WDW Magazine December 2014 - Crowds at WDW | Page 113

The good news is that the Imagineers have built some really amazing queues, and the
experience available for guests waiting in line is some of the best parts of the ride.
Guests “lucky” enough to get Fast Passes for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train, miss out
on all of the fun games designed to distract guests from how long they have waited in
line. The new Haunted Mansion queue has some great games to play, too.
Frankly, our family, starting with my late mother-in-law, enjoys talking to other guests.
Gathering Park tips and their family stories. When you remember that Roy and Walt
were primarily from small town, Middle America. I think that this type of interaction
would be just what would put a gleam in their eye. Folks talking like neighbors to each
other, while enjoying all of the magic. It’s almost like a perpetual Fourth of July at a
park, when you think about it the right way. For years, our readers shared their favorite
family Park traditions with each other. It was my second favorite set of columns, only
edged out by the Cast Member stories.
Of course, the Cast Members work their magic on the whole experience, too. This
month’s selections feature examples of how one or two Cast Members, with a bit of
pixie dust in their hearts can make all the difference in a guest’s experience on those
busy days.

Dusty

We had arrived at the Magic Kingdom around 6:45pm that evening to view
SpectroMagic and the Fireworks. We
hadn't eaten and didn't realize how
crowded Main Street would already
be, with people lined up and down
for parade viewing. My mother-inlaw stayed with my two girls in their
stroller outside of The Plaza
Restaurant as my husband and I ran
to Casey's for hot dogs. When we
returned, she and the girls had been
"roped in". I was concerned since
we weren't at the curb and thought
we wouldn't be able to view the
parade, but she said that Dusty, a
CM working Parade Control, had put
the rope there and said that we
should be fine.

Photo by
Bill Sferrazza