Disney slowly losing some of what made it special.

[englanddg]

Every vacation requires some form of planning, or it doesn’t.

That is a choice.

I remember planning a trip to DC for the kid a few years back, and I really wanted to take her to the top of the Washington Monument.

That required one of two things.

1, book tickets months (yes months) in advance

2, show up at 6a when the ticket booth opens to get their daily allotment for walk up tickets, which go very quickly

Disney isn’t much different.

Imho, you choose to make it a planned trip, or you don’t. A certain amount is needed for preplanning, but the stress is a choice, not a requirement.

I, for one, am literally (I am in the back of an Uber headed to the airport) on my way to a trip that I have barely planned. In fact, I gave it to the kiddo to plan what she wants to do on MDE.

No dining plan. Very limited ADRs. Not a whole lot of FPs (I didn’t even buy the tickets until last week, so completely missed the 30 day window).

So, if that means we wait for FoP, so be it.

I refuse to stress any longer.

But, to others it is fun. The planning and anticipation is part of the experience. And, to those people, I say, cheers! I get ya! You are made of better stuff than I!

 

[MinnieWaffles]

That's a strange comment as it really adds nothing. So you are saying I can check fastpasses now for a trip that was 6 months ago? And how does me posting on wdw magic effect my sister making fastpasses? Gotta love the pixie dust!

Not worth arguing with you if you're going to be like this

 

[erasure fan1]

Not worth arguing with you if you're going to be like this

Really? You jumped in with a comment that was irrelevant to the discussion for the sake of being confrontational. Me posting on wdw magic has nothing to do with the argument. But if you want to make me the bad guy, thats fine.

 

[flynnibus]

Retrain the brain. It’s not 60 days or nothing.

Make the FP’s for what’s available, keep your schedule slightly flexible, try to change them the night before your trip, or while on property. It’s not hard or time consuming.

And somehow you think retrying things over and over.... swimming upstream against a system that doesn’t want to make it easy for you to do so... is just people being stubborn?

It’s a pain in the -period. If there is something you do because “you have to”... and now you are saying “well just do it a lot more!”... and this makes it better somehow??

 

[flynnibus]

Opening the MDE app and refreshing it takes about 15 seconds. There is more than enough time during the day to check it multiple times and usually you can find what you need.

Opening the app... sure. Actually checking availability when you already have FP booked = way more steps... especially if checking with other parks, etc.

It takes multiple steps you have to redo every time to check for FPs when you already have a schedule. And it requires steps that not necessarily intuitive... Disney makes it hard... and as such most people won’t do it.

 

[Phil12]

Really? You jumped in with a comment that was irrelevant to the discussion for the sake of being confrontational. Me posting on wdw magic has nothing to do with the argument. But if you want to make me the bad guy, thats fine.

 

[MinnieWaffles]

If you guys are going to be stubborn, be that way. Clearly offering another point of view is useless around here.

 

[Walter Elias Disney]

I am a big Disney fan and long time lurker on this forum. 2nd generation DVC and coming since 94. My concerns are that in the time I have been coming I have seen a erosion of the unique. Examples would be the candy woman in Epcot Japan, Adventurer's club , egg painting in Germany etc. Also the reduced capacity at the rides to save pennies on slower park day's. As I compose this so many things come to mind that have been reduced or removed, from park hours to activities. Disney is foolish to do this. I am fine with the increasing costs but keep all the special things, park hours and ride capacity. The fan base has a lot of patience and love for the brand but it is fraying at the edges. My feelings may really only apply to a long time park goer. If you are only here once or twice you are so sensory over loaded you would never see what I am talking about.

Jutta Levasseur passed away in 2012. She was the egg painter in Germany.
http://jasoncochran.com/blog/jutta-levasseur-epcots-egg-painter-has-died/
Yes,on every trip, I want to see the egg painter in Germany, adventurer's Club and the candy woman in Japan...but life changes. We leave Walt Disney World and expect it to be exactly the same when we return...quality is still there-but our memories are now past- we want everyone to relive our favorite memories...my children make their own lasting impressions.

 

[wdisney9000]

Actually checking availability when you already have FP booked = way more steps... especially if checking with other parks, etc.

If you already have FP booked, dont you just tap "modify" and it shows you the other options? I do agree that checking for FP in another park is difficult.

It takes multiple steps you have to redo every time to check for FPs when you already have a schedule. And it requires steps that not necessarily intuitive... Disney makes it hard... and as such most people won’t do it.

FWIW, I would take Legacy FP over this system any day. I am not saying Legacy was without flaws, but it was definitely less problematic and overall allowed any guest to be able to obtain a FP for any attraction on day of. Especially if you wanted to change plans. The only caveat being that if you wanted FP for one of the more popular attractions (Soarin' back then) you would need to be at the park before noon otherwise the FP might run out, or on a very busy day you may need to be there earlier. Some people made it seem as if getting to a park early was so traumatic.

 

[flynnibus]

If you already have FP booked, dont you just tap "modify" and it shows you the other options? I do agree that checking for FP in another park is difficult.

FWIW, I would take Legacy FP over this system any day. I am not saying Legacy was without flaws, but it was definitely less problematic and overall allowed any guest to be able to obtain a FP for any attraction on day of. Especially if you wanted to change plans. The only caveat being that if you wanted FP for one of the more popular attractions (Soarin' back then) you would need to be at the park before noon otherwise the FP might run out, or on a very busy day you may need to be there earlier. Some people made it seem as if getting to a park early was so traumatic.

The point being... to simply say “it’s no big deal to keep checking” is simply being dismissive about the burden this scheduling puts on guests (and IMO - flat out wrong). It is a non intuitive, burdensome process to keep up and check for possible change. The system is tightly integrated and built to reduce choices presented to the user.

Disney could make this easier on guests to “get what they want” by offering things like wishlists... notifications... lottery draws on new windows... etc. but today they prioritize “simplified view” over “maximizing chance to get a FP”.

The last thing I want to do before vacation is.... spend time every day trying to make the vacation “work” by having to keep checking for availability etc. I have a life

 

[flynnibus]

Its not huge amount of planning, just background research. Its like if you go to San Francisco you need to know to book the Alcatraz tour in advance and it will fill a lot of the day so you can't do the Disney Family museum on the same day as the Alcatraz tour etc. Most vacations need this sort of basic time plan. Same with restaurant bookings, if you go to New York and want to dine at the fancy restaurant everyone is talking about you need to book in advance.

Except in these examples you are booking a small percentage of your time and availability. Scheduling a dinner is not a big deal. Scheduling every dinner and lunch is a much bigger constraint.

It’s not the idea of planning that is the problem here... it’s that you are now expected to plan the vast majority of your time and availability is extremely constrained.

Instead of planning the “must do” things... it’s now planning everyday all day.

 

[larryz]

They should appoint Kenny Rogers the next ceo.

He won't do it.

He knows "... when to fold 'em..."

 

[larryz]

...nobody likes a stiff at a party. They only invite your for the gift

Except for the kid who brings bed sheets.

 

[larryz]

Jutta Levasseur passed away in 2012. She was the egg painter in Germany.
http://jasoncochran.com/blog/jutta-levasseur-epcots-egg-painter-has-died/
Yes,on every trip, I want to see the egg painter in Germany, adventurer's Club and the candy woman in Japan...but life changes. We leave Walt Disney World and expect it to be exactly the same when we return...quality is still there-but our memories are now past- we want everyone to relive our favorite memories...my children make their own lasting impressions.

Well, I remember the days when everyone who went had a reasonable expectation they'd enjoy their time, get to ride the major rides, see the shows, and eat in a decent place.

Now you can't do all that unless you plan two-to-six months out.

 

[matt9112]

i will say the crowd problem is something that is factually evident and bothers me...i dont enjoy praying for rain for crowd level reasons....im not a farmer.

 

[erasure fan1]

If you guys are going to be stubborn, be that way. Clearly offering another point of view is useless around here.

But to be fair, maybe we aren't the stubborn ones. The fact that there is significantly more planning now is a fact. But we keep getting told things like what you said, and just keep checking, or just be more flexible... that won't change the fact that we have to do more work now than before. If you LOVE the new system, that's great. A lot of people aren't as crazy about it though. It's very easy to dismiss someones concerns because it doesn't bother you.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Well, I remember the days when everyone who went had a reasonable expectation they'd enjoy their time, get to ride the major rides, see the shows, and eat in a decent place.

Now you can't do all that unless you plan two-to-six months out.

LOL
that's how change works. you can't do what you did 5 years ago. 18 years ago I reasonable expected to pay 1.75 for gas, now I don't.

Do you really expect any vacation/place to operate how they did 20 years ago? for whatever reason, Disney has gotten more popular/crowded.
Now I don't "dismiss" anyone's concerns, I just really don't know what folks are going to do about them, evidently not going is not a good answer.
It's seems like you guys keep going "hoping" that it will revert back to a less crowded time and then being disappointed when in fact, it turns out to be just as it has been the last few years and I suspect how it will be for the foreseeable future.

So this is an honest question.

How do you get excited for another trip if:

1) You know it's going to require more planning (something folks don't seem to like)
2) It's definitely going to be packed (nobody likes that)
3) Evidently some feel it's going to be dirty (I've never experienced that)
4) it's definitely going to hit your pocketbook.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

And somehow you think retrying things over and over.... swimming upstream against a system that doesn’t want to make it easy for you to do so... is just people being stubborn?

It’s a pain in the *** -period. If there is something you do because “you have to”... and now you are saying “well just do it a lot more!”... and this makes it better somehow??

The point being... to simply say “it’s no big deal to keep checking” is simply being dismissive about the burden this scheduling puts on guests (and IMO - flat out wrong). It is a non intuitive, burdensome process to keep up and check for possible change. The system is tightly integrated and built to reduce choices presented to the user.

Disney could make this easier on guests to “get what they want” by offering things like wishlists... notifications... lottery draws on new windows... etc. but today they prioritize “simplified view” over “maximizing chance to get a FP”.

The last thing I want to do before vacation is.... spend time every day trying to make the vacation “work” by having to keep checking for availability etc. I have a life

If it’s not burdensome and overwhelming to me, who has done it successfully every time, then it’s a choice to perceive it as burdensome.

In @englanddg ’s example, you don’t even have hope at the Washington Monument (or certain Broadway shows, etc.)

The app is simple. It is not a time consuming project.

You try for a shot at 60 or 30 days. You should not have expectations that you’ll get everything you want. You’re not the only family in the World. There are only so many tables in a restaurant and so many seats on a rollercoaster. That’s life.

Stop expecting to get it all done on day one. If you do, that’s a fortunate bonus.

Otherwise: no, you don’t spend every minute on the site or the app. You just pop in once in awhile when you have a minute and take a shot. If you do that 3 times a week, that’s 3 minutes a week. The burden is...nil.

But your best shot is on site. A lot is a available when you get there. I find the night before a park day a great time to pop on real quickly and snag stuff.

I am not a pixie duster. I’m efficient. (And realistic.)

And what I think Minnie was saying is if you have hours to post here, you have a minute to check the site for a FP or an ADR.

It’s a “burden” if you make it one, like much in life.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Well, I remember the days when everyone who went had a reasonable expectation they'd enjoy their time, get to ride the major rides, see the shows, and eat in a decent place.

Now you can't do all that unless you plan two-to-six months out.

Except I do it all the time. A-list attractions and restaurants.

What I am trying to do is fight the perception that if you don’t get it at 60 days, that was your best shot and it would take hours every day for the next 60 days to get one FoP FP on the wrong day.

What I am explaining is it is much simpler and more optimistic than all that.

I don’t even blame the folks who don’t know any better because they have been actively misinformed by people posting that you have to get everything at 60 days out.

That perception has to change, or people are going to continue being bummed out. And they don’t need to be bummed out! They just need to change their expectations to something more in line with what is likely to occur.

What is likely to occur: you will get pretty close to everything you want, but not all 60 days in advance. Some things you will get the night before or the day of. So build in some second choices and arrive with a smidge of flexibility.

 

[larryz]

LOL
that's how change works. you can't do what you did 5 years ago. 18 years ago I reasonable expected to pay 1.75 for gas, now I don't.

Do you really expect any vacation/place to operate how they did 20 years ago? for whatever reason, Disney has gotten more popular/crowded.
Now I don't "dismiss" anyone's concerns, I just really don't know what folks are going to do about them, evidently not going is not a good answer.
It's seems like you guys keep going "hoping" that it will revert back to a less crowded time and then being disappointed when in fact, it turns out to be just as it has been the last few years and I suspect how it will be for the foreseeable future.

So this is an honest question.

How do you get excited for another trip if:

1) You know it's going to require more planning (something folks don't seem to like)
2) It's definitely going to be packed (nobody likes that)
3) Evidently some feel it's going to be dirty (I've never experienced that)
4) it's definitely going to hit your pocketbook.

Your four points hit the nail on the head. It used to be that I went to WDW because I enjoyed it.

Now I'm going primarily to please the family.

I'm really not looking forward to it.

What is likely to occur: you will get pretty close to everything you want, but not all 60 days in advance. Some things you will get the night before or the day of. So build in some second choices and arrive with a smidge of flexibility.

I like your optimism.