What's the biggest design "mistake" at WDW?

[OKW Lover]

OK, So we all know that the Imagineers are infallible. Everything in the parks is carefully thought out, modeled, etc. But somehow, there are things that just don't "work" - at least from my perspective. For example:

• The Swan/Dolphin are very out of place around Cresent Lake and they visually intrude on World Showcase. They either should have located them elsewhere or visually similar to the rest of the area.
• The BAH at the studio doesn't belong in front of the theater. (Not that I don't like the hat - its just the location I dislike.
• The Leave a Legacy structures (OK, tombstones) in the Epcot entrance plaza just impede traffic flows.

So the question is;
What do the rest of our DIS Amateur Imagineers (DAI) think are the big design mistakes?

 

[Goofypop]

I would have to say the entire layout of DHS. There is just no good way to have a "plan of attack". You end up backtracking a lot.

 

[OKW Lover]

Good point GoofyPop! I always find it confusing - especially the two different passages "behind" the theater.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I've never been to WDW but can I throw in a big one at Disneyland? The rocket ride blocks the entrance to Tomorrowland and makes a small area even more crowded. I really have to ask what were they thinking?

 

[MainStreetFireman]

I think the biggest design mistake is rides that start out as queues, then go into mass waiting areas where you are encouraged to herd, then reform into queues. I found myself more than annoyed on a few occasions where people felt the need to buffalo through my family to gain 3 more spots in line. Examples of this include:

Haunted Mansion
Tower of Terror
Philharmagic (the second queue being the rows themselves)
Test Track

 

[Goofypop]

I think the biggest design mistake is rides that start out as queues, then go into mass waiting areas where you are encouraged to herd, then reform into queues. I found myself more than annoyed on a few occasions where people felt the need to buffalo through my family to gain 3 more spots in line. Examples of this include:

Haunted Mansion
Tower of Terror
Philharmagic (the second que being the rows themselves)
Test Track

This same thing tends to happen right at the building entrance to PotC. It is a bit larger in there and people try to slip past you to get a feew places farther ahead. We were behind three young adults last trip and when we got to this point the two guys spread out and held their arms out slightly to block anyone from trying to go around them. I wasn't trying to and couldn't help but laugh at them and tell them they looked ridiculous doing that and looking back and me with the stink eye. LOL They were puffing up their chests (no joke) to try and intimidate me rotfl2 and I wasn't even trying to move like I was going around them. I was happy were I was. Yes, some people have no sense.

 

[WebmasterMike]

Replace the asphalt street at MK with pavers!

 

[DisneyKevin]

Replace the asphalt street at MK with pavers!

People in wheelchairs will probably not appreciate this idea.

 

[WebmasterMike]

People in wheelchairs will probably not appreciate this idea.

Jeff did not say it had to be ADA compliant.

You know, Kevin, now that I think about it, I did not see many folks in Wheelchairs at DLP. Most of DLP was not Wheelchair friendly.
Maybe that is why they had strollers built like Monster Trucks.

 

[Goofypop]

Replace the asphalt street at MK with pavers!

I love this look. Gorgeous. It looks very smooth, why would a wheelchair person have issues with this? (keep in mind I have never ridden in a wheel chair so I may be missing the point)

 

[Justin Jett]

People in wheelchairs will probably not appreciate this idea.

So true!

 

[MainStreetFireman]

...could be achieved with painting a red surface to RESEMBLE pavers?

(Of course, then the sealant would probably make the surface a little slicker).

 

[CaptainAlex]

When I saw the Leave a Legacy blocks in EPCOZT the first thing that came to mind is that they make realy good structures to prevent a car bomb from entering deep into EPCOT. Sad that this was my thought when first seeing them last month.

I agree with the earlier poster about the mass waiting areas after the queue. I had to hold on to my kids tight in the Haunted Mansion because I thought they would be stepped on with all of those people packe din the room.

I think the Imagineers need to relook at how crowds flow and don't flow right before the parade at night at MK. It felt dangerous at times.

 

[BayouMickey]

not alone people in wheelchairs, but people who have trouble walking as well. people don't realize that rough terain is very hard on people's feet that have to work harder to keep balance.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

Replace the asphalt street at MK with pavers!

/QUOTE]

I don't know if that would make a difference. The last few times I've been there, it was so packed I couldn't tell what the street was made out of anyway.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

Those bricks on Cinderella Castle aren't really bricks. You could paint main street to look like bricks. I don't know how the wear and tear would be on a daily basis.

The poster mentioning DHS layout was correct. This is not a large park, but I still can't find my way to specific areas. The layout could have been better.

 

[kbelle8995]

There was time when imagineers were building store facilities that were very open.

There's one outside the entrance for animal kingdom and the Pin store at DTD.

Great in California but here in Florida sometimes the rain blows sideways not so much fun. The have fixed these some but still not one of their brighter ideas.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I've never been to WDW but can I throw in a big one at Disneyland? The rocket ride blocks the entrance to Tomorrowland and makes a small area even more crowded. I really have to ask what were they thinking?

Not to mention the Trazan Treehouse entrance in the middle of a crowded Adventureland pathway.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

The Leave-a-Legacy stones at Epcot are awful. Honestly, I think they're the biggest eyesore on property.

 

[Golf4food]

Dinoland USA. What an eyesore. Worst "land" in any park, anywhere. A travesty to Disney imagineering and Disney quality, especially in AK where everything else is so detailed and realistic and well done. Dinoland belongs in a Six Flags over Crapville, not in a Disney park.

I agree with others - DHS is a bad layout.

The Swolphin sticks out like a sore thumb while walking around Epcot and more or less ruins the International look of the World Showcase.