Disney World Magic Kingdom Overcrowded Nightmare, Dangerous to bring small children...go figure! Orlando Florida

Fast Passes in Disney World don't come as part of a package, if you have a ticket to enter the park, you can get a Fast Pass (provided the ride you want one for isn't out of them for the day already, which can happen on the most popular rides on busy days).

As for the original complaint, it's been a while, so I don't know if the poster will read this anymore, but for anyone else's information, one breastfeeding solution I've heard from a lot of parents is to hop on the TomorrowLand Transit Authority (the elevated ride that winds along a path through TomorrowLand) and nurse your baby during the ride. It's a calm, steady ride with no hills or anything like that. And a lot of times, we've been allowed to stay on the ride for another loop around, so if you need more time to nurse than once around, you can likely just stay on and go again. It's not a huge line kind of ride, in fact, I can't remember the last time we waited, even, we usually just walk right on, regardless of what lines for other rides are like at that time.

Also, taking a 4 month old along with grandparents/babysitters so the parents can enjoy the rides while Grandma and Grandpa watch the baby is not a fun trip for the family, it's ride time for Mom and Dad while Grandma, Grandpa, and Baby sit and wait in the crowds and heat.

Fast Passes in Disney World don't come as part of a package, if you have a ticket to enter the park, you can get a Fast Pass (provided the ride you want one for isn't out of them for the day already, which can happen on the most popular rides on busy days).

As for the original complaint, it's been a while, so I don't know if the poster will read this anymore, but for anyone else's information, one breastfeeding solution I've heard from a lot of parents is to hop on the TomorrowLand Transit Authority (the elevated ride that winds along a path through TomorrowLand) and nurse your baby during the ride. It's a calm, steady ride with no hills or anything like that. And a lot of times, we've been allowed to stay on the ride for another loop around, so if you need more time to nurse than once around, you can likely just stay on and go again. It's not a huge line kind of ride, in fact, I can't remember the last time we waited, even, we usually just walk right on, regardless of what lines for other rides are like at that time.

Also, taking a 4 month old along with grandparents/babysitters so the parents can enjoy the rides while Grandma and Grandpa watch the baby is not a fun trip for the family, it's ride time for Mom and Dad while Grandma, Grandpa, and Baby sit and wait in the crowds and heat.

Fast Passes in Disney World don't come as part of a package, if you have a ticket to enter the park, you can get a Fast Pass (provided the ride you want one for isn't out of them for the day already, which can happen on the most popular rides on busy days).

As for the original complaint, it's been a while, so I don't know if the poster will read this anymore, but for anyone else's information, one breastfeeding solution I've heard from a lot of parents is to hop on the TomorrowLand Transit Authority (the elevated ride that winds along a path through TomorrowLand) and nurse your baby during the ride. It's a calm, steady ride with no hills or anything like that. And a lot of times, we've been allowed to stay on the ride for another loop around, so if you need more time to nurse than once around, you can likely just stay on and go again. It's not a huge line kind of ride, in fact, I can't remember the last time we waited, even, we usually just walk right on, regardless of what lines for other rides are like at that time.

Also, taking a 4 month old along with grandparents/babysitters so the parents can enjoy the rides while Grandma and Grandpa watch the baby is not a fun trip for the family, it's ride time for Mom and Dad while Grandma, Grandpa, and Baby sit and wait in the crowds and heat.

Fast Passes in Disney World don't come as part of a package, if you have a ticket to enter the park, you can get a Fast Pass (provided the ride you want one for isn't out of them for the day already, which can happen on the most popular rides on busy days).

As for the original complaint, it's been a while, so I don't know if the poster will read this anymore, but for anyone else's information, one breastfeeding solution I've heard from a lot of parents is to hop on the TomorrowLand Transit Authority (the elevated ride that winds along a path through TomorrowLand) and nurse your baby during the ride. It's a calm, steady ride with no hills or anything like that. And a lot of times, we've been allowed to stay on the ride for another loop around, so if you need more time to nurse than once around, you can likely just stay on and go again. It's not a huge line kind of ride, in fact, I can't remember the last time we waited, even, we usually just walk right on, regardless of what lines for other rides are like at that time.

Also, taking a 4 month old along with grandparents/babysitters so the parents can enjoy the rides while Grandma and Grandpa watch the baby is not a fun trip for the family, it's ride time for Mom and Dad while Grandma, Grandpa, and Baby sit and wait in the crowds and heat.

To Acs1107,

One thing ppl have not mentioned really is if they have an actual entire Disney Vacation package. We stayed at one of their hotels and were on site the entire vacation. With that we got the fast pass. Unless that has changed, it was available a few years ago when we went for Space Mountain. You might want to check into that again. But it may only be available if you stay in their hotels too. We don't do it any other way. We always go down, Disney or Universal, and get the packages that offer the fast passes. We're in and out in about 2/3 the time at any park and can enjoy other things. I don't think I would enjoy going as much if we didn't do an actual Disney Resort Vacation Package, you miss out on too much.

Here's hoping they haven't done away with fast passes for Space Mountain!

C.R.

My parents bought into the Disney Vacation Club quite a while ago and we make a family trip to Disney World every year. Usually we arrive in early June, which is outrageously busy. I completely agree with your disappointment in the "upgrades" done. With the money that Disney makes in any given year, the quality of the upgrades could have been significantly better.

I wanted to let you know that people coming into the parks at 10:00 pm are probably park hopper ticket holders or people who were there earlier in the day and left went elsewhere to get a break from the crowds. You can add a park hopper option onto your tickets (usually if you get a multiple day pass), which allows you to enter any of the parks as many times during a day as you want. Being yearly visitors, we know exactly what we want to see in a day at the parks and always get the park hoppers.

I can assure you that the more often you visit, the better your experience is (as far as the crowds/wait times goes) because you become more familiar with what portion of the park you need to hit at what times and which rides to get fast passes for first!

One additional note...I have not ridden Space Mountain in about 10 years because of the outrageous wait times and no fast pass option! This was once one of my favorites!

My parents bought into the Disney Vacation Club quite a while ago and we make a family trip to Disney World every year. Usually we arrive in early June, which is outrageously busy. I completely agree with your disappointment in the "upgrades" done. With the money that Disney makes in any given year, the quality of the upgrades could have been significantly better.

I wanted to let you know that people coming into the parks at 10:00 pm are probably park hopper ticket holders or people who were there earlier in the day and left went elsewhere to get a break from the crowds. You can add a park hopper option onto your tickets (usually if you get a multiple day pass), which allows you to enter any of the parks as many times during a day as you want. Being yearly visitors, we know exactly what we want to see in a day at the parks and always get the park hoppers.

I can assure you that the more often you visit, the better your experience is (as far as the crowds/wait times goes) because you become more familiar with what portion of the park you need to hit at what times and which rides to get fast passes for first!

One additional note...I have not ridden Space Mountain in about 10 years because of the outrageous wait times and no fast pass option! This was once one of my favorites!

My parents bought into the Disney Vacation Club quite a while ago and we make a family trip to Disney World every year. Usually we arrive in early June, which is outrageously busy. I completely agree with your disappointment in the "upgrades" done. With the money that Disney makes in any given year, the quality of the upgrades could have been significantly better.

I wanted to let you know that people coming into the parks at 10:00 pm are probably park hopper ticket holders or people who were there earlier in the day and left went elsewhere to get a break from the crowds. You can add a park hopper option onto your tickets (usually if you get a multiple day pass), which allows you to enter any of the parks as many times during a day as you want. Being yearly visitors, we know exactly what we want to see in a day at the parks and always get the park hoppers.

I can assure you that the more often you visit, the better your experience is (as far as the crowds/wait times goes) because you become more familiar with what portion of the park you need to hit at what times and which rides to get fast passes for first!

One additional note...I have not ridden Space Mountain in about 10 years because of the outrageous wait times and no fast pass option! This was once one of my favorites!

My parents bought into the Disney Vacation Club quite a while ago and we make a family trip to Disney World every year. Usually we arrive in early June, which is outrageously busy. I completely agree with your disappointment in the "upgrades" done. With the money that Disney makes in any given year, the quality of the upgrades could have been significantly better.

I wanted to let you know that people coming into the parks at 10:00 pm are probably park hopper ticket holders or people who were there earlier in the day and left went elsewhere to get a break from the crowds. You can add a park hopper option onto your tickets (usually if you get a multiple day pass), which allows you to enter any of the parks as many times during a day as you want. Being yearly visitors, we know exactly what we want to see in a day at the parks and always get the park hoppers.

I can assure you that the more often you visit, the better your experience is (as far as the crowds/wait times goes) because you become more familiar with what portion of the park you need to hit at what times and which rides to get fast passes for first!

One additional note...I have not ridden Space Mountain in about 10 years because of the outrageous wait times and no fast pass option! This was once one of my favorites!

In regards to your ridiculous comment about a law being passed when you were out of town then you not "Accepting" the ticket.... I dare you to try that.. I guarantee you will pay far more than the original fine. you really are stupid.

Disney isn't for everyone. apparently you have had the advantage of going so many times that it isn't magic anymore.I suggest planning a different vacation somewhere else so that the rest of the people that want to enjoy thier day don,t have to encounter grouches who are burned out on Disney.

here, here. the same happened in california. Disney's CEO doesn't care and neither do the castmembers. They might as well make it a cheap amusement park.

So Disney compensated you because you complained so much? I hope you understand they didn't compensate you because you were right. They compensated you because you make a stink.

Ok people, i could go on and on, for months on end, explaining the situation over and over again for those who don't read all the parts, but Disney has compensated me and i am pleased with their handling of the situation. You can continue calling me stupid if you wish, but just know i won't be reading.
This is a free country and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I merely started this rant firstly, because Disney OFFERED to speak with me but wouldn't return my phone calls and secondly, to let all the other uneducated parents out there know what they will deal with if their circumstances match mine and they choose to take a vacation to Magic Kingdom. Im sure alot of you out there may have the money to frequent the parks so of course you know better. But for people like me who haven't been to Disney World in a few long years, it just doesn't come instinctively to search for a "Disney Vacation Tips" book.
I mean, lets say you hadn't been to your home town in 10 yrs and some ridiculous law was passed while you were gone, like "$500 fine for farting in public" and then you go back home and let one rip while a cop passes by you...You are most definetly going to get a ticket and don't tell me you would accept the charge for such a thing on the grounds that "you should have known better and did your homework". Things change and sometimes it's just impossible to always keep up.
But like i said, the matter is settled, Disney was cooperative and professoinal. so i won't be reading any further comments.
thanx to all who had positive criticism. have a good one.

To the one who originally sent out this report. Just wanted to say a few things for you and for the next time you go down. Definitly do your homework before heading on down. the busy times are during the spring break/easter months when a lot of colleges and schools are out for the week. Next stay away from the Memorial Day Weekend all the way thru Labor Day. Your best bet would be after labor day till early november and then late january till early march, if you dont want to be waiting in those massive lines. As a cast member that has worked with the Magic Kingdom, i do sympathise with your frustration. I have worked the front entrance to the park, and know that it can get crazy at times. When you were trying to get out and you said that the cast members sent you to the back exit, that is what is called a blow-out. it is only opened 15 minutes before the parade starts and 15 minutes after the parade goes by, so that way the guest who are trying to get out can. As far as the guests coming into the part at 9pm, they were probably resort guests, since they have the extra magic hour that allows them to stay in the park up to 3 hours after the park closes.

Next time you go to spend the day at the magic kingdom, if you are staying at a disney resort, go 1st thing in the morning (unless it is an early morning day), spend a few hours at the park, go back to the hotel for lunch or hit the downtown disney area, then go back that evening. when the crowds are lining up for the parade, all the most popular rides will be little or no wait. the reason why i say to stay away from the parks that have the early morning openings, is because 90% of the guest staying at the resorts will be heading to that park 1st thing. so either stay away from that park all together for the day or try and hit it later in the morning or early evening.

As far as the breast feeding is concerned, i have seen mother's sit at a bench or on the sidewalk and just begin feeding. and it is florida state law that allows a mother to do this and not get in any trouble.

In response to the person who was thinking about bringing their 5 year old child, go ahead and do it. I took my step-daughter for the first time when she was 3. Loved it, now 4 years later, she enjoys all the big kid rides. with her favorite being rock'n roller coaster and tower of terror.

hope that helps with your distress

why would anyone over pay to get into an over crowded amusement park and wait in super long lines for the over-amped rides? disney-anything SUCKS!

why would anyone over pay to get into an over crowded amusement park and wait in super long lines for the over-amped rides? disney-anything SUCKS!

why would anyone over pay to get into an over crowded amusement park and wait in super long lines for the over-amped rides? disney-anything SUCKS!

why would anyone over pay to get into an over crowded amusement park and wait in super long lines for the over-amped rides? disney-anything SUCKS!

I wouldn't enter the MK an hour after it opened if Fantasyland and Space Mountain were in my plans. The lines for Dumbo and Peter Pan are an hour long by then. If you want to ride Space Mountain, you also need to be there at opening. Thousands of people are at the gates before the park opens, by the time you got there, they were all inside the park and in line ahead of you. I've only entered MK once an hour after opening, and by that time, Fantasyland is just not an option, but we knew it wouldn't be possible and did the less busy rides and shows.

And sticking around so late to leave, huge mistake. People start getting in place for parades and fireworks an hour before they start, and yes, people keep filing in to see the fireworks. I completely understand what you are saying about the crowds, but that is just how it is. You should have left much earlier to avoid the night entertainment traffic. We have only stuck around once for SpectroMagic and Wishes and it was mass chaos, but I knew it would be.

I really don't mean to discount your concerns at all, but it might make your next trip a little better if you research and plan more next time. I promise you that your experience would have been much different had you planned your day better. Be there when it opens, leave before the afternoon crowd hits. You will enjoy it much more, especially as your baby gets older and Dumbo is a must-do on her list!

:o)

Pirates didn't change the length of the ride at all; that would have required rebuilding the whole ride. Disneyland's Pirates is much longer. The ride was supposed to be darker as they did change the general premise behind the ride.

As for the Haunted Mansion, they added the moving staircases near the beginning (neon paint maybe?, those had never been there) and the entire attic was redone to complete a storyline that had only been implied before.

Walt himself said Disneyland will never be completed, so rides change!

Dan,

Your posting is ridiculous. I do not know how old you or your wife are but certainly old enough to understand Disney World is going to be super-crowded during school breaks. You still went there with a 4 month old baby. That almost borders on child cruelty.

I assume you are employed so you should have taken your vacation time at a slack time for Disney World such as September or October. The weather is great and the crowds are few at that time of year.

Do not expect to get preferential treatment everywhere just because you have a baby with you. If you had been pushing and shouting behind me, I would have turned around and told you to shove it. You stated you tried to leave the park at 8:45 so you could avoid the rush for the 9 pm parade. Why did you wait so long and not exit the park at 7:30? If you had done that, there would have been no problem.

I agree with the one poster who said anyone who goes to Disney World with a 4 month old is a prime candidate for a frontal lobotomy. The child had no fun that day; you and your wife were frustrated by the restrooms, the baby stations, and the crowds; and I am sure your parents (or in-laws) were equally frustrated by the situation as well as your griping.

You are owed absolutely NOTHING in compensation. You should have understood the crowds during peak times and the complications of having a baby along.

As an after-thought, I hope you paid the admissions for your parents (in-laws) as they were there to act as baby-sitters while you went on rides.

Response to rebuttals


"I know i left out a few minute details, but the simple act of reading and comprehending what i did write would prove your obliviousness.:

Not quite, Dan. I'm very, very well versed at both traveling and traversing the Disney Parks, and I've read your iteration of that specific complaint a dozen times from a dozen families with babies. And while I certainly admit that I misread your parade experience, it doesn't invalidate my criticism at all. My question stands: Why in the world would someone bring a 4-month old child to an amusement park?

Before, during, and after parades, guests line up on the sidewalks adjacent to Main Street. While that certainly makes jogging through the crowds difficult, it's still possible to leave the park - although it doesn't happen as fast.

And - and here's the important part, Dan - it's almost impossible to do with a stroller. (I'm also amused by the fact that Disney let's Babies into the park for free, but charges you $15.00 to push it around in a stroller.)

Your assumption that I have never had children - and hence - am unfamiliar with the "intricacies" of breast feeding one - isn't relevant here, except to reiterate that if a child requires breast feeding, making the conscious decision to bring that child to the Magic Kingdom doesn't reflect well on Mom and Dad's critical thinking skills. (I know, I know, nobody likes to be second guessed on how they raise their children, but with or without retrospect, that's one decision that most reasonable people would probably not have made.) Nobody's claiming that getting out the parks - especially around parade and closing times - is easy. It's not. In fact, it's difficult.

In any case, unless your complaint is a major one, complaining about crowds at Disney with a baby in tow is like shouting at a brick. Treat Disney like a barely tamed creature instead of a corporation, and plan accordingly. I do hope you'll try a trip to Disney again, when your baby is a bit older. Before you go, here's a book I strongly recommend you take a look at. It's well written, fun to read, and full of information so helpful, you'll want to post it on your blog. It's called "The unofficial guide to Walt Disney World." The ISBN: 0-4700-8963-6.

To the Madarabian,
.....I know i left out a few minute details, but the simple act of reading and comprehending what i did write would prove your obliviousness. Firstly, i know i didn't mention it, but we got there only an hour after they opened. Secondly, I stated that we were there with the grandparents who watched the lil one while my wife and i rode the rides. We did not bring her for her experience or memories, we went for US and as you obviously figured out she needed to be breast fed so she couldn't have been left at home with grandma and grandpa. (there are more details concerning the intricacies of breastfeeding which i'm sure you'd love to argue being the proud parent of a lil one, yourself - right?... ::sarcastic::)
Thirdly, the changing stations in most of the restrooms were greasy, at best, not to mention the lines, so the baby station was more convenient as well as staffed with attendants who regularly cleaned. And I only briefly mentioned that it would have been a lil easier on the walking to have one at each end. I'll admit we did go during a peak season so we could have done a lil more homework there, but unfortunately that time frame was the most convenient for everyone.
And fourthly, again you apparently didn't catch the part where i said we tried to leave at about 8:45 pm, BEFORE the parades started at 9. We were FORCED to stay during the parade that we tried to avoid. The streets were already blocked in spite of the tape. There was absolutly no crowd control, as far as i could tell, and the only exit that we were pointed towards by the staff, after wondering around for another 45 min, was UNMARKED. I had to bring the staff with me to show them that the exit, they were pointing everyone towards, was an unmarked alleyway, to which they quickly ran inside an office to grab a sign. Now, this supposed exit merely directed us around the backside of mainstreet and right back into the crowd. There was standing room only and (this to Edgeman) we did ask people to move about a thousand times, with increasing loudness and frustration because they seemed to only care about the parade and not about blocking the only exit. Only after having several people shove me out of the way and practically knock over the stroller did i let out my rage and do my own crowd control.
Being that it was peak season and our only available vacation time for the year, I admit my lack of knowledge did influence my opinion. However, We were simply out to have fun with our family at a park that has brought memories for me as a child. Overall, my opinions still stand their ground.

You can gauge how busy or how long the lines are expected to be by the closing time of the park on the day you visit. If the park is slated to close around 7:00, the lines probably won't be that long. If the park is scheduled to close at 9:00 or later, they are anticipating long lines and that's why they stay open later.

Disney has never really claimed they are geared for very young children. That is why children under 3 get in free. Usually one doesn't take a child younger than 2 unless they have older siblings that want to go. If you have to nurse your baby, you may do this anywhere in the park. Florida law allows you to do so.

If your children are not in school yet, go in early September, October, early November, late January, early February, etc. Do not go over the summer, spring break, Christmas break, long weekend holidays as they are very busy.

If you want to ride a popular ride, such as Space Mountain, go get a Fast Pass as soon as you get into the park. It does work. Then you don't have to wait in line for 80 minutes.

The parade does not block the exit, but there is a lot of congestion on the way to the exit. Stay on the sidewalk closest to the front of the shops on Mainstreet and that is the less congested way. The hardest place to get through is if you are near Splash or Thunder Mountain while the parade is on. If the parade is not underway yet, you can walk in the street to get out, even with the tapes up.

Be grateful you didn't wait until after the parade to leave. Then the exits are really congested for everyone trying to get out. That is understandable. No matter where you go, exits are congested at closing time.

If you are one who is usually under a lot of stress and want a relaxing time, do not go to Disney. I see many people screaming at their children in Disney because they wanted to go on a ride, or wanted to buy something, or were tired, etc. Isn't that just being a normal child in an exciting place?

Four months old is a little young for a trip to Disney World. I'm debating on whether or not I should bring a 5 year old.

I wasn't there at the same time you were, so I'll have to rely on your memory. Was there any reason why you couldn't have simply asked the people to move instead of waiting until you were angry enough to shout? I've been at crowded events and it usually just takes a moment to say "excuse me" and get through.

As for the rides, it seems that they didn't meet your expectations. I'm sorry that you feel you wasted your time.

"When it comes to Disney Word, however, we all agree that you need either a good plan, or a frontal lobotomy." Bob Sehlinger



Let me see if I understand this correctly. You brought your 4-month old daughter into a park at Disney World? I'm just curious, but what exactly were your expectations for your daughter? Did you expect her to meet the Disney characters? Were you imagining a day with you and your daughter gleefully riding the Dumbo ride over and over again?

Did you really, truly expect she would remember any of this? If so, which parts? Do you think she'll reminisce about her dining experiences? Will she fondly look back and remember riding space mountain? The haunted mansion, perhaps?

Wake up, my friend. The only thing memorable - provided a four month old baby could even RECOLLECT the experience at an older age - would likely be the ceiling of her stroller top.

On the other hand, I'd be willing to guess that the other guests at the park might actually remember YOU. Did you know that out of the top complaints about disney recorded by frommers, that "parents with strollers" came in at number five? It doesn't surprise me a bit. It's called "baby-brain" syndrome. Give someone a baby, and they think they're entitled to empty parks, immediate seating, total crowd control, and carte blanc behavior exceptions for everyone trying to enjoy a quiet dinner with a screaming baby at the adjacent table. Like George Carlin said, "your children are overrated." I don't know how you feel, but if you took 40,000 people, packed them into a few square acres, and poured hot Florida sun on them for 8 hours, I sure wouldn't want to expose a baby to that.

Having been at Disney over a dozen times during my life, I've always marveled at the parents pushing babies about while complaining how the experience isn't "baby friendly." So they wheel their strollers around like bumper cars, block paths, obstruct walking areas and entrances, and indignantly smash into the ankles of the other unsuspecting guests while complaining about large crowd movements.

Based upon the date of your posting, you probably went during a peak travel season, arrived at the park hours after it opened, and with clueless abandon, pushed your stroller from attraction to attraction, then stuck around for the late night parade. Curious again, how did your four month old daughter like the parade? What's that? You'll have to wait until she can talk before you ask her? No problem. And while you're at it, ask her what she remembers about it too. Oh? She says the only thing she remembers is the ceiling of her stroller? Imagine that.

Your complaints sound like you did no homework before your trip. What were you expecting in the Haunted Mansion? A laser light show? That's over in Epcot in the World Showcase. What did you want to see in Pirates of the Caribbean? Strippers? Of course it's antiquated. That's it's charm. I don't know what you were looking for on your trip, but you were looking in the wrong place, and you brought the wrong personnel.

Oh, and hy did you have to travel to a baby station? There are changing stations in every restroom in the magic Kingdom. Oh, that's right, because you needed to nurse her, because she's a 4-month old baby.


Here's my advice to solve your problems:

Next time you get ready to drop a few hundred bucks on a trip to Disney, either keep the baby at home, or wait until she's at an age where she can appreciate it.

Despite the marketing, the magic kingdom is designed for families and kids, not babies. Babies get in the way, and piss everyone off - including Mom and Dad.

If you want fancy smoke and mirrors, the magic kingdom isn't for you.

Get a book about Disney, and read it before you go.