Very disappointed in BB PTN tonight

[dragonflycurls]

But what would complaining now do? I'm really not looking for reimbursement. We did enjoy dinner. I just think that the powers to be should know about how it was handled and maybe the CMs running the area didn't need to be so rude and sneaky. I'd hope my email would get to the right eyes.

If we have time tomorrow maybe I'll go if it's not busy.

I think while they probably know it's a disorganized mess, the more reports they actually have of it, the better!

 

[BayouQueen]

Somewhat similar experience for me on 3/4. CMs would not give advanced info on where the line would start, and they did not want us hanging around in the area prior to 7:30. They kept trying to shoo us away. If they don't switch it up every night, prepare to line up at end of the reserved area, furthest from the castle.

I will say that the CMs did a great job at keeping non BB people out of the reserved area and that we had tons of space to stretch out.

Exact same experience for us on March 1. The instructions say to come to the reserved area at 7:30. It's not easy to time things exactly around a busy Main Street at parade time, but we were there at 7:25. The CM told us at 7:25 that there would not be a line and to go away and come back. DH and I were cracking up and making jokes about going to try to fit in another ride. Then all of a sudden there was a line, and we were at the end of it. Then, once in the reserved area, the lady next to me held her camera in front of my face and recorded the whole thing, and, of course, I really couldn't move anywhere. All in all a fail for us. No big deal, but wouldn't recommend.

 

[hanna-nana]

Got a call from Disney today. They've reserved a spot for us for tomorrow's parade. Said to check in at the partners statue at 7:30. DH is nervous about trying since last night was a mess, but I think we will give it a shot. Can't be worse, right? They did say I should have said something at city hall. I really wasn't after any compensation, just honestly wanted to pass on some feedback. Oh well. We will try this.

 

[mom2rtk]

Got a call from Disney today. They've reserved a spot for us for tomorrow's parade. Said to check in at the partners statue at 7:30. DH is nervous about trying since last night was a mess, but I think we will give it a shot. Can't be worse, right? They did say I should have said something at city hall. I really wasn't after any compensation, just honestly wanted to pass on some feedback. Oh well. We will try this.

That's very reassuring that they are taking care of you. But I also hope they find a way to make sense of the chaos you described. I'd love to hear more reports from the dining package area.

It sounds like you'll be in the VIP viewing area, so definitely not an opportunity to be missed!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

But what would complaining now do? I'm really not looking for reimbursement. We did enjoy dinner. I just think that the powers to be should know about how it was handled and maybe the CMs running the area didn't need to be so rude and sneaky. I'd hope my email would get to the right eyes.

If we have time tomorrow maybe I'll go if it's not busy.

Don't look at it as complaining. Look at it as helping management make better decisions for this premium package experience. Let them know that you did enjoy your dinner and that you aren't complaining, but that you have some observations based on personal experience that you think they should know. Let them know about the CMs' attitudes (do you have names and descriptions?). You would be surprised how much management cares about things like this. Like you said, this isn't about compensation, but about knowing that your comment goes to the right desk and helps improve this situation in the future. Don't be surprised if you receive a call back about your comment, even for emails. The Guest Experience CMs really do care about your comments.
Glad you were given a chance for a do-over. Let us know how it goes!

 

[Gisele]

I think last night's parade and firework crowd control was an epic fail on every level. My husband commented that the "JV" team was in charge. I was sitting across from the BB section in front of Starbucks. I couldn't believe how long they waited to put up the ropes to close off that section. It was after 7 before they put the rope up and then they had to kick everyone out who already sat down.

After the parade, they put up the ropes that make walk ways across main, but they couldn't get people to walk through them, all movement totally stopped, even on the sidewalks where they usually keep people moving. The fireworks were delayed because of wind. When they finally started, even though we were at the rope, we couldn't see a thing through the solid sardine wall of people not moving through the walk way in front of us. The fireworks came to an abrupt end in the middle of the Nemo part when the wind picked up again.

People were trying to move up mainstreet, other people were trying to move down mainstreet. No one could go anywhere. CM's were completely helpless and they knew it. Most stopped trying. It took us 45 minutes to get from Starbucks to the front gate! A very unmagical end to a magical day.

OMG! 45 minutes? Really? Wow. That's just frustrating!
Sorry for your trapedness. It just should never take that long. Hopefully, that situation won't happen again.
Can you imagine what may happen in the case of a real emergency? Whenever I see or read about how crowded the parks are, I can't help but not think about that possibility at times.

 

[hanna-nana]

OMG! 45 minutes? Really? Wow. That's just frustrating!
Sorry for your trapedness. It just should never take that long. Hopefully, that situation won't happen again.
Can you imagine what may happen in the case of a real emergency? Whenever I see or read about how crowded the parks are, I can't help but not think about that possibility at times.

That was exactly my thought as we stood there waiting to see if there would even be fireworks. What the heck would happen if something caught fire! It was nuts. I'd be curious how the crowd levels would be labeled this week.

 

[Cal-Pie]

As I walked by the BB section tonight, it was just starting to fill. I overhead the CMs calling for " the next group of ten" and then walking that group into the roped area in an orderly, single file line. Made me wonder if they've already made some changes.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I think last night's parade and firework crowd control was an epic fail on every level. My husband commented that the "JV" team was in charge... It took us 45 minutes to get from Starbucks to the front gate!

My mind cannot comprehend 45 min from Starbucks to the front gate in DL! That's just, wow, I have no words.

Did you notice if there were fewer CMs out? All this talk of cutbacks to the Disney parks budget on the blogs and WDW side of the DIS makes me wonder if this is one of the ways they're trying to cut back at DL or if last night was a total fluke. Although they must have been running a tight number of CMs if they couldn't even open the pass throughs on either side of Main St to relieve the congestion. I've seen DL traffic come to a standstill & CMs stop directing once: in Adventureland on a grad night. But on MAIN STREET?! And it wasn't even a holiday or weekend, that's sad. (And dangerous, that does not like a safe situation at all.)

 

[mom2rtk]

My mind cannot comprehend 45 min from Starbucks to the front gate in DL! That's just, wow, I have no words.

Did you notice if there were fewer CMs out? All this talk of cutbacks to the Disney parks budget on the blogs and WDW side of the DIS makes me wonder if this is one of the ways they're trying to cut back at DL or if last night was a total fluke. Although they must have been running a tight number of CMs if they couldn't even open the pass throughs on either side of Main St to relieve the congestion. I've seen DL traffic come to a standstill & CMs stop directing once: in Adventureland on a grad night. But on MAIN STREET?! And it wasn't even a holiday or weekend, that's sad. (And dangerous, that does not like a safe situation at all.)

I wonder the same thing. The initial reports on the cuts did say it was for all domestic parks.

 

[cinder-ellah]

Got a call from Disney today. They've reserved a spot for us for tomorrow's parade. Said to check in at the partners statue at 7:30. DH is nervous about trying since last night was a mess, but I think we will give it a shot. Can't be worse, right? They did say I should have said something at city hall. I really wasn't after any compensation, just honestly wanted to pass on some feedback. Oh well. We will try this.

That's wonderful !!!!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Got a call from Disney today. They've reserved a spot for us for tomorrow's parade. Said to check in at the partners statue at 7:30. DH is nervous about trying since last night was a mess, but I think we will give it a shot. Can't be worse, right? They did say I should have said something at city hall. I really wasn't after any compensation, just honestly wanted to pass on some feedback. Oh well. We will try this.

That's great! We know you weren't after any compensation but after what you went through and the time you took to inform Disney of the problem you deserved some Let us know how it goes, hopefully it's much more magical than Round 1 was!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wonder the same thing. The initial reports on the cuts did say it was for all domestic parks.

You're photos are adorable!

 

[mom2rtk]

You're photos are adorable!

You're very kind. Thank you!

 

[Cal-Pie]

My mind cannot comprehend 45 min from Starbucks to the front gate in DL! That's just, wow, I have no words.

Did you notice if there were fewer CMs out? All this talk of cutbacks to the Disney parks budget on the blogs and WDW side of the DIS makes me wonder if this is one of the ways they're trying to cut back at DL or if last night was a total fluke. Although they must have been running a tight number of CMs if they couldn't even open the pass throughs on either side of Main St to relieve the congestion. I've seen DL traffic come to a standstill & CMs stop directing once: in Adventureland on a grad night. But on MAIN STREET?! And it wasn't even a holiday or weekend, that's sad. (And dangerous, that does not like a safe situation at all.)

I didn't notice less CMs, just less vigilant CMs. None were walking the parade route before the parade telling people they would need to move into the street after the parade like I had seen on previous nights. Maybe a lot of people thought they could just stand on the sidewalks and watch the fireworks.

During the stand still, CMs on the sidewalks started trying to move people into the mainstreet stores, and CMs in the stores were forcing people back out. I failed to mention in my earlier post, that at this point my son got his finger smashed in the door at carnation cafe

Side note, gave up on finding a fireworks spot after all the cancellations in the last week, and happened to be on BTM when they started last night. Awesome! Watched the rest of the show from the exit. Sure you can't see the projections, but you're so close to the fireworks, it's amazing.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...happened to be on BTM when they started last night. Awesome! Watched the rest of the show from the exit. Sure you can't see the projections, but you're so close to the fireworks, it's amazing.

I felt weird "like" ing a post where your poor son got his finger caught I happened to ride BTM once during fireworks and it was magical!

 

[lucky1]

Got a call from Disney today. They've reserved a spot for us for tomorrow's parade. Said to check in at the partners statue at 7:30. DH is nervous about trying since last night was a mess, but I think we will give it a shot. Can't be worse, right? They did say I should have said something at city hall. I really wasn't after any compensation, just honestly wanted to pass on some feedback. Oh well. We will try this.

Probably how you approached it as well.. I saw chairs set up at the Partner statue in the hub, so that seemed like the better location and logistical much better for viewing, but of course someone is always in the back even with chairs.

As I walked by the BB section tonight, it was just starting to fill. I overhead the CMs calling for " the next group of ten" and then walking that group into the roped area in an orderly, single file line. Made me wonder if they've already made some changes.

When we went on 2/28, they were doing the same thing, but it was still chaos. No one knowing were to go and then obviously folks having to sit behind those on the curb. I understand why they have to do with they do and the crowds that are generated at DL don't make this any easier. But I will say it was a small group in the BB roped area, it certainly was not packed and over crowded and the CM did a good job of keeping non ticketed folks from scooting in. I really wish for BB guests when spending that amount per person ($62) they could figure out a seated area, just not sure how they can do it.

 

[Nonsuch]

Got a call from Disney today. They've reserved a spot for us for tomorrow's parade. Said to check in at the partners statue at 7:30. DH is nervous about trying since last night was a mess, but I think we will give it a shot. Can't be worse, right?

You will likely be in seated VIP viewing
A few tips, assuming the seating is at the Northeast corner of the hub:

• Arrive earlier than 7:30
• Select seats with a view of both Matterhorn and Castle
  
• Front row is great for PTN, but guests fill the street during fireworks
• Stay in the seats for fireworks

Please report on the seating location and share some pictures

 

[GeneralTso]

Glad they took care of you.
Disney is famous for really blowing it and then fixing it along the way. I SWEAR, I was there the last days of the Anna & Elsa meet & greet before they changed the way you line up.
It was utter chaos and literally guests screaming and yelling at staff. Women cutting in line with strollers, people IN line getting downright hysterical.

This was when you lined up on Main Street and they escorted you in, in an "orderly" fashion to the Frozen area. Oh my goodness. It was a hot mess. It was its own little pre-show while we waited.
It's fixed now, thank goodness.

 

[doctornick]

We are planning to do the Aladdin's Oasis PTN package when we go -- does anyone have experience with whether that viewing area has had similar issues? Our goal is just to have a hopefully comfortable area to watch the parade with my children and not have to line up 2 hours ahead of time.