Just got back from WDW, for which may have been our last time. This was our 7th visit in 10 years. To be honest, a lot of the magical pixie dust we had on our first and second trips has long since evaporated. Whilst our trip wasn't a complete bust - we finally got to go on the new Everest ride and saw the new Nemo show in AK as well as a few other minor changes which had appeared since our last trip in '05. We trudged around these parks and heaving pushing crowds with a sense of "not much has changed" and "we've already seen and done everything years ago". We chose this time of year because the place is decorated up and of supposed "light attendance".
We managed Mickey's Very Merry Party on the 4th Dec and even now, I'm wondering what it was I paid my money for. I expected something better than a free cup of tepid brown sludge with a circle of sickly sugar biscuit I couldn't eat. Yes all the rides were open, but we'd been in the park all day and already done everything. I just felt as if I'd been ripped off. Probably not as ripped off as those people who paid to go into the park to find that Wishes and Spectromagic parades had been cancelled because of it. I heard a lot of people moan about who spent a lot of money to come to WDW and have a lot of the best stuff cancelled because of this party.
We came to WDW at this time because of I wanted to see the Osborne Lights. We turned up to watch them, only to have them turned off an hour later - and the park close early - because of some 'private function' at Hollywood Studios. I hadn't finished filming them and I don't pay to be thrown out of a park early, why can't they have functions AFTER park hours? It was upsetting to see the lights switched back on just as we were driving out the car park lot. Again, it left us feeling disappointed and left out. We saw a lot of this "second-class" treatment outside of WDW in Seaworld and IoA. I am paying guest to WDW, and if it were not for paying guests, WDW would not exist. So why are paying guests being treated like this?
We decided not to bothered with any of the late magical hours, as by the time the parks close, we'd simply had enough and wanted to leave. Every night it was tiredness and boredom which drove us back to the hotel with no incentive to prolong our stay in the parks.
Then there was our hotel, the Coronado Springs Resort. Firstly, we had issues with basic cleanliness on arrival, our keys which never worked in the barriers, the lack of information given to us by Concierge (a long story here) then there is that rather useless and confusing Pepper Market restaurant and its lack of service.
We had to be shown to a table (As if we can't find our own empty table in an empty room), we then had to get our own food and then - because the staff were too busy talking with themselves, get up and get our own drinks from the cafe next door. Then I had an argument about why I should pay a service charge when I haven’t received any service.
After that, we never bothered going in there again. Compared to Riverside and French Quarter, this place is bottom of the list and the only time we would go back is only if everywhere else is full. (assuming we do go back). Don't even get me started on the bus services at Colorando Springs....one 40 min wait to MK one morning was enough, so we drove to each park everyday even though I didn't want to. As for trying to get a dining table anywhere in WDW, forget it. So we had to go outside WDW for a decent meal, having tired of greasy burgers and pizzas.
As I said, it wasn't a total loss but there was no magical experience to be had for us. What good times we had were washed away with heaving crowds, short-changing of times and events, unstable weather and long lines to go on "the same old stuff". Along with regular bouts of ride breakdowns, people cutting in lines, idiots waving camcorders in my face (when they have a clear view already) and the countless other activities by thoughtless people.
We have no plans to go back - simply because we would rather go somewhere else on vacation and put up with all that again. If we do, it won't be for a very long time.
"The place of a million dreams"? Sorry.
We managed Mickey's Very Merry Party on the 4th Dec and even now, I'm wondering what it was I paid my money for. I expected something better than a free cup of tepid brown sludge with a circle of sickly sugar biscuit I couldn't eat. Yes all the rides were open, but we'd been in the park all day and already done everything. I just felt as if I'd been ripped off. Probably not as ripped off as those people who paid to go into the park to find that Wishes and Spectromagic parades had been cancelled because of it. I heard a lot of people moan about who spent a lot of money to come to WDW and have a lot of the best stuff cancelled because of this party.
We came to WDW at this time because of I wanted to see the Osborne Lights. We turned up to watch them, only to have them turned off an hour later - and the park close early - because of some 'private function' at Hollywood Studios. I hadn't finished filming them and I don't pay to be thrown out of a park early, why can't they have functions AFTER park hours? It was upsetting to see the lights switched back on just as we were driving out the car park lot. Again, it left us feeling disappointed and left out. We saw a lot of this "second-class" treatment outside of WDW in Seaworld and IoA. I am paying guest to WDW, and if it were not for paying guests, WDW would not exist. So why are paying guests being treated like this?
We decided not to bothered with any of the late magical hours, as by the time the parks close, we'd simply had enough and wanted to leave. Every night it was tiredness and boredom which drove us back to the hotel with no incentive to prolong our stay in the parks.
Then there was our hotel, the Coronado Springs Resort. Firstly, we had issues with basic cleanliness on arrival, our keys which never worked in the barriers, the lack of information given to us by Concierge (a long story here) then there is that rather useless and confusing Pepper Market restaurant and its lack of service.
We had to be shown to a table (As if we can't find our own empty table in an empty room), we then had to get our own food and then - because the staff were too busy talking with themselves, get up and get our own drinks from the cafe next door. Then I had an argument about why I should pay a service charge when I haven’t received any service.
After that, we never bothered going in there again. Compared to Riverside and French Quarter, this place is bottom of the list and the only time we would go back is only if everywhere else is full. (assuming we do go back). Don't even get me started on the bus services at Colorando Springs....one 40 min wait to MK one morning was enough, so we drove to each park everyday even though I didn't want to. As for trying to get a dining table anywhere in WDW, forget it. So we had to go outside WDW for a decent meal, having tired of greasy burgers and pizzas.
As I said, it wasn't a total loss but there was no magical experience to be had for us. What good times we had were washed away with heaving crowds, short-changing of times and events, unstable weather and long lines to go on "the same old stuff". Along with regular bouts of ride breakdowns, people cutting in lines, idiots waving camcorders in my face (when they have a clear view already) and the countless other activities by thoughtless people.
We have no plans to go back - simply because we would rather go somewhere else on vacation and put up with all that again. If we do, it won't be for a very long time.
"The place of a million dreams"? Sorry.
