What will it take to stop you from going to WDW?

[JohnnyAmerican]

pre-pandemic, we have gone every year for the last 15 years. The last 2 times I made the statement this would be the last time because the "magic" has greatly been replaced with hassle, and have been spending more time in Universal, and now that the boy is older, will probably replace Disney with Sea World. A 5th gate and replacing lightning with what Universal does may draw us back, but the experience is not worth the cost anymore.

 

[yensid1967]

I am at the end of my rope with Disney. Not just the higher prices, but the lack of attention to detail as it was in earlier years, 90-00's I have a ORLANDO trip 'PLANNED" for December 2026, depending on what happen between now and then will dictate if we go to Disney at all! There are A LOT of OTHER THINGS to do in Orlando than theme parks!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I am at the end of my rope with Disney. Not just the higher prices, but the lack of attention to detail as it was in earlier years, 90-00's I have a ORLANDO trip 'PLANNED" for December 2026, depending on what happen between now and then will dictate if we go to Disney at all! There are A LOT of OTHER THINGS to do in Orlando than theme parks!

There are other parks in close proximity as well.

 

[Ayla]

Checked used Prius prices a 10 yr old Prius is going for 17k-20k Just about the time you have to change the batteries considerable cost ~$1500 12 yr life span. As far as changing oil I have never taken any of my cars to have the oil changed do it myself ~20 bucks-- gas will be cheaper once there is a regiem change

I just spent $600 for 30,000 mile maintenance on my 2019 vehicle. If you think $1500 every 12 years for maintenance/battery is too much, you have no business owning any kind of vehicle.

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

In a lame attempt to get back on topic, what if Disney replaced HM, PotC and SM with completely new projected IP rides unrelated to what they are currently?? How many folks would that ruin Disney for? Would that be enough to turn you away? I mean honestly, if anyone of those rides was replaced, I couldn't see going back any time soon. As it is with the way they've ruined the experience, I'm already holding back from a new trip any time soon, but to rip out my favorites that are also extremely popular and date back to Walt.... that would ruin Disney for me indefinitely, perhaps forever.

 

[Goofyernmost]

In a lame attempt to get back on topic, what if Disney replaced HM, PotC and SM with completely new projected IP rides unrelated to what they are currently?? How many folks would that ruin Disney for? Would that be enough to turn you away? I mean honestly, if anyone of those rides was replaced, I couldn't see going back any time soon. As it is with the way they've ruined the experience, I'm already holding back from a new trip any time soon, but to rip out my favorites that are also extremely popular and date back to Walt.... that would ruin Disney for me indefinitely, perhaps forever.

I don't mind new rides based on IP's. Entertainment is entertainment and I think it is foolish to be upset about it. If one doesn't like that happening, one must really hate things like Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan and a host of others. That said, if they were to try to eliminate the classics they will end my desire to ever go again. I don't mind a few changes to modernize the stories as long as the heart of them remains solid.

 

[Wilbret]

In a lame attempt to get back on topic, what if Disney replaced HM, PotC and SM with completely new projected IP rides unrelated to what they are currently?? How many folks would that ruin Disney for? Would that be enough to turn you away? I mean honestly, if anyone of those rides was replaced, I couldn't see going back any time soon. As it is with the way they've ruined the experience, I'm already holding back from a new trip any time soon, but to rip out my favorites that are also extremely popular and date back to Walt.... that would ruin Disney for me indefinitely, perhaps forever.

Do you mean overlays or completely replacing props with screens? I would be devastated about it at first, but I might try it out of spite, prepared to mock it. If it was good, I might begrudgingly admit it.

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

I don't mind new rides based on IP's. Entertainment is entertainment and I think it is foolish to be upset about it. If one doesn't like that happening, one must really hate things like Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan and a host of others. That said, if they were to try to eliminate the classics they will end my desire to ever go again. I don't mind a few changes to modernize the stories as long as the heart of them remains solid.

I'm good with the originals, meaning the ones where rides were introduced early. I'm not saying don't ever change the parks. I just mean please don't rip out Haunted Mansion to create a Princess and the Frog dark ride that looks more line Winnie the Pooh. Or don't take out Space Mountain for a Buzz Lightyear spinning ride. Stuff like that. Don't mind the classics as is, but don't completely change the beloved classic rides.

Do you mean overlays or completely replacing props with screens? I would be devastated about it at first, but I might try it out of spite, prepared to mock it. If it was good, I might begrudgingly admit it.

As I mentioned a second ago, completely ripping out classics. Now turning the HM into a M&MRR version of HM would be horrifying. I'd never ride it again if all they did was replace everything with white walls, and then project cartoons or even movies of ghosts. Literally, I'd never give Disney a penny more of my money ever. I'm sorta of at this point now with the terrible changes to reduce the overall experience, but right now there's a very slim chance I might go there for a couple days while visiting Universal for the majority of a week. If they ruined the HM with projected scenes, I could never forgive them. Even though I know how they create ghosts in the HM, a projection of a ghost in a scene onto a wall or opaque screen does not make for a creepy feeling. The mystic feeling of Pepper's Ghost and what already exists is just superior.

That said, I'm man enough to admit when something is an improvement, so if they try to ruin it and accidentally create something better, I'll give kudos, but I don't see that happening with that specific ride. The likelihood of them screwing it up is far greater than improvement.

HOWEVER, as much as I love PotC "as was", meaning before ruining the auction scene, I also find the video ride-thru of the Shanghai Pirates to be pretty cool. If they change MK's PotC to the same as Shanghai, it might be pretty cool. It looks to be a good mix of very effective projections and animatronics.

 

[NickMaio]

In a lame attempt to get back on topic, what if Disney replaced HM, PotC and SM with completely new projected IP rides unrelated to what they are currently?? How many folks would that ruin Disney for? Would that be enough to turn you away? I mean honestly, if anyone of those rides was replaced, I couldn't see going back any time soon. As it is with the way they've ruined the experience, I'm already holding back from a new trip any time soon, but to rip out my favorites that are also extremely popular and date back to Walt.... that would ruin Disney for me indefinitely, perhaps forever.

Wdw please stop replacing rides......make new ones.
Plenty of space

 

[carnini]

I tend to agree with these type of thread, already we have nixed out at least once a year trip. Its the nickle and diming for everything. Last Went Nov 2021 to Epcot, could not get any lightening lane passes or virtual queues even when trying at the opening times. Our group had some that bought Genie+, could not get it to work. We did luck out and had early entry from an off site hotel, so got to see a lot more, then the people I saw waiting for opening. Its all the lack of perks now, no magical express but hotel prices all went up. Less food options at all stands and yet prices increase, what is it now over $4 for water. I honeslty could justify the yearly cost, we went on shoulder seasons, which use to be cheaper, and there was a lot of entertainment for our money. We would spend a good 12 hours at the park and see so much, not anymore. Its sad but at the point think we are pretty much done, maybe a long weekend for the Flower and Garden but I cant imagine doing a 8 day trip anymore, we are priced out.

 

[Rickcat96]

Here is the deal, I won't give a single dollar to Disney while they are skimping out on food, merc, and service-while increasing prices. To me it's gouging. I care less about the losses due to Covid shut down, they failed 10 years prior to improve the capacity when they could.

I also don't buy they have labor shortages; they don't want to hire because it costs more money. The so-called pricing based on demand according to Chappie is not because more folks are going, it's because less crowd eating offerings are still stalled, and food and beverage is not at capacity to thin out the crowds.

Both Chapek and Mcarthy have bragged about how they are gouging the customer base. It's no secret.

 

[Andriadisney]

What has prevented our return so far has been genie +, none or lost benefits of staying on property, no magic express, walking around all day with our heads in our phones, removal of our ability to park hope whenever we want. The worst is the pick your main park situation. Getting locked into making that reservation without locking in ride reservation? What if I can’t get on any rides for that park at 7? There should at least be priority given to guests that choose that park as their entry for the day. There Disney, you can use my idea. Also, can anyone tell me if anyone has a direct line to cheapeck? He doesn’t read, nor does he care about our opinions as guests. All he knows is people keep paying and the parks are flooded. He could not care less that you or I hate waiting in lines. He’s actually laughing on his yacht right now. Rubbing his hands together humming, muhahahah.

 

[Djsfantasi]

There is another situation that worked in my decision not to return to WDW in the future. I can make ADR 70 days out, but cannot make ride reservations. This ends up in Genie+ not working for me. Recently, I bought Genie+ But could not use it because day of, the only rides available were either during my dining reservations or so much later that we were no longer in the park.

I’m retired, older and limited in the hours I can spend in a park. So, I could either not dine at a TS restaurant, pay the penalty for not showing up or skip the rides I wanted. All of these options were not desirable.

I won’t be returning in 2022 or 2023. I’ve told my Authorized Disney Travel Planner to book me an all-inclusive (non-Disney) Caribbean resort trip for my next vacation. I won’t return to Disney for five or more years and not until they restore the vacation experience that I'm used to.

 

[annabanana]

We went 2x in 2021. First trip was in APril that had been rescheduled twice because of Covid. Second one was in November as a last minute booking to use expiring point from a Dec use year contract.

November was the most stressful, exhausting, unenjoyable trip we have ever been on. My kids (15, 14 and 12) said they hated it and do not want to return.

Genie+ is awful. Paying all this money to stay in an expensive hotel and not be guaranteed to get on the headliners without a 3 hour wait was awful. Having to wake up prior to 7am every day was exhausting. Having to be on our phones all day was annoying as hell. Overlapping ride return times with dining reservations made it stressful. There was no housekeeping and our rooms was a mess. Lines were insane long (rope dropped AK and got in line for FOP and still waited over 2.5 hours, even with early entry).

There was nothing good about this trip at all.


Disney has turned into a money grubbing wh***e of a company and we wont be back

Paying for lightening lanes have waaay doubled the wait for rides. It is not working. I can't believe they even implemented this.

 

[mf1972]

i don’t know if this was mentioned yet. i haven’t read the previous pages. but if they take away free transportation to the parks, etc & have guests pay a small fee for each day of your trip, that would suck. i would also throw out having to pay a small processing fee when making ADR for table service restaurants. i’m probably giving bob ideas if he reads these threads

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

i don’t know if this was mentioned yet. i haven’t read the previous pages. but if they take away free transportation to the parks, etc & have guests pay a small fee for each day of your trip, that would suck. i would also throw out having to pay a small processing fee when making ADR for table service restaurants. i’m probably giving bob ideas if he reads these threads

With all due respect, Bob Chapek. Btw, he's due no respect for what he's done. I long for the days of inept management that made no improvements over the current management who is actively degrading the Disney experience. Disney is ruining Disney.

I read in a post a few back someone mentioned that the reason Disney won't change and that they do all these awful things including price gouging is because their customers accept it. That may be the case for a majority of folks who already had plans to visit in the immediate future, summer, perhaps even the fall. I have a feeling those trips will be the last for a large number of folks when they realize they're paying tremendously more for a far diminished experience. I realize not everyone feels or will feel that way, but I believe a large number will. Disney may not suffer in the immediate future, but I have a feeling the parks will suffer in the long run. There may be those who have already decided that it's not worth it, but others could possibly decide in the near future after another trip.

If only 10% of customers are already or will be dissatisfied to not attend, that would mean a dip in attendance from 21M in the last normal year (2019) to below 19M. A number change like that given that all other things had returned to normal will catch the attention of management. It seems like the vast majority of people on this site are discontent, but maybe not all will decide not to go. Regarding average Joe and Jane out there who don't visit this or other fan sites, I really think these changes are enough to catch their attention after another visit. They might ignore while booking the next trip, but I bet a large number will be unhappy after they realize the experience is nowhere close to what they remember from the past.

That said, since there has been a large increase in prices and cut in costs, company margins might not panic the average investor, but a trend of decreasing attendance will catch up to them. It will just take time, my guess is about 3 years before Disney really feels it and fires Bob.

 

[WondersOfLife]

June and August are my last trips to WDW until something goes right again. And I’m only going those two times due to promises I’d take first timers.

The nail in the coffin for me was the sad state of American Adventure at Epcot.. that is when it really hit me. (Plus the prices and genie+)

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

June and August are my last trips to WDW until something goes right again. And I’m only going those two times due to promises I’d take first timers.

The nail in the coffin for me was the sad state of American Adventure at Epcot.. that is when it really hit me. (Plus the prices and genie+)

What about it?

 

[WondersOfLife]

What about it?

You can check out the latest TPM Vidz of animatronic fails. On top of that, on my last viewing, it was Will Rogers being slumped over as a statue coming up onstage. As well as the AA descending from the sky not working since who knows when. Plus other AAs super shaky, not in best condition.

It was the nail in the coffin for me, amidst a bunch of other small things adding up to that moment. Seeing my favorite attraction at Epcot like that just made me want to vomit.

 

[WondersOfLife]

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com