DisneyLand Removing Benches - to address overcrowding?

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Fri, 09/28/2018 - 15:42

JeffC

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DisneyLand Removing Benches - to address overcrowding?

I came across an article that indicates Disneyland is removing in-park benches. The effort is reportedly part of a plan to address current overcrowding issues and to make extra room for the massive crowds expected when the new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens at Disneyland in summer 2019.

Visitors may also notice the park has already removed many of the brick planters that some use for seating.

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/09/25/will-there-be-any-space-left-to-sit-at-disneyland-anymore/

I always find one of the great things about Disney I just sitting and people watching and enjoying a break. I wonder if this will come to WDW unless it already has and I didn't notice, or maybe there aren't that many benches in the first place).

Fri, 09/28/2018 - 20:13

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Spook

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I think WDW will be fine with the benches. One of the things we noticed at Disneyland was that some of the ride queues go out into the walkways ( pirates for one) so it gets extra crowded in those areas. I sure hope they don't take out all the benches anyway! I like to sit once in a while

Sat, 09/29/2018 - 00:05

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Kristen K.

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JeffC wrote:

I wonder if this will come to WDW unless it already has and I didn't notice, or maybe there aren't that many benches in the first place).

As a four decade plus veteran Disney World traveler I can say that this has already come to Walt Disney World, there used to be benches everywhere. EVERYWHERE. The sidewalk around the hub was rail to rail benches. You never had to look for a bench anywhere, and it was because of Walt. While he envisioned a place to go where the parents wouldn't have to sit on a bench and just watch their kids, he also knew the joy of sitting on a bench and dreaming. Just like he had a formula for how often to place garbage cans (I think it's 30 steps) he also had a plan for benches (though I don't recall what it was).

Anyhow - I remember clearly how upset I was when the benches started disappearing. The plan worked though, and it had a huge effect on crowd traffic, which in turn had an effect on the bottom line. People who are staying in one place don't spend money, and they make it difficult for the people who want to move through the Park to get to the places where they can spend money.

I'm not surprised that they are doing this in California, saddened, but not surprised.

Sat, 09/29/2018 - 01:14

JeffC

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Thank you for that great perspective, Kristen.