Originally Posted By Mr X I'm honestly not sure (I believe the MK is bigger, but mostly around the edges...TDL has a huge entrance and hub area and the lands are pretty spacious), but they don't camp out "in" the park. New Years Eve is a hard ticket event (and the most sought after one in the world, I would imagine...people scramble to make reservations at the Disney hotels exactly six months in advance (and pay 500-700 bucks for the privilege) because a hotel room comes with a guaranteed admission), so the parks close at 6pm and re-open at 8. The hard-ticket holders used to camp out around the train station, but that got out of hand so now they've been moved out to a remote, seldom used parking area (this year I saw them sitting there on the 29th, not sure how long they were there so that's why I wrote "several days", since it could be even longer but I dunno). It's crazy, I tell ya. But then again, your story about the 90,000-100,000 deal is even crazier...that sounds downright dangerous! Were the fire marshals okay with that?
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I don't know about the fire marshals and I won't call that number "official". I trust is was pretty accurate. If they don't turn away hotel guests then the number could certainly go high. That New Year's Eve we saw the fireworks at midnight in front of the castle. We didn't get out of the front gate until 1:30am and didn't get to the TTC until 2:00. And, that was with them opening at least one back of the house area as an overflow exit. (I believe we got routed behind the Crystal Palace down behind the MK stores.) Now, this was pre-9/11 so I don't know what has changed since then. I don't recall seeing loads of security people and I can only imagine what might have happened if there was a panic. I remembered actually thinking that if we need to get away from the crowd in a hurry we could dart of the Liberty bridge and go toward the back of the park, expecting it to be quieter back there.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I remembered actually thinking that if we need to get away from the crowd in a hurry we could dart of the Liberty bridge and go toward the back of the park, expecting it to be quieter back there.*** We employees think alike. In this 9/11 age we live in, I thought about just that thing as it pertains to TDL...and the first decision I made was there was no WAY I would head for "the main exit" in an emergency. Knowing the back doors as I do (and you do too, obviously), I would immediately head for an employee exit and find my way to the alternate exits available back there right quick.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I have to think the cast members go through some type of emergency training these days. While we had procedures in place in the 90s to get folks off specific attractions there were no procedures that I was made aware of for park wide emergencies. The aftermath of 9/11 certainly changed that and likely had an impact on what they now consider "maximum capacity". My second day on the job at the Jungle Cruise there was an emergency at Pirates. Because Pirates is such a large building and their staffing is relatively small, Jungle Cruise skippers are part of the emergency procedures. So, my second day on the job we are literally running, nearly blind, in, under and through Pirates in order to help get guests off the ride in various places. It was quite the orientation.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I was trained last year. We went over what would happen/what we needed to do if there was a park wide emergency. And as far as Pirates evacs go...probably one of the best parts of the job.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Skipper - there are (or should be) specific guidelines that are generally not taught to the CM's but are kept in large books at the attractions/area. Essentially it's a reference for the management to tell the CM's what to do, but they are kept at the individual areas (or were). They're big 3-ring binders and they list what to do in case of a fire at this spot in the park, if this access location is closed, etc. It's akin to the ABC evac procedures (Accelerated close, Backstage, Cover) but more of a "end of the world" type scenarios. For Epcot is gave specific instructions on how to clear the park to the perimeter road should exit past Spaceship Earth be compromised. Disney buses come and sweep guests at various designated spots behind attractions, in case you were curious.
Originally Posted By leobloom Just wanted to say I appreciate LP not starting a new thread everytime a park or water park goes Phase X. There's another forum that has simply been overrun with moderator threads detailing the daily (and hourly) updates of park capacity. I'm skeptical about this whole record attendance thing. Really skeptical. Not that Mickey has every tried to pull one over on us. And if there are records being set, that only means MK will continue to deteriorate because "Look! Nobody notices that this park is a shell of its former self!"
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I've always assumed that they had figured some plan out in case something happened. I just had a gut feeling that there were plans on the record that could essentially completely evacuate the park in almost no time (10 min or less?) if there was need for it. I don't know what got me thinking about it in the first place (probably the huge crowds in DL during Fantasmic! or Remember), but I have noticed since then where all the 'secret' doors are in case something happen. It's not really one of those things that you want to think about, but it has some really interesting concepts when you get into it.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper >>Just wanted to say I appreciate LP not starting a new thread everytime a park or water park goes Phase X. There's another forum that has simply been overrun with moderator threads detailing the daily (and hourly) updates of park capacity.<< I agree. Getting a bit ridiculous over there isn't it? >>And if there are records being set, that only means MK will continue to deteriorate because "Look! Nobody notices that this park is a shell of its former self!"<< Sad but true.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I still don't buy that MK went a legitimate Phase 3 today, or Phase 4 yesterday. From first hand reports from CMs, waits today were less than 2 hours for the Mountains. That is not Phase 3, let alon 1 or 2 numbers, but that is just my opinion. >> I don't buy it at all. MK is at Phase 3 or 4 yet the parking lots has plenty of empty areas. OK, everyone is on-site guests ... right that's why Poly parking lot was half empty tonight. Wait times for major attractions were showing nothing more extensive than 80 minutes Weds. afternoon when a Phase 3 went into affect. You could ride any mountain at about an hour's wait at the time ... in other words, like any other time of the year (maybe even better). Disney is playing. Goes something like this. Act like you expect no one (all the while having maximum MK hours plus 3 a.m. EMHs on some nights). Tout your 4/3 promos and the 'necessary' steps of firing a few thousand CMs. Watch when the hordes descend on WDW like it's well ... Spring Break/Easter week. Have lower capacity in park due to all the dead zones where you closed attractions, dining locations and shops without replacement. Have lower capacity due to FP. Have lower capacity due to much lower staffing levels. Watch people arrive and start issuing 'phased' closings at lower levels than in past years. Watch word spread on fan sites. Watch local media do stories on said crowds. Watch national media (and hopefully international) pick up on story (nudged by Rick Sylvain and Co). Watch how Iger and Staggs spin all of the above as signs that TWDC leadership has made all the right moves during this economic disaster when they have to announce ugly quarter two numbers in three weeks. ~It's fixed I tell 'ya!~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<When I worked in the MK back in the early 90s I was told that by someont that should know that there were a couple of New Year's Eve's and Christmas week days when the park neared 90,000 people.>> I think I lived some of those days! I do believe (had the figures somewhere) that back in the 80s the capacity was somewhere in the 80s, maybe even a bit higher. I would guess that number has dropped between 10,000-20,000 based on how the MK has been taken apart over the years. ~Look at the kitties!~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Just wanted to say I appreciate LP not starting a new thread everytime a park or water park goes Phase X. There's another forum that has simply been overrun with moderator threads detailing the daily (and hourly) updates of park capacity.>> Oh ... so ya noticed? Crazy, ain't it? And they don't take kindly to it being pointed out. <<I'm skeptical about this whole record attendance thing. Really skeptical. Not that Mickey has every tried to pull one over on us.>> Oh no, Mickey pulls all sorts of magical stunts ... <<And if there are records being set, that only means MK will continue to deteriorate because "Look! Nobody notices that this park is a shell of its former self!">> I don't for one second believe any record at all is being set ... well, except for one: Most guests staying on a discounted WDW resort reservation for Spring Break/Easter week ever! But you ain't gonna hear that thread started on that other site. ~I sense the magic fading~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I agree. Getting a bit ridiculous over there isn't it?>> Getting? We past getting about three time zones ago! ~Nonphased~
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Watch word spread on fan sites.*** I saw that ridiculousness too. What's up with those people? Do they think they're "helping the company" or some such lameness?
Originally Posted By mousermerf American Idol anti-groupies on VotefortheWorst.com have a good nickname for such peeps I think we should adopt: Fan-tards.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Watch how Iger and Staggs spin all of the above as signs that TWDC leadership has made all the right moves during this economic disaster when they have to announce ugly quarter two numbers in three weeks. >> I guess they could be announcing that they are at risk of going into default on their debt obligations as the Orlando Sentinel reported about the folks at Univeral Orlando a few days ago.
Originally Posted By MPierce No doubting Thomas attitude for this smart Entrepreneur. I put up signs in my front yard today, "Magic Kingdom Overflow Parking $20.00". I'm going to clean up this week-end. I heard that the Magic Kingdom was going to be the 7th largest city in America on Sunday!
