may just remember more than you think they will

 

[diz8297]

Pardon me, but you didn't just "people watch". In your original post you passed judgement on overweight people and commented on their attire for the entertainment of those who might read your post. How sad. I certainly hope that you never have a condition where you look or act different from other people-from what you consider to be "normal". Trust me-I'ld give my eye teeth to be thin. Do you think all overweight people just sit around eating oreos?? You have no idea. Also, people bring their children to Disney World because they love them and want to spend time with them. We started taking our children when they were 13 months old and I hope that they will always want to come with us. If they bring their kids, we'll really tick you off-me overweight, my mother in an ecv, and little ones in tow.
But hey-we're happy and we respect other people. Can you say the same??

 

[Patsfan7]

I thank you for your observations. I also thank the people that have given reasons why I take my little ones, why people of size go to WDW, and what underlying health problems that you may not see of which people in the ECV's may have. I think that others have addressed what may not be realized in a moments observation.

I wanted to post a story to explain why some people have to work while on vacation.

I would love for my husband to have been able not to work while on vacation, heck, who wouldn't??? But, he was the operations manager for a telecommunications company responsible for a few states worth of business customers. When I had my first child, he took a week off to be with me. I mean really took a week off, (checked in once to make sure things were running smoothly as I recall). Do you know what was waiting for him when he returned? Two "write ups" for things that his team of 12 did not address while he was out. (We were at home, our phone worked, but nobody called for assistance, nor did the management call to alert him of any problems.) After two write ups, the next step is termination! A nice new baby at home, and return to the realization that you could be fired at any moment.


I am trying to bring to light, that although nobody WANTS to work during vacation, sometimes, if you want to return to a job, you had best work during vacation, or suffer the severe consequences-the possibility of coming home to no job at all. (which is exactly what happened when I was three months pregnant with #2)

(also have a story on why to read the paper and check your stocks every day of vacation.... or else you come home to a crash you never knew about!)

 

[Hoosier Mom]

well, I just have to chime in about the breakfast observation.....

You suggested fruit & fruit juice instead of dessert & coke.

While fruit & fruit juice does have more nutritional value, it still is a surge of sugar. It would probably have the same effect that the dessert & coke has.

The mickey waffles and pancakes are pretty much a dessert too. The same for poptarts and donuts too.

When I had gestional diabetes even cherios and milk would cause my sugar to rise significantly.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. We'll be there next month and we're taking our 18 month old. I'm sure he'll have a grand time.

 

[iron shemp]

Boy oh boy.... I feel like I've been barbequed with all the flames. But that's OK with me.
I was just stating what I saw. I could absolutley make the same observations of people in my hometown..at the airport where we flew out of...at my workplace... The media is full of articles and reports of the obesity crisis facing North Americans. It's just a fact without any judgments entering into the discussion. But in the posts I saw following my trip report and also in private e-mails I received, not one person defended or even commented on my observation of kids drinking sodas and having doughnuts for breakfast. In my view that is the worst thing I saw. With all of the fresh fruits and much healthier breakfast foods availabe in the food courts, is it OK for kids to start their days with that in their bellys??
Anyway, this is obviously a very touchy subject and this thread will probably be locked by the moderator because of the controversy. So, can we please move on????
I do have a question of a much less sensitive nature though if I may.
I did mention in my second post that we did have a terrific time in spite of what some people may think. WDW has always got top marks for their rides and attractions but I was disappointed in one. 'Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey' at MGM was pretty lame. Has anyone been disappointed by anything at WDW?? We are all fans of WDW (yes even me) and many people have been a great number of times. But has anyone come off a ride or exited an attraction and thought "What's up with that??"
Just wondering......

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Just to put a different perspective on it - If I had to choose between doing some work over the phone or having to stay home from the trip, I'd do the work over the phone!

If I had to choose between taking a very young child along even though they may not "enjoy" it, or having to skip the trip for a few years until they were older? I'd take the small child.

The fruit for breakfast you mention is also loaded with sugar- off the top of my head, I can't think of any super-healthy breakfast options there. Our theory has always been "It's vacation, eat whatever you want!" Letting the kids eat horrible food for a few days on vacation won't kill them, as long as things are kept healthy at home.

It seems like there are rumors of Sounds Dangerous being replaced sometime soon? I really wish that had gone away instead of Millionare!