A long time Disney fan turns sour!

[DryerLintFan]

Less CMs lowers ride efficiency and capacity. I've been to MK on the 4th of July and it was crammed but it was all CMs on deck so the actual ride times were low.

We were just there Dec 24-28 and also experienced the benefit of "all hands on deck". We didn't have to wait for a bus longer than five or ten minutes, and we rarely stood on the buses. That tells me that in the most crowded week of the year, Disney likely put out more buses than they normally would.

It's like when you go to McDonald's for french fries.... If you go at lunch time when they're slammed, you usually get crispy hot fries. But if you go at 2pm you're more likely to get older fries that have cooled down whole waiting under the heating lamp for you.

The only issue we had with service was at the front desk of the hotel. It took forever.

 

[DryerLintFan]

The first 2 weeks of December used to be one of the perfect times to go. During that time about 5 years ago, my wife and I were sitting and waiting for Illuminations to start. We struck up a conversation with a gentleman who happened to be from Brazil. He laughed when 2 tour groups went by in different directions. We asked him why the groups were always 90 to 95 percent female. He again laughed and stated that it is every little girls dream to come to Walt Disney World and become a princess. They often get the trips as a graduation present from high school or jr. college. But I don't understand I commented, how are they all so Disney crazy? It's the television, he replied. We see constant Disney commercials. We see them too I told him. His next reply set me straight. How often do you see come visit Brazil commercials 10 times a day on American television? Disney has used marketing to erase almost all the slow times that used to exist. It is a sad fact but I don't ever see the slower periods coming back. We went the week after Easter and it wasn't too crowded, but nothing like the end of January, The first week of December, or most of September used to be.

It's not the commercials. We don't have cable, so my daughter has never seen a commercial. What she has been exposed to since birth is merchandising. Elsa toothbrush and cars toothpaste. Mickey mouse toilet wipes, and princess Sofia diapers. Body wash, dishes, night lights, bedding, snacks.... You cannot walk down a children's aisle of any store here without finding Disney branded items. Even the wooden hippy toys by Melissa and Doug are Disneyed out.

I'm not complaining about this as I accept it as the inevitable, but just wanted to mention that this goes so much deeper than ten commercials a day. My daughter decided she was a Disney princess long before she saw her first Disney movie.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

To the original poster:

Sadly, most of your disappointment stems from one thing:

Hiorrible company wide decisions and management from 1998-2012.

I could go on for days...I watched it unfold...but I'll just give a few.

They did no capital investment on a significant scale from 2000-2011 that resulted in New capacity. With guest area closures...they were actually below even over that spell.
In that time...attendance rose by 20%...more fish in the same sea has lead to more discomfort for everyone. Fastpass+ is a ride rationing system to hide that failure. As demonstrated by "tiers".

Second, the overexpansion of dvc has caused more stress on the whole calendar. Good for them, but basically there's no quiet times anymore. Wdw was at its best on those days...there was time to take it all in.

Reduction of employee quality, total streamline of merchandising and food also caused a diminishing return.

And of course...a 100% increase in the cost of all prices since 2002. All those figures are unfortunately burned into my head.

 

[ThistleMae]

I suppose all things change in one way or another, hopefully some good with the bad. I personally love Disney. As soon as I see the signs I begin to relax. I'm planning to move to Florida and get an AP and be a weekly visitor there. I don't know how long it will take me before I don't want to go there anymore but I just find so many relaxing things to do there, all the nooks and crannies and my favorite spots to just people watch, and my favorite rides. Sometimes it is us who change, which changes how we see things. I feel like Disney is a second home, and home is where the heart is. So sorry other people have lost the sense of Magic. I hope I never do.

 

[larryz]

I suppose all things change in one way or another, hopefully some good with the bad. I personally love Disney. As soon as I see the signs I begin to relax. I'm planning to move to Florida and get an AP and be a weekly visitor there. I don't know how long it will take me before I don't want to go there anymore but I just find so many relaxing things to do there, all the nooks and crannies and my favorite spots to just people watch, and my favorite rides. Sometimes it is us who change, which changes how we see things. I feel like Disney is a second home, and home is where the heart is. So sorry other people have lost the sense of Magic. I hope I never do.

Good luck with that. There's a lot of baggage that comes with living in Florida.

 

[21stamps]

I can honestly say, before coming to this website I had absolutely no idea that people moved to Orlando for Disney World.
I lived in Florida for almost 18 years.. and on top of that, I visited annually during the 18 years prior to living there. All of that time spent in FL, and never knew that anyone made the move for Disney.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

I can honestly say, before coming to this website I had absolutely no idea that people moved to Orlando for Disney World.
I lived in Florida for almost 18 years.. and on top of that, I visited annually during the 18 years prior to living there. All of that time spent in FL, and never knew that anyone made the move for Disney.

I have to wonder if the magic disappears once it's easier to visit daily/weekly/etc.

 

[RustySpork]

Good luck with that. There's a lot of baggage that comes with living in Florida.

It's not so bad here. Great weather, Florida Man, never ending lists of places to go and things to do.

Did I mention Florida Man?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I can honestly say, before coming to this website I had absolutely no idea that people moved to Orlando for Disney World.
I lived in Florida for almost 18 years.. and on top of that, I visited annually during the 18 years prior to living there. All of that time spent in FL, and never knew that anyone made the move for Disney.

Far too many...the wdw college program - in particular- have made a lot of tuition payments/loans a frivolous endeavor over the last 25 years...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It's not so bad here. Great weather, Florida Man, never ending lists of places to go and things to do.

Did I mention Florida Man?

You silly boy...you know not to encourage the kids...

 

[RustySpork]

You silly boy...you know not to encourage the kids...

Where's the fun in that?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I have to wonder if the magic disappears once it's easier to visit daily/weekly/etc.

The first that will happen is realizing that there's no "magic"...it's a gigantic employer/economic driver for profit that has been custom designed to lure those that travel there back for wanting...not to have them live it. Some really enjoy the realities of Florida - I'm mixed on them. But one thing that is always true is that illusions aren't as interesting when you can focus your eyes on them for too long.

 

[ThistleMae]

Good luck with that. There's a lot of baggage that comes with living in Florida.

What does that mean?

 

[ThistleMae]

I can honestly say, before coming to this website I had absolutely no idea that people moved to Orlando for Disney World.
I lived in Florida for almost 18 years.. and on top of that, I visited annually during the 18 years prior to living there. All of that time spent in FL, and never knew that anyone made the move for Disney.

Well Disney is a big part of it...the weather is another. Tired of the cold. I'll probably be one of the millions of snow birds who fly south for the Winter. Disney is just part of the perks!

 

[ThistleMae]

It's not so bad here. Great weather, Florida Man, never ending lists of places to go and things to do.

Did I mention Florida Man?

Yeah, I'm with you. So many more things to do. Here in the part of NH I live in we have nothing to do in winter, unless you ski, snow shoe or snowmobile. There's no night time entertainment. We don't have a movie theater. There is a Chinese restaurant and a Macdonald's if you want an evening out on the town. There are no night clubs or dance halls or any theater or culture whatsoever. Time for a move...Florida is looking good!

 

[ThistleMae]

Oh I forgot to mention we have a super Walmart and it has a Subway in it, so if you really want to party big you can go shopping and out to eat all in the same place...LOL!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Well Disney is a big part of it...the weather is another. Tired of the cold. I'll probably be one of the millions of snow birds who fly south for the Winter. Disney is just part of the perks!

Snow birds are different...where Florida typically fails is when transplants of younger age/lesser means go to attempt to do "normal life" - by northern standards...there isn't a lot of open opportunity beyond low wage service/tourism. It can be quite a culture shock for those people.

 

[RustySpork]

Snow birds are different...where Florida typically fails is when transplants of younger age/lesser means go to attempt to do "normal life" - by northern standards...there isn't a lot of open opportunity beyond low wage service/tourism. It can be quite a culture shock for those people.

I can't agree with this, as there are tons of career opportunities here outside of the tourism bubble that pay very very well. You can have a very nice life here if you put forth the effort.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What does that mean?

If you're from Michigan...or New York...or Maryland...or Toronto...and move to Florida thinking "how different can it be, right?", you could be in for a rude awakening.

My view (never been proven wrong) is that all locations have mandatory trade offs...you could live in a loud, crowded, urban environment that costs a fortune...but make a fortune.

You can live In a vast wilderness that has complete security and natures beauty...but there isn't culture available.

If you live in a tourist Mecca where there's loads of fun and 340 days a year are 78 degrees or above...you pay prices. And it's not just hurricanes.

Life is designed as a series of trade offs and uncertainties.

 

[RustySpork]

If you're from Michigan...or New York...or Maryland...or Toronto...and move to Florida thinking "how different can it be, right?", you could be in for a rude awakening.

My view (never been proven wrong) is that all locations have mandatory trade offs...you could live in a loud, crowded, urban environment that costs a fortune...but make a fortune.

You can live In a vast wilderness that has complete security and natures beauty...but there isn't culture available.

If you live in a tourist Mecca where there's loads of fun and 340 days a year are 78 degrees or above...you pay prices. And it's not just hurricanes.

Life is designed as a series of trade offs and uncertainties.

Average salaries for Atlanta, Orlando, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas. One can move well past the average statistics in any region, including Orlando.