Influencer Slams Disney For Complicated, Unfair Lightning Lane System

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort initiated the Lightning Lane system last year, replacing the free FastPass+ system with a paid alternative through the Disney Genie app.

Many Guests have complained about the service and the need to spend all day planning your Disney Parks visit minute by minute. Even an expert app developer claimed they would be fired if his team designed the Disney Genie system.

Logo for Disney Genie+ on a blue background with a winking Genie head from Aladdin.

This week, an influencer spoke about his experience with Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane. @kingzippy is a family-friendly content creator with 7.4 million TikTok followers. He visited Walt Disney World Resort with his daughter and shared this video about his experience there:

@kingzippy

@disneyparks what happen to the magic ? #disney #disneyland #disneyworld #vacation

♬ original sound – KingZippy

“Mickey Mouse, what happened to Disney?” he asked. “I went to Disney to get off of my phone and just enjoy my vacation, and then the whole time, I’m sitting there on my phone.”

Additionally, the influencer felt it was unfair that Guests still in their hotel rooms get to select Lightning Lane return times at the same time as Guests in the Disney Parks.

father and daughter wearing masks in front of cinderella castle at disney world

“It’s not fair that Carol sitting in her hotel room, gets to schedule she’s going on ‘it’s a small world’ at 10 to 11 a.m. while I’m walking around the Park wondering how I’m going to get in the Lightning Lane,” he explained. “… It’s not fair for the people at the Park that are really trying to get on rides, meanwhile, Carol is in her hotel room scheduling her entire day.”

“I just want to buy a FastPass. Give me a wristband and let me just go on all the rides,” the Guest said. “So Mickey Mouse, if you give me the option to just buy a FastPass wristband, I will pay whatever money you want, and I will schedule a vacation to Disney next week.”

Two Guests checking Disneyland App in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle

In written comments, he explained that when he arrived at Park open, all Lightning Lane rides were booked through 3-5 p.m. Though he eventually figured out how to better utilize the paid service, he still felt it wasn’t worth it.

“I figured it out at magic kingdom thankfully we got on every ride but I was still on my phone the entire time instead of enjoying it with my daughter,” he replied to one commenter.

Genie Image with Logo

Despite the negative feedback, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort recently increased the price of Disney Genie+. At Walt Disney World Resort, some Individual Lightning Lanes can cost up to $25 per Guest.

Fans React After Viral Elderly Veteran Sobs During Shock Disneyland Visit

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via InsideTheMagic.net

The Happiest Place On Earth is beloved by many. As Walt Disney’s first theme park, Disneyland is laden with nostalgia and that acute magical touch that can only be found in a place created over 65 years ago.

It’s a dreamscape of glowing lights, laughter, buzzy chatter, and the whirl of screams as Guests ride by in mine trains and log flume vehicles. It’s also a dream for many to visit, and one elderly Guest got the biggest shock when he was surprised with a trip to Disneyland… by a total stranger.

There’s not another feeling quite like walking down Main Street, U.S.A. towards Sleeping Beauty Castle as families, couples, and children saunter by full of churros and popcorn, donning Minnie Mouse ears, and dragging along a bouncing balloon. A Disney trip is an escape from reality; a trip inside a bubble created exclusively to make you smile. And for one elderly gentleman, a surprise trip to the Disney Resort caused him to break down into tears.

A video shared by Isaiah Garza (@isaiahgarza), that was since reposted on the official Disney Parks account, shows the creator asking a 100-year-old veteran to go to Disneyland with him after suffering from a bad day, and the result has captured the hearts of millions.

@isaiahgarza

I took a 100 year old veteran to Disneyland & we became best friends ❤️ #disneyland #kindness #friends #veteran #bestfriends

♬ Steal My Sunshine (Single Version) – Len

To recap: The video shows Garza approaching the elderly gentleman and offering to take him to Disneyland. It reveals that the veteran had not been on a ride for over 50 years, and after dancing, eating Mickey-shaped ice creams, and wearing Mickey Mouse ears, the elderly man says it has been one of the best days of his life. He goes on to add that he thought his “life was over”, and that Garza will never know how much he appreciated his trip to Disneyland.

Fans of the Garza, and now the elderly gentleman, have flocked to the comment section in droves to express how they feel about the wonderful moment:

Jaz said:

Stop it when he said I thought my life was over but this day he will remember my heart oh my gosh you get me every time with you’re videos Ily

Hailey added:

can we make this a trend of taking senior citizens out to do fun things?

Another comment read:

A lot of older ppl who can’t move around easily feel no one would want them to come along, thinking they would slow em down. U made him feel great

A poignant message from Ben said:

We give up on people so quickly. Our world is so “disposable.” We should be taking more people on our journey with us.

One other comment in the string of positive messages said:

we will all be alone, or leave someone alone someday. light up someone’s life when you get the chance

The 100-year-old captured the hearts of millions as the video has been seen by over 16 million people on TikTok alone, with additional views coming in from Instagram, and now from the official Disney Parks account. Judging by the comments, Garza intends to continue his friendship with the veteran and is seemingly planning other adventures for the pair.

TikToker Publicly Apologizes For Being Rude to a Cast Member

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

Via DisDining.com

We live in an age where social media is the way many people communicate nowadays. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok are massive platforms where people can share their love of things with people around the world. One of the fastest growing platforms is people sharing their love for all things Disney. Some people focus on Disneyland, some on Walt Disney World Resort, others on Disney Cruise Line, and some focus on all of it.

While we love seeing people share fun things about their Disney trips, as well as tips and tricks you can use while visiting, it is no secret that TikTokers, and those who want to be social media influencers, are making the jobs of Disney Cast Members incredibly difficult. People are constantly breaking rules in order to make a video and get attention.

Now, one very prominent TikToker is going viral for all the wrong reasons, but it’s not because of what she did while in the Parks — although it started there.

You may or may not know about the TikToker, Theme Park Mom. She is constantly in the Parks, sharing the experiences that she has, and she has amassed quite the following. However, one of her recent videos has put her on the receiving end of a lot of Disney fans’ anger.

In one video, she tells the story of people who were rude to a Cast Member while she was in line to meet Donald Duck. Theme Park Mom tells Guests to be nice to Cast Members, as they are just doing their job.

Not long after that video was posted, a woman claiming to work at a Starbucks location in Disney called Theme Park Mom out for being rude. The Cast Member said that Theme Park Mom placed a coffee order during a very busy time. According to the Cast Member, the woman was very impatient and wanted her drink, while others who got their first were still waiting. The Cast Member called out Theme Park Mom’s rude behavior and said that she should practice what she preaches and be nice to Cast Members.

Starbucks Disney

Theme Park Mom issued an apology video and seemed to be sorry for her behavior — the video has since been deleted. However, we are now learning that instead of being sorry for how she acted, Theme Park Mom apologized publicly but, behind the scenes, got the Cast Member who called her out fired.

The Cast Member deleted her original video, though some people were able to screenshot the comments where the Cast Member said that the woman had reported her and that the Cast Member was afraid she would lose her job. And that is exactly what happened.

Theme Park Mom is now being called out by fellow influencers and Disney fans alike for her appalling actions. Things seemed to have gotten so bad for Theme Park Mom that she now no longer allows people to comment on her videos — although she still frequently posts.

If and when you visit a Disney Park, please remember that Cast Members work very hard to keep the magic alive and create great memories for Guests. Their number one priority is Guests and their safety. While Cast Members frequently have to deal with Guests’ problems, you can always brighten their day by being kind when you interact with them.

TikTokers Continue to Disregard Disney Rules

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The invention of social media has let us connect in ways that we never thought possible. It makes it easier to stay in touch with the people who mean something to us, who we may not get to see as often as we like. It allows us to meet people from different countries, different backgrounds, and different walks of life who we have a lot in common with. However, social media can also lead to people becoming desperate for attention — breaking rules for the clicks, all so they can get the coveted title of “influencer”.

There are several topics that are always a hit on platforms like Instagram and TikTok — food, travel, and Disney. There are hundreds of people on Instagram who frequently share pictures and videos from their Disney Parks vacations, as well as tips, tricks, and the latest news. While many of those Instagrammers and TikTokers just want to have a great time in the Parks, some of them focus on what will get them the most attention. Many turn to breaking the rules and doing dangerous things that could easily get them kicked out of the Parks.

Jason Jeter

Recently, TikToker Emily Bleier went to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and decided to ride one of the most popular thrill rides in the Park — Space Mountain. However, simply enjoying the attraction and continuing on with her day wasn’t her main goal.

As those who have ridden Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom know, after you ride the attraction, you have quite a way to go before you are back in the Park. You must walk down a long hallway that has lifelike creations of what the world will be like in the future — from living in space to robots that take care of everything you need. They are always fun to look at, but they are over a barrier and off-limits to Guests. At least they are supposed to be.

Emily posted a TikTok in which she climbed over the barrier and sat on a fake bench around a table (which is pictured above). The video was coupled with a message reading “The only reason I ride Space Mountain”. Now, as you can imagine, her actions are highly against the rules, and, should a Cast Member have caught her, she may have been asked to leave the Park.

You can watch the video below:

@embleier

The only reason I ride Space Mountain #tommorowland #spacemountain #disney #disneyworld #rollercoaster

♬ original sound – Socialist_Sigma

It appears that Emily’s video may not have gone over so well on the platform with other Disney fans, as the comments section was quickly disabled. We show you this video not to encourage you to repeat what you see, but to let you know what NOT to do while at the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, or any Disney Park.

space mountain

When you visit a Disney theme park, you agree to abide by its code of conduct. Walt Disney World currently has the following Resort Property rules listed on its website:

Prohibited Activities

  • Engaging in any unsafe act or other act that may impede the operation of the Walt Disney World Resort or any part thereof.
  • Unauthorized access or entry into backstage areas or areas designated only for Cast Members.

Guest Courtesy and Attire Policies

  • Please show common courtesy to fellow Guests and our Cast Members by not using profanity or engaging in unsafe, illegal, disruptive or offensive behavior, jumping lines or saving places in lines for others. For your safety and the safety of others, please refrain from running except in designated areas.
Restricted area

TikTokers and Instagrammers are becoming an increasing problem for Disney and its Cast Members, and they are cracking down. Disney reserves the right to ban anyone who breaks its property rules for any amount of time. Small infractions may result in being asked to leave the theme park for the day. More egregious rule-breaking may result in a ban that lasts for months or even a lifetime.

One social media influencer learned the hard way that Disney does not like rule breakers. Not only did he lose his job at The Most Magical Place on Earth, but he was also banned for life. He is currently appealing his ban, but Disney could decide to keep it in place.

Disney Guest Gets Roasted By Characters

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Every Guest dreams of pulling the sword from the stone in Fantasyland at Walt Disney World. The Sword in the Stone monument is located near Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. There is also another Sword in the Stone monument located in Disneyland Park, near King Arthur’s Carousel.

TikToker jojocrichton has been visiting Magic Kingdom nearly every day in an attempt to become the King of Fantasyland. He has become an internet sensation as Guests from all over know who he is now — even Disney Characters!

Disney fan and TikTok user, jojocrichton, has been posting videos to social media showing his attempts at trying to become the King of Fantasyland. In one attempt, he even tried talking nice to the sword, hoping a little flattery would help (spoiler alert, it didn’t):

@jojocrichton

Reply to @yaboidanjan best way to pull the sword is to be nice 😊 #jojosworld #disneyworld #wdw #fyp

♬ original sound – JoJo

In another video, JoJo tried to channel his love for Star Wars and use the force:

@jojocrichton

Reply to @johndoesdis instead of the force ima just use my lightsaber 😅 #jojosworld #disneyworld #wdw #fyp

♬ original sound – JoJo

JoJo has really made a name for himself, as now even Disney Characters know who he is. Recently, JoJo was roasted by the step sisters, Anastasia and Drizella, from Disney’s Cinderella (1950).

In a video posted to TikTok, JoJo can be seen dressed as Merlin to, once again, try and pull the sword from the stone. He was walking around the Park when he ran into Anastasia and Drizella. “Do you have magic?” one of the sisters asked to which JoJo replied “I do, and I know you’re looking for a suitor.”

Well, Drizella did not hold back when she responded, “Well, we’re kind of looking for someone who can actually pull the sword from the stone,” completely roasting JoJo!

You can watch the full video below or by clicking here:

@jojocrichton

Big Oof 😅 #jojosworld #disneyworld #wdw #fyp

♬ original sound – JoJo

Unfortunately, he has not been deemed worthy (yet), but if you want to follow along on his journey, you can find his TikTok here.