I just returned from a two-week trip to Orlando and wanted to detail my trip for anyone who’ll be visiting soon (or is just interested). I know it always helps me if I know what to expect. My account will probably come across as a bunch of complaining but I did have a wonderful time. The overall takeaway from my trip is that the current Disney World is closer to Six Flags in quality than pre-covid/pre-Chapek WDW.
Cast members are a huge reason for this. CMs are probably the biggest thing that has set Disney World apart in the past but due to worker shortages the bar has been lowered. During my visit I had several interactions with CMs that were unsatisfactory most due to lack of training and uncaring attitudes.
Genie Plus, speaking of trash, is terrible. I read up on it before my trip and am not even going to get into what so many people complain about- how it affects lines and costs money. I had constant glitches and visited customer relations many times.
Also, try out the best water fountain on property. Fill up your water bottle at the water fountain in the loading area for the Liberty Belle.
Cast members are a huge reason for this. CMs are probably the biggest thing that has set Disney World apart in the past but due to worker shortages the bar has been lowered. During my visit I had several interactions with CMs that were unsatisfactory most due to lack of training and uncaring attitudes.
- In the Mexico pavilion, I asked the “greeter” CM where the bathroom was and she said the closest one was unfortunately in Norway. Imagine my dismay when I returned from Norway, and was seated to eat at San Angel Inn right next to… the bathroom.
- At Epcot, we collected cards from all the Kidcot stations. At our first stop in Canada, the CM was unfriendly. I decided to see what would happen if I let the next ten CMs initiate conversation. The result was that we visited all eleven spots, collected cards from each, and did not have a single cast member speak to us.
- In the Magic Kingdom parking lot, the paint was unreadable for my row. I asked the CM what row we were parked in and she told me “Zurg 209.” As I walked, I figured out we were in fact in “Jafar 309.” I don’t know if you’ve ever unable to find your car in the MK lot, but it’s not fun.
- At the monorail, we were directed to the Magic Kingdom line when we asked for the Epcot one. What’s puzzling to me here is how this was that employee’s main job.
- In Fantasyland, there were several CMs stationed at the Lightning Lane entrances who were talking to other CMs and were not having guests scan in as they entered the ride. I observed one in particular who didn’t seem to have any interest in doing his job. In a different position where he was loading, he just let guests get on in any order they chose. It’s annoying to wait in line only to see boats going out that are mostly empty.
- One CM didn’t understand the concept of the countdown signs that some attractions use, such as Country Bears. The sign would be displaying “2 minutes until next show,” and she was telling guests that the wait was 15 minutes.
- There was a lot of line cutting. The funniest one was at Cosmic Rewind where a family pushed their way through the entire line to the front. When confronted they said “WE HAVE A RESERVATION!” (Of course, everyone has a reservation who was riding that day.) There are a lot of lines that have way too much space between employees. It is no wonder you see so many fights on youtube that involve Disney guests waiting in line.
- There were many cast members totally killing it! The Jungle Cruise and Festival of Fantasy CMs specifically come to mind.
Genie Plus, speaking of trash, is terrible. I read up on it before my trip and am not even going to get into what so many people complain about- how it affects lines and costs money. I had constant glitches and visited customer relations many times.
- My entire trip, it defaulted to Animal Kingdom as my park. There is no way to fix this “on our end” according to customer relations. I must have “changed park” over a hundred times.
- Twice, I lost my first lightning lane pick done at 7am. (Slinky Dog Dash and Jungle Cruise). Customer relations told me that this is a frequent glitch and it is best to pay for lightning lane before 7am because when you pay for it at the same time as making your first selection it will delete your first pick.
- It never let me cancel any of my selections, which should be available under My Day>Manage Details. I had to visit guest relations each time and they usually couldn’t get it to work either and instead issued me an anytime pass.
- Many of the times I selected would change once I reached the confirmation screen. I know this is a frequent problem for everyone because reservations are always in motion but the time I chose would remain on the tip board after being refreshed.
- Why is the park map not easily navigated? I know how to get to it but it should not be the multiply step process that it is.
- When making selections, it still displays choices that you cannot make and also displays misleading times. Example: if I have already used a lightning lane pass on It’s a Small World, I cannot book it a second time, however, it still appears on the app offering it to me. Also, if I have a LL for 7:05pm, on the tip screen it may read “Booked, 8:00pm” but this does not mean that the reservation is at 8:00pm, it means that time is available if you cancel your booking and reserve a new time.
- Mobile ordering worked great (almost) every time and really made things easy where I didn’t have to wait in line.
- Droid Depot’s ceiling conveyer was not working any of the three days we were in HS. This is a big deal when you think about how the droid building “experience” is $100 a pop.
- Dok-Undar was “on vacation” during our trip.
- Savi’s Workshop has changed their check in process where there is no longer any “show” and they bill you then have you scan a QR code where you can see your choices of what saber to build. I told them that I was having a hard time seeing it on my phone in the bright sunlight and was basically told “tough.” They used to do a cool thing where CMs would walk you through the choices with physical “scrap parts.” This is again, a bigger deal when you think about how the experience is $220.
- Rise of the Resistance was, of course, closed when we visited during early entry. None of the cannons were working.
- One-third or so of the PeopleMover had orange cones inside them and were not being used.
- Splash Mountain had none of the water effects working (inside and out)
- Winnie the Pooh had a broken Tigger
- Small World had some issues (but it has every time I’ve visited)
- Soarin’ had nearly a hundred white, I assume wet, cloth towels on the ground in the queue area. I don’t know what that could possibly have been about but it looked horrible.
- What makes these issues a big deal to me is not that they aren’t working. It’s that they aren’t working and aren’t getting fixed. These things on my list weren’t working and then a week later, they still weren’t working.
- The biggest problem was the constant ride stoppages. My son and I started guessing how many times the ride would be stopped while we were on it. I don’t think there was a time we rode Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Haunted Mansion, Little Mermaid, the PeopleMover, Spaceship Earth, and even Carrousel of Progress where the ride was not stopped. And it definitely breaks the mood of the moment.
Also, try out the best water fountain on property. Fill up your water bottle at the water fountain in the loading area for the Liberty Belle.
