Magenta Panther
Well-Known Member
I agree. Yes, the after-Wishes crowds are AWFUL. But if you find a place to sit, hang around, do a bit of exploring until the crowd thins, it's not so bad.
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After wishes magic goes away fast
- Thread starter boufa
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I agree. Yes, the after-Wishes crowds are AWFUL. But if you find a place to sit, hang around, do a bit of exploring until the crowd thins, it's not so bad.
BigTxEars
Well-Known Member
Disney is masterful at handling and moving crowds. They do it as well if not better than anybody in the commercial world. Honestly after having the professional crowd control/event management training I have had the last three years at work I am in awe of their abilities. They way they prep and roll up the parades is extremely well done.
You simply can not expect as many folks in a park that size not to lead to crowd issue leaving. It is unreasonable to do so. If you are sitting in the full stands watching Fantasmic and do not know the exit crowd is going to be a mass of humanity then :brick:
Wishes is set at the end of the day as a "cap" to the day, a final salute to the magic. Moving it up before closing time would detract from that. If folks do not want to fight the exit crowd that will clearly be there then do not go to the event or leave early. It really is not much different than a ride at the park, see the line and determine if you want to wait for it or not. If you do then enjoy the ride and accept the downside of the wait.
I have three kids, we have left WDW parks before shows because we did not want to mess with the exodus. We have also stayed and dealt with the crowds. Our choice, not Disney's fault at all.
The last exodus we were on was Sept 13th of this year leaving after the NSSHP. Not fun but not Disney's fault.
Just my .02 :wave:
You simply can not expect as many folks in a park that size not to lead to crowd issue leaving. It is unreasonable to do so. If you are sitting in the full stands watching Fantasmic and do not know the exit crowd is going to be a mass of humanity then :brick:
Wishes is set at the end of the day as a "cap" to the day, a final salute to the magic. Moving it up before closing time would detract from that. If folks do not want to fight the exit crowd that will clearly be there then do not go to the event or leave early. It really is not much different than a ride at the park, see the line and determine if you want to wait for it or not. If you do then enjoy the ride and accept the downside of the wait.
I have three kids, we have left WDW parks before shows because we did not want to mess with the exodus. We have also stayed and dealt with the crowds. Our choice, not Disney's fault at all.
The last exodus we were on was Sept 13th of this year leaving after the NSSHP. Not fun but not Disney's fault.
Just my .02 :wave:
plaz10
Well-Known Member
Sticking around after the fireworks is a great opportunity to grab a bench and people watch as the crowds thin out. Also a good time to get a snack, do some shopping, get some less crowded pics and maybe hit a few rides w/o lines. We usually swim upstream into Fantasyland or Tomorrowland and try to ride a few more things while the crowds thin out.
Disney does a good job of funneling thousands of people out one exit at the end of a night.
Disney does a good job of funneling thousands of people out one exit at the end of a night.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Being one of the first people out is easy...
I normally just stick around and let it die out. 30 minutes makes a huge difference.
I normally just stick around and let it die out. 30 minutes makes a huge difference.
disneyrcks
Well-Known Member
:lol: That is my kind of solution!!
yankspy
Well-Known Member
We usually hang out. My son will stay up late if you let him so that is not a problem. We are on vacation anyway so we let him stay up later, eat differently, etc.
He is generally pretty hyper at the parks since we let him eat candy and such (we try to stay away from it normally) so being tired is not a factor.
It is also a great time to let him run around since the parks are emptying out. The last time we were there we stayed for EMH at Epcot. After the crowds left, he ran all around the fountain of nations area and I did not have to worry about it. It was actually fun to watch him be a boy while I sat back and enjoyed some ice cream from Fountainview.
He is generally pretty hyper at the parks since we let him eat candy and such (we try to stay away from it normally) so being tired is not a factor.
It is also a great time to let him run around since the parks are emptying out. The last time we were there we stayed for EMH at Epcot. After the crowds left, he ran all around the fountain of nations area and I did not have to worry about it. It was actually fun to watch him be a boy while I sat back and enjoyed some ice cream from Fountainview.
MarkTwain
Well-Known Member
The short term solution is as others have said: do like my family and simply hang around, watch the lights on the castle change, run around an empty and neon-lit Tomorrowland, identify all the tiny statues around the Partners statue, watch the water ripple from the boardwalks on the Rivers of America... just take your time leaving the park. In fact, do your hardest to be the last to leave the park (which we once succeeded in doing after leaving DHS - we heard the CMs give the clear as soon as we left the gate).
Actually a very pleasant way to close the day.
The long term solution, and one that Disney really ought to act on at some point, is to create themed, enclosed pathways on the Tomorrowland side of Main Street, like the ones at Disneyland Paris.
Doing so would effectively double the width of Main Street (and would probably do more than that during parade times), and would also be great to use as an alternative to the Emporium during torrential downpours.
Actually a very pleasant way to close the day.
The long term solution, and one that Disney really ought to act on at some point, is to create themed, enclosed pathways on the Tomorrowland side of Main Street, like the ones at Disneyland Paris.
Doing so would effectively double the width of Main Street (and would probably do more than that during parade times), and would also be great to use as an alternative to the Emporium during torrential downpours.
mickeysaver
Well-Known Member
I learned a long time ago that when it's time to leave, especially with a little one, that if it's just after Wishes and the mass exodus has begun or is in progress, that it is much better to take a different approach. We find a nearby out of the way place, usually near the Crystal Palace area and perform the nightly regroup before exit. Since we have the baby, now 20 months old, she will still be awake and fading fast. We take her to the restroom and wipe her down with those freshen up hygiene wipes, change her diaper and put her into her PJ's. We both take a potty break ourselves because we have a long drive back to Daytona ahead of us. We put the baby back in the stroller, I get back on my ECV, and we shop our way out of the park. We typically don't buy anything, but the air conditioning is usually quite welcomed. We find our way out to the truck, load up the ECV and the stroller into the back. Put the a baby in her car seat with her milk and her new special character plush and finally we climb into the truck for our drive home. Typically, the baby is fast asleep before we ever get off property.
So, yeah, um, I know what it's like to have to juggle a lot with the crowds, but with a little patience and planning, we typically leave tired, but we leave with our great memories intact. Disney can't do much to fix human behavior like the mass exodus crunch. It's up to us to work around the humans, so we do.
So, yeah, um, I know what it's like to have to juggle a lot with the crowds, but with a little patience and planning, we typically leave tired, but we leave with our great memories intact. Disney can't do much to fix human behavior like the mass exodus crunch. It's up to us to work around the humans, so we do.
ChrisFL
Premium Member
Most of you have good ideas, which are great for that 1% or 2% of us....but that isn't a solution for the rest of the 99%.
I'm thinking that right after wishes there should be a quieter castle show....something like the new memories show, but without any music or anything, or have a few other things near the "Entrance" to each land, like a few characters or something. It would help to have a distraction for some groups of people so they're not all leaving at the same time.
I agree there really needs to be a real walkway built from tomorrowland, but there's many logistical concerns we've discussed here before.
I'm thinking that right after wishes there should be a quieter castle show....something like the new memories show, but without any music or anything, or have a few other things near the "Entrance" to each land, like a few characters or something. It would help to have a distraction for some groups of people so they're not all leaving at the same time.
I agree there really needs to be a real walkway built from tomorrowland, but there's many logistical concerns we've discussed here before.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
They don't have that on Disney Resort TV. You have to stay at a Universal Resort and access the on-demand section for Adults.
Wait.....are we talking about 2 different things here?
PolynesianPrincess
Well-Known Member
You can either leave with the masses and deal with the crowds... Or you can hang around afterwards and wait for the crowds to thin out... Or you can leave before Wishes. But complaining about it isn't going to fix it. There's nothing we can do.
When we go, we usually never go on days when Wishes and the park close at the same time. So we use the hour or so after after the fireworks to shop, ride some rides, etc.. Sometimes we will end up catching up to the back of the huge crowd at the T&TC but look at that... we're both getting on the tram at the same time even though we waited around a little while and they left with the huge crowd after Wishes.
When we go, we usually never go on days when Wishes and the park close at the same time. So we use the hour or so after after the fireworks to shop, ride some rides, etc.. Sometimes we will end up catching up to the back of the huge crowd at the T&TC but look at that... we're both getting on the tram at the same time even though we waited around a little while and they left with the huge crowd after Wishes.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
A "show"...that's quiet...but no music or anything...with character meet and greets...at the time when Disney's trying to get people to leave the park...
:brick:
Look, I know that going to WDW is expensive, but at a point, it's ok for them to stop trying to entertain you. The fact that they don't shoo people out of the parks is quite pleasant. But to insist that they continue to try to entertain you whilst simultaneously announcing that it's time to leave the park, and start getting things ready for the next day...that's just silly.
If that's what you want, how about this - character meet and greets OUTSIDE THE GATES. Let them interact with people while waiting for monorails or ferries or buses. Have them at the TTC while you're at it, while they're waiting for ferries. That sounds like a relatively inexpensive way to keep the "Disney magic" going, AND get people out of the parks to boot. It's almost like the characters are "seeing you out," and the odds of people who didn't go to MK that day showing up for meet and greets they don't have to enter the park to see are pretty slim. And on top of that, the amount of people willing to stay behind for their kids to meet a few more characters will help prevent the lines for transportation back to the TTC or resorts from becoming unruly, if there are enough characters to go around.
GenerationX
Well-Known Member
Or, take the resort monorail 30 minutes before the show and watch Wishes from the beach at the Polynesian. Then, walk to the trams at the TTC.
durangojim
Well-Known Member
Perhaps that is why experienced travelers such as myself choose to go into the shops or sit on a bench and watch the rest of the people leave while we enjoy some ice cream.
s8film40
Well-Known Member
This really is a no win situation. Anytime there is a large entertainment event large numbers of people are going to leave when it's over. Disney has done many things to try to keep people from leaving after the fireworks it just doesn't work. People in a large crowd know that once the show ends everyones going to be headed the same way and they all want to get ahead of each other, it's this mentality that creates all the chaos. There really is no solution if you build extra exit walkways, you'll just get everyone out of the park faster and into more crowded transportation lines, or perhaps they fix that then there will be far more people driving in the parking lot. Either way the problem can only be transferred somewhere else.
For me personally I make a conscious decision either to leave before the fireworks or wait about a half hour afterwards. On a few rare occasions I have exited immediately after the fireworks (usually not my favorite option but sometimes there are reasons). I think it's best if you are alone or in a small group one or two people can walk out through the crowds relatively easily trying to keep a group together will slow you down considerably. With a larger group it's a good idea to split up and plan a place to meet at the entrance. Obviously if you have children you can't send them out on their own, but you can have one parent take one child while another takes one.
For me personally I make a conscious decision either to leave before the fireworks or wait about a half hour afterwards. On a few rare occasions I have exited immediately after the fireworks (usually not my favorite option but sometimes there are reasons). I think it's best if you are alone or in a small group one or two people can walk out through the crowds relatively easily trying to keep a group together will slow you down considerably. With a larger group it's a good idea to split up and plan a place to meet at the entrance. Obviously if you have children you can't send them out on their own, but you can have one parent take one child while another takes one.
docdebbi
Well-Known Member
i agree this is a major issue! i actually used the F word during exit last time. please forgive me if any of your children were around. i've probably used it three times in my life- and i'm 53 !!! i was absolutely nuts out of my head with heat/stress/crowds/changing plans--let's try for the ferry-- no look at that line--let's try the monorail- no look at that line-- let's try a bus--are you nuts? look at those lines. after being in fourth line attempt to exit, then the CMs made us leave regular monorail line and get in the resort monorail line, then change back again..........i lost it.
bottom line, while NOT hanging back any to allow crowds to exit, we were caught in crowds of folks, when we finally made a monorail after being directed all over by CMs- and lots of people still in line behind us- they kept announcing that THIS WAS THE LAST MONORAIL OF THE NIGHT!!
we kept wondering what would happen to all the folks still in line.
if we had waited for everyone to leave, as sounds like a good idea, i guarantee you there would be no monorails out....don't know how late the ferry runs.
just a horrible situation.
however, i have no easy answers other than filling in the lake and not having to take a monorail or ferry. i know this was Walt's special dream, leave the world behind etc, so i understand why it is still there. but imagineers come up with lots of cool stuff, how 'bout something to get us out of there at night?
bottom line, while NOT hanging back any to allow crowds to exit, we were caught in crowds of folks, when we finally made a monorail after being directed all over by CMs- and lots of people still in line behind us- they kept announcing that THIS WAS THE LAST MONORAIL OF THE NIGHT!!
we kept wondering what would happen to all the folks still in line.
if we had waited for everyone to leave, as sounds like a good idea, i guarantee you there would be no monorails out....don't know how late the ferry runs.
just a horrible situation.
however, i have no easy answers other than filling in the lake and not having to take a monorail or ferry. i know this was Walt's special dream, leave the world behind etc, so i understand why it is still there. but imagineers come up with lots of cool stuff, how 'bout something to get us out of there at night?
Disaddict
New Member
I agree. It has gotten worse in the past few years.
BUt they really don't have much options other than increasing the number of ferries that run to 4 and that can be dangerous. They could also forget about the psychotic idea to stop the monorail service early. Are they really nuts? and they could add more busses. But otherwise that would be about it.People are seriously blaming Disney for being too crowded now? I've heard it all! :brick:
Sometimes YOU have to take responsibility for works best for you. YOU find a way to deal with the crowds that best fits your family. Disney is doing what they feel is best for them. If it doesn't fit YOUR specific need then YOU find out what works best for YOU. If you have to sacrifice seeing the fireworkds because kids will be a wreck then so be it. Don't expect YOUR situation to take priority over the 30K plus people there. Stop blaming someone else for your inconviences. Would you rather be stuck in disney for 30 mins in a crowd or stuck in rush hour traffic? Relax and enjoy the time on vacation! :wave:
Sometimes YOU have to take responsibility for works best for you. YOU find a way to deal with the crowds that best fits your family. Disney is doing what they feel is best for them. If it doesn't fit YOUR specific need then YOU find out what works best for YOU. If you have to sacrifice seeing the fireworkds because kids will be a wreck then so be it. Don't expect YOUR situation to take priority over the 30K plus people there. Stop blaming someone else for your inconviences. Would you rather be stuck in disney for 30 mins in a crowd or stuck in rush hour traffic? Relax and enjoy the time on vacation! :wave:
nngrendel
Well-Known Member
Im sorry. Some may disagree with me but those who complain about crowds at Disney are just as annoying as those who complain about the heat there.
ITS FLORIDA AND ITS SUMMER! IT GETS HOT!
ITS DISNEY WORLD. IT GETS CROWDED! DEAL WITH IT!
Those who spend thousands of dollars on a vacation to Disney World and complain about the minor things is crazy.
Anywhere and I mean ANYWHERE you go that is popular and has a show that is equally popular has crowd issues. High School football games has the same problems every weekend here. Music Concerts I have been to has the same issue. If your kids cant handle staying up until 9:30 to see a Night Time show then its probably best you don't attend. Plus understand even the best kids will get cranky when they get tired. Its NORMAL.
If you keep in mind its Disney World and it gets crowded and just know you will have delays then its not so bad. It really bothers me to see ADULTS go to Disney and get angry about crowds and the weather.
I went to the Smoky Mountains this summer. Guess what it was crowded there too. Traffic at a crawl through Gatlinburg. Maybe I can call the city of Gatlinburg and convince them to make the streets wider.
:brick::brick::brick::brick:
ITS FLORIDA AND ITS SUMMER! IT GETS HOT!
ITS DISNEY WORLD. IT GETS CROWDED! DEAL WITH IT!
Those who spend thousands of dollars on a vacation to Disney World and complain about the minor things is crazy.
Anywhere and I mean ANYWHERE you go that is popular and has a show that is equally popular has crowd issues. High School football games has the same problems every weekend here. Music Concerts I have been to has the same issue. If your kids cant handle staying up until 9:30 to see a Night Time show then its probably best you don't attend. Plus understand even the best kids will get cranky when they get tired. Its NORMAL.
If you keep in mind its Disney World and it gets crowded and just know you will have delays then its not so bad. It really bothers me to see ADULTS go to Disney and get angry about crowds and the weather.
I went to the Smoky Mountains this summer. Guess what it was crowded there too. Traffic at a crawl through Gatlinburg. Maybe I can call the city of Gatlinburg and convince them to make the streets wider.
:brick::brick::brick::brick: