Disney, the weather, and disappintment.

Well... Sadly the weather has once again foiled another attempt at a Disney vacation. We packed up and left a day early today due to the fact that the last 3 days have been pretty horrible with the down pour. We were really disappointed because we wanted to see the MNSSHP but with all the negative things we were hearing "Headless Horsemen won't be riding - A lot of the characters will likely miss the event if it's raining etc etc" we decided to just come on back home. We decided that in light of the circumstances, we would pocket the cash we were spending at the contemporary which was beautiful.

I've loved DW my whole life. It just seems that the weather picks on us when we try and go down there lately lol. This coupled with the fact that we have a 19 month old, and I think it may be time to hang up our ears for a couple of years. *sigh*

In as much as we have never been to the MNSSHP and would have loved to have seen it, the trip was saved today as my daughter absolutely fell in love with Minnie Mouse at Epcot in the character meet and greet. She acted like she could take or leave Mickey but Minnie was the business and yielded photographs that I wouldn't trade a million dollars for..

I hope anyone else who's going has better luck than we did over the last few days. It's a wonderfully magical place but as mentioned, we may not be going back for a few years. I think when our baby is old enough to talk and whatnot it will be a much better trip for everyone. I'm thinking when she's 4 or 5 it should be perfect timing from there on...

 

[BiffyClyro]

Ahh that's such a shame! Hope it's better next time!

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I'm sorry. I hope you have better luck next time.

 

[RedDad]

Sorry to hear your trip was interrupted by so much weather. Doing WDW in the rain with a little one is really no fun. I would, however, encourage you not to wait too long to take your daughter back. We started taking ours at 14 months, and she just went on her 4th trip at age 3 back in June. It's been amazing to watch her grow in how she reacts to things each time we go, and we have some incredible memories there!

Rain is always a risk - we had quite a bit on our last trip too - but it gets easier to handle as the kid gets older.

 

[Poofiesdream]

You need to go at a different time June thru early October is our rainy season! Come Nov. thru Early May it hardly rains!

 

[Runmyhorse]

We are in disney now and was then. We went to two parties which we always do. Never again. Im totally done with disney. Its not caus we of the weather. Its tons of other stuff and I will go into more detail after our trip. Ww also are hanging up our eard

 

[draybook]

As die hard of a Disney fan as I am,
Disney is getting their butts kicked by Universal. Right now I even feel ashamed to hold Disney stocks.

 

[fractal]

As die hard of a Disney fan as I am,
Disney is getting their butts kicked by Universal. Right now I even feel ashamed to hold Disney stocks.

What? It doesn't rain at Universal?

Amazing.

 

[draybook]

What? It doesn't rain at Universal?

Amazing.

It barely sprinkled when we were there and the Universal folks handled it way better than the Disney folks have. The CM that was handling our section of the Boo to You parade kept telling everyone that the Horseman was coming, even as it was drizzling, knowing darn well he wouldn't be.

There's plenty more negative things, but I'll save that for my own trip report. But judging by the posts here it's not just some fluke experience that we had.

 

[epcotisbest]

As die hard of a Disney fan as I am,
Disney is getting their butts kicked by Universal. Right now I even feel ashamed to hold Disney stocks.

Just checked my shareholder account...not ashamed at all.

 

[fractal]

It barely sprinkled when we were there and the Universal folks handled it way better than the Disney folks have. The CM that was handling our section of the Boo to You parade kept telling everyone that the Horseman was coming, even as it was drizzling, knowing darn well he wouldn't be.

There's plenty more negative things, but I'll save that for my own trip report. But judging by the posts here it's not just some fluke experience that we had.

Was it drizzling or "barely sprinkling"? I think ever since the Horseman slipped and fell they will not bring him out when it's wet. CM was proving that we are all human.

 

[draybook]

During the second parade the ground was dry. My wife's family has 9 or 10 horses so she's aware of their capabilities. I realize the potential during the parade but the horse could have gone through at a "walk".

Also, there were dozens if not more of regular guests that were headed to Town Hall to complain with their soaked kids in strollers. So just remember that for every one of us that complains on hete you probably have 5 or 6 that know nothing about these forums.

So, any further discussion I do about this will be in my trip report. For anyone that doesn't want to see the negativity I suggest putting me on ignore.

 

[Gabe1]

We always did a two week vacation in the fall (cheaper, cooler) First trips started when DS 14 months, DD 2 months, 5 years apart in age. We have the poncho's to prove it along with stroller covers.

This is where I'll rag on Disney. My children are now young adults. When mine were small we would head to Epcot during the rainy hours or MGM. We never traveled with any itinerary. In the 90's there was so much to do.

In Future World you could easily spend a couple hours up in Imagination and the ride after show, then the preshow and theater. WoL, we could wander at least an hour. The Land in her heyday we could easily spend several hours with all the shows and the ride. The ATT after ride for SSE was good for at least an hour. The Seas with all the little rooms and full tanks had so much to do about 1 1/2 hours. If we needed to take cover for a big storm that would pass, it was Energy. My small kids never minded returning to the upstairs portion of Imagination, they could wander around and play.

Even MGM was set up better for rain. Most attractions were indoors or at least covered. The walking tour and indoor show took a fair bit of time, as did the tram tour in its day. They loved watching the animators and the Muppets were always a hit as was the Sound Show. We'd avoid the MK when it rained since so many queues were exposed to the elements.

This is where I'll defend Disney

As far as the CMs go I'm a Mom of CM who once did parades in addition to his role outside of the MK. Lets just say it isn't a fun role, there is a percentage of guests that are a pain in the butt and it continues from set up through the parades and some guest push boundaries. Front line CMs are always the last to know when the itinerary changes, you have several departments making calls and info has to trickle down. The horse comes over long before the parade starts from Ft. Wilderness. Last year my DS was working Guest Relations the evening a horrible rain came during the Halloween party. I outlined last year what they had to endure as the evening was very fluid. Decisions were made by various departments and it did take time for all of the CMs to be brought up to date all the while attempting to remain professional while dealing with so many wigging out guests one right after the next. (I have to say I have sympathy having been a front line employee at Ohare many years and it was always my fault when planes were cancelled because of blizzard conditions. Patrons needed someone to abuse, I was it.)

I, with 1 kid and then later 2 kids endured two hurricanes in the Florida region while in WDW. It is all about how you roll with it but we did have the luxury of 2 weeks. CMs in our resort were very good about improvising for resort guests. We always packed stuff to do at the resort for evenings or rain delays. We made the most of our time at the resorts.

 

[epcotisbest]

During the second parade the ground was dry. My wife's family has 9 or 10 horses so she's aware of their capabilities. I realize the potential during the parade but the horse could have gone through at a "walk".

Also, there were dozens if not more of regular guests that were headed to Town Hall to complain with their soaked kids in strollers. So just remember that for every one of us that complains on hete you probably have 5 or 6 that know nothing about these forums.

So, any further discussion I do about this will be in my trip report. For anyone that doesn't want to see the negativity I suggest putting me on ignore.

So I am confused. What were these dozens of people complaining about? The rain, the soaked kids, the safety call regarding the horseman? And unless you walked the entire length of the parade route, including backstage, there is no way to know about how dry the ground was. Glad I don't do the party if it makes people unhappy.

 

[mcstensrud]

You all might want to think about going to Disneyland and California Adventure.
We just got back from 7 days there and as the song says "It never rains in California"
Ya might want to give it a try!

 

[Gabe1]

During the second parade the ground was dry. My wife's family has 9 or 10 horses so she's aware of their capabilities. I realize the potential during the parade but the horse could have gone through at a "walk".

I wouldn't risk the horse call in a corporate environment. Disney had the horse go down last year and took the CM with him. Wasn't pleasant for the horse, CM, CMs assigned or guests watching it unfold, especially with children having to experience that fall. Disney is so dang fortunate that horse didn't fall on a guest. The argument would go the other way if the horse, CM or guest was injured because of wet ground. Just because most of the pavement is dry doesn't mean there are not puddles elsewhere on the parade route and the lights are dimmed making it more difficult to navigate the horses. Disney already lost a CM due to a wet stage.
It is very different if private owners of horses opt to take them out for a walk in the rain, Disney does this at Ft. Wilderness too, but not with guests within feet of the horses.

It is a first world problem when guests can't deal with missing horses after rain. It isn't like horses are the only thing in the parade or the only thing to do at a Halloween Party. Rain isn't Disney's fault and Disney also has to deal with OSHA where families pet horses do not. If it wasn't the horses a percentage of guests would find something else to be unhappy about. There is never a shortage of guests at City Hall or Guests Relations pitching a fit, it is just the nature of some guests.

 

[epcotisbest]

I wouldn't risk the horse call in a corporate environment. Disney had the horse go down last year and took the CM with him. Wasn't pleasant for the horse, CM, CMs assigned or guests watching it unfold, especially with children having to experience that fall. Disney is so dang fortunate that horse didn't fall on a guest. The argument would go the other way if the horse, CM or guest was injured because of wet ground. Just because most of the pavement is dry doesn't mean there are not puddles elsewhere on the parade route and the lights are dimmed making it more difficult to navigate the horses. Disney already lost a CM due to a wet stage.
It is very different if private owners of horses opt to take them out for a walk in the rain, Disney does this at Ft. Wilderness too, but not with guests within feet of the horses.

It is a first world problem when guests can't deal with missing horses after rain. It isn't like horses are the only thing in the parade or the only thing to do at a Halloween Party. Rain isn't Disney's fault and Disney also has to deal with OSHA where families pet horses do not. If it wasn't the horses a percentage of guests would find something else to be unhappy about. There is never a shortage of guests at City Hall or Guests Relations pitching a fit, it is just the nature of some guests.

Very well said. There was a whole lot of sunshine when we were there a couple of weeks ago. Had to use more sunscreen than budgeted for. The expected afternoon showers did not materialize, but it never once occurred to me to complain about it.

 

[draybook]

Well, the Headless Horseman is one of the main focus points of the parade. The characters in it are awesome as well, but he draws a lot of oohs and ahs.

A main reason we got frustrated was because it didn't rain the whole day except when it was time
For the parades.

And there were good times had too, so I'm not a doom and gloomer.

 

[Gabe1]

Well, the Headless Horseman is one of the main focus points of the parade. The characters in it are awesome as well, but he draws a lot of oohs and ahs.

A main reason we got frustrated was because it didn't rain the whole day except when it was time
For the parades.

And there were good times had too, so I'm not a doom and gloomer.

Yes the Horseman is great. I understand the disappointment in the rain and the further disappointment that segment of the parade being removed from the parade. My point is for the safety of the guests, CMs and critters Disney should and does removed the horses and will cancel the entire parade if conditions are risky to the critters, CMs and guests. As it should be despite the parade or horseman being a focus. Disney learned from the horse fall last year, doubt they will ever risk that again. Nobody got hurt, died, they can count those blessings.

 

[draybook]

Yeah, safety is great. It's the fact that there are so many things Disney is doing wrong that makes it seem worse.