57 thoughts on “PHOTO REPORT: The Magic Kingdom 1/27/17 (More Tomorrowland Makeover, MARVEL, Waffle Fries, Remembering Kingdom Cabanas, ETC.)”

1. OMG, those photos of the entrance look like my interpretation Hell, what chaos. I thought the airport was bad. Any photos of new attractions? Not as interested in stores or stands. Thanks!

   • There ARE no new attractions Oregon. I am a cast member at the park (and a fan posting annonymously), and we’ve cut back tremendously in staffing, some days we only have a couple of the dozen entrances open, and can run rides at fractional capacity (most guests don’t know this). Please don’t take it out on front of the line staff, they have no control over anything. We were told management felt a 2-3 hour wait to enter park was not unreasonable, including parking, will call, and security. Some days it’s longer. I agree, and believe it’s become a version of “Hell” as you put it. Disney management doesn’t really care though. Look at the crowds? Money is rolling in.

     • Stop lying, Yolanda.

2. How do you get such a high score on buzz?

   • http://attractionsmagazine.com/tips-to-become-a-galactic-hero-on-buzz-lightyears-space-ranger-spin/

     • Not reading Attractions Magazine… :)

     • That’s such a wonderful article. My son was so excited to learn those secrets. Thank you so much for sharing that! I wish this site would actually post more articles like that.

3. There is still Will Call in 2017?! Good lord…

   Tom, if you’re reading this, are there no longer ANY egg rolls at the Adventureland cart?

   • Disney, in their recent stupidity, is making annual pass holders enter the regular line, then return to will call to change their tickets to the new pass holder ticket with the round Mickey emblem on it. It’s not being done all at once, but that’s a good part of the wait. These photos are shocking. What a dump. Really. Makes airports look fun.

     • As a former CM in ticketing, I can shed some light on this one. Its not out of stupidity of Disney to be honest. It’s 9x out of 10 that people assume once they purchase their annual pass online or purchase an exchange plastic card at a retailer, that is all they need to do to enter the park. You actually just purchased an non activated place holder pass that needs to be activated upon showing either Florida ID if it’s a resident pass, or out of state/country ID to have it activated. This is to prevent fraud and stolen tickets. This is all printed on the back of the card you buy or in the email they send you. Most of the time this is what clogs up the line because people don’t read things anymore. The other issues generally come from Florida resident passes on monthly payments where the persons payment didn’t go through or the pass has expired.

       I’m not saying that Disney isn’t stupid because lord knows they are a hot mess sometimes, I’m just saying a large portion of the time, its guests not reading important info, or not paying attention to their monthly payments. I always told my guests PLEASE if you drove, stop by the ticket windows at TTC before you go up to the park if you need ANYTHING done with tickets. There are 60 windows there, and there’s like 3-9 at Mk. So much faster at TTC. I agree there should be a designated lane of entry for passholders all the time though. As a former AP holder it’s painful to watch tourists desperately struggle to figure out how to use a touch point when you can do it in 10 seconds or less.

       Anyways hope this shed some light on the chaos that is main entrance at MK.

   • Nope.

4. Crappy service, refurbs all over, rides down but there it is, full. Disney has it made with so many masochists killing each other to be treated this bad.

   Time to raise the price once more and close earlier for another special ticketed event where the rides that were closed during the day will be open.

   • Not so much full Pete, as purposeful jams created by mismanagement. There really weren’t many people in the park. No excuse for the dirtiness, cast member indifference, cheapness and mismanagement. The place has been open decades. Won’t be returning for a few years, and will just read our Disney news, we like the ‘concept’.

   • Thanks Peter for your wonderful comment. As always, you are a very positive person. It must be a delight to be around you.

     • You’re welcome Disney intern. I hope I’m not making your task of putting a lid on these “little” issues too much of a burden. I do pity you.

       I know is hard enough for you already to make excuses for the sliding quality at Disney, what with them being so obvious & so many, but rest assure I’ll be thinking about you next time I agree with a negative outing like the ones in the article we’re commenting on.

5. People don’t realize ticketing and will call are at TTC and end up at the park and mob those windows for their tickets. They should probably build a new building for more windows.

   • Yea, dream on Jeff. Disney isn’t spending a DIME to build a building, much less staff at minimum wage for the ones they have to make one second of a guests’ stay more enjoyable. They really, don’t give a damn. Pictures above worth a thousand words. Inexcusable.

   • ^ This. I worked at MK ticketing (I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy). There are like 60 windows at TTC that can fix almost any ticketing issue. There’s like 3-9 windows at MK if you’re lucky. 90% of the people in those ticketing lines drove, parked, walked right through TTC in a rush to MK.

     • What’s the ttc? Are you talking about the Magic Kingdom where you get on the monorail or ship to go to Disney World?

       • Yes. Transportation and Ticket Center. Since people who drive to the park usually are the ones that need tickets, the majority of the ticketing windows for MK are at the TTC since you have to literally walk past them to get transportation to MK and Epcot. Sadly, a lot of guests are too focused on getting to the park and fly past, only to be stuck up at the front gate for 30-90 minutes to deal with tickets. The windows up at the park are really only to solve resort guest issues because they arrive at the front gate via Disney transportation.

6. This is slow season in Florida, no excuse for the human traffic jams which are from Disney’s mismanagement. We are here this week, and it’s like they just opened the park a week ago how disorganized and poorly staffed it is here. Stood in line hour and half at guest relations, we were not alone to think WDW should just shut it’s doors if this is how they’re going to run things. Got a refund and left the park to go enjoy the beach. Your pictures aren’t inaccurate. It’s a shoddy run construction zone. I don’t see them building one new ride at magic kingdom either. Guest relations understood. The front of the line employees looked beat to hell, one said, ‘we know it sucks, we can’t do anything about it’. WDW won’t be around long at this rate of decline.

   • Nothing is this comment actually happened.

     • Exactly, can tell it’s all made up. Just another Disney hater.

       • I don’t think so, sounds very real. You probably haven’t been to Disney World Florida in a while. And the photos in Tom’s article are pretty impressive, in a bad way. WTF is Disney thinking?

     • Disney PR working on a Saturday. Ryan, did you actually look at the photos in the article? What a troll. I saw your post below as well.

       • Nothing you write is true. Not a single word of it. Just admit it. Grow up, please.

         • Ryan B, no matter how far your head is up your own ass, unless you are blind, there’s no way you can explain away Tom’s telling photos of disorganization, unsanitary conditions, and poor management on Disney’s part.

         • “Ryan B, no matter how far your head is up your own ass, unless you are blind, there’s no way you can explain away Tom’s telling photos of disorganization, unsanitary conditions, and poor management on Disney’s part.”

           I’m not referring to the photos. Please keep up.

         • The posts were in relation to the poor Disney management which you were blindly defending. Get someone to translate for you while you’re eating your own ass. Can’t fix stupid.

         • Jeff, reading comprehension isn’t not your strong suit.

           I’m not defending Disney, but I fail to believe you and others here. No examples. No logic. Not real. Provide names and times. Let’s get to the bottom of the problem.

           Now let’s discuss this obsession you have with my ass..

         • Again Ryan B. If there’s no logic, then explain the pictures of mismanagement, crowds, huge construction projects (with no new attractions slated for next 3 years+), the food on menu, poor service, etc? That’s right. You cannot! The obsession isn’t with your ass, it’s you’d have to have your head up it to not be so incredibly in denial.

         • I think Ryan is trying to say it is doubtful any cast member would say “we know it sucks, we can’t do anything about it.” Also, let’s be honest for just a second here, when was the last time Disney EVER gave a refund? I love the way Disney used to be, but it does seem as if the parks are more construction, money grabs, and refurbishments than normal.

         • Hey Curt, Disney gives refunds if tickets used less than an hour typically if guest has a valid point, not that they just changed their mind. Or threatens to cancel on credit card. Parks are poorly run, and guest services knows it, and refunds when they can.

   • I have been going to disney since 1972. I was there 1 21 and everything in this post is true. The empliyees have become rude due to bring overworked. The park was dirty and the lines were long. The monorails continue to break down. Look for many future problems. Walt is turning in his grave. For the money being charged this is bush league.

     • “The empliyees have become rude due to bring overworked.”

       Specific examples and names, please.

       I’ll have them fired by sundown if your story is true.

   • Yea OK

7. Tom, sounds like our recent Disney experience last week. Terrible service. Skippers canteen service was so poor for us, we walked out without paying, didn’t eat the food though, which was nothing like we had ordered. They (meaning 90% of the staff we encountered) just don’t care and were doing their best at crowd control of masses of displaced and unhappy guests. Can see on the faces of many in your photos, Disney is missing the mark by miles.

   • “Skippers canteen service was so poor for us, we walked out without paying”

     Don’t be proud of that.

     Atrocious behavior.

     • No Ryan, it was very warranted. Saying what you wouldn’t have done the same when you weren’t there is atrocious behavior. What an asshat.

       Waiter was abusive, yelled at my child, and then brought wrong meals, on dirty table and plate. We mentioned to manager on way out and he said don’t worry about it and gave us a universal fast pass on the way out, saying he would address the lousy, and unsanitary service from cast member.

       In short WDW has some serious problems. MUCH deeper than the photos show in this article, but they don’t like.

       • And universal fast pass not meaning Universal Studios, but for any ride in park I imagine. We have been given them the same for service downfalls. A frequent thing at Disney. Problem is, fast pass lines are very long, so it’s not much of a concession.

         • They’re called No String Attached certificates. We always steal the booklets of them to use for fastpasses and free sodas and snacks. It’s the only thing that makes it worth working here.

         • Allan family and Yolanda do you read what you write? Two sorry ass individuals

         • Someone else posting as Yolanda. Funny line! Not true, but funny.

8. I really enjoyed all your pictures, I scrolled through slowly and enjoyed them. Just like being there! Glad the cabanas are about to take a hike, just not a good idea from the get-go. I must be naughty because I did chuckle at the one picture in which the thumb makes it look like it says “Assholders.” So very un-Disney! Thank you for the updates, wish I could have joined you and Orange Bird for the show and whip. Watch me whip, and watch me Tiki! There’s a little free merchandising idea for you, Disney! Those VHS notebooks, what a great idea too!

9. I will be there within the next month. I would like clarification on what is meant by “will call” line. What are the lines like with Magic Band entry?

   • Is where you pick up tickets bought over internet and select to pick them up at the “will call” window instead of having them mailed or linked to your magic bands

     • If you’re a Florida resident or foreign traveller with discount, they make you stand in the dumb line to show your ID, no way to have mailed or linked starting as of November 2016. Poorly done.

10. Breaking!!!!
    Transcript for President Trump’s Hall of Presidents speech leaks!
    For the first time ever, this historic speech will not only use parts of past speeches, but also tweets, interviews, and other quotes from the President’s many public appearances!
    The Hall of Presidents will also be updated with exciting interactive features that will bring history to life.

    • Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, the 45th president of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump.

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      • Troll. Go back to fox news board.

11. Breaking!!!!
    Transcript for President Trump’s Hall of Presidents speech leaks!
    For the first time ever, this historic speech will not only use parts of past speeches, but also tweets, interviews, and other quotes from the President’s many public appearances!
    The Hall of Presidents will also be updated with exciting interactive features that will bring history to life.

12. I find it funny people are complaining about refurbs, and if there weren’t refurbs people would be complaining about that as well. Those building refurbs happen like every other year.

    Also the Pro Bowl skills competition is going on this week at ESPNWWS which obviously is going to bring in big crowds. This is definitely not a slow time.

    • Wrong Jeff. The parks are VERY slow, this is from cutting back staff and poor management who has apathy for guests. We were there. They’re offering our group 60% off and free dining plans it’s so slow. Hard to get into restaurants, not because of crowds, it’s they’re bare bones staffed! The ProBowl brings in a drop in the bucket of people for Disney. Give me a break.

      There’s no excuse for the photos, or Disney’s mismanagement.

    • Nothing accurate in Jeff’s post. We live in an alt news world I know, but I work at the parks as statused mgr, this is one our slowest times of year. They do not refurbish these areas every year, and used to hire teams to rapidly paint, etc. No more. Too expensive. They know it’s an eyesore and guest inconvenience, but that’s never discussed at meetings. No excuse for the cost containment, staff reductions and changes at entrances in my opinion only, not that of company, unprecedented in Disney history. Feel badly for people coming tbh.

      • It’s ridiculous how cheap they’re getting and closing everything. We went last month and we’re so excited to ride Jaws. When we got there though, they told us they’ve never had that ride! I don’t know why they decided to lie to me, we could see the water it was in. They just have a stupid boat going around in it now. I guess that’s cheaper though and they choose to just pretend like it never existed. Shame on them!

        • You realize Jaws was at Universal, not Disney right?

      • I have pictures in my vault from a 2012 and several of the buildings on main street are behind tarps for refurb. Those buildings are on rehab schedules and they get done every few years, I would think a “statused manager” knows that.

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