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Thanks for reminding me of why i always have a terrible time in WDW. Much rather go to Disneyland or Disneyland Paris and weather and negative people are the reason for me. Been evaced off of Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion,and big thunder mountain. been stuck in Carousel of progress seeing the same scene 3 times. Ridden space mountain with the lights on in DL, WDW and DLP
At Disney I have been evacuated off of Splash Mountain, which was kinda neat. Got to touch the bear (was at the scene where he is in the rope). Also got evacuated off of spaceship earth. Now that one was cool to see with the lights on.
As a kid in the 70's/80's, I saw Space Mountain down and in full lights more than I saw it as a passenger in the dark... One of my favorites then, still one of my favorites.
Last October we got evacuated off tower of terror. I personally thought it was cool to see with the lights on. It was at the part with the floating clocks and such so just before you move forward to drop. We had to go down a small ladder then into a regular elevator which we thought was going to break as well and they allowed our whole group on next available elevator and every one of us went and we all made it ;)
Toy Story broke down on us in HS was interesting to see thr ride with the lights on. Cast was very upset Guests were taking pictures, encouraging them to put their cameras away. Took half an hour to evac.
Is there much to see in Toy Story Midway Mania with the lights on?
I don't really think of it as a dark ride.
I had to be let out of the great movie ride once right near alien. It was interesting
I had to be let out of the great movie ride once right near alien. It was interesting
I had to be let out of the great movie ride once right near alien. It was interesting
That would have freaked me out! I hate that part and when I took my daughter this summer for her first trip, I hid her head under me for that seen otherwise she would never speak to me again!
That would have freaked me out! I hate that part and when I took my daughter this summer for her first trip, I hid her head under me for that seen otherwise she would never speak to me again!
I have been to Disney World many times and thought I'd seen everything there. This last time it was I who got sick. I rode the Himalayan in Animal Kingdom and couldn't wait to get off that ride! Blaaaagh, and urp! My next ride was a magical wheelchair pushed by my husband (my prince charming) and escorted by a very sweet and caring cast member to the infirmary. There I was met the RN on staff who politely told my family to go enjoy the park and come back for me later. Yes that was my wish! I also just wanted to lie down and sleep. Everyone was very, very nice to us all. A part of the experience I hope you won't have to see. Nonetheless, they are there for you so that your story will have a happy ending!
I have been to Disney World many times and thought I'd seen everything there. This last time it was I who got sick. I rode the Himalayan in Animal Kingdom and couldn't wait to get off that ride! Blaaaagh, and urp! My next ride was a magical wheelchair pushed by my husband (my prince charming) and escorted by a very sweet and caring cast member to the infirmary. There I was met the RN on staff who politely told my family to go enjoy the park and come back for me later. Yes that was my wish! I also just wanted to lie down and sleep. Everyone was very, very nice to us all. A part of the experience I hope you won't have to see. Nonetheless, they are there for you so that your story will have a happy ending!
Of all the above mentioned situations, the most upsetting happened to my family during a recent trip to the Magic Kingdom. The park was closing at 11PM. At approximately 10:45, a severe thunderstorm erupted with deadly lightening in tow. In all my 20 years of visiting Florida, this was one of the worst storms I can remember.
The extremely disappointing part of this was the way WDW handled this dangerous situation. They were unapologetic and rude when they said that we had to leave the safety of a doorway at the back of the park and walk in the lightening, hail, torrential wind and rain (with 2 small children) and move toward the front of park.
While I understand the need to close up shop on time, there is no excuse for endangering the safety of your park guests. I was terrified and my children were in tears.
BAD FORM WDW!!!
I wonder what they would have done if you had asked to be escorted through the Utilidors?
I'm a Castmember. The Utilidors WILL be used for Guests as a quick safety measure only when there's a sudden tornado or something similar, but 1st there's a VERY SWIFT protocol that Castmembers 'in the tunnel' go thru in order to not SCARE or upset children (such as seeing half-dressed characters). U would be amazed as how FAST this can be accomplished but it's not done for typical sudden storms, which are a daily occurrence. That'd be ridiculous. We are trained in all safety precautions.
As a cast member please pass this on to those that make the decisions.... To make a family with small children walk in the lightening thunder and hail instead of letting them ride out the storm under shelter (where they already were) is wrong! My older son is now deathly afraid of storms and his anxiety is through the roof anytime a storm pops up. Do you think this is ok? They could have allowed us to remain under shelter.... We weren't harming anyone. This was flat out wrong and my opinion of Disney is now in the proverbial toilet!
Sounds like you and your kids are crybabys. Grow some.
Too bad you don't know how to do the same - grow up I mean!
Sounds like you and your kids are crybabys. Grow some.
We were very recently caught in a super bad storm over there too. but thankfully Discovery Cove staff encouraged us to shelter rather than go out in it. I hope your family are ok.
Discovery Cove is the best park there, hands down
Discovery Cove is the best park there, hands down
We were very recently caught in a super bad storm over there too. but thankfully Discovery Cove staff encouraged us to shelter rather than go out in it. I hope your family are ok.
Closing time is closing time. As a former cast member, we can direct you to certain areas if you are unwilling to exit during a storm, but we can not make special accommodations, especially during preventable situations . My suggestion is to make keeping an eye on the weather, part of your vacation experience. There are apps for that. Florida storms are often swift and fierce, but if it was the worst you've seen then your experience is few and far between. Storms are totally predictable, and if the concern is small children in the lightning, then it would have been better to foresee the storm and avoid the parks during said hours. It might have put a damper on your merry making, but there is no substitute for safety.
At the end of the day when phone batteries have been exhausted, it is kind of difficult to run a weather app. And as you said these storms are swift. Even if I would have checked in the early evening, they can pop up suddenly. This is Florida... Storms happen everyday. So if I planned my trip around the storms, I would never visit Florida or WDW. The logic of making someone move when they are under shelter and not interfering with closing attractions or shops is flawed! There is no excuse for putting patrons in harms way.. The end!
Just as you stated...this IS Florida, the weather changes quickly and frequently. Therefore, advance planning (e.g. a portable phone charger that will give you 2hrs. or so of battery power) is a must down here. Just sounds like you were not in a safe area, and may have been putting yourself and family in harm's way, whether you may have thought so or not. THE END!
If that ever happened to me, I would refuse to move. The safety of my kids is more important than their protocol.
Protocols are in place to maintain the safety of everyone in the park, whether it be CMs or guests. They have been fine-tuned and tweaked over and over for YEARS. If someone (CM or Guest) decides that the protocols don't make sense and decide to not abide by them, they do so at their own risk. I am sure that your place of business has protocols that you have to abide by or accept the consequences. Just because you are on "vacation" does not give you the right to violate the protocols that are in place to protect everyone.
If the storm erupted at 1045 with an 11pm park close, there would have been no merchandise location closing(or anything else except for some ODV locations)...they usually remain open for 1-1 1/2 hrs. after park close. You mentioned a "doorway" at the back of the park. What I am wondering is WHAT KIND OF DOORWAY? If it were a door leading to a backstage area or an emergency exit of some kind, or in an unsafe area, the CMs would have directed you to a safe area in any merch. location, indoor attraction or restaurant. CMs at DAK are trained to direct guests to any of the above mentioned locations, and not under a building overhang, merch. kiosk, umbrella or metal roofed area for guest safety. FYI...a quick clue to look for and seek immediate shelter in the above mentioned areas is when all Photopass Photographers "disappear"...we are walking lightning rods with all of the electronic gear and batteries we carry on us...we are notified when the storm with lightning is within 10 miles of the park, and sent inside for safety until the storm passes. My other question for you is this: Were there other guests walking through the storm at the same time from your location? Just curious...
Gee...you are a bitter little bug aren't you, Jiminy! For your information this storm happened in the NEW Fantasyland when pretty much everything was still walled off, because most of the area wasn't completed yet. We were inside Little Mermaid in a very SAFE, COVERED location, but the Cast Members wouldn't allow anyone to stand inside, no matter how much we or anyone else begged. It had nothing to do with safety and everything to do with CAST wanting to go home! They DID send us out into the storm with NOWHERE to go! We huddled together as a group trying to make it past all the barricades and walls to the next safety point . THAT IS NOT SAFE and DISNEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED!
Clearly, you think Mickey has sunshine coming out of every orifice! WHAT-EV-ER!
Little mermaid does not have a store but does have an attraction exit which we must keep clear for safety reasons.
So, you're telling us they wouldn't let you stand IN THE WAY of the attraction's exit? When they still had 45 min to an hour left of their shift regardless if you left immediately? When the STILL-RUNNING ride had at minimum 50 people coming off each minute? Sounds like they weren't at ALL worried about the fact that you were blocking an (emergency) exit... They MUST have been trying to head out early...
The parks have tall metal roller coasters and lightning rides to attract lightning and keep guests from being hit. The chances of you being hit are so minuscule that they would probably rather make sure everyone could exit in case of emergency. Sorry your begging didn't work, but next time you decide to be selfish and potentially endanger others, do it at home.