P & P Party Rant.

[karibritt01]

In defense of the CM (even though I admittedly don't know their side), it must have been very frustrating to have to stand there and wait for a family who was clearly in a park that was closed to them 45 minutes after they should have been. Especially when the people were adults. I imagine that they hear every excuse in the book at those events and it must get very discouraging to have to stand there and wait to accompany people out of the park. Just a thought

True, and very good point. However, isn't this their job? Not every job is fun constantly, but we don't always get to pick and choose. Grace comes in doing a job you are aggrevated with, but still doing it to the best of your ability. In customer service, that means smile and be polite, even if you really want to drag someone out by their hair! A poor attitude only makes a difficult situation worse.

 

[labattblue]

many party goers have AP's or use a day ticket as well.....

That is not what I was asking. I'm strictly talking about guests who ONLY have a P&P ticket. Do they get admitted early for the P&P event?

 

[MichelleVW]

True, and very good point. However, isn't this their job? Not every job is fun constantly, but we don't always get to pick and choose. Grace comes in doing a job you are aggrevated with, but still doing it to the best of your ability. In customer service, that means smile and be polite, even if you really want to drag someone out by their hair! A poor attitude only makes a difficult situation worse.

We didn't get the CM's side though...I've been polite at work and someone still complained that I wasn't when I was just doing my job and they didn't agree with it. The CM had to make them leave the park, that was their job, the OP wasn't in a hurry to leave the park which is where the conflict comes in. I'm sure if we heard the CM's side we could/would hear a totally different story.

 

[MissyDVC]

BTW - yes, I only have the opinion of the OP to base my argument on (as do you). However, the poor impression of how the CM handled the situation, and the negative feelings the OP has now, only prove my point. Handled correctly, the OP would have had nothing to complain about, and wouldn't have left with a bad taste in his mouth over Disney.

I am sure unsure how being in the park 45 after the event started and being told they had to leave by a CM doing their job could leave a bad taste in his mouth. OP stated "Well knowing the park closes at 7:00". That should have been enough, but they stopped for snacks, to make purchases, etc. Perhaps the CM is tired of having to walk adults and their families out of the park when they could have done that themselves at the correct time, not when they wanted to. It is clear to me, either buy a ticket, make your purchases earlier or leave when you are supposed to. I am not sure how this is the fault of WDW.

 

[karibritt01]

That is not what I was asking. I'm strictly talking about guests who ONLY have a P&P ticket. Do they get admitted early for the P&P event?

Yes... at 4 PM.

 

[MissyDVC]

That is not what I was asking. I'm strictly talking about guests who ONLY have a P&P ticket. Do they get admitted early for the P&P event?

Yes, they are admitted at 4pm with the P&P ticket.

 

[karibritt01]

I am sure unsure how being in the park 45 after the event started and being told they had to leave by a CM doing their job could leave a bad taste in his mouth. OP stated "Well knowing the park closes at 7:00". That should have been enough, but they stopped for snacks, to make purchases, etc. Perhaps the CM is tired of having to walk adults and their families out of the park when they could have done that themselves at the correct time, not when they wanted to. It is clear to me, either buy a ticket, make your purchases earlier or leave when you are supposed to. I am not sure how this is the fault of WDW.

Didn't say it was WDW's fault. Didn't say OP had the right to be there. Would love to hear the CM's side of the argument/discussion! Just saying if the OP is complaining, then he DID have a bad taste in his mouth. If his complaint is his family was scolded, then the CM was not being as polite as possible. If the CM is paid to escort people from the park, then do so while smiling.

 

[stargrazer]

4PM is true unless you are an adult in Pirate or Princess costumes...then you have to wait until 7PM.

 

[labattblue]

Yes... at 4 PM.

Then I just don't get what Disney is doing. People are paying for a special event that is supposed to begin at 7PM. Therefore, that is when they should gain entrance to the parks. Why should my attraction lines be longer because someone gained 3 hours of park access for FREE?


Like I said, the powers that be didn't seem to give this much thought.

 

[beattyfamily]

4PM is true unless you are an adult in Pirate or Princess costumes...then you have to wait until 7PM.

I heard one person say they had a hard time with one CM but they just went to a different turnstyle and got in.

That doesn't make any sense to me because they let all party goers in with Halloween costumes throughout Sept & Oct for MNSSHP after 4:00p.

 

[lillygator]

That is not what I was asking. I'm strictly talking about guests who ONLY have a P&P ticket. Do they get admitted early for the P&P event?

I was referring to your PS about "those complaining".

 

[karibritt01]

We didn't get the CM's side though...I've been polite at work and someone still complained that I wasn't when I was just doing my job and they didn't agree with it. The CM had to make them leave the park, that was their job, the OP wasn't in a hurry to leave the park which is where the conflict comes in. I'm sure if we heard the CM's side we could/would hear a totally different story.

Very unfortunate that happened to you, and I do know that feeling as well. However, with only one side of a story presented, then you have to discuss from that point of view. And the point of view presented is that the CM was "scolding." That is what my entire argument stems from. I agree the CM was right to make them leave, just think she should have done her fussing to another CM, not to the family.

 

[beattyfamily]

Then I just don't get what Disney is doing. People are paying for a special event that is supposed to begin at 7PM. Therefore, that is when they should gain entrance to the parks. Why should my attraction lines be longer because someone gained 3 hours of park access for FREE?


Like I said, the powers that be didn't seem to give this much thought.

I addressed this on the last page (post 58 I think):

It is your right to have the opinion that it wasn't well thought out but obviously, Disney has a different opinion than you and my guess is they have a good reason too.

My guess is that if everyone entered at 7:00p for the party (anywhere from 10,000 - 30,000 guests) it would be absolutely insane and take hours to accomplish especially considering that many many day guests wait till park closing time, or even later, to leave (as this thread has obviously established).

 

[lillygator]

Then I just don't get what Disney is doing. People are paying for a special event that is supposed to begin at 7PM. Therefore, that is when they should gain entrance to the parks. Why should my attraction lines be longer because someone gained 3 hours of park access for FREE?


Like I said, the powers that be didn't seem to give this much thought.

actually they have given it a lot of thought and it has worked well, I think, up until this year (06) of parties with regards to the parks staying open during the transition. Many people don't know about the 4pm entry time so the majority still come at 7.

 

[labattblue]

In my previous post, I mentioned that they started letting party goers in after 4:00p since 2001. The time hasn't varied since 2001.

It is your right to have the opinion that it wasn't well thought out but obviously, Disney has a different opinion than you and my guess is they have a good reason too. My guess is that if everyone entered at 7:00p for the party (anywhere from 10,000 - 30,000 guests) it would be absolutely insane and take hours to accomplish especially considering that many many day guests wait till park closing time, or even later, to leave.

I missed your previous post on this. Sorry.

 

[karibritt01]

Then I just don't get what Disney is doing. People are paying for a special event that is supposed to begin at 7PM. Therefore, that is when they should gain entrance to the parks. Why should my attraction lines be longer because someone gained 3 hours of park access for FREE?


Like I said, the powers that be didn't seem to give this much thought.

I agree, but I think it is probably their only real choice. Even if the park closed at 6 and reopened at 7, the line to get in would be horrendous. Security and getting bags checked would take hours. It seems many don't know about the early admittance, though. Since it isn't really advertised, then only a small percentage will actually know and show up early.

 

[beattyfamily]

I missed your previous post on this. Sorry.

No, no sorry necessary! This thread was fast moving there for awhile so things can get easily missed!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Thank you OP for posting your experience and your frustration.

Thanks everyone for posting your opinions on why it happened.

I, for one, have learned something new here on the boards AGAIN!!!

Been to WDW multiple times. Have given up the commando style years ago so have not been at many park closings over the past 6 years. With young children the last few years, we've had early hours. We have attended a few special ticket events during that time but aside for finding out any discounts and the early admission (have APs anyways) here on the Dis, I don't know all the ins and outs. Since we had kids and no longer do commando style, I really don't do a park strategy anymore (gasp!) - more of a go with the flow tihing - although, I do have to pick a park for which day especially if I want to plan around ADRs.

We aren't park shoppers so we don't spend a lot of time "fighting the crowds" in the stores at park closing. But when we are at park closings we do stroll at a leisurely pace out the door and notice everyone doing that last second shopping with the insane lines.

WITHOUT this thread, I would have NEVER known about the "hard" closing for stores during special event evenings. It might not have dawned on me to even make the connection especially when I see many people in the stores but I would hate to tell someone the wrong information or be faced with unknowingly trying to buy that one item I wanted on our LAST evening before heading home and THEN finding I couldn't do it due to poor pre-planning on my part.

Now that the OP has "vented" his frustrations on his experience and learned about the reasons behind Disney's current policy, hopefully he understands why things happened the way if did and feels better even though he probably feels that the CM and/or WDW could have handled things a bit better.

His post on his experience has probably "helped" lots of people here on the Dis from making the same mistake. Now Disers that will be in the parks on the days of special events will know the current policies of the store closings and can now factor that into their planning so as to NOT break any of those polices.

 

[tigger536]

I am probably going to get flamed for this, but to me there is a difference between shopping on mainstreet and trying to get on a ride without a wristband. I think it would be fairly easy to keep mainstreet open for non party guests after 7PM for the same amounto f time as they do in a standard closing. If special P&P merchadise is an issue, then CMs could easy restrict that to wristbanded guests. Just don't allow those w/o wristbands to buy the P&P merchadise. But let them make their normal purchases. Many people plan on shopping mainstreet after the rides close, because keeping mainstreet open longer has always been the standard procedure. I just don't see what the harm would be to allow people in the storesfor the normal amount of time Mainstreet is usually open after closing.

I also think that the escort out was overkill. The OP said he told the CM he was leaving when his wife got back. The CMs could have just watched to make sure they left and if they did not then done something about it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[beattyfamily]

I am probably going to get flamed for this, but to me there is a difference between shopping on mainstreet and trying to get on a ride without a wristband. I think it would be fairly easy to keep mainstreet open for non party guests after 7PM for the same amounto f time as they do in a standard closing. If special P&P merchadise is an issue, then CMs could easy restrict that to wristbanded guests. Just don't allow those w/o wristbands to buy the P&P merchadise. But let them make their normal purchases. Many people plan on shopping mainstreet after the rides close, because keeping mainstreet open longer has always been the standard procedure. I just don't see what the harm would be to allow people in the storesfor the normal amount of time Mainstreet is usually open after closing.

I also think that the escort out was overkill. The OP said he told the CM he was leaving when his wife got back. The CMs could have just watched to make sure they left and if they did not then done something about it.

Just my 2 cents.

But they are also trying to get Main Street ready and cleared for the first Castle show at 8:00p and for the first parade at 8:30p. Those two things are exclusive to party goers.