Why the bad reviews?

[Skyegirl1999]

People can suck it up and enjoy their day, we certainly had a great time after we were through waiting 40 minutes but at the same time when you are spending $130 to enter should you have to suck it up?

Sounds like you found some fun in spite of the security lines!

Believe me, I've filled out my fair share of surveys and emailed guest relations directly to share my thoughts about the security craziness. I wish it would change. I actually got a survey specifically about "park arrival" where they got quite an earful in the comments!

But if it doesn't change, and you find that it ruins your whole day, I see the options as A) stop coming or B) stop letting it ruin your whole day. People who pick option C) keep coming, but relentlessly complain about how it ruined their whole day - those people bewilder me! Don't pay $130 for an experience you don't enjoy!

 

[whoever]

I may keep going, but that doesn't mean I'll hold back about what irks me.

 

[katyringo]

IM feeling better about going during peak season now. (Teacher). When I started this thread I didn't expect it to become this thing lol. This will be my first time at Disney. We are surprising our 5 year old son. We are prepared for big crowds and waits. Gonna pack some patience and go with the flow!

 

[StarlitNight05]

IM feeling better about going during peak season now. (Teacher). When I started this thread I didn't expect it to become this thing lol. This will be my first time at Disney. We are surprising our 5 year old son. We are prepared for big crowds and waits. Gonna pack some patience and go with the flow!

That's the best attitude to go in with! If it gets overwhelming or too crowded just take a break. Enjoy your trip!

 

[goooof1]

If long security lines, big crowds and big $$$$$ spent upsets you.......stay away from football games, basketball games, concerts, etc. (and those have way shorter hours!!)

 

[sweethannah]

My biggest complaint isn't crowds and hours - although I wish they would do a late night version of EMH, it's the lack of notification about closures. There is no excuse for not posting ride closures more than 6 weeks in advance. I'm sure the amount of planning that goes into closing a ride for a refurb takes more than 6 weeks to plan so why the hold up? Case in point, the projected/announced changes coming to Paradise Pier in 2018. This takes a lot of planning and I'm sure the schedule of construction and closures is already firmed up yet outside of a few words at an Expo a couple of months ago there is nothing on the Disney site about the upcoming revamp. I've heard it explained before: this is a 'locals' park so they don't bother announcing the refurbs far in advance but it shows a laissez faire attitude to those out of town guests who need to book far in advance and can't change their plans 4-6 weeks before arrival. If DW can do it, DL can do it.

 

[Linkura]

If long security lines, big crowds and big $$$$$ spent upsets you.......stay away from football games, basketball games, concerts, etc. (and those have way shorter hours!!)

I do!! Which is why I won't be going back to DLR anytime soon. I am already planning my next WDW trip, though... There are still lower crowd times there, and the parks are better designed and managed for larger crowds as a whole.

 

[audrianna890]

My biggest complaint isn't crowds and hours - although I wish they would do a late night version of EMH, it's the lack of notification about closures. There is no excuse for not posting ride closures more than 6 weeks in advance. I'm sure the amount of planning that goes into closing a ride for a refurb takes more than 6 weeks to plan so why the hold up? Case in point, the projected/announced changes coming to Paradise Pier in 2018. This takes a lot of planning and I'm sure the schedule of construction and closures is already firmed up yet outside of a few words at an Expo a couple of months ago there is nothing on the Disney site about the upcoming revamp. I've heard it explained before: this is a 'locals' park so they don't bother announcing the refurbs far in advance but it shows a laissez faire attitude to those out of town guests who need to book far in advance and can't change their plans 4-6 weeks before arrival. If DW can do it, DL can do it.

I love the idea of a nighttime EMH. I'd take my kids to that. I normally avoid nighttime because of the big crowds.

 

[jlmarr]

"Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded." - Yogi Berra

 

[GatorChris]

People can suck it up and enjoy their day, we certainly had a great time after we were through waiting 40 minutes but at the same time when you are spending $130 to enter should you have to suck it up?

Those are my thoughts. For the price we pay, we expect...well, we expect what we used to get. DL has a diminishing return right now.

I may keep going, but that doesn't mean I'll hold back about what irks me.

Yip. I'll be there in November. And I know that DL has sucked at crowd control and security/gates for the last two years, so I expect more of the same. Doesn't mean I have to like it OR keep quiet about it. It's my hope that someone somewhere at Disney is combing these boards and passing it along to someone who matters.

That said, DW and I are already planning a non-Disneyland vacation next year. Doesn't mean we won't go back - my kids love it after all. But Hawaii would be a lot more relaxing - where the only line I'll see is at TSA (which is apparently Disney's business model).

 

[mummabear]

I may keep going, but that doesn't mean I'll hold back about what irks me.

Exactly! I love Disney, DH who used to is over it, he doesn’t like many of the changes, he will go for the girls and I for now anyway.
But just because I’m going doesn’t mean that I can’t be giving them criticisim in the hopes that the things that are bugging me will be fixed.
In fact I’m more likely to complain to a company I care about because I want to see improvement than one iOS t where I just won’t give them my business anymore.
For many of us Disney fans there is a long way between I am not happy about x and y to I’m not going anymore.
Sometimes we show it in smaller ways, one Halloween party instead of two because we aren’t happy with the price for example but it would take a lot to say I’m never going again.

If long security lines, big crowds and big $$$$$ spent upsets you.......stay away from football games, basketball games, concerts, etc. (and those have way shorter hours!!)

Never taken me 40 minutes to enter those.

I love the idea of a nighttime EMH. I'd take my kids to that. I normally avoid nighttime because of the big crowds.

I love nighttime EMH at WDW

Those are my thoughts. For the price we pay, we expect...well, we expect what we used to get. DL has a diminishing return right now.

This exactly. Many of us just wish for the Disney management style we used to know. It’s not just expecting things because our expectations are high, it’s because Disney used to set the service standard.

 

[KBinCO]

yeah, how is disney supposed to improve without honest feedback and reviews from those who aren't impressed? I don't think anyone needs to suck it up. It's a business with customers and customers should voice their grievances.

 

[audrianna890]

Has anyone recently been to SeaWorld? Granted, it's not the crowds that suck (noooobody there), but everything else does.

I TOTALLY get what y'all are saying. I just think of SeaWorld and how much worse it could be in terms of cleanliness, attractions/entertainment open, etc. I know it's kinda comparing apples to zucchini, but it makes me grateful for the things Disneyland does have.

 

[Sergio S]

They can increase hours and increase staffing, which they refuse to do. Disney's refusal to do this is causing a huge mess and actually causing people such as me not to return.

Its not something that can be done easily. Additional staff and additional hours means more costs for Disney. The cost can be huge! So, its easier to go with the problem then try to fix it.

Increasing hours might not also work as they probably have an agreement with the city that the park MUST close by a certain time.

You know, this is all so interesting to read because I hardly am ever in the parks after 3 so I don't see a majority of the crowds.

Out of curiosity, has anyone called guest services and complained directly?

I hear the complaints from time to time at City Hall, but really all the CMs can do is take a name, number, a report,and have someone else address it.

I feel bad for the families that only buy a one day ticket and experience the insane crowds, but its still not as bad as the Christmas season...but pretty close to it.

 

[azdisneylover]

yeah, how is disney supposed to improve without honest feedback and reviews from those who aren't impressed? I don't think anyone needs to suck it up. It's a business with customers and customers should voice their grievances.

Exactly!! I would volunteer my family for a week so the big wigs would do Disneyland like the average family, not like they are used to (special treatment). Let them sit on the floor for Fantasmic after eating "steak" cooked only one way and too bad if it isn't how you want it, plus, they need to use their money, NO DISNEY PERKS and wait in lines for the restroom, etc. I think after a week of them doing Disneyland this way, we would see some changes.

 

[minnieralyks]

Oh the scooters..... OH THE SCOOTERS!!!!!!

Let me tell you a little story about the scooters, those zippy little electronic convenience vehicles that people floor it on. We were sitting at the tables by the railing in the portion not closed off at RBT, near the Stage Door Cafe. Enjoying our dinner, people watching, waiting for our next FP to become available. Along came this family...who had two scooters. Logic would dictate to drive the scooter around the end of the railing to get to the tables. Not to this group. They parked the scooters in the walkway. Yes, in the walkway. They then proceed to get off their scooters, climb over the first railing and into the plant/dirt area. Then they hopped up over the next railing and walked to the tables behind us. We couldn't believe it. The family next to us saw it to and started laughing to themselves, we made eye-contact and nodded at each other, establishing a camaraderie, wondering what we had just been a witness to. Oh, and the cherry on top was they went to go get their dinner at Stage Door Cafe, so would have noticed the end of the railing (giving them the benefit of the doubt here), but they then proceeded to hop back over the railing and on to their scooters (still partially blocking the walkway) and zip off into the sunlight cascading over Frontierland. The end.


I'm just spit-balling here, but I'm guessing if you can hop two fences, you don't need a ECV....

 

[mpadilla89]

WE have been going every 2-3 years for the past 15 years (coming from Canada). For the past 5-6 years I've been visiting Disboards before our trips I always read about how horrible the crowds have gotten and how rude the people are. It always freaks me out and I think to myself "Oh no! Is it going to terrible? Are we going to have an awful time?" But then we go (always in peak season because my husband and I are both teachers) and it is never any worse than the previous trips. It is always busy, there are always waits, but it hasn't, in my opinion, felt like it's gotten any busier in the past 12 years. It always feels consistently busy to me. We always expect it to be so, and have a wonderful time.

This is exactly my experience. Every time i am going i will be on here reading how bad this is or that and how it has gotten worse since the last time i was there. Then we show up prepared for extra madness but it has always been the same as the previous year. Last time we were there was July 2016 it had normal crowds but it was very hot( never going in the summer again) and the time before that we went in xmas 2013 and i read how crazy that time is but we managed to do the same things we did the previous time. Even had more pictures and had character dining. I guess everyones perception of crowded is different.

Now if this is some ploy to get less people to come by all means please let me know.

 

[OKC Disney Fan]

A day at Disney is better than a day at most other places in my opinion. I still look forward to it no matter how crowded or frustrating things might be. It is such a joyful vacation for me. My grown daughter and I visit from OK 2-3 times per year. (Grew up in So Cal so it's part of my history) I love to see the kids sweet faces, watching adults being kids, and not thinking about whatever is going on in my outside life at that moment.
It has been magical to me for 40+ years and continues to be that way no matter what.

 

[bethwc101]

We will be there dapper day weekend with my DH and my father and my younger siblings. He called me asking me how crowded it will be. I told him to plan on it being busy, but it is always possible to do a lot of rides, you just have to prioritize and do some planning.
It might get annoying sometime if a ride you want to do is consistently at an hour plus, but either do it as the last ride of the night, or wait until parades and fireworks and it will likely be shorter.
Just be adaptable and always plan on high crowds, and everyone will be alright.

 

[Self-Rescuing Princess]

We literally just got back from a trip a few hours ago. We usually stay at the hotels for about three days. This time we decided to we wanted more flexibilty with our trip and with our daughter getting older she wanted to see her grandparents who live about a half hour away. So we stayed the week with them. Got up, drove got to the parks around nine, so no big lines to get in to parking garage, security or front gates. Got the fast passes, at breakfast....you know the drill. I guess what I am saying is we relaxed a lot. No big time tables, no rushing. except for making sure everyone was always feed and bathrooms, we let the day unfold, instead dog trying to plan every second. IT was wonderful. We hopped back and forth between parks, let the kiddo play with the water ball near space mountain, got coffee, people watched...

Yes, I still got run over buy two strollers and I still have issues with 8 year old boys in the women's bathrooms. Some food is over prices, but before every trip we look over all the new offerings, menus and restaurants to figure out where ewe want to eat. We also share A LOT. Most ice cream, popcorn and even chocolate can be shared.

But I relaxed. Kiddo still started melting down around 9:30, but it didn't bother me this time. I think you need to plan your trip and then stop watching the clock once you arrive. Smile, remember pleas and thank you. Joke with people in line and always understand there are bigger worries in life then a ride going down!

Just my two cents.