A long time Disney fan turns sour!

[flynnibus]

Not seeing a lot here with which I can sympathize or empathize.

If you read here a lot, I would think you would have set more realistic expectations. It’s hard for me to take people seriously who are complaining about Fastpass+ as if that hasn’t been discussed ad nauseum and as if that’s the cause of long waits when the parks are crowded.

With a little deviation from the way you used to do things, and a little positive attitude, you can have a very fulfilling time, even on busy park days.

I’ve said this many times, proven it, and documented it in my TR’s: you can go last minute and (with a little flexibility) get the best table and the hottest attraction. You may need to stand in line for the newest one, but you don’t quit looking after the morning of your 60 day mark. You keep trying for the important ones, especially in the days just before your trip, and the odds are in your favor to get most of them except maybe if you have a huge party with you.

Complaining about scooters getting on the bus before you is not a good look.

Food: if you choose QS only, you still have good options if you look for them. That shouldn’t be difficult for a big planner. Columbia Harbor House, Pandora, etc. etc.

But if you want better food, it’s your choice to go beyond QS or not. You make your own experience based on what’s important to you.

Yes, it’s more crowded now. That’s a cultural thing more than Disney’s fault. As new attractions open and age, that may even out.

Yes, things get reduced everywhere. It’s big business in America.

But bottom line: if I can make it work, so can you.

Translated: If you work extra hard...and compromise at all times.. you can avoid a lot of these concerns.

Oh and never mind you are a party of two... but your experience trumps everyone's...

That sounds like such a great pitch for A VACATION....

 

[DisneyDoctor]

Translated: If you work extra hard...and compromise at all times.. you can avoid a lot of these concerns.

That sounds like such a great pitch for A VACATION....

Compromise is necessary in literally every aspect of life, let alone a vacation. After reading your posts it's clear that your entitled and pessimistic attitude is responsible for your distaste towards WDW.

 

[flynnibus]

Compromise is necessary in literally every aspect of life, let alone a vacation. After reading your posts it's clear that your entitled and pessimistic attitude is responsible for your distaste towards WDW.

Maybe by the time you finish school you'll learn to actually know what you are talking about before you open your mouth.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

Maybe by the time you finish school you'll learn to actually know what you are talking about before you open your mouth.

They actually taught that class already, I'll make a note though to do extra work. As for yourself, maybe you should do a little soul searching, find out why you're so negative all the time. Who knows, you're probably a lovely personality in person and the internet allows you to vent. I appreciate a good sarcastic post once in a while, but it's gotten a little out of hand. Back and forth discussion is great, but you ruin it with poor comments like the previous one.

 

[flynnibus]

Back and forth discussion is great, but you ruin it with poor comments like the previous one.

If you want to add something constructive to the discussion, I'll read it... but if you are just going to go off trying to discredit people simply because they had a negative experience or attacking individuals you don't have the slightest clue about... you'll just be ignored. I won't be baited into arguing with stupid.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

If you want to add something constructive to the discussion, I'll read it... but if you are just going to go off trying to discredit people simply because they had a negative experience or attacking individuals you don't have the slightest clue about... you'll just be ignored. I won't be baited into arguing with stupid.

Stupid? Try again. Maybe that's one of your insecurities coming to light.

But really, you don't add anything constructive. Read your last response, the one in which you summarized a person's post into a few sarcastic sentences. That did NOTHING to advance discussion. Literally nothing. Not only are you pessimistic and entitled, but you're also a hypocrite.

 

[Disneyfreak Jen]

Valid points. 2018 will be the first year in many that I am not visiting the World. While I usually love to obsess about my Disney trip planning I just don't have it in me this year to give it the attention it deserves.
The MK is just a nightmare the last few years, especially on Saturdays....even in January it gets bad. It used to be my favorite park but I have found myself feeling frustrated being there the last few years. My plan of attack that seems to be the best is to get there well before rope drop and get as much done as I can in those 2-3 hours and then move on to another park.
I absolutely agree with the other poster on how there should be a separate bus/shuttle for scooters and their entourage. They take up
So much space and there's always a group of able bodied folks with them that takes up a ton of seats.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I certainly don't disagree with some of your other points but this one drives me nuts. I just don't get why people seem to be so blithely content with paying way more to get way less and shrugging it off as "hey that's just business". Speaking in general more than just about Disney, but this and the absurd crowds are the main reasons I don't go to WDW anymore.

I'm not content with it at all. I resent big business taking advantage of the average person on a regular basis - raising prices just because they can (not because of any pricing formula) and/or to hide inefficiencies/decreased sales and keep Wall Street happy.

But I recognize it's the way things are, and it's going to be extremely hard to change.

You're right, but my problem is I just refuse to just shrug and accept the drastic increases in the sanguine way that many seem to now. When it starts feeling like I'm getting fleeced, I'm out. Especially when in my view, the quality of the experience seems to deteriorate a little more with every increase (not speaking only of WDW, but pretty much everything in general these days).

I respect that, and everyone's assessment of their own value/experience.

My points were mainly focusing on the fact that some people are just negative or give up too easily when it comes to a WDW trip. There is this defeatist attitude that if you don't get a BoG ADR at the first minute it's available, you won't get one. Maybe that's just inexperience talking, so I try to let people know I've walked up and gotten a table with no ADR.

Translated: If you work extra hard...and compromise at all times.. you can avoid a lot of these concerns.

Oh and never mind you are a party of two... but your experience trumps everyone's...

That sounds like such a great pitch for A VACATION....

That's an epic fail at translation.

What's "working extra hard?" Checking the app once in awhile? Gee, that's tough. I might have to start taking drugs to get through my hard life.

Fact: these things are constantly in flux. People make reservations/FP's, and people cancel them. WDW releases some, releases more later, and releases more at/near the last minute.

Fact: for my September 2017 trip, I couldn't get any FoP FP's first thing in the morning, 60 days out. But I popped on the site at 1:30PM, and got them. So when somebody says they tried in the morning and gave up after not seeing anything, I try to inform them it is very realistic they may get one later. No availability at one moment does not mean no availability forever.

Fact: you can walk into restaurants showing zero availability on the app, and get seated. Not always, not every restaurant. But it is an option and something to try.

Another option is you can sit at the bar of the restaurant, or go to the corresponding lounge and order from the full restaurant menu. Is that as fantabulous as a table with a great view, seated all facing each other? Well, to some people it can be! But if not, it's a minor compromise.

And yes, I acknowledged if you have a large party, it may be more difficult. Yes, we are a party of two (most of the time.) There are plenty of parties of two on this site who can benefit from a little encouragement, anecdotal success stories, and a positive outlook and willingness to compromise a little. It's Disney World. Plan B will probably be really good.

I never said my experience trumps everyone's. I'm offering my experience to be helpful to those who might not realize they are not stuck after their first shot at something comes and goes.

I've gone on short trips on a couple of week's notice and had a wonderful time with big experiences. Regularly.

Planning is great. It's helpful. But I don't want to see people stressing and getting upset over not getting everything they wanted on day one (and I definitely have more sympathy for folks on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.) But some perspective and keeping your head helps.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

I'm not content with it at all. I resent big business taking advantage of the average person on a regular basis - raising prices just because they can (not because of any pricing formula) and/or to hide inefficiencies/decreased sales and keep Wall Street happy.

But I recognize it's the way things are, and it's going to be extremely hard to change.



I respect that, and everyone's assessment of their own value/experience.

My points were mainly focusing on the fact that some people are just negative or give up too easily when it comes to a WDW trip. There is this defeatist attitude that if you don't get a BoG ADR at the first minute it's available, you won't get one. Maybe that's just inexperience talking, so I try to let people know I've walked up and gotten a table with no ADR.



That's an epic fail at translation.

What's "working extra hard?" Checking the app once in awhile? Gee, that's tough. I might have to start taking drugs to get through my hard life.

Fact: these things are constantly in flux. People make reservations/FP's, and people cancel them. WDW releases some, releases more later, and releases more at/near the last minute.

Fact: for my September 2017 trip, I couldn't get any FoP FP's first thing in the morning, 60 days out. But I popped on the site at 1:30PM, and got them. So when somebody says they tried in the morning and gave up after not seeing anything, I try to inform them it is very realistic they may get one later. No availability at one moment does not mean no availability forever.

Fact: you can walk into restaurants showing zero availability on the app, and get seated. Not always, not every restaurant. But it is an option and something to try.

Another option is you can sit at the bar of the restaurant, or go to the corresponding lounge and order from the full restaurant menu. Is that as fantabulous as a table with a great view, seated all facing each other? Well, to some people it can be! But if not, it's a minor compromise.

And yes, I acknowledged if you have a large party, it may be more difficult. Yes, we are a party of two (most of the time.) There are plenty of parties of two on this site who can benefit from a little encouragement, anecdotal success stories, and a positive outlook and willingness to compromise a little. It's Disney World. Plan B will probably be really good.

I never said my experience trumps everyone's. I'm offering my experience to be helpful to those who might not realize they are not stuck after their first shot at something comes and goes.

I've gone on short trips on a couple of week's notice and had a wonderful time with big experiences. Regularly.

Planning is great. It's helpful. But I don't want to see people stressing and getting upset over not getting everything they wanted on day one (and I definitely have more sympathy for folks on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.) But some perspective and keeping your head helps.

*mic drop*

 

[RustySpork]

What's "working extra hard?" Checking the app once in awhile? Gee, that's tough. I might have to start taking drugs to get through my hard life.

You realize that there are tens of thousands of people in the parks, checking the app once in a while for a fastpass is equivalent to looking through a haystack every now and then for a needle.

Fact: you can walk into restaurants showing zero availability on the app, and get seated. Not always, not every restaurant. But it is an option and something to try.

The last time I walked up to a restaurant with zero availability in the app, I was offered a pager and told it would be a 2-3 hour wait. Party of two.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Fact: for my September 2017 trip, I couldn't get any FoP FP's first thing in the morning, 60 days out. But I popped on the site at 1:30PM, and got them. So when somebody says they tried in the morning and gave up after not seeing anything, I try to inform them it is very realistic they may get one later.

This is a positive argument nowadays? If you try sixty days in advance and keep trying all day long, you have a possibility to get on a ride?

 

[RustySpork]

This is a positive argument nowadays? If you try sixty days in advance and keep trying all day long, you have a possibility to get on a ride?

I guess it does justify wandering aimlessly with your face in your phone while you're in the parks.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

You realize that there are tens of thousands of people in the parks, checking the app once in a while for a fastpass is equivalent to looking through a haystack every now and then for a needle.



The last time I walked up to a restaurant with zero availability in the app, I was offered a pager and told it would be a 2-3 hour wait. Party of two.

This is a positive argument nowadays? If you try sixty days in advance and keep trying all day long, you have a possibility to get on a ride?

I guess it does justify wandering aimlessly with your face in your phone while you're in the parks.

(Sigh.) I wish folks would read more carefully sometimes.

If I were rebuilding the system from the ground up, you wouldn’t need to wake up early 30 or 60 days out. Since that’s how it is, checking again at another time of day really isn’t a big stretch.

I didn’t say I was trying from 7am to 1pm. I tried a few times first thing in the morning, got everything important except FoP. After lunch, it occurred to me to try again. (This was still 60 days out.) On the first try, I got it.

Your mileage may vary. I never said it was a guarantee you’ll get everything. I’m saying don’t give up and blame WDW for your giving up. It’s not playing the lottery. It’s quite good odds.

Your next best chance in my experience is the night before (late) or early morning the day of your visit.

Re: dining: I said try. If it’s a 2-3 hour wait, try something else. I’m sure there have been restaurants that were full - I don’t even pay attention enough to remember. I don’t dwell on it, it doesn’t mean WDW is out of magic and I have to trash it. It’s just busy. On to the next. Check the app.

Re: haystack: it happens all the time, so not much of a haystack .

 

[larryz]

Re: haystack: it happens all the time, so not much of a haystack .

More of a fairy godmother kind of thing, then... which is actually kind of appropriate, if you think about it.

 

[RustySpork]

Re: dining: I said try. If it’s a 2-3 hour wait, try something else. I’m sure there have been restaurants that were full - I don’t even pay attention enough to remember. I don’t dwell on it, it doesn’t mean WDW is out of magic and I have to trash it. It’s just busy. On to the next. Check the app.

Try something else? So if the restaurants are booked up in MDE, and you're only being offered a two to three hour wait at the restaurants, should people just go eat grass? What you are really implying is that you should just lower your expectations and do something that you don't want to do while convincing yourself that it's what you actually wanted to do in the first place.

Re: haystack: it happens all the time, so not much of a haystack .

I probably could have been a little more accurate in my comparison. Let me try that again.

Checking the app once in a while for a fastpass for a top tier attraction while you're in the park is equivalent to looking through a haystack every now and then that thousands of other people are also looking in for a needle that's moving.

You can say that it happens all the time, but it really doesn't.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Try something else? So if the restaurants are booked up in MDE, and you're only being offered a two to three hour wait at the restaurants, should people just go eat grass? What you are really implying is that you should just lower your expectations and do something that you don't want to do while convincing yourself that it's what you actually wanted to do in the first place.



I probably could have been a little more accurate in my comparison. Let me try that again.

Checking the app once in a while for a fastpass for a top tier attraction while you're in the park is equivalent to looking through a haystack every now and then that thousands of other people are also looking in for a needle that's moving.

You can say that it happens all the time, but it really doesn't.

It really does, all the time, and you don’t get to argue my real life experiences.

“try something else“ obviously meant try a different restaurant.

Unless that’s too much for you to handle.

If you can’t find a reservation anywhere, either you’re doing it wrong or it’s New Year’s Eve.

Disney isn’t the only place where you might show up at a restaurant and find a wait. Then you go somewhere else. If that makes your life crumble, you should probably toughen up a bit, and maybe Disney isn’t for you.

 

[RustySpork]

It really does, all the time, and you don’t get to argue my tall tales.

FTFY

“try something else“ obviously meant try a different restaurant.

Where, out of the park? Off property? Actually what I did after the third attempt was leave and I ate somewhere on 535.

If you can’t find a reservation anywhere, either you’re doing it wrong or it’s New Year’s Eve.

You literally are saying to lower your expectations until you're enjoying chewing on grass. That, or wait as long as it takes to get a table somewhere. Sounds magical.

Disney isn’t the only place where you might show up at a restaurant and find a wait. Then you go somewhere else. If that makes your life crumble, you should probably toughen up a bit, and maybe Disney isn’t for you.

Aww, an internet tough guy!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

FTFY



Where, out of the park? Off property? Actually what I did after the third attempt was leave and I ate somewhere on 535.



You literally are saying to lower your expectations until you're enjoying chewing on grass. That, or wait as long as it takes to get a table somewhere. Sounds magical.



Aww, an internet tough guy!

This is like arguing with a post. A post that doesn’t know what “literally” means.

I’ll leave you to wallow in your attention-seeking self-pity and negativity. One who always wants to justify their bum slant on things will always find a way to do so.

/scene.

 

[flynnibus]

I never said my experience trumps everyone's

Oh yes, because language like this isn't dismissive...

Not seeing a lot here with which I can sympathize or empathize.

I’ve said this many times, proven it, and documented it in my TR’s: you can go last minute and (with a little flexibility) get the best table and the hottest attraction

But bottom line: if I can make it work, so can you.

You literally use the "it doesn't bother me, so if it bothers you, it's on you dude" routine because for YOUR situation you've found a happy place, so any other POV must just be complainers/lazy/or just broke in some way.

When I goto a RESORT - I'm not there to spend a ton of energy on just getting things to freaking work... I goto a RESORT to be catered to. That's what makes a VACATION RESORT vs simple place to stay. SERVICE! It's (for now at least) what makes a Disney Cruise such a great experience vs dodging piles at WDW for a vacation experience these days. Set a few important milestones, and then RELAX and take it in as you feel like it.

Hunting for reservations for the majority of my daily functions at the parks is no longer fun. Dealing with scheduling every day, for 5-6 things a day is not everyone's idea of fun. And no longer can you just ignore it.. unless you plan on getting a crappy experience for your premium dollar. Disney has squeezed the 'adhoc' space you used to be able to function in if you didn't care for ADRs, FP, or other advance bookings. Going now without a battle plan is cruisin' for a brusin'... and that's not ok with everyone.

People who can go on a whim in a small party and don't understand why others struggle to be as flexible as them fail to accept their world is drastically easier than someone who maybe has a family of 5 and limits on when they can travel. I mean, we aren't talking about trying to fit a party of 30... we're talking pretty average families. And taking that family to WDW is becoming more and more a chore.

 

[RustySpork]

This is like arguing with a post. A post that doesn’t know what “literally” means.

I’ll leave you to wallow in your attention-seeking self-pity and negativity. One who always wants to justify their bum slant on things will always find a way to do so.

/scene.

I'm not being negative. Sorry not sorry that calling your bluff hurts your feelings.