Routing Guests Backstage

[kramden88]

Preface: this happened summer of 2009 but it's still bugging me so I thought I'd post it and see what other people thought.

One night I was at MK and after the fireworks were over and the park was closed (no Extra Magic Hours) and people were leaving, cast members started diverting guests backstage (there's a CM gate by the bathrooms next to the Tomorrowland Noodle Station) so that we could exit that way instead of through the main gate. It took us past storage tanks and parked cars and probably a dumpster or two to the outside of the park between the entrance and the bus stops. I just couldn't believe that they would do that, I kept thinking to myself that Walt Disney would be rolling over in his grave considering how much he cared about good show. And it wasn't extraordinarily busy either--I've been there for much worse.

What do people think? Has this ever happened to you? Did it bother you too?

 

[stphnbogert]

It hasn't happened to me. I wouldn't mind if it happened though. Some measures have to be taken for guests safety.

 

[wolf359]

I think by now Walt saves his rolling fits for things much more important than a guest seeing a dumpster or two.

Safety always trumps show, even back when Walt was alive.

 

[the-reason14]

This has happened to me a couple of times. Can't say it bothers me in the least though. I can somewhat understand why it would bother some, but I don't see it as a big deal at all.

 

[maelstrom]

We've done this at Christmas time and I think it's great. It really sucks being herded down Main Street trying to exit.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Your other options are:

- follow the herd and feel like you are going to be trampled to death in the insane crowd

- try to find a spot where you can stand safely while the crowd disperses; and again, doesn't trample you to death

Don't forget, it can take a LONG time for the crowd to disperse.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

While I think that Walt IS rolling in his grave about this, I personally love it -- I hate the parade crowds and never stay for the fireworks, and the route lets you get from Tomorrowland to the front exit in under two minutes.

Incidently -- they do the same thing on the other side but it takes much longer, where they route you through the shops on MainStreet from Caseys to the front of the park.

 

[Disney Dawg88]

I've actually experienced it a couple of times this year, mainly during the parades. I don't think the CM's have a choice but to not do this, it really helps out a ton. The times I did it you could barely move on Main Street, especially right near Mighty Casey's and the Ice Cream Shop across the street.

 

[Captain Hank]

The part of me that cares about show really hates this.

The part of me that hates dealing with crowds exiting the Magic Kingdom really REALLY loves this.

 

[rct247]

1. Safety (During fireworks, the backstage route allows guests to clear fast moving exit when needed. This route can also be used as an emergency walkway.)

2. Courtesy (It's courteous to offer guests an alternative way to exit the park rather than fight through crowds.)

3. Efficiency (It's efficient to get guests out of the park through the quickest possible way with as less temptation to stop in a shop, watch the fireworks, or block a very narrow path.)

4. Show

I believe that is the correct order. So, while it is "bad show", show takes the backseat when all the other work in favor of using a backstage bypass.

 

[thelookingglass]

Actually, Show trumps Efficiency (err, it is supposed to, but we know current management doesn't follow this rule), but Safety trumps all.

 

[kramden88]

I completely understand the need for safety--that's the #1 concern without a doubt. However, they had been clearing the park for so many years without using backstage areas that I just didn't understand what changed. To me it seemed that it was management in a hurry to turn over the park. If it's for safety, fine, but if it's for efficiency then I don't see the point because people at MK have to wait for in line again for transportation anyway so it seemed to me like 'hurry up and wait'.
And if they're going to do this regularly they should come up with a permanent path that they can make look presentable. It really was bad show--seeing those facilities is something that you never see at WDW.

 

[Master Yoda]

I completely understand the need for safety--that's the #1 concern without a doubt. However, they had been clearing the park for so many years without using backstage areas that I just didn't understand what changed. To me it seemed that it was management in a hurry to turn over the park. If it's for safety, fine, but if it's for efficiency then I don't see the point because people at MK have to wait for in line again for transportation anyway so it seemed to me like 'hurry up and wait'.
And if they're going to do this regularly they should come up with a permanent path that they can make look presentable. It really was bad show--seeing those facilities is something that you never see at WDW.

This practice has been in place for quite some time but it is my understanding that you are seeing it a little more frequently now simply because crowds at MK are steadily increasing. Once attendance passes a certain point it becomes necessary to open up the backstage routes for the fireworks dump.

 

[unkadug]

This practice has been in place for quite some time but it is my understanding that you are seeing it a little more frequently now simply because crowds at MK are steadily increasing. Once attendance passes a certain point it becomes necessary to open up the backstage routes for the fireworks dump.

This kind of goes hand in hand with the discussion about Epcot overflow areas on another thread:

Overflow area for fireworks viewing?

If they have to have "overflow" areas, that means they let too many people into the park.

If the park was designed for that many people there would be no need for "overflow" standing room.

The park is designed to hold X number of people... it isn't designed to let those X number of people watch the fireworks. You can only pack so many people into the designated viewing areas around World Showcase Lagoon.

My point exactly.

In any other type of venue, the Fire Marshall would disperse too many people crowded into the same area that it wasn't designed to hold. I fail to see why this is acceptable, and condoned, in a theme park.

[/QUOTE]

 

[ChrisFL]

I think they should expand Main St. to be more like DLP with extra shops/walkways.

I know what's backstage behind the Tomorrowland side as I was back there quite often for contract work. There's kitchens for the bakery, Security upstairs, the balloon setup area, the old outdoor foods freezers (still used for some things) and back entrances to several shops, oh and dumpsters, a bus stop and a small cafe for CM's

IMO all of these things could be moved if TDO would want to spend the money to make a DLP style area...and just imagine they could also bring back some things like the penny arcade and magic shop.

 

[loveofamouse]

it happens. im sure fire codes say if X amount of people are in an enclosed location, x amount must be able to exit in Y amount of time. Yes, you're still waiting for transport but you are now in a much larger area as far as safety goes.

You had a choice not to go out of that exit. But, God forbid, there's a fire or something, you won't care if you saw a dumpster while running out of the park. It is just not practical or feasible for an area as large as MK to only have 1 usable exit. There are exits all over that park. Not all are pretty

 

[TiggersPooh]

Was used a lot last night. The parking lot was also used as a large firework viewing location with tables and benches set up.

 

[Thrill]

1. Safety (During fireworks, the backstage route allows guests to clear fast moving exit when needed. This route can also be used as an emergency walkway.)

2. Courtesy (It's courteous to offer guests an alternative way to exit the park rather than fight through crowds.)

3. Efficiency (It's efficient to get guests out of the park through the quickest possible way with as less temptation to stop in a shop, watch the fireworks, or block a very narrow path.)

4. Show

I believe that is the correct order. So, while it is "bad show", show takes the backseat when all the other work in favor of using a backstage bypass.

Show is supposed to trump efficiency, though I sometimes wonder whether Disney currently uses this version. Though it's never happened to me, I don't disagree with Disney's use of the backstage exit for the reasons I quoted, because safety and courtesy are really more important than show.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I agree that creating the DLP type arcades are a way to alleviate the crowding problem -- but those were designed that way on purpose. To add something like that now is probably impossible to MK -- The Arcades were designed with delivery options on the opposite side. That isn't currently possible with the space they have at MK between the backstage area and the train tracks. BUT...what they can do is provide a screening/barricade mechanism that is easily rolled into place to hide the dumpsters and restaurant kitchen entrances from the folks using the backstage exit.

 

[donsullivan]

The backstage route behind the buildings on Main Street on extremely busy periods is not even close to a new thing. I first used the exit route from the area adjacent to the Plaza Restaurant down to Tony's in the late 80's during an extremely busy July 4th in the Magic Kingdom and many times over the years since.

This has nothing to do with 'current management' not caring about 'show' as some with an agenda will try to profess. It has everything to do with guest safety (and to some extent comfort) which will and should always come above show when extreme conditions warrant. When the parks get that crowded and it becomes impossible to move, the incidence of injuries plus complaints to Disney increases dramatically as folks are pushed off of curbs, run over by ECV's etc.. Nobody should have to endure that sort of unsafe condition just so you can maintain 'show'.

It happens a few days a year during extremely busy conditions and I personally would much rather see them take steps to keep the guests safe than just ignore it in the interest of not disturbing the 'show'.