#technological era

Today’s news

Pilot: Disneyland

Yesterday, I went to Disneyland in hopes of trying out the new attraction, Star Wars: The Rise of The Resistance. Driving up from San Diego with a group of 6 other friends, we got to the Mickey and Friends parking structure by 8:10 in the morning. In the park by 9:00, we found out immediately that the boarding groups for the attraction were booked for the whole day. In disbelief, we headed straight through Frontier land back to Galaxy’s Edge to check out the newest addition of Disneyland. 

We walked into the newest Star Wars land to be greeted by Stormtroopers. There were only two of them and they were standing on the ledge of a platform of your classic Star Wars “junk”. The park was pretty difficult to navigate because none of the writing on buildings were in English but the staff in the area was very helpful in answering any questions you may have for getting around. We decided to try the Millennium Falcon ride: The Smugglers Run first since we could access that one without having to book a boarding group. It was a great time and a truly different experience than your traditional Disneyland ride: assigning roles to perform during the ride and ensuring that everyone has a part during the experience. 

What I had a problem with was when we went over to look at the Resistance portion of Galaxy’s Edge. Walking up to the entrance of the ride, I spoke to a gentleman who was monitoring the ride and asked him if there was a stand-by line we could wait in. “No,” he said, “You will have to get a boarding group.” 

“Are there anymore boarding groups being released today?” I asked.

“No, we sold out at 8:01 this morning.”

The Disneyland Park opens at 8 AM. This means that some 100 boarding groups were filled within a minute of entering the park. An article published over a week ago stated,  “Disney’s Hollywood Studios quietly opened its gates several hours early during the first few days that Rise of the Resistance was operational, which meant the boarding passes were long gone by the official opening time of the park” (MACDONALD, B). The problems that occur with this new technological advanced era of Disneyland is that it focuses around being connected on your mobile devices for a majority of the day to see if new boarding groups even release. 

For someone that is not well-off and wants to feel like they fully used their $125 admission to Disneyland, plus $25 parking, and $6 churros, and $18 lunches. Shit is fucking expensive and the price it costs to run it is only a fraction of their profits. I think Disneyland should be known as an environment of creating memories without the use of electronic devices. It is important to share a good conversation with your friends and having a kiss or two with your boyfriend then sitting there “playing”  on your phones…

*key the new app*

When I picture Disneyland in the future, I see a place that is built for being the happiest place on earth for having the happiest memories to reflect upon. Growing up as a child, Disneyland felt like my place to be a kid and enjoy myself because I always had the best time there with my family. And to spend that time as you get older with people that mean just as much to you is such a fun and awesome experience that shouldn’t be ruined because you don’t want to leave your house at 4:15 in the morning to get in line for a ride that opened a few days prior; please consider the message you are sending and just consider a stand-by line for the people who came specifically to try your new ride that weekend. We are Millennials at the end of the day and already can’t afford to take nice vacations like this as often as we would truly like to. 

Thanks ya’ll and enjoy the rest of your week. 

Me:*confused* But wait, you don't have a Facebook, though. Right?

Sister: No, I mean my wall.

Me: Um.... you don't have a Twitter either. Right?

Sister: No, I mean my wall! I mean my literal, like my bedroom wall!