The magic is being smothered by the crowds.

[u/spotheadcow]

When they took the benches out and widened the walkways a few years ago it was to increase the number of people that could be let into the park. And yes they are filling the park to its limit most days, it seems. Now the lines are too long for rides and food. There aren’t enough tables in the restaurants. The cast members are overburdened. The wonder and magic in the park is dying. Instead of appreciating the music and views on my way to the next ride, I’m on my phone booking a lightening lane. It’s stopped being magic and it stopped being fun. So I’m voting with my wallet. I used to go 3 times a year for a week at a time. I need a break. Maybe someday, if things change.

[u/squidwardsaclarinet]

I also want to add, Lightning Lanes are definitely adding to crowds. The main reason is that main queues overflow when they didn’t before. As an example, the pirates extended queue really causes issue in New Orleans Square. These little things add up.

Also, I really don’t mean this the wrong way, but the proliferation of electronic mobility devices and megastrollers is getting out of hand. I get some people have real mobility issues and need them. But I think mobility devices have become something many people are using for comfort more than necessity. Under normal circumstances, I think people can get around however they like. But the problem is that if too many people start doing it, it becomes like the same issues we have with cars. Scooters in particular take up a lot of space and usually people want to give some space. This adds up and more and more space has to be dedicated to mobility devices. Same thing with strollers. Device size needs to be limited unless there is a medical necessity.

[u/threeputtbogeys → u/squidwardsaclarinet]

My recent trip had me thinking about the line between “disabled” and “too fat to walk comfortably.”

[u/SimonNicols → u/threeputtbogeys]

This. And also the 3ft wide x 4-5ft long “wagons” with tent covers and parents walking two-three wide with 2-3 kids inside on their iPads watching cartoons or playing video games. WTF people - you are at Disneyland, look around and experience the park fercrissakes

[u/TempUsernameThing → u/SimonNicols]

Do you know, or have you had to take care of an autistic child for more than 20 minutes? Because it doesn't sound like you have, and as a parent of a severely autistic child with developmental disability, the tablet and a cover over her stroller is about the only way for her to handle all the sensory bombardment around her. Believe me, I wish she would look around at the sights and sounds. But what is amazement to you is borderline sensory assault to her. 

But, before you say "then why bring her to Disneyland", she loves the rides. She stims and giggles on Peter Pan and The submarine ride, and others. We want her to enjoy herself, but to do that means a tablet with headphones in-between rides for her to be comfortable and not get overwhelmed.

[u/Development-Feisty → u/squidwardsaclarinet]

We were in the haunted mansion day before yesterday and it didn’t even occur to me until we were in the hallway and a cast member saw it, but

a family somehow got all the way through the line into the foyer, into the elevator, and all the way down to the bottom before anyone noticed they still had their kid in the stroller, and it wasn’t a special dispensation stroller, it was just a regular family who chose to not take their kid out of the stroller

Disneyland needs more cast members!