annabanana
Member
Yes that parking fee is awful! Greed is right. Blame it on whose running Disney! I really wonder why Walt's grandkids (5 of them) did not take over.
Then why did a manager CM tell me I can't take a bus to Epcot or HS, only if the gondola is closed is the only way I can take a bus to epcot/hs?No, you're not. There are still the busses. Unlike the monorail, it's not an either-or.
Is Disney different from the days of yore? Absolutely. We could all list hundreds of changes since our earliest visits. Thankfully, dear Martin gives us brilliant looks into the wonders of the past.
But focusing on just the last two years, I’ve seen changes that have repeatedly thrown my heart against the wall. Just the last 2 years. Yes there are changes all the time. WDW isn’t a museum. But I wanted to put all of my concerns in one place (asked and answered). I’m including presumably COVID-related things that I assume were on their last legs anyway:
But ask me how I really feel?
- The coming loss of Magical Express
- The Halloween Party beginning in August
- Special limited-edition treats and the influencers who hock them
- eBay reseller “entrepreneurs” who have gone more hardcore in the last 2 years than I have ever seen prior
I wouldn't withhold judgement on the loss of the Magical Express. The new train is supposed to go from the airport to Disney Springs.The loss of the magical express definitely hit me. Part of the fun at the start of the trip was boarding the bus and having one less thing to worry about. At the end of the trip it was a nice value add. I'm totally withholding judgement because the train that they are supposedly building I would assume would be part of a magical express 2.0.
Halloween party in August... As someone who has taken advantage of the early cheaper rates, lower crowd volume I'm fine with the parties. Is it the idea that Halloween is still going on in summer?
You'll have to explain this one to me. As someone who goes about once a year and for a relatively short trip I appreciate the Tim Trackers giving an update to the treats and gives us something to look forward to. Also let's us kind of pick and choose in advance then try and guess when we are there.
The whole reselling culture has become toxic the last 4-5 years. I'm not sure how to solve it, but definitely don't like it.
I get that,I wouldn't withhold judgement on the loss of the Magical Express. The new train is supposed to go from the airport to Disney Springs.
You figure even if you could take the train, then you get your bags, find a bus to your resort, before actually getting there. The loss of
the Magical Express is a big deal and a big loss.
I get that,
When I was talking through things with a friend the idea that germinated to us was:
-Airport uses the existing ME tag system on bags, so they would still go to from resort as before
-Instead of the bus you'd get some kind of transfer to the train
-Disney Springs then becomes a hub to resort hotels
That latter part isn't great, would you mix in with DS shoppers, have to move carry on bags to from, etc.
I think it's my exhaustion in regards to extended hard-ticket events. It decreases park hours for day guests and kind of waters down the party uniqueness (just IMHO).Halloween party in August... As someone who has taken advantage of the early cheaper rates, lower crowd volume I'm fine with the parties. Is it the idea that Halloween is still going on in summer?
While I don't really have an issue with established streamers, though I've never followed Tim Tracker, you have to admit that we've got to the point where it's become beyond ubiquitous. Kind of like how everyone has or has had a podcast. And I have personally been in situations at the parks where there have been more than a few folks holding up their phones, paying little attention to those around them, especially in queues and in ride vehicles, sort of like someone choosing to FaceTime on a crosstown bus. I haven't experienced civilians (non-streamers) doing this, so maybe I've been lucky. It makes a trip to WDW feel as if I'm intruding on the streamer rather than the other way around. Again, just my personal feeling. And feelings mean relatively nothing these days.You'll have to explain this one to me. As someone who goes about once a year and for a relatively short trip I appreciate the Tim Trackers giving an update to the treats and gives us something to look forward to. Also let's us kind of pick and choose in advance then try and guess when we are there.
Absolutely. Many on this forum have cried “free market” and (gasp) "entrepreneurism" but that doesn’t mean I have to like it!The whole reselling culture has become toxic the last 4-5 years. I'm not sure how to solve it, but definitely don't like it.
I can definitely see being more attuned to that stuff if you are frequenting the parks. This might also be that I haven't been to Disneyland in 25+ years but if my youtube recommendations help it seems like streamers/influencers/whatever are far more prevalent there so maybe a silver lining for you!I think it's my exhaustion in regards to extended hard-ticket events. It decreases park hours for day guests and kind of waters down the party uniqueness (just IMHO).
While I don't really have an issue with established streamers, though I've never followed Tim Tracker, you have to admit that we've got to the point where it's become beyond ubiquitous. Kind of like how everyone has or has had a podcast. And I have personally been in situations at the parks where there have been more than a few folks holding up their phones, paying little attention to those around them, especially in queues and in ride vehicles, sort of like someone choosing to FaceTime on a crosstown bus. I haven't experienced civilians (non-streamers) doing this, so maybe I've been lucky. It makes a trip to WDW feel as if I'm intruding on the streamer rather than the other way around. Again, just my personal feeling. And feelings mean relatively nothing these days.
Absolutely. Many on this forum have cried “free market” and (gasp) "entrepreneurism" but that doesn’t mean I have to like it!
That last part is a key lesson for me.As our stays are limited in duration maybe it is easier to be in the moment and enjoy the time there without thinking too much of the people around.
A color change is a "slap in the face" and a "huge insult"? I get not liking it, but isn't that a biy of a hyperbole?The PINK Castle to me it's a huge insult to people who've been WDW fans for years. My family has been going to WDW for over 40 years, and to change the whole resort's icon just before the 50th anniversary feels like a slap in the face. It's a sign they're more interested in "new guests" who might wonder why it didn't look like the castle in the Disney films logo, which is a case of "Corporate Synergy" over "Disney History", but I'm sorry to say that seems like it will be the norm going forward
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A color change is a "slap in the face" and a "huge insult"? I get not liking it, but isn't that a biy of a hyperbole?
Is Disney different from the days of yore? Absolutely. We could all list hundreds of changes since our earliest visits. Thankfully, dear Martin gives us brilliant looks into the wonders of the past.
But focusing on just the last two years, I’ve seen changes that have repeatedly thrown my heart against the wall. Just the last 2 years. Yes there are changes all the time. WDW isn’t a museum. But I wanted to put all of my concerns in one place (asked and answered). I’m including presumably COVID-related things that I assume were on their last legs anyway:
But ask me how I really feel?
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth- The Fountain of Nations
- The Harmonious barges destroying both the serenity of World Showcase and my views across the lagoon
Impressions de France dwindling almost down to nothing- Beauty and the Beast: LeFou’s Catastrophe
- Loss of the Great Movie Ride
- Gain of Minnie and Mickey’s Screen Spectacular
- The coming loss of Magical Express
- The coming loss of Splash Mountain for a ride that makes absolutely no sense in Frontierland (give me a better option and I MIGHT change my mind but pls don’t turn this into another thread about it)
The removal of Extra Magic Hours- The Riviera Marriott
- PRICES exponential for any recent era
- A lot of Galaxy’s Edge though I don’t miss the echoes of the decaying Backlot Tour
- Loss of Great Moments in History
- Rise of the Resistance’s operational nightmare
- THE PINK CASTLE
- DVC taking up more and more oxygen in the Disney machine
- The proliferation of Epcot festivals - more present than ever for longer and longer periods
- The Gran Destino Hyatt
- The Halloween Party beginning in August
- Club Cool
- The PeopleMover and its tenuous future
- The hopefully discarded joke of the Reflections Resident Inn (including this because god knows it could return)
- The loss of the lights on Cinderella Castle
- After hours holiday parties during after hours holiday parties
- The Electric Umbrella
- The ridiculous new “lands” arrangement at EPCOT
- Special limited-edition treats and the influencers who hock them
- The disrespect toward the Gran Fiesta Tour animatronics (they’re relics, yes, but deserve better)
- Muppets in Epcot (love them dearly but not in World Showcase)
- eBay reseller “entrepreneurs” who have gone more hardcore in the last 2 years than I have ever seen prior
- More and more YouTube streamers making the resort their soundstage
- The plight of Morocco
If Finding Nemo: The Musical is truly gone forever- MouseGear
The FountainViewThe blight of the Skyliner mucking up the... sky- Disney Springs and its continued banality
GOTG BoxTron Box
Well, we didn't lose the Adventurer's Club in the last 2 years but it is SORELY missed!In general, a good list, but a few I would strike and a few (see above) that just don't bother me that much or were "due" to go. A few I would add (like Adv Club that someone else mentioned).
If I had to vote for just one.... Splash. I like it. It is not broken (still one of the most popular rides), and therefore also fiscally irresponsible to spend $$ on changing it especially when there are so many things that ARE broken that need $$.
Don't worry, I can multitask in many areas of doom-and-glooming. COVID, politics, 2 years of numerous losses/changes at WDW. I'm everywhere! Send antidepressants.It used to be that threads like this that were nothing but moaning and complaining about the myriad of things people hate about WDW made me roll my eyes-but with so many threads here in the last 10 months about our current situation we are all under on this planet, this is an almost-refreshing throwback. Now, back to the regularly scheduled doom-and-glooming.
I honestly didn't think of that. But it makes a lot of sense...It's a sign they're more interested in "new guests" who might wonder why it didn't look like the castle in the Disney films logo, which is a case of "Corporate Synergy" over "Disney History", but I'm sorry to say that seems like it will be the norm going forward
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