I rode Trash Mountain today...

[TDLFAN]

My partner G-Fan and I took the time to visit the MK today (4/24th) since it was such a lovely sunny and cool afternoon to be outdoors for a change.

We rode Splash because it was the only ride we had FP for since the MK was packed to the gills.

The conditions in which we found Splash Mountain were to say the least...deplorable. As we enter the cave just after the point where stand by and FP lines meet, we gagged at the "lovely" wall of chewing gum on display there across from that window where you see the shadow of Brer Frog on his rocking chair. About 2/3 of the wall was covered in what appeared to be 50 chewing gums or so stuck to the wall. Gums of different colors, shapes and sizes in a very ugly display of human insensitivity and lack of class.

Then, we were on the ride... everything was fine until after going up the first hill. The bushes in the outdoor portion of the ride are in most unkept form. Trash can be seen in almost every other scene of the ride...discarded napkins, empty plastic bottles and the likes, littering the outdoor AND indoor scenes of the ride. Plus once again!!! More chewing gum bits stuck to the rocky set across from the female rabbit house just before we see Brer Bear hanging in his own trap. I was simply appalled at this. As the ride progressed I counted at least 5 AA's that were out of commission and not even on display or removed from the scenes, including the ever so problematic jumpin Brer Rabbit AA (which for some reason is always in good working order at TDL's Splash and *never* misses his cue but here at MK??? It's a miss more than a hit)

All in all...I think it's atrocious and downright disgusting how bad things are allowed to get in regards to these maintenance issues, especially when they apply to a high profile ride like Splash Mountain. Yet, WDW is not all to blame, although they have allowed the problem to get worst due to the short staffing in Custodial. Some guests are being inconciderate pigs (and I am being polite here) and these are the ones who are spoiling the little magic that is left at WDW with their unruly, disgusting habits. As a former WDW CM and usual guest to the resort..I was downright embarrased by this situation. If I was here on vacation and paying the big bucks to enjoy WDW, I would have angrily complaint to Guest Relations.

What a sad sad visit this was for both G-Fan and I today to the MK.

[Peabody]

That's VERY sad. Splash is my favorite ride and I've been lucky to go on all three. I've ridden them each only twice though. Looking at Vid of the WDW version I saw that cool hopping Brer Rabbit. He really doesn't work that often at WDW? I'd like to here everyone else's experiences.

I hope they can clean it up soon..I'm visiting in Sept for my 2nd WDW Trip

[WDW1974]

You should have complained anyway. And maybe forwarded a photo or two along to the O-Sentinel. I hear some reporters there are actively looking for ideas on Disney stories ... oh, you could also take pics and post them for my pals over at the other place ;-)

[WDW1974]

BTW, I have been so disgusted by the state of Splash Mtn. that I simply won't depress myself by going to ride it.

Also, have you seen the seats in PhilharMagic recently? They are all ripped and torn because Disney used the cheapest material possible. You think they'll be having the media visit PhilharMagic in two weeks?

[Jspider]

youknow people are so horrible with gum I swear or society would be better off without it o_o

it only brings cavaties and it has zero nutritional value maybe Disney should try to cut back on gum for the whole general area (suppliment it with other candies )

ok now that I'm through being rediculous it is sad that WDW is not keeping things up

seems like several rides could stand to get closed down and then experience an whole overhaul

if they really kept the place clean I'm betting vandelisum and stuff would actualy go down

it's a slippery slope

[mickhyperion]

There is definitely a snowball effect... If people see gum stuck to a surface like that, some will invariably want to add their's to the collection. If the gum were removed, it would remove that little mental trigger that says "Put Your Gum Here." The same applies to trash of any kind.

There will always be trash and gum, but leaving it on display only seems to amplify the problem. It has the same effect as graffiti, if left for all to see - people just want to add their mark to it.

[Jspider]

There is definitely a snowball effect... If people see gum stuck to a surface like that, some will invariably want to add their's to the collection. If the gum were removed, it would remove that little mental trigger that says "Put Your Gum Here." The same applies to trash of any kind.

There will always be trash and gum, but leaving it on display only seems to amplify the problem. It has the same effect as graffiti, if left for all to see - people just want to add their mark to it.

very true

there are always those who are stupid/rude enough to trash up really nice places however there is a group mentality to it

if people see garbage there they will feel less guilty about adding to it (you could generalize this even to paint and upkeep, when something looks new and fresh people will feel more guilty about trashing it up then if it looks worn and old) and if there is trash everywere you'll suddenly find people even believing the behavior is acceptable

Disney is really pinching penny's with maintenance cutbacks

the thing is that it's increadibly short term

perventative maintenance ussualy comes out far ahead of just taking things as they break

[Disney Analyst]

Thats really sad.. Such a great ride And putting gum on a ride? They can totally be charged!

[drnilescrane]

Gum can be banned, It's happened in Singapore and they have never been happier.

[TDLFAN]

At TDL, if the CMs see you chewing gum in line, they will ask you to put it in the trash can ans will see to it. I know because it happened to me at their Big Thunder where the girl assigning guests to row numbers politely aske me to spit out my gum into the trash can. Likewise, Disney is the offender in the sense that they now allow people to step in line with food and bev when that didn't used to be the case in years past. Worst, no one ever follows thru on the "No Food/bev is to be brought into the parks" rules anymore..not even the security Cms at their Bin Ladden check points at the parks' entrances. Disney is to share the blame for these rule breaches and penny pinching maintenance practices...

..and to answer some of you...I didn't have my camera, otherwise you would have gotten a lovely pictorial of this situation. Also, I would have complaint to Guest Relations but didn't because 1) my G-Fan wanted to leave ASAP, and 2) the line at City Hall was out the door and I wasn't in the mood to waste my time and complaint then get the same old rehearsed answer and stand-off 'ish' attitudes of their Guest Relation Cast. I was too ticked off to be pleasant really.

[buzz lightbeer]

That is just so sad. Is it my imagination or was it just a few years ago that these problems were not as big of an issue!?

If I remember one of my wife's (former CM) bit of knowledge, they don't even sell gum on property.

[OTownGuy]

Not to worrry TDLFAN, because do u KNOW what horrific event transpired the NIGHT before on the 23rd???

GRAD NITE. That explains ALL.

[OTownGuy]

""Likewise, Disney is the offender in the sense that they now allow people to step in line with food and bev when that didn't used to be the case in years past.""

And they started that BECAUSE Universal originated that program. And its ironic that THIER Qs are LESS trashed even w/ that rule.

[pussnboots]

Okay, that's all very nasty and all, but you can't honestly expect them to ban gum. If I was chewing gum at TDL and some CM would get on my case about it, I would tell him to bugger the hell off. I mean, honestly.

[Jspider]

Okay, that's all very nasty and all, but you can't honestly expect them to ban gum. If I was chewing gum at TDL and some CM would get on my case about it, I would tell him to bugger the hell off. I mean, honestly.

it's all a matter of shifting standards around

first I'd ban food and drink (totaly understandable) I'd do my best to stop people from carrying it into the que and if that didn't work I'd have them inform people that they can't take it on the ride with them (and thus they would already be aware of this by the time they reach the loading area)

as far as gum goes I'd just make sure non of Disney's stores supply it and then I'd simply have CM politly request not bringing gum onto the ride (not waging a war or anything but simply ask that guests please not do it and have a trash can waiting for guests to spit out the gum)

[Jspider]

Gum can be banned, It's happened in Singapore and they have never been happier.

I'll bet

seriously I hate people who chew gum sometimes (well not in general but you know the kind that leave it everywere but in the garbage)

I mean sticking it under seats on the sidewalks ontop of seats on rides it's just disgusting

I mean how would you feel if someone was chewing tobaco and spitting it everywere?

[jmuboy]

I agree that we should send pics of Splash Mountain and all the other deplorable maintenance conditions at WDW to the O Sentinel. They may be the only ones who WDW Mgmt will pay attention to. You know Weiss and Company don't like bad press.

[Witches of Morva]

ORGOCH: Well, I'd just LOVE ta be 'round when some dirty ducklin' decided ta go 'n gum up a ride like that while I'm lookin' on. That dirty ducklin' would be turned inta a TOAD--er somethin' even WORSE--and nobody'd ever know the dif....

[TDLFAN]

Okay, that's all very nasty and all, but you can't honestly expect them to ban gum. If I was chewing gum at TDL and some CM would get on my case about it, I would tell him to bugger the hell off. I mean, honestly.

You would not be allowed to ride, would be escorted off the line and probably out the park if you did that at TDL, but the again...the japanese there are respectful of other's property and space, unlike westeners. Your attitude on this post seems the perfect example, and I find it quite tragic and sad. It's their park and they have the right to tell you how to behave and what is expected of you. When you pay the admission price, you agree to play by *their rules*, not yours. If only the CMs at WDW had the balls to do their job and do it correctly, instead of allowing guests to do as they please, maybe, just maybe, we would not have to put up with this kind of trashy behavior.

[pussnboots]

Ah yes, the joys of being on holiday in a police state.

Look, when people start to take entire meals on board of rides, or actually stick their gum in other places than their mouths, let them start hurling them out of the park. But chewing gum in a queue? That's something that should be allowed in any reasonable culture.

But I have a feeling my stay in Japan would be very short with my outrageous mentality (chewing gum! What was I thinking). Amnesty may need to rescue me from a dark prison cell somewhere, haha.