Entering from Harbor

[Tamandua]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed in another unrelated thread, but I stopped by Downtown Disney yesterday morning and tried to go in on the Harbor side, thinking it would be a quick entry. I was amazed by how disorganized it was. The line to get into the shuttle area was a few blocks down the street, and the overall time to get past security was about 50 minutes. Moreover, crowds of people were merging into the line from the crosswalk, bypassing a significant portion of the line.

The entire thing was extremely disorganized and maybe something I'd expect on the first day back, but after a month it's pretty shocking that they haven't figured this out yet. I'm surprised APD doesn't take issue with the crowds piling up down the street and in intersections. Beyond the length of the line, the line would frequently get held up, causing the backups to get worse. While near the front, I saw the line come to a complete stop when a little girl, maybe 3 or 4, started screaming in terror at the temperature check when told that she had to wear a mask.

It also makes me wonder what the real capacity is right now, because I would guess that tens of thousands of people entered DLR from Harbor, and I always assumed that the bulk of visitors were coming from the parking garage.

 

[DrAlice]

What time was this?

 

[Tamandua]

What time was this?

About 8:45-9:30ish.

 

[truecoat]

I'm hoping this will all be over with by the time I go in August.

 

[rle4lunch]

Just got back from DL yesterday. We did a day trip on Sunday. Wow, what a cluster. We took a week trip at the end of April to May 1st to WDW, and the difference between the 2 resorts is night and day. I would've thought that FL folks would be training CA folks on how to do this whole thing, ya know, considering that WDW has been open for nearly a year. But... That doesn't seem to be the case. They're using a loose model of what WDW does, but outside of the bus loop into the park, it's THUNDERDOME. No coordination at all. People lining up on both sides of the street, snaking their way here and there for miles before entering the park, basically hoping the person in front of them is going the right direction.

Inside the park is okay. But man, they're very light on everything. CM's are staring off into the abyss, food choices are dismal (of the restaurants open, there might be 3 things to choose from, maybe 2 for kids), and sitting on a damn metal bench eating a $50 lunch is unacceptable.

DL needs to get their crap together.

 

[Tamandua]

One thing that amazed me when I was there Saturday is that when I went up to a cast member directing foot traffic at the Harbor entrance, she could not tell me where the end of the line was when I asked. It was so far out of sight and off property that it was of no concern to her. She wasn't even sure which direction it was as the line had so many switchbacks. The people organizing the line had no sense of where the line started. If that isn't an indication of how sloppy DLR is right now, then I don't know what is.

 

[Nirya]

I don't think the Harbor entrance has ever been a priority for Disney for a number of reasons, the least of which is Disney has long wanted to not have to use it and instead have their Eastern Gateway built. To that end, it's not surprising Disney isn't putting enough resources over on that side, as it just creates more leverage with the city to get Disney what they want. If it inconveniences the customer, well, that's a sacrifice Disney has been willing to make time and again.

 

[Curious Constance]

What exactly is the cause of the mess on Harbor? Temp checks slowing things down coupled with 6 feet between people?

They better get their S together fast!!!

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

It's ludicrously enormously spaced-out outdoor lines unsupported by The Science.

 

[D.Silentu]

To expand upon that, I have also heard that they are letting a limited number of people into the esplanade in the mornings. Lines at both entrances are held back until they deem the area clear enough to let in another group.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Hopefully, this outdated lunacy will end fairly soon.

 

[Tamandua]

What exactly is the cause of the mess on Harbor? Temp checks slowing things down coupled with 6 feet between people?

They better get their S together fast!!!

I would guess temperature screenings are a big factor. Maybe also not having enough staff. The guy that checked my bag at the metal detectors was actually stopping to chat with a lot of the guests as they entered, so I don't think they have any sense of urgency.

 

[socaljoeyb]

Hopefully, they get the new security WDW and Six Flags have so they don't have to do bag checks.

 

[Curious Constance]

Hopefully, they get the new security WDW and Six Flags have so they don't have to do bag checks.

How dare they test that here and then remove it.

 

[DrAlice]

We got to the harbor entrance between 745 and 8am and it took about 45 minutes to get to the esplanade. It was NUTS.

The lines are not really socially distanced (I mean, they are supposed to be, but ppl are still packing together a bit). From what I could tell its just caused by limiting how many people are in the esplanade (like a metering light on the freeway). Temp and bag checks were fast. And once you go to the esplanade, lines to enter the parks were short. But man... Not sure how early you have to get there to avoid that mess. We'll try for earlier tomorrow, but I'm not sure if we'll be able.

 

[truecoat]

We got to the harbor entrance between 745 and 8am and it took about 45 minutes to get to the esplanade. It was NUTS.

The lines are not really socially distanced (I mean, they are supposed to be, but ppl are still packing together a bit). From what I could tell its just caused by limiting how many people are in the esplanade (like a metering light on the freeway). Temp and bag checks were fast. And once you go to the esplanade, lines to enter the parks were short. But man... Not sure how early you have to get there to avoid that mess. We'll try for earlier tomorrow, but I'm not sure if we'll be able.

Did you go to DCA?

 

[Tamandua]

Nothing quite killed my interest in returning to DLR like trying to enter Downtown Disney from Harbor. We all know they're struggling to get back to normal, but until you stand in that unnecessary line for nearly an hour, it doesn't quite set in that the Disneyland experience isn't back yet. I guess it was a good thing for me because it's easier for me to wait to go later.

 

[Stevek]

Is the line on Harbor any worse than getting in on the west side? That looked just as bad from what I could see.

 

[Tamandua]

Is harbor still a mess in the mornings?

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

This is simply the fault of the vloggers and the vloggers alone. When Disneyland first opened most of them entered through Harbor side after noticing how long it was taking people to enter from the Mickey and Friends side of things. Harbor was short and easy to get into the park. So what did they do, they all went on their "shows" and broadcast to everyone "use harbor. It's better than the parking structure." The sheep listened and it spread like wildfire. Now you have this. I blame all the Disney Vloggers. They are a cancer on the park.