Should have done Disney before Universal

[asmit4]

So first day at a park with bands. MK had EMH today. We were at the bus stop at 7:05. No MK bus showed up until 7:39. Bus was completely filled. An entire bus load of people had to wait for next bus. We get to the park after opening and there are long lines at bag check and turnstiles. I went through 1st and had no problems. Then my 7 year olds were up and their bands didn't work. Same for wife, MIL and older son. Thankfully we brought our actual tickets. The CM we dealt with was so damn rude, especially to my kids. Ready to lose it at this point. Anyways, went to guest relations where a kind CM gave my MIL the DAS. FP+ worked fine for us. Only issue is the lines outside for FP. DAS is better than nothing, but nothing great. After 5 hours in the park we had done 7 rides. We waited 35 minutes for return bus which once again was full and left an entire group waiting for next bus. We're renting a car tonight for rest of trip. Bus service, in one word is unacceptable.

THIS really makes me so so sad. Disney used to be awesome...now it seems their customer service has gone down the tubes. MILLIONS spent on these bands and I hear so many stories like this one.

 

[FLchick415]

OP, I'm really very sorry for all the trouble you're having at WDW.

As an aside, however, every time I hear a story like this, I have to wonder if I'm lucky or if I just don't notice and/or care...because I've never had problems like that. My MB has never given me issues & I've never had to go to GS. I'm pretty thankful, because I definitely would not want to experience anything like it. I hope things get better for you.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

So first day at a park with bands. MK had EMH today. We were at the bus stop at 7:05. No MK bus showed up until 7:39. Bus was completely filled. An entire bus load of people had to wait for next bus. We get to the park after opening and there are long lines at bag check and turnstiles. I went through 1st and had no problems. Then my 7 year olds were up and their bands didn't work. Same for wife, MIL and older son. Thankfully we brought our actual tickets. The CM we dealt with was so damn rude, especially to my kids. Ready to lose it at this point. Anyways, went to guest relations where a kind CM gave my MIL the DAS. FP+ worked fine for us. Only issue is the lines outside for FP. DAS is better than nothing, but nothing great. After 5 hours in the park we had done 7 rides. We waited 35 minutes for return bus which once again was full and left an entire group waiting for next bus. We're renting a car tonight for rest of trip. Bus service, in one word is unacceptable.

Yikes...this is horrible!

 

[sonofanarchy]

Just got back from the pool. That was a blast
And I should add, once we got started, we had a great time at the MK today. Sadly, DAS and FP+ has just reduced the number of rides we can do.

As for the busses, all we can do is rent a car. Bus transportation from Epcot resorts always sucks. Just that much worse with obvious cutbacks.

 

[dsdeleon]

Did someone mention DAS? Universal is way above right now with disabled guests and are lenient on those of us braving it to help those we love tour the park. Disney (who probably called GMA in the 1st place) still treats people very suspiciously now that the media gave them carte blanche to do so. After 2 long split stays in the last year, Universal wins hands down.

NOW PLEASE KEEP THE PARKS OPEN LATER!!

 

[Pooh2]

Just got back from the pool. That was a blast
And I should add, once we got started, we had a great time at the MK today. Sadly, DAS and FP+ has just reduced the number of rides we can do.

As for the busses, all we can do is rent a car. Bus transportation from Epcot resorts always sucks. Just that much worse with obvious cutbacks.

My husband was insistent on renting a car when we went Thanksgiving week. I was thinking it would be a wasted of money, but it was so much smoother than waiting on the bus that we will not do WDW without it.
Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Wow I would get upset too if I had to stand around and wait for service for no good reason. My husband and I have been playing around with the idea of doing a US\(EPCOT,MK) early December. We experienced WWOHP in 2011 and loved it so cant wait for all the new stuff .
His main reason not to go is my three year old will be broken hearted when he cannot get on the HP rides but I told him we can work around that he does not believe me, my three yr old is obsessed with the night bus,loves HP. Our trip would be Three day US\IOA Disney would only be one day ECOT two days MK to do all the holiday entertainment which we both love.
I wonder if the wait times will still be crazy early December?!

The rides in Wizarding World are, for the most part, rides that would terrify a typical 3 year old. But you can always go through the line for, say, Forbidden Journey, and then do baby swap; for that ride your child and the first adult will get to watch a bit of one of the movies in a room, and then swap out with the parent. I'm sure Gringott's has the same setup. So that way he can go into the castle, etc, just not ride.

And there's some really nice play areas for him that I bet he would love. Back behind Barney and the Curious George water play area there is a soft-ball play area that is pretty fabulous. Follow the footsteps on the ground through the CG area to stay dry, and have some fun back there! If the adults want to go don't avoid it...just be really aware of the things there are that he CAN do!

So now Disney doesn't care about their guests... only Universal does.
Everyone at Universal = good. Everyone at Disney = bad. Totally reasonable and I'm sure not the least bit of exaggeration.

It's the experience of some people. Might not be for you, but it is for others. I know that many people are both TMs and CMs, though I've never seen the same people at both places... But in general I feel like I get much better service from TMs than CMs. It's my experience, no exaggeration at all.

We're renting a car tonight for rest of trip. Bus service, in one word is unacceptable.

Busses are terrible. You're making the right call.

 

[DopeyDame]

Why did your MIL need a DAS as opposed to just a wheelchair or EVC (for which an accompanying DAS isn't necessary)?
My dad had a stroke a few years ago, so I totally get the mobility and lack of stamina issues. I also know that strokes can effect everyone differently, so your MIL's issues may be nothing like my dad's.
For us, though, the EVC was perfect. He could move at our speed and didn't get worn out. Most of the time he could stand in line and just leave the EVC outside, but as the day wore on, he'd use the EVC in lines when needed and never had any kind of problem - cast members him quickly and easily directed him as needed.
All of which is to say, what reason is there to consider getting a DAS in this situation? What benefit did it provide your MIL?

 

[wilkeliza]

Just got back from the pool. That was a blast
And I should add, once we got started, we had a great time at the MK today. Sadly, DAS and FP+ has just reduced the number of rides we can do.

As for the busses, all we can do is rent a car. Bus transportation from Epcot resorts always sucks. Just that much worse with obvious cutbacks.

What cut backs? Bus drivers are always being hired.

I think the bus issue stems from the dispatch change. I can't remember when they switched but it went from being a fixed schedule to an algorithm. When there was a fixed schedule they could confidently say a bus will arrive every 3 minutes in the morning and then every 20 during the afternoon and then again 3 minutes for the hour after park closing. Now nobody can tell you how long it will be to get a bus.

 

[jon18uk]

. Anyways, went to guest relations where a kind CM gave my MIL the DAS. FP+ worked fine for us. Only issue is the lines outside for FP. DAS is better than nothing, but nothing great./QUOTE]

What accessibility needs did your MIL have? Why was the DAS no great? I think there are a lot of people that just want to skip the queues and I am curious as to what more you think the DAS could have done to help your particular families needs.

Why did your MIL need a DAS as opposed to just a wheelchair or EVC (for which an accompanying DAS isn't necessary)?
My dad had a stroke a few years ago, so I totally get the mobility and lack of stamina issues. I also know that strokes can effect everyone differently, so your MIL's issues may be nothing like my dad's.
For us, though, the EVC was perfect. He could move at our speed and didn't get worn out. Most of the time he could stand in line and just leave the EVC outside, but as the day wore on, he'd use the EVC in lines when needed and never had any kind of problem - cast members him quickly and easily directed him as needed.
All of which is to say, what reason is there to consider getting a DAS in this situation? What benefit did it provide your MIL?

This basically sums up my point. Your Dad knows he will have to wait in line with everyone else but has an ECV as he has mobility/\stamina issues. In your case the DAS wouldn't help as you are able to wait in line with the ECV.

 

[hakepb]

What cut backs? Bus drivers are always being hired.

I think the bus issue stems from the dispatch change. I can't remember when they switched but it went from being a fixed schedule to an algorithm. When there was a fixed schedule they could confidently say a bus will arrive every 3 minutes in the morning and then every 20 during the afternoon and then again 3 minutes for the hour after park closing. Now nobody can tell you how long it will be to get a bus.

No, its just Boardwalk bus "service" being Boadwalk.

2 years ago I basically wrote off Boardwalk for its lack of MK service. Its a location that seems to get the lowest priority of the 5 other EPCOT resorts.
(And I'm fine with the SSR bus service that so many dislike)

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I believe the OP did mention that the mother-in-law had issues being in the sun and/or heat, and some lines are outdoors.

He said they had trouble with attractions where the fastpass lanes are outside (because with a DAS you enter through the fastpass lane).

 

[Missyrose]

In other words.. "don't expect good service unless you work for it"

This just makes me sad. You seem to think it's "wrong" for a guest to expect someone to actually deal with an issue the FIRST time and we should all happily stand in long lines at the front desk and at Guest Relations over and over again to get our problems resolved/


As for "thou shalt not take the bus to DTD" you know have "thou shalt drive around for another hour looking for a parking place"

The real DTD rule right now should be 'thou shall not go to DTD until Disney finishes whatever the heck they think they are doing"

Judgmental much? Jesus, you act as if I sat here making fun of OP when all I did was try to help him figure out ways to get the outcomes he wanted. Unfortunately, I've been where OP is at different points of different trips. And all I was doing was trying to pass along helpful tips so OP could get things figured out because Disney has made so much difficult recently.

I wish it didn't require a trip to the front desk to get things straightened out at the resorts. I wish it didn't take multiple trips to GR to get a DAS or get MB problems straightened out. And I wish the bus to and from DTD were more reliable. But you know what? That's not reality, so you have to find work arounds.

But I guess I should have just joined the chorus of "Disney sucks" folks on the thread and not attempted to help the OP. Because I guess message boards are now places for group therapy instead of a place to help on another.

 

[monaleigh70]

So first day at a park with bands. MK had EMH today. We were at the bus stop at 7:05. No MK bus showed up until 7:39. Bus was completely filled. An entire bus load of people had to wait for next bus. We get to the park after opening and there are long lines at bag check and turnstiles. I went through 1st and had no problems. Then my 7 year olds were up and their bands didn't work. Same for wife, MIL and older son. Thankfully we brought our actual tickets. The CM we dealt with was so damn rude, especially to my kids. Ready to lose it at this point. Anyways, went to guest relations where a kind CM gave my MIL the DAS. FP+ worked fine for us. Only issue is the lines outside for FP. DAS is better than nothing, but nothing great. After 5 hours in the park we had done 7 rides. We waited 35 minutes for return bus which once again was full and left an entire group waiting for next bus. We're renting a car tonight for rest of trip. Bus service, in one word is unacceptable.

Was toying with a rental ,now I know we're renting! We have ADR's in DTD and I don't want the frustration of overcrowded buses. Most times we rent a car but this time DH is saying, is it really necessary? YES, YES IT IS!!! Sorry you had such a frustrating time.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Was toying with a rental ,now I know we're renting! We have ADR's in DTD and I don't want the frustration of overcrowded buses. Most times we rent a car but this time DH is saying, is it really necessary? YES, YES IT IS!!! Sorry you had such a frustrating time.

Curious though - with all the construction going on there is it quicker to drive? I really don't know. Heading down late Oct and will have a vehicle b/c we are doing some beach days. Was planning on using buses tho for parks...well at least MK. Might drive to others as I'm sure it'll be nice for us all to have a seat at the end of the day. Wasn't sure about DTD though.

 

[Jubaby]

This is not meant to be harsh, but why are people who can't be in the heat or be on their feet for extended periods of time choosing to go to Disney? That is most of the trip. In the whole world, aren't there better choices for your family?

I just don't understand why people put themselves through this and then complain their trip wasn't what they expected.

I feel the need to respond to this one. My daughter who is only 26, but was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 19, has always loved Disney. We took her to WDW many times as a child. She now has two small children of her own, and likes to experience vacations with her children, and see the joy on their faces at WDW. She is in pretty good shape, but has difficulty with balance and standing still for long periods of time. Surely she should be allowed to experience a family friendly vacation and enjoy the parks with her children, and relive some of her own childhood memories.

 

[kaytieeldr]

After 5 hours in the park we had done 7 rides. <megasnip>
Just got back from the pool. That was a blast
And I should add, once we got started, we had a great time at the MK today. Sadly, DAS and FP+ has just reduced the number of rides we can do.

As for the busses, all we can do is rent a car. Bus transportation from Epcot resorts always sucks. Just that much worse with obvious cutbacks.

Seven rides in five hours is typical/average. It may be less than what you're used to, between accumulating unlimited FastPasses and the GAC acting like an unlimited front of the line pass - but the current FastPass system is what Disney has chosen, and the DAS better equalizes the park experience among all guests.

Did someone mention DAS? Universal is way above right now with disabled guests and are lenient on those of us braving it to help those we love tour the park. Disney (who probably called GMA in the 1st place) still treats people very suspiciously now that the media gave them carte blanche to do so. After 2 long split stays in the last year, Universal wins hands down.

NOW PLEASE KEEP THE PARKS OPEN LATER!!

I can't find anything on Universal's website that would indicate their system is better. It looks less better to me as a solo traveler because ECVs and electric wheelchairs aren't allowed in the lines/on the attractions. You need to transfer to a manual chair. I don't see how that's possible for someone needing/using a power chair; can you please fill in what I'm missing about Universal's system that makes it better than Disney's?

 

[sonofanarchy]

Not going to quote because I'm on my phone and it's a pain. The DAS did not make things easier for those that used the GAC and didn't abuse it.

As for how Universal's system is better, just stay at one of their hotels and that will answer your question.

 

[sonofanarchy]

And here we are at Epcot and 4 of our 6 MB's still aren't working. Another 20 minutes lost so far today.

30 minutes and still stuck at International Gateway.

 

[ArwenMarie]

This is not meant to be harsh, but why are people who can't be in the heat or be on their feet for extended periods of time choosing to go to Disney? That is most of the trip. In the whole world, aren't there better choices for your family?

I just don't understand why people put themselves through this and then complain their trip wasn't what they expected.

Are there better choices than WDW? Seriously, I'm asking. I can't think of a better choice for someone with special needs, whether mobility-related or otherwise.