Recent Visit - My Thoughts

[DLgal]

We were there Thursday and Friday (9/12 & 9/13). We felt the crowds were amazingly light on Thursday. We spent most of the day at California adventure and then hopped to Disneyland after the world of color.

Friday was a different story. We ended up spending all day at Disneyland and it felt like it was packed. Ride wait times weren't terrible but the whole place was a lot more crowded. Fireworks were slammed. Of course, it was a Friday and the first night for Halloween fireworks and Fantasmic and MSEP were both happening.

We had a great time!

Friday nights are always packed for the parade and fireworks.

I'm pretty sure the Halloween fireworks started on Sept 6.

 

[mamamary]

Friday nights are always packed for the parade and fireworks.

I'm pretty sure the Halloween fireworks started on Sept 6.

I was there on the 6th and I believe that was the first Halloween fireworks.

 

[lindyv321]

I’ve heard that plastic bags are no longer provided when you shop at the parks. Is this true? I’m bringing some reusable bags that I got at my local Disney Store just in case!

 

[mamamary]

I’ve heard that plastic bags are no longer provided when you shop at the parks. Is this true? I’m bringing some reusable bags that I got at my local Disney Store just in case!

I got plastic bags last week.

 

[Rich M]

I got plastic bags last week.

I got plastic bags also

 

[DLgal]

I’ve heard that plastic bags are no longer provided when you shop at the parks. Is this true? I’m bringing some reusable bags that I got at my local Disney Store just in case!

Not true at all. They still have plenty of bags and offer them without asking if you need one. I often have to tell them we don't need one because we carry backpacks.

 

[tarheelalum]

I’ve heard that plastic bags are no longer provided when you shop at the parks. Is this true? I’m bringing some reusable bags that I got at my local Disney Store just in case!

They still have plastic bags, toys and nick nacks of every kind. The only reason they changed to paper straws was to make more money off of guests by selling them plastic straws. Its always about the dollars under Disney's current management.

 

[midnight star]

They still have plastic bags, toys and nick nacks of every kind. The only reason they changed to paper straws was to make more money off of guests by selling them plastic straws. Its always about the dollars under Disney's current management.

Plastic straws are also being phased out throughout the state. Some places won’t give you them unless you ask. Some also use paper straws now.

 

[Plip]

They still have plastic bags, toys and nick nacks of every kind. The only reason they changed to paper straws was to make more money off of guests by selling them plastic straws. Its always about the dollars under Disney's current management.

Obviously, Disney has a responsibility to their shareholders to maximize their profits. And if you know anything about Walt, then you know he would have wholeheartedly approved of squeezing every last dollar out of the things he created. It's part of what drove him to all of his accomplishments, and we should be grateful for it.

However, I really don't think paper straws are about making money. At least not directly. It may be about projecting a socially responsible image, and that plays into their marketing. But I don't think they're deliberately compromising some products (in this case, drinks, by providing inferior straws), in order to get people to buy another product.

 

[Pamela M]

Starbucks in DTD is all Paper.
Best to get Starbucks outside of Disney if you have a choice.

I think all Starbucks are changing to paper straws. The one I go to in SF (there are lot here) is using the sippy tops and paper straws.

 

[lindyv321]

They still have plastic bags, toys and nick nacks of every kind. The only reason they changed to paper straws was to make more money off of guests by selling them plastic straws. Its always about the dollars under Disney's current management.

Our local Disney Store no longer has plastic bags. You can buy one for $1, bring your own, or carry your stuff. They make a point to say that Disney no longer uses plastic bags so that is why I asked. I’ve purchased 2-3 of the bags and plan on bringing them with me when I shop in DTD

 

[Rich M]

Who would have thought that paper straws could drive such a long discussion?? I wonder if I could pay for my next trip by bringing 1000 straws and selling them for 25 cents each.

 

[wowsmom]

I think all Starbucks are changing to paper straws. The one I go to in SF (there are lot here) is using the sippy tops and paper straws.

Are the Starbucks in SF also getting rid of the stoppers for the hot coffee cups? About a month ago, I went to the DTD West location and got a coffee for DH while he was doing something else and asked for a stopper, so I wouldn't spill on myself and was told they no longer have them - but then he offered to put a second lid on, with the hole on the opposite side, so the coffee wouldn't spill.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Is the straw thing a Disney issue or a California issue? We leave for Legoland in two weeks. I know this isn’t a Legoland board, but hypothetically speaking, would a person traveling generally in California want to pack some straws?

I think it's a CA thing. We live in Northern CA and plastic straws are pretty much disappearing everywhere. I"m not a fan of the paper either, but if it causes people to think about plastic a little I don't mind. But I do think it's silly for these big companies like Disney to worry about plastic straws when they sell so many plastic bottles of sodas/water.

I would caution people about the metal straws though with little kids. I've read about some pretty horrific injuries from tripping/falling when using a metal straw. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/11/world/europe/metal-straws-death.html (I've read of other examples as well). I love the "environmental theater" comment See also what the article says about Starbucks eliminating them at 28000 of its stores around the world.

Yes, Legoland also banned plastic straws.

And no, I don't think they're aware of the irony of trying to be responsible by limiting the use of plastic.

This made me choke on my coffee, LOL. One of the funniest comments I've ever read on DIS. Love this.

 

[tarheelalum]

But I don't think they're deliberately compromising some products (in this case, drinks, by providing inferior straws), in order to get people to buy another product.

Then why do they cut all shows and parades during the week nights, when the the lower tier annual passholders can attend the park and move it all to the weekend when only the highest annual passes can attend....They do it to lessen the experience of the lower passes to encourage people to buy the high end passes to make A LOT more money.

 

[Love Tink]

But I do think it's silly for these big companies like Disney to worry about plastic straws when they sell so many plastic bottles of sodas/water.

To reiterate:
Plastic bottles: recyclable
Plastic straws: not recyclable

 

[AlienBrain]

Even though plastic bottles are technically "recyclable," it's becoming very expensive to do that, so most recycling centers are sending those plastic bottles to landfills.

Perhaps Disney parks could sell refillable water bottles that customers must buy/use when getting drinks in the park. Bonus points for it being a souvenir that the customers could bring home. The bottle could also include a reusable plastic straw for sippy drinks like milkshakes or smoothies.

One can dream ...

 

[DLgal]

Then why do they cut all shows and parades during the week nights, when the the lower tier annual passholders can attend the park and move it all to the weekend when only the highest annual passes can attend....They do it to lessen the experience of the lower passes to encourage people to buy the high end passes to make A LOT more money.

They don't cut all shows and parades during the week. They still do Mickey and the Magical Map on select weekdays, MSEP is nightly until Sept 30, World of Color is nightly, and there are a bunch of smaller performance shows that happen daily as well. Fireworks are weekends only outside of summer and the 2 holiday weeks surrounding Christmas due to local noise ordinances. Fantastic goes dark every fall for several weeks. Lower tier passholders can experience everything during the week at some point every year.

 

[Rich M]

Did I mention I had a great trip??? I don't think we need to debate the cost cutting or plastic vs paper. For those of us who don't like the paper straws many in this group have given us all many options for alternate solutions to our problems. I appreciate each and every one of you for allowing me a forum to give my thoughts and also help me make my next trip even more outstanding.

 

[Malcon10t]

They don't cut all shows and parades during the week. They still do Mickey and the Magical Map on select weekdays, MSEP is nightly until Sept 30, World of Color is nightly, and there are a bunch of smaller performance shows that happen daily as well. Fireworks are weekends only outside of summer and the 2 holiday weeks surrounding Christmas due to local noise ordinances. Fantastic goes dark every fall for several weeks. Lower tier passholders can experience everything during the week at some point every year.

You aren't helping their message that Disney is just a big bad money making machine....

We both know they don't cut shows to make people buy a higher level pass or they close the monorail during the heat to cut the budget. (Sadly, I was on the monorail a couple of years back when someone passed out from the heat, and that shut the monorail down for several hours then.)

As for straws, I see both sides. Personally, I like my straws. But I also know with them being small, they are difficult to sort out for recycling, and using paper makes more sense. ANd for me, paper is fine, except for shakes. We do use fewer bags now, instead of a new bag for each purchase, I just put it in one bag.

Now, to continue....