I was there last night. It was insane. The monorails were down for at least an hour at closing. The ferry line was incredibly long, then they told everyone to go on bus 34, but everyone was pushing and shoving to get on the bus. They closed the ships right on time at 10 because they had an event. It was a horrible experience for sure.
why is Disney letting so many people in? they need to restrict the amount of floks as its a safety issue. the next this to happen will be a stampede and deaths, then Disney will have its hands full of lawsuits.
I was there too. It was bad. I told them I was getting on a bus and the cast members kept forcing me into the ferry line. I was literally wedged into a crowd without moving for 20 minutes. I had my son with me and started to pass out from heat
This is really incredibly poor park management. They can stagger this exodus. What was Chapek saying about the park res system helping him keep the crowds at a manageable level and to plan staffing? BS. He’s letting everyone in and laying off CM’s, and he’s counting the money. The parks are getting rundown, filthy, downgrading the park experience.
Brooke you are so right. Well it’s under staffed bc nobody around here wants to work there anymore. They all went to universal or sea world which treats there employees much better. And yes the parks a filthy rides always breaking down food is terrible. But the sad thing is people still keep going with the insane price’s
Personally, I think when they say they will never be at full capacity is because they have decided to surpass what was and change what full capacity could be. I was excited to be so close to Disney when I moved to Florida, but I won’t go with this chaos. It’s a shame, I’ve been going every year since opening day
I was there with my HS Choir. Some of my students were forced into the ferry line by park employees which was past our meeting point. Once they discovered their error and tried to rejoin our group, a Disney staff member named Trent refused their re-entry without security and showing their park pass even though I was an arm’s reach away from them. I was shocked at the disrespectful way he spoke to us, especially in the midst of utter chaos. Many of my students were scared and near tears. I’ve been going to Disney since I was a little girl, in the 1970’s, and I am saddened by what it has become.
Boycotting everything Disney! Too much has changed since Walt Disney had this dream! Now it’s all about money for them! What a shame! Money reveals people and their true nature! Besides they fired Johnny Depp! Done with Disney!
That is insane! I have been many times but have never seen crowds like that! I do not believe I will be going back until that is under control. There are many other places I can go and not have to pay for standing in line for hours.
I’m in WDW right now but I must have been in a different universe. With the exception of closing, when EVERYONE heads to the exit at the same time (just like the pic above) the crowds were normal.
SAME!! I was there too this night and didn’t have any issues. Left with the big crowds after a short stop for souvenirs and got right on a ferry boat. Yes it was crowded but managed well in my opinion. It’s all about attitude…if you have a poor attitude about it, then your experience is going to be pretty crummy. Honestly just had the most magical week at Disney with some family that had never been before. Thankful for my positive attitude.
No- this was on the 10th. We were there and it was BAD! I watched the fireworks right outside the Emporium and then headed to exit. Took me almost an hour just to get to the buses.
I was there last night with my small children. There was an event and the normal hour allowance you get at park close wasn’t an option. This usually helps mitigate the exiting crowds. The CM’s were literally creating a barrier along Main Street and forcing you out all at once. There was no easy walking. You were shoulder to shoulder, being herded. It was a mess. And there was no way out.
I was there with my family last night. I have never seen a mess like this before. It was unreal. We were all pushed out of the park at once because of a cast member party. Told to go get some bus where thousand of people were trying to get on. People were pushing, yelling, cheating trying to get in a line none could see. It was unbelievable. There were strollers, wheelchairs, service dogs, little children screaming, people passing out… in the middle of a herd. This was plain insane. My children are 9 and 12, they both talked all day to whom who want to listen to them of the nightmare they lived last night trying to go to bed after a long exhausting day. Like it wasn’t enough to have to do the line all day. This was not acceptable for the amount of money we spend for the tickets and on over priced everything at Disney.
EXACTLY! I was there with my son and parents. My parents left at 9 but my son and I stayed for the fireworks, right by the Emporium. I FaceTimed my parents from the crowd and held my phone up, they were appalled as well. The employees were RUDE too. The man in front of me tried to ask a question about where to go and they kept telling him to move along- right in his face- then rolling their eyes. Another employee forced me into the wrong line where my son and I were STUCK for almost an hour.
I was born eight weeks after Disneyland park opened in 1955. I was fortunate to have an annual passport for $99 per year in the 1980s. I attended Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary in 2005. It was packed wall to wall people the summer temperatures didn’t make the experience an inviting one but I survived. In some ways I miss the “good old days at Disneyland. I visited the Disney World park on many occasions in the past. Should I ever take the opportunity to visit one more time I will need a walker to get me around because of the enormous size of the parks. I would encourage anyone who has never been to the Disney World Resort to make it a once in a lifetime experience. When I was 7, I saw Walt Disney riding in a car down the Main Street in the parade. Precious memories always. Next stop? Disneyland Heaven 😇
So they kept both ferry’s running? We were on the ferry around 8:45pm back to TTC when it crashed into the dock really hard. People were falling over, someone even fell over in their motorized rascal. The stroller my 2 year old was in almost fell over, thank god for my husband catching it.
I was there last night, and that is exactly why after the fireworks we went and got on jungle cruise, and did a few things in that end of the park to avoid the crowd leaving.
I’ve dealt with crowds like that before. I remember one time we stood in the stampede for over 2 hours being shuffled around from one place to another. I finally had it. My twins were screaming my handicap son was so exhausted he was on the verge of a seizure. I walked past a CM and asked if any of the ferries or monorails were running to the Polynesian or GF. I was taking a resort path back to ITC. Got right on and left.
We were at Magic Kingdom on New Years 4 years ago . No one could take a step unless everyone did. It was a very dangerous situation. If you passed out you would not hit the ground. It was beyond capacity as Disney was parking over full lots on sections of grass. It took us 2 hours from Main Street to the parking lot. It sounds like their reservation control is Not working.
It’s always like that after fireworks. Everybody leaving at the same time trying to get to the boats buses and monorails. My suggestion is to hang back walk around through some of the shops. Much easier to leave 45 minutes after fireworks. Otherwise the crowds are normal.
Or watch them by the train station. Or from contemporary. Or watch them from behind the castle. Most of these complaints are from newbies who lie and say they’ve been coming here for 50 years.
That’s normally what we do but that night it wasn’t allowed. CM’s literally baracaded the doors along Main Street. We were very literally forced out all at once. It was quite ridiculous and dangerous.
Truth be told, Walt Disney wanted to serve people. The current Disney management just wants to build people as much money as they can get out of them. They figure, if the insane crowds will comment to pay insane prices to stand in the same lines as if it were a free government cheese or breadline, then they’ll take their money. As the old saying goes, there’s a sucker born every minute.
I could have sworn that the ENTIRE reason for the Park Reservation System was for “crowd control” in the parks — based upon what I’m seeing here, it is NOT WORKING AT ALL!!!
We went the week before Memorial Day and it was much busier than Spring Break 2019. We tried all the tricks, 7:00 a.m. lightning lane, rope drop 45 minutes early at Magic Kingdom, extended evening hours for staying at Beach Club, early morning dining reservations. The best luck we had was Animal Kingdom where we got early LL for Na’vi and early ILL for FOP, then were able to stack LL for most of the other rides except Kilimanjaro. Also enjoyed park hopping to Epcot for dinner. The rest of it was just stressful and exhausting, stayed glued to my phone most of the time thanks to LL. Won’t be back anytime soon. Also, if you’re from a cold climate like we are in Alaska, don’t go in May, it was on the brink of hell.
The first night they offered the open all night event in 2013 it was a MADHOUSE!! I was so afraid I was going to lose track of my family because it was just should to shoulder PEOPLE. They really should limit the access to each park for saftey esp with Covid cases still running high….
it is possible to walk to the parking lot by taking the walkway over to the big white hotel on the water (Grand Floridian) and then continue to walk from there to the parking lot. it is a very long walk but just know it is possible. The walk over to the Grand Floridian was made possible only recently and a nice wide walkway, very safe well lit.
Christine McCarthy, if you are listening, YOUR SYSTEM is not working!!! Go back to the old system. Controlling Park Attendance is proving to be a disaster!
Disney’s greed is causing people to never want to visit again. As someone who has been in a losing legal battle with Disney over their despicable treatment of people with autism I can tell you Disney only cares about money. I pray everyday for a rival park to open or for Virtual reality parks to open and put greedy Disney out of business. Their new park ticketing policies are making it unaffordable for poor or lower middle class people to afford. It has become a park for the rich. Very sad as I remember going to Disney in the 70s when it wasn’t overcrowded and fun.
Been to WDW 12 times. Never saw it this bad. And the park reservation system is in place to mitigate crowds? Ha ha ha! WDW needs to immediately implement lower capacity limits at each park. These vids present an extremely unsafe environment. I feel for folks with kids trying to navigate this horror. Disney is all about profit now, and they could care less about the guest experience. We first saw a major change for the worse in Spring 2019 with huge crowds, deteriorating bus service and the inability to get on rides. And this was BEFORE they implemented the horrible system they now have for reserving ride times! Our last visit was still with the Fast Pass system and it was bad!
I’m just thankful my earlier WDW visits were magical because I doubt that feeling will ever return. WDW used to be great and I was able to enjoy it then. Now it’s sheer madness at an astronomical price!
It’s almost like these people are new to Disney. Ill never get why people rush to leave the park like this righg when the fireworks end. Anyone even remotely experienced with WDW knows you hang back, and find somewhere to sit for about half an hour and then slowly head to the gates. We usually find a spot on the river in Frontieland and wait for the exiting crowds to thin out.
Read the replies. Everyone there that night is saying that the cast members formed a physical line to prohibit further entry into the park, and forced everyone out at the same time. Apparently there was another event about to start, so everyone had to leave directly after fireworks from what I’m reading.
We did Christmas day 2017 at The Magic Kingdom. As we sat up in Cinderella’s having lunch the park hit it’s pre-covid capacity of 100,000 guests…this was at 1pm. Needless to say we stayed put and had another dessert and coffee.
Comments for Guests Experience Insane Crowds and Extreme Chaos at Magic Kingdom
Michael
I was there last night. It was insane. The monorails were down for at least an hour at closing. The ferry line was incredibly long, then they told everyone to go on bus 34, but everyone was pushing and shoving to get on the bus. They closed the ships right on time at 10 because they had an event. It was a horrible experience for sure.
bruce
why is Disney letting so many people in? they need to restrict the amount of floks as its a safety issue. the next this to happen will be a stampede and deaths, then Disney will have its hands full of lawsuits.
Sarah
I was there too. It was bad. I told them I was getting on a bus and the cast members kept forcing me into the ferry line. I was literally wedged into a crowd without moving for 20 minutes. I had my son with me and started to pass out from heat
Brooke
This is really incredibly poor park management. They can stagger this exodus. What was Chapek saying about the park res system helping him keep the crowds at a manageable level and to plan staffing? BS. He’s letting everyone in and laying off CM’s, and he’s counting the money. The parks are getting rundown, filthy, downgrading the park experience.
Sue
Brooke you are so right. Well it’s under staffed bc nobody around here wants to work there anymore. They all went to universal or sea world which treats there employees much better. And yes the parks a filthy rides always breaking down food is terrible. But the sad thing is people still keep going with the insane price’s
Cyndi
Personally, I think when they say they will never be at full capacity is because they have decided to surpass what was and change what full capacity could be. I was excited to be so close to Disney when I moved to Florida, but I won’t go with this chaos. It’s a shame, I’ve been going every year since opening day
Dawn
I was there with my HS Choir. Some of my students were forced into the ferry line by park employees which was past our meeting point. Once they discovered their error and tried to rejoin our group, a Disney staff member named Trent refused their re-entry without security and showing their park pass even though I was an arm’s reach away from them. I was shocked at the disrespectful way he spoke to us, especially in the midst of utter chaos. Many of my students were scared and near tears. I’ve been going to Disney since I was a little girl, in the 1970’s, and I am saddened by what it has become.
Leslie Brown
It’s Florida in the summer. It will be crowded and it will be hot and humid. Don’t go during the summer..
Annie
I live in Florida, am a pass holder, and have been going to Disney my entire life. Have you not read the other comments here? This is not normal.
Leslie Garone
Boycotting everything Disney! Too much has changed since Walt Disney had this dream! Now it’s all about money for them! What a shame! Money reveals people and their true nature! Besides they fired Johnny Depp! Done with Disney!
CS
Bye
James
Lower your expectations…at least they aren’t making you wear a mask in the heat this year.
Tina
That is insane! I have been many times but have never seen crowds like that! I do not believe I will be going back until that is under control. There are many other places I can go and not have to pay for standing in line for hours.
Dave
I’m in WDW right now but I must have been in a different universe. With the exception of closing, when EVERYONE heads to the exit at the same time (just like the pic above) the crowds were normal.
Shirley
SAME!! I was there too this night and didn’t have any issues. Left with the big crowds after a short stop for souvenirs and got right on a ferry boat. Yes it was crowded but managed well in my opinion. It’s all about attitude…if you have a poor attitude about it, then your experience is going to be pretty crummy. Honestly just had the most magical week at Disney with some family that had never been before. Thankful for my positive attitude.
Sarah
No- this was on the 10th. We were there and it was BAD! I watched the fireworks right outside the Emporium and then headed to exit. Took me almost an hour just to get to the buses.
Lynne
I was there last night with my small children. There was an event and the normal hour allowance you get at park close wasn’t an option. This usually helps mitigate the exiting crowds. The CM’s were literally creating a barrier along Main Street and forcing you out all at once. There was no easy walking. You were shoulder to shoulder, being herded. It was a mess. And there was no way out.
Sarah
Exactly. People were pushing and getting stepped on. I watched several people have full blown panic attacks. I had my son with me and he was scared.
Aurianne
I was there with my family last night. I have never seen a mess like this before. It was unreal. We were all pushed out of the park at once because of a cast member party. Told to go get some bus where thousand of people were trying to get on. People were pushing, yelling, cheating trying to get in a line none could see. It was unbelievable. There were strollers, wheelchairs, service dogs, little children screaming, people passing out… in the middle of a herd. This was plain insane. My children are 9 and 12, they both talked all day to whom who want to listen to them of the nightmare they lived last night trying to go to bed after a long exhausting day. Like it wasn’t enough to have to do the line all day. This was not acceptable for the amount of money we spend for the tickets and on over priced everything at Disney.
Sarah
EXACTLY! I was there with my son and parents. My parents left at 9 but my son and I stayed for the fireworks, right by the Emporium. I FaceTimed my parents from the crowd and held my phone up, they were appalled as well. The employees were RUDE too. The man in front of me tried to ask a question about where to go and they kept telling him to move along- right in his face- then rolling their eyes. Another employee forced me into the wrong line where my son and I were STUCK for almost an hour.
Susan
I was born eight weeks after Disneyland park opened in 1955. I was fortunate to have an annual passport for $99 per year in the 1980s. I attended Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary in 2005. It was packed wall to wall people the summer temperatures didn’t make the experience an inviting one but I survived. In some ways I miss the “good old days at Disneyland. I visited the Disney World park on many occasions in the past. Should I ever take the opportunity to visit one more time I will need a walker to get me around because of the enormous size of the parks. I would encourage anyone who has never been to the Disney World Resort to make it a once in a lifetime experience. When I was 7, I saw Walt Disney riding in a car down the Main Street in the parade. Precious memories always. Next stop? Disneyland Heaven 😇
Annie
Susan, What a sweet comment. 😊 Love hearing about your happy memories. ❤
Teuth
Go woke, get rich!
Becky lyn
It will get worse, many bus drivers are either quitting or retiring. Gone to woke.
Alvin
Parks are at full capacity. The crowds are back to prepandemic levels.
Mivhelle
So they kept both ferry’s running? We were on the ferry around 8:45pm back to TTC when it crashed into the dock really hard. People were falling over, someone even fell over in their motorized rascal. The stroller my 2 year old was in almost fell over, thank god for my husband catching it.
Eleanor
I was there last night, and that is exactly why after the fireworks we went and got on jungle cruise, and did a few things in that end of the park to avoid the crowd leaving.
Christina Rowley
I’ve dealt with crowds like that before. I remember one time we stood in the stampede for over 2 hours being shuffled around from one place to another. I finally had it. My twins were screaming my handicap son was so exhausted he was on the verge of a seizure. I walked past a CM and asked if any of the ferries or monorails were running to the Polynesian or GF. I was taking a resort path back to ITC. Got right on and left.
Bud
We were at Magic Kingdom on New Years 4 years ago . No one could take a step unless everyone did. It was a very dangerous situation. If you passed out you would not hit the ground. It was beyond capacity as Disney was parking over full lots on sections of grass. It took us 2 hours from Main Street to the parking lot. It sounds like their reservation control is Not working.
Donna
It’s always like that after fireworks. Everybody leaving at the same time trying to get to the boats buses and monorails. My suggestion is to hang back walk around through some of the shops. Much easier to leave 45 minutes after fireworks. Otherwise the crowds are normal.
Dave
Or watch them by the train station. Or from contemporary. Or watch them from behind the castle. Most of these complaints are from newbies who lie and say they’ve been coming here for 50 years.
Michael
They closed the shops for a cast member event and forcing people to leave the park. The monorails were down for at least an hour and a half.
Mel
They weren’t letting people do that, everyone was forced to leave at the same time, no looking at shops.
Lynne
That’s normally what we do but that night it wasn’t allowed. CM’s literally baracaded the doors along Main Street. We were very literally forced out all at once. It was quite ridiculous and dangerous.
Sarah
Not that night. It’s always been bad but I’ve NEVER seen it like this and the bus/exits were still PACKED over two hours later.
Lou
The most magical place on earth! Magically making your money.. and your sanity… disappear!
Jack
Truth be told, Walt Disney wanted to serve people. The current Disney management just wants to build people as much money as they can get out of them. They figure, if the insane crowds will comment to pay insane prices to stand in the same lines as if it were a free government cheese or breadline, then they’ll take their money. As the old saying goes, there’s a sucker born every minute.
Andy
I think you meant to say that the current Disney management just wants to bilk people, not build, (ie, out of as much money as possible).
You don’t have a friend in Disney!
AH
Probably autocorrect. Cannot tell you how many times my posts have been changed that way.
Eric L Erickson
I could have sworn that the ENTIRE reason for the Park Reservation System was for “crowd control” in the parks — based upon what I’m seeing here, it is NOT WORKING AT ALL!!!
Jen
We went the week before Memorial Day and it was much busier than Spring Break 2019. We tried all the tricks, 7:00 a.m. lightning lane, rope drop 45 minutes early at Magic Kingdom, extended evening hours for staying at Beach Club, early morning dining reservations. The best luck we had was Animal Kingdom where we got early LL for Na’vi and early ILL for FOP, then were able to stack LL for most of the other rides except Kilimanjaro. Also enjoyed park hopping to Epcot for dinner. The rest of it was just stressful and exhausting, stayed glued to my phone most of the time thanks to LL. Won’t be back anytime soon. Also, if you’re from a cold climate like we are in Alaska, don’t go in May, it was on the brink of hell.
JT
The first night they offered the open all night event in 2013 it was a MADHOUSE!! I was so afraid I was going to lose track of my family because it was just should to shoulder PEOPLE. They really should limit the access to each park for saftey esp with Covid cases still running high….
Linda Marie Gonzalez
How awful! Disney is supposed to be fun not dangerous. I’m so glad nobody got hurt!
anna
it is possible to walk to the parking lot by taking the walkway over to the big white hotel on the water (Grand Floridian) and then continue to walk from there to the parking lot. it is a very long walk but just know it is possible. The walk over to the Grand Floridian was made possible only recently and a nice wide walkway, very safe well lit.
Gerry Catanzano
Christine McCarthy, if you are listening, YOUR SYSTEM is not working!!! Go back to the old system. Controlling Park Attendance is proving to be a disaster!
Kathy
I won’t go back to any Disney park while this insanity is going on. Chapek’s contract is up in a year and a half. Hope he gets the boot.
Linda Marie Gonzalez
Disney’s greed is causing people to never want to visit again. As someone who has been in a losing legal battle with Disney over their despicable treatment of people with autism I can tell you Disney only cares about money. I pray everyday for a rival park to open or for Virtual reality parks to open and put greedy Disney out of business. Their new park ticketing policies are making it unaffordable for poor or lower middle class people to afford. It has become a park for the rich. Very sad as I remember going to Disney in the 70s when it wasn’t overcrowded and fun.
Larry
Was there in March same insanity!! Wont go back until they make it a fun place to visit again. Not worth the aggravation don’t waste your money!!!!!
Teresa
Been to WDW 12 times. Never saw it this bad. And the park reservation system is in place to mitigate crowds? Ha ha ha! WDW needs to immediately implement lower capacity limits at each park. These vids present an extremely unsafe environment. I feel for folks with kids trying to navigate this horror. Disney is all about profit now, and they could care less about the guest experience. We first saw a major change for the worse in Spring 2019 with huge crowds, deteriorating bus service and the inability to get on rides. And this was BEFORE they implemented the horrible system they now have for reserving ride times! Our last visit was still with the Fast Pass system and it was bad!
I’m just thankful my earlier WDW visits were magical because I doubt that feeling will ever return. WDW used to be great and I was able to enjoy it then. Now it’s sheer madness at an astronomical price!
Mike
It’s almost like these people are new to Disney. Ill never get why people rush to leave the park like this righg when the fireworks end. Anyone even remotely experienced with WDW knows you hang back, and find somewhere to sit for about half an hour and then slowly head to the gates. We usually find a spot on the river in Frontieland and wait for the exiting crowds to thin out.
Annie
Read the replies. Everyone there that night is saying that the cast members formed a physical line to prohibit further entry into the park, and forced everyone out at the same time. Apparently there was another event about to start, so everyone had to leave directly after fireworks from what I’m reading.
Ray
I was there almost 20 years ago with my kids. Never again.
CS
We did Christmas day 2017 at The Magic Kingdom. As we sat up in Cinderella’s having lunch the park hit it’s pre-covid capacity of 100,000 guests…this was at 1pm. Needless to say we stayed put and had another dessert and coffee.
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