So is anyone not going anymore? (I'm still a fan. lol)

[Kingtut]

I tell myself that maybe I should see WDW the same way but the thing I come back to though is if its not a "riding rides kind of trip" then the cost of admission is not really worth it. There are thousands of beautiful hotels with great pools, great food and in great locations , often for less money, so if the parks aren't workable due to crowds then it doesn't seem like a good value.

As you can see, I am on the fence about downgrading my summer trip to a quick visit staying in a tent with the rest of the time in the Keys.

Well it just happened for us - we just returned from an 8 day stay in Orlando and didn't set foot on a Disney property ( though I did drive through between LBV and 192) We had planned to do the the Disney after hours event but everyday we kept putting it off because we couldn't justify the cost for 4 of us for 1 night. We had also planned a stop at Disney springs but each time we drove past there was no one in the car who wanted to stop. We are planning another trip in the fall and Disney isn't on the short list.

We spent the time at Uni and one day at Volcano Bay ( which is nice but IMHO not as well thought out as the Disney water parks. Whoever planned the ramp down and then up should be sentenced to push wheelchairs up and down all day in flip flops. I think they did this for sight lines but they could have put in a hidden door for wheelchair access - We have the technology.)

So all of you who will say "More space for me" -OK but I still think it is sad that Disney has lost at least one more family.

 

[bhg469]

Well it just happened for us - we just returned from an 8 day stay in Orlando and didn't set foot on a Disney property ( though I did drive through between LBV and 192) We had planned to do the the Disney after hours event but everyday we kept putting it off because we couldn't justify the cost for 4 of us for 1 night. We had also planned a stop at Disney springs but each time we drove past there was no one in the car who wanted to stop. We are planning another trip in the fall and Disney isn't on the short list.

We spent the time at Uni and one day at Volcano Bay ( which is nice but IMHO not as well thought out as the Disney water parks. Whoever planned the ramp down and then up should be sentenced to push wheelchairs up and down all day in flip flops. I think they did this for sight lines but they could have put in a hidden door for wheelchair access - We have the technology.)

So all of you who will say "More space for me" -OK but I still think it is sad that Disney has lost at least one more family.

Even when we move down to FL i think it will be a situation where I will not even buy an annual pass, or at least not a full pass for a few years. Yes there is a ton coming out in the next few years but they should have been filling the pas 15 with more so the next few years wont be so unbearable. I predict the opening of star wars will possibly hurt them in that many of those visitors are going to have such a bad time with crowds, that they will just never want to go back.

 

[drp4video]

When my daughter was in middle school and high school we went 2-3 times a year. When she went to college, it was maybe 2 times, but by her third year, it as once a year. She finished in 2010, and once employed, we went two more times. Last time she was there as 2013. I was there in 2015. We are going again together in May, but I am thinking that this will be the last time for a long time. Makes me sad, but there are just too many other places in the world to go to for close to the same dollar as going to WDW, that don't have the insane crowds or require such detailed planning so far in advance.

 

[NelleBelle]

Well it just happened for us - we just returned from an 8 day stay in Orlando and didn't set foot on a Disney property ( though I did drive through between LBV and 192) We had planned to do the the Disney after hours event but everyday we kept putting it off because we couldn't justify the cost for 4 of us for 1 night. We had also planned a stop at Disney springs but each time we drove past there was no one in the car who wanted to stop. We are planning another trip in the fall and Disney isn't on the short list.

We spent the time at Uni and one day at Volcano Bay ( which is nice but IMHO not as well thought out as the Disney water parks. Whoever planned the ramp down and then up should be sentenced to push wheelchairs up and down all day in flip flops. I think they did this for sight lines but they could have put in a hidden door for wheelchair access - We have the technology.)

So all of you who will say "More space for me" -OK but I still think it is sad that Disney has lost at least one more family.

Quick question re. Volcano Bay, we plan to go to US when we do our WDW trip in early June—we are getting the PH and more pass but wanted to know if it was worth going to Volcano Bay or just keep to the WDW water parks?

 

[FettFan]

so with all the post on the parks being anything between "disappointing to bad" has anyone made the decision to not go back to WDW?

Me for the time being.

 

[Kingtut]

Quick question re. Volcano Bay, we plan to go to US when we do our WDW trip in early June—we are getting the PH and more pass but wanted to know if it was worth going to Volcano Bay or just keep to the WDW water parks?

Try to research VB before you decide. Look for maps and what your group likes to do. It might also make a difference if you stay in one of the Uni resorts where you can walk to VB - we stayed off property.

Keep in mind I had a child/teen in a wheelchair to deal with and that might not affect you. After a day at VB my family feels that the Disney water parks are where we would want to go again when we return.

 

[NickMaio]

We still have tickets that do NOT expire - we have 12 theme park days and 26 Water Park days......so ya we are still going.

A side note - it really is too bad Disney got rid of the non-expiration option. We did this for years.
At the time - - 2 years before they got rid of them - it came to $50 per day per park.....Awesome times

Not looking forward to buying tix once we use our up.

 

[drizgirl]

We still have tickets that do NOT expire - we have 12 theme park days and 26 Water Park days......so ya we are still going.

A side note - it really is too bad Disney got rid of the non-expiration option. We did this for years.
At the time - - 2 years before they got rid of them - it came to $50 per day per park.....Awesome times

Not looking forward to buying tix once we use our up.

I'll be curious to hear if your value calculations change when you have to start buying new tickets. I know mine would.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Disney still has my heart.

And my axe!

 

[OneofThree]

Nice to know we all have our priorities straight in the US -vacation first, education second. It's no wonder that we're falling behind the rest of the world and failing miserably in that regard, with a third or less of US students proficient in reading, math, science, and history.

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Nice to know we all have our priorities straight in the US -vacation first, education second.

And both financed by consumer debt. Dilly dilly!

 

[ford91exploder]

Even when we move down to FL i think it will be a situation where I will not even buy an annual pass, or at least not a full pass for a few years. Yes there is a ton coming out in the next few years but they should have been filling the pas 15 with more so the next few years wont be so unbearable. I predict the opening of star wars will possibly hurt them in that many of those visitors are going to have such a bad time with crowds, that they will just never want to go back.

Star Wars is a classic example of 'Go Big or Go Home' Disney chose instead to play 'small ball' and I think when it opens it's really going to hurt because of the mismatch between demand and capacity

 

[ford91exploder]

Nice to know we all have our priorities straight in the US -vacation first, education second. It's no wonder that we're falling behind the rest of the world and failing miserably in that regard, with a third or less of US students proficient in reading, math, science, and history.

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/

Agree with you on the state of education, Unfortunately a LOT of parents don't have a choice when they can take their vacation especially if they work for a manufacturing concern where vacation is only allowed during plant downtimes.

 

[NelleBelle]

Also, there are failing school districts that are allowed to continue. Maybe its time the public school education system was overhauled. Teachers are vastly underpaid (look at the poor teachers of W. Virginia, no pun intended). I feel truly blessed that we can afford private school education for our children. I'd give up all our Disney vacations in perpetuity to keep them in private education as it's such a mess in such a great many places

 

[NickMaio]

Nice to know we all have our priorities straight in the US -vacation first, education second. It's no wonder that we're falling behind the rest of the world and failing miserably in that regard, with a third or less of US students proficient in reading, math, science, and history.

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/

I am not sure I follow - - - what does this thread have to do with the education system???

Perhaps the flaw in the system is not the system of learning or a families importance on time together, but rather the needless quantification of something that can't legitimately be quantified. The North American system to evaluate our student's is inherently flawed, we still test our kids the same way we did 100 years ago - - times have changed ---- education and its evaluation methods have not.

Imagine if people on this board did not take their families on vacations, to rest, relax and spend time together........I think the US would be much worse off, in the classroom at least.
Our children need more breaks from school - time to reset and think/absorb what they have been taught.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

And my axe!

Your...body spray? Might need to petition to get that back. Those are pricey.

 

[OneofThree]

I am not sure I follow - - - what does this thread have to do with the education system???

I didn't reference the system specifically. We author, approve, and fund. As far as metrics go? Let's talk real-world. Any idea how many HR officers will tell you that new hires simply aren't prepared anymore? This is evidenced by firms' reliance upon talent from foreign countries, particularly in STEM. We continue to fall behind -and it's not because our kids are working too hard, promise.

 

[ford91exploder]

Also, there are failing school districts that are allowed to continue. Maybe its time the public school education system was overhauled. Teachers are vastly underpaid (look at the poor teachers of W. Virginia, no pun intended). I feel truly blessed that we can afford private school education for our children. I'd give up all our Disney vacations in perpetuity to keep them in private education as it's such a mess in such a great many places

In most cases public school teachers are paid MORE than their private school equivalents, The big problem with public schooling is that most of the money spent by the taxpayer NEVER makes it to the classroom, It's spent on the educrats who supposedly run the school districts who need to go to conventions in Hawaii and other pleasant destinations. Kids need pencils and paper, Well the teachers buy those for the kids out of their pay.

In my district schools are failing overcrowded etc, yet what is the priority of the district the construction of a new administrative office building to house all the educrats for a few tens of millions of dollars.

Full disclosure DW is a teacher.

 

[ford91exploder]

I am not sure I follow - - - what does this thread have to do with the education system???

Perhaps the flaw in the system is not the system of learning or a families importance on time together, but rather the needless quantification of something that can't legitimately be quantified. The North American system to evaluate our student's is inherently flawed, we still test our kids the same way we did 100 years ago - - times have changed ---- education and its evaluation methods have not.

Imagine if people on this board did not take their families on vacations, to rest, relax and spend time together........I think the US would be much worse off, in the classroom at least.
Our children need more breaks from school - time to reset and think/absorb what they have been taught.

Most Americans don't even take their vacations any longer out of fear they will be replaced, Out of all the developed nations we are the ONLY nation who does not mandate time off for its workers, Even in bloody CHINA all workers are guaranteed a 2 week vacation by the government in addition to state holidays. My 'vacations' are joining the family trip for a 3 day weekend and have been for years.

 

[NickMaio]

I didn't reference the system specifically. We author, approve, and fund. As far as metrics go? Let's talk real-world. Any idea how many HR officers will tell you that new hires simply aren't prepared anymore? This is evidenced by firms' reliance upon talent from foreign countries, particularly in STEM. We continue to fall behind -and it's not because our kids are working too hard, promise.

Real world - 1 education system can not possibly prepare individuals for a workforce with multiple facets - We need a multi prong approach depending on each student's strengths and weakness' - - right now we have a single broad approach to teaching and evaluating.
We are still grouping children by age and not ability - - - that is our first Western mistake.

It sounded like you were trying to say that people who take vacations were the reason for falling scores compared to the world.

Changing the education system - especially the publicly funded systems is much harder than simple ideas and theories. I know this I have been an educator on Canada for the past 12 years.