Today at the MK: Broken, Broken, Broken, and Closed.

[mshanson3121]

It could just be my mood today, but all these posts we've had since January about how terrible the crowds are and how much the experience has diminished have me feeling really down. I'm concerned that we are about to blow thousands of dollars on what may amount to a huge mistake. I'm afraid to even look forward to the trip. But if I go in expecting it to be miserable, how is that fun either? I mean, one HOUR for a FP line?

Ditto. I've honestly considered pulling the plug a couple times on our trip.

 

[LizzyS]

If crowded at WDW is akin to the sardine squeeze I've experienced at Disneyland, I'll be able to deal. We're headed to WDW on Saturday and I'm excited!

 

[LizzyS]

Can someone comment on the pathways at WDW when it's what most would consider crowded?

As stated, I am used to Disneyland and the pathways at WDW at least LOOK a lot wider.

 

[Dee McGee]

This has me more than a little concerned. We don't get to go that often. It's been over two years since our last trip in Nov 2015 so we finally decided to book December of this year for MVMCP and the Candlelight Processional. I hope we won't be terribly disappointed.

 

[mshanson3121]

As a marketing person by trade, you don’t cut back your efforts when you’re doing well. You keep a steady stream of messages out there to keep your brand top of mind. Universal is out there right now with ads that are blatantly ripping Disney. It is in Disney’s best interest to keep their brand top of mind. It would not be smart for them to let Universal go at it without being out there too.

Additionally, I believe there has actually been a decline in total attendance. I know there was in 2016, not sure about 2017 - don’t known if numbers were released. The parks are more crowded during slower times and I think it is because Disney is spreading out the crowds via the festivals, parties, special events etc. that you mention.

People who normally travel in summer have noted lower crowds than in the past. I think Disney is doing a better job of spreading the crowd throughout the whole year rather than having lopsided busy and slow seasons. More people on the hunt for the “slow time” PLUS the festivals, parties, special events you have mentioned spread the crowd out and make historically slower times more crowded.

Sorry, OP. My post has nothing to do with broken rides. I’m sorry you had a bad day at MK. Closures are definitely a big bummer.

I'm thinking another reason for the increase in wait times etc... is because of the cutback in CMs, running rides half loaded etc...

 

[Davey Jones II]

Can someone comment on the pathways at WDW when it's what most would consider crowded?

As stated, I am used to Disneyland and the pathways at WDW at least LOOK a lot wider.

Yes, the WDW parks are larger, with wider pathways than at DLR.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

With social media like these boards, Disney could slash their advertising and the message would still get out there. And it it meant less crowds, there would be lots of people talking about what a wonderful trip they had, not complaining about how they spent thousands of dollars and got little for their hard-earned money.

I don't think Disney's goal is to "spread out the crowds". Their goal is to try to keep the parks busy all the time, because that maximizes profits. Who cares if that means miserable guests, overworked and underpaid CMs, frequent ride breakdowns...

Marketing is social media plus tv advertising plus PR plus plus plus. The message needs legs on multiple media to reach all walks of life. But that’s enough marketing talk.

To each their own. My parents have taken me since I was a baby and now I take my own small children. We continue to have enjoyable and wonderful trips. I have never felt like we got very little for our hard earned money. Our last 2 trips were my DD’s first and my DS first and they were both a ton of fun (minus Irma cutting DS trip short!) Lifelong memories.

Over the years we have always alternated between slower times and busy times, whenever our family of 10-12 can go. Crowds don’t bother us and we have memorable week with our family every time, on the most crowded day of the year or not. We have never gone on the hunt for a slow time. It’s whenever we can all go.

Crowds and lines do not make or break our trips. We’re not squeezing as much as possible into every moment. We do what we can and have always approached the parks this way. Not everyone has a terrible trip.

I do expect a high level of service from
CMs. To me, that is what sets Disney apart. Not low crowds and short lines. That’s never set them apart. It is the CMs. Once that level of service goes away, then I will feel like our trips have changed. We continue to experience excellent service from CMs aside from a couple isolated experiences.

Sorry again, OP. I’m done now

 

[LizzyS]

Marketing is social media plus tv advertising plus PR plus plus plus. The message needs legs on multiple mediums to reach all walks of life. But that’s enough marketing talk.

To each their own. My parents have taken me since I was a baby and now I take my own small children. We continue to have enjoyable and wonderful trips. I have never felt like we got very little for our hard earned money. Our last 2 trips were my DD’s first and my DS first and they were both a ton of fun (minus Irma cutting DS trip short!) Lifelong memories.

Over the years we have always alternated between slower times and busy times, whenever our family of 10-12 can go. Crowds don’t bother us and we have memorable week with our family every time, on the most crowded day of the year or not. We have never gone on the hunt for a slow time. It’s whenever we can all go.

Crowds and lines do not make or break our trips. We’re not squeezing as much as possible into every moment. We do what we can and have always approached the parks this way. Not everyone has a terrible trip.

I do expect a high level of service from
CMs. To me, that is what sets Disney apart. Not low crowds and short lines. That’s never set them apart. It is the CMs. Once that level of service goes away, then I will feel like our trips have changed. We continue to experience excellent service from CMs aside from a couple isolated experiences.

Sorry again, OP. I’m done now

I totally agree. We prioritize what is most important to us and don't try to do everything on any trip and we've always had really great experiences at Disneyland so far. I look forward to Walt Disney World in exactly the same way.

 

[Eccle]

We were there this morning. We intended to rope drop 7 Dwarfs, but about 8.50 the cast member came out and said it would be delayed opening (it was about 1.5 hours before it opened). We moved to Tomorrowland entrance, and the cast member came out and said Space Mountain wouldn't be opening (still closed when we left just after 12.30). Splash was also closed from opening for about 2.5 hours. As a result, everywhere else was crazy from very early. We had a wait for a 9.45 Dumbo FP because they only had one side running, and I struggled to try and move forward our other FPs as planned. At 11.20, we waited 20 min for Buzz FPs. We went on Tomorrowland People Mover, and they had an issue which stopped it just before we boarded (though they got it back in about 15 min, and we did get to see Space with the lights on). We tried to go on the railroad but that was closed. In the end we abandoned the park at 12.30ish.

 

[bluehen]

Our original plan for this year was to buy an annual pass and go for mid feb to mid march. Then next year go for Jan. With all the reports of crowds and breakdowns I scuttled those plans and will wait for better weather and vacation them. We have always gone on off times and relaxed. We have gone every few years for decades. No business gets my hard earned cash unless they earn it. I have many options for my travel budget and Disney has some work to do to gain my confidence again.

 

[NJlauren]

What I want to know is for FP lines there is no way to know going in aside from looking at the line how long the line actually is correct?

 

[Louie7080]

So sorry to those of you experiencing all these closures!

Not that it will help in all situations, but it does sound like getting early fastpasses are even more important.

 

[Linkura]

What I want to know is for FP lines there is no way to know going in aside from looking at the line how long the line actually is correct?

You can ask the CM at the end of the line for an estimate.

 

[LSUmiss]

We were more fortunate during our October visit, not too many breakdowns. But, in general, from what I'm reading on these boards, Disney needs to rethink the way they ruthlessly use the parks as a cash cow. Their goal seems to be to pack them to capacity all year long, and that's just unsustainable. Rides just can't take that much wear and tear, and guests can only take so much of being packed in like sardines. The more people in the parks, the more the guest experience goes downhill. Even if the majority of breakdowns/shutdowns occur because of dumb things guests do, even those incidents are more likely to occur when a lot more people are going through every hour.

The parks are busy all year long now, so why the relentless advertising from Disney 365 days a year, as if the parks were hurting? Why add a zillion special events to draw more and more people, marathons, cheerleader events, tour groups (God help us), festivals, more and more Halloween/Christmas parties, etc. etc. (Halloween in August? Really??).

Wait, I can hear them already, the "Disney is a business" crowd is about to jump into the fray. Yes, Disney is a business. Does that mean they should treat their guests with contempt, in the pursuit of ever more outrageous profits? Where does it end? Some people on these boards talk as if the only thing that matters is that Disney makes as much money as humanly possible. Well then, if that's true, then they should hire big burly guys to hold us by the ankles and shake us over a barrel until all the money pours out of our pockets. Why not? I mean, the guest experience matters squat, the only thing that matters is Disney maximizing its profits, right? That won't happen as long as we have a nickel left on our persons.

More short term cash, at the risk of alienating your guests, is that really a good long-term business model? Seems they never heard the story of the goose that laid the golden egg. Keep overworking that poor goose, guys, I'm sure it'll just keep going forever. "Let's keep packin' em in like sardines, boys, let them fight it out over the attractions. Money, money, money!"

And we have noticed even these add-ons are jam packed to the point that they diminish guest experiences. I was one willing to pay for them, but when they’re jam packed too then you know it’s just greed. Parties have been overcrowded for a while now. We did a HEA DP last weekend & it was ridiculously packed. You could hardly get up to get desserts b/c the tables & chairs weee in top each other.

 

[North of Mouse]

I know its frustrating but you could be in 20 degree weather and at work!! I will gladly trade you.

Certainly not the way I look at it. When I'm on vacation and spending $$$'s and precious time I want it to be as optimal as possible - not just make do, and a time filler.

 

[LSUmiss]

It could just be my mood today, but all these posts we've had since January about how terrible the crowds are and how much the experience has diminished have me feeling really down. I'm concerned that we are about to blow thousands of dollars on what may amount to a huge mistake. I'm afraid to even look forward to the trip. But if I go in expecting it to be miserable, how is that fun either? I mean, one HOUR for a FP line?

Ppl will tell you not to worry, but everyone is different. I very much feel like that after this trip...that we wasted $$$. We are AP holders & go often & I am very used to the crowds at WDW so it’s not that I was naively expecting an empty park. I am one who has often said with the use of FP+, it doesn’t matter when you go. But this past week was just absurd.

 

[North of Mouse]

It could just be my mood today, but all these posts we've had since January about how terrible the crowds are and how much the experience has diminished have me feeling really down. I'm concerned that we are about to blow thousands of dollars on what may amount to a huge mistake. I'm afraid to even look forward to the trip. But if I go in expecting it to be miserable, how is that fun either? I mean, one HOUR for a FP line?

Actually, don't worry too much!! Sometimes when I read these type threads, then go to Disney, I wonder if we're talking about the same place! Maybe our good luck, but we've only had one breakdown while in line in the many years we have been going - Frozen. Have seen a few others at various times that were closed when we went by.

We never go at super busy times, or any holidays, which may make a difference - don't know. The same with transportation - no issues here. Service while dining - no problems. Maybe we have following us around.

 

[Dee McGee]

Ppl will tell you not to worry, but everyone is different. I very much feel like that after this trip...that we wasted $$$. We are AP holders & go often & I am very used to the crowds at WDW so it’s not that I was naively expecting an empty park. I am one who has often said with the use of FP+, it doesn’t matter when you go. But this past week was just absurd.

That's exactly how I felt after seeing this thread. We don't get to go that often. It's been over two years since our last trip in Nov 2015 so we finally decided to book December of this year for MVMCP and the Candlelight Processional. I hope we won't be terribly disappointed.

 

[amylevan]

Certainly not the way I look at it. When I'm on vacation and spending $$$'s and precious time I want it to be as optimal as possible - not just make do, and a time filler.

I think some people on this board never consider other vacation destinations, but there are many wonderful ways to spend our vacation dollars and only so many weeks per year that we can take off work.

 

[dizneegirl]

Honestly, even on their worst/busiest/most crowded days, the Disney World parks are still much better maintained, operated, and quicker/easier to get rides in than going somewhere like King's Island. You want long lines, try a regional amusement park...