Amazed and Disappointed

I just came home from a week at Disney. Bathrooms in Adventureland were closed at 10:05.

Wow! Maybe I just haven't been observant about it. I guess that's when they start cleaning. I've been in the parks after closing (usually coming off an attraction with a long wait) and have actually been surprised to be able to stop in restrooms along the way, so it might happen as the CMs get to them.

That said, I'm pretty confident that there are open restrooms toward the exit until after the last guest has left. You won't be stuck without any.
 
Are you here now? This is my 23rd trip to WDW. I've been here at Christmas. I've never seen anything like this.

If the park was open until 11 or even later it would help. Fireworks are at 9. Castle show at 9:45. So everyone appears to be leaving at the same time. They have added a bus to the TTC because the ferry and monorail are mobbed.

To me it's many factors. Shorter hours. New fireworks show. Diminished attractions and hours at Studios. The only late night is Pandora which isn't a huge draw for many given it only has two rides inside a closed up park.

It's a complete nightmare, trust me.

Thank you! I feel like no one believes what I'm trying to convey or that I somehow don't have a proper grasp on things.
 
Can somebody help me follow this saga along? I check in 7/30, for the record.

From what I'm gathering from this thread, crowds are typical for the summer season (for the most part, at least). It's just Magic Kingdom closing at 10 PM every night that's making touring MK difficult at night? And making leaving MK for the evening a total nightmare?
 
Can somebody help me follow this saga along? I check in 7/30, for the record.

From what I'm gathering from this thread, crowds are typical for the summer season (for the most part, at least). It's just Magic Kingdom closing at 10 PM every night that's making touring MK difficult at night? And making leaving MK for the evening a total nightmare?
Again, over the 15-day period in July that I looked at in TP, using their crowd "actuals" there is a 12% increase resort-wide from 2016 to 2017. (https://www.disboards.com/threads/amazed-and-disappointed.3615389/page-20#post-57936102)

Combine 1) that slight increase in crowds with 2) MK closing earlier (1 to 2 hrs daily), 3) the rest of AK besides Pandora closing earlier than last year, and 4) even some earlier DHS days, PLUS 5) everyone leaving at the same time without the nighttime parades --> worse experience for guests at MK and Pandora in the later hours -- at minimum.
 
I find it amazing that even with the constant increase in prices, crowds continue to climb. Maybe Disney needs to jack rates by 100% and see what sort of impact that has on crowds. I suspect not much.
 
We were at MK last Friday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (with lunch at Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge). Yes, there were crowds, but we rode basically every ride attraction except BTMRR, Stitch, and the Tomorrow, and Speedway. We used a total of 13 FP's throughout the day. We got our spot for HEA at 8 and I will say the number of people watching the fireworks and the crowd control was a little nuts. As for after, we squirmed our way back into Fantasyland and while the masses left the park, we rode Peter Pan and the Carrousel. When we headed out around 10, there were a fair amount of people leaving, but we were on the first bus back to the Boardwalk and didn't have to wait but maybe 5 minutes for a bus.

I wouldn't call it a nightmare, but it was crowded. I really missed a nighttime parade! I'm sure it would have helped disperse the crowds post fireworks a lot better. We were also exhausted and wouldn't have wanted to stay any later than 10 even if it had been open later. I guess heading back "into" the park after the fireworks made a huge difference on our exit.
 
Again, over the 15-day period in July that I looked at in TP, using their crowd "actuals" there is a 12% increase resort-wide from 2016 to 2017. (https://www.disboards.com/threads/amazed-and-disappointed.3615389/page-20#post-57936102)

Combine 1) that slight increase in crowds with 2) MK closing earlier (1 to 2 hrs daily), 3) the rest of AK besides Pandora closing earlier than last year, and 4) even some earlier DHS days, PLUS 5) everyone leaving at the same time without the nighttime parades --> worse experience for guests at MK and Pandora in the later hours -- at minimum.

Okay, I see now. Thank you for clarifying, this whole ordeal is so frustrating.

We were at MK last Friday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (with lunch at Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge). Yes, there were crowds, but we rode basically every ride attraction except BTMRR, Stitch, and the Tomorrow, and Speedway. We used a total of 13 FP's throughout the day. We got our spot for HEA at 8 and I will say the number of people watching the fireworks and the crowd control was a little nuts. As for after, we squirmed our way back into Fantasyland and while the masses left the park, we rode Peter Pan and the Carrousel. When we headed out around 10, there were a fair amount of people leaving, but we were on the first bus back to the Boardwalk and didn't have to wait but maybe 5 minutes for a bus.

I wouldn't call it a nightmare, but it was crowded. I really missed a nighttime parade! I'm sure it would have helped disperse the crowds post fireworks a lot better. We were also exhausted and wouldn't have wanted to stay any later than 10 even if it had been open later. I guess heading back "into" the park after the fireworks made a huge difference on our exit.

This settles me a little. Thank you for sharing!
 
Can somebody help me follow this saga along? I check in 7/30, for the record.

From what I'm gathering from this thread, crowds are typical for the summer season (for the most part, at least). It's just Magic Kingdom closing at 10 PM every night that's making touring MK difficult at night? And making leaving MK for the evening a total nightmare?
Usually in the summer there are longer night hours at the parks. This year there are none. (With the exception of the Pandora section of AK being open.) Some people are saying that exiting MK has been a nightmare and transportation has been a mess. I personally didn't have problems with the transportation (not saying that it wasn't an issue for others), but I HATE that I had nothing to do after 10:00 every night. (My touring style has always included the late night stuff.)

If you go on July 30th and don't mind the heat and sun, there will be no issue with you doing the parks during the day:)
 
How? What I don't understand is why people get so worked up over this. Either accept it or don't go it's that simple IMO.
Hmmm...this is a board where people share their opinions and experiences about WDW. For people who love Disney but are concerned with certain things it's not exactly binary. Hearing people's experiences is helpful, at least to me it is.
 
How? What I don't understand is why people get so worked up over this. Either accept it or don't go it's that simple IMO.
I don't think that's fair.

I accept that if Disney doesn't correct their July mistake, my Aug trip this year will not be as enjoyable in some respects because of how we like to tour. Period.

I accept it. Do I have to like it or just stop talking about it on a discussion board? I hope not.

Are you suggesting that my only alternative is to cancel my Aug trip -- the trip that as a DVC member I planned 11 mos. ago based on how Disney has extended hours every year for years now? I shouldn't discuss it here?

It's not that simple. We are smart enough to ACCEPT it -- we can still DISCUSS 1) why they might have done this, 2) whether they'll correct this, 3) how/if/where we should provide feedback on it, etc. ... on a discussion board.

ETA: I'm on here in order to help set my and my family's expectations for next month -- precisely because we ARE determined to have an awesome trip. The more prepared we are for what we might face the better. This thread can be helpful that way.
 
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Hmmm...this is a board where people share their opinions and experiences about WDW. For people who love Disney but are concerned with certain things it's not exactly binary. Hearing people's experiences is helpful, at least to me it is.
I don't disagree with that but my point is sitting here and getting upset is kind of worthless. I love discussing my experiences at Disney with everyone here.
 
I don't think that's fair.

I accept that if Disney doesn't correct their July mistake, my Aug trip this year will not be as enjoyable in some respects because of how we like to tour. Period.

I accept it. Do I have to like it or just stop talking about it on a discussion board? I hope not.

Are you suggesting that my only alternative is to cancel my Aug trip -- the trip that as a DVC member I planned 11 mos. ago based on how Disney has extended hours every year for years now? I shouldn't discuss it here?

It's not that simple. We are smart enough to ACCEPT it -- we can still DISCUSS 1) why they might have done this, 2) whether they'll correct this, 3) how/if/where we should provide feedback on it, etc. ... on a discussion board.

ETA: I'm on here in order to help set my and my family's expectations for next month -- precisely because we ARE determined to have an awesome trip. The more prepared we are for what we might face the better. This thread can be helpful that way.
This. Exactly this.
 

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