Disneyland (California) Complaint - Overcrowded, overpriced, rude staff, and dangerous for handicapped people - disneyland park

Posted by BEJ on 2011-03-22:

I am sorry you had a bad time but I also feel that you could have done some things to make your visit go more smoothly.

Did you go on a weekend or during the week? There is always going to be more crowds during the weekend.

Did you stop at Customer/Guest Relations at the beginning of your visit to make inquiries as to rides that would best suit your handicapped child? What I have seen at Disneyland regarding rides is that there are handicapped entrances so that lines can be bypassed but the person must be able to transfer. While it is a loud place--I have had no problem asking the ride associate questions or just chatting with them.

Posted by azRider on 2011-03-22:

its California. there are 100 people per 100 sqft out there. you have to wait in lines for everything in California, eating, banks, shopping, gas, restroom. why would it be any different at Disneyland which is the biggest tourist site in California. last I heard they have 16 million visitors a year, or about 43,000 people every day. its only 85 acres so that is 500 people per acre. its going to be crowded. now that being said, I have never seen a better place that works with handicap people. when you enter the park and go to the welcome center they have a map for rides that have handicap access. then each of those rides has a special line that by-passes the normal line and places you on the ride in-front of everyone else. each ride I've seen there its clearly marked for handicap. it sounds to me like you did more yelling and less communicating. maybe you need to ask more questions and ask for clear instructions before you go to a park like that. you made it worse on yourself by the lack of communication.

lastly, when did they add water to the haunted mansion? I know pirates has a boat, but not the ghost tour. I have actually seem them stop the moving sidewalk in the house to help a wheelchair person on to the ride. so they can do a lot if you tell someone.

Posted by clutzycook on 2011-03-22:

I'm wondering when you went. The time of year that you go also makes a difference. If you went during the week at a low point in the tourist season (not exactly sure when that would be) then it wouldn't have been as crowded.

I'm just wondering why you didn't have a wheelchair or stroller for your son BEFORE you got into the park. I'm sure you knew that this was a big place and he might not be able to walk the whole way with a paralyzed leg.

My final question: Did you report ANY of this to customer relations? That whole getting on a ride when the ride is moving is a safety issue even if you have two good legs.

Posted by Justice-4-All on 2011-03-22:

I think the OP was ill-prepared. Ask more questions and let them know ahead of time about your child's needs. My nephew is confined to a wheelchair, and has been to both Disneyland and Disneyworld. They have NEVER had a problem and are happy to return each year. You just have to plan accordingly. Hope you have a better time next go round!

Posted by Prince-Caesar on 2011-03-22:

Well really, what did this OP expect? Its disneyland. Of course its going to be crowded. Of course its overpriced. This is something mostly everyone expects when they plan on going to these types of places. Intead of getting yourself worked up over every bad thing that happened, think about the good things. There HAD to have been some good things you experienced there, too unless you have some sort of emotional disorder.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2011-03-22:

taping fingers to prevent typing

Posted by ript on 2011-03-22:

Proper planning goes a long way towards a good experience. But now you know, and if you ever go there again you will be better prepared.

Posted by Justice-4-All on 2011-03-22:

Still trying to master that technique O' wise sage.

Posted by ript on 2011-03-22:

Who, you? :)

Posted by MacOSXpert on 2011-03-22:

I am a Californian and a Frequenter at Disneyland.

I can definitely say that DLR does it's best to assist people with special needs, as other people have pointed out, you should have gone to City Hall and inquired about your child's special needs.

I can concur though, that the employees are very rude, and I even racist at times.

The merchandise is marked up by a large amount as well, and DLR is terrible with crowd control.

For the first few months of World of Color, when it was time to make your way to your 'color section', they'd crowd everyone up like cattle..which caused a lot of conflict amongst people in the crowd.

Horrible..Horrible. But what do you expect from a company that made Hannah Montana and The Jonas Bros. ?

Posted by Venice09 on 2011-03-22:

My first impression of Disney World was that most of the rides were not suited for physically challenged or disabled people. I'm not sure what kind of accommodations there are if you let them know ahead of time, but I do think it is something you should have found out ahead of time. If you ever go back, make sure it's during a time when the park is less crowded. And get information from customer relations on the best way for your child to enjoy the rides and attractions. I hope you get to do it again someday and that you have a better experience.

Posted by Prince-Caesar on 2011-03-22:

We're talking about Disney land. The place where every child in this country wants to go. Millions of people visit these attractions a year. It would be nice if disney had a daily cap of how many people could enter, but you would have a lot of very upset children and parents who can't get in, and Im sure there would be far more complaints about that, especially after people spent a lot of money on tickets they can't use. Its a lose-lose situation.

Posted by ript on 2011-03-22:

Am I the only one who has a great time when I go to Disneyland? I went once with an elderly disabled woman who used a walker. She never complained or let her smile slip the whole 12 hours we were there.

Posted by Venice09 on 2011-03-22:

You were inspired by your companion, ript!

Posted by spiderman2 on 2011-03-22:

I know someone who has a disabled child and they have a great time at Disney. Disney is more than accommodating if you let them know ahead of time about the special needs.

Posted by Ytropious on 2011-03-22:

As everyone has stated, Disney is always more then accommodating to handicap park patrons, but it's 100% your responsibility to notify them of your needs before hand. Plan out your vacation next time so that you don't go on a busy day/month. I mean, I feel bad for people who buy into the TV commercial lies. Cruise commercials always show a person in the pool all by themselves and amusement parks where the mascots are walking around and not swamped by a mass of people LOL.

Posted by Starlord on 2011-03-23:

I must agree with the OP. I don't understand about the Haunted Mansion and water, but the ride 'operator' was trying to put me in the front of a moving car. I am night-blind, and the lighting was very poor, plus I have a prosthetic knee joint, which affects my mobiity. As a result, I nearly got run over by the car, even though my wife had told the jerk I needed assistance and why. About half of the programs, such as the moon landing, were out of order. We had rented a wheelchair for me, a when we went to leave, the shuttle to the parking lot was about 100 yards from the ate, and I wa infrmed Icould not take the wheelchair out to the shuttle. We tried to explain my problem walkng, but the young man was totally disinterested. Itod im, the ark has my wife's Driverl's License until the chair is returned and the shuttle is in full view of you. His attitude semed to say, "Helen Hunt takes care of that stuff, so go to Helen Hunt for it.' At one point he cocked his fist and I told him he was about to make the worst mistake of his young life. I ended up having to go the 100 yards over mid-sized gravel to get to the shuttle, and rolled my ankle. I wrote Disneyland and told them of my terrible experience, and just as Gallgher said about telling a restaurant food is unacceptable. so they give you more of what you didn't like to begin with, Disneyland, in their generosity, sent me two half-price coupons for my next visit. I thoroughly shredded them and sent them back with a suggestion of what they could do with them.

Posted by throwback on 2011-03-23:

Disney is one place where they go out of the way to acomidate those with handicaps. I've seen whole family groups board in special lines with limited waiting. If Disney started limited visitors there would be people complaining they were denied entrance. Just because you don't get your way doesn't make they employees rude.

Posted by MRM on 2011-03-23:

Expect more crowds when Spring Break arrives.

Posted by Greenlightgo on 2011-03-23:

I grew up going to Disneyland and I can tell you that they ALWAYS stop the ride for handicapped people,as well as letting them and their family cut the line....

Posted by Starlord on 2011-03-23:

Oh I was allowed to cut the line, no arguing that point, but I was still put in the position of being herded to the frot of a MOVING car. It was most definitely not stopped. If that comment about not getting my way was aimed at me, I would suggest you go to Disneyland and rent a wheelchair. If it wasn't, I apologize. I can only relate what happened to me.

Posted by Wally86 on 2011-03-23:

I have never been to Disneyland I was neglected as a child. But guess I didn't miss much.

Posted by MRM on 2011-03-23:

Wally, when I win the $304,000,000 jackpot on Friday night, your wish shall come true!

Posted by Wally86 on 2011-03-23:

Thanks MRM, your the man.

Posted by MRM on 2011-03-23:

You can bring your pal, Little Little, or you can upgrade your girl.

Posted by Wally86 on 2011-03-23:

lol messed.

Posted by momsey on 2011-03-23:

Wally, my hubby's never been to Disney World. But once our kids are old enough to appreciate and remember it, he will be going!

Posted by Wally86 on 2011-03-23:

lol man I would always bug my mom to go to Disneyland. She was like only kids with rich parents go instead I would get a happy meal from McDonald's to cheer me up. I was like its not the same dammit.

Posted by littleshorty on 2011-03-23:

We used to go every year when I was a kid. Wally, it's not the same when you go as an adult

Posted by momsey on 2011-03-23:

LOL, poor Wally. We did not have rich parents. The only reason we went was because my grandfather lived in Florida in the winters and one year he got sick and stayed down there for the summer and we went down to see him and went to Disney a day or two. If it wasn't for that, I probably would have never gone!

It's not exactly the same when you go as an adult, but I went about 5 years ago with my brother and his family and it was really magical, to sound completely cheesy! I swear they pump something into the air there to make people want to go back and spend a fortune.

Posted by greenie68 on 2012-01-08:

Oh, I actually have a few things to add to this "Disney Disaster": we were just there in Dec/Jan 2012:
I too am Handicapped & we rented a scooter for me ahead of time (outside the park was WAY cheaper) & we HAD the Handicap access map to rides. It does NOT include ALL rides & even the Handicap line was lengthy. It was disturbing to see 1 person in a wheelchair & 14+ family members also in the Handicapped line WITH THEM. REALLY ? Some people in line had a 'pass' that said that they were Handicapped (no photo or explanation on it) & we had a group of 4 teenagers behind us going on Space Mountain that used a 'pass' and everyone of them required any assistance or help. In fact, they "skipped" up the ramp on the way off the ride. Hmmmmmm.
Everything IS overpriced at ALL of the "Abusement" Parks. I was in many of them 15 years ago & did not see the MASSIVE groups in line as there are now. Some people (including us) are not wealthy & this was a complete 'money pit', but since it was our only vacation in more than 7 years, we decided to 'treat ourselves' and go. I was MORTIFIED to see the large number of people with Strollers that were also in the Handicap lines. WTH ? I completely understand if they had been physically challenged, but the 3 kids we were in line with were LITERALLY climbing on everything (rails, walls, etc...) waiting in line w/o a 'pass', just a stroller.Hmmmmm?
The amount of people that are "Yearly Pass Holders" & LIVE in S. California should really be limited on the amount of time (or at least the dates) they can come to the parks. Since we spent a FORTUNE to go there, I do NOT feel it is fair to have AT LEAST A FEW THOUSAND or more people that can go WHENEVER they want to be there. People who need to visit during the time that CAN get off work are not able to visit a dozen times a year. I would guess that the one day we visited Disneyland, we rode on 5-6 rides the ENTIRE DAY (divide the price of the Day Pass & When we figured-out how much that was PER RIDE it was STUPID !
Somehow I hope Walt Disney is rolling in his grave (or sliding around the place his Head is Frozen ??) I don't know if his dream was to have a great place for families to go & have fun together or to build a place that would one day become a financial burden on families to visit, overcharge at every chance possible & in the end leave a bitter enough taste in your mouth to write this post.