Final thoughts: This will likely be broken into multiple posts, as I’m doing this from my phone and will be heading home today. It would be easier on a laptop, but my thoughts are still fresh, so it’s best if I get them out now. Please bear with me. Also, I apologize for any grammar/spelling mistakes in advance.
I want to preface by saying that my friend and I are both previous Disneyland attractions CMs. She worked in Tomorrowland and I worked in Fantasyland. We were roommates during our Disney College Program semester in 2011. Something we discussed on the way to MK is our change in perspective after being CMs. Going to any Disney park has never been the same since being CMs. We look at things much differently and are quick to notice things that regular guests don’t think about. Some of the things we liked and disliked about the park have a lot to do with the previous CM perspective.
Weather: It was UNBEARABLY hot when we went. I was concerned about arriving in the evening, but I’m so glad we did. I wouldn’t have lasted long had we gone earlier. The humidity is unpleasant and I was concerned about rain. Thankfully, it didn’t rain. Florida and weather in general is something else.
Parking: The entrance parking lot CM was amazing. I told her we were from California and I think she heard my friend and I compare the parking fees to Disneyland’s (general parking at MK is $25, preferred is $50 (!) and Disneyland’s is $35). I asked for general parking and not only did she give us preferred, but I checked my bank account after we left and realized she didn’t charge me at all. Amazing service! I wish I had gotten her name, as I would have given her a compliment at City Hall.
Parking can be very confusing here. There are no big signs telling you where you’re parked. We parked and weren’t even sure if we were in preferred parking. My friend and I looked around and couldn’t tell what character we were parked with and had to ask a CM where we were. We noticed this on the way out as well. There weren’t enough signs directing people where to go and we had to get off two trams because they weren’t going where we assumed/guessed they were going. There were also very few exits signs. We had to ask a security guard how to get out and she kindly got in her car and guided us out. We saw two small exits signs on the way out. We would have been lost had it not been for her. Other than those things, parking in general was fine. Speaking of security, the process is MUCH better and quicker at WDW.
From parking to entrance: Wow. It takes a long time to get inside the park. We parked, nearly took a tram, walked, took a Monorail, walked a bit more, then finally walked through the park entrance. As someone who’s used to Disneyland, this was tiring. I took for granted just how easy it is to get around Disneyland. The parks sit right across from each other, street entrance is super easy and convenient, and parking isn’t as far away. It took us 27 minutes to get to our car once we left MK. That’s enough time to watch an episode of Seinfeld lol.
To be continued…
