Very upset over what I saw yesterday!!

[retroeric]

I was in MK last night. It was my first time there since summer. After the new Dreams fireworks show ended (which is very good btw) Disney castmembers were detouring the guests' exit route to facilitate crowd traffic on Main Street. Half the crowd was allowed to continue walking down Main Street toward the exit, while they directed the other half (of which I was part of) through a Cast Member Only area behind the Plaza Restaurant and had us walk through about 150 feet of "off stage" area until they routed us back to Main Street at Exhibition Hall. I saw everything back there that traditional Disney operators would have NEVER allowed. Dumpsters, barricades, dirt, puddles, liter, mangy old signs and fences, etc. This was shocking to me, but it was even more troubling. I couldn't understand why they would compromise the magic and mystery of the Magic Kingdom just to expedite the exiting process by MAYBE 5 minutes.

This is not the first thing I've encountered at WDW in recent years that troubled me. Something has changed in recent years, whether it's the personnel up at the executive level of parks/resorts or the management at MK is doung something that the old school Disney execs are not aware of. The Disney that I grew up with would have never allowed this.

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

oh my goodness

one time when i was in highschool our band marched in the parade. well those of us who were not IN the parade, were escorted to the busses that were waiting for us backstage somewhere.
i saw way too much unmagical things and yes it was extremely dissapointing

but i cant believe that they would walk crowds of guests through there... how un disney like

 

[aracuanbird]

Not sure what bygone days you are lamenting. Disney has been using the Backstage area behind Main Street as a relief valve for more than a decade (that's when I first experienced it). While I detest it, it is not some recent policy.

 

[Michael72688]

I actually think it would be kinda cool to go backstage like that

 

[General Grizz]

Originally posted by Michael72688
I actually think it would be kinda cool to go backstage like that

Yes, but that's offered on tour.

It's unacceptable when being a "guest."

YES - safety COMES first. But if this has been happening for a while, Disney should make this area suitable for guests. No question about it.

 

[mickey04]

What's that I hear? Oh, just Walt rolling over in his grave.

Unfortunately, this is something that they have been doing since "Wishes" (not Dreams, btw:animwink: ) started in October. While I love getting a look at "backstage" areas myself, that should be something only allowed to the public on tours, where people are volunteering for that experience. No one should ever be forced to see these areas, as it very well could ruin the magic, especially if there are young children (and it sounds like there probably were.) If they are going to continue this very "un-Disneyesque" policy, they should at least spend some money improving tht area so it looks like it's "on-stage."

 

[Michael72688]

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
Yes, but that's offered on tour.

It's unacceptable when being a "guest."

YES - safety COMES first. But if this has been happening for a while, Disney should make this area suitable for guests. No question about it.

yea, that is true, but tours arent free and last time I checked I wasnt a millionaire!! Second I've been a guest tons of times and it definatly would be fine with me to go backstage! I think your all making a big deal out of nothing

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Originally posted by retroeric
Dumpsters, barricades, dirt, puddles, liter, mangy old signs and fences, etc. This was shocking to me, but it was even more troubling. I couldn't understand why they would compromise the magic and mystery of the Magic Kingdom just to expedite the exiting process by MAYBE 5 minutes.

Did we think that Main Street didn't need these facilities like all towns? :lookaroun

You got to see the town dump (Maybe it's a new section they're building)

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Originally posted by Michael72688
I think your all making a big deal out of nothing

No they're not. Disney is an escape from reality. You walk through the gates to the Magic Kingdom and you are immersed in this "land of fantasy and adventure"...You are away from the troubles of real life... Everything in this fantasy realm is to be what you'd want in your fantasies...we shouldn't have to be escorted backstage to see how it's all "performed".

It's like going to a magic show and seeing how the magic is done. It turns it from being "magic" to being "Oh, just trickery...we were all fooled"

Being a repeat guest, you may like the idea of seeing the "backstage areas" but being a first time guest...I would really be disappointed.

 

[Michael72688]

I think everyone is being a bit rediculous, just my opinion of course

 

[Tramp]

Originally posted by retroeric
I was in MK last night. It was my first time there since summer. After the new Dreams fireworks show ended (which is very good btw) Disney castmembers were detouring the guests' exit route to facilitate crowd traffic on Main Street. Half the crowd was allowed to continue walking down Main Street toward the exit, while they directed the other half (of which I was part of) through a Cast Member Only area behind the Plaza Restaurant and had us walk through about 150 feet of "off stage" area until they routed us back to Main Street at Exhibition Hall.

Sounds strange to me....I'm curious to know what that was all about. Maybe there was a problem on Main Street that you weren't aware of.

There must have been a reason why Disney would detour guests away from the Main Street stores, a virtual gold mine while guests are exiting.

 

[Michael72688]

Re: Re: Very upset over what I saw yesterday!!

Originally posted by Tramp
Sounds strange to me....I'm curious to know what that was all about. Maybe there was a problem on Main Street that you weren't aware of.

There must have been a reason why Disney would detour guests away from the Main Street stores, a virtual gold mine while guests are exiting.

They do it for saftey reasons, cause there are so many people leaving at one time

 

[Tramp]

Re: Re: Very upset over what I saw yesterday!!

Originally posted by WDWFREAK53


You got to see the town dump (Maybe it's a new section they're building)

Maybe it reminded people of home.:lol:

 

[SpongeScott]

Go "backstage" at any place and you'll be sorely disappointed. Go to your favorite restaurant and walk into the kitchen and you'll see things you didn't want to see. Go to your nearest Target store and walk in the backroom and you'll see things you didn't want to see. Go and see a live theatrical performance and walk backstage and you'll see things you didn't want to see. Behind the walls of WDW are the realities of what it takes to run a park. I don't have a problem with it, though it's possible they could do a better job of keeping things neat where guests are going to walk through. And to the original poster, did you make your complaint known to the proper authorities, or have you only let us know about it?

 

[Tramp]

Re: Re: Re: Very upset over what I saw yesterday!!

Originally posted by Michael72688
They do it for saftey reasons, cause there are so many people leaving at one time

Well, that's what I thought too, Mike, it seems like the most logical reason but I've been there on God-awful crowded days (July 4th) and have never been redirected. Some nights, the crowd seems gridlocked on Main Street but eventually everyone files out.

...what the hell, with the dumpsters back there, some people could grab a bite to eat on the way out.

 

[Bill]

This is a daily happening when Wishes is presented. It also happens at other times, including New Year's Eve, 4th of July, and other major holidays.

 

[wdwfan22]

I don't understand how walking backstage for a few minutes to exit is that big of deal. Main Street can reach capacity. You were detoured so you could exit safely. Walking backstage for a few minutes does not take away from the magic. Safety will always come first.

 

[Michael72688]

Originally posted by wdwfan22
I don't understand how walking backstage for a few minutes to exit is that big of deal. Main Street can reach capacity. You were detoured so you could exit safely. Walking backstage for a few minutes does not take away from the magic. Safety will always come first.

Thankyou, I couldn't have said it better myself

 

[CTXRover]

They've been doing this for many years, but I bet the crowd problems have only been compounded by Wishes and may be why they seem to be doing it more often. It is really for safety as a lot of people leave immediately after the fireworks and Main Street becomes literally clogged with people pushing and shoving and knocking people over (I saw it myself and people wouldn't stop pushing to get past her even while she was trying to just stand back up). If there is one thing to blame it is, dare a say, a design flaw to have MS as the only way to get into and out of the park and using the fireworks as a "kiss goodnight".

Now, I don't really like the idea of taking people backstage, but I can understand the need. As someone else said, if it wasn't about safety, surely they wouldn't send lots of people in a way that actually allows them to *avoid* the shops. When I entered the park one night over the holidays, I was sent behind MS to exit at Tomorrowland. I was unhappy with what could be seen, but I was happy for two things a) they didn't keep me from entering the park until Spectro and Wishes was over (MS was "full" according to a CM) and b) they tried to keep your focus off the backstage stuff with signs along with route that said "Magic this way" and temporary Christmas trees with lights lining the sides of the route that they had us follow. I suggest they come up with something more permanent. It is only done at night, so make the entire path lined with larger trees (even if they had to roll planters out each night) and focus light away from the parking lot and back of the buildings and onto that path. This would help everyone from seeing the stuff they shouldn't see for the 2-3 minutes they are backstage.

 

[surfsupdon]

I've been on that back walkway before. And as a "Guest," not on a tour, though it was neat to go back there the first time, I did not like going back there again after fireworks. It looks foul and it is not want I am paying to see. How horrendous if that was my last night and for my last walk down Main Street I was shoved backstage. Ohhh, I'd be mad. But, yes, it was unique the first time. I've also experience this at MGM, walking behind the buildings on Hollywood Blvd, the side closer to ToT, (your left as you leave). Agian, very cool, but I felt like not a Disney Guest.

But, yes, good thing they attempt at avoiding clogs and unsafe areas.