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  1. bryanb

    Learned something about myself at Disneyland a couple of weeks ago...

    I worked at Disneyland a while ago, and it’s always going to be something more special to me as the original and my “home park.” So I am sorry to hear some of the experiences with CMs at DL. I never once thought of myself working at some “lesser” local’s amusement park, but there was quite a lot...
  2. bryanb

    August Solo Trip - Food and Wine and Heat

    I’ve generally picked Epcot area resorts during F&W, particularly the Swan/Dolphin given my Marriott status. During the first half of the day, accept that you’re going to get wet and hot… to the point where you almost embrace it as a part of your vacation experience in a tropical climate. I’m...
  3. bryanb

    Disney Adults Article

    Thanks for sharing this article! It’s always quite interesting how judgmental people are for others‘ choices, traits, and interests that have absolutely no impact on them. Of course, Disney is a corporation led by executives at many levels, marching to a mission of maximizing profits. But...
  4. bryanb

    Genie Plus, a must for busy days.

    Someone asked why they didn’t just keep FP+ and charge for it, rather than create something completely new. Under the old FP+ system, there was a fixed “inventory” of FP+ reservations at specific times. So if someone had a 7:30pm Flight of Passage reservation, and cancelled it at 7:15pm...
  5. bryanb

    What is the strangest thing You have seen concerning Disney

    I suddenly had flashbacks when I was working at Disneyland. You know how kids like to run their hands along the railings while going down the queue? There was a boy doing that with his tongue, down the queue. He did it several times before I believed what I was seeing. I was about to call out...
  6. bryanb

    Can't Get Email from Disney. Solutions?

    More than two years later and Disney still won’t send me a peep from the Parks. Strangely, the Shop Disney and Disney+ marketing emails did turn on... So I’ve got those. But they won’t send me anything about special offers at either WDW or Disneyland. (And I know they’re sending them out!)
  7. bryanb

    Magic Key Program

    Has everyone so far been able to get in on any day they want to? Looking at the access calendar, I see that most Saturdays from now and much of December is already booked, even for the top-tier Dream pass. i assume this is from people hoarding reservations only to cancel them the day before...
  8. bryanb

    Disneyland Twitter vs Universal

    People often talk about “Disney tweeted x” or “the Company did y.” In the world of social media, at a company similar in size to Disney, we used to keep our Twitter locked down but then the bureaucracy to get anything out there was unworkable. Now, it is possible for a manager to be empowered on...
  9. bryanb

    First Time At WDW And First Solo Trip Ever!! Tips and advice?

    I have a guess that the reservation system was built based on an inventory model where they throw a bunch of reservations in for 2 and 4 people and put only a small number of slots for 1 and 3. If the system was smarter, it would know that a table for 4 can seat 3-4, and a table for 2 can seat...
  10. bryanb

    NYE solo Disney Paris a good idea?

    I think it very much depends on the individual. While I have not been to the park in France, I have taken several solo trips to Disney parks, and find that if I'm feeling a moment of loneliness, it does not last too long because there's so much to do, I can redirect my energy toward the next...
  11. bryanb

    Club Level - Is it worth it?

    It largely depends on how you define “worth it.” If you’re doing strictly a dollars and cents calculation, such as: will you be able to get enough food and drink out of the lounge to break even? For most people the answer is no. Similar to how a first class ticket on a plane comes with a meal...
  12. bryanb

    MCO to Swan

    Ah got it. The last time I went was pre-Covid, so I didn’t realize they had stopped shared shuttles. The standard Mears service seems a bit expensive for a solo traveler, and there probably aren’t any great options that aren’t inflated. Even rental cars are a bit expensive now due to the...
  13. bryanb

    What is your top reason for going solo?

    I enjoy going to theme parks with others. When i worked at Disneyland, I also learned to enjoy Disneyland on my own and felt completely at ease, signing into the parks either before or after my shifts just to explore the details and appreciate them in complete leisure. I never thought to go to...
  14. bryanb

    Long stay, working remotely - is it a good idea?

    I don’t think you mentioned what hours you plan to be working. Assuming that your company is in the UK or Europe, there’s a 5-6 hour time difference. Do you have complete flexibility on your working hours? If you’re willing to wake up early and finish your day by 1:00pm (6pm GMT) or even a...
  15. bryanb

    MCO to Swan

    I’ve stayed at the Swan and Dolphin four times total. There has never been Magical Express to those hotels… so Mears has been the option of choice for decades. If you want to take a shuttle, just stop by the Mears desk (which is on the ground floor of the airport before you leave) or book...
  16. bryanb

    Do cast members change locations during a shift?

    I used to work Big Thunder Mountain. As greeter, I measured a kid who was an inch below the height requirement and would not let the kid in. The parents insisted to the point of confrontation, stopped listening to me, and entered the line saying that they were fine to ride. Of course, I had a...
  17. bryanb

    Do cast members change locations during a shift?

    Indeed, in the old days it was approximately every 15 minutes on most attractions. You’d work a rotation of three or so positions, staying in one place until someone came back from break and bumped you to the next station. When people were taking lunches, you might stay in the same spot for 30...
  18. bryanb

    Park Necessities

    I bring a string backpack (sometimes known as a sack pack). Super lightweight, and even foldable into a pocket when empty. It won’t be an excuse to lug around stuff I don’t need, because it‘s not designed to hold anything heavy. But it’s a good place to carry your water bottle when it’s empty...
  19. bryanb

    Lightning Lane dilemma

    I think your logic makes sense, but I don’t think this will actually happen. If they’re going to do this, they’ll do it on the handful of individual premium LL selections (Rise of the Resistance, etc.). But even there I have my doubts. As annoyed as I am that they’re charging $15 ($20 at DL)...
  20. bryanb

    Realistic plan for a solo traveler?

    This sounds like an amazing trip! Based on what’s known today, it seems doable. The one thing I would asterisk (as you probably know) is that park hopping takes a super long time even if you Uber, but especially when relying on Disney transportation. So for example on day 3, if you’re leaving HS...
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