Three Days at Disneyland...the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

[BayouQueen]

Seems like your experience is typical of most every day now at DL. I've learned to love DL again by finally deciding to just skip the nighttime shows. We maybe spend some extra time at DCA, swim, have a nice dinner, possible FP for WOC. Fireworks are visible from all over the place. I just didn't like the taste in my mouth that I was left with if we fought crowds and impolite people at the end of the day. I started thinking it wasn't all that wholesome for the little ones either. Now I am totally in love with the parks again. (I know most people don't want to miss the big shows.)

 

[skylynx]

Since we only visit Disneyland every other year or so, we toughed out the crowds for the night time parades and fireworks even though we knew it was going to be hard to be so crammed together for so long. Normally we feel the same way as you do about watching the fireworks from anywhere, but Disneyland Forever really needs to be seen at least once from the middle of Main Street so you can witness the surround effects.

At WDW, where we visit more often, we have totally changed the way we experience the parks, too, and yes, learned to love them again. But differently. We spend way less time at the parks, visit early in the morning then leave when it starts becoming unsufferable, and maybe return for a couple hours at night. We instead hang out at the resorts, drink beer or cocktails at the lounges and people watch, spend way too much time at Jock Lindsay's Hangar at Disney Springs, and eat off property at places like Bahama Breeze and Sea Dog Brewery. We love staying at Animal Kingdom, and while away many a pleasant hour on our balcony there overlooking the savannah. That has worked for us as long as we have annual passes, but I think it would be harder to justify the cost of only spending a couple hours if we were eating up a hopper day. I think when we no longer get annual passes, we will probably just have fewer park days, which will be fine.

 

[BayouQueen]

I had to see DL Forever at least once, too! And it really is awesome. I'm glad you got to see everything and that overall it was a good trip for you!

 

[skylynx]

Proof we got over everything we griped about.

 

[agamble]

A few years back in WDW, there were two men (I didn't know them) that arrived very early to claim their spot to the parade (they had no kids). As the parade started, the people that arrived much later and were obviously standing behind them were screaming at them to sit and they clearly didn't want to sit. One rude man from behind when as far as to grab them by the shoulder and said something really nasty to them. That's when I intervene and told the people behind that I would call the CM on them. If they wanted a great spot, they should have arrived earlier. I don't see a problem with these men standing if that is their choice.

People shouldn't harass other guests. It's okay to ask them if they would sit, but bugging them and touching them is not okay. If someone has a problem they should ask a CM for help. That being said, I'm pretty sure if you're on the curb CM will ask that you sit when the show starts. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[skylynx]

I can't think of a time I've ever witnessed someone in the front row being asked to sit by a cast member unless it is in a specifically designated area for sitting (they used to have these must-sit spots at Epcot for Illuminations, and may still have them elsewhere). They were great! CM enforced, so no arguments, and everyone could see!

My objection to the guys in front of us in my earlier post wasn't that they were standing themselves, since they obviously queued up early for that front row privilege, but that they hoisted their kids, who already had an unobstructed panorama of the parade route, onto their shoulders blocking the view of 20-30 people-including many children-behind them. I've just always assumed if you get to a parade or fireworks viewing spot late, you try to find the shortest people possible with no small children with them to stand behind, and just hope to heck a kid doesn't appear at the last second out of nowhere and get put on their shoulders!

 

[lovebug33]

Mother was following the example set by Beyoncé:
View attachment 161936

Rather than the medical advice of the CDC:

Although in defense of Beyonce was it actually hot? I have taken my child in my friend's hot tub because it has bubbles. But it is not hot.

 

[skylynx]

I guess the issue is since babies can't regulate their body temperatures, being submerged in even a 100 or 101 degree hot tub could potentially elevate a baby's internal temperature to fever levels. Our hot tub at home is a pretty standard 104 degrees which would be a really severe fever temperature if your body couldn't regulate itself!

 

[smellyia]

Hilarious mini TR - just what I needed to get excited about our DLR June trip. I choked on my drink reading shrimp boil....I'll never look at the Disney hot tubs the same again.

Not to hijack but night time attractions are what are bothering me most about DLR.

Since we only visit Disneyland every other year or so, we toughed out the crowds for the night time parades and fireworks even though we knew it was going to be hard to be so crammed together for so long.

We did WDW more too - how do crowds compare for nighttime PTN/fireworks/WOC vs Wishes, MSEP? They way I read it on here about DLR nighttime attraction crowds seem borderline horrific and worse than WDW by far....

 

[smartlabelprint]

Monday's are always busy at DLR.

 

[Sith]

Monday's are always busy at DLR.

Mondays are definitely busy. We took three trips last year(May, Halloween, Christmas), and Monday was by far the busiest day every trip. Still not sure why.

 

[skylynx]

Hilarious mini TR - just what I needed to get excited about our DLR June trip. I choked on my drink reading shrimp boil....I'll never look at the Disney hot tubs the same again.

Not to hijack but night time attractions are what are bothering me most about DLR.


We did WDW more too - how do crowds compare for nighttime PTN/fireworks/WOC vs Wishes, MSEP? They way I read it on here about DLR nighttime attraction crowds seem borderline horrific and worse than WDW by far....

I think the sheer size differential at Magic Kingdom and the physical space for more and lengthier pathways and cut-throughs make it feel slightly less claustrophobic even during parade and fireworks times. The Disneyland sardine factor felt way worse than crowds at Magic Kingdom have ever felt to me this time, partially due to the scale and partially due to areas normally available to absorb some of the traffic being closed off for the construction. The huge popularity of the parades and fireworks translates into substantial amounts of Disneyland real estate being blocked off or roped off for hours before the first event, severely limiting your mobility around the park from early in the afternoon through the rest of the day.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think the sheer size differential at Magic Kingdom and the physical space for more and lengthier pathways and cut-throughs make it feel slightly less claustrophobic even during parade and fireworks times. The Disneyland sardine factor felt way worse than crowds at Magic Kingdom have ever felt to me this time, partially due to the scale and partially due to areas normally available to absorb some of the traffic being closed off for the construction. The huge popularity of the parades and fireworks translates into substantial amounts of Disneyland real estate being blocked off or roped off for hours before the first event, severely limiting your mobility around the park from early in the afternoon through the rest of the day.

I agree with all of that. And I will add that with Disneyland's large local AP holder base they get more people popping in just for the evening to see those shows.

Definitely worth the effort though.

 

[mom2rtk]

People shouldn't harass other guests. It's okay to ask them if they would sit, but bugging them and touching them is not okay. If someone has a problem they should ask a CM for help. That being said, I'm pretty sure if you're on the curb CM will ask that you sit when the show starts. Can anyone confirm this?

We have always experienced a cast member walking the street explaining that people on the curb would need to remain seated. If I'm on the curb and went to stand to take photos I will typically offer somebody standing right behind me the chance to change spots at the last minute.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I came on the board to get excited for my upcoming trip this week. Instead, this report is bringing back all the anxiety of past DL trips. I completely forgot how awful the park can be just before/during/after their nighttime shows. I would think Fantasmic being shuttered HAS to alleviate some of this, but then apparently the loss of additional routes makes it sound like it could be more frustrating.

And yet they still don't serve alcohol inside the park.

 

[Dinohood]

sorry to get off topic i like hot tubs but not kids in them and yes some places have rules in place no one under 12 or what ever age but here is a story that will make you go what the heck. I was camping with my family at a koa campground the pool was not deep from front to back it was side to side i kid you not so there was no deep end but just deep sides. As for the hot tub and age i think they had the signs backwards it said no one under 5 in the hot tub and kids 14 and under must be watched in the pool.

 

[lovebug33]

I guess the issue is since babies can't regulate their body temperatures, being submerged in even a 100 or 101 degree hot tub could potentially elevate a baby's internal temperature to fever levels. Our hot tub at home is a pretty standard 104 degrees which would be a really severe fever temperature if your body couldn't regulate itself!

See my friends is like 70 degrees. They just use it for the bubbles. Not the hot part.

 

[Jairy]

Exciting to read this. We are going on a 3 day trip coming up very soon! We are doing Sunday, Monday, Tuesday in the parks. I have been a few times before with 5 day park hoppers and had plenty of time to do everything. I am panicking a bit about only having 3 days. Did you find you were able to get everything done? We are even thinking of skipping most shows (it's me and my 12 year old son), just to maximize our time.

 

[GatorChris]

The one other funny part of this trip that I forgot to report was seeing an actual rat at the Pacific Wharf area at California Adventure. It was under the table next to ours trying to escape some kid chasing it. Broad daylight. I thought to myself wow, Disney theming is that good they even have a live wharf rat at the wharf! This was a Disney first for us. We've seen a couple snakes at WDW in Florida, but this was our first rat. I'm not sure whether that's the good, the bad, or the ugly!

I could've gone all day without hearing this.

 

[tdhickey]

I almost fell off my chair at the shrimp boil comment, totally true and a reason I avoid the hot tubs (or bring beer in a travel mug with me). Parades are the bane of Disney, they are park traps that I have avoided for years. However, I will try and see paint the night and likely plan to find a spot at least an hour prior to the start so we can watch both the parade and the fireworks.

I've noticed most of the DLR stuff they rope off in advance creates a crowd travel nightmare (Fantasmic was awful for this). Monday feels like the busiest day in the parks now, even though it isn't the reduced hours cram more people in there and the rides don't run at weekend capacity. Seen lots of mice, rats there at times, this is why they let cats live there.