I just got back from my latest trip to the Magic Kingdom and I just really need to get this off my chest. I feel as if the Kingdom is going to pieces! I used to find so much joy and entertainment but now everywhere I look all I can see is how cheap Disney is.
I was in town on Sunday with a friend and decided to stop by the MK for a few hours and to attend that night's Very Merry Party. This is where I came across my first issue. Me and my friend like to arrive at the parks late in the day so we decided to show up at two after spending the morning enjoying a nice breakfast and dip in the pool. I was very upset however that I to pay for a one day ticket for only two hours of admission as my MVMCP could get me in at four. I could not believe that I had to pay twice to get in the park!
As annoying as this was I wasn't going to let it ruin my day. We entered the park and we headed straight to Liberty Square for my favorite attraction. Imagine my surprise when I get to the Hall of Presidents and find it's being "Reimagineered!" This just ticks me off. Here I am in the Magic Kingdom unable to enjoy my favorite attraction because it's closed for maintenance! The worst part is next time I see the Hall of Presidents it wont be the same show. They are not only ruining my favorite attraction but a classic as well.
I tried not to let it bother me but then I remembered I paid full price for my one day admission! This is unacceptable! Why should I have to pay full price if not everything in the Magic Kingdom is open! Then I also remembered they got rid of two shows and it ed me off more. I mean, there is never going to be another special parade down Main Street like Family fun day again and yet I still have to pay full admission.
Next me and my friend went to go ride Big Thunder which was enjoyable as always. We met a rather nice cast member who let us sit in our favorite seats so it looked like things where turning around. Well that ended when we got to Splash Mountain. Me and my friend didn't feel like waiting the 30mins so we got fastpasses to come back later. This is where things got sour again. That nice cast member from Big Thunder comes walking up says "We don't need fastpasses" and then back doors us onto splash! I was steaming. Now I've wasted a perfectly good fastpass that I'm not going to get back.
Well by now it was four so me and my friend got our wrist bands for the party. We enjoyed the rest of the attractions until it came time for the party. Does anyone remember when they used to have holding areas in the park so that if you were staying for the party you had to go to one of the holding areas while they cleared out the rest of the guest? I do. I wish they would go back to this method. It gets annoying being able to walk around the park between seven and seven-thirty and being constantly asked if we had wristbands. I would rather be held up in a pen for half an hour in Tomorrowland unable to do anything while they clear out the park than be asked six or seven times if I have a wristband. It just goes to show how much management is out of touch with guest. Also, once Disney takes away or changes something it never goes back. I mean, I remember when CoP used to be just seasonal. Now it's open all year long and just waists money since no one rides it. The meet and greet for Buzz and Stitch has a longer line.
Overall I did have fun at the party but there was only two other things that annoyed me. I could not believe they closed the Columbia Harbor House just so they can pass out that awful hot chocolate and cookies. All I wanted to eat was fish and chips but I couldn't because they had to give out free cookies and drinks. Also, I spent half the night trying to get that blanket with the castle on it for $15 after you spend $40. After visiting about every store and not being able to get enough stuff I wanted to total $40 (It was impossible. The item I wanted at this store wasn't available at that store where I wanted something else! I mean, isn't every store supposed to have the same merchandise!) we talked to a cast member who just gladly rang up the blanket for us! I cannot believe I had wasted half my night and not even an I'm sorry from the cast member.
Yes the Magic Kingdom is going to hell! I cannot believe how much my favorite park has changed over the years and its only going to get worst if the cast members and procedures I encountered on Sunday are a sign of things to come.
:zipit: :brick: :fork: :hammer:
I'll try and take these issues one by one.
1. Early entry with a MVMCP. They have to cut it off somewhere. I think they are pretty generous letting guest in 3 hours early. If they were to let you in 5 hours early why not let the next guy in 6 hours early or the next one in a 9 AM.
2. HOP refurb. The news of this refurb has been around for a long time on these forums and on the official Disney calender for quite some time as well. Rides have to shut down from time to time...it is a fact of life. This is also an election year where we had no incumbent running which always requires a shut down of HOP to install the new president. I also love how they have "ruined" your favorite attraction. You haven't even seen the finished project yet! You think you might want to have a look see when it is finished and then make that decision?
3. Splash Mountain. You are upset because a cast member did a nice thing for you and took you past the line for Splash Mountain? I do not know how to even respond to this. Not only did you look a gift horse in the mouth you complained that it had a chipped tooth. So what if you had fast passes? Use them to ride again or give them away.
4. MVMCP procedure. Let me get this straight you would rather wait in a holding pen than walk around the parks enjoying attractions? Weren't you just complaining that they would not let you into the parks 5 hours before the start of the party? They do the checks so they can let you in early and enjoy the attraction before the party. If it bothers you so much to show your wristband to CM's maybe on the next rip you should confine yourself to the train station until after 8:00 PM and chances are you will not have to show a single CM your wrist.
5. CoP. You are actually complaining about an attraction actually bing open now? Did you not just have a hissy fit that HoP, considered by many to be one of the most boring attractions ever created by Disney, was closed? Should Disney just check with you to see what attractions should be open or closed before you arrive?
6. Columbia Harbor House. While it is not great that they shut down some of the more unique QSL restaurants to hand out the free treats the MVMCP clearly tells you which restaurants are open and Columbia Harbor House is not listed as being open.
7. Shopping. This is about the most legitimate beef you have but even it is a stretch. Most people complain that there are no unique stores in that parks and that all the stores carry the same merchandise yet you are complaining that every single gift shop is not a copy of the one next to is. Just FYI but I am about 99% sure that as long as you show them receipts totaling $40 worth of merchandise from the park on that night they will give you the blanket at the discounted price. Another thought instead of wasting your entire evening struggling to come up with a $40 purchase just pay full price for the blanket.
I'm sorry but if this little experience that was primarily a result you you doing absolutely zero planning and expecting the entire MK to bow to your wishes will make you think that MK is going to hell in a hand basket then nothing will please you.
Have a magical day!