complaining

[drizgirl]

Negativity is always louder than positivity. Especially on the internet.

I guess that depends on who is posting.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I understand the concern - as do many of us. There are a lot of new things, and I will say there is still a focus on the guest experience. I often get trapped in the complaints mode myself.

A silver lining to point out is that the cabanas, upcharge items, etc. are luckily staying in the add on category. You can still enjoy all of the other aspects without really noticing them. The price is going up - a lot. And, it's noticeable. But, at least it seems they are trying to get the needed revenue through those mechanisms vs. even higher prices across the board. And, I will say the quality of service is as high as I've seen it from the cast. There were many years where it simply wasn't where it used to be. I've been a lot recently, and I am seeing consistent quality and engagement. It's been great (and at a time when I know the cast is being worked to be bone in many cases).

 

[Susan Savia]

We've been going since 1984. We've never stayed onsite, do not eat in the parks (rare occurrance if we do) and have never done any add-ons and yet we come away from our two week visits having had a fantastic time, already planning the next trip. It's not necessary to spend thousands of dollars in order to have a wonderful vacation in Disney World.

 

[GlassHalfFull]

I'd assert that Food and Wine etc are very reasonable.. Each night we went for dinner my wife and I split 3 or 4 small things at multiple booths and we very satisfied, and there wasn't a night where we spent more than 30$ on the food/non alcoholic beverages. It isn't McDonalds 1$ menu, but McDonalds doesn't do Lobster Rolls that are real Lobster either..

funny that many people complain about food prices at Disney parks around the world, but they must not have been to Disney Paris.. where my family found it MUCH cheaper in park than outside the park for nearly every meal.

 

[George]

That said, there is a very large group of people that find the immersion an important part of the experience, however, it is also a very expensive part of the experience as well. It would kill the fun for me... for others it is a necessity for full enjoyment.

One of my real life none-Disney weirdo friends said after his first visit where they stayed in a hotel at WDW and did the meal plan (this was a long time ago, if you ask me for specifics I'll either have to contact my friend or make something up) had a great quote when he got back - "The best part of staying at Disney World was the immersion. The worst part of staying at Disney World was the immersion."

 

[daisyduckie]

I am looking forward to the trip. I know there is more to be happy about than to complain about. However, when I think back to the trips I took in the 1990s and well into the 2000s, I get a little sad because I know those days are gone. I realize that add-on options are just that, optional, but it used to be that all guests got the Disney difference and now the ones that get it are the ones that pay more for it.

Most of all, as the poster above me said, it's getting harder and harder to have spontaneous, unscripted fun.

Disney has always had add ons. Always. It has never been a totally level playing field, and if you are remembering it as such, you really are wearing rose colored glasses.

Used to be you even had to pay for which rides you wanted to ride. Some can afford to eat every meal in the park, some can't, and some bring in food. Some people can buy a ton of tee shirts and pins and some can't. If you go looking at what others do and have that you don't, that will be a sad trip indeed.

 

[Bandini]

Used to be you even had to pay for which rides you wanted to ride.

I wish it would return to this business model. It used to be that everyone paid a low admission price and then purchased ticket books. It really was an effective way of dispersing the crowds onto all of the rides rather than everyone piling on to the E-ticket attractions. IMO, a lot better than FP+.

 

[daisyduckie]

I wish it would return to this business model. It used to be that everyone paid a low admission price and then purchased ticket books. It really was an effective way of dispersing the crowds onto all of the rides rather than everyone piling on to the E-ticket attractions. IMO, a lot better than FP+.

I couldn't disagree more.

 

[J_Carioca]

Negativity is always louder than positivity. Especially on the internet.
Take everything you read with a grain of salt, and remember that for every 1 complaint there is an overwhelmingly higher number of satisfaction.

It's tough being on these boards when planning, there's so much negativity around that it can make you wonder "what happened to the parks that I love? Have they changed that much" However- there's also great advice and great info!!!
It's your choice to listen to the positive or negative when planning, and how your attitude will be. Choose positivity, always The parks that "we" love still exist. Attractions change, food prices vary, value is subjective. You can't control if one of your favorite rides close, but if you don't want to pay $7 for something at a food kiosk, then don't...you can control that.

I miss the 90s and 2000s too.. mainly bc I was younger then . Seriously though, plenty, an overwhelmingly "plenty" of people still have an amazing time at Disney World. Not every second needs to be planned out. People will say that, but it's not true. Plan a few "must dos" obviously, but remember to leave flexibility, or at least the willingness to be flexible. We all just need to relax and Enjoy. Just enjoy, your surroundings, your time away from it all, and most of all- the time with your travel companions. If one chooses to stare and be angry at tents tucked behind bushes in Tomorrowland, instead of paying attention and having fun with the people they are with- that's their bad decision. Just don't let yourself make the same one.

Have a wonderful trip!!

P.s. @epcotisbest is the resident expert on how to "relax while at Disney". Read his trip reports. They're inspiring, and they by far outshine and outweigh any of the negativity threads.

Thanks. We are actually consciously planning not to plan! We haven't made FP reservations and are basically just going to see what happens. This is the way we used to do Disney, before they introduced the FP+ system. Our last two trips have been marred by that system (I really, really dislike it) so this time we're just going to do it the way we want.

I'll definitely read those trip reports. Thanks again.

 

[DfromATX]

Thanks. We are actually consciously planning not to plan! We haven't made FP reservations and are basically just going to see what happens. This is the way we used to do Disney, before they introduced the FP+ system. Our last two trips have been marred by that system (I really, really dislike it) so this time we're just going to do it the way we want.

I'll definitely read those trip reports. Thanks again.

I think it's a necessary evil and you might regret trying to wing it. I balked at it at first, but I am a planner by nature, so after we experienced the new system, I really liked it. If I could give anyone one piece of advice, it would be to make sure you do your fast passes. In a way, it took the worry off of not making a ride because we knew we had a certain time.

 

[J_Carioca]

Disney has always had add ons. Always. It has never been a totally level playing field, and if you are remembering it as such, you really are wearing rose colored glasses.

Used to be you even had to pay for which rides you wanted to ride. Some can afford to eat every meal in the park, some can't, and some bring in food. Some people can buy a ton of tee shirts and pins and some can't. If you go looking at what others do and have that you don't, that will be a sad trip indeed.

This is not in any way about comparing myself to others, or looking at what others have. I think you missed the point of my post. There is certainly a contingent of WDW fans who complain about the changes over the years, whether they be rides that get closed, food price increases, or an abundance of add-ons. While some people may be looking for reasons to complain, I believe that the majority (at least here) do so because they genuinely care about WDW. My comment was not about what I can have vs. what others can have, it's about whether or not one likes the general direction that WDW is going.

 

[21stamps]

I think it's a necessary evil and you might regret trying to wing it. I balked at it at first, but I am a planner by nature, so after we experienced the new system, I really liked it. If I could give anyone one piece of advice, it would be to make sure you do your fast passes. In a way, it took the worry off of not making a ride because we knew we had a certain time.

Agree!

Thanks. We are actually consciously planning not to plan! We haven't made FP reservations and are basically just going to see what happens. This is the way we used to do Disney, before they introduced the FP+ system. Our last two trips have been marred by that system (I really, really dislike it) so this time we're just going to do it the way we want.

I'll definitely read those trip reports. Thanks again.

ok wait, I wasn't suggesting not using FP+. Don't do that!!!!lol.
I actually prefer the new system, especially the past year when now you can add new ones from your phone. You'll probably like it better now with that feature. It makes things a lot easier.

 

[J_Carioca]

I think it's a necessary evil and you might regret trying to wing it. I balked at it at first, but I am a planner by nature, so after we experienced the new system, I really liked it. If I could give anyone one piece of advice, it would be to make sure you do your fast passes. In a way, it took the worry off of not making a ride because we knew we had a certain time.

I know what you mean, but it didn't enhance our last trip - quite the opposite. We found that instead of exploring the parks logically (moving organically around) we were criss-crossing them to make our fastpasses. For instance, we'd be halfway around World Showcase but would have to go back to Future World to make a fastpass, that kind of thing.

At this point we've done all the rides so if we have a trip where we miss something, it really shouldn't be the end of the world. We'll probably make the FP+ reservations, but we won't let it dictate our day if we feel like doing something else.

 

[DfromATX]

I know what you mean, but it didn't enhance our last trip - quite the opposite. We found that instead of exploring the parks logically (moving organically around) we were criss-crossing them to make our fastpasses. For instance, we'd be halfway around World Showcase but would have to go back to Future World to make a fastpass, that kind of thing.

At this point we've done all the rides so if we have a trip where we miss something, it really shouldn't be the end of the world. We'll probably make the FP+ reservations, but we won't let it dictate our day if we feel like doing something else.

No need to hop around... book a fast pass and do everything in that area before and after your fast pass. For example, we booked the mine train for 10:00 and were able to do all of Fantasyland before. But to each his own. What's important is what works for your family.

 

[DfromATX]

Agree!

ok wait, I wasn't suggesting not using FP+. Don't do that!!!!lol.
I actually prefer the new system, especially the past year when now you can add new ones from your phone. You'll probably like it better now with that feature. It makes things a lot easier.

It was really neat to scan our last fast pass and then immediately be able to book the next one right there.

 

[21stamps]

It was really neat to scan our last fast pass and then immediately be able to book the next one right there.

I definitely feel like we did more cross crossing before that feature. I also like that if you are "finished" with a land, that now you can see what's available in the others, and go from there. It made things so much easier than a kiosk.

 

[J_Carioca]

On our last trip we were able to use the phone feature to book new passes, but we found that by then the rides we wanted to book weren't available at all.

Anyway, like I said it's not that I'm categorically opposed to FP+ but we're not going to plan around it this time. It's a bit of an experiment so stay tuned and I'll let you know how it goes

 

[21stamps]

On our last trip we were able to use the phone feature to book new passes, but we found that by then the rides we wanted to book weren't available at all.

Anyway, like I said it's not that I'm categorically opposed to FP+ but we're not going to plan around it this time. It's a bit of an experiment so stay tuned and I'll let you know how it goes

Oh ok. Then don't worry..the parks and experiences are not any worse off than the last time you were there!
There was a lot of new stuff for us in Nov/Dec of '16 vs September '15. It sounds like you went after most of those things already opened. Not sure if you were there for DAK in the evenings, but it's wonderful! Again, don't let the negativity get to you. Things haven't changed for the worse in the past year.
Have a wonderful trip and let us know how it goes!

 

[J_Carioca]

Oh ok. Then don't worry..the parks and experiences are not any worse off than the last time you were there!
There was a lot of new stuff for us in Nov/Dec of '16 vs September '15. It sounds like you went after most of those things already opened. Not sure if you were there for DAK in the evenings, but it's wonderful! Again, don't let the negativity get to you. Things haven't changed for the worse in the past year.
Have a wonderful trip and let us know how it goes!

Thanks! No, I wasn't there for AK evenings, and I absolutely love AK, so I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[Dead2009]

I wonder if the company knows the water parks are being phased out even with Typhoon Lagoon getting a new slide.