Rumor Pre-Arrival Survey - AP Discounts, Lightning Lane Pre-Booking Discounts, Hotel Upgrades

[Jrb1979]

It’s 2026 - it’s not a high bar anywhere from what I’ve seen traveling across the country.

I feel like Disney still provides a better standard of customer service - with some rare exceptions. But those are still rare. Maybe less rare than in the past, but by comparison.

IMO visiting other parks Disney is not much better than other parks out there. Dollywood is much better

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

IMO visiting other parks Disney is not much better than other parks out there. Dollywood is much better

I wasn’t really thinking of theme parks - more travel in general. Dollywood is a different vibe and style - certainly some wonderful people work there but many of the procedures are terrible for efficiency.

 

[Chi84]

IMO visiting other parks Disney is not much better than other parks out there. Dollywood is much better

If that’s the case why would you ever go to Disney? Isn’t it a lot more expensive?

 

[MrPromey]

If that’s the case why would you ever go to Disney? Isn’t it a lot more expensive?

Probably because Dollywood doesn't have Cosmic Rewind and Rise and the mouse.

Customer service only takes a place so far.

A restaurant with amazing customer service but only one or two things on the menu that interests you isn't going to be a place you go to frequently even if you love and feel they make you feel special every time you go there.

 

[Jrb1979]

If that’s the case why would you ever go to Disney? Isn’t it a lot more expensive?

A one day ticket for Dollywood is $95. Its not that much cheaper.

 

[Jrb1979]

Probably because Dollywood doesn't have Cosmic Rewind and Rise and the mouse.

Customer service only takes a place so far.

A restaurant with amazing customer service but only one or two things on the menu that interests you isn't going to be a place you go to frequently even if you love and feel they make you feel special every time you go there.

It has Lightning Rod, Dolly Parton, Cinnamon bread and a major new innovative dark ride in Nightflight Expedition.

 

[Chi84]

A one day ticket for Dollywood is $95. Its not that much cheaper.

How many days do you spend there?

 

[Jrb1979]

How many days do you spend there?

Usually 4-5 days.

 

[Chi84]

Usually 4-5 days.

Does it take you that long to see everything and go to every restaurant you want to try or do you repeat things?

 

[Jrb1979]

Does it take you that long to see everything and go to every restaurant you want to try or do you repeat things?

Repeat a lot rides. But there is a lot of different food to try. We also aren't in the park the whole day as there is a lot of things to do in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg with the mountains

 

[brettf22]

And that's fine. I'll let my AP lapse, buy tickets for 10% off, then upgrade them to Incredipass for the cheaper price upon my next visit.

Another wrinkle, albeit one I haven’t seen confirmed anywhere else. In his latest post about this survey, Tom Bricker specifically mentioned that you would not be able to upgrade tickets to these discounted APs, meaning you wouldn’t be able to apply the ticket value to the discounted APs. If true, this possible discount is worth even less.

 

[MisterPenguin]

All claims that WDW has been shedding guests have proven to be wrong over the years.

The best that people can do is compare the numbers now to pre-Covid. And Disney is fine with that drop-off. They've been trying to deal with *over*-crowding. But year over year has seen small increases. Not the cratering that some people breathlessly proclaim.

Could they be down *right now*? We don't know. Perhaps we'll hear tomorrow. Getting data is more important than anecdotes or reading tea leaves.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

If that’s the case why would you ever go to Disney? Isn’t it a lot more expensive?

I’m just as happy visiting the Henry ford museum which is much cheaper.

But I like Disney too!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

But just to be clear, this appears to be a survey question to somebody who does not have an AP, but has a trip planned with a regular ticket, asking whether they’d be interested in upgrading to an AP if it were cheaper. This does not seem to be suggesting a discount for all new APs and APs renewals, but only as an incentive to upgrade from a regular ticket.

That’s gone to those who have APs…particularly on the backend of them…

Which reminds me…did I check my inbox today?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

All claims that WDW has been shedding guests have proven to be wrong over the years.

The best that people can do is compare the numbers now to pre-Covid. And Disney is fine with that drop-off. They've been trying to deal with *over*-crowding. But year over year has seen small increases. Not the cratering that some people breathlessly proclaim.

Could they be down *right now*? We don't know. Perhaps we'll hear tomorrow. Getting data is more important than anecdotes or reading tea leaves.

Stop posting lies to defend your lord and master Bobius Caesar. Just curl up with your Disney blankie and pillow, cry yourself to sleep and “dream it away”

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

IMO visiting other parks Disney is not much better than other parks out there. Dollywood is much better

I hear mixed reviews about this all the time…

 

[Chi84]

I’m just as happy visiting the Henry ford museum which is much cheaper.

But I like Disney too!

We don’t have to leave the city for world class museums.

WDW is a week long destination vacation for us. The main attraction is its size and variety.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

We don’t have to leave the city for world class museums.

The Henry ford is more like the original Disneyland - it directly inspired it. Easy for me to spend a few days there!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Probably because Dollywood doesn't have Cosmic Rewind and Rise and the mouse.

Customer service only takes a place so far.

A restaurant with amazing customer service but only one or two things on the menu that interests you isn't going to be a place you go to frequently even if you love and feel they make you feel special every time you go there.

Cosmic rewind is fine…but it’s been a few years now. Rise sucks on longterm draw…because they pooched the sourcing…
…now they’re quietly moving pieces in Anaheim to address that. Only been coming for 5+ years on that…

And as far as “the mouse”…I agree…if you recognize what that means…

It’s the quality of the property build out…the 20th century stuff. It never looks “carnie” and that’s why it’s always been on its own level. Even as the quality has fallen…the pressure to facsimile that initial quality has kept it mostly in line. That’s the “difference”.

 

[networkpro]

I wasn’t really thinking of theme parks - more travel in general. Dollywood is a different vibe and style - certainly some wonderful people work there but many of the procedures are terrible for efficiency.

Obviously you don't understand why Dollywood exists then, its not anything about efficiency. It exists to provide entertainment, exposure to Appalachian culture, employment and boost the local economy of Sevier County.