Our un-magical Day

[LilyWDW]

No, Disney should've put Norway at the entrance. I've been saying that for years.

But then the OP would complain about how BUSY the entrance to Epcot was because of the huge line to see Anna and Elsa. Plus, her princess really wanted to meet them but they are being made to wait!

 

[Pooh2]

Oh, my!! Thought sure this was a troll! But the detective work shows a unpleasant, self-entitled lady!

The claim to be a travel agent seems to be far fetched.

We had not been to Disney for nearly 5 years and my husband booked a last minute trip the week before Thanksgiving. With about a week notice before departure, we managed to get an ADR for each day of this very busy week (being flexible with our choices). When we arrived on site, we booked a few fast passes with the help of CMs to get us up to speed. We found CMs to be pleasant and had a most magical trip!

And no, I am not a travel agent!

 

[dvczerfs]

I actually had someone at Universal complain that it was raining so some rides were closed, and haughtily informed me that "it *NEVER* rains at Disney!!" before dragging their kids off to go complain to guest services. One of the few times in my life I was absolutely speechless, in both my external voice and my internal commentary.

my dd has had a few roles. she was a character attendant for a few days. stroller detail!!! she also did crowd control for a Halloween parade, one night was enough for her.

 

[SEA333]

Don't have time to to read through 10+ pages of responses for a post that was JUST written YESTERDAY!!! (WOW, LOL), but here is my 2 cents:

Entitiled much??!! Isn't "Julie" your 12 or 14 year old? You are seriously crabbing over her not being able to find a nugget instead of a burger? Grow up! (and your DD should, too!)

2 year olds do NOT know who the heck anyone is if their parents and siblings do not put it into their heads. I'm sorry, but YOU set the expectation to your 2 year old that she would have this crazy personal Cinderella adventure - had you not thrown the fit you describe about it all, I'm pretty darn sure your 2 year old would have been a lot happier! Good grief.

As for the rest, I've only been to MK twice - the first time, I knew more about it than the average 1st timer because I RESEARCHED it beforehand. The 2nd time, I did even MORE research and at no time did I expect more than lines, expensive food, and crowded parades/fireworks. You know what I got? A wonderful, fabulous time that I spent with my family because we came into it knowing what to expect and how to behave ourselves in the most magical place on earth.

It sounds like you might need to settle down. Not even CM's in the happiest place on earth are there to cater to your every whim. You are the leader in your family....it sounds like your kids took your lead and acted exactly like you, which doesn't seem to bother you since you blamed everyone else for their bad behavior (which ironically mirrored yours!) and apparently think that it's OK to act like that to the poor CM's that didn't give into your unrealistic expectations. You are sending these kids out in the world in a few short years - please rethink your own behavior and guide them in the right direction.

 

[JillyBean1899]

my dd has had a few roles. she was a character attendant for a few days. stroller detail!!! she also did crowd control for a Halloween parade, one night was enough for her.

I loved the Mardi Gras and HHN parade set up/tear down detail (well, when I wasn't actually *IN* the parade ... that was my favorite). I got to sling around barricades, go hide during the parade itself, then head back out into the park and tear down/hide all the barricades again. I got paid *AND* got a workout. By the end of MG every year I was carrying 2 of the 8 foot barricades at a time ... those things are 45 lbs each and I only weighed about 115.

Plus I got paid to watch the concerts.

 

[dvczerfs]

I loved the Mardi Gras and HHN parade set up/tear down detail (well, when I wasn't actually *IN* the parade ... that was my favorite). I got to sling around barricades, go hide during the parade itself, then head back out into the park and tear down/hide all the barricades again. I got paid *AND* got a workout. By the end of MG every year I was carrying 2 of the 8 foot barricades at a time ... those things are 45 lbs each and I only weighed about 115.

Plus I got paid to watch the concerts.

does have its perks! she loved training. mk after hours.

she wouldn't trade a second of any of it!!!

sorry!!!! back to our normally scheduled program!

 

[mousehockey37]

I started to give her points for stating her family can't be anywhere on time, then she said her husband was blaming Disney for putting the meal so far from the front gate. He was so mad he had to go calm down. Wow. How is 40 minutes late Disney's fault?

Methinks someone needs to start getting ready sooner and not blame family size or a theme park....

I think it's just ludicrous that she was complaining that the monorails were down, then the boat was slow...

Overall, she was very lucky with the trip back then that they were able to even be let into the meals as late as they were.

For her current trip, she just needs a wakeup call. The world doesn't revolve around her and it's not about to start either. The fact that she had no clue things changed since her last visit? I'd expect that from a newbie, but even then you get stuff about the MM+ so yeah, she's just delusional.

 

[MET270]

I can't believe that some of you are defending some of the stupid "new" rules that Disney has implemented and just accept them. I have not been to the Magic Kingdom in at least five years because I recently had two babies so yes I was unaware of the changes. Perhaps if you had been to Disney ten years ago before the economy crashed and they let go of all their good cast members you would realize how much it sucks now. You never had to wait in line for an hour to see a princess. They were strolling in the park. They were not locked up in the "Princess Fairytale Hall". I was at the park for twelve hours and it was my 40th birthday and NO cast members even said happy birthday! Three! I've gone on my birthday or kids birthdays before and we got fastpasses for the day, free dessert at the restaurants, a happy birthday autograph picture from Mickey. Um, do you guys not remember this stuff. It's wrong that nobody is complaining especially when Disney set such a high standard of customer service. Are you all in La La Land? "It's okay. Disney can do no wrong even if they are making me wait in line and pay up the a** for everything!" And don't tell me I'm a bad mother for "not doing a little planning". This was an improptu trip. Hubby said, "Hey it's your birthday. Surprise we're going to Disney!" So I had no time to plan "180 days" in advance. Now you have to prompt the cast members to be nice to you? The CM's are very good now at saying "NO". Seriously! I'm through trying to defend myself. Below is a list of things that suck now. Go ahead and try to come up with more lame excuses about why it's okay. Pleasure Island - Gone - That sucks NO ADVENTURERS CLUB - REALLY, REALLY SUCKS Toon Town and Mickey and Minnie's house - Gone - That sucks Having to wait in line for over an hour to see characters - That sucks The new Fastpass system - only 3 for the whole day - That really sucks Having to give a credit card to make a reservation at a restaurant - sucks Not letting a mother with two small kids sit down at a restaurant while her husband purchases food from the restaurant - sucks No McDonald's french fries - sucks Running out of pineapple Dole Whips - only had orange - that really sucked Both Splash Mountain and Pirates were broken - sucks Nobody to trade pins with - or very few cm's - sucks Cinderella Castle Closed - sucks TERRIBLE customer service - sucks No variety in food (only burgers) - sucks Highest Ticket Prices EVER for a TERRIBLE experience - sucks A 'LOCKED UP' Mickey Mouse (REALLY!?!?) - Totally SUCKS I find it horrible that everyone on this board seems to defend Disney. Responses from people on here who claim that if we cant afford the prices then don't go, it's not whether we are able to afford the prices it's the value and the experience that we are supposed to get from it. Further more Walt Disney created Disney World to give 'EVERYONE' a magical experience not just the super rich. "Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends." -Walt Disney "You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes PEOPLE to make the dream a reality." - Walt Disney "You reach a point where you don't work for money." - Walt Disney "I only hope that we don't loose sight that it all started with a mouse." - Walt Disney "To all that come to this HAPPY place: Welcome; Disneyland is YOUR land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America... with hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world." -Walt Disney "I don't want the public to see the world they live in while they're in the park. I want them to feel they're in another world." -Walt Disney "We believed in our idea... a family park where parents and children could have fun together." - Walt Disney "Disneyland is a work of love. We didn't go into Disneyland just with the idea to make money." - Walt Disney Changes and improvements to the park are fine but making it such a corporate experience rather than a magical guest oriented experience is ridiculous. The prices at every other park in the Orlando area are much less expensive sometimes by half so you can bet that my money will not be going to support a non-existent mouse. You all may be willing to roll over, hand over your cash and say "thank you sir may I have another?" but for me and my family we will not willing to roll over. As a travel agent as well, I will not be recommending any Disney Parks to my clients their time and money are better spent elsewhere. When I took my teenagers ten years ago, it was a much different, better and easier experience. I'm not mad because I didn't get my way. I'm mad because Disney's way of doing things now is sub-standard.

The CM's probably didn't say happy birthday because of the angry scowl you had on your face the entire time you were there. You more than likely frightened them. At least that is what I have gathered from your very descriptive "it's Disney's fault, not mine" post.

 

[scottmel]

Oh wow. I commented on this thread on the first page convinced it was a hoax. Sadly though I think it is for real. Poor kiddos!!!

Off topic but sort of on topic...I will agree with the cleanliness of the parks. Last summer I noticed the restrooms in the countries at epcot and near space mountain were pretty bad. NOTHING like I had ever witnessed in my last 14 annual trips. Wonder if it was cost cutting or just a bad week there? Hope it is improved this year...it was very late in the evening and pretty bad. Other than that, I honestly saw no difference in the CMs or anything else really. Hope it holds true this June!

 

[mousehockey37]

Oh wow. I commented on this thread on the first page convinced it was a hoax. Sadly though I think it is for real. Poor kiddos!!!

Off topic but sort of on topic...I will agree with the cleanliness of the parks. Last summer I noticed the restrooms in the countries at epcot and near space mountain were pretty bad. NOTHING like I had ever witnessed in my last 14 annual trips. Wonder if it was cost cutting or just a bad week there? Hope it is improved this year...it was very late in the evening and pretty bad. Other than that, I honestly saw no difference in the CMs or anything else really. Hope it holds true this June!

It's too detailed to be a hoax. Not to mention everything else that was found from this poster in prior years... Not much has changed.

 

[Victoria3]

I never ever thought I would ever write a complaint letter to the "happiest place on earth".

Why would you write a letter about Disneyland when you went to Walt Disney World?

The official tagline for Disneyland is "The Happiest Place On Earth", while the tagline for Magic Kingdom is "The Most Magical Place On Earth".

 

[brandigregory]

Everyone posting on here sounds as though they are the entitled ones not the OP. Look if a family goes to a place specifically billed as "The Happiest Place On Earth" why should she not totally expect that kind of experience for her and her family. Yes the food is very sub-par, the customer service is quite lacking from what it was in the past, the entire experience has become very corporate and financially motivated. Then the response that that I read that claimed "hunting down the characters" is part of the magic. Really?!?! When children invest so much into their favorite characters why should they be expected to do the work to find them. I agree with the OP, 10 years ago you could walk into any restaurant without having to make reservations with the exception of the character meals and the characters were walking all over the park. I can even remember the characters greeting me while waiting in line for rides or other attractions. After they completed a show they would come and greet guests that had just watched it. The idea that a person should do research and plan ahead of time is ridiculous! You are paying for both the service and experience it is not the guests job to make their own experience they are specifically paying Disney to do that for them. That's like saying you should cut your own hair at a barber shop and then pay them for it. How well did that work for Brittney Spears? Now getting on her case for typos, misprints or wrong names (MGM vs Hollywood Studios) c'mon guys grow up. She sounds very upset. I don't see anything wrong with the fact that she wanted to voice her concerns and issues after having a bad experience. Again, if you pay for a product you expect to get that product otherwise you will want to return it to the store. Should I then call all of you entitled because you've returned something to Target. Oh wait, that's right I already called all of you entitled. Lets not forget that it was Disney World that had already set the expectation on the high level of service and the magical experience that everyone should have while visiting their parks so I don't think that she or her family is being unreasonable. Additionally, I feel that the quotes from Walt Disney do indeed apply, do you not think that he had the same expectations for DW as he had for DW? To those of you that have questioned her intelligence, maturity and her dedication to her family to have a wonderful time you should be ashamed of yourselves. Maybe you should take a class in bullying because that is exactly how you all are coming off. Shame on you!

Clearly you are the OP husband since you just joined the boards....get real loser.

 

[catigger]

What an EPIC Post! I confess I read the entire long rant! It was a great read especially since I am going to WDW in 28 days. A great reminder to me to turn any frustrations I may experience into my own magical moments.

 

[North of Mouse]

McDonald's fries - the contract with McD's was up, and Disney was trying to promote healthier food options. People called Disney hypocrites for promoting healthy eating on TV and having McDonalds in the parks. So the contract wasn't renewed.

Slightly but as the OP mentioned it, and you commented on it, will add my 2 cents!

If this is the 'real' reason that Disney does not want McDonald fries - talk about true hypocrisy! Healthy eating at Disney?? I would say that 50-75% of the food at Disney is not healthy eating - and that's probably a conservative figure!

It really doesn't bother me - hey, we're on vacation, and anything goes, but just think it is ridiculous as they still have their own (not very tasty) fries anyway. McDonalds is way better IMO. About the 'only' thing I can agree with the OP on - I do miss the fries - I got them for a mid afternoon snack!

 

[dvczerfs]

Everyone posting on here sounds as though they are the entitled ones not the OP. Look if a family goes to a place specifically billed as "The Happiest Place On Earth" why should she not totally expect that kind of experience for her and her family.

Yes the food is very sub-par, the customer service is quite lacking from what it was in the past, the entire experience has become very corporate and financially motivated. Then the response that that I read that claimed "hunting down the characters" is part of the magic. Really?!?!

When children invest so much into their favorite characters why should they be expected to do the work to find them. I agree with the OP, 10 years ago you could walk into any restaurant without having to make reservations with the exception of the character meals and the characters were walking all over the park. I can even remember the characters greeting me while waiting in line for rides or other attractions. After they completed a show they would come and greet guests that had just watched it.

The idea that a person should do research and plan ahead of time is ridiculous! You are paying for both the service and experience it is not the guests job to make their own experience they are specifically paying Disney to do that for them. That's like saying you should cut your own hair at a barber shop and then pay them for it. How well did that work for Brittney Spears?

Now getting on her case for typos, misprints or wrong names (MGM vs Hollywood Studios) c'mon guys grow up. She sounds very upset. I don't see anything wrong with the fact that she wanted to voice her concerns and issues after having a bad experience. Again, if you pay for a product you expect to get that product otherwise you will want to return it to the store. Should I then call all of you entitled because you've returned something to Target. Oh wait, that's right I already called all of you entitled.

Lets not forget that it was Disney World that had already set the expectation on the high level of service and the magical experience that everyone should have while visiting their parks so I don't think that she or her family is being unreasonable. Additionally, I feel that the quotes from Walt Disney do indeed apply, do you not think that he had the same expectations for DW as he had for DW?

To those of you that have questioned her intelligence, maturity and her dedication to her family to have a wonderful time you should be ashamed of yourselves. Maybe you should take a class in bullying because that is exactly how you all are coming off.

Shame on you!

as some one who has been there as a child and adult for way to many years I want to talk about, the characters are easier now to find then ever. they stopped "wandering" if you even want to call it that, back in the late 80s very early 90s. I don't ever recall standing in line for anything and a character shaking my hand. the last few years I have seen peter pan and wendy hanging out by the peter pan ride and alice and friends hanging out by the tea cups.
I remember one day mickey mouse stood behind the castle just about where the crane is sitting, you couldn't get near him if you wanted to. there was no cms (character attendants) forming lines and keeping order (the best they can) nothing. it was a free for all. but if she is 40 years old in 2014, that makes her born in 1974. she has to be recalling the way it was when she was 10-12 years old.

 

[4xmom]

This has to be the TA that a friend used. Told him that they could just walk in to anywhere with no reservations and that was actually better since they have 6 kids they would never make in on time anyway. Luckily, he had me! BTW- I have 4 kids and we can make it our ADR's on time....even when all four were toddlers/babies.

Also, reading this all I could think was...well yeah, we all pay a lot to be there. Should every single person get something for free or get super special treatment? Why would one person get something over another? Or if every person with crying children got to tour the castle then they would need fastpasses for the crying kids.

 

[mks18412]

This is a rant people. Why the need for snarky, negative comments. If you don't like the post don't read it.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

She's right about the Dole Whip. That surely sucks. Come on, people, she's right about the Dole Whip!

 

[mks18412]

She's right about the Dole Whip. That surely sucks. Come on, people, she's right about the Dole Whip!

Seriously? I have never had one before and was wanting to try it out next trip.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

She's right about the Dole Whip. That surely sucks. Come on, people, she's right about the Dole Whip!

Oh yes! I'll agree she is correct that it totally sucks that they ran out of the pineapple and only had the orange. Now if that happened to me, would I come on here and post a thread ranting about how WDW owes me something because they ran out of pineapple Dole Whip? Hmmmmm.... No. I probably would ask when Aloha Isle expected they would have more of the pineapple flavor available and stop back later.