Originally Posted By Clopin Just wondering if any of you LPers out there have had this happen to you: Went to DL yesterday with my sister. We were in line for Pirates of the Caribbean, and were asked how many in our party. We say 2, and the CM proceeds to send us to "row 2, just get on with the other people in that row". We weren't sure we heard her right, but lined up in row 2 next to a couple who'd been there before us. When it came time to get into the boat, the couple got on and we were ready to wait for the next boat, when the same CM who loaded us asked the couple to scoot down and made us ride with them in their row. 4 adults in a row on Pirates is awkward enough, but even more awkward when it's 2 sets of 2 adults who don't know each other. It wasn't even that crowded yesterday, the lines weren't incredible. I just think it's super weird that we were shoved in a row with people we didn't know. Has anyone else experienced this???
Originally Posted By tashajilek Yea, many times. I remember when i was younger we always had to sit next to other people and that years later they have allowed people to have their own rows. The last time i went i did have to sit next to other people a few times. Once i went it was raining with no one in the park, i asked to stay on which was fine but i had to get up and move to another row which was weird. Try sitting in the venitian gondula's in lasvegas with other people in the boat while you are listening to a man sing romantic music. That was very awkward.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I would be uncomfortable sitting with any type of stranger on a long dark ride. Isn't this the problem on Toy Story eliminating single riders because parents did not want strangers seated next to children? How would you like to be in the doombuggy with a stranger? Not a good idea for Disney to be using for load strategy. I have actually refused and said I just did not want to ride and asked for the exit.
Originally Posted By LPFan22 That has happened to me on Pirate's before as well. I told the CM... "No thank you, I'll just wait for the next boat."
Originally Posted By tashajilek I can see the point but keep in mind on indy you are much closer to strangers, in fact sometimes touching but thats the only way to ride. The DLR and tram are other prime examples. I dont like if they ask me then i just roll with it lol.
Originally Posted By juicer As a former Pirates CM (way back in the 90's) - We had to load the boats in a certain way to make sure the weight was evenly spread throughout the boat. So if it was a slow evening - we would load the boat with guests sitting in the middle rows instead of all upfront or visa versa. The reason as I was explained by my lead...is that if the boat it too front heavy - the guests could get really wet at the bottom of the drops or if the boats were back heavy...the boats could pop out of the tracks and get stuck on the bottom of the drops. It sounds to me that the loading CM was being a little to particular.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL That's just how loading goes on PotC. If you don't want to share a seat.....that holds 4 normal sized adults anyways.....then just ask for your own row. It really isn't that big of a deal at all. The CM was just doing their job and loading the boats for capacity. As for Mansion, per SOP, you should never be seated with a stranger. And it only makes sense that TSMM would follow as the seats are separated and back to back. A child would literally be riding alone, and out of parental supervision/protection.
Originally Posted By pleiades357 What would they do if someone said "No, too much stranger togetherness"? We had a rows of extremely large people once... the boat seemed low in the water, first and only time I ever worried going over the falls. Please, if I live through this I will go on a diet....
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Why is this a bad thing? It is designed for four (or more with kids) per row. All through the 60's, 70's and 80's at least, I know they loaded this way. My wife and I (when it was just the 2 of us) used to get annoyed when they stopped doing this as it meant longer waits.
Originally Posted By EmmaJayne I find four in a row a bit squishy but I can see why they do it. I am often a single rider at DL and I don't mind if I am seated next to someone else, in fact I was a bit annoyed when I had to board Fantasyland rides such as Snow White that clearly have 2 seperate rows alone.. I wouldn't have minded being behind some other people.. or worst of all on a rather quiet afternoon at DLP when they put me on a IASW boat totally alone, left a gap and then put a family of three on the next boat.. it was actually eerie to be so alone..
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin A month or so ago there was an incident of someone being fondled on ToT. So I would think that seating people who are strangers next to each other would be discouraged.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Dear DWB, While I can understand you wanting a shorter wait, you probably aren't at DL as often as I am, especially in the summer time. Do you REALLY want to be seated next to Mr. SweatyMcStinky? Me, either. Love, 999
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo WEll, I have no choice on the bus, the train, or in line, so no, I have no issue in DL, in fact I would prefer it that way. In fact, that was how it was pretty much done throughout my childhood.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS To each his own, I guess. I know it's my right to not smell like a sewer when I exit a ride. LOL!
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 I find if I make a request to the CM to have a row to ourselves, it's not a problem, (unless they're extremely crowded). I understand the weight allocation thing, too. Makes sense.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 "A month or so ago there was an incident of someone being fondled on ToT. So I would think that seating people who are strangers next to each other would be discouraged." Yeah but how would you prevent that on TOT? The back row seats 6 and the two front rows have 4 seats on each side. If you have a couple party of 2's and won't seat any of them next to each other than the ride would only be half full most of the time.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin I don't think you could do anything about ToT, I just wanted to point out why someone may want to be seated only with people in their own party.
