LE pin and tram update from the park, report & pics

[WonkaKid]

As many of you know, Disney issues new pins all the time. However, I'm told by friends from the park -- a couple that together own more than 15,000 pins -- that the 2019 Jack Skellington/Nightmare Before Christmas Disneyland Halloween window pin will be on sale on October 31. That's not the news, though. They also tell me that it will almost certainly sell out in an hour or less. Some collectors will even go so far as to stay overnight at one of the Disney hotels just to have a crack at them during the EMH (Thursday - 7:00 vs. the standard open of 8:00). If you're a collector and must have one, you've been duly apprised . Then again, if you're a collector, you're probably already in line to get one ;-).

Crowds were typical. Nothing special. The tram loading area going towards the park has been moved up slightly. It looks as though some kind of construction is being done at the usual loading area.

First in the park... but five kids bolted up Main Street to the rope. We knew then that they'd be a problem. At 8:00, they all tore off at top speed for PP. Fortunately, we knew they would and were well ahead of them. One of them ran at absolute top speed and I'm not willing to do that. As many of you know, I consider running at RD a form of cheating. Of course CMs asked them all not to run but we all know how effective that isn't. Oh well. I didn't beat him but the other four were a few people behind and then of course their families of 50-60 people joined them at the front of the line. That meant that two other friends who were in third or fourth place suddenly got bumped way down. I think they're still in line now. Regulars frown on that kind of thing. I only partially blame the kids. That's more on the parents. They know what the rules are and it's their job to be sure that their kids comply. CMs tell me that they often see runners fall. To parents that allow (or perhaps even encourage) their kids to run: on your own head be it.

It seems that the limited edition Oogie Boogie Bash pins are still available but also still only sold during the bash. In the past, I understand they've been a little looser with their availability during non-party hours. Not this year.

I posted a fun, "place-the-picture" game on the community board. If you're interested, it's here:
Place the park pic Photos are shown with little context and readers are invited to guess where they are in the park. Kind of fun.

As usual, I've got park maps for anyone that would like a set (domestic only, please unless you can make a strong case). DM me if interested.

A few pics:







Glow Skulls from Carthay Circle Lounge ($35 for the entire set of four, which includes a drink).




Blue ice creams bowls. First time I've ever seen them.

 

[azdisneylover]

Are the blue ice cream bowls for a special Frozen treat?

 

[WonkaKid]

Are the blue ice cream bowls for a special Frozen treat?

Good question. I’m not sure. I asked a CM behind the counter about them and she said they’re a relatively new thing and she wasn’t sure what prompted them.

 

[tarheelalum]

Great pics. The weather was wonderful today!

 

[WonkaKid]

Great pics. The weather was wonderful today!

Thanks! It was virtually perfect on Sunday as well. The high only hit 74.

 

[midnight star]

I think I might have saw you in Carthay taking the glow cube picture. I was talking to the lady next to me, then when I turned to my left you were gone lol.

 

[ten6mom]

My sister and her family were there this past weekend and they got to be the "first family" or whatever it's called at opening. She vidoed it... and in her brief 30 second video, captured not one, but two kids running and falling flat on their faces just under the tunnels. Some people just are silly.

 

[WonkaKid]

My sister and her family were there this past weekend and they got to be the "first family" or whatever it's called at opening.

Very nice . And I just remembered something. The countdown that CMs do at that time is usually ten seconds, sometimes five and, as it was last Sunday, zero. It took the friend ahead of me a moment or two to realize. Come to think of it, I believe it took everyone a moment or two. That’s one of the few (the only?) times I’ve seen a zero-second countdown.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I agree with you, I don't blame the running kids too much. Their parents clearly encouraged them to do that, as they all met up with them at PP. I really wish they would start punishing the runners -- even if its just to pull them aside to lecture them a bit so their plan of cutting doesn't pan out.

 

[WonkaKid]

I agree with you, I don't blame the running kids too much. Their parents clearly encouraged them to do that, as they all met up with them at PP. I really wish they would start punishing the runners -- even if its just to pull them aside to lecture them a bit so their plan of cutting doesn't pan out.

Agree 100%! They did this this for the first three or four weeks after SWGE opened. Our feeling at the time was that with the new land, there'd be new enforcement of the no-running rule. I posted the story of how one guy (25 or so, 6'1") sprinted to PP at the rope drop. When a security CM stepped in front of him and put the hand out in a "stop" gesture, the guy simply ran around him. That didn't go over well and the runner was pulled out of line and was asked for his AP. The security person scanned it. What happened after that, I couldn't say. But at least for a short time they tried to enforce the no-running rule. I'm not sure why they stopped. Perhaps it was because SWGE didn't turn out to be the revolutionary land that everyone expected it to be.

As an aside, I've always felt that after more than 60 years in the park business, Disney has determined that the only way to deal with runners is to ask them to stop and that anything beyond that is ultimately counterproductive. While it seems to people like us that the rule should be enforced strictly, perhaps they've found that rigid adherence has far more negative consequences than anyone might expect -- certainly more than guests (even regulars) would expect.

 

[Plip]

One of them ran at absolute top speed and I'm not willing to do that.

How fast will you go, particularly if you're sensing competition to be first in line for Peter Pan? I'm curious where regular rope-droppers see the line between walking and running -- or, perhaps more to the point, the line between playing by the rules and (as you say) "cheating"?

 

[EmJ]

Agree 100%! They did this this for the first three or four weeks after SWGE opened. Our feeling at the time was that with the new land, there'd be new enforcement of the no-running rule. I posted the story of how one guy (25 or so, 6'1") sprinted to PP at the rope drop. When a security CM stepped in front of him and put the hand out in a "stop" gesture, the guy simply ran around him. That didn't go over well and the runner was pulled out of line and was asked for his AP. The security person scanned it. What happened after that, I couldn't say. But at least for a short time they tried to enforce the no-running rule. I'm not sure why they stopped. Perhaps it was because SWGE didn't turn out to be the revolutionary land that everyone expected it to be.

As an aside, I've always felt that after more than 60 years in the park business, Disney has determined that the only way to deal with runners is to ask them to stop and that anything beyond that is ultimately counterproductive. While it seems to people like us that the rule should be enforced strictly, perhaps they've found that rigid adherence has far more negative consequences than anyone might expect -- certainly more than guests (even regulars) would expect.

Personally, I would be way more annoyed with the line cutting than the running. Blatant line cutting for the sake of doing it (and not for any legitimate DAS or other reason) makes me a crazy person, especially since it's super fun to explain to my child why he has to wait and other kids don't.

Love your photos, as always!

 

[WonkaKid]

Love the pictures, as usu

Personally, I would be way more annoyed with the line cutting than the running. Blatant line cutting for the sake of doing it (and not for any legitimate DAS or other reason) makes me a crazy person, especially since it's super fun to explain to my child why he has to wait and other kids don't.

Love your photos, as always!

Thank you! It's always nice to hear that they're appreciated!

I totally take your point: blatant line cutting is inexcusable. With running, the argument can always be made that kids (or adults) simply got carried away and weren't intentionally being horrible or that they didn't realize they were breaking a rule. But cutting? There's no defense; no excuse. That's not merely a park rule. That's a basic Western norm (not so much in Asia). For me, running at rope drop is something I see regularly. Blatant cutting I've only seen once in my life at Disneyland. I'm not saying it isn't a problem. What I am saying is that running is more prevalent, at least in my experience.

I understand that Disney will only act on cutting if they see it. That's how it was explained to me by CMs at City Hall when we complained about the one blatant cutter we encountered. If five (or ten or twenty or absolutely every other guest in the park) guests complain to a CM about a certain person cutting, they're not empowered to do anything. I suspect that didn't used to be the case but over the years they've learned that they can only enforce what they can prove beyond a doubt. Imagine if a guest was falsely reported for cutting and Disney kicked them out. Yikes.

 

[EmJ]

Yes, that's a very good point. I would not want to be the Disney employee in the very untenable position of trying to sort out which guest was telling the truth.

 

[WonkaKid]

How fast will you go, particularly if you're sensing competition to be first in line for Peter Pan? I'm curious where regular rope-droppers see the line between walking and running -- or, perhaps more to the point, the line between playing by the rules and (as you say) "cheating"?

Here's the thing: we're nearly always right at the rope so we're well ahead of most other guests to begin with. I've always been a fast walker so that also helps. The rule at DL -- CMs have told me -- is that as long as one foot is always on the ground, then you're not running. So I "walk with intention" to PP. In my case, that's pretty fast. I also weave a bit to block runners as they try to pass me - often I can hear them as they run up and friends are also close behind and also weave and will warn me when a runner approaches. I won't full-out run anymore. I mentioned in a post a while back that I was spoken to by security (very gently and with the utmost courtesy, since that's how I also conduct myself, especially while at DL) a few months ago when the one guest sprinted -- he could have qualified for the Olympics. I got angry and also ran as I tried to pass him. In the past four weeks or so, I've been first on PP twice. Two other times (like last Sunday and then about two weeks ago) I was passed by runners. In that case, all I can do is grit my teeth and tolerate it. There's noting more I can do and there's nothing more Disney will do.

One last note (and I've said this many times before): it's not that important to me that I be first on the ride. It's more important to me that I'm the first in line. Often I'll let someone behind me take my place, especially if it's a kid/family and they seem nice. Certainly I also do that for friends as well. A couple I know hadn't been to the park in a few months and I told them that the next time they came, I'd let them swap spots with me. Which I did -- about three weeks ago .

 

[WonkaKid]

Yes, that's a very good point. I would not want to be the Disney employee in the very untenable position of trying to sort out which guest was telling the truth.

I suspect that's a lesson that Disney learned long ago. While it can seem like an annoyance and a weak policy to us, it's probably their only practical/workable choice. Of course they hate cutters but they also have to be sure that no one is falsely accused. If a CM sees a guest cutting, they can address the issue with the evidence of their own eyes.

 

[Plip]

The rule at DL -- CMs have told me -- is that as long as one foot is always on the ground, then you're not running.

Okay, that's pretty objective. I'm pretty sure I've never crossed that line, although I've had to hold back my daughter as she was pulling me across the bridge and through the castle (she was young, so I had a hold of her hand anyway).

it's not that important to me that I be first on the ride. It's more important to me that I'm the first in line.

Interesting. So you want to win the race, but you don't necessary insist that you receive the prize. Do you think that's because of your competitive nature, or that you enjoy being able to give something to other (in this case, the first place in line)?

 

[WonkaKid]

Interesting. So you want to win the race, but you don't necessary insist that you receive the prize. Do you think that's because of your competitive nature, or that you enjoy being able to give something to other (in this case, the first place in line)?

I suppose a lot of it has to do with knowing that I/we were first and didn't have to cheat to make it happen. So once I know that I am first, I don't actually have to be first... if that makes sense. Perhaps I am a little competitive too but, yes, there's also an element of being able to give the first place slot to someone, especially if it's their first time at DL and even more so if it's a kid who'll get a real big kick out of it. We used to a see a mom with her two adorable twin girls at the rope regularly. We'd often do what we could to help them be first on PP. Kids deserve that sort of kindness. It makes them feel special and important. I've always remembered fondly the times when I was a kid and older people went out of their way to be kind. For example, when I was about eight, the ice cream guy on a pedal-bike (he was probably 17 or 18) always used to give me big chunks of dry ice, which we'd submerge in water and watch it bubble and fill the kitchen with "smoke." I think I actually put it in the toilet once and closed the lid. That looked creepy... and therefore great ;-). One time during dinner, we heard the jingle of his bells as he rolled into our court. But my mom wouldn't let me leave the table to rush outside. When you're a kid, to miss something special even once always felt like a massive missed opportunity.

Long after the ice cream guy had gone I was allowed to go outside. When I opened the back door, I found a Dreamsicle box wedged between the two doors... filled with dry ice . It made me feel so special that the ice cream guy -- a man of the world to an eight-year-old -- made sure I got the dry ice that he knew I loved.

None of us are here for very long. Twenty years flies by in the blink of an eye. I always feel that the time I'm given is best used when I help other people to feel cared for and safe. Kindness is infectious. Incidentally, we still keep an eye out for the twins but it's pretty unlikely that we'll see them again :-(.

(Pardon any typos. It's late and I'm tired).

 

[ten6mom]

We always say "walking with purpose"

 

[TikiTikiFan]

A cast member told us once to ‘skip- not run’ which we did one morning. It was way slower than ‘walking with purpose’ but it was so goofy that we were all laughing so hard by the time we got in the line.