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You’re waaaaaaaay late

Punctuality is a virtue. Alas, some of us are better at it than others. That’s true in the real world, and it’s even more true in the comfortable confines of the Disney bubble. Sometimes, you just can’t help falling behind schedule. A ride may tear down while you’re on it (my current record is waiting on a ride for 25 minutes…for some people, it’s three hours). Transportation may betray you. For that matter, you may not even realize that you have a reservation or FastPass somewhere until well after the fact.

These things happen, and Disney’s company policy is to show understanding. The company knows that a lot of the reasons why you’re late are their fault. So, they don’t want you directing the anger toward cast members. Instead, Disney gives its employees leeway to make a bad situation better. You can check in for an advance dinner reservation when you’re an hour late. I know because I’ve done this. Twice. Neither one was my fault, and Disney kindly offered a couple of FastPasses to make up for the lost time.

That’s your goal when you’re late. If it’s your fault, apologize profusely and try to reduce your footprint. Eat quickly, and be courteous to the cast members who help you. They’re politely overlooking your tardiness, something your school teacher never would have done. If the fault is Disney’s, speak to a cast member at Guest Services (or a Disney hotel if that’s where you are). Ask for a make-good attempt. They do this all the time and as long as you approach them politely with a reasonable request, they’ll try to help.

FastPass doesn’t work and other annoying miscellany

Some doomsday scenarios during a Disney vacation aren’t one big thing. Instead, you feel the aggravation of a thousand cuts. Every little thing seems to go wrong, the purest example of Murphy’s Law. When you just can’t catch a break at Disney, it’ll erode your mood until you’re too irritated to have a good time.

For example, Disney bases most of their park experiences off of the FastPass system. It’s the infrastructure that guarantees every guest an opportunity to ride many of the best things that Disney has to offer. At times, the system isn’t perfect, though. Some FastPasses don’t work right. An attraction may go down, negating the FastPass. You could miss your FastPass window.

To some people, these issues aren’t a big deal. When you’re inside Murphy’s Law, it feels like the universe is kicking you when you’re down. Similarly, a missing advance dinner reservation or a missed bus/boat can seem irritating on a good day. On a bad day, the frustration is enough to make you want to curl up in a fetal position and cry.

When your Disney trip is going bad, you have two options. You can meltdown, an experience most have faced over many years of theme park travels, or you can turn aggressive. Rather than being stymied by an inconvenience, the best step is to remember that you’re a grizzled vet of the theme park wars. You can handle anything.

Turn the negative into a positive. Approach a cast member and explain the situation. If your FastPass didn’t work, employees can offer a replacement. They may even sprinkle some Disney magic into the mix to turn your day around. And what’s wonderful about cast members if that you never know when it will happen. One of the best moments I ever had at Walt Disney World happened after a grueling, largely frustrating evening. I took a boat ride back to my hotel, only to find myself participating in a singalong with all the other riders. The captain of the boat randomly burst into song, and his renditions of classic Disney music were so enjoyable that everyone chimed in. The annoying moments during an extended theme park visit are unavoidable. And doomsday scenarios can jeopardize an entire trip. Cast members know this, however, and they do everything that they can to turn a negative into a positive.

 
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