"Official" 2015 MNSSHP thread

[bc7ate9]

Did anyon


I was one of the childless adults getting candy, I did not wait in long lines though - hence the reason I came out with a small amount at the end of the night.

What surprised me was the adults carrying 2-4 bags and getting them filled for themselves.

I don't know why anybody - adult or child - NEEDS that much candy!!!

 

[smitch425]

Let me preface this comment by stating that I am not trying to single anyone out. This is useful information for everyone. When sending an email to Disney, try to be as specific as possible, and try not to exaggerate. Stating several hundred people were there without wristbands for both parades and fireworks and stage shows just sounds impossible for one person to actually witness. It would also be beneficial to be accurate in describing specific events by name. The Villains Soirée was a dessert party that happened last year. If I was a cast member reading these types of statements, I would think it was an exaggeration. They should respond to any email sent, so I definitely encourage anyone who was there to chime in with their first hand experience, not just hearsay. Hopefully tomorrow's party goes much smoother.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

I want them to clear the non-paying guests as well as possible. But if the option is some (or many, depending on your opinion) non-paying guests at locations that can't be enforced through checking at lines VS. clearing out the park (what time?) and not allowing party guests to get in until 7:00, I would rather be able to get in the park at 4:00. That may not be Disney's answer, but it could be a way to "satisfy" those complaining about unpaid guests not leaving the park.

 

[mandy200587]

I'll try and report in tomorrow from the party and if there are any differences.

 

[shameless3]

Let me preface this comment by stating that I am not trying to single anyone out. This is useful information for everyone. When sending an email to Disney, try to be as specific as possible, and try not to exaggerate. Stating several hundred people were there without wristbands for both parades and fireworks and stage shows just sounds impossible for one person to actually witness. It would also be beneficial to be accurate in describing specific events by name. The Villains Soirée was a dessert party that happened last year. If I was a cast member reading these types of statements, I would think it was an exaggeration. They should respond to any email sent, so I definitely encourage anyone who was there to chime in with their first hand experience, not just hearsay. Hopefully tomorrow's party goes much smoother.

When most of the people in front of you for the parade is not wearing a band (2-3 lines deep), I think I can extrapolate that there were several hundred non-paying guests at the park.

I will edit my post though so people won't think I am "exaggerating " the issue. Most paying guests that were at the party experienced it first hand so i wouldn't assume that to be the case. I will have to amend my email as well, I was wrongly referenced the dessert show and not the stage show - thank you for noticing that.

I do have to stress that I did enjoy myself, I think I was just so disappointed with the crowds and lack of ticket enforcement it ended up casting a shadow over the night as you could not move freely within the majority of the park.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I want them to clear the non-paying guests as well as possible. But if the option is some (or many, depending on your opinion) non-paying guests at locations that can't be enforced through checking at lines VS. clearing out the park (what time?) and not allowing party guests to get in until 7:00, I would rather be able to get in the park at 4:00. That may not be Disney's answer, but it could be a way to "satisfy" those complaining about unpaid guests not leaving the park.

It's my understanding that Disney tried clearing the park years ago and decided it didn't work well. Enforcing via wristband works well, when that enforcement is implemented. It sounds like last night enforcement was lax, which was not the case in past years, based on my personal experience. I think that people who were actually there sending emails is great because then the park operations can be made aware of the issue and hopefully make sure more CMs know that they need to be checking more diligently. I also think that the first few parties always tend to be more chaotic in general, and the wristband enforcement issue may just be one of those "working the kinks out" issues.

That being said, if I were a paying guest that was surrounded by non-paying participants, I would definitely be irked and would let Disney know so they can hopefully fix the issue going forward.

 

[smitch425]

When almost every person in front of you (2-3



When most of the people in front of you for the parade is not wearing a band (2-3 lines deep), I think I can extrapolate that there were several hundred non-paying guests at the park.

I will edit my post though so people won't think I am "exaggerating " the issue. Unless you were there and experienced it first hand, I wouldn't assume that to be the case. I will have to amend my email as well, I was wrongly referenced the dessert show and not the stage show - thank you for noticing that.

I hope you didn't take any offense to my comments. Truly, I'm just trying to help. While I was not at the party, I have attended several in the past, and CMs were very diligent about checking bands. I have no doubt that you and others saw people without wristbands, however, unless you were present for both parades and all 4 stage shows, I find that the email would be taken more seriously if you used actual first hand experience versus what you assume happened.

Does anyone recall seeing those with the media lanyards wearing a wristband? If they were only issued lanyards, that may be part of what was witnessed. When sitting behind someone, it would be easy to notice the lack of a band, but a lanyard would be difficult to see from behind. Just a thought.

 

[godders]

Thinking about it now, I don't remember hearing them announce the park was closing for a special event at all unlike last year. I headed over the bridge towards Liberty Square at 7.30 and they had roped off the bridge for those without bands so everyone without them was pushed towards the exit. Then by Diamond Horseshoe they had 2 or 3 rows of CMs checking for wristbands and sending people back towards the hub. Alot of people were ignoring them though, especially when there was just one poor girl trying to stop people from going further into Frontierland before the Headless Horseman. She had to rope in a CM with a cart to help block the way

 

[shameless3]

I hope you didn't take any offense to my comments. Truly, I'm just trying to help. While I was not at the party, I have attended several in the past, and CMs were very diligent about checking bands. I have no doubt that you and others saw people without wristbands, however, unless you were present for both parades and all 4 stage shows, I find that the email would be taken more seriously if you used actual first hand experience versus what you assume happened.

Does anyone recall seeing those with the media lanyards wearing a wristband? If they were only issued lanyards, that may be part of what was witnessed. When sitting behind someone, it would be easy to notice the lack of a band, but a lanyard would be difficult to see from behind. Just a thought.

No offense taken

As noted above, I did see numerous people around me without wristbands or lanyards. There was a group of 20 people in matching t shirts surrounding me at the parade that had none and when I wouldn't move (even further back) for them to see I received a lot of glares. That was one group among the many without bands. After that first parade I sat in the hub waiting for celebrate the magic and watched groups go by me to the castle forecourt, again with no wristbands.

I gave up trying to see the stage show after the fireworks and moved to frontier land for the second parade. Frontierland was checking quite guests often, I think the hub and main street areas were where the issue starts and ends.

I have never written a customer complaint prior to this event and hope that disney uses the information from guests after the first party to improve removing non-paying guests.

Eta. I hate typing on a tablet....so many typing errors.

 

[chupacabra]

WoW it sounds like Disney needs to invest some money into training and have extra staff on hand at the very least to make sure everyone at the party has bought a ticket. I wonder how many people come back with the same wristband after paying for the first party if security is this lax? Are the wristbands different depending on the party night? I will be at the party on the 4th and hopefully they will have this under control by then if it is indeed a real problem.

 

[smitch425]

WoW it sounds like Disney needs to invest some money into training and have extra staff on hand at the very least to make sure everyone at the party has bought a ticket. I wonder how many people come back with the same wristband after paying for the first party if security is this lax? Are the wristbands different depending on the party night? I will be at the party on the 4th and hopefully they will have this under control by then if it is indeed a real problem.

Each night has a different color band, so no worries with that, at least. Lol

 

[mandy200587]

They didn't run the announcement like normal on Tuesday at all.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

It would be great if people complained to Disney about the non paying party people. That is just wrong!

 

[thedjwaver]

First off if I saw people in front of me at the Boo to you parade not wearing a wristband then I will cut through and stand right in front of them. If they are upset about it, they are more than welcome to get a CM to ask me to move.....Unless they were afraid to be escorted out for stealing. Attending a party without a paid admission is stealing regardless if it was enforced. I will enjoy my party time and not let non paying guest ruin my experience.

 

[mandy200587]

I think there were several combination of things that caused the domino effect. They didn't expect a sell out along with it being first night. Section closed off for media that effected the hub area. People not being asked to leave. The people in the street for the first show then having to move/push for the parade. It was little things that caused a domino effect to result in the issues.

 

[wheatly]

I just read a post on the Disney Parks Blog that said they had 300 blog readers there from that alone. Perhaps that (and the press) contributed to such crowds at the first party.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-at-the-disney-parks-blog-not-so-scary-party/

If I had seen people without bands or lanyards, I would've been one of those "mean" people and gone up to a CM to tell them about it, and make those people leave.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

Somewhat off topic, how to you even get picked to attend a Disney Parks Blog Event?

 

[Aurora0427]

It's my understanding that Disney tried clearing the park years ago and decided it didn't work well. Enforcing via wristband works well, when that enforcement is implemented. It sounds like last night enforcement was lax, which was not the case in past years, based on my personal experience. I think that people who were actually there sending emails is great because then the park operations can be made aware of the issue and hopefully make sure more CMs know that they need to be checking more diligently. I also think that the first few parties always tend to be more chaotic in general, and the wristband enforcement issue may just be one of those "working the kinks out" issues.

That being said, if I were a paying guest that was surrounded by non-paying participants, I would definitely be irked and would let Disney know so they can hopefully fix the issue going forward.

I've wondered as well why they don't close the park at, say, 4pm, and then start letting party guests in a 5. Just throwing out times. Why did that not work before? Anyone know?

They did go up and down Main street during MVMCP checking wrist bands, but I'd think it would be easy for people to hide, especially given the crowds described. I saw pictures of the Hocus Pocus show, and I don't think CM's could have walked through that crowd to check bands. But easy to check bands at meet and greets and rides.

 

[smitch425]

Somewhat off topic, how to you even get picked to attend a Disney Parks Blog Event?

It was a costume contest. If I were a local I would have entered.

ETA: No it wasn't. No A/C makes me loopy. Lol

 

[Kelly014]

If you need a laugh

http://www.kennythepirate.com/2015/09/17/hocus-pocus-villain-spelltacular-review/