So out of curiosity I joined the Facebook page. A couple of interesting notes:
As per the rules, the term hoarding is not allowed to be used. Also per the rules you are not allowed to sell your ADRs or do anything that breaks Disney’s rules.
They appear to be doing exchanges by drop/add.
A good number of people seem to have reasonable dining schedules with some contengencies that they are simply modifying.
A second set of people go beyond this to where it is prerty hoardy, but still within the framework of their trip.
A third set of people (and this is a tiny minority) seem to be booking huge numbers of ADRs simply to dole out. Like 3 Sci-Fi for the exact same. I can’t help but feel like there are psychological motivations at play, because they become a hero to so many people. Disney certainly brings out the interesting in us sometimes.
Thanks for doing the research! That is consistent with what Jim and Len said about the group. I think you’re right it’s about the endorphin release. And helping people is a good motivation, but some of those people are clearly taking it too far.
My first thought when I read about this (I haven’t listened to the podcast yet) was that it was MouseWatcher doing some of the hoarding so that their paid service seemed appealing and worth the money. A terrible thought and I’m sure no one is doing that.
It has been a busy week. It took me until today to listen to the podcast.
I did not realize @len was in my backyard! I am about an hour away from the Banff Springs hotel. I would have gotten him some free tickets on the Lake Minnewanka Cruise.
My son is just finishing up his summer job as a tour guide and boat driver for the cruise. This would have made a nice Thank you to him and the team for Touring Plans. (It would also allow Len to provide some constructive criticism on his tour guide delivery techniques; That could help him prepare for being a Skipper at JC)
Ah, that would’ve been a hoot! We’ll be back, and I’ll give more advance warning to Canada (which, I believe now due to something they’re calling “The Otter Incident”, I’m legally required to provide anyway).
I am now curious about the otter incident… are you sure you sure you didn’t misinterpret the French to English conversion and meant to say a Beaver? It is the national animal of Canada.
Did anyone else find it interesting that Len and Jim talked about 20,000 Leagues ride right after we discussed it on the forum?
And it turns out it was closed “temporarily” in September 1994, which became “permanently” in April 1996. The lagoon remained until 2004 when it was drained and demolished, and it briefly hosted Pooh’s Thoughtful Spot until Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was built on the site, opening in 2014.
I just found this map that the site says is from 1991. I definitely did Space Mountain and Dumbo but I know we didn’t do the Skyway. I guess it’s possible we never really walked by 20,000 Leagues, but we must have!
One thing they mentioned on the episode is that it would typically close down in the fall for an annual refurbishment. It was one of those refurbishment closures that ended up being cover for the permanent closure. Maybe you were there during one of those.
Ah, that is true and very possible! We were there in mid-September. Even back then my mom had an unofficial guide and pulled us out of K and 2nd grade to go during the lowest crowds. I still remember the afternoon monsoons…
I recall 20,000 very fondly. I think I knew that it had issues, but it was easy to overlook them as a kid. I don’t think I went on it in the 90s. I’m guessing it was closed at the time, or my parents just didn’t like it and kept us away.
My 1st trip was in Jan ‘93 with girlfriend (now wife) and 20k wasn’t on our radar, in fact I’d not heard of the ride til recently. I was going off a guidebook, so perhaps it wasn’t well regarded and we ignored it (?)
Funny Pleasure Island story: I was carded at a bar that trip. So I hand over my Quebec drivers license, printed in French. The guy stares at it and says, this has no picture. I say, Quebec licenses don’t have pictures (which was true at the time). He says: “maybe in yoah state”, but lets me in. LOL. Guy must’ve been new, b/c French Canadians aren’t exactly unknown in Florida…
