Disney slowly losing some of what made it special.

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You’re just one of the many reasons I’ve bailed on this website. I had a moment of weakness today based on Disney selling 75 minutes at DHS for $79+tax. And I had to gripe a little. Thanks for the reminder of why I left in the first place.

To be fair...she’s not THAT person...pretty reasonable and receptive but looks through things in her city context...

I can give you a list of names (like Nixon or the orangutan) that are however

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Let's face it. Disney is just like Yeti coolers. You buy a cooler for a small fortune, put 20 pounds of ice in it with your drinks and wait 48 hours. Magically you now have a puddle of water and some warm drinks. And then you brag about how good that cooler performs.

...winner

You forgot “packaging is everything”, however

 

[eliza61nyc]

You’re just one of the many reasons I’ve bailed on this website. I had a moment of weakness today based on Disney selling 75 minutes at DHS for $79+tax. And I had to gripe a little. Thanks for the reminder of why I left in the first place.

So Ill admit I'm confused. I never insulted anyone, never told anyone I was right they're wrong or anything. I apologize to the poster because I misunderstood their post and I thanked a poster who cleared up a common complaint for me.

So you're leaving because I don't agree with you?? Seriously??
Now I'll admit some times my brand of humor falls flat but come on, it's a discussion forum, we're supposed to have differentiating opinions.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Never rest. I suggest that everyone be vocal about that even after they no longer go. Silence is encouragement.

I don’t recall ever getting “upset”...

I'd hate to see you actually upset.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I'd hate to see you actually upset.

 

[daisyduckie]

And that is why this is so subjective. I don't know anywhere that has parking fees unless its a parking garage or private event parking... I've vacationed in Florida for over 40yrs, never paid a parking fee for a hotel, place to eat or shop... 30 plus visits over 40 yrs and I've never paid parking at disney. And now, at a time of record profit, they add it. Its not like they don't have the spaces and over demand deems that they need to thin it out. Collect parking fees plus hope people don't leave the property, its a win win for them. Pure money grab plain and simple because they can. That's why people have lost their minds over it.

[/QUOTE]

Many of the Disney Springs resorts charge fees on top of the basic room charge. It may not be labeled a parking fee, but it may as well be. Sure, they can call it a fee for transportation and water, but at $34 a night (which is what the B resort charges) I better be drinking that water and reading that newspaper.

 

[erasure fan1]

Many of the Disney Springs resorts charge fees on top of the basic room charge. It may not be labeled a parking fee, but it may as well be. Sure, they can call it a fee for transportation and water, but at $34 a night (which is what the B resort charges) I better be drinking that water and reading that newspaper.

Lots of resorts do "resort charges" and you are paying that at Disney resorts as well. While you don't see it on the bill that way, they have always marketed to be all inclusive. And the fact that the room rates are astronomically higher than off site hotel shows this. Lots of hotels have free continental breakfast everyday yet I don't see Disney chasing after that one. Again, there was no reason for it other than, why not, we can make some extra money.

 

[wdisney9000]

I hear more and more people tell me it was a one time trip, it was OK but too expensive too much hassle...

I often hear this from friends who visited. I think it is mostly due to a lack of planning and then being completely overwhelmed, especially with children of multiple ages. I have offered to help them and even warned them that not planning can make the trip stressful if you are not experienced in the parks. Many people think they can see and do everything WDW has to offer in a 5 day trip. They wind up rushing through and still not seeing half of what they expected.

Magic Kingdom is a good example. Many people plan for just one day at MK. Even on a slow day, you will have a hard time doing all the attractions and shows and that leaves very little time to actually enjoy the atmosphere and appreciate the details. The day becomes rushed, the kids get tired/cranky and then mom and dad melt down as well and they wind up blaming the park being too crowded as to why their day was not 100% magical. The truth is that they planned poorly. MK requires more than one day, simple as that. But mom and dad wanted the most bang for their buck and opted for attraction count as a metric for enjoyment rather than just moving at leisurely pace and having a good time a family.

 

[erasure fan1]

I often hear this from friends who visited. I think it is mostly due to a lack of planning and then being completely overwhelmed, especially with children of multiple ages. I have offered to help them and even warned them that not planning can make the trip stressful if you are not experienced in the parks. Many people think they can see and do everything WDW has to offer in a 5 day trip. They wind up rushing through and still not seeing half of what they expected.

Magic Kingdom is a good example. Many people plan for just one day at MK. Even on a slow day, you will have a hard time doing all the attractions and shows and that leaves very little time to actually enjoy the atmosphere and appreciate the details. The day becomes rushed, the kids get tired/cranky and then mom and dad melt down as well and they wind up blaming the park being too crowded as to why their day was not 100% magical. The truth is that they planned poorly. MK requires more than one day, simple as that. But mom and dad wanted the most bang for their buck and opted for attraction count as a metric for enjoyment rather than just moving at leisurely pace and having a good time a family.

That is all spot on and is where the problem is. I think the vast majority don't want to plan plan plan, so they do get frustrated and it leaves a bad taste. Everyone knows you need to plan for any vacation. But there is planning, and then there’s DISNEY planning.

 

[geekza]

That is all spot on and is where the problem is. I think the vast majority don't want to plan plan plan, so they do get frustrated and it leaves a bad taste. Everyone knows you need to plan for any vacation. But there is planning, and then there’s DISNEY planning.

Yup. Conversations among friends used to go like this:
"I'm going with the family down to WDW."
"Great! Have a wonderful time!"

Now they go:
"I'm going with the family down to WDW."
"OMG. Have you made your dinner reservations yet? Make sure you get online at exactly 7AM on the day you can reserve FastPasses. Were you able to luck into the free dining? Make sure you're there at rope drop if you want to ride the Mine Train and be prepared to elbow people. Oh, and have a wonderful time!"

 

[MinnieWaffles]

Yup. Conversations among friends used to go like this:
"I'm going with the family down to WDW."
"Great! Have a wonderful time!"

Now they go:
"I'm going with the family down to WDW."
"OMG. Have you made your dinner reservations yet? Make sure you get online at exactly 7AM on the day you can reserve FastPasses. Were you able to luck into the free dining? Make sure you're there at rope drop if you want to ride the Mine Train and be prepared to elbow people. Oh, and have a wonderful time!"

Except that's exaggeration and that level of planning isn't entirely necessary. I'm sick of people on forums who make others panic and think every last moment needs to be like that by scaremongering and giving incorrect information. Rant over.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Except that's exaggeration and that level of planning isn't entirely necessary. I'm sick of people on forums who make others panic and think every last moment needs to be like that by scaremongering and giving incorrect information. Rant over.

AMEN!!
lol, I've been almost every year since 2001 and have yet made rope drop.

I do think one of the problems is expectations. Why do folks expect disney vacations to be "magical" all the time. You book a trip to wdw in the summer and you think there won't be crowds? lol

 

[erasure fan1]

Except that's exaggeration and that level of planning isn't entirely necessary. I'm sick of people on forums who make others panic and think every last moment needs to be like that by scaremongering and giving incorrect information. Rant over.

What information is incorrect exactly? Planning fast passes and ADRs way early? What parks you want to be in everyday 3 months before your trip? My sister and mom just got back and HATED all the planning they had to do. And please don't pull up tomorrow and go, see, 7DMT and frozen fastpasses. They weren't there for my sister a month ago.

AMEN!!
lol, I've been almost every year since 2001 and have yet made rope drop.

I do think one of the problems is expectations. Why do folks expect disney vacations to be "magical" all the time. You book a trip to wdw in the summer and you think there won't be crowds? lol

I think the people who say you don't need to plan that much are forgetting something. You know what you are doing. I can make it work if I had to but I know it wouldnt be the same. There is a reason there are so many planning sites, books, touring plan companies... It's because of the amount of work that has to go into it to get the most you can out of it.

 

[englanddg]

If you really want to pin the blame on something for the lack of new unique experiences at WDW look no further than your screen. The internet has made these things almost impossible.

Sure, I think the chances of some penny pinching suit putting the breaks on some of these things is entirely possible, but the real culprit is 140 million people all wanting that same unique experience they read about on Facebook.

Ever see the rush of parents with kids in tow at rope drop to TinkerBell's Treasures to wake Tinkerbelle or a couple of grown a$$ adults fighting over a paintbrush on Tom Sawyer's Island? I have and it is not pretty.

But...that was MY paintbrush! I saw it first!

 

[Willmark]

I think the people who say you don't need to plan that much are forgetting something. You know what you are doing. I can make it work if I had to but I know it wouldnt be the same. There is a reason there are so many planning sites, books, touring plan companies... It's because of the amount of work that has to go into it to get the most you can out of it.

Agreed.

You can go to Disney without planning, just don't be surprised if the ride you spend most of your time on is called "Waiting in Line."

I hear its near the Laughing Place.

 

[Jon81uk]

Except that's exaggeration and that level of planning isn't entirely necessary. I'm sick of people on forums who make others panic and think every last moment needs to be like that by scaremongering and giving incorrect information. Rant over.

There is some planning needed no matter what.
As @wdisney9000 said knowing you can't do it all in a 5 day trip, that if you want to see every attraction at MK it takes more than one day, knowing about the better hotel or the fact if you drive you then need to allow 20 minutes for the monorail/ferry etc.

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.
We went to Long Beach CA this year and part of the planning included looking at bars we might go to and then working out whereabout we would want a hotel to ensure we weren't to far away from the beach and the bars. Same as WDW, if you know you will spend more time at MK then an MK area hotel makes more sense.

The additional in DisneyWorld is the new FastPass system, where you do need to go online in advance and book FPs. Although that is another level of planning it does make a big difference. Yes it has changed a WDW vacation compared to 10 years ago, but the new FP system means more planning ahead for less legwork on the day, old FPs meant more planning and running about getting them once in the park.

 

[eliza61nyc]

What information is incorrect exactly? Planning fast passes and ADRs way early? What parks you want to be in everyday 3 months before your trip? My sister and mom just got back and HATED all the planning they had to do. And please don't pull up tomorrow and go, see, 7DMT and frozen fastpasses. They weren't there for my sister a month ago.


I think the people who say you don't need to plan that much are forgetting something. You know what you are doing. I can make it work if I had to but I know it wouldnt be the same. There is a reason there are so many planning sites, books, touring plan companies... It's because of the amount of work that has to go into it to get the most you can out of it.

Agreed but I do wish folks kept an even keel. There is such an "expectation" put on Disney vacations. I do think it's way more than any other vacation.

For example, When we went to London, we didn't feel as if we had to be in perpetual motion, doing some thing every single nano second of the day but at Disney it's almost de rigueur. Like the moment you step off of one ride, you're on your smart phone trying to figure out what to do next.

The same with ADR's. one of the best trips we have ever had was one where we absolutely did not make any adr's. We woke up each morning and called disney dining and there was plenty to choose from. How did the "myth" start that if you go without adr's you'll starve or that eating at BOG HAD to happen in order to have a great trip. now personally there isn't a restaurant at Disney that is so great that it cannot be missed IMO

I'm going to the world in 5 days with 6 people and we have 1 ADR, 1 and I assure you everyone will eat, we will not eat off site and it will be TS.

And actually IMO your last line explains it "get the most out of it". What does that mean? If you don't do Flight of Pandora, the trip is a bust? No other place do we do this with.

 

[eliza61nyc]

There is some planning needed no matter what.
As @wdisney9000 said knowing you can't do it all in a 5 day trip, that if you want to see every attraction at MK it takes more than one day, knowing about the better hotel or the fact if you drive you then need to allow 20 minutes for the monorail/ferry etc.

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.

You have a point lol, as a Native New Yorker, we will tell you that is absolutely the worst meal you'll probably get. The over priced tourist trap that is written in the guide books. I can't tell you how many friends I tell to get the heck out of Time square if you want a decent meal and never eat anywhere recommended by the New Yorker. I went to Venice Italy, yep researched out of the wazoo, so disappointed with every place recommended by Rick Steves. Best experience. simply wandering, getting lost.

It's like here in Philly the big "Geno's" vs "Pat's" cheesesteak hype. lol which every philadelphian avoids because the best meals are the ones off the beaten path. The best steak sandwiches are the mom and pops that you don't need a reservation 6 months in advance.

I do think cost comes into it also, Disney is such a costly trip people, especially first timers feel like "I gotta get it all done". I once saw this guy and his family fighting in front of the Haunted mansion. The youngest son was scared to go on it and dad was insisting saying "You know how much these tickets cost, we've got to do everything".

LOL I have a good friend who is the Admin Asst on my job, we call her the Disney "Nazi". Girlfriend will plan you a trip out with every microsecond accounted for. When I told her we don't do rope drop she told me that I was "wasting" time because you can sleep in at home.

 

[xdan0920]

You have a point lol, as a Native New Yorker, we will tell you that is absolutely the worst meal you'll probably get. The over priced tourist trap that is written in the guide books. I can't tell you how many friends I tell to get the heck out of Time square if you want a decent meal and never eat anywhere recommended by the New Yorker. I went to Venice Italy, yep researched out of the wazoo, so disappointed with every place recommended by Rick Steves. Best experience. simply wandering, getting lost.

It's like here in Philly the big "Geno's" vs "Pat's" cheesesteak hype. lol which every philadelphian avoids because the best meals are the ones off the beaten path. The best steak sandwiches are the mom and pops that you don't need a reservation 6 months in advance.

I do think cost comes into it also, Disney is such a costly trip people, especially first timers feel like "I gotta get it all done". I once saw this guy and his family fighting in front of the Haunted mansion. The youngest son was scared to go on it and dad was insisting saying "You know how much these tickets cost, we've got to do everything".

LOL I have a good friend who is the Admin Asst on my job, we call her the Disney "Nazi". Girlfriend will plan you a trip out with every microsecond accounted for. When I told her we don't do rope drop she told me that I was "wasting" time because you can sleep in at home.

Wait a second. You are a native New Yorker? Who knew?

 

[erasure fan1]

How did the "myth" start that if you go without adr's you'll starve or that eating at BOG HAD to happen in order to have a great trip. now personally there isn't a restaurant at Disney that is so great that it cannot be missed IMO

Saying "starve" is overstating the complaint about ADRs in my eyes. Not doing be our guest won't ruin your trip but doing it could make your trip. A lady at my work is thinking of going for the first time. She listed 3 things they HAD to do. The one was eat at be our guest. So that one thing could be the most important thing for someone. Therefore you bet you have to plan way ahead if you want to get it.

And actually IMO your last line explains it "get the most out of it". What does that mean? If you don't do Flight of Pandora, the trip is a bust? No other place do we do this with.

Again, one thing shouldn't ruin a trip. But you can bet if little Sally and Johnny have their heart set on seeing frozen and FoP, you have to plan it out far ahead. People pay a lot of money so making sure you do everything you want, is getting the most out of it. I did say earlier that any vacation needs some planning and Disney is no exception. If you talk to people who have never been, and explain how these things work, they are always surprised. And what complicates this whole thing more is when something has to change last minute. My son came down with a fever as we were leaving the beach and heading to WDW. We had to adjust everything. I'm a seasoned veteran with Disney and it was not an easy task.