Terrifying Experince at Epcot

[melancholywings]

We had almost the exact same situation at Disneyland on a weekend in December. The CMS put up ropes packing us in so tight on mainstreet that you could only waddle like a penguin. People started pushing and shoving and I was on the cusp of a panic attack. I had DD (I lost DH), but 'made friends' with a group of tall teenage local boys and followed them out of the mess. They could see over the crowd and weren't taking crap from anyone. It was such a horrible experience that we'll never do Disneyland on anything but off season weekdays that is if we do it again.
I can't even imagine doing that with lost children.

 

[maxiesmom]

Having crowds to capacity that cause people to be jammed together like that is a serious violation. its sad to say but its only a matter of time before Disney has a huge law suit on there hands for something god forbid happening during these huge crowds... I don't understand why there are laws in place to enforce it. For example you go to a restaurant or club there is a sign that says Maximum Capacity. Wouldnt it be enjoyable for everybody (Cast members included) if they put a limit on who gets in.

Umm, Disney parks DO have a park capacity number. That is why they have all the different levels in which they stop allowing certain people into the parks. The parking lot closes first, then the ticket booths close, and so on until no one gets in. I'm not sure how capacity is determined, but if they are still letting people in, the park isn't at capacity. The problem comes from too many people trying to jam into the same part of the park at the same time.

I've experienced the same problem just trying to get from Frontieerland after Spectromagic to Main Street in time to see Wishes. Wall to wall people, with a couple of kids in tow, just kind of shuffling along. It is a little scary. But crazy me is going to see Disney over the 4th of July this year. I'm just making a plan ahead of time of where I want to be, and how I will handle the crowds.

 

[LMO429]

Umm, Disney parks DO have a park capacity number. That is why they have all the different levels in which they stop allowing certain people into the parks. The parking lot closes first, then the ticket booths close, and so on until no one gets in. I'm not sure how capacity is determined, but if they are still letting people in, the park isn't at capacity. The problem comes from too many people trying to jam into the same part of the park at the same time.

I think Disney's park capacity numbers should be lowered.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think Disney's park capacity numbers should be lowered.

Even if they lower the park capacity, you can't keep everyone who is in their from congregating at the same place. I'm sure there is some math equation that figures out how many people can be in the park. Probably size of the park+number of attractions +accesible exits or some such thing.

Besides, what the OP experienced happens very rarely. No need to lower park capacity on a daily basis. Better crowd control does seem to be in order though.

 

[vsimeone]

WOW! We were also at EPCOT on NYE and had dinner at Le Cellier at 7pm. After leaving Le Cellier at approximately 9pm, we took the same route that you describe as we were headed to Test Track to use a Fast Pass and then scout out a place for the late Illuminations. We, fortunately, did not experience the same crowd situation that you encountered. Perhaps the CMs got it straightened out before we came around that way.

I'm sorry that you and your family had that experience during your visit.

 

[bumbershoot]

For example you go to a restaurant or club there is a sign that says Maximum Capacity. Wouldnt it be enjoyable for everybody (Cast members included) if they put a limit on who gets in.

Umm, Disney parks DO have a park capacity number. That is why they have all the different levels in which they stop allowing certain people into the parks.

The problem comes from too many people trying to jam into the same part of the park at the same time.

Exactly.

I'm sure that night there were people in other parts of Epcot wondering where everyone was...all the while the hordes were in this one part.

We had almost the exact same situation at Disneyland on a weekend in December. The CMS put up ropes packing us in so tight on mainstreet that you could only waddle like a penguin. People started pushing and shoving and I was on the cusp of a panic attack. I had DD (I lost DH), but 'made friends' with a group of tall teenage local boys and followed them out of the mess. They could see over the crowd and weren't taking crap from anyone. It was such a horrible experience that we'll never do Disneyland on anything but off season weekdays that is if we do it again.
I can't even imagine doing that with lost children.

And that situation, from what I read, was also due to a mysterious lack of CMs directing traffic. Way too many people in a narrowed area without anyone directing traffic from the beginning of the problem. I didn't hear of it happening again this holiday season at DLR, even though right after xmas they had massive, hadn't been seen in awhile, crowd numbers, probably b/c whoever hadn't put CMs in those spots put in CMs to keep it from happening.



OP I'm so sorry that happened to you, your family, and almost everyone else in that crowd!

 

[GSDRescuer]

How scary!!!!! With little ones in tow......I would have been terrified. Glad you came out of it safely.

 

[bavaria]

As a 'foreign visitor' I would like to say that yes, I was offended by this and found it patronising. Only a minority of countries are (seemingly) unable to queue, so please don't make such sweeping generalisations. In our incident above there were plenty of people with US accents doing plenty of pushing!!

Yes it drives me nuts too when people can't stand in line, but please can we direct the frustrations these people cause at them directly rather than at everyone from outside the US?

Ah yes, one of the great myths here - that we foreigners are apparently the only ones who cannot behave, and that Americans somehow have a monopoly on good behaviour (there have even been threads started on the very same topic!)

Another myth - that economies outside America are doing better right now. They aren't - most were worse off earlier and will be worse off longer. I have been repeating that for over a year now; don't rely on us 'foreigners' to offset WDW losses from American visitors.

Both of those things are simply not true, and I would take this post with a grain of salt.

OP, I have been in WDW during major holiday crowds, as well as the other places you list. I would far rather be in WDW if I had children, knowing that there was some order and some security in place than trying to walk down 5th Avenue during the holidays, or the Great Wall on a peak weekend. Walking to work in Beijing is for me much more potentially dangerous navigating crowds and traffic than being caught in Epcot or any other Disney park. I know that it is frightening, but your best options are to avoid those days completely.

I too suggest voicing your opinion in a calm, brief, factual manner. Good luck.

 

[Lynn5700]

IMO letting so many people in one park is seriously dangerous. I know it's about Disney making $ and that is why they allow so many people in the park on NYE, but wouldn't it be better to make NYE or XMAS a Hard Ticket event...to limit crowds and possible dangerous situations. This way Disney can limit the amount of people in the park and charge a premium price for admission.

I'm curious if the OP would have been willing to pay extra $ to be there NYE but have to deal with less crowds...I know I would.

That is a great idea.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

I'm really sorry this happened and I think you should write a letter to Disney. I am glad you all made it out safe.

I actually had a woman from the UK get in my face after Spectromagic in Sept 2004, our first trip to Disney while we were standing in front of the castle. We had been sitting on the curb 40 minutes prior to the parade and there was another family on either side of us. These three older children came up and started pushing in next to my daughter...(my dh & I were sitting single file behind our child, 4 at the time)

At one point and time, they actually sat on her and I asked them NICELY to please move off of her, they were crushing her. They then started to push at the family next to us and that mother finally lectured the kids and asked where their parents were...finally, they moved.

The parade got over and dd and I were standing up waiting for our first time seeing wishes in front of the castle and DH was about to go find a restroom when the mother of these children came up and started yelling at me and swinging her hands at me....this scared me and Dh was trying to remain calm and tried to talk to the woman and explain that it wasn't I that lectured them...she finally walked away and dh left to go find a restroom.

This left dd and I alone...the next thing I know, that same woman came and walked behind me and hit me on the head and kept on walking. There I was standing in the middle of Disney with my 4 year old, alone...I didn't tell anyone except dh when he came back. I was in tears and didn't know what to do and the woman was gone. (Still brings me to tears) I am astonished at the rudeness of people when they go to the parks and it has forced me to be more forceful to protect my child. I now stand and I don't move while waiting for parades or fireworks. I do however, try to let small children up front because that is what the magic is all about.

This last trip, people kept hiting my ankles with their strollers and one woman ran into me ON PURPOSE with her ECV trying to make me move. DD was standing in front of me and a man carrying his daugghter decided to try to force his way to walk in front of me rather than in back of me and his kid ended up kicking my kid in the head...when I pointed it out he didn't even apologize....I think etiquette classes are needed for general behaviour....I think it is very, very sad that society has lost the politeness that it once had! (this was 2nd week of December)

Please let us know what Disney replies.

 

[NC State]

Your experience confirms why I refuse to go to WDW on NYE. My DH would dearly love to do it, but I want no part of a crowd like that. I can only imagine how frightening it must have been with your entire family in tow.

Same here, it's just not worth it.

 

[Lynn5700]

I'm really sorry this happened and I think you should write a letter to Disney. I am glad you all made it out safe.

I actually had a woman from the UK get in my face after Spectromagic in Sept 2004, our first trip to Disney while we were standing in front of the castle. We had been sitting on the curb 40 minutes prior to the parade and there was another family on either side of us. These three older children came up and started pushing in next to my daughter...(my dh & I were sitting single file behind our child, 4 at the time)

At one point and time, they actually sat on her and I asked them NICELY to please move off of her, they were crushing her. They then started to push at the family next to us and that mother finally lectured the kids and asked where their parents were...finally, they moved.

The parade got over and dd and I were standing up waiting for our first time seeing wishes in front of the castle and DH was about to go find a restroom when the mother of these children came up and started yelling at me and swinging her hands at me....this scared me and Dh was trying to remain calm and tried to talk to the woman and explain that it wasn't I that lectured them...she finally walked away and dh left to go find a restroom.

This left dd and I alone...the next thing I know, that same woman came and walked behind me and hit me on the head and kept on walking. There I was standing in the middle of Disney with my 4 year old, alone...I didn't tell anyone except dh when he came back. I was in tears and didn't know what to do and the woman was gone. (Still brings me to tears) I am astonished at the rudeness of people when they go to the parks and it has forced me to be more forceful to protect my child. I now stand and I don't move while waiting for parades or fireworks. I do however, try to let small children up front because that is what the magic is all about.

This last trip, people kept hiting my ankles with their strollers and one woman ran into me ON PURPOSE with her ECV trying to make me move. DD was standing in front of me and a man carrying his daugghter decided to try to force his way to walk in front of me rather than in back of me and his kid ended up kicking my kid in the head...when I pointed it out he didn't even apologize....I think etiquette classes are needed for general behaviour....I think it is very, very sad that society has lost the politeness that it once had! (this was 2nd week of December)

Please let us know what Disney replies.

That is God forsaken horrible. So sorry that happened. People are messed up. It amazes me that people with children act like that.

 

[elastigirl]

We were at Epcot NYE as well, and may have been stuck in the same logjam, although we were in China and were completely stopped. It wasn't a crowd control problem. The bridge between China and Africa Outpost was up, allowing something to go between backstage and the lagoon for fireworks. It was horrible and we had the pushers and the rude people too. But there wasn't anything that CMs could do, the bridge was up and until it went down, the crowd was at a standstill.

I've been stuck like that before in the park, usually during the afternoon, but never at a busy time. Who knows why they would have it up that late in the evening on such a chaotic night?

 

[Bella O]

Thank you for all the kind posts of sympathy. After the altercation w/the bulldozer woman behind me, a young man next to me said he was sorry that had happened to me and dd. It was wonderful that someone was kind in the midst of all this.

There is a lot in the way of crowd control that Disney could have done and should have done. We were there most of Christmas week and in all that time, never encountered such chaos. Yes, many walkways that night were packed - but they were still usable - that is, even though you and your party might be walking very slowly, you were still walking.

Disney should have had CMs there and all known log jam points. Ropes should have been set up allowing flow of traffic in one direction only on either side - like there was in Canada - another known traffic clogger. There was little problem being able to walk there. CM's could hold electric signs with arrows, noting one direction. The gridlock occurs because too many people are going every which way, and it became way too clogged for anyone to even move - or for awhile there, even push your way out.

 

[1hero2princesses]

Unfortunately this isn't just on really crowded days. You can end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. We did. In Sept. We got caught during spectromagic on that walkway that goes from somewhere near Liberty Tree over towards Splash mountain. We had a stroller. It was so packed people were on the sides, people started pushing. We couldn't turn around, couldn't back up. We had a 5, 3 and 1 year old. My husband really fought to get the stroller out of the crowd. I finally picked up my 5 year old and fought foward. When I started getting pushed down I pushed back to stay on my feet. I was getting really upset saying I have a child stop pushing. I just wanted to get my son out of there. It was only about 5 minutes but it was really terrible. I have only seen people act like that once before many years ago. I was downtown Chicago on the Lakefront on 4th of July. Someone yelled that someone in the crowd had gun and a huge surge of people pushed backwards. However there was a seawall (lakewall I guess) and no where for anyone to go. Friends and I actually did fall during that, but just pulled each other up and were able to break free. It was not nearly as scary as it was with small children. We won't go anywhere near that area again during a parade!

 

[yaddo121]

In Sept. We got caught during spectromagic on that walkway that goes from somewhere near Liberty Tree over towards Splash mountain. We had a stroller. It was so packed people were on the sides, people started pushing. We couldn't turn around, couldn't back up.

We ended up stuck in this same location several times over the holidays. They had CM's posted at the entrance and exit of the walkway warning people not to stop and watch the parade. But by the time you got to the middle of the walkway so many people were stopping to watch or take pictures that it turned into a traffic jam. It wasn't just Christmas or NYE...it happened several times during our trip. I think maybe they just need to post a couple Castmembers in the middle of the walkway, not just at the end

 

[The Hendies]

I apologize, I did not read each and every post, but I did want to comment.... I see from your ticker that you are going back next year at the same time!!! Why? If I had that bad of a time with the crowds, I would select any other time of year than NYE.

 

[pampam]

I am so sorry this happened to you. As I read the OP I thought perhaps the woman who was pushing was panicing. Of course I have no way of knowing this, but it seemed to me that if she was in panic mode, than she couldn't help herself. Or perhaps her child was panicing and she was trying to protect her child.

It must have been terrible for you. Please let us know how Disney responds.

 

[jhaig]

This is exactly why we don't go during the busiest times. I know some people have no choice but to go during the holidays, but you have to know what your limits are and how much you're willing to tolerate. I don't like mob scenes at theme parks, so we go in September to avoid ridiculous crowds. Simple.

And to all of those morons that try to push their way ahead just to see a parade - be careful who you're pushing. You might not find someone like the patient lady who just gives you a little shove to push you back. You might just find someone who's had a horrible day and is on their last nerve. Think twice before you find it necessary to shove yourself or your kids ahead of other people. Just like Forrest Gump said, 'you never know what you're gonna get'.

 

[auntpoly]

I think Disney's park capacity numbers should be lowered.

I agree. CMs have told me that there really are nightmare crowds at EPCOT on New Years Eve and we've stayed away.

I remember when I was young and going to big concerts at Arenas and Stadiums and sometimes the crowds get like that. People start to panic and the crowd becomes dangerous. It really is scary and I think that WDW should not let that many people into EPCOT. They are just asking for trouble imo.