Disney slowly losing some of what made it special.

[Shouldigo12]

The point is that you didn't have to plan as much or as far out in the past as you do now. Yes, that is partly because of the increased crowds, but much of it is due to Disney's policies and procedures.

Can I ask what policies and procedures? The only major procedure change I know of is the switch from paper FPs to the current system, and I would think the paper system wouldn't work with the current crowd levels.

 

[geekza]

Can I ask what policies and procedures? The only major procedure change I know of is the switch from paper FPs to the current system, and I would think the paper system wouldn't work with the current crowd levels.

FastPass+ with the 60 day window for resort guests along with the six-month window for ADR's. Honestly, I'm tired of debating it. It looks like there are lots of opinions on both sides of the argument.

 

[Shouldigo12]

FastPass+ with the 60 day window for resort guests along with the six-month window for ADR's. Honestly, I'm tired of debating it. It looks like there are lots of opinions on both sides of the argument.

Sorry, I didn't want to debate it; I was just curious about what the procedures were.

 

[flynnibus]

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.)

Here is my challenge to you on your next two trips. Each time you goto walk up to a restaurant or add a FP... make your party a group of 5 when you ask for availability.... then change it to your party of two and see how the results differ.

 

[Shouldigo12]

There is some planning needed no matter what.
As @wdisney9000 Its not huge amount of planning, just background research. .

I think this is a pretty good point. For my first trip, just to plan out ADRs alone, I:
1. Filtered the restaurants on the website to show all restaurants eligible for the dining plan.
2. Read Every. Single. Menu for each restaurant to check and see if it would be somewhere my mom and I would like to eat.
3. I put the restaurants with menus we would like into a document that sorted them based on what area they were in and if I was considering them for breakfast/lunch/dinner.
4. I read a minimum of three reviews for each restaurant, and usually the comments as well just to make sure opinions on how good or bad the place was leaned mostly one way or the other.
5. All restaurants with mostly bad or mixed reviews were taken out of consideration, and I did step two over again. Based on menus I cut out more restaurants until I was left with two table service and three or four QS restaurants for each park. I decided which meal I would eat at which restaurant (Example: I was left with CP and Liberty Tree Tavern for TS at MK. LTT doesn't have breakfast so that went to CP. I wanted to leave the afternoon flexible so I decided we would do dinner at LTT, and lunch at any of the four QS places that had made my cut).
This is probably more involved than most people would do for Disney, but I wanted to make sure we were eating at good places for our first trip. If I planned one now, I would probably...jump on the site and make the reservations. Half of that list is just doing research and figuring out which places would be good for us. Now that I know that, the whole process is much easier (although I understand some people still don't like having to make ADRs at all.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Or, you could try what we are going to do this December. We are going to Universal in the middle of our trip for 2 days. I am looking forward to riding the rides over and over, doing what we want when we want, and eating where we decide on that day. Honestly, it's like a "rest" period from Disney parks for a while. It's relaxing and a lot of fun. We love Disney, but a break from it is nice too.

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

Or, you could try what we are going to do this December. We are going to Universal in the middle of our trip for 2 days. I am looking forward to riding the rides over and over, doing what we want when we want, and eating where we decide on that day. Honestly, it's like a "rest" period from Disney parks for a while. It's relaxing and a lot of fun. We love Disney, but a break from it is nice too.

That's the mistake that many people do: thinking that crowds in Universal are much lower than Disney's and that they can explore the parks at their pace and do whatever they want whenever they want. Well that's NOT the case. Especially in December. I don't know if you're going in Christmas Week but if you do Universal isn't going to be like a stroll in the park. We're talking about 2 hour+ waits for super popular rides rides like Gringotts, Kong, Spiderman and The Forbidden Journey and 60-90 minutes for rides like the Mummy, JPRA, Transformers and Simpsons. Last time I visited on December 27th 2016, even E.T. reached 65 minutes at noon. If you don't purchase the Express Pass (which is sold out well in advance for these dates) you ARE going to wait for something at some point in your day. And don't expect restaurants empty; they're going to have lines as well. I'm just trying to warn you; all of the Orlando parks (even SeaWorld) are extremely busy during Christmas.

HOWEVER, if you aren't going between December 24th and January 1st you should have a more pleasant and less crowded experience.

 

[Dave B]

That's the mistake that many people do: thinking that crowds in Universal are much lower than Disney's and that they can explore the parks at their pace and do whatever they want whenever they want. Well that's NOT the case. Especially in December. I don't know if you're going in Christmas Week but if you do Universal isn't going to be like a stroll in the park. We're talking about 2 hour+ waits for super popular rides rides like Gringotts, Kong, Spiderman and The Forbidden Journey and 60-90 minutes for rides like the Mummy, JPRA, Transformers and Simpsons. Last time I visited on December 27th 2016, even E.T. reached 65 minutes at noon. If you don't purchase the Express Pass (which is sold out well in advance for these dates) you ARE going to wait for something at some point in your day. And don't expect restaurants empty; they're going to have lines as well. I'm just trying to warn you; all of the Orlando parks (even SeaWorld) are extremely busy during Christmas.

HOWEVER, if you aren't going between December 24th and January 1st you should have a more pleasant and less crowded experience.

I am sure the poster is getting the front of the line pass, to eliminate waiting in the lines you are talking about

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

I am sure the poster is getting the front of the line pass, to eliminate waiting in the lines you are talking about

And....how are you sure?

 

[Dave B]

And....how are you sure?

I guess we will wait and find out when the OP posts again, but I am a betting man and would gamble on this one

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

That's the mistake that many people do: thinking that crowds in Universal are much lower than Disney's and that they can explore the parks at their pace and do whatever they want whenever they want. Well that's NOT the case. Especially in December. I don't know if you're going in Christmas Week but if you do Universal isn't going to be like a stroll in the park. We're talking about 2 hour+ waits for super popular rides rides like Gringotts, Kong, Spiderman and The Forbidden Journey and 60-90 minutes for rides like the Mummy, JPRA, Transformers and Simpsons. Last time I visited on December 27th 2016, even E.T. reached 65 minutes at noon. If you don't purchase the Express Pass (which is sold out well in advance for these dates) you ARE going to wait for something at some point in your day. And don't expect restaurants empty; they're going to have lines as well. I'm just trying to warn you; all of the Orlando parks (even SeaWorld) are extremely busy during Christmas.

HOWEVER, if you aren't going between December 24th and January 1st you should have a more pleasant and less crowded experience.

Actually that is the case, at least for us. We always gets EP and get right on most rides. Some we walked back on several times. We are going again in December and will have EP and expect the same as always. It IS freeing not to have to rush to a fp or adr. You can ride when and what you want. I have seen long waits at MInions and Shrek, but not with EP.

S0, this is not misleading, at least in our case. I don't pretend to speak for everyone in every situation, but am giving our many experiences at Universal. I am looking forward to this relaxing break from all the rushing to fp and adr's, and NOT being able to ride rides multiple times while at Disney.

I also don't go at, or around, Christmas, like you stated you did, on Dec 27th. If you go at that time of year you must expect to have big waits anywhere you go.

So, I respectfully differ with you, but this is a discussion board.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

I am sure the poster is getting the front of the line pass, to eliminate waiting in the lines you are talking about

The poster is replying LOL! Yes, we always get EP's. Like I explained below, we have seen long lines for Minions and Shrek, and of course the HP rides (though not as bad as I thought). We ride things multiple times, back to back. However many other rides did not have those big lines when we were there.
So, I should clarify that EP's are helpful in this situation. Can't wait for December and Universal AND Disney

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

Actually that is the case, at least for us. We always gets EP and get right on most rides. Some we walked back on several times. We are going again in December and will have EP and expect the same as always. It IS freeing not to have to rush to a fp or adr. You can ride when and what you want. I have seen long waits at MInions and Shrek, but not with EP.

S0, this is not misleading, at least in our case. I don't pretend to speak for everyone in every situation, but am giving our many experiences at Universal. I am looking forward to this relaxing break from all the rushing to fp and adr's, and NOT being able to ride rides multiple times while at Disney.

I also don't go at, or around, Christmas, like you stated you did, on Dec 27th. If you go at that time of year you must expect to have big waits anywhere you go.

So, I respectfully differ with you, but this is a discussion board.

If you have EP and don't go in Christmas then ignore what I said. I was trying to tell you how the situation is WITHOUT EP. And I said "IF you were going around Christmas". So, since you have an EP you can pretend that this conversation never happened.

 

[JD80]

You guys really know how to about something don't you?

This isn't something that is unique to Disney at all. If you are part of any passionate or hardcore group of fans you'll always see a disillusionment of some of the population. There are a lot of reasons and it's normal.

1) Things change. They always do and to expect them to stay the same is silly. Some people can't deal with change and over time it upsets them. There are some legitimate gripes or concerns and sometimes it's the hard glare of nostalgia that blinds them to reality.

2) The more "veteran" you get the more you tend to take on an ownership feeling. You feel like Disney or whatever organization belongs to you. And when they make choices you don't like, you feel betrayed.

3) The more popular things get the more you feel like you have to share things with people you don't know. People don't like that for the most part.

4) You can become disillusioned over time. Especially when you see people enjoying what you used to. You feel like they are stupid for enjoying something that clearly isn't worth that enjoyment any more. Then you also feel jealous of their enjoyment you can't have any more.

I am NOT saying that there are not legitimate reasons to be disgruntled. No one likes higher prices and larger crowds. (For some reason, bold won't turn off.) But there are some viceral emotional responses to those things that people internalize. It happens for hardcore Disney fans. It happens for hardcore gaming communities that play just one specific game (you see this a lot with online gaming communities where the one game has been around for 6-10 years).

Anyway, sometimes it's best to take some time off and come back. So if you feel you don't enjoy the magic of Disney anymore, it's probably because you're burnt out. Take a break from the forums. If you're still going every year, take a few years off and come back later. It'll help.

 

[erasure fan1]

Things change. They always do and to expect them to stay the same is silly. Some people can't deal with change and over time it upsets them. There are some legitimate gripes or concerns and sometimes it's the hard glare of nostalgia that blinds them to reality.

You won’t get an argument from me about change. The parks have to grow, they need new experiences... I love haunted mansion, but I love spash mountain too, as well as Everest. And I bet I'll love flight of passage. You said there are legitimate grips, and I think a lot of whats on this thread is just that. And a lot of the gripes stem from lack of change from letting the parks just stagnate for so long. The one thing Disney should never change, their philosophies. You don't need to sacrifice things like quality, theme and attention to detail. Those things never go out of style, they aren't just nostalgia. They are why Disney became the BEST. So most of the complaints in my eyes, come from that lack of change for so long, then changing things that were tried and true philosophies.

 

[JD80]

I agree with that. There is a mixture of both I think.

 

[flynnibus]

You guys really know how to ***** about something don't you?

This isn't something that is unique to Disney at all. If you are part of any passionate or hardcore group of fans you'll always see a disillusionment of some of the population. There are a lot of reasons and it's normal.

1) Things change. They always do and to expect them to stay the same is silly. Some people can't deal with change and over time it upsets them. There are some legitimate gripes or concerns and sometimes it's the hard glare of nostalgia that blinds them to reality.

2) The more "veteran" you get the more you tend to take on an ownership feeling. You feel like Disney or whatever organization belongs to you. And when they make choices you don't like, you feel betrayed.

3) The more popular things get the more you feel like you have to share things with people you don't know. People don't like that for the most part.

4) You can become disillusioned over time. Especially when you see people enjoying what you used to. You feel like they are stupid for enjoying something that clearly isn't worth that enjoyment any more. Then you also feel jealous of their enjoyment you can't have any more.

I am NOT saying that there are not legitimate reasons to be disgruntled. No one likes higher prices and larger crowds. (For some reason, bold won't turn off.) But there are some viceral emotional responses to those things that people internalize. It happens for hardcore Disney fans. It happens for hardcore gaming communities that play just one specific game (you see this a lot with online gaming communities where the one game has been around for 6-10 years).

Anyway, sometimes it's best to take some time off and come back. So if you feel you don't enjoy the magic of Disney anymore, it's probably because you're burnt out. Take a break from the forums. If you're still going every year, take a few years off and come back later. It'll help.

This might make sense if you’d been going for 5-8 years.... but not for us who have been going for 40 years.

I took my break in the early 2000s.... and when I came back I realized the rest of the world had closed the lead Disney had.

 

[JD80]

This might make sense if you’d been going for 5-8 years.... but not for us who have been going for 40 years.

I took my break in the early 2000s.... and when I came back I realized the rest of the world had closed the lead Disney had.

In any competitive market, it'll always close in on the market leader. And that's ok. After 40 years of going to the same location with various levels of change, you're going to have to rely on nostalgia and memories rather than brand new experiences. There is only so much to expect.

I would never tell someone how or where to enjoy their vacation in any serious way.

I can only imagine the levels up enjoyment you or anyone gets out of 40 years of going. Going as a kid. Going as an adult. Going as a parent. Going as a grandparent. The actually experience may not change often, but the experiences with others can.

There are people who go to the same lake house or beach community for 40 years. The beach and the restaurants very rarely change year to year. I liken it to that in my own mind.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

If you have EP and don't go in Christmas then ignore what I said. I was trying to tell you how the situation is WITHOUT EP. And I said "IF you were going around Christmas". So, since you have an EP you can pretend that this conversation never happened.

Sounds fair I should have said I always get EP's. Went without EP's once many years ago, when HP first opened, and waited in the lines, which didn't seem that bad then. But it was probably November.
Amended to say not at Thanksgiving, but first week or second. Did around Thanksgiving once, just once, and never again!

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

Sounds fair I should have said I always get EP's. Went without EP's once many years ago, when HP first opened, and waited in the lines, which didn't seem that bad then. But it was probably November.

November except Thanksgiving isn't really busy. Anyway, have fun!