I don’t post here very often but I read the forums all the time. So, believe me when I say I’m not here to stir anything up. I just wanted to relay my thoughts from my recent trip (Dec 10 – 16).
I just got back from my 14th trip to Disney World and I have to say I was disappointed. For the first time ever, I have to say I don’t look forward to going back. My family started going back in 2002 so I may not be a super Disney goer but I have been enough times that I have plenty of experience and have seen things come and go.
We stayed in an Art of Animation Nemo suite. The room was nice enough with a few things wrong … the fridge didn’t work, the remote in the bedroom wouldn’t turn the TV on, the piece that keeps water in the shower from coming out under the door was missing, and a light over the table was blinking. Not terrible things but annoying.
The parks were crowded for an early December trip (10 – 16). However, I knew crowds have been picking up lately so not unexpected. I remember the days when a trip in December meant a walk on, on all rides!
But here is what really got me. Disney is chipping away at its exceptional guest experience. This is the first trip that I CAN'T say felt awesome or magical. I have worked for a large corporation for better than 20 years and they do the same thing. They chip away at their employees until they can no longer give their loyalty. In fact, I have quit that job and moved on. The same thing is happening to Disney. In the past, I would have argued anyone down that Disney was the best vacation a family would ever take. But not anymore. Like at my former job my loyalty to Disney is fading.
So, what is different? I have been thinking about it and this is just some of the things I have come up with.
Fastpass+
This system is not thought out well and I believe has ruined a positive Disney experience for guests. 60 days prior to arrival I logged in to make my fast pass reservations. Much to my surprise there were no Avatar Flight of Passage or Frozen or Seven Dwarf Mine Train fast passes until 5 days into our trip. What? NO fast passes? I finally got a fast pass for Avatar Flight of Passage for a Thursday night but there was one problem with that. We were going to EPCOT that morning. Therefore, we could make no fast passes for EPCOT that day. You can’t have fast passes spanning parks. Also, how am I supposed to know two months in advance what ride I want to ride at what time. This is beyond crazy. People who know me know that I am a big planner. I have multiple spreadsheets and create food lists and all sorts of things. But when it comes down to it, you just can’t always know exactly where you want to be on any particular day and certainly not minute by minute. And heaven forbid you might change your mind and want to go to a park you haven't planned for. I pity the folks who can’t plan the way I do. I bet they don’t get to do anything at Disney with this new system.
In addition, the system of fast passes is driving traffic to other rides. I saw a 40 minute wait for The Land! During a “slow” time, “off season” time there was a 40 minute wait for The Land! Now, I have read on this great forum that Disney wanted to do that. But now there are no rides that have short waits. This can really make for a long day. What do you do when you are waiting for your fast pass. I guess you wait 40 minutes for The Land.
Food
We got the free quick service dining this time. We have had it many times before. We no longer want the table service dining. First everything was covered. Then tips were not covered. Then you no longer could get appetizers. And I don’t know what all may have changed since the last time we had that plan. Can you see the trend? Chipping away at the guest experience until someone like me no longer even wants it. The quick service food is the same way. Disney has streamlined everything. You can get the same hot dog no matter where you go. The thing is I don’t want the same hot dog or hamburger everywhere. The choices are really limited too. I can remember when quick service restaurants had all kinds of choices, including free hot cheese which my daughters loved. Sorry, they don’t have the cheese any more or maybe they do for a buck. (Chipping Away!)
Buses
Don’t even get me started on the buses. Waited 45 minutes on a bus at Disney Springs. Stood on every single bus back and forth from the parks except maybe once. They let every single scooter and their families on the bus FIRST even if I had been waiting there forever and they just pulled up. The driver refused to go until we had so many people standing we couldn’t even move. “Keep moving back! I can see you can still breathing there sir so there must not be enough people on this bus!” If a bus had an accident we would most likely all be dead. If I drove around with no seat belt I would get a ticket. How can they get away with 10000 people on one bus? You talk about not a good guest experience. That may be the worst of them all! Or how about when they drop you off, not at your bus stop, but at no place in particular nowhere close to the park.
Anyway, sorry for my rambling on. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m getting older and I don’t see things the same way I used to. But I won’t be going back for a while. A long, long while. Disney has chipped away at costs and such until they have ruined my guest experience. I don’t pay top dollar to go to Disney so I can go to an average park. If I wanted that I’d going to that other place. They need to get back to what made them great and not just settle for “okay” with a lot more profit.
This March will be my 15th or 16th visit to Disney. So over a span of a little over 40 years, I’ve seen it all.
I remember when staying for 3 days seemed like overkill. Now we stay an average of 6 days.
We’ve had the good fortune of graduating from driving from TX to FL to now flying in less than 3 hours. In the early years we would have never dreamed of staying on Disney property. Now we wouldn’t stay anywhere else. We do the Value resorts.
Honestly with the crowds in the parks nowadays, I don’t see how anyone can visit without utilizing fastpass plus.
Does pre-planning take away some of the magic? It does, but it sure beats standing in an over 60 minute line.
This past Spring Break was the most crowded we’ve seen it. Everyone kept saying “it’s Spring Break.” Well, let me tell you, it was an extra crowded one.
I too noticed the lines at The Land. I think by having this among the FP selections, people who never rode it before have discovered it. It has always been a favorite of ours.
When there was a line out the building for Figment, I knew we were in trouble.
My gripes with Disney are the following (and I appreciate having this platform!):
#1 More alcohol in the parks. Alcohol in the parks period actually. Walt drank & he did not want alcohol in the parks.
Let’s admit it folks, people will go overboard given the chance. Not everyone is a polite, have a civilized glass of wine with a meal type of drinker.
Drinking around the world is all the rage in Epcot’s world Showcase. I remember when the world Showcase was supposed to be somewhat educational. It was pretty cool for someone who hadn’t had the opportunity to see the real thing.
I have an in denial alcoholic for a husband and let me tell you, the last thing I need is for him to sniff out a drink at Disney. Huge turnoff on a family vacation.
World Showcase in the evening is a hot mess. Avoid the ladies room in Germany at all costs. Nothing but a bunch of obnoxious drunks. Not exactly something I want my kids exposed to.
#2 Extra events at extra charge. What????!!!!
These are such a rip off.
Thankfully they do not come into play at the time of year we visit.
My room/ticket package for March comes to over $2000. I would be truly ed if I had to leave a park because it was only available to those who purchased “after hours” or some other such nonsense.
It comes close. We will travel on 3/11. I think there is something like this the week prior.
With bottled drinks and frozen treats. How very generous.
I read in another blog that someone’s child wanted to meet Moana. They were told she is no longer available to meet in the parks. Well turns out said child was at MK and low and behold she spotted Moana. Yay!!!!! Not so fast. Moana was part of a special event that this kid did not have a ticket to. Imagine the parent having to explain this to the distraught kid.
The price of these special extras and dessert parties is just ridiculous.
Disney greed IMO. I guess they figure if the fools will pay, they will keep these things going.
Those are my 2 big things.
As for the buses, I say cheers for the bus drivers and the buses. They actually do an awesome job all things considered.
Being an old Mouseketeer, I am a little baffled by Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar. I would love more Classic Disney.
Was sorry to see Mickey and Minnie’s homes disappear. My kids loved those.
As mentioned, we have booked our annual trip. I am more than a little concerned that I may have to fork over more dough in order to park hop and ride FOP.
So yes I am a sucker for Disney.
I guess there can be Grumpy Disney fans too, right?
I pay top dollar for my trip, so I think I earn the right to gripe.
It ain’t all goodness and light folks.
