So Disappointed by Disneyland 50th :(

[ArielsMelody]

I was in DL on May 5th. As a seasoned Disney veteran I of course was expecting huge crowds so I got there before the park opened. I knew that the park had been closed the previous day for the preview day which included media, celebrities, etc. So I was expecting that the 5th was going to be Disney's celebration with the general public. I was disappointed to see as soon as I entered the park that over 50 large white tents were set up directly in front of the castle for radio stations, and huge bleachers were in front of the castle for the media. There was a ceremony at 10am, but the only people who could see or hear were the media and the lucky few who had shoved through the crowd. The usual Disney crowd control was non-existant and people were shoving, elbowing, knocking small children over, anything they could to see the castle. It was as though the general public was of no concern, the the powers that be at the park were simply playing to the media.

My friend and I resolved ourselves to the fact that we were not going to see the ceremony so we set off to find something for breakfast since we had left L.A. around 7:00am and had not yet eaten. But it soon became apparent that there were only 2 fast food restaurants selling breakfast and the lines were 30 and 40 minutes long. Waiting in these seemed silly so we worked our way over to Frontierland in hopes that there would be more options. Again, restaurants were closed or bombarded with hungry crowds. Luckily, we are premium pass holders so we left the park and went to the bakery in Downtown. It was now 11am.

We didn't dare go back into the disaster of increasingly angry crowds in DL, so we hopped over to CA (which was empty, of course!) to do some shopping and take a breather from the insanity of the DL crowds. We headed back over to DL around 1:30 where people were already jamming Main Street for the 4:00 parade! Again, this was expected, but the crowds were far worse than they would have been if the media wasn't taking up so much room in front of the castle.

As the day went on people were getting more and more frusterated by the media presence and the shortage of food. I saw a line 75 - 100 people long for a corn dog vendor on Main Street! At one point, I witnessed a dad with two crying children yell in frustration at cast members when they told him all of the biggest restaurants were closed all day so the media could use them.

Luckily for me, I was able to park hop all day and go over to CA whenever I wanted to shop, eat, or take a break. But I especially felt badly for the families who had bought one-day one-park tickets and were stuck in DL. I will be back within the next month and see all of the things I was not able to see that day, but unfortunately that is not the case for everyone.

The day ended with the new fireworks show which is by far the best I've ever seen at a Disney park. Absolutely wonderful and incredibly innovative! But overall I expected more from Disney. Since May 4th was for media, the 5th really should have been for the public. But as it turned out most guests felt as though they were shunted aside by the VIP media. I don't think Walt would have approved. Walt once said "Welcome. Disneyland is your land." On May 5th, that just wasn't the case.

Ariel

 

[acrucifer]

ahh, stop your whining. walt also didnt like whiners !!

 

[whacked]

Actually, your post made me laugh.

If you look in to the history of Disneyland, the opening day was disasterous.

More than twice the number of people invited showed up.

All of the food vendors ran out of food by the early afternoon.

It was blazingly hot and crowds were angry.

By late afternoon most people had become so mad, hot, and tired of waiting in line that they left without doing much.

The press panned Disney as a fool. They were sure the park was already a failure.

The only reason he got the funding he needed for the park is because a TV network really wanted the disney produced shows, so they ponied up money for the park to keep Disney happy and producing his Sunday TV show.

Sounds like they had a reinactment of opening day.

Sorry you didn't have a good time.

 

[ArielsMelody]

I'm not surprised to hear that about opening day. The Disneyland phenonmenon came as a surprise to just about everyone. I'm not whining and actually I didn't have a bad time. I just felt bad for the families with small children who were obviously not having a good time. It's just too bad that things weren't planned better.

Ariel

 

[AFMom]

I personally don't think Disneyland should play to the press so much. I can't believe they closed the large restaurants so the press could use them and left the general public with next to nothing. They've had plenty of time to plan and plenty of experience with large events, and people payed a lot of money to stay at hotels, travel and buy tickets. I love Disney and thier parks - this is a disappointment to hear.

 

[RADOPT]

I just felt bad for the families with small children who were obviously not having a good time. It's just too bad that things weren't planned better.

Ariel

Maybe I just think differently but WHY would you take small children to Dl on the first day of the 50th anniversary? I would not be caught dead at DL with small one on days like May 5th or anytime around July 17th. But maybe that's just me..............

 

[acrucifer]

I agree. why would you want to take your children on what surely will be the most crowded, hectic busiest day when its obvious that all the disney resources will be stretched out to the max ? simply go another day and if you do go on a special celebration day dont be surprised by what you should have expected. but then again, thats just my opinion. but if we are going to whine about celebrities and media people shutting down restaurants, I would like complain about club 33 being just for the wealthy and connected. lets open that up to regular working stiffs so we can all enjoy it.

 

[ArielsMelody]

I don't understand that either. It always amazes me when I see parents dragging kids through the huge crowds. My first trip to WDW was in the off season, and my parents planned it that way for a reason. I don't have kids myself, but if I did I would certainly wait until the off season to bring them. It's much more fun for everyone that way. But I guess there are always people out there who will boggle your mind with their choices.

 

[Grumpy_4_me]

It's just the Mrs and I, NO kids.

We knew /had an Idea what the crows would be like, we went just to be there, any time we go it is just to be there, we dont care if we get on or in anything.

Being there is like being by a river or fireplace.

Granted having AP's help with not worrying about wasting $$ and not getting or seeing a whole lot.

 

[iceskatejen]

This is what I was told when I was talking to an off-duty CM before the cermony on Thursday--DL had no clue what so ever that there was going to be that kind of crowd on Thursday, May 5th. Why? Because they base their projections on group sales and apparently there wasn't much in the way of group sales for that day, ergo, DL was not prepared for the crowds arriving en masse. I think at least 50% of the crowd there on Thursday were AP holders (probably more), and DL doesn't count us in it's crowd projections.

 

[zen1]

That's a bummer that happened.

But I also have to say that I am sure there were some people there that had no idea this was going on( Disneylands 50th)~ones with small children or anyone for that matter. I know that sounds to you and me, but some people just are not Disney like we all are and know what is going on. I for one know this is true, as I have talked to some people that have never been to Disneyland before, so they had no idea this was going on.

 

[disneychrista]

DL was not prepared for the crowds arriving en masse

This is really funny. How could they NOT KNOW that the park would be at or near capacity on the first day / kick off for the 50th celebration. All they had to do was keep an eye on the numerous message boards to know that they should plan for and expect big crowds.

 

[prov3v56]

It's just the Mrs and I, NO kids.

We knew /had an Idea what the crows would be like, we went just to be there, any time we go it is just to be there, we dont care if we get on or in anything.

Being there is like being by a river or fireplace.

Granted having AP's help with not worrying about wasting $$ and not getting or seeing a whole lot.

I totally agree with you! We were there on the evening of the 6th knowing it was going to be crazy, so we went with open minds just to enjoy being there. (Of course, this is when AP's are very handy)

By the way, we were also there the previous Friday (April 29th I think) and it was a lot more crowded than on the 6th. We left at 10:00pm and there were still people in line to buy tickets!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Not all people frequent boards like these and therefore don't know EVERY single thing about upcoming events at Disneyland. Also, people with kids (like myself) generally travel when they are able. Our trips have to revolve around my kids' school schedule, my husband's work schedule and when my mother is well enough for me to leave town. Sometimes that means we have to go when it is packed. I'll bet there were actually people there that day that had no idea until the moment they arrived that anything out of the ordinary was going on, heaven help them. Incidentally, May 5 is technically considered off season, after spring breaks, before summer breaks. Some of those poor people likely thought they had planned the perfect time to go.

 

[DenverVal]

I'd like to know how the murals look! I submitted some photos, but so far have only received an email saying they would be notifying us in the near future as to whether they used them and where they are located. Can you see the individual pictures that make up the murals?

 

[prov3v56]

I'd like to know how the murals look! I submitted some photos, but so far have only received an email saying they would be notifying us in the near future as to whether they used them and where they are located. Can you see the individual pictures that make up the murals?

The murals are beautiful. I missed the deadline to send mine in and now that I have seen them, I really wish that I would have sent them in. I saw a computer kiosk by the city hall and I think you give the CM your name and they tell you which mural your picture is in. What a great idea because there is no way that anyone could find their's on their own. They are a great addition to the celebration at the park!

 

[DenverVal]

Thanks! I can't wait to see them!

 

[exDS vet]

It's funny how the Diznoids question the everyday people for going to the park on the 50th anniversary, or for those who like to be correct, "the first day of the 50th". I agree with the people who defended the regular guests who probably had no idea what it was going to look like on that day.

I also agree with park officials who might not have expected such a large turnout on May 5. If people watched or read any of the coverage prior to the event, they might have actually thought that everything was going on at Disney World. That's where Disney wants everyone to go anyway.

I'll repeat the obvious facts before I question the Diznoids;
1. May 5 is NOT considered "on season" or "peak season".
2. There ARE people who aren't obsessed with Disney the way that others are and they just want to go to have a good time.
3. Sometimes people must plan vacations around their own lives and not the events going on at the park.
4. The media at the park was for the kick-off and not for the "preview" event.

Now to the Diznoids;
1. Why were YOU there on the 5th. There is nothing significant about that day. It was just the start of an 18-month event.
2. You should have expected that there would be many others like you who were going to be there as well.
3. How DARE you question the motives of normal families for going to the park on that day and not knowing what to expect?
4. Did you really not expect this to be a media event? And why were you surprised by all of the tents and/or tables?

Most of that media was from southern california and the rest of the west coast. It was the same thing when the "new" Tomorrowland opened in 1998. Anytime the park has a big event, the media is invited in mass. Live with it or stay away. If the media was not there, you would be complaining that Disney didn't do enough to promote the event.

Finally to the restaurants. I have noticed in the past that many restaurants at the park open later than park opening. The large ones included. Besides, the park has horrible food in the early morning and who wants to shell out $10 for a bagel anyway. Go to the McDonalds or any restaurant outside of the park before you go in. It doesn't always have to be all Disney all the time.

But I'm sure they appreciate your continued support, no matter how miserable you or others were on that day.

See you on July 17!

 

[iceskatejen]

Since I WAS there on the 5th I'll go ahead and answer those questions.

1. It was the kick off and there was a ceremony. I wanted to be there for that, and to get some merchendise that was being released that day (which I would not have gotten otherwise--it was gone by 4 or 5 in the afternoon).

2. I did. I never once complained about the crowds. They didn't bother me a bit. I knew it would be nuts.

3. I didn't question them, but I did warn one group that there was "something going on" and if they didn't want to deal with the crowds, they might want to go to DCA instead.

4. Again, not suprised, but a bit annoyed, especially at parade times (they were taking up valuable curb space). The media day was the 4th, not the 5th.

 

[bunninose]

We were there on the 5th - it was nuts. We knew it going in, so we just dealt with it. We took our 3.5 DS - he was fine.

And Iskatejen - the 4th was a day that the park was closed to the public. It was a special event day for ABC Radio/TV affiliates and their guests, and whoever else The Powers That Be decided could/should be included. The 5th it was open to the public. The media was to be there BOTH days. That's never been a secret. Did they take up 'valuable curb space'? If you like watching parades on the curve, then yes. Was that to be expected? Having attended numerous events like this over my 15+ years of being a PAP, the answer is a resounding YES.

And from what I saw, they only closed Plaza Inn (big inconvenience since I was jonesing for the pot roast ). I could have missed another one, but that's the only restaurant I saw that was closed.