News Round Up 2017

[jlundeen]

S

News

Disney will be doing a reservation systems update on July 19th from 2AM to 9AM. Systems will be down during this time.

***sarcasm alert***

Gee, why would they need to do an update? The whole system pretty much crashes and burns every time they release a new, long-awaited Special Offer....I thought that having people wait for 2-3 hours on hold was just a way to manage the influx of new reservation requests!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am always amazed to see the crush of people that head for the exit right after fireworks/closing. We like to make sure we have a drink and a snack and a spot to relax for 30 minutes to an hour before we head to the ferry boat to get to the TTC and walk to the truck. We avoid at least some of the madness and get to enjoy more MK after dark time with each other. It's always worth it as far as we are concerned.

We do that at movies all the time. It's easier to just wait it out til enough people have left and you're not moving at a snail's pace getting out of the movie theater. Your plan at MK sounds relaxing

 

[rteetz]

News

Cosmic Ray's starts mobile ordering today


18jul2017-cosmic-rays-starlight-cafe-joins-mobile-order-today.htm

 

[SureAsLiz]

Okay so without filling in the lagoon what would you do? You can only add so many buses at a time. Obviously more monorails isn't going to happen. I have obviously never seen this major problem as I always take resort transportation.

Honestly, they need to start running transportation they currently have more reliably.
On the worst night I've seen, the monorail was down, there were no buses running from MK -> TTC, and just as I boarded the ferry, it went down and we had to exit and wait for the next one. There was literally 0 way to get out of MK for a bit.

The worst morning was similar, with no monorails or buses and only 1 ferry

Even on a decent morning it can take up to 45 minutes to get to MK from the TTC. I count 30 minute trips as especially good mornings, but that involves parking right at 8. Any later than 8:15 and I might be missing welcome show.

And for the evenings, give guests a reason to stay so they aren't all leaving at once. As it is, there are 40 minutes most nights between the end of HEA and park close. Enough time for maybe 1 or 2 rides if you can get out of the hub quickly, and at that point it's almost easier to just leave rather than fighting the flow of traffic.

When they had a night parade, it gave guests a reason to move to different areas of the park. Plus later hours meant more time to visit more attractions. A couple thousand people in the park is a couple thousand people not fighting for transportation.

No need to add more, just redistribute guest flow

 

[jtwibih]

Okay so without filling in the lagoon what would you do? You can only add so many buses at a time. Obviously more monorails isn't going to happen. I have obviously never seen this major problem as I always take resort transportation.

I see the vans as trying to stop people on property from driving to MK because the buses are overloaded. Similar to experiment above, one time my wife and son went back on the bus, me and my other two kids stayed, rode space mountain and then went to the car and we both got back to the room about the same time (+/- 10 min). That was 9 years ago though now. The last time we were there in May, it took 1hr 1/2 to get back to beach through the parking lot. Made me think about taking the bus again.

I would say that the intention of the vans was simply to try and take business from Uber and maybe some of the taxis. I don't think it has anything to do with Disney transportation issues. It's just another revenue stream. Most people will likely use this for resort to resort transfers.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Okay so without filling in the lagoon what would you do? You can only add so many buses at a time. Obviously more monorails isn't going to happen. I have obviously never seen this major problem as I always take resort transportation.

Lots of options for those in the know. Personally we hardly ever go into Mk to watch the show. If we do we realize that it is going to take a long time to clear the crowd so we often sit and watch, or take our time. No need to be in a hurry. Plan ahead. Most of the time though we either make a ressie at Cali or Narcoossee's or we have drinks at Trader Sams and watch from afar. We also have parked at Disney Springs (We like to end our nights over there) and take a small boat to a hotel (Wilderness Lodge usually) and then bus to DS. One night in a TPV is costly, but is probably the best way to see the show.

Actually, where I live, on the fourth of July (the only day firework shows happen) you can be in a 2 hour traffic jam in the middle of a corn field.

We drive to WDW quite often and none of the traffic on property comes close to that stupid area that is Atlanta Georgia! Their civic planners need to visit Indianapolis! But, we plan for that too. Either cruise through there at 11 in the morning or 9 at night.

Gondola's to the TTC anyone?

 

[rteetz]

I would say that the intention of the vans was simply to try and take business from Uber and maybe some of the taxis. I don't think it has anything to do with Disney transportation issues. It's just another revenue stream. Most people will likely use this for resort to resort transfers.

I don't think the vans are supposed to help with these issues either but I am interested to see what could be done to change some of these problems.

 

[wareagle57]

News

Cosmic Ray's starts mobile ordering today


18jul2017-cosmic-rays-starlight-cafe-joins-mobile-order-today.htm

Now if only they could only add a mobile seat finder. That is always one of the most stressful things to me. The lines and waits are never that bad. It's walking around an extremely crowded restaurant with a tray full of food, and drink cups that slide as if friction doesn't exist while praying you find a spot without someone bumping into you.

 

[eXo]

You provide pick-up lanes near the park gates that Uber, Lyft, or any other ride share service can access. That way people don't have to walk to the contemporary for the same thing.

You add an extra Ferry dock and run two more ferry's at night.

You add hot air balloons, blimps, 2 person bikes, and all other kinds of Suessian travel.

You run another monorail so as soon as one leaves, the next is waiting to load up.

You find ways to break up the mass exodus by giving people things to do on Main Street other than just shop. Get characters out there, get performers out there, do something to give at least a portion of the people walking out of the gate a reason to watch something for a bit rather than joining the crush of people out front.

I'm sure there are lots of other ideas too, but it shouldn't be up to some guy on disboards to solve a problem that people deal with every single day the park closes. To act like there is no solution what-so-ever is just silly. There are always solutions. It's that attitude that led to 15 years of crap-all getting done around the parks. The whole notion of status quo is good enough.

 

[a4matte]

You provide pick-up lanes near the park gates that Uber, Lyft, or any other ride share service can access. That way people don't have to walk to the contemporary for the same thing.

You add an extra Ferry dock and run two more ferry's at night.

You add hot air balloons, blimps, 2 person bikes, and all other kinds of Suessian travel.

You run another monorail so as soon as one leaves, the next is waiting to load up.

You find ways to break up the mass exodus by giving people things to do on Main Street other than just shop. Get characters out there, get performers out there, do something to give at least a portion of the people walking out of the gate a reason to watch something for a bit rather than joining the crush of people out front.

I'm sure there are lots of other ideas too, but it shouldn't be up to some guy on disboards to solve a problem that people deal with every single day the park closes. To act like there is no solution what-so-ever is just silly. There are always solutions. It's that attitude that led to 15 years of crap-all getting done around the parks. The whole notion of status quo is good enough.

What??
No trebuchet to just launch you across the lagoon?!

(and with the crowds NOTHING is as bad as trying to make your way to the bathroom after needing to pee the entire time through the fireworks, especially since you know once you get a spot and it's ~30 minutes til you can't leave your party and make it back to them)

 

[eXo]

What??
No trebuchet to just launch you across the lagoon?!

(and with the crowds NOTHING is as bad as trying to make your way to the bathroom after needing to pee the entire time through the fireworks, especially since you know once you get a spot and it's ~30 minutes til you can't leave your party and make it back to them)

Hey, why not! Go after the Universal market and get a thrill ride in there while solving your crowd problems!

 

[rteetz]

You provide pick-up lanes near the park gates that Uber, Lyft, or any other ride share service can access. That way people don't have to walk to the contemporary for the same thing.

You add an extra Ferry dock and run two more ferry's at night.

You add hot air balloons, blimps, 2 person bikes, and all other kinds of Suessian travel.

You run another monorail so as soon as one leaves, the next is waiting to load up.

You find ways to break up the mass exodus by giving people things to do on Main Street other than just shop. Get characters out there, get performers out there, do something to give at least a portion of the people walking out of the gate a reason to watch something for a bit rather than joining the crush of people out front.

I'm sure there are lots of other ideas too, but it shouldn't be up to some guy on disboards to solve a problem that people deal with every single day the park closes. To act like there is no solution what-so-ever is just silly. There are always solutions. It's that attitude that led to 15 years of crap-all getting done around the parks. The whole notion of status quo is good enough.

1. That won't happen now with Minnie Vans.

2. They just built an extra Ferry dock a couple years ago. I don't know if there is space for another.

3. Monorails are automated now not sure they can do that nor would they probably want to for safety reasons.

Like I said I always take resort transportation but I feel it should be kind of expected that there is going to be major crowds leaving after the fireworks. When a monorail or ferry is down that obviously is making the situation worse but I think having Disney offer three modes of transportation most time is reasonable.

 

[rteetz]

News

Jingle Bell Jingle BAM will be back this holiday season!

 

[Fantasia79]

News

Jingle Bell Jingle BAM will be back this holiday season!

Dates?

 

[rteetz]

Dates?

Just says select nights in November and December

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/holiday-room/

 

[splash327]

I would say that the intention of the vans was simply to try and take business from Uber and maybe some of the taxis. I don't think it has anything to do with Disney transportation issues. It's just another revenue stream. Most people will likely use this for resort to resort transfers.

Good point

 

[tarak]

I am always amazed to see the crush of people that head for the exit right after fireworks/closing. We like to make sure we have a drink and a snack and a spot to relax for 30 minutes to an hour before we head to the ferry boat to get to the TTC and walk to the truck. We avoid at least some of the madness and get to enjoy more MK after dark time with each other. It's always worth it as far as we are concerned.

I grew up going to Disneyland and my friends and I always waited to leave. When our kids were really little, we left before the fireworks even started. Now that they're older, we take our time leaving the parks. No one likes being stuck in a crowd, especially in August.

 

[splash327]

1. That won't happen now with Minnie Vans.

2. They just built an extra Ferry dock a couple years ago. I don't know if there is space for another.

3. Monorails are automated now not sure they can do that nor would they probably want to for safety reasons.

Like I said I always take resort transportation but I feel it should be kind of expected that there is going to be major crowds leaving after the fireworks. When a monorail or ferry is down that obviously is making the situation worse but I think having Disney offer three modes of transportation most time is reasonable.

They actually do number 3. I've watched the fireworks and the crowds leaving afterwards from the train station. Usually there is a monorail loading, one at TC and one just outside the contemporary waiting to come in to load.

 

[Roxyfire]

Like I said I always take resort transportation but I feel it should be kind of expected that there is going to be major crowds leaving after the fireworks. When a monorail or ferry is down that obviously is making the situation worse but I think having Disney offer three modes of transportation most time is reasonable.

I'm not entirely sure what people expect. Haven't they been to a MLB game? A concert? A festival? All of these things are very similar. When the event is over, people are all leaving at once. They're all going to their cars, public transport, hotels down the street. I waited for 45 minutes after a concert at United Center just so I could get out of the parking lot. We used to set up a meeting spot at old Busch Stadium in case we got separated leaving after a game. There's very little disney can do to help the crush of humanity get where they're wanting to go all at once. I feel like if you're gonna wait somewhere, wait where you're comfortable. So, if you're comfortable waiting in line, seeing the next bus/monorail/ferry coming up then do that. If you're comfortable sitting on a bench sipping your drink, do that. But realize there's very little that can be done when thousands of people are going in the same direction.

 

[jknezek]

I don't think the vans are supposed to help with these issues either but I am interested to see what could be done to change some of these problems.

What, the peak traffic problem? There is a simple solution. Build more capacity. But you have to build it in multiple places. There has to be more capacity to get guests out of MK at peak times, but then there also has to be more capacity at the destination, which means more parking trams and more roads. Whether or not that makes sense would require a lot more study. But if it was easy to get to the TTC and easy to get from there to your offsite lodging, would more people stay offsite? If so, would spending more money to make it easier for people to spend less money at WDW be a good choice?

I do think they need more capacity at the end of the night, but I think there is a limit. If you could transport everyone at MK going to the TTC all at once, what would happen? They would sit in their cars anyway because you can't leave the TTC. So Disney spaces them out, mostly not by choice, by limiting the capacity to the TTC. The smart people don't go running for their cars after the fireworks, they stand and spend money or enjoy an extra ride or two. They aren't going anywhere anyway.

Now is there an issue with the transportation options? Sadly yes. The monorail is... unpredictable. The ferries are generally pretty good, but god awful slow, and the buses are as good as they are going to get at that time. You can't fit any more in the bus stops. But again, when all three are running, you get jammed up leaving the TTC anyway.

People need to realize we don't build for max capacity. It's too expensive. It's always going to be slow to leave at peak time, so have a strategy that doesn't involve leaving with everyone else. And if you have to leave with everyone else, just be patient. There isn't a way around it. Not at Disney, not at a football game, not at school pick up and drop off. This is part of life at peak traffic times everywhere. It has very little to do with Disney.

I will say by making HEA more of a projection show I think they are making the problem worse. You are drawing more people to the Main Street area, making it more logical for them to leave right after. Making the crush worse. They need to find a way to disburse the late night crowd, not concentrate it.