Insane crowds, more space needed

[smile]

Im 50 yo. Ive been going since I was 10ish. Ive always remembered mainstreet being congested. Stupid congrsted during parades and fireworks.

grass is green, sun is hot, and if you leave mk anywhere near close you'll feel like herded cattle...
no reason to assume that'll ever change considering it's more or less always been like that, esp since nightly fire.

arriving is a dream, leaving is a nightmare

a lovely approach, but logistically questionable and not replicated elsewhere

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Except that the last major project, "Animal Kingdom Full Day," aka Project Morpho, was done for exactly this reason. The wheels were turning (slowly) to get DAK to nighttime hours before they even knew it would be Avatar.

Hard to put the DAK project in the same bucket because they stopped the initial build and then took heat for 20 years because of it. While not as publicized as the DCA redo...there are a lot of similarities.

Now...they aren’t doing the same thing at mgm...and that is strategic mistake...and I didn’t go to Wharton (though I’m in that area today )

 

[Tony the Tigger]

They have those side paths that they use at night to route folks around Main Street, maybe they need to use those a lot more. Walking down Main Street USA is very appealing but maybe they should limit it lol

From now on, it’s a top tier FP.

However, they would also increase total crowd levels in the park and those bigger crowds are still going to disproportionately flock to the hub and Main Street during parade and fireworks time. Just because more space means the guests CAN spread out doesn't mean the guests actually WILL spread out.

Disney doesn't need more, they need better distribution.

Put me down for the ultra-discounted FL resident No-Parade No Fireworks AP.

 

[Rumrunner]

Enough is enough, there are no longer quiet periods in Orlando for the parks. It's growth is continuing upwards. There just needs to be more space, more land areas for the public to be spread out.

Watching the fireworks tonight was borederline dangerous how everyone was squashed into the tight lines.

It just made for a really miserable experience. Magic Kingdom suffers badly obviously as it's the busiest. Perhaps now it's time to look at stop navigating people one way up Main Street. Perhaps we need a side street. Exiting the park is thoroughly horrendous once the fireworks close.

When we were there in June they were directing people to a route behind Main Street. Not sure if it was open every night but it sure helped us exit quicker and with hardly a crowd. We actually tried to skip fireworks this year. We watched from more off the beaten paths of the park-not great views but better than fighting the crowds.

 

[Patcheslee]

The cattle call packed in at the fireworks is a mass causality incident waiting to happen.

All it’s going to take is one stampede... never underestimate the stupidity of cattle, errr people in large groups.

Which is why I avoided that area a couple years ago. Been to too many concerts and know what "best view" can get you. I'd rather find a less perfect view and relax knowing I don't have to keep an eye on DD9 in crowds and enjoy the fireworks. It's not hard to entertain a kid when all you have to do is give her a handful of glowsticks to give other kids while we wait for the crowds to lessen.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

Im 50 yo. Ive been going since I was 10ish. Ive always remembered mainstreet being congested. Stupid congrsted during parades and fireworks.

Thank you! OP is acting like this "problem" is unique to 2018...

 

[DisneyDoctor]

One of the years, mark my words, fireworks will be a ticketed event.

Yes, leaving is a mess. I have some gopro video on my youtube channel. Its about a 20 second clip from the end of mainstreet by the castle. All you can see is heads, as far as the eye can see. One of these days, all it will take is something small to set off the crowd, and there will be serious injuries. I seriously doubt WDW has enough staff on hand, or could even do anything about 40K people all stampeding for ... well One exit.

 

[jaklgreen]

Orrrrrrrr.... TDO could reign in their money gubbing ways and actually limit guest count to a reasonable level to enhance the guest experience for the space provided?
Plenty of space, just don't try to cram everyone in that is willing to buy a ticket.

This is what I was thinking. They allow way too many people in. Lines should not be 2+ hours long for most of the rides. What exactly are people enjoying, maybe 5 or 6 rides in a day? We stopped watching the fireworks years ago because we don't want to deal with the crowds. If we stay late then we wait around for the rush to leave.

 

[jloucks]

Enough is enough, there are no longer quiet periods in Orlando for the parks. It's growth is continuing upwards. There just needs to be more space, more land areas for the public to be spread out.

Watching the fireworks tonight was borederline dangerous how everyone was squashed into the tight lines.

It just made for a really miserable experience. Magic Kingdom suffers badly obviously as it's the busiest. Perhaps now it's time to look at stop navigating people one way up Main Street. Perhaps we need a side street. Exiting the park is thoroughly horrendous once the fireworks close.

...which is why I have not been back, nor made plans to be back. I was on a roll too. Three visits in about as many years.

I too found the crowds levels, in some cases, to seem almost dangerous. If anything should happen, people are going to be stampeded. Fire code dictates how many people can be in a building, but is should also dictate how many people you can have per square foot outside too.

Combine the closing crowds with the cutting scooter busing system and you have a true "last nerve" scenario.

 

[dieboy]

*Sigh*

No.

The (financial) purpose of the nighttime shows is to keep people in the parks later than they would normally stay, spending money on merchandise, food, and beverage. Take away the incentive to stick around and people will start filing out of the parks at 5:30 and heading to TGI Fridays.

MK does not need fireworks to keep people in parks until close. They just need to run the rides till near close. They would still spend money on all things you mentioned. Infact, if you look at the hours of the fireworks on a sliding scale, pretty soon they will just be at dusk. If MK wanted that *real* extra monies, they would have fireworks later, as in the past, vs moving them up slowly. This is no longer the case.

One thing that boggles me, MK, has had basically the same attendance cap through out all these years. Over the years, it has felt less safe leaving in the crowd, and continues to get worse. Is this a sign that average attendance is continually growing? Or is MK just not managing the crowds as well?

Last time we were there, mid to late April, fireworks were off the hook for people. Mid week and all. I have never seen them rope off viewing areas, and attempt to keep passages open ( This didn't happen last visit less than a year ago ). While that's a plus, more needs to be done. I totally understand the idea MK wants everyone to 'enter' through the main gates into the park. But really .. leaving .. give us a couple clear cut, easy to navigate exits. I DO NOT need to leave down main street. I do however like to enter the park there . They could easily make two new exits, that fork off of tomorrow land and adventure land.

Has anyone else noticed WDW commercials not longer feature the fireworks as heavily as in the past? Most are daytime settings, some in front of the castle and some for toy story land. I no longer see those commercials with the kid on dads shoulders watching the fireworks, or any iteration of that (they did a few). Maybe its my market, but that was something that I noticed over the last year or so.

 

[dieboy]

Bam I got it. Make each viewing area rope a different color (they already have the rope system in place, whoo hoo), sell wrist bands with corresponding colors... for 30 dollars a piece. You can pack what probably 25k people in front of the castle? Bam, smooth 3/4 of a million in profit for what they do daily anyways. Probably pay for the fireworks each night at least, and a few extra staff to make sure wrist band colors match rope colors.

So does it seem so far fetched now?

Sad thing is, it would still be packed, and people would pay it.

God I hate myself for thinking that up. I'll be quite now.

 

[erasure fan1]

Bam I got it. Make each viewing area rope a different color (they already have the rope system in place, whoo hoo), sell wrist bands with corresponding colors... for 30 dollars a piece. You can pack what probably 25k people in front of the castle? Bam, smooth 3/4 of a million in profit for what they do daily anyways. Probably pay for the fireworks each night at least, and a few extra staff to make sure wrist band colors match rope colors.

So does it seem so far fetched now?

Sad thing is, it would still be packed, and people would pay it.

God I hate myself for thinking that up. I'll be quite now.

If only there was a thumbs down button!

 

[dieboy]

Yea i'm actually debating deleting that, but i also want folks to know, monetizing fireworks would not be all that difficult at all for MK.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I for one am not a fireworks person...You seen one you seen them all....I want to take every advantage of getting on rides before they close them down for the night whilst everyone stares blankly into the sky to see the show.....Or I just go get a meal and not pay attention to it as food is in front me awaiting consumption....

 

[dieboy]

fify;

whilst everyone stares blankly into their cell phones pointed towards the sky to see the show

 

[erasure fan1]

Also, has anyone ever been on a ride when they can see the fireworks? If we're talking experiences, this is one of the best ones I have had, and it didn't require me watching from start to finish

Yes, my last trip, last night, my daughter and I on the upper loop of splash. Thats all the fireworks I needed.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

Bam I got it. Make each viewing area rope a different color (they already have the rope system in place, whoo hoo), sell wrist bands with corresponding colors... for 30 dollars a piece. You can pack what probably 25k people in front of the castle? Bam, smooth 3/4 of a million in profit for what they do daily anyways. Probably pay for the fireworks each night at least, and a few extra staff to make sure wrist band colors match rope colors.

So does it seem so far fetched now?

Sad thing is, it would still be packed, and people would pay it.

God I hate myself for thinking that up. I'll be quite now.

Nope. Still a bad proposition. Captain got it right in his initial response.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

I'll say this, and I've possibly said it elsewhere, but, I do not get people's fascination with the WDW fireworks. Now, yes, they are pretty, but hardly worth taking hours off your ride/experience time just to set up shop for a 'good' vantage point. I've been in BOG when they had to prevent people from leaving the building during the fireworks for safety reasons, meaning the people in there eating could not go out to watch, and people were losing their minds. (never mind that these same people took over 2 hours to eat & take pics, but I digress)

MK is the oldest park, meaning it will probably have the worst infrastructure as far as exiting. Maybe they could set up grandstands in the parking areas so that people would have a decent view and already be off main street. Or maybe people could settle down about their little Prince Jaxxden not getting the absolute best viewpoint to watch something he's going to be bored of in 10 seconds.

HEA is hardly a fireworks show.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

Yea i'm actually debating deleting that, but i also want folks to know, monetizing fireworks would not be all that difficult at all for MK.

Not gonna happen. It would be difficult and will never happen.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Not gonna happen. It would be difficult and will never happen.

I once stood on my balcony in a hotel on International Drive and watched both the MK Fireworks show and the Epcot Show by just moving my head 45 degrees in either direction. I couldn't hear the music, but, how well do you hear it with fireworks exploding anyway. I saw both complete shows and didn't even have to set foot on Disney property. So if they decide to charge for something you can see from miles away and people are willing to pay it. I think they should do that. As P.T. Barnum once said... "There's a sucker born every minute"!