What Have Been Your Least Pleasant Experiences at (or Trips to) DLR??

[Sherry E]

Okay, we all know how much we love DLR and a magic trip to DLR can make us temporarily feel as if all is right with the world. It soothes the soul. We get home and feel like we can take on the day and any other problems we have with a positive attitude! In fact, I cannot get to DLR soon enough to see the holiday decorations! I cannot wait!

BUT...there are those certain other times - and we know we have all had them - where something goes wrong in our trips to DLR and everything seems to spiral downward from there. For example, if you go in a large group of people, sometimes people can get into bad disagreements, and suddenly everyone is bickering about everything. You may even lose a few of your group members and can't find them! Groups of girls can sometimes start getting snarky with each other and end up not speaking by the end of the trip. Or... You lose your wallet...Your camera takes a dive into the waters of the Jungle Cruise..Your food doesn't agree with you and you get terribly ill...A large, furry character steps on your foot and breaks your toe...A waitress spills food all over your clothes...Your appendix ruptures... Things like that.

I am curious to know what your least pleasant experiences/trips have been at DLR, comical or serious. Everyone has had a trip that was not so great or had something happen during the trip that put a damper on it - not because the specific DLR-related reasons, necessarily, but because of other non-Disney forces (like family or other guests in the parks)! Sometimes there are trips where it just seems like everything is going wrong from beginning to end!

 

[austinosphere]

Can't speak so much about negative experiences at DLR so much as on DIS about DLR. I come to get excited about trips to Disneyland and often find b***ching about prices, or about how a cast member didn't sprinkle pixie dust and make their cash register ring up a corn dog at a reduced price because they didn't want the chips with it.

/I joke, I joke.
//But serious.
///But in a smiling kinda way.

But one time, we were all cramming to get on a shuttle bus back to our hotel(this was the second bus where people disregarded the lines and just crammed on, so my little family had to do the same or spend another half hour waiting for the next shuttle to have the same thing happen). I'm holding my little daughter, and we're just trying to get on just like the rest (we were 10th in a line that didn't even move for the first shuttle because people totally disregarded the line. So this guy pushes into me trying to power through the line (unbelievable, but you'd have had to see it) and makes me lose my balance and knock into some other people (again, holding my two year old). I lost my cool and hit him in the back, not super hard but enough to let him know I was very upset.

I instantly regretted it and do to this day. I was dissappointed that even though what he did was wrong, that I responded in that way. It was a good learning experience - like seeing how you act when confronted with road rage. Anyways it didn't ruin the trip, but it was a shadow on it.

At the time, I thought he was the ogre - but later I realized it had been me.

How's that?

 

[Sherry E]

It'll do for now! I was chuckling at your comments! I know what you mean. Some people have a less than magical time because of those things you mentioned - I have read those threads. I guess this would be the place for them to vent away!!

Most of my trips on a whole have been great since I childhood, but there have been times where spats have broken out between friends, or someone got something spilled on them by another person, or someone wanted to ditch someone else on Tom Sawyer's Island, or someone's ex-boyfriend showed up at DLR and made her miserable, someone lost a precious piece of heirloom jewelry or we got a flat tire on our way out of the parking lot - that kind of thing. I don't complain too much about the price of food once I am there because I already know what to expect before I go to DLR and whether or not I can afford to eat at some restaurants. And I don't LIKE the large, claustrophobic crowds that can accumulate, but I will cope and find ways around them. I know people who have had panic attacks there, and that was certainly the most unpleasant time for them.

 

[Sherry E]

But one time, we were all cramming to get on a shuttle bus back to our hotel(this was the second bus where people disregarded the lines and just crammed on, so my little family had to do the same or spend another half hour waiting for the next shuttle to have the same thing happen). I'm holding my little daughter, and we're just trying to get on just like the rest (we were 10th in a line that didn't even move for the first shuttle because people totally disregarded the line. So this guy pushes into me trying to power through the line (unbelievable, but you'd have had to see it) and makes me lose my balance and knock into some other people (again, holding my two year old). I lost my cool and hit him in the back, not super hard but enough to let him know I was very upset.

I instantly regretted it and do to this day. I was dissappointed that even though what he did was wrong, that I responded in that way. It was a good learning experience - like seeing how you act when confronted with road rage. Anyways it didn't ruin the trip, but it was a shadow on it.

At the time, I thought he was the ogre - but later I realized it had been me.

How's that?

Okay, I just saw you added this part. That's good! I have to say, though, I am not 100% certain that other folks woudln't have done exactly what you did or something similar! It may not be the 'right' thing to do, but I would bet that many of us in that same situation would want to clobber that guy too! I am glad he didn't turn around and hit you back, because that could have resulted in a very unpleasant situation for you, your daughter and everyone around you. That is similar to road rage, as you said. It is LINE rage. Some people at DLR are SO inconsiderate and just downright rude and can spoil an otherwise perfectly good trip!

 

[kaoden39]

Wow it is a toss up on which was the worst trip for us. One year we went in March of 2055 and the cheerleaders were there. We stayed at what as the Hampton Suites at the time, they were one of the "good neighbors" so I thought oh they must be a nice enough place. Well they weren't. We had mold on our bathroom floor, the sofa bed was broken, housekeeping was worse than bad. My husband started having panic attacks when we were there because of the loud and obnoxious crowds. Thankfully since then he has gotten control over that. He was sick to his stomach and nothing stayed down and it really made for a sad trip for all.

Then in 2007 I was gravely ill and I was close to dying thanks to God and a wonderful surgeon I am alive and kicking. I planned this trip for March 2007 wanting our children to have a fun trip to remember if I died. I should never have left home but I was determined not to disappoint anyone. Long about Buttonwillow I was so sick we had to stop to stay at the Motel 6. I was sick and vomitting all night. Kind of a March tradition at Disneyland for DH and I. Bit being a trooper or an idiot I forged on in the morning. By the time we got to the Disneyland Hotel I was so sick the desk clerk got us into a room right away. And this was like at 10 in the morning. What a great guy. I wrote a very nice note to Disney about him. We sent the kids of to Disneyland with my adult niece while I continued to be very sick. I honestly thought I was never going to be able to leave the room. The kids kept our reservstions at the Carnation Cafe. My son had the potato soup because he knew that was what I had wanted. I ended up getting well enough to enjoy 4 days in the parks, well three and an evening. I went on every ride I wanted to or was able to and made the trip as memorable as possible. Next trip will definitely not be in March

 

[Gisele]

Some people at DLR are SO inconsiderate and just downright rude

I agree that the above can happen. I would like to know why?
Perhaps some people are narcissistic? Or selfish? Or their background or culture is such, that they do not know nor realize any better? Perhaps it is a matter of some people just believing that their time is more important than anybody else's?

I was especially nice during my last trip. Frankly, it is unusual for me to be that chipper! he he! However, I decided why not! Now, having an ugly little disagreement with a couple on my boat while trying to enjoy my visit with the pirates, did not make me feel very good. I told her husband that flash pictures are not allowed, he did not have a problem with it, she did apparently. For then she chimed in. I am telling you, this womans mouth was going and going, I tried to ignore her, I stated what the policy is. I decided after telling this mans wife to just shut up, I would completely ignore her (I had not even said anything to her to begin with!) Real good example she set that day for their small son.
I wonder if I can get a job working as a flash picture security person! he he! Seriously! Minus of course, telling anyone to shut up. Even though I am sure that there are times that CM's would love to say that to someone.

 

[Sherry E]

He was sick to his stomach and nothing stayed down and it really made for a sad trip for all.

Then in 2007 I was gravely ill and I was close to dying thanks to God and a wonderful surgeon I am alive and kicking. I planned this trip for March 2007 wanting our children to have a fun trip to remember if I died. I should never have left home but I was determined not to disappoint anyone. Long about Buttonwillow I was so sick we had to stop to stay at the Motel 6. I was sick and vomitting all night.

Yes, I think maybe March is turning into a cursed month for you and your family, Kaoden39! That is one of my fears - getting violently ill at DLR or in a public place I am either not familiar or comfortable with being ill in. Given how ill you were, 4 days in the parks sounds like a lot of time to spend. You really are a trooper, and you were only concerned with making sure your family had the best time, despite how bad you felt. I can see your reasons for wanting that 2007 trip to be so special for your kids, but just the fact that you could even think about a DLR trip when you thought you were going to die is amazing! Obviously, I don't know the specifics of your situation, but I am SO glad to hear that your wonderful surgeon helped you in what I imagine was an awful, frightening, terrible time. I do hope that everything is okay now. You seem like a very nice, decent person with a good family (how sweet that your son ordered the soup because that is what you would want!), so you deserve to have a lifetime of many happy trips to DLR!

I agree that the above can happen. I would like to know why?
Perhaps some people are narcissistic? Or selfish? Or their background or culture is such, that they do not know nor realize any better? Perhaps it is a matter of some people just believing that their time is more important than anybody else's?

I was especially nice during my last trip. Frankly, it is unusual for me to be that chipper! he he! However, I decided why not! Now, having an ugly little disagreement with a couple on my boat while trying to enjoy my visit with the pirates, did not make me feel very good. I told her husband that flash pictures are not allowed, he did not have a problem with it, she did apparently. For then she chimed in. I am telling you, this womans mouth was going and going, I tried to ignore her, I stated what the policy is. I decided after telling this mans wife to just shut up, I would completely ignore her (I had not even said anything to her to begin with!) Real good example she set that day for their small son.
I wonder if I can get a job working as a flash picture security person! he he! Seriously! Minus of course, telling anyone to shut up. Even though I am sure that there are times that CM's would love to say that to someone.

Yes, I hate the occasional abrasive guest that I encounter at DLR. They are there, lurking in the shadows of rides, waiting to flash their cameras! When we went on POTC in October, my friend was annoyed at the person in the boat in front of us - not even in our boat - because they had their camera going and she could see it! Aside from the photo-takers, I think what you said is right on the money, Gisele. Many people are selfish and they feel like their time is more important than your time or my time or anyone's time. They feel that it is more important for them to get on a ride than it is for you or I to ride it, so they have to cut in front of us in line. They feel like they deserve the table to sit at and eat food more than you do, or they should have your prime parade viewing spot because they earned it and you didn't! Or, they feel that their photo session in front of the Castle is more important than yours and therefore, they will keep snapping away even when they see you are waiting for your turn!!!

 

[avalon451]

Well, there must be something about March, because that was when DD12 got so sick on the plane on the way to DL for our first trip. We made the best of it we could, and she did get to the parks some, but she missed so much.

The worst moment was on our second evening. I had planned a suprise for the family-- I'd bought reserved seating for Fantasmic!. However, DD12 was back in the room, feverish and nauseated, when I went to go stand in line and choose our seats around 6:15 p.m. I finally got up to the podium about 7:15 and got okay seats, second row center. I was wondering if DD12 would feel ok enough to see the show, and I was worrying as usual. As I got done, my phone vibrated with a new text message. It was DH, and all he said was, "Sitting on a bench over by the entrance to Adventureland. [DD10] says her stomach hurts."

All I could think was, "Oh, no. Not another one." I turned to one of the pillars there by ROA and found myself putting my head down on top of it in my arms and trying not to cry.

It turned out ok, though. I got a grip on myself and went to find them, and DD10 had just taken a restroom break and felt much better. DH went to the hotel to see how DD12 was, and she was awake and feeling pretty good, too, so she came to the show and did fine, and enjoyed it.

She got progressively worse until we left Friday, but on the whole, we made the best of it. And best of all, she and I did our "do over trip" (see link below) and had a fabulous time making up for it, last month!

 

[kiwitravel]

Just before our scheduled trip in 2004 my wifes mother died suddenly and in tragic circumstances, the funeral was the day after we were due to leave. We tried to reschedule the trip but the flights were all full, the airline was brilliant, they were happily going to refund our tickets in full but suggested if we still wanted to go to not cancel till the last possible day and to ring every day. We did this and on the very last day they managed to get us in an out two days after the funeral. Then we contacted the hotel who also moved heaven and earth to get us accommodated, we had given them a heads up earlier.

In the end the holiday was just what my wife and family needed at that terrible time, the incredible efforts everyone went to to get us on our trip was amazing.

 

[Sherry E]

Hmmmm... Note to self: do not EVER go to DLR in March! It is a cursed month! (Although...isn't that when the Girls-Only DIS-ers trip is?)

Gail, I read your TR a while back and you and your daughter definitely looked as though you had a fantastic time!! From everything you described doing and from the photos you posted, it seems like no stones were left unturned and you hit all the main things you wanted to do. It just looked like a lot of fun, with the face painting and the breakfast at Minnie's and all that. Plus, your daughter uttered that wonderful sentence that would probably melt the hearts of even the most jaded and exhausted parents when she said, "This is the best day EVER." You knew you 'done good' in her eyes!

 

[kkgunn]

We were on the POTC ride last Saturday. This is my favorite ride of all time and the one at Disneyland is much better, and it was down for refurb last time we were in CA (we live in Kansas now) so it had been a good 8 years since I've been on it.

The grandparents with grandson were behind us, they were in the last seat on the boat. The were LOUDLY narrating in baby talk the entire ride. "Oh look at the bang bangs" "pop pop" "wow over there" "hey look there is a pirate" "Oh look at that man run" and on and on..................................

It was terrible, and the child did not seem to enjoy the ride (he was whining).

Thankfully, I had planned time into our 1 day schedule to ride POTC 4 or 5 times. So, We just got off and rode again.

 

[Sherry E]

Just before our scheduled trip in 2004 my wifes mother died suddenly and in tragic circumstances, the funeral was the day after we were due to leave. We tried to reschedule the trip but the flights were all full, the airline was brilliant, they were happily going to refund our tickets in full but suggested if we still wanted to go to not cancel till the last possible day and to ring every day. We did this and on the very last day they managed to get us in an out two days after the funeral. Then we contacted the hotel who also moved heaven and earth to get us accommodated, we had given them a heads up earlier.

In the end the holiday was just what my wife and family needed at that terrible time, the incredible efforts everyone went to to get us on our trip was amazing.

Stories like that are great to hear about how people you don't even know are willilng to help and go out of their way to accommodate you. I am sure when your wife's mom first passed away, keeping the DLR plan was probably inconceivable to you. But because the airline and the hotel didn't give up on you, you ended up doing something that probably lifted your wife's and family's spirits quite a bit! I am so glad you all were able to have fun and enjoy yourselves in what was an otherwise terrible time.

 

[Sherry E]

We were on the POTC ride last Saturday. This is my favorite ride of all time and the one at Disneyland is much better, and it was down for refurb last time we were in CA (we live in Kansas now) so it had been a good 8 years since I've been on it.

The grandparents with grandson were behind us, they were in the last seat on the boat. The were LOUDLY narrating in baby talk the entire ride. "Oh look at the bang bangs" "pop pop" "wow over there" "hey look there is a pirate" "Oh look at that man run" and on and on..................................

It was terrible, and the child did not seem to enjoy the ride (he was whining).

Thankfully, I had planned time into our 1 day schedule to ride POTC 4 or 5 times. So, We just got off and rode again.

That must have been so annoying! I had a similar experience this past October when we went into the Animation Building and sat down in that main entry room on a couch to watch the film clips and the different examples of Disney's animated films. This young couple sat down sort of next to me, and when the "Aladdin" sequence started running, the song "Whole New World" was playing. The irritating girl in this couple began singing the song along with the soundtrack at the top of her lungs. Now, I love singers who can really sing, and if she had been any good, I might not have minded that she was interrupting the 'show.' Needless to say, her singing was HORRIBLE! It was off-key, as though she was tone deaf, and she was still singing it even after the song ended. And it did not appear to be a joke, like she was intentionally singing bad. It sounded like she thought she was on key. At least, if you are going to let everyone hear you sing, you had better have a darn good voice to show off! I was imagining that her boyfriend was thinking, "Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into?" He must have been so embarrassed!

 

[Gisele]

Oh my goodness! Baby talk throughout the entire ride with the pirates. I believe that I might have had to say something to them, like can you not talk through the entire ride? Anyway, something to that affect. Baby talk once, o.k. but for the entire ride! No way! (Shudder)

 

[Leash]

Backstory: We got married on the beach in Laguna on 11-17-06 and as our wedding -gift my parents put us up in the GCH concierge for five days around the wedding! We went to WDW for a 9 day hoenymoon Decmber 5th-14th '06. After all that we decided to take a break from Disney for just a bit. So when our anniversary rolled around in '07 we decided to go to DL for four days and go back to the beach we were married on for a day.

So the trip: Day one drove out from Vegas and went to the beach! Day two (anniversary) went to DL for the day, I was silly and ate too much ice cream in the afternoon so I was queasy for the rest of the night which sucked. We went back to the hotel early cause I didn't want to risk getting sick on a ride. About 3 am I hear a weird noise so I poke DH because I assume it is him snoring (as usual), he doesn't stop making the noise so I turn on the light. I look at him and it took a couple seconds to process but then I realize he is having a seizure.
He has scar tissue on his brain from a car accident when he was a teenager but he hasn't had a seizure in 11 years and we had only been together for 5 at this point so I freak out because I don't know what to do and I honestly think he might be dying.
He jokingly told me once "If I have a seizure put a spoon in my mouth so I don't swallow my tounge", as soon as I realized what was happeing I looke around for something to use and alll I can find is a pen so that's what I used. I then tried to call 911 but couldn't get the hotel phone to work so I fumble for a cell phone. I get someone on the phone and she talks to me until the paramedics arrive.
By the time they get there he has stopped seizing but has no idea where he is so they take him in the ambulance and I follow in the car to the hospital. The hospital wouldn't let me in to see him for 45 minutes and in the meantime I am trying to get ahold of my parents and they aren't answering the phone. So I call my best friend who wakes up and drives across town and bangs on their door until they wake up (all this with my cell phone dying). So I talk to my mom and she helps me calm down a little and then they finally let me in to see him. By this point he is stable and got his memory back but we have to wait while they take CT scans and get him pumped up on anti-seizure meds. They had no idea what caused it but they say with all the meds he should be fine, however he pulled nearly every muscle in his back during the seizure and can barely walk. Around 10 am they release him we went back to the hotel and he rested while I packed and then we got back in the car to head home, 2 days early.
I drove all the way on very little sleep but I was wired because I was terrified he might seize again in the middle of nowhere while I was driving. We made it home with no problems but I didn't sleep well for nearly 3 weeks.
He is good now and hasn't had another seizure since but will likely be on anti-seizure meds for the rest of his life since they still don't know what caused it.

We haven't been back to DL since and I have to admit I am nervous but I am keeping a good thought and allowing myself to also be excited. However I find I just can't bring myself to stay in that hotel, I know it wasn't the hotel but I just can't get past it.

So that is the worst trip to DL I ever had, I think it will actually serve to make me feel a lot better about any little annoyances we might experience this time. Line cutters, breakdowns, bad food- if that is the worst stuff we have to deal with I will be extremely thankful.

 

[Sherry E]

So that is the worst trip to DL I ever had, I think it will actually serve to make me feel a lot better about any little annoyances we might experience this time. Line cutters, breakdowns, bad food- if that is the worst stuff we have to deal with I will be extremely thankful.

I think you are right - any of the minor annoyances that would normally put a damper on a trip seem petty and insignificant after you have endured all that! I know someone else who is on anti-seizure meds for the rest of his life and it is not a picnic for him. I am glad that your husband has not been having anymore seizure activity. It must have been so scary for you to witness someone you love suffering like that. I may have panicked in the same circumstances. I give you credit for even wanting to go back to DLR, because I think an ordeal like that would kind of scare me off for a long time. Can't say I blame you for not wanting to stay in the GCH again - it would just conjure up uncomfortable and scary memories. You need to go back and start with a clean slate in a whole different hotel!

 

[Gisele]

I am sorry that happened. I hope that it never does again. I do not know why the hotel phone did not work. 911 should work from any phone. I would have asked the front desk about that, for how annoying and frustrating that experience with their phone had to have been.
Regarding seizures, based upon what first aid training that I have, and can remember, unless there are exceptions to which I am not aware of, it is recommended not to use anything to place into the mouth of the person that is seizing, for they can swallow x item, or choke on it otherwise. Also, it is important to move any obstacles out of the way of the patient, so as to minimize injury upon their person. If the person is wearing constrictive clothing, loosen it up. After a seizure is over, yes, a person can be afraid, confused, may have had wet themselves, etc. and not even be aware of what had happened. There are two kinds of seizures that I am recalling, grand mal (full blown seizure) and petite maul (tiny seizure, not as intense as the grand maul)



I am so very much hoping that your next visit will truly be a most wonderful, terrific, and extremely magical one!

 

[DizMe]

Wow...nothing I've experienced comes close to what Leash went through. You poor thing!!

There are a couple of things for me. First was when I lost my magic at about 10 years old. I went to DL on our annual trip and boom, no magic. I don't know what happened but I suddenly noticed seams, missing ceiling tiles, emergency exits, and things like that. I was so deflated. I was also terrified I'd lost the magic forever, but the next year it was back

The second time was when I went with my sister. It was Memorial Day weekend, about 1985. We were in SoCal for something else and made a spur-of-the-moment decision to head to DL for the day. It was so crowded...I mean CROWDED...that you couldn't see or do anything. It was like the crowds right after the parade has ended only it was everywhere. It was so un-fun that we gave it up and left.

The third time was a few weeks ago. I had a kidney stone attack in the middle of DL but managed to make it back to the hotel. It got a little better with the help of some Vicodin so I made the mistake of trying to go back. I made it to the entrance of Tomorrowland before the pain overwhelmed me. I didn't want to mess up the family's vacation and I knew they couldn't do anything for me in the hotel room, so I told dh and the kids I was not feeling well and was going to go back but for them to stay and have fun. I almost regretted that, as I really thought I was going to pass out trying to get back. I also thought I was going to be sick, but I did manage to get back to the GCH and to our room, where I collapsed on the floor. It hurt too much to lift myself onto the bed so I just stayed on the floor. Luckily, it wasn't a giant stone and it finally passed. Since I'm a chronic stone maker, it has always been my secret fear that I'd have an attack at DL. Thank heavens it was just a mild one.

 

[Gisele]

If you do not mind my asking, why does your body have a tendency to make these kidney stones? I hope that something will work out for you in the near future, so as to not have to deal with those rather nasty things any longer. I hope that you never have to go through that again. I sure am sorry to hear about your bad experience.

 

[disneymom23]

Last March, my son (6) went to use the bathroom. We were in line at Rancho del Zorro (not sure if that's the right name). I thought DH was with him but then he came into the restaurant and said our son was not in there. I panicked. It was only about 2 minutes until a CM found us. He had left the bathroom and didn't see DH. He started crying and a mom went up to him and then found a CM. It was the longest 2 minutes of my life.