Post Disney Response re: May Hours Here

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by DNBois
I am very disappointed - DH and I just came back from 8 nights at CBR and to date, (my initial e-mail was sent 4/3/03) and never recieved a reply. Even though the park hours are NOW improved, I found it discouraging that I never had the courtesy of a reply. I know it's more than a month later but I thought I should update. I would not be so disappointed if the park hours were extended and the crowds were not so unmanageable while we were there. Any one else been disappointed?

What dates were you there? We were there 4/29-5/9 and found the parks great in terms of crowds. There was no real lines at all. I even think it was better this year then last. We were able to do everything even though we didn't get to MK until 2pm most days. We hang at the pool in the morning. The hours were improved and checking with my schedule from last year the hours were the same. They did add FITS which we got to see. Did you get to take that in as well as Spectromagic? Personally we had a wonderful time and thought Disney really stepped up by adding FITS for those of us that would have missed it otherwise.

 

[DNBois]

We were there from 5/2 until 5/10 and although I have to admit that the lines for MGM, AK and Epcot were not that bad, we were really upset about the crowds ar MK which happens to be our favorite park. DH and I are not much for Fireworks although we got a good view from CBR so we just wanted to stay at the parks longer. We thought the crowds at MK were much worse than when we sent in May of 2000 so we were amazed that they didn't lengthen the hours. We were all set to spend our anniversary (5/6) at MK since it was the only night open until 9pm but the crowds were so unbearable that we cancelled ressies at Tony's Town Square and ate at the Brown Derby (which was amazing). We could never get on any of the rides we loved, only by using fast pass, which we noticed were usually "sold out" by early evening so it was disapointing. The transportation at CBR to the parks was absolutely awful - we found ourselves running most of the time for the bus just so we wouldn't have to wait for the next one. I was just most disappointed that I never recieved the courtesy of a reply - I am actually sending Disney a three page letter regarding our experience. I have been there at least 12 or more times and hope on going back - I have never had a problem with Disney until now. I am glad to hear that you and your family had a good time - maybe it will be different once DH and I have kids Thanks.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by DNBois
We were there from 5/2 until 5/10 and although I have to admit that the lines for MGM, AK and Epcot were not that bad, we were really upset about the crowds ar MK which happens to be our favorite park. DH and I are not much for Fireworks although we got a good view from CBR so we just wanted to stay at the parks longer. We thought the crowds at MK were much worse than when we sent in May of 2000 so we were amazed that they didn't lengthen the hours. We were all set to spend our anniversary (5/6) at MK since it was the only night open until 9pm but the crowds were so unbearable that we cancelled ressies at Tony's Town Square and ate at the Brown Derby (which was amazing). We could never get on any of the rides we loved, only by using fast pass, which we noticed were usually "sold out" by early evening so it was disapointing. The transportation at CBR to the parks was absolutely awful - we found ourselves running most of the time for the bus just so we wouldn't have to wait for the next one. I was just most disappointed that I never recieved the courtesy of a reply - I am actually sending Disney a three page letter regarding our experience. I have been there at least 12 or more times and hope on going back - I have never had a problem with Disney until now. I am glad to hear that you and your family had a good time - maybe it will be different once DH and I have kids Thanks.

MK is our favorite park too. I bet we spend 90% of our park time in MK. The 4 y/o wouldn't have it any other way! We were at MK on 5/6 specifically for the FITS and Spectro. We had a PS for 4pm at the Crystal Palace. It's a shame you didn't go there as it was great. We were seated right away and had plenty of character interaction. We also got to go on plenty of rides between dinner and Spectro. Buzz didn't have the fasspass even up as there was only a 10 minute wait. Haunted Mansion was a walk on which seems to be the case for the last 4 trips we've been there. I don't understand that a I thought that was always a popular ride. I think we did 8 rides in two hours which is good for us as my mother walks slower then someone standing still. Sorry to hear your trip wasn't so good this time. Maybe you can try to schedule a trip when hours are usually longer then they are in May. October is another month we go and the hours are about the same then too but since there isn't any crowds we seem to do everything we want and still sit by the pool for half the trip.

 

[DNBois]

Thanks for the info Terry! I just sent a three page e-mail to WDW guest communications and will also send a copy - I believe it was very nicely written and to the point. I think it was just the fact that we didn't feel the Disney magic as we always have in the past. We are hoping to go back in February as supposedly, the crowds are smaller and the weather is cooler - glad you had a good trip and have a great time on your next one at Poly

 

[Empire Day]

We just returned from today from 5/8 to 5/11 the hours seemed more than enough! 5/10 MK added an hour open till 10 with E-ride to 1 AM!!!! we did almost all of mgm 5/10 am and hit MK for the second time afternoon untill 1 am, the crowds were light for MK 5/8 and very big 5/10 BUT we never waited more than 20 min un ques! it seems most of the crowds were just stroling . Epcot 5/9 was crowded but we managed it all in one day with DS7
I wouldnt worry to much about the hours they seem to make them later if the crowd count is there 5/10 was suposed to be 9 pm (ps spectro is really cool taped the whole thing!!)

 

[cinmell]

I sent an email to Disney because I was a bit disappointed when there were not fireworks or spectro scheduled for when we were going to be there. We normally go to Disney in September and have always seen fireworks and spectro so I was disappointed that we were not going to see them during our regular season visit. I never expected a reply.

While we were in WDW (5/2 to 5/11), a CM from Walt Disney World Guest Relations called my house. An out of state relative was staying at our house while we were gone and told the CM we were not at home but we were in Disney. The CM looked us up in reservations and called us at the Contemporary to see if we were happy with the extended hours. I was shocked. I never expected a call, especially while on vacation. The woman was really nice and told me that they respond to each and every correspondence to them and she wanted to make sure we knew about the extended hours and asked if we were happy with them. I told her yes very much so.

We were able to see everything we wanted more than once and we saw FITS and Spectro was shown twice.

 

[DNBois]

Perhaps our trip would have been more enjoyable had we been able to spend more time at MK - of course, DH and I left on May 10th so were unable to make use of e-ride night which most likely would have made me happy. It was probably just a culmination of a lot of things that occured during our trip that we were dissatisfied but apparently, Disney does not reply to all of their constituents. Hope that changes because we do love Disney and want to continue to go