is guest patience at WDW getting worse

[Mr.Skunkape]

Are people having less patience at WDW than the use to. I have noticed a lot more people losing their temper around WDW over the last couple of years than I can remember. Things from yelling at a CM about how long the wait is for a table at a restaurant to pushing and shoving through crowds after fireworks or my personal favorite people throwing a fit at the bus stops because the think every resort but theirs is getting more buses and they have to wait forever for a bus. Maybe it is just the fact that over the last 10 years of going to WDW with my kids I have gotten more patient and do not get in a super hurry around the parks. I may be totally wrong about the lack of guest patience is getting worse, what have others of you noticed. To me WDW is not a race it is a fun vacation for my family that is why we take our time,plan ahead and hang around the parks for a while after the fireworks to take in the parks then walk to a mostly empty bus stop.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Without getting too philosophical, I don't think it really has anything do with Disney as much as just the public in general. We live in a world where we can now do a lot of things instantly thanks to smart phones. When you start to expect instant gratification, it can only be a matter of time before it starts to bleed into other aspects of your life.

 

[Computer Magic]

Times have changed and we now live a "now' and entitlement society. People think they are entitled because they paid out a lot of money, regardless the rest of the people have as well. The Internet and cell phones has made access to the world now. So waiting for things is a thing of the past.

Sadly we have noticed the change at WDW. People running to the next ride, hating to wait in line for anything. Think their kids are entitled to seeing the characters before others. That is why WDW is having to change to interactive queues.

I work in the computer field. We installed encryptions on laptops which increased start up by 1 minute. All I hear now is how slow the computers are since the change.

 

[Nemo14]

I think that society in general has gotten less patient, so it is naturally magnified in places like WDW where more patience is required. I'm not sure if it's the generation that is raising children now is more used to instant gratification or if it's just our ever-increasing sense of entitlement, but I know that crowds everywhere have a whole different attitude than they did 20 or 30 years ago. :shrug:

 

[Jakester]

I never usually leave any park (Mainly Magic Kingdom) until after closing, so that there isnt alot of people trying to leave.

 

[Tom]

Are people having less patience at WDW than the use to. I have noticed a lot more people losing their temper around WDW over the last couple of years than I can remember. Things from yelling at a CM about how long the wait is for a table at a restaurant to pushing and shoving through crowds after fireworks or my personal favorite people throwing a fit at the bus stops because the think every resort but theirs is getting more buses and they have to wait forever for a bus. Maybe it is just the fact that over the last 10 years of going to WDW with my kids I have gotten more patient and do not get in a super hurry around the parks. I may be totally wrong about the lack of guest patience is getting worse, what have others of you noticed. To me WDW is not a race it is a fun vacation for my family that is why we take our time,plan ahead and hang around the parks for a while after the fireworks to take in the parks then walk to a mostly empty bus stop.

Short answer: yes.

Society is turning lazy and demanding. Everything is "now" and "it's all about me".

Nobody wants to wait in line. Everybody wants on the bus first. This is why Disney is forced to put in interactive queues - to help offset the grumpiness of guests who can't handle waiting for anything.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

Maybe its just me? But I refuse to let anyone or anything spoil a vacation I look forward to for months and months. Yes, there have been some *not so nice* people, I just figured they had a bad day, or something was going in their lives that made them unhappy, and I shrugged it off. :shrug:

 

[53Herbie]

I feel that part of the problem is the high expectations that people have when they visit the parks. Lets face it, for many guest this is once in a lifetime experience for their family and they expect everthing at Disney to be a fairytale. After a few days of reality @ WDW people lose their patience, usually with the ones they love.

 

[Computer Magic]

I feel that part of the problem is the high expectations that people have when they visit the parks. Lets face it, for many guest this is once in a lifetime experience for their family and they expect everthing at Disney to be a fairytale. After a few days of reality @ WDW people lose their patience, usually with the ones they love.

and if this once in a lifetime person don't plan or know what to expect, they will become frustrated quickly.

 

[twodisneyfans]

Misc

I hate to say it, but I am finding that individuals are not as polite and patient as they used to be. I'll contribute a lot of the issues to our society being an and immediate gratification society. Everyone seems that every system should be flawless, no room for error, and they get very aggitated when they are inconvenienced. Sorry to see this in today's society...

 

[Minnie1976]

People don't know what respect is anymore. They don't even respect themselves. They definitely do not have any manners. They have also forgotten the most important words, PLEASE and THANK YOU.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

or maybe it's just that there are always going to be a**holes everywhere and if you get a big enough crowd you get a larger concentration of a**holes add a little florida heat and humidity sprinkled with long days and over tired children and bibbidi bobbidi boo you have a blow up...but you can always post it on youtube to get even for having to listen to them.

 

[Computer Magic]

Yes. It's the Daily cost. What was once a vacation has now become, for many, a "value extraction experience". It's sad, and produces ill behavior beyond recognition.

I have always tried to find a way to explain what you stated so well. What was once a privilage is now regular experience for many. It's like when you meet someone for the first time and you are on your best behavior. Then overtime you become yourself and may not always be at your best.

 

[me_stitch]

I see people get into confrontations alot about cutting in line for rides. the "oh my kids are up there and I have to get to them" kinda people. it annoys me but I'm not the kind of person to say something or physically stop a person from crowding like I've seen others do many times.

 

[Yodadudeman]

Without getting too philosophical, I don't think it really has anything do with Disney as much as just the public in general. We live in a world where we can now do a lot of things instantly thanks to smart phones. When you start to expect instant gratification, it can only be a matter of time before it starts to bleed into other aspects of your life.

Agreed. The world just doesn't want to wait for anything, and that spills over to Disney World. However, I just don't let it bother me. As some people have stated before, I just choose not to let unhappy people ruin my vacation.

 

[Scooter]

If you want to see a fine of example of how "The Entitled Ones" think they deserve instant gratification because they "paid a lot of money for the Disney experiance," just stand by the fence by Italy an hour before Illuminations begins to secure a great viewing spot...and then wait. 5 minutes before showtime those inconsiderate "Entitled Ones" will start to shove you and your family out of the way, so their family, who have been sitting in the air conditioned pavillians, while you stood for an hour in the sun and heat, can get to their front row viewing area that they think they are so deserving of.

It happens every time we stick around to see Reflections of Earth. I try not to let it get to me or get too upset, but it seems that the older I get, the shorter my temper gets. I feel sorry for the family who does this when I've finally had enough of this kind of rudeness and I can tolerate it no longer.:fork::fork::fork:

 

[erasure fan1]

I know a lot of people can and will always be jack holes and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I think Disney could stem a fair bit of this "guest patience" issues with a few simple adjustments. People are on a short trigger as it is and if you dont know the ins and outs it can get frustrating. I will say I would love for them to bring back the "rope drop". Just let people into the park and let them go to the areas they want so you dont have hundreds of people jammed into a small area.

 

[Crockett]

It's not just at WDW, but everywhere. Funny thing is, I am right now watching a program on MSNBC about public brawls & outbursts caught on tape. The narrator mentioned early on that since the start of the great recession in '08, people's patience have been on the decline, while anger outbursts, bullying, and overall anger have been on the rise more than ever.

 

[rct247]

...and unfortunately other guests and the Cast Members working pay the price. Other guests get frustrated and in turn cause chain reaction with other guests. Then guests also complain that their experience isn't as magical with the cast members as they used to be decades ago. Well, when Cast Members have to show patience through all of the impatient guests, it wears many people thin and it shows.

While I agree that technology has made this a worldwide issue, unfortunately, I believe it is a problem mostly found with my fellow Americans.

 

[Crockett]

While I agree that technology has made this a worldwide issue, unfortunately, I believe it is a problem mostly found with my fellow Americans.

Sadly, I think you're right.
We noticed a huge difference in behavior when visiting Tokyo Disney back in '07.

Almost made me ashamed of my own culture.