Worst Queue Experience

[Bender123]

I was online for Splash Mountain. After about 45 minutes of waiting and almost at the loading zone, the little girl behind me puked all over my legs and feet. And I was wearing sandals too.

At least you can hose them off...The worst thing I ever saw was one of my kids got puked on in Wisconsin during Winter. the puke ran into her boots and became a pool of barf. Ugh...the smell was like something from my worst nightmares.

 

[Goofyernmost]

It's funny because northerners that move to our area always complain about us locals not knowing how to drive especially in the snow. But a lot of the ones I know that slide off the road or get into fender benders in a few inches of snow are those new to the area and are from up north LOL. They think they can drive the same way at the same speed as they did back home until they learn the roads and the way our DOT responds are completely different. They are even extremely picky on what type of tire cleats can be used on the snow packed roads. But what I think is completely hilarious is that when I was in school, the snow would already be sticking to the roads but we would still have to go to school, wait in home room for a bit before they cancelled so we wouldn't have to make up that snow day. Now the schools close at just the threat of snow

That is why we complain. We know road conditions. We know the tricks that help out the people that have to be out on the road. We know the tricks. We don't wait until a storm event is over before we get the highway crews out plowing, sanding and salting. We know that if a bridge freezes first you concentrate on putting stuff on the bridges like sand/salt, to prevent accidents. We know that spreading brine on highways 48 hours before a storm event will do nothing to help the situation because it will have dried up and blown off the roads by then and if not, in the south, most winter storms are preceded by rain, which will wash the stuff off the road before it actually gets to help.

We complain and suggest. No one listens because no one wants to think that a northerner might know what to do. They would rather spend hours towing wreaked vehicles out of ditches instead of spending the time and/or money to prevent it from happening. Some of us cannot understand why anyone would think that it is cheaper to have all business, retail or otherwise, grind to a halt because people cannot get to work or get to stores to spend money. Beyond the complaints we are also shaking our heads in disbelief. All it would take is just a little more education on procedures, a little more expense, equipment wise and the courage to get out there and fix the problem before it becomes more then anyone can handle. Send highway people on a trip up north in the winter and see how it is done. Doing it the right way would be much, much cheaper, especially since down here the storms (winter) are far less severe and of a much shorter duration. It should be a piece of cake to keep the roads down here open and safe. We stopped using metal studs in our tires years ago. I drove every winter for 20 years in Vermont with all season tires, never even a defined snow tire.

Contrary to popular beliefs, we did occasionally close schools due to snow storms, but, it was because of major snow storms not the threat of one. We had drivers that knew how to deal with snow. I know of no problems due to snow storms. Kids got home from schools even after the snow was "stuck to the road" 6 or more inches deep.

 

[LeighM]

That is why we complain. We know road conditions. We know the tricks that help out the people that have to be out on the road. We know the tricks. We don't wait until a storm event is over before we get the highway crews out plowing, sanding and salting. We know that if a bridge freezes first you concentrate on putting stuff on the bridges like sand/salt, to prevent accidents. We know that spreading brine on highways 48 hours before a storm event will do nothing to help the situation because it will have dried up and blown off the roads by then and if not, in the south, most winter storms are preceded by rain, which will wash the stuff off the road before it actually gets to help.

We complain and suggest. No one listens because no one wants to think that a northerner might know what to do. They would rather spend hours towing wreaked vehicles out of ditches instead of spending the time and/or money to prevent it from happening. Some of us cannot understand why anyone would think that it is cheaper to have all business, retail or otherwise, grind to a halt because people cannot get to work or get to stores to spend money. Beyond the complaints we are also shaking our heads in disbelief. All it would take is just a little more education on procedures, a little more expense, equipment wise and the courage to get out there and fix the problem before it becomes more then anyone can handle. Send highway people on a trip up north in the winter and see how it is done. Doing it the right way would be much, much cheaper, especially since down here the storms (winter) are far less severe and of a much shorter duration. It should be a piece of cake to keep the roads down here open and safe. We stopped using metal studs in our tires years ago. I drove every winter for 20 years in Vermont with all season tires, never even a defined snow tire.

Contrary to popular beliefs, we did occasionally close schools due to snow storms, but, it was because of major snow storms not the threat of one. We had drivers that knew how to deal with snow. I know of no problems due to snow storms. Kids got home from schools even after the snow was "stuck to the road" 6 or more inches deep.

After working in local government for over a decade, I can say the biggest problem is trying to budget for the snow. We only have limited storage capabilities for the salt and we don't have as many snow plows. One winter we didn't even get 10 inches of snow the entire season but the next we had over 80 inches total. That was a horrible winter for us because we ran out of salt, ran out of money in the budget, a lot of the plows went down because of damage done and we had back to back snow events. That was a cluster of a winter let me tell you LOL. It had been over a decade since we had a blizzard like the one that got us (the first one in 2009) which is why no one took it seriously. But after that winter, the DOT really changed how they handled snows and it got a lot better. But like you said, it often rains before we get snow here. Even worse than that is the high likelihood of ice. The mountains affect our weather so much and a storm changing course just a few miles can mean the difference between us getting 2 inches or 2 feet due to the cold air damming. There are so many variables that make it hard to properly prepare for a snow event in the mid Atlantic or south than in the north. That's like blaming the mid Atlantic for not having enough tornado shelters compared to the Oklahoma region. Of course those in Tornado Alley know the best way to prepare for a tornado but that doesn't mean we have the resources to put towards an event that might not happen - not when there are so many other issues that require attention as well. It's a careful balancing act.

 

[Goofyernmost]

After working in local government for over a decade, I can say the biggest problem is trying to budget for the snow. We only have limited storage capabilities for the salt and we don't have as many snow plows. One winter we didn't even get 10 inches of snow the entire season but the next we had over 80 inches total. That was a horrible winter for us because we ran out of salt, ran out of money in the budget, a lot of the plows went down because of damage done and we had back to back snow events. That was a cluster of a winter let me tell you LOL. It had been over a decade since we had a blizzard like the one that got us (the first one in 2009) which is why no one took it seriously. But after that winter, the DOT really changed how they handled snows and it got a lot better. But like you said, it often rains before we get snow here. Even worse than that is the high likelihood of ice. The mountains affect our weather so much and a storm changing course just a few miles can mean the difference between us getting 2 inches or 2 feet due to the cold air damming. There are so many variables that make it hard to properly prepare for a snow event in the mid Atlantic or south than in the north. That's like blaming the mid Atlantic for not having enough tornado shelters compared to the Oklahoma region. Of course those in Tornado Alley know the best way to prepare for a tornado but that doesn't mean we have the resources to put towards an event that might not happen - not when there are so many other issues that require attention as well. It's a careful balancing act.

I understand your point, but, from what I observed I think that to make this work better is not really a matter of doing more, it is a matter of doing the same things when it would be more effective. Of doing stuff when it is needed not two days after or two days before as a token show of effort. Or in NC, the Governor showing up on TV in his coveralls like he is heading into a mine shaft to save the miners, talking state of emergency. I realize that down here in the south, by tomorrow most of the snow may very well melt away, however, not everyone has the luxury of sitting it out. People that are hourly cannot afford the loss of income, People that must be out on the road need to be driving on safe roads, the very thing that these states cannot find the money to deal with. Property damage and injury apparently are not as important as planting millions of Rose bushes in the spring. The small amount of additional expense would be more then made up for in just the lost revenue and tax on that revenue alone. It is more of a matter of doing it when it will be the most effective and training people in how to handle it.

The need is limited, granted, which is why it is ridiculous to not be sure to take care of it. Process is more important then equipment. Even if there is no place to store salt, this area has a huge abundance of sand. If they don't have the dump trucks there are 40 billion 4 wheel drive redneck pickups that can carry sand and day laborers with shovels to spread sand on the more dangerous spots. Yes, I understand that would require someone to actually work, but, many people would actually live to see another day.

 

[Patcheslee]

Kings great if you not plus sized after they said i was to big for son of beast i swore the place off. Never gone back.l, never will.

Son of Beast was torn down years ago after injuring a train of ppl. I agree it's gone down hill with teens running around Planet Snoopy stuffed snakes from a carvival game hanging out their zipper to drunks throwing up on the sidewalk in front of us.

 

[LeighM]

I understand your point, but, from what I observed I think that to make this work better is not really a matter of doing more, it is a matter of doing the same things when it would be more effective. Of doing stuff when it is needed not two days after or two days before as a token show of effort. Or in NC, the Governor showing up on TV in his coveralls like he is heading into a mine shaft to save the miners, talking state of emergency. I realize that down here in the south, by tomorrow most of the snow may very well melt away, however, not everyone has the luxury of sitting it out. People that are hourly cannot afford the loss of income, People that must be out on the road need to be driving on safe roads, the very thing that these states cannot find the money to deal with. Property damage and injury apparently are not as important as planting millions of Rose bushes in the spring. The small amount of additional expense would be more then made up for in just the lost revenue and tax on that revenue alone. It is more of a matter of doing it when it will be the most effective and training people in how to handle it.

The need is limited, granted, which is why it is ridiculous to not be sure to take care of it. Process is more important then equipment. Even if there is no place to store salt, this area has a huge abundance of sand. If they don't have the dump trucks there are 40 billion 4 wheel drive redneck pickups that can carry sand and day laborers with shovels to spread sand on the more dangerous spots. Yes, I understand that would require someone to actually work, but, many people would actually live to see another day.

Your governor was on TV in overalls??? Sorry but that's all I initially got from that LOL. I'm trying to imagine our former Northern VA governors dressed like that. Can't do it. Ha!!

People complained so much - and rightfully so - after that first blizzard when there were no snow plows on the road. But I have to say, I experienced a type of quiet I didn't know could even exist where I lived Emergency workers had to get to their shift at the hospitals. The only way they could get to work were those big redneck trucks with their own plows. And it's very sad that localities had to rely on private citizens to transport people to work in their own trucks. I can understand the difficulties in planning for future snow but there is no excuse when the NWS is calling for a blizzard 3 days in advance and no one is ready!! My Mom and I slid off the road after one storm bc of ice on a downhill slope at a roundabout on a curve (horrible planning!) and we got stuck half in the median. Mom, for whatever reason, had removed the small emergency shovel I kept in the SUV, and a man was behind us honking telling us to move. Ummm yeah we would love to do that LOL. And instead of getting out of his truck to help us (small female and an elderly female) with getting the SUV unstuck, he just went the wrong way around the roundabout to continue on his way.

I've never lived in NC or SC so I don't understand what their difficulties are. I know how frustrated I was driving to FL one trip and we had a 3 hour 15 mile detour because of flash flooding on I-95 at Roanoke Rapids and no men or signs directing the traffic on all of these back roads. How can they have a major interstate flood so quickly because of a thunderstorm? That seemed like bad engineering. Now that I think about it - that was probably my worst queue experience ever LOL!!! Especially the old gas station at the end of the journey with a one stall bathroom for each gender

 

[Goofyernmost]

Your governor was on TV in overalls??? Sorry but that's all I initially got from that LOL. I'm trying to imagine our former Northern VA governors dressed like that. Can't do it. Ha!!

People complained so much - and rightfully so - after that first blizzard when there were no snow plows on the road. But I have to say, I experienced a type of quiet I didn't know could even exist where I lived Emergency workers had to get to their shift at the hospitals. The only way they could get to work were those big redneck trucks with their own plows. And it's very sad that localities had to rely on private citizens to transport people to work in their own trucks. I can understand the difficulties in planning for future snow but there is no excuse when the NWS is calling for a blizzard 3 days in advance and no one is ready!! My Mom and I slid off the road after one storm bc of ice on a downhill slope at a roundabout on a curve (horrible planning!) and we got stuck half in the median. Mom, for whatever reason, had removed the small emergency shovel I kept in the SUV, and a man was behind us honking telling us to move. Ummm yeah we would love to do that LOL. And instead of getting out of his truck to help us (small female and an elderly female) with getting the SUV unstuck, he just went the wrong way around the roundabout to continue on his way.

I've never lived in NC or SC so I don't understand what their difficulties are. I know how frustrated I was driving to FL one trip and we had a 3 hour 15 mile detour because of flash flooding on I-95 at Roanoke Rapids and no men or signs directing the traffic on all of these back roads. How can they have a major interstate flood so quickly because of a thunderstorm? That seemed like bad engineering. Now that I think about it - that was probably my worst queue experience ever LOL!!! Especially the old gas station at the end of the journey with a one stall bathroom for each gender

That would be an engineering road elevation screw up. They don't crown the roads very well around here either so when it rains hard water does not easily and quickly run off the road, it tends to puddle therefore causing many a hydroplaning event to happen. They don't watch tire track depth very closely either exacerbating the problem even more.

 

[Jabbas]

Last time I went to MK, a couple of families were playing a game in like. Kind of like (jepardy?), where you guess the name of something without saying it. While we were waiting for Pooh, this family would not move. Literally. So I spoke up and the mom snapped at me "we're moving, relax!" They weren't moving, in fact we were getting dirty looks from everyone behind us. It was ridiculous.

 

[turtles221]

This wasn't really terrible, but we had just gotten to Disney that morning and me and my family decided to go to Epcot (we usually go to MK when we arrive). Anyway, before we headed back to the resort, I wanted to go on Test Track (old version). We get on line and it's about a 30 or 40 minute wait. We get to the front, about 3 families away, where they let us into the TV rooms and they're like, "sorry, there's a bad storm coming and I was told that we can't let anyone else on." So we wait, thinking the storm will pass, WRONG. We waited another hour before they turned the music off, which was really annoying at that point. There used to be a dummy head attached to a pole that would slam against something metal, and that would go off every minute. So we were sitting there in silence listening to metal clang against other metal for about 2 hours. Eventually me and my family decide to head back because we were exhausted. And as soon as we get off the line, the ride started back up again.

 

[I am Timmy]

On my last trip in 2011 I was waiting to see Rapunzel and Flynn at the Garden. The family in front of me was very nice and we were chatting, but the mom behind me was getting agitated that the line was moving so slowly. When I finally got to Rapunzel, she and Flynn signed my sketchbook, then proceeded to go through and look at all my drawings. I could hear this mother behind me getting all worked up because "She's an adult, she's taking too much time away from my daughter. She's been waiting!" The CM said something to her and I was about to cry. I looked at Rapunzel and told her and the CM that I never got to go to WDW as a kid. My first trip was in 2007 when I was already in my 20's. The CM gave me a free FP for Splash Mountain and asked me to come back after the line was done. Then I got to escort Rapunzel to the CM entrance.

Disney is for all ages and it hurt my heart to hear someone be that way when we all paid, and waited, and the characters take the same amount of time with everyone.

Yes, some people think because they have children, that those children should come before all adults. I've seen this in lines, at stage shows, parades, and firework shows. I actually had a woman that showed up with her family 10 minutes before the xmas parade (I had been there for over an hour, was in front with MY kids) tap my shoulder and tell me to stand behind her granddaughter because she couldn't see! I politely explained that I wouldn't mind sitting down, but I was staying next to my kids (I wanted to see their faces!) She kept saying they had never seen it before, blah, blah, and wouldn't let it go, kept scooching up on me. I finally asked where she was from, she said Florida! Woman - I flew here from Wa. state and I am not giving you my place! You live here! You could conceivably come every day! So, her daughter begged her to leave it alone, I sat down next to my kids so everyone could see, and she never spoke to me again (Yay!). The end.

 

[mf1972]

Yes, some people think because they have children, that those children should come before all adults. I've seen this in lines, at stage shows, parades, and firework shows. I actually had a woman that showed up with her family 10 minutes before the xmas parade (I had been there for over an hour, was in front with MY kids) tap my shoulder and tell me to stand behind her granddaughter because she couldn't see! I politely explained that I wouldn't mind sitting down, but I was staying next to my kids (I wanted to see their faces!) She kept saying they had never seen it before, blah, blah, and wouldn't let it go, kept scooching up on me. I finally asked where she was from, she said Florida! Woman - I flew here from Wa. state and I am not giving you my place! You live here! You could conceivably come every day! So, her daughter begged her to leave it alone, I sat down next to my kids so everyone could see, and she never spoke to me again (Yay!). The end.

not a queue experience, but this reminds me when we were sitting along the curb by the castle hub waiting for the halloween parade, & i had a family member behind me trying to push me forward with her feet. i turned around & asked for her to stop, & i get "no habla ingles" excuse.
i knew it was bull because i heard other members of the group speaking english. before i can say anything else, the wife of a family sitting next to us spoke to her in spanish. she told me she said "i told them to stop or ill call a CM over."
man i was thankful.

 

[graphite1326]

For some reason I just always referred to that ride as Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin...I forgot Space....SPACE!

NP I probably wouldn't be able to figure it out even if you had.