Rough day at MK

[Itinkso]

Really? I'll look into that in the future.

I've enjoyed reading your real-time updates of all the legs of your vacation and was also secretly hoping your second WDW portion would be as great as your US visit. Hang in there and keep posting!!

 

[Luckybee]

I thought I would try and keep people updated on what's going on while I'm here. Some folks here just don't seem to appreciate it. I'm having a blast but not sugar coating anything. Sorry to those that I was helping out. If you want any honest answers please feel free to pm me.

Well I for one wish to thank you for your information. As you may recall dh and I are planning our first trip back to Orlando in a number of yrs. As I have said before we are not ride fanatics, but we do have our preferences and hate long lines. We had only done U on one prior occasion back around when it first opened. You had given me some advice suggesting what rides we might be interested in at U and as a result I seriously started looking at U.

Dh and I just finished watching the entire Harry Potter series of movies(never saw them before...thought they were for kids) and we loved them, and I'm now totally caught up in the HP hype. We've now switched our plans around and intend to split our time between D and U.

I've found your info to be extremely helpful, and honest and I'm sure there are many others who feel the same so pls keep posting

Thanks !

 

[sonofanarchy]

I've enjoyed reading your real-time updates of all the legs of your vacation and was also secretly hoping your second WDW portion would be as great as your US visit. Hang in there and keep posting!!

It really has been. I was worried it wouldn't be but we've had a blast. There are definitely very obvious changes Disney needs to implement to FP+. Once done it will be wonderful. Even still, we're making do just fine.

BTW - Is it common knowledge that CM's get to cut in front of all guests for every ride?

 

[Luckybee]

I don't blame OP....92 degrees, 3 rides down, 60 minute waits for headliners.....that is my version of disney H@ll......

However- this is why I avoid summer, and ALL holidays. This kind of thing is very typical during popular times.

Except that the OP has already stated that they've been every July for the past 7 yrs and this is the worse he's ever seen. Seems to me that means something has chgd at D !

 

[wdwfan]

Thanks for your honest real time posts! They're very helpful. I'll be at Universal and Disney in just a few weeks. It's good to know how things are working out since FP+ has been fully rolled out. I like to know what to expect.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'm also enjoying your posts. I also think that it's helpful for people to see first hand accounts of what can happen when rides go down, because it really does cause issues.

 

[wilkeliza]

It really has been. I was worried it wouldn't be but we've had a blast. There are definitely very obvious changes Disney needs to implement to FP+. Once done it will be wonderful. Even still, we're making do just fine.

BTW - Is it common knowledge that CM's get to cut in front of all guests for every ride?

Where did you hear that? I've been a CM for 2 years and never cut in front simply because I was a CM.

 

[Itinkso]

It really has been. I was worried it wouldn't be but we've had a blast. There are definitely very obvious changes Disney needs to implement to FP+. Once done it will be wonderful. Even still, we're making do just fine. BTW - Is it common knowledge that CM's get to cut in front of all guests for every ride?

Not sure if you are teasing but I've never experienced that and have never seen it happen. But, when I'm in the parks I'm with Entertainment CMs... Attraction CMs won't extend any favors to Entertainment CMs even if they are trying to use a FP during a lunch break... I used to give away our TSMM legacy FPs because they never coincided with DDs lunch break and we were forbidden from using them early or late according to the Attraction CMs manning the queue.

 

[Aurora0427]

I thought I would try and keep people updated on what's going on while I'm here. Some folks here just don't seem to appreciate it. I'm having a blast but not sugar coating anything. Sorry to those that I was helping out. If you want any honest answers please feel free to pm me.

I've loved your real time updates. Some people just look to criticize wherever they can.

 

[Networth]

Threads like this make me so happy I never visit in in the summer. I understand some have no choice just saying I'm thankful I do.

 

[sonofanarchy]

We were in the FP line at Space. There were 2 young adults behind us. They opened up a gate on their own and went right to the front of the line. I asked the CM who was letting people through the 2nd Mickey scanner how they were able to do that and he said, "Oh, they work here."

 

[Angel Ariel]

No idea. If that's the case most people don't seem to know it. Test Track closed multiple times yesterday and we had FP's for it. At 7:45, it closed for the night so I have no idea what happened to ours.

Pretty sure you get an email about it and the email is basically a "use anytime" FP+ for any other attraction (or something similar). So if you're not carrying a smartphone, or not looking at it, you probably wouldn't know.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

We were just there the week of July 4th. When rides closed that we had FP+ for we did get the emails and it even showed up on MDE app that we could wait for that ride or choose another. Also when 7DMT went down while we were in line we were all given a paper FP that had like a month until it expired.

 

[wilkeliza]

We were in the FP line at Space. There were 2 young adults behind us. They opened up a gate on their own and went right to the front of the line. I asked the CM who was letting people through the 2nd Mickey scanner how they were able to do that and he said, "Oh, they work here."

Space explains it. Did you see them actually get into the FP line and ride the ride? Space has a break room that is at the top by the load area and you have to walk up the regular queue to get to it. If you didn't see them ride it could have been CMs reporting for work or returning from break.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Pretty sure you get an email about it and the email is basically a "use anytime" FP+ for any other attraction (or something similar). So if you're not carrying a smartphone, or not looking at it, you probably wouldn't know.

I am but have seen nothing. No biggie. I've figured FP+ out much quicker than I thought I would.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Space explains it. Did you see them actually get into the FP line and ride the ride? Space has a break room that is at the top by the load area and you have to walk up the regular queue to get to it. If you didn't see them ride it could have been CMs reporting for work or returning from break.

They weren't dressed as CM's. Just had regular clothes on. They were behind us in the FP line all the way until where the 2 lines split.

 

[wilkeliza]

They weren't dressed as CM's. Just had regular clothes on. They were behind us in the FP line all the way until where the 2 lines split.

Thats why I asked if you saw them get on. If you aren't on the clock you can't be in costume but several locations have an area for CMs to change and some younger CMs will go play while waiting for their shift to start. Especially MK CPs who might be forced to get to work several hours early due to the buses.

 

[Itinkso]

Thats why I asked if you saw them get on. If you aren't on the clock you can't be in costume but several locations have an area for CMs to change and some younger CMs will go play while waiting for their shift to start. Especially MK CPs who might be forced to get to work several hours early due to the buses.

Even when DD has a break from JTA, she not only changes to regular clothes she even has to put her hair down so no one has any idea she stepped off the stage. CMs do not receive any type of preferential treatment... they and their guests still can't use MDE and book FPs.

 

[jade1]

I thought I would try and keep people updated on what's going on while I'm here. Some folks here just don't seem to appreciate it. I'm having a blast but not sugar coating anything. Sorry to those that I was helping out. If you want any honest answers please feel free to pm me.

I appreciate the reports and honesty.

Was not prepared to read your disappointment in Gringotts (other than themeing and the general success of the attraction for the masses). But that shows me your judgement is fair and unclouded, I can tell from your report that is exactly how we will feel about it. And we are still doing it no doubt-they just missed the boat IMO.

If you are being further honest-does the Mine Train have a better "traditional" physical roller coaster component and track than Gringotts? Or the other way around? Cant believe I'm even asking, but so few have even tested/reported on both.

Good luck on the rest of the day.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I appreciate the reports and honesty.

Was not prepared to read your disappointment in Gringotts (other than themeing and the general success of the attraction for the masses). But that shows me your judgement is fair and unclouded, I can tell from your report that is exactly how we will feel about it. And we are still doing it no doubt-they just missed the boat IMO.

If you are being further honest-does the Mine Train have a better "traditional" physical roller coaster component and track than Gringotts? Or the other way around? Cant believe I'm even asking, but so few have even tested/reported on both.

Hard to say because Gringotts is so dark. I found the coaster portion of 7DMT very dull. The slow portion through the mine was very cool. Wish the whole ride had been like that.