I too was there for the 50th and was underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, I had a fun day, but there really were a number of key failures by the Disney team. Here's my experience:
- We arrived a little after 7am. Not as early as some folks seem to be saying we should have arrived if I had paid attention to the "planning" thread on this board. Well, I
did pay attention to the planning thread - up until last week when I left on my vacation. I then had more important things to do than learn about how others were planning to arrive at a godawful early time, when there was no indication from Disney that anyone would be allowed through the gates before 7:30. But, I digress. At that time the main square was already packed, with the line for the Emporium snaking all the way around the center gardens area and back up Main Street. We had no intention of waiting in line for merchandise which had already been out and available for weeks, so we continued towards the Hub.
- Getting through Main Street was tough, but we managed. We were then stopped at one of the bridges to Tomorrowland, where CMs were checking in resort guests. It had just hit 7:30. There were already thousands and thousands of people already let through to Tomorrowland and Storybook Circus. We were confused, not understanding how anyone could have possibly made it to that point in the park much before us and been let through. Whatever, I guess we did not do enough "research".
- We get to Storybook circus and begin the line-waiting. Now, we expected a bit of line-waiting for merch. Yes, we could have spent all day riding rides, but that's what we'd spent the last week doing (hence why we came in early). We knew that the 50th itself was going to be a "prove we were there" focused day. It was approximately 7:45am at this point (so, still before any non-resort guests (or is it friends now?) were supposed to be allowed in). Lines were already so long for popcorn buckets that the frazzled CM in a Dumbo top hat and coattails had wound her line into an ever-reducing spiral with her at the center. Luckily, some other CMs came by to help her soon after. The "virtual" line for the Big Top (which we didn't even learn about until we got there) was already closed for capacity. That wasn't stopping literally everyone around us from constantly refreshing their phones in an attempt to get in. Anyways, during this time we took turns ushering our DD onto the basically empty rides (including a 7-ride streak on Barnstormer). She had a great time.
- Around 9am, coveted popcorn bucket in hand (proof!), we headed off to do rides (still constantly refreshing). As a bit of a joke, we looked up our popcorn bucket on eBay. It was already there and listed for $60. We took a break around 10:15 or so and,
voila! I managed to get through on the virtual queue. We then decided where we thought was the best place for lunch (Cosmic Rays) and made our mobile order for 1:20-1:50pm. We figured it made sense to have lunch later than most normal people would eat so as to (hopefully) skip the rush.
- As many others have reported, ride lines were short. Some of the classics (Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion) were long-ish, but others were very short to complete walk-ons. Notably, at about noon we noticed that one side of the printing for our hard-won popcorn bucket had rubbed off. Some quality merchandise there.
- We made our way to Cosmic Rays at our appointed lunch time. We found a whole crush of people, some of whom had been waiting over an hour for their mobile orders to come through. These were not folks who walked up to the doors, realized they needed to mobile order, and then hung around the entrance waiting for the order to come through. They had all placed their orders early in the day, as we had. The CMs guarding the doors didn't have a lot of info on what was causing the backup, but it seemed clear there would be a significant wait. We waited nearby until our pick-up time was passed, and then went for some more rides.
- During this time, my invite to the Big Top went off. We headed back to Storybook Circus, and showed our virtual ticket...to get in another line. I could be wrong in my interpretation of how the line was set up, but it seemed as though CMs had not been prepared for quite that many folks to be crowding into the big top area. Anyways, we picked up some super-special this-day-only merchandise (some of which we saw selling at Creations the next day), and while we were waiting to check out, we got the info that our mobile order had finally come through (only about 90 minutes after our pick-up window closed!). There were piles and piles of orders being just tossed in the trash (as nobody was waiting around to pick up their exremely late lunches).
- We ate our late food and I went on a mission to deliver our packages back at our room. It was during my return trip to the park that I heard some of the other guests recounting their morning experiences. They included a resort boat crashing into the MK dock, observing a fistfight in the Emporium, going around and around the entrance area to get multiple park maps/exit posters, and some folks who found the super-special this-day-only park maps on eBay, selling for $150. DH and DD got on a lot more walk-on rides during this time period.
- We arrived at the Skipper Canteen at our scheduled ADR time of 7pm. In retrospect, I should have made this reservation earlier. But, as it was, we were not hungry at all (having had luch around 3pm). We didn't get into the restaurant until 7:30pm. Dinner was great (though rushed). We were out by 8:15 and headed to find a fireworks viewing spot.
- Well, as you might imagine, there were not many options left. Especially not for a family with a short kid that could not just stand at the back of already established groups and expect to have any line of sight. We did find a not-completely-obstructed spot that would work, and then waited with the remaining crush of humanity for the next 45 minutes. I will say that I thought the Hub and the Main Street area were overcrowded. Almost dangerously so. The CMs were doing their best to keep walkways clear, but forcing people behind the taped lines they had erected only forced them to crush together so that they could barely breathe. DH asked me if there was still a line for the Emporium. There was no way to tell, because there were too many people.
- The fireworks were...fine. I kind of liked them, DH less so. We both felt they were better than Harmonius (which we'd seen earlier in the week). DH's problems may have stemmed at least partly from our poor view (which he got the worst of). My biggest problem was...well...they're the same fireworks they'll do every night for at least then next 18 months. Nothing extra. Not even after-hours party worthy. For a once in a lifetime situation, I guess I figured they'd be more impressive.
- After that we stuck around to ride more walk-on rides. That was fun. However, to get to them we first had to swim upstream against the massive current of folks leaving after the fireworks. The route we'd taken to get to the front of the park (through backstage areas) was closed off to us. The CMs said it was only for leaving traffic (notably, no one was coming out that way). The route we'd often take through the shops was closed to us (and there was still a huge line for the Emporium). It was just push through and hang on to your kids for dear life until we made it to Liberty Square.
- We closed out the evening with a ride on the Carousel. Afterwards, everyone cheered as the park closed for the evening. As we left, it was still packed (and yes, the Emporium was still full).
So, was it a good experience? Yes. Was it a great experience? No. Did it meet my expectations? Probably, because my expectations for getting anything done during that day were pretty low. Did it exceed my expectations (as Disney often does)? No. Would I do it again? Only if DH begged me. But then, the only reason we were there in the first place was becase DH begged me. Do we think Disney dropped the ball? Yes. Do we feel that they failed to give guests the 50th Anniversary experience they deserved? Yes. Does that bother us much? No. We were there. We experienced it. We got the commemorative popcorn bucket to prove it. that's all we were really hoping to get from the day.
face from you, so perhaps you are referring to me? If I have said something to offend you, please let me know. I am pretty good at admitting my mistakes and apologising as necessary.
