PHOTOS - New bag check areas greatly enhance Magic Kingdom arrival experience

[Grimley1968]

I made the same trip yesterday and took 43 minutes from arch to in the park. Express monorail. This was entering the park at 9:34

That's not bad for any day, but it's awesome considering all the spring breakers at WDW now.

 

[larryz]

I made the same trip yesterday and took 43 minutes from arch to in the park. Express monorail. This was entering the park at 9:34

Ah, but you missed "rope drop rope drop"...

 

[rushtest4echo]

I know the situations at MK and every other park on earth are dramatically different, but it's sad to think that parking, getting to, and entering MK taking 45 minutes is "not bad". I can ride a train from the other side of Tokyo to TDL with a 20 minute transfer (boo Keiyo Line walk!!!) between trains and still walk through the gates of either park about 45 minutes after I stated my journey. When I lived about 30 minutes away from Disneyland I usually made it into the park gates within 45 minutes of when I left even if I waited for a tram at Mick and Friends (though that was before the current bag check and parking mess there and the forced use of trams- I probably couldn't come close to doing that now).

I guess the thing that gets under my skin is that if they ran a proper fleet of monorails and trams and used modern signalling, they should be able to have those vehicles in and out in minutes. It *could* look like this:

Parking: ~5 minutes (relatively quick right now, no change needed)
Tram to TTC or walk: ~5 minutes (no sitting there for 5-10 minutes to fill up, trams just leave every 2 or 3 minutes and make the 2-3 min journey)
TTC Bag check: ~ 2 minutes (properly staffed, lines below 10 people deep)
Boarding monorail: ~3 minutes (5 monorails on express beam, dispatches every 90 seconds even large queues only take minutes)
Journey to MK: ~6 minutes (takes exactly 5 mins, but lets assume a stop for blocking)
Entry at MK gates: ~ a few moments (when staffed properly, there's rarely a line as long as it's not the welcome show)

So under ideal conditions, it would take a bit over 20 minutes, or half the time for what's considered decent right now. I know those conditions aren't always possible especially on busy days, but it would be fantastic to know that I could be from parking to inside the park in 20 minutes.

 

[ford91exploder]

I know the situations at MK and every other park on earth are dramatically different, but it's sad to think that parking, getting to, and entering MK taking 45 minutes is "not bad". I can ride a train from the other side of Tokyo to TDL with a 20 minute transfer (boo Keiyo Line walk!!!) between trains and still walk through the gates of either park about 45 minutes after I stated my journey. When I lived about 30 minutes away from Disneyland I usually made it into the park gates within 45 minutes of when I left even if I waited for a tram at Mick and Friends (though that was before the current bag check and parking mess there and the forced use of trams- I probably couldn't come close to doing that now).

I guess the think that gets under my skin is that if they ran a proper fleet of monorails and trams and used modern signalling, they should be able to have those vehicles in and out in minutes. It *could* look like this:

Parking: ~5 minutes (relatively quick right now, no change needed)
Tram to TTC or walk: ~5 minutes (no sitting there for 5-10 minutes to fill up, trams just leave every 2 or 3 minutes and make the 2-3 min journey)
TTC Bag check: ~ 2 minutes (properly staffed, lines below 10 people deep)
Boarding monorail: ~3 minutes (5 monorails on express beam, dispatches every 60 seconds even large queues only take minutes)
Journey to MK: ~6 minutes (takes exactly 5 mins, but lets assume a stop for blocking)
Entry at MK gates: ~ a few moments (when staffed properly, there's rarely a line as long as it's not the welcome show)

So under ideal conditions, it would take a bit over 20 minutes, or half the time for what's considered decent right now. I know those conditions aren't always possible especially on busy days, but it would be fantastic to know that I could be from parking to inside the park in 20 minutes.

@rushtest4echo you are starting to sound like me, Actually seeing the reality of WDW today and it ain't pretty.

 

[COProgressFan]

An hour and twenty four minutes to get to the train station from the arch, and he took a shortcut via resort monorail that probably saved him thirty minutes. That's terrible.

Yikes.

This is a serious concern, though. I know a family who was visiting relatives in Florida the week after New Years (so technically, it was post-holiday crowds, but sounded quite busy from what they described). They decided to visit the MK for 1 day (2 adults, 4 children). They said it took nearly 2 hours from when they drove on property until they actually set foot in the MK, because of traffic on World Drive and the whole process of parking/tram/monorail/security.

Tickets for 6 cost them $700. They had 1 meal in the park and claim that the prices changed from when they were waiting from lunch to dinner prices, so it cost them about $300 (this story was told to my wife, and she didn't get all the details of where/when etc.). Between the hassles, and the outrageous cost, they basically said they were done with Disney, and I'm not sure I blame them.

Now we now Disney is not changing their prices, and I wholeheartedly agree that what they spent for 1 day is outrageous, especially considering the experience they had. But one thing Disney can improve upon is the entire process of getting to the MK. It seems like with the security changes, and upcoming changes to World Drive they are working on it, so I'm hopeful. The ferry dock upgrades and monorail automation will also help. It will be interesting to see how all this plays out when all the pieces are done.

 

[COProgressFan]

I know the situations at MK and every other park on earth are dramatically different, but it's sad to think that parking, getting to, and entering MK taking 45 minutes is "not bad". I can ride a train from the other side of Tokyo to TDL with a 20 minute transfer (boo Keiyo Line walk!!!) between trains and still walk through the gates of either park about 45 minutes after I stated my journey. When I lived about 30 minutes away from Disneyland I usually made it into the park gates within 45 minutes of when I left even if I waited for a tram at Mick and Friends (though that was before the current bag check and parking mess there and the forced use of trams- I probably couldn't come close to doing that now).

I guess the thing that gets under my skin is that if they ran a proper fleet of monorails and trams and used modern signalling, they should be able to have those vehicles in and out in minutes. It *could* look like this:

Parking: ~5 minutes (relatively quick right now, no change needed)
Tram to TTC or walk: ~5 minutes (no sitting there for 5-10 minutes to fill up, trams just leave every 2 or 3 minutes and make the 2-3 min journey)
TTC Bag check: ~ 2 minutes (properly staffed, lines below 10 people deep)
Boarding monorail: ~3 minutes (5 monorails on express beam, dispatches every 90 seconds even large queues only take minutes)
Journey to MK: ~6 minutes (takes exactly 5 mins, but lets assume a stop for blocking)
Entry at MK gates: ~ a few moments (when staffed properly, there's rarely a line as long as it's not the welcome show)

So under ideal conditions, it would take a bit over 20 minutes, or half the time for what's considered decent right now. I know those conditions aren't always possible especially on busy days, but it would be fantastic to know that I could be from parking to inside the park in 20 minutes.

You're right, that most of the issues could be alleviated through better operations and better staffing. There has to be motivation to want to keep people moving, and run enough trams, etc. But we know their thoughts about labor costs -- they certainly don't want "overstaff" (in their eyes) trams or bag checks. I do see improvements, as I mentioned above, but they really need to consider experiencing this as a guest, and work to make the whole process faster, even if it does cost a bit more.

 

[ABQ]

Well you'd think the all mighty dollar would be enough motivation for WDW to make the entire process of getting into the MK more efficient. Guests sitting in cars aren't creating revenue, right?

 

[JohnD]

Actually, the entrance to the monorail station at EPCOT is (and always was) within the secure zone. I found this out the hard way. I wanted to take a bus from EPCOT to the Grand Floridian. I walked all the way down to the bus area before I found out that there wasn't a bus from EP to the GF. The monorail was my only option. In order to get back to the monorail station, I had to go back through security.

You are correct, they need to (and probably will) make the monorail exit at EPCOT within the secure zone. I think they will just need to move the screening area a little closer to the bus area.

Okay. I think what throws me off is that I think of the secure zone ending after passing by the FP scanners at the front entrance. When I walk to the bus that is obviously not the case because, after walking past the FP scanners, I walk left and need to open a gate to get out.

 

[JohnD]

... or move the welcome show back to the train station but continue to open the gates early to allow guests on to main street. If anyone wants to stay in front of the station to watch the welcome show, they can.

I get moving the welcome show to the castle hub while the security checkpoint was still at the entrance but with security procedures changed maybe they could move the welcome show back. OTOH, it might substitute one chokepoint (security) for another (gathering at the front entrance for the welcome show).

 

[Kman101]

I am lookin gforward to the rope drop at the hub like they used to do pre-train days .

It's nice to walk around Main Street and not feel like you're rushing through the crowds to get where you need to be. The new welcome show is fine for what it is, but it's really nothing but a cutesy photo opp. That's fine and all but the charm of the original welcome show was missed by me. It doesn't need to be one or the other. But I do understand why they moved it. I just miss the Citizens of Main Street and the Good Morning song; the new welcome show isn't bad at all.

 

[GlassHalfFull]

it all depends on the part of the day you arrive.. leaving my parents place in Celebration we could make it to Spaceship earth in less less than 20 min.. now that they moved to horizons west they can make it into the MK in less than 35 minutes, and spaceship earth in 30 minutes for rope drop(he did this saturday and was sitting on Main street 15 min prior to opening show).. but people trying to get to rope drop at the exact same time as everyone else.. I.e. timing it out to get to front gate as park opens or shortly after, usually complicates the trip entirely. you double your transit time by not leaving 15 min earlier.. I'd put money on the fact that his trip time was similar prior to the new security measures solely based on when he got to the arch..

It's the same principle I have getting to and from work. I leave 10 minutes earlier and I get to work 45 min earlier than if I wait just 10 more minutes. The traffic from everyone else planning poorly always dictates an elaborate time table.. We are also ignoring the fact that he stopped multiple times to record videos, or setup camera.. probably missed an extra monorail or 2 during that transit, or had to wait for next parking lot tram due to first being full. I always am there early enough that the only mode of transport avail is the ferry, and I can't imagine wait times at that time will be close to 1:24 like he shows..

 

[nickys]

Wasn't the welcome show moved because the railroad was closed for maintenance? The article on the official Disney blog certainly gave that impression. The timing of it coincided with the closure of the railroad soon after New Year. They may have used that as a spur to change the welcome show, but that was the reason given at the time.

Unless they had suddenly had some security tip off that could somehow wait several weeks between announcing the change and implementing it?! The security log jam had existed quite happily with the original welcome show for quite some time.

 

[rushtest4echo]

@rushtest4echo you are starting to sound like me, Actually seeing the reality of WDW today and it ain't pretty.

I wouldn't go that far. I have plenty of criticisms of the place and I of course want to see it improve, but I don't hate almost anything at WDW as much as you seem to. I'd probably stop patronizing them well before I had your mindset, and honestly I'd probably stop talking about them on the internet too. I appreciate your criticism and insight when it's well reasoned and not just attributed to clueless managers of the evil empire.

 

[RustySpork]

I wouldn't go that far. I have plenty of criticisms of the place and I of course want to see it improve, but I don't hate almost anything at WDW as much as you seem to. I'd probably stop patronizing them well before I had your mindset, and honestly I'd probably stop talking about them on the internet too. I appreciate your criticism and insight when it's well reasoned and not just attributed to clueless managers of the evil empire.

Would a Jedi simply give up trying to bring Darth Iger back from the dark side? I'd argue that a Jedi would not.

 

[King Panda 77]

It's nice to walk around Main Street and not feel like you're rushing through the crowds to get where you need to be. The new welcome show is fine for what it is, but it's really nothing but a cutesy photo opp. That's fine and all but the charm of the original welcome show was missed by me. It doesn't need to be one or the other. But I do understand why they moved it. I just miss the Citizens of Main Street and the Good Morning song; the new welcome show isn't bad at all.

Don't know about the new show . Will judge when i see it later in the year but it will be nice to be able to quietly browse main street like they used to do (pre 9/11 i think)

 

[RustySpork]

Don't know about the new show . Will judge when i see it later in the year but it will be nice to be able to quietly browse main street like they used to do (pre 9/11 i think)

I long for the day when I can peruse the shops on main street without losing my ankles to strollers and scooters as well as to not have to wait for long periods of time for an opening to move from isle to isle as I try to shop.

 

[rushtest4echo]

I long for the day when I can peruse the shops on main street without losing my ankles to strollers and scooters as well as to not have to wait for long periods of time for an opening to move from isle to isle as I try to shop.

Not saying I disagree, but if that's what you're really looking for then just stay till after park closing and you'll be set. It's no more unreasonable than arriving an hour before opening to have that same experience.

Strollers and wheelchairs though, you'll need to look at Disney offerings outside the US if that's what you desire. It's incredibly refreshing to see kids and parents and grandparents all walking together all day long in Europe and Asia. Actual limited mobility should always have those options, but here it's more convenience than necessity much of the time.

 

[ford91exploder]

I wouldn't go that far. I have plenty of criticisms of the place and I of course want to see it improve, but I don't hate almost anything at WDW as much as you seem to. I'd probably stop patronizing them well before I had your mindset, and honestly I'd probably stop talking about them on the internet too. I appreciate your criticism and insight when it's well reasoned and not just attributed to clueless managers of the evil empire.

Lets just say ive had more than my share of distinctly un-magical experiences caused by Disney's legendary IT systems and clueless and untrained management since 2012 which has soured me on how Disney is being run in the Iger era. And ive stopped visiting the parks as a result family still enjoys so i hang onto DVC points. But i skip the trips too busy at work for vacation anyhow

I dont hate WDW i do hate how its being (mis)managed as of late and because im neither a Star Wars fan nor a graphic novel fan so Lucasfilm and Marvel dont do anything for me.

DW is going to Star Wars Celebration with friends to indulge in SW cosplay and staying on DVC points.

But the only way things going wrong begin to change is to complain about them till they get fixed

 

[jakeman]

Lets just say ive had more than my share of distinctly un-magical experiences caused by Disney's legendary IT systems and clueless and untrained management since 2012 which has soured me on how Disney is being run in the Iger era. And ive stopped visiting the parks as a result family still enjoys so i hang onto DVC points. But i skip the trips too busy at work for vacation anyhow

I dont hate WDW i do hate how its being (mis)managed as of late and because im neither a Star Wars fan nor a graphic novel fan so Lucasfilm and Marvel dont do anything for me.

DW is going to Star Wars Celebration with friends to indulge in SW cosplay and staying on DVC points.

But the only way things going wrong begin to change is to complain about them till they get fixed

And when you run out of things to complain about you make them up!

 

[LuvtheGoof]

I long for the day when I can peruse the shops on main street without losing my ankles to strollers and scooters as well as to not have to wait for long periods of time for an opening to move from isle to isle as I try to shop.

We go there right after park opening and it's empty. Maybe change your thinking a bit, and it can be a lot more enjoyable.