**Official Frozen Sing-Along, Oaken's, Holiday Premium Package Tips, updated 1/5/15

[syrscuba]

That makes sense. Do you (or anyone else) know how early premium were being checked in? I know that there are reports of getting in line for the check in at 9:45am but is that when they started checking in? Or was that not until closer to 10? Trying to figure out if DD3 can go to the Disney Jr. Live on Stage at 9:40am that day and then head over to check in - or should DH wait in the check-in line without us if they don't really start checking people in until 10? or should we just scrap that show?

Has there been clarification on the start of the check-in time?

 

[BudgieMama]

I'm so excited to see photos of the food and drinks for the dessert party... I keep checking for reviews on the blogs... what a pain being 5 hours ahead of Florida!

 

[lovethattink]

Check in for packages began promptly at 10. It took about 2 to 5 minutes per group. There were only 2 people handling check in.

QVCshopper, be sure to address your situation with guest services. I think things changed eventually because I had read elsewhere there was only 1 entry line the rest of the day. The heat was very brutal and it's going to be the same today. My son over heated and we spent time in first aid with ice all over him. He can't control his body temp.

we are going back today for the parade, if wet make it. Both dh and ds are still sleeping.

 

[hopemax]

I also think the merchandise was not done well, they need to make it more available in different locations. I was in your line for a bit, too, but I've been to Disney way too much and know who to talk to and how to get around quickly. I didn't mean to infuriate you, I was just going through the day.

Just to clarify, it's not you that caused the infuriation. You were simply doing what you were instructed and permitted to do. If given the opportunity, we would have done the same. The infuriation is from Disney's handling of the situation.

If when we had arrived at the queue, we would have been told that merchandise was available via both lines, we would have gone through the other door. But there was a whole chain of CMs very insistent that merchandise must go through this line, skating the other line. So we followed the instructions we were given. And then things fell completely apart.

We know from attraction lines, that someone is verifying that the lines move. They hand out those red cards, and the system would let them know if there was a failure. There was no system of any kind here. All it would have taken was a manager tasked with making sure the merchandise line flowed, even if it was little more than a trickle. It could have been a simple eye check. Pick out the teen dressed as Elsa, the couple wearing Anna and Elsa ears, and a couple other people. If you came back 15 min later and those people were in the exact same spot. Investigate.

I think the regular CM at the front tasked with counting and letting a group through, when he was given a signal knew, but he had absolutely no authority, and apparently not even the situational awareness that in this situation he needed to tell someone. From what I know about Disney, I bet if he would have spoken up, he would have gotten in trouble because it was not his responsibility.

People can't solve problems that they don't know exist, but when there is no procedure for even identifying problems that's a failure. And it's not like they don't deal with this on a daily basis. Attractions was apparently in control of that outside line, and they had no one tasked with keeping it moving, or identifying when and why it was not moving.

And then like I said, we were probably a group of 200 or so. In a park of 20,000, a blip on the radar, so why would there be any impetus to improve the process for future situations.

 

[Disfan1968]

When Crispy Creme opened here in Buffalo a few years ago there were cars lined up out onto one of the major area roads causing a terrible traffic snarl for miles. It was just plain weird. There were donuts, right? People were lined up in all that for donuts.

Thank goodness the merchandise end of things is our last priority for our trip down. That being said, it sounds like Disney did not adjust well to the situation as it developed. It's a quandary in my mind... when demand is intense enough, there is only so much you can do. But, I like the suggestion of having other point of sale locations. That seems to be the single best adjustment they could make going forward.

 

[shoppie]

When Crispy Creme opened here in Buffalo a few years ago there were cars lined up out onto one of the major area roads causing a terrible traffic snarl for miles. It was just plain weird. There were donuts, right? People were lined up in all that for donuts.

Thank goodness the merchandise end of things is our last priority for our trip down. That being said, it sounds like Disney did not adjust well to the situation as it developed. It's a quandary in my mind... when demand is intense enough, there is only so much you can do. But, I like the suggestion of having other point of sale locations. That seems to be the single best adjustment they could make going forward.

OMG! I remember that! It have the Boulevard closed forever!

 

[Ferrentinos]

Check in for packages began promptly at 10. It took about 2 to 5 minutes per group. There were only 2 people handling check in.

QVCshopper, be sure to address your situation with guest services. I think things changed eventually because I had read elsewhere there was only 1 entry line the rest of the day. The heat was very brutal and it's going to be the same today. My son over heated and we spent time in first aid with ice all over him. He can't control his body temp.

we are going back today for the parade, if wet make it. Both dh and ds are still sleeping.

I'm sorry to hear that your son was struggling with the heat. I hope that he is feeling better today.

Thanks for the clarification about checking in for the premium package. Were you permitted in the ropes at 10am - did you just hang out there for the hour until the parade started? TIA!

 

[Disfan1968]

OMG! I remember that! It have the Boulevard closed forever!

Good times!

 

[Itinkso]

Reading this makes me angry, so angry that it has probably done more to affect my future relationship with WDW. We were in the other line. We entered the queue at 9:02. For the first 15 min, the line moved reasonably well. The next 15 min, the line moved about a third as fast as it had been moving, and shortly after that, the line stopped moving altogether. What followed was an approximately 30-40 minute period, the merchandise line allowed one group of 4 to enter Oaken's. Streams of managers were continually exiting the building, at this point, we were in the final straight in front of the store. I should have counted how many exited. None were concerned with monitoring how long it had been that our line was not moving, therefore no steps were being taken to improve our situation. Eventually, the crowd put two and two together and realized that we weren't allowed to enter because the area was being filled by people entering through the Funland area. So then they started trying to get someone's attention. The first person I talked to, gave the "this is an attractions issue, I'm merchandise." And then "We're doing the best we can." This was infuriating for 2 reasons. 1. One of the lessons Disney teaches to other businesses paying big bucks for their seminars is: "It's not my fault, but it's my problem to solve." No, you may not be responsible for the situation unfolding, but you have dozens of distressed guests FIND someone who can help, and verify that people are getting help. And the 2nd, if this truly was the BEST Disney can do, they have massive, operational issues. The type that lands smaller businesses on tv shows like Kitchen Nighmares, Restaurant Impossible and the like. If it was the BEST, the implication is there isn't room for improvement. Is that really the message you want to send to your guests? It wasn't the best, there were multiple failures all the people in line knew it, so don't claim this is the best. And these coming on the heels of Star Wars weekends and the 25th anniversary event where they would have recently had experience managing a merchandise line. And not that long after last year's Villans event. If there was any place that should have had the experience to handle that type of line, and resolve issues on the fly it should have been the Studios management group. A few minutes pass, and the next group of people that get waved down by the crowd, seem to have recognized that something needs to be done about the line. So they happily announce they are working to shut down the other line, and all we have to do is wait for them to merge that line IN FRONT of us. Yes, we've been waiting since 9:02 and now we have to wait for later arriving guests that have been prioritized to enter before us. You can imagine how this went over with the crowd. So during all of this, my Mother started feeling really poorly. She's in the middle of some major health issues, but she has been doing really well, and this was very important to her. But because of her issues, her situation can change more rapidly than if she was completely healthy. We started trying to flag someone down so we could get a wheelchair for her. First manager, "you have to go to the front of the park." 2nd manager, "well, there are lots of people suffering here." It took the 3rd manager who immediately recognized the medical distress my Mom was in and went after a chair. About 30 seconds after she left us, the logjam finally broke and we were allowed to enter the building. Just being in the AC, greatly helped my Mom, and the manager quickly appeared with the wheelchair. Once inside, we were able to fairly quickly make our purchases and exit. At that point, we just wanted to leave the park, but it was 10 min before the start of the parade, so there was no way to get to the exit from the side we were on. We went to Sunset Blvd to get some fluids and some food, and then when we figured it was clear on Hollywood, we left. The worst part about the medical situation, was the day before I had read about a medical in Diagon Alley. The person was praising the Universal TM's because in the 45 second or so, between when his party member said they were going to the bathroom but then had to abrubtly sit down, a TM had identified she was in distress, reached her and called for medical responders, and about 2 minutes after that, the responders had reached them, and began escorting them out of the area. And it took the 3rd manager to properly assess OUR situation. And to come home, and read that managers were intentionally telling people to effectively "cut" in line ahead of us instead of taking steps that would have improved our line situation. It's heartbreaking, because we've devoted a big portion of our hobby / vacation time and budget to Disney. And to see how Disney reacted in the middle of a deteriorating situation, surrounded by multiple layers of management was appalling. If the crowd had not become increasingly agitated, everyone was apparently happy with the situation of one line not moving for 30+ minutes, because the dollars were still flowing inside, albeit from a different group of guests. The biggest failure was identifying that there was a crowd flow issue in the first place. And once the proper people were clued in, other guests were still prioritized to have access before the people that had been waiting significantly longer. Disney failed at recognizing a medical situation. I had planned on going back for the Fireworks and other entertainment, but right now, I don't feel like ever stepping back into a Disney theme park. Because I know that nothing will change. This unfolded in about 90 minutes, in a park's 12 hour day, and the dollars never stopped flowing. For the park, it was a blink of an eye, and in the middle of it, very few people were motivated enough to identify and solve the situation. Once it ended, it's out of site, out of mind. And I'm sure that in some corners, CMs were discussing how "unreasonable" we all were.

Hope, please send your two posts to: wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com.

They need to know how bad the line situation was due to their lack of preparation in having the venue utilize two lines without monitoring by Management. Once they decided on an ice rink, merchandise should have been relocated to an area with only one entrance door and where guests could wait in a shaded queue.

 

[LindaOwl1]

Check in for packages began promptly at 10. It took about 2 to 5 minutes per group. There were only 2 people handling check in.

And was there a huge line by 10? Wondering if anyone checked in after 10 & still had time to get to the reserved welcome spot? Do you think we need to get in line at rope drop for 10?

 

[daisy87]

Hey I just watched the video of the fireworks show,love the idea of it but does anyone know if the massive amounts of smoke above the hat were from the fireworks themselves or was it just really cloudy last night? Struggled to see some of the fireworks and I'm just hoping it was weather related and won't permanently be like that.

We go in August and I can't wait for all this frozen stuff,can't believe all this extra stuff has been put on for free,looks like lots of fun

 

[xApril]

They had tons of umbrellas for the Frozen show queue, why couldn't Wandering Oakens have some umbrellas as well? We were fortunate that when we waited, it was right before the rain started so it was overcast and very windy.

IMO, while the event was 'cute', I wouldn't make a special trip again unless friends wanted to go. It was like SWW but with Frozen slapped on and with what seemed like much less planning.

Hey I just watched the video of the fireworks show,love the idea of it but does anyone know if the massive amounts of smoke above the hat were from the fireworks themselves or was it just really cloudy last night? Struggled to see some of the fireworks and I'm just hoping it was weather related and won't permanently be like that.

We go in August and I can't wait for all this frozen stuff,can't believe all this extra stuff has been put on for free,looks like lots of fun

It rained a bit yesterday, so it was overcast clouds and then just foggy. Terrible weather for viewing fireworks, lol. What I could see looked cool but yeah, definitely would have to see them again.

 

[ktgg828]

Does anyone have pics of the dessert party for package purchasers? I'm dying to see it!!

 

[DisMom829]

I can't believe I'm even contemplating this but, we live 12 hrs away in Tx. I'm seriously thinking of booking a one day trip to WDW for my DD to see the Frozen Package. It would be a 12 hr drive on Friday, do HS & the Premium Pkg on Saturday & drive home Sunday. DH just looked at me and said whatever dear, but I'm not going. DH & I have an adults trip planned late Aug. DD would be so excited, she's squealed with excitement watching everything on the blogs this morning. Decisions, decisions.....

 

[Venaros]

Any word on the package's fireworks viewing area? I'd like to do the desert party, but I don't think I would if it means bad fireworks viewing. And I think that's the biggest draw of the package for me. If the fireworks aren't worth it, I may just skip the package.

 

[LoveMy3DisneyKids]

Any word on the package's fireworks viewing area? I'd like to do the desert party, but I don't think I would if it means bad fireworks viewing. And I think that's the biggest draw of the package for me. If the fireworks aren't worth it, I may just skip the package.

I'm also curious about this. I bought the package and hoping it's worth it. I'm not going till the end of August. So I have time to cancel it if I need to.

 

[AWHOFAN]

Frozen show at Premiere Theater are there any Fast Pass + or only standby line. Does it fill up so fast that you have to wait for the next show.

 

[Itinkso]

Frozen show at Premiere Theater are there any Fast Pass + or only standby line. Does it fill up so fast that you have to wait for the next show.

Beginning at rope drop, you can pick up a Ticket at Premier Theater for the first show. They then begin giving out tickets for the following show etc. once the first show's ticket allotment is gone. You cannot select specific shows.

 

[Missyrose]

Any word on the package's fireworks viewing area? I'd like to do the desert party, but I don't think I would if it means bad fireworks viewing. And I think that's the biggest draw of the package for me. If the fireworks aren't worth it, I may just skip the package.

The fireworks viewing area is a little too close for optimal viewing since the hat will block some of the bursts. But the Frozen fireworks integrate the stage show with the fireworks a great deal, so being a bit closer is good in that respect.

 

[hsmamainva]

Beginning at rope drop, you can pick up a Ticket at Premier Theater for the first show. They then begin giving out tickets for the following show etc. once the first show's ticket allotment is gone. You cannot select specific shows.

Is that the case if you have the package?

I thought the package holders were in the first four rows at the sing-a-longs and were offered their show time when they checked in at Min's at 10am?