Crazy Day

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Mirrasi's picture
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Crazy Day

We had a blast yesterday at MK. It was definately a different sort of day. We watched the fireworks from behind the castle by the carousel. That's a very different and cool way to watch fireworks! I never released the fireworks were launched from two different locations. They'd go up behind us and then in front. It was funny watching all the people whip their heads side to side. Smile

I got to try the Dole Whip float and the cream cheese pretzel. Both very yummy!

When we left, the monorail had broken down and they were trying to get the entire park out through the Ferry Boats. I've never seen a crowd that long and full of angry people. I'm surprised Disney didn't have a backup plan for a situation like that. It was pretty rough. So we went exploring to find our own way out. The boats to Contemporary and Grand Floridian were packed too since you can walk to the parking lot from there (I felt so sorry for the folks who were actually staying at that resort). We ended up walking to the contemporary and getting a bus (no crowd) to the ticket center from there, and then just hoofing it to our car. I'm surprised my kiddo was able to walk all that. But hey, it was an adventure! lol

Jess's picture
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Glad you had a great time... We saw the fireworks once from back there in fantasyland and it is very cool

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JoAnn C's picture
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Glad you had a good time. Too bad about the monorail though. Hopefully it won't be down too long.

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DVC Mom's picture
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I think the boats are the back up plan. I have to wonder if this traffic back up of angry people is going to be the norm now that there will be no monorail for the EMH closing.

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DVC Mom wrote:
I think the boats are the back up plan. I have to wonder if this traffic back up of angry people is going to be the norm now that there will be no monorail for the EMH closing.

Exactly what I was thinking. Mirrasi are you sure they were broken down and not just an early closing like they said they were going to do?

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Mirrasi's picture
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What does EMH mean? Extra magic hour? Is that what it means when MK is open till 11?

It must have been broken down though. There was a hung-a-ma-jig towing it which was cool to watch. I've seen really huge crowds leaving the parks before but never ever like that. I shoulda took video, lol.

Mirrasi's picture
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Ah, ok. I just read somewhere else that the monorails had been down since 4pm. Supposedly lightning struck a substation.

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Mirrasi wrote:
What does EMH mean? Extra magic hour? Is that what it means when MK is open till 11?

It must have been broken down though. There was a hung-a-ma-jig towing it which was cool to watch. I've seen really huge crowds leaving the parks before but never ever like that. I shoulda took video, lol.

Yes, EMH are extra magic hours. One park opens an hour early and another park stays open later for people who are staying at the Disney resorts.

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Yeah, I just looked that up. It wasn't scheduled for yesterday. But on a side note, if there are no monorails for those times, how do they get back to their resorts? Puzzled what the heck is Disney doing?

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Yes and that thing doing the towing is called a TUG and it is Diesel powered so it can operate even if the power has to be shut down or is down because of Mother Nature. Believe it or not she is stronger than Disney eek

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Mirrasi wrote:
Yeah, I just looked that up. It wasn't scheduled for yesterday. But on a side note, if there are no monorails for those times, how do they get back to their resorts? Puzzled what the heck is Disney doing?

Some of us have been wondering the same thing.

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Catherine's picture
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I saw last night that lightning struck, scary! What a nightmare though!

I'm glad you had a good time, I am definitely trying that cream cheese pretzel in about 3 weeks! Wink

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Wow.... that does sound like a crazy day! Glad ya got a Dole Whip though! And I need to keep in mind about the pretzel! Where did you get it?

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Mirrasi wrote:
Yeah, I just looked that up. It wasn't scheduled for yesterday. But on a side note, if there are no monorails for those times, how do they get back to their resorts? Puzzled what the heck is Disney doing?

Wouldn't they just take the buses

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Jess wrote:
Mirrasi wrote:
Yeah, I just looked that up. It wasn't scheduled for yesterday. But on a side note, if there are no monorails for those times, how do they get back to their resorts? Puzzled what the heck is Disney doing?

Wouldn't they just take the buses

Yeah, I think now they will just have everyone take the buses.

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The buses were taking people away too but it was total chaos there. Put it this way, it was so bad everywhere that we were actually trying to walk around that big ole lagoon with a 5 year old.

We got out of MK and saw the ferry line and all the poor little kids and families sitting against random walls sleeping to try and wait it out. I said no way, let's try and take the boat to Polynesian or Grand Floridian and walk. So we went to that dock and it was also completely packed. So I told hubby that no way was I getting in that crowd, we can either try and walk around this lake or sit on the concrete for a couple hours until the crowd dies off. He chose to walk.

So we headed towards Contemporary. But not knowing where I was going we ended up in the bus loop and that crowd was as bad as the Ferry. I finally asked a cast member and he told me we'd have to go back around the other side of the road on a side walk. eek at that point we were trapped in the bus loops like sardines. We had to go back through the crowd, lol. We finally made it to the contemporary and saw a bus waiting right there for the ticket booth with only 5 people. So that's how we got back. Honestly, if we had just gone the right way, the walk to contemporary wasn't so bad. In fact, I may just do it next time!

We definitely got some exercise! I know I probably should have just waited but we had 1.5 hour drive back. And even with all of our explorations and walking, I know we made it out way faster. I sure felt sorry for everyone.

Btw, that cream cheese pretzels was at the Landing Pad in Tomorrowland. The circular snack bar underneath the People Mover. Smile

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Looks like they fixed it. laugh

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-disney-world-monorail-down-20110820,0,7037661.story

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Sounds like a blast besides the transport fiasco- transportation has always been their week point I think- but then again they have sooo many people to move!

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The walk from MK to the Contemporary is really short and easy, it's going the right way that is the kicker. I've been stuck in that bus crush when trying to walk before. Trick is that you need to stay to the left on the path. My kids and I did the Halloween 5K last year and they brought us down that way. A lightbulb went on over my head later that night when trying to avoid the MNSSHP end crush. I've been taking a lot of taxis at WDW lately, the busses just don't seem to keep up like they used to.

ChipDaleFan - Disney used to have fantastic transportation, right up until about 1989 in my recollection. It was fast, efficient, and always went through the TTC, as the resort has grown it just didn't seem to keep up with the pace. I would love to see some really creative solutions come to WDW that could once again set the standard for cities around the country.

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Lol yep, we went the wrong way and got stuck in that bus mess. At least we'll know for next time, lol. We were gonna get a taxi but then saw the bus at contemporary.

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Catherine wrote:
I saw last night that lightning struck, scary! What a nightmare though!

I'm glad you had a good time, I am definitely trying that cream cheese pretzel in about 3 weeks! Wink

Same here!
I LOVE dole whips, cream cheese pretzel is in tommorland, right?

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Mirrasi's picture
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Yep Smile