What is going on with Disney parks?

[fatmanatee]

They don’t seem to be enforcing the smoking ban in the slightest. Before smokers tended to at least use the smoking area, but now they just find a corners all over the parks.

Didn't they reduce the number of smoking areas recently? Wonder if they went too far with that and smokers are rebelling.

 

[The Pho]

Didn't they reduce the number of smoking areas recently? Wonder if they went too far with that and smokers are rebelling.

They moved them all outside of the parks, so now if somebody wants to smoke they’re supposed to leave the park. A lot of them now just don’t use smoking areas.

 

[fatmanatee]

They moved them all outside of the parks, so now if somebody wants to smoke they’re supposed to leave the park. A lot of them now just don’t use smoking areas.

Ahhhh, yeah that's not surprising.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

No welcome ceremony in MK. No parades in any of Epcot/AK/HS. No evening parade in MK. (Fewer evenings at all in MK, given all the special events.) Far less live entertainment in general. Camera boxes! -- They really don't want any more CMs than they can get away with, do they!

As for the pressed pennies...

Is there no end to what they'll take away?

What's next?

- Free magical express?

- Annual passes?

 

[tink2424]

For me a huge problem is the behaviour of guests. I'm not happy with all the construction or the attitudes of some of the CMs, including a very lazy photographer outside MK last night, my photos of me and the headless horseman were dreadful, she snapped away before I was ready, I was directed to look in the wrong place and I was the only person in line, it was pure couldn't care less.
As for the smoking ban, I saw a woman smoking and told her it was banned in the parks, she lost her mind and was incredibly rude asking me if I was having a bad day (I was having a great one until then) Not a single CM spoke to guests flaunting rules, other guests were having to tell people that they couldn't smoke in the parks while CMs, including security, just looked on, those carts, so called banned, allowed in, selfie sticks, just go for it. I saw people having theirs confiscated at DL, but, WDW just lets them carry on.
I did both DL and WDW back to back and saw the difference in guest behaviour, DL was fantastic, not perfect, but, better, maybe because it was more locals, none of the entitlement I see now at WDW. I have a trip to WDW booked for September 2020, but, I'm rethinking it because of some of the things I experienced. Tokyo Disneyland is sounding really good instead. So nothing to do with cost.

I agree this is frustrating but I think the bigger issue is the CMs & security not enforcing the rules. The sad fact is that society is no longer rule followers and therefore if there aren't any consequences then they just do what they want. Disney should enforce the rules for the safety and happiness of everyone at the parks.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I always stay offsite in WDW and find the hotels to be quite competitive.

I stayed off site during my April trip this year. I have 7 kids so we rented a house just minutes away. 2500 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, for $1100 for the week. So yeah, when I do finally go back, I will most likely stay off property again. $1100 would be Disney's nightly charge for something that fits my family.

 

[jkh36619]

I stayed off site during my April trip this year. I have 7 kids so we rented a house just minutes away. 2500 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, for $1100 for the week. So yeah, when I do finally go back, I will most likely stay off property again. $1100 would be Disney's nightly charge for something that fits my family.

You can also rent timeshare condos cheaper than a value

 

[dreynolds1982]

For me a huge problem is the behaviour of guests.

I've been saying this for YEARS. IMO it's also the reason that less people are going to see movies in the theater now (but that's a whole other topic ha). I've been going to WDW for years and years, and also worked there in the parks and in corporate. I think there have always been some bad eggs among the CMs (but trust me when I say they don't last long). But I typically see far more great CMs than bad ones. But the people going to the parks are just plain terrible. Rude, inconsiderate, etc. Side effect of vacation brain, no doubt, but also just more and more the way people are these days (I'm only 37 but that's my "old man rant" ha). Disney is expensive, FOR SURE. Mega expensive. And when I no longer have my cast member connections for discounts, etc. I probably won't go as much as I do now. But the guest behavior thing is a big deterrent too IMO. That's partly why my GF and I factored in 2 non-park days into our upcoming trip. I just want a break from the dang people!

 

[dreynolds1982]

I agree this is frustrating but I think the bigger issue is the CMs & security not enforcing the rules. The sad fact is that society is no longer rule followers and therefore if there aren't any consequences then they just do what they want. Disney should enforce the rules for the safety and happiness of everyone at the parks.

Agreed, though I'll say, having worked on the front lines as a CM, I sympathize with them. It's hard enough to enforce some of the rules (like the smoking ban) just due to sheer lack of numbers, but also, it can be really intimidating. I worked in retail at ToT, Coaster and Fantasmic. Just mentioning that a guest was doing something they weren't supposed to would often result in said guest flat GOING OFF on you, claiming you were the one in the wrong, etc etc. Of course you can get security involved, or a manager, but often by the time you track them down (most CMs don't have radios or anything) the guest is long gone.

One time I was selling glowy merch during the F! pre-show. I was 19 yrs old and carrying a 10lb tray around my neck. Clearly, was on the lowest rung of the "power ladder" haha. F! got rained out and cancelled. A guest came up to me and DEMANDED they get a full refund on their park admission bc they didn't get to see F!. I politely smiled, apologized for the show getting canceled, explained to them that being an outside show, it is weather dependent, and said that they could always stop at guest relations on the way out if they have further concerns. They responded by GOING OFF on me for 5 minutes about how it was terrible service, they deserve compensation, etc.etc.

Point being, those kind of interactions really make many CMs gun shy and having been in their shoes, hard to blame em.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

Disney's rules are a waste of time. I just told a chap that smoking was not permitted in the parks, got a clever dick response, immediately found three CMs chatting and pointed him out. They said 'thank you' and walked in the opposite direction. Then walked past a team leader and told her what happened, telling her that it happens all the time and what is the point of rules when they are not enforced. She said she'll pass my thoughts onto someone higher. Yeah right.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Nothing to add, really! This says it all. The weight of priority.



EXACTLY!

I wish Disney empowered their CMs to protect and promote the experiences of all the rule-keeping, considerate "Guests" (i.e. enabled them to have the experience Walt intended).

When it comes to entitled, inconsiderate behaviour (line-cutting, view-blocking, flash photography on rides etc.) Disney has to prioritize one group or the other and by letting selfish behavior slide - they're, effectively, choosing those people and letting down everyone else. It may not be easy to police, but it is possible. They'd probably need to employ a few more CMs, though!

My DD#2 has worked as a CM for DLR 3 times. Once in retail (left personal issues); once as a ticket taker (left because of toxic co-workers and guests); and once as a CM in Batuu (those fancy light sticks; left last week because of lack of hours/issues with management).

When she was there, in both retail and tickets, she was spit on, cussed out, yelled at, etc. Her leads did nothing. She would follow the policies; the guests would have a meltdown; the leads would give in (to preserve that 'Disney magic', I guess). At Batuu, she was screamed at by people who couldn't get in to build those fancy light sticks, because the spots were full. She had one woman smack her arm (left a nasty bruise) because she couldn't bring her whole family (6 people) in with one builder (there is just not space for that); the woman got free glow sticks for her whole family.

Some people think that because they spend the $$, that they are entitled to whatever they want. Disney lets that feeling continue, because they want that $$, and don't want to have bad 'press'. Until Disney addresses these issues...the smoking in the parks, the abuse of the CMs...it will continue to get worse and worse.

We were at Busch Gardens, Tampa, a few months ago. Some woman was screaming at the GS people because something didn't apply on her tickets correctly (just what we overheard while standing in line). A guy came over to the woman (I'm guessing a manager type, from their outfit) and told her that she needed to calm down or she wouldn't be allowed to enter the park. At Disney, they would have handed her several unlimited FPs, apologized and walked her through the gates.

 

[The Pho]

My DD#2 has worked as a CM for DLR 3 times. Once in retail (left personal issues); once as a ticket taker (left because of toxic co-workers and guests); and once as a CM in Batuu (those fancy light sticks; left last week because of lack of hours/issues with management).

When she was there, in both retail and tickets, she was spit on, cussed out, yelled at, etc. Her leads did nothing. She would follow the policies; the guests would have a meltdown; the leads would give in (to preserve that 'Disney magic', I guess). At Batuu, she was screamed at by people who couldn't get in to build those fancy light sticks, because the spots were full. She had one woman smack her arm (left a nasty bruise) because she couldn't bring her whole family (6 people) in with one builder (there is just not space for that); the woman got free glow sticks for her whole family.

Some people think that because they spend the $$, that they are entitled to whatever they want. Disney lets that feeling continue, because they want that $$, and don't want to have bad 'press'. Until Disney addresses these issues...the smoking in the parks, the abuse of the CMs...it will continue to get worse and worse.

We were at Busch Gardens, Tampa, a few months ago. Some woman was screaming at the GS people because something didn't apply on her tickets correctly (just what we overheard while standing in line). A guy came over to the woman (I'm guessing a manager type, from their outfit) and told her that she needed to calm down or she wouldn't be allowed to enter the park. At Disney, they would have handed her several unlimited FPs, apologized and walked her through the gates.

On my trip to World on Labor Day weekend, there was this lady screaming at the cast members while blocking the tea cups so they couldn’t start the ride. She was demanding that 2 children need to be removed from the ride so that her daughter could ride in her favorite tea cup. She refused to move until a manager showed up 15 minutes later. They were given fastpasses, the people they inconvenienced by blocking the ride from operating were given nothing. They encourage this behavior.

 

[aballerina]

On my trip to World on Labor Day weekend, there was this lady screaming at the cast members while blocking the tea cups so they couldn’t start the ride. She was demanding that 2 children need to be removed from the ride so that her daughter could ride in her favorite tea cup. She refused to move until a manager showed up 15 minutes later. They were given fastpasses, the people they inconvenienced by blocking the ride from operating were given nothing. They encourage this behavior.

This is so wrong!

 

[Alynw]

Disney's rules are a waste of time. I just told a chap that smoking was not permitted in the parks, got a clever dick response, immediately found three CMs chatting and pointed him out. They said 'thank you' and walked in the opposite direction. Then walked past a team leader and told her what happened, telling her that it happens all the time and what is the point of rules when they are not enforced. She said she'll pass my thoughts onto someone higher. Yeah right.

Agree. The first time we ever went, years ago, this was my wife's biggest worry. Well, maybe not so much the other guest behavior but more so my reaction to it. I don't do real well in really big crowds and our first time was at xmas time so u can only imagine my initial reaction, it wasn't good at all. But to my surprise it wasn't the citizens behaving badly, it was all the foreigners, it was insane. They would literally push u out of the way just to get to a 8" opening in front of you,it got so bad I just starting grabbing people and pulling them right back out of my way. Then when they started to push my little girl, that was it and my wife could see my temper rising and I could feel myself getting to the point of fighting and I knew I had to figure this out and calm myself before I did something I'd regret or I'd end up hating this place so much I would never come back. So I did make myself breath and calm down and slowly got a mindset of just trying to enjoy Disney and take it all in and block out the crowd and I was able to enjoy myself. From that time till now, I prepare myself and go in with a specific mindset when I visit Disney. So yea, I definitely agree, these type of situations are created and fueled by people breaking the rules. If Disney were to enforce the rules the way they should, it would be a lot better experience and people would even spend more money. I can't count the times I would get frustrated and then skip going into shops or buying anything because I was aggravated.

 

[rstevens333]

They should sell guests squirt guns to deal with smokers.

 

[What_13th_floor?]

Agree. The first time we ever went, years ago, this was my wife's biggest worry. Well, maybe not so much the other guest behavior but more so my reaction to it.

My wife is the opposite, she looks forward to all of my condescending and snide remarks that go straight over the heads of most of other guests who act inappropriately towards us or the others around us.

Small example: someone cuts in front of us in the haunted mansion que: "I'm so glad you made it! I was saving that spot for you...."

 

[What_13th_floor?]

I think i posted something much earlier in this thread but I have a quick anecdote to offer. We are about to make the DVC plunge (just need to find the right resale contract). While we were on the fence about it I was walking and pondering some of the benefits and costs and everything that goes with it. I had a moment where I just felt like I want to go to go back to Disney and I want to go more often then we do now. I don't care how others may perceive our purchase (Disney people always say "THAT'S AWESOME, DO IT!, non-Disney people usually have the opposite reaction) or what the additional cost of all the "extra" vacations we will now be taking to WDW over the 25 years we will likely get the most use out of it will be.

The point is that for most of us in this bubble we have emotional attachments to WDW or DLR that go beyond rationale. I agree with most everyone on this thread that the things that are wrong should be changed but it will take a lot more for me to reach my breaking point (imagine a dystopian WDW akin to what BACK TO THE FUTURE 2's alternate timeline was). For now my biggest concern would be cost because if the cost of the tickets and food can come down then I would be happy with that.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Agree. The first time we ever went, years ago, this was my wife's biggest worry. Well, maybe not so much the other guest behavior but more so my reaction to it. I don't do real well in really big crowds and our first time was at xmas time so u can only imagine my initial reaction, it wasn't good at all. But to my surprise it wasn't the citizens behaving badly, it was all the foreigners, it was insane. They would literally push u out of the way just to get to a 8" opening in front of you,it got so bad I just starting grabbing people and pulling them right back out of my way. Then when they started to push my little girl, that was it and my wife could see my temper rising and I could feel myself getting to the point of fighting and I knew I had to figure this out and calm myself before I did something I'd regret or I'd end up hating this place so much I would never come back. So I did make myself breath and calm down and slowly got a mindset of just trying to enjoy Disney and take it all in and block out the crowd and I was able to enjoy myself. From that time till now, I prepare myself and go in with a specific mindset when I visit Disney. So yea, I definitely agree, these type of situations are created and fueled by people breaking the rules. If Disney were to enforce the rules the way they should, it would be a lot better experience and people would even spend more money. I can't count the times I would get frustrated and then skip going into shops or buying anything because I was aggravated.

This! I didn't want to say anything for fear of being called a racist or something ridiculous. Yes, I couldn't agree more. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of Americans behaving badly as well. But the foreigners do exactly what you said. I've been shoved out of the way or cut off more times that I can count without so much as an "excuse me" or "sorry 'bout that". I also don't want to throw all foreigners into this category. Some of the best encounters I've had have been with foreigners. But, by and large, if I get run over or shoved out of the way, it's a foreigner. It's got to be the money. Surely they're not like that at home. LOL I'm sure they're spending way more than I am to come here and visit what's supposed to be the happiest place on earth. I wish people understood - all people - that just because you can afford to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and I'm staying at one of the All Star resorts, or are spending $10,000 on your vacation while I'm only spending $1,500, that doesn't make you more entitled than my family and I to a spot in line.

And, yes, if Disney actually enforced the rules in place instead of rewarding bad behavior (as has been mentioned in several posts), it really would make it a more magical place. They might tick one or two people off, but they'll make 20 or 30 or more people very happy. I feel bad for the CMs, I really do. They get paid so little, have to put up with so much crap, and then (as it appears) get no support from management. I think when I go next year I'll go out of my way to make the CMs I encounter feel appreciated.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

At Disney, they would have handed her several unlimited FPs, apologized and walked her through the gates.

Nobody should be spat upon or injured for doing their job in a reasonable way. That is horrible.




WDW's college program is pretty amazing when you think about it. WDW has a constant supply of replacement CM's.

 

[Heather07438]

On my trip to World on Labor Day weekend, there was this lady screaming at the cast members while blocking the tea cups so they couldn’t start the ride. She was demanding that 2 children need to be removed from the ride so that her daughter could ride in her favorite tea cup. She refused to move until a manager showed up 15 minutes later. They were given fastpasses, the people they inconvenienced by blocking the ride from operating were given nothing. They encourage this behavior.

I tried to figure if there was any details that could've validated this lady's gripe. Nope.

The only scenario I came up with is maybe her daughter was walking over to that teacup and 2 kids ran over and jumped in right in front of her. Even if something like that happened, it's absolutely not a reason to cause a commotion. Normal people would either get over it or quietly let a CM know what happened and leave it to them. A CM might let them ride in that car next but wouldn't if you act like a jerk.