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

[Goofyernmost]

It’s kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario… I can’t imagine paying $300 a night for POFQ and then just sleeping there, if you aren’t enjoying the amenities at the resorts they are kind of a waste of money. We ultimately spend more on the resort than we spend on tickets so our vacation style (in our minds) maximizes value at both while also allowing us to relax and enjoy ourselves.

I can't imagine paying $300 a night anywhere. Especially not just to visit a theme park. I can stay at comparable offsite resorts and do all that stuff for much, much less. But, to each his own.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It’s kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario… I can’t imagine paying $300 a night for POFQ and then just sleeping there, if you aren’t enjoying the amenities at the resorts they are kind of a waste of money. We ultimately spend more on the resort than we spend on tickets so our vacation style (in our minds) maximizes value at both while also allowing us to relax and enjoy ourselves.

The problem there is port orleans is never worth $300…and never was.

Because the people have been played over time there too. Attendance has gone up about 24% (best guess) since 2000 but they stopped building rooms…opening I believe around 5000 plus two DVC add
Ons in that period.

But they couldn’t sell the “deluxes”…so incentivize them, right?
Or…convert a huge chunk to DVC and then raise the prices across the board! Downward lodging compression. Your 2 vacant $450 poly rooms become 1 occupied at $550, 1 timeshare and a $250 room at caribbean. And then added a $145 room at pop.

Aye…I could go on…I’ll stop.

Brilliant for management…bad for customer. The latter have no spine and the former have no limits.

(Chi gonna be mad at me…)

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Basically when I start questioning my Disney vacation decision while I'm still on the vacation. Or just no longer get the excitement about booking a Disney trip. It's getting closer and closer to that point. Not there yet.

 

[WishIWasRetired]

There should be two separate polls one for locals, solo visitors and other AP holders that are going many times a year and another poll for family's that may only go once a year or every other year. because the first group is going for a lower overall cost, and more than likely does not care if they get to do all the things that they planned because they will be back in another month or two. Family's that are going once a year are paying a lot of money at once and they will be more disappointed if the vacation does not go as planned.

 

[Cajun]

Just returned from my trip from disneyworld last week. Very crowded and could not get on a few new attractions because of break downs and no more LLanes available. We have visited every other year or so since 1982. We had a good trip with many family members but with the cost and the crowds we will opt. out for a while. Maybe the upcoming attractions will help spread the crowds. I think the lack of employes and attractions due to covid 19, have really bogged down Disney. So I,LL give them a chance to catch up.

 

[GimpYancIent]

In a way you are correct, I do have enough money to go if it were worth it, but things happen when you get older and medical stuff starts to enter the picture. At that point you have to bet that you will live long enough to need that money in future years or do I just give up and spend it on what is almost beyond a luxury. Fun as it WAS, I have been there way more then that average American and if I have to choose to save it in an effort to stave off my final years dining on Alpo. However, that said, at what it cost for a comparable WDW holiday when I was younger, I would have thought that they hit the limit for what is an equal value of money vs. product.

I have had a lot of great memories, experiences, good times at Disney properties. To me it's not a money issue but rather do I want to give the money to Disney for a product that, through personal experience, have noted is deteriorating (severely) in quality. The quality, the value, yes "The Magic" is not there anymore, definitely not for the cost / price tag Disney has placed on everything now.

 

[TheGuyThatMakesSwords]

Look, it used to be great. But it's now a Locals-only park. Living in MI? We are actively exploring dumping our 300 DVC points, or going "Renter Only".

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Look, it used to be great. But it's now a Locals-only park. Living in MI? We are actively exploring dumping our 300 DVC points, or going "Renter Only".

It’s not really great for locals either…they just have a different mentality and higher tolerance.

I’ve considered renting my DVC…but I loathe the concept…for a couple of reasons.

 

[Patcheslee]

The idea that you have to pay for a line upgrade and then it fills at 7 in the morning is pretty repulsive. I did that virtual queue for the broken Star Wars ride twice and found it awfully distasteful. The idea that it is mandatory or you take your chances on 2 hour snake queues is the worst park management I’ve ever seen. Like six flags on the Fourth of July or cedar point on a Saturday bad. Unsustainable.

Cedar Point on a Haunt Saturday

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There should be two separate polls one for locals, solo visitors and other AP holders that are going many times a year and another poll for family's that may only go once a year or every other year. because the first group is going for a lower overall cost, and more than likely does not care if they get to do all the things that they planned because they will be back in another month or two. Family's that are going once a year are paying a lot of money at once and they will be more disappointed if the vacation does not go as planned.

The problem on a board is the “seldom” aren’t here much. They are “travelers”…not fanatics. Generally speaking.

My hunch is if we had true public polls now…the amount of those dissatisfied/ripped off/nickel and dimed is going to increase dramatically this year…
That wasn’t the way in the past…because it was still accommodating enough for most…”expensive” was a constant refrain. That is not the same as “ripoff”

Something to watch.

 

[jpinkc]

Lol prior to the Pandemic we were talking about DVC for the family. Our 2018-19 trips were still acceptable. Our 2020 trip well we all know what happened. 2021 we waited to Thanksgiving for wife's birthday, and had problems from the get go, with Genie+ , reservations, still long lines. We knew what holidays were like had been before, but it just did not feel like Disney at all this trip. No Heart, No Soul, very not Disney.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Lol prior to the Pandemic we were talking about DVC for the family. Our 2018-19 trips were still acceptable. Our 2020 trip well we all know what happened. 2021 we waited to Thanksgiving for wife's birthday, and had problems from the get go, with Genie+ , reservations, still long lines. We knew what holidays were like had been before, but it just did not feel like Disney at all this trip. No Heart, No Soul, very not Disney.

I couldn’t be more adamantly against DVC than i am now. They have shown their true lack of commitment to a large and loyal fanbase with covid policies still in effect. Just disposable…with a legal deed in your hand.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I have had a lot of great memories, experiences, good times at Disney properties. To me it's not a money issue but rather do I want to give the money to Disney for a product that, through personal experience, have noted is deteriorating (severely) in quality. The quality, the value, yes "The Magic" is not there anymore, definitely not for the cost / price tag Disney has placed on everything now.

That’s me too. Even my kids are noticing it’s not as “fun” as it used to be due the planning and stress.

I’m starting to get feedback from them like: “next trip can we go to Universal” or “go to Destin” (We rent the pontoon and go to the sandbar and hang out on the beach), and even Busch Gardens. Never used to get that from them before.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Cedar Point on a Haunt Saturday

Yeah…but everyday for a month…or six months?

Like I got pictures from a relative there today…a Tuesday??

 

[Goofyernmost]

I have had a lot of great memories, experiences, good times at Disney properties. To me it's not a money issue but rather do I want to give the money to Disney for a product that, through personal experience, have noted is deteriorating (severely) in quality. The quality, the value, yes "The Magic" is not there anymore, definitely not for the cost / price tag Disney has placed on everything now.

Ah, memories. They can be hard to deal with at times. I still vividly remember our first family trip to WDW in February 1983. My wife and I and our two girls. (photo below) Now that I think about the last 48 trips since then have been an effort to relive that one trip. It never happened. Fun, yes but all the rest are just a blur of random memories. I guess in many way it followed the idea of "you can't go home again". I could never duplicate it to the same degree of excitement, joy and wonderment of that first one. A good time, to be sure, but never the same. The little girls grew up, the wife left. I took everyone, daughters, sons in laws and grandkids there for a huge family trip, with my sister and nephew there were 11 of us on that trip. That was the last time we were there all together at the same time. I started to travel solo for close to 15 years always looking for, if you'll pardon the expression, one little spark and it was never there. But at least back then it was still fun and not a hugely expensive, massively confusing and a planning brain scramble. It just became something else completely. Sure some of the same attractions still existed, but never made the same impact.

The young lady on the left now has two kids in college and one 10 year old and the little one on the right has two step kids in their 30's, one boy of her own halfway through college and one of the step kids is about to make her a step grandma. I need to point out that that transformation happened about in what seems like a week and a half. Also note that those gas station sandwiches in the plastic wrap were what they sold in the Pinocchio Village Haus at the time. So some things have gotten better.

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

Ah, memories. They can be hard to deal with at times. I still vividly remember our first family trip to WDW in February 1983. My wife and I and our two girls. (photo below) Now that I think about the last 48 trips since then have been an effort to relive that one trip. It never happened. Fun, yes but all the rest are just a blur of random memories. I guess in many way it followed the idea of "you can't go home again". I could never duplicate it to the same degree of excitement, joy and wonderment of that first one. A good time, to be sure, but never the same. The little girls grew up, the wife left. I took everyone daughters, sons in laws and grandkids there for a huge family trip, with my sister and nephew there were 11 of us on that trip. That was the last time we were there all together at the same time. I started to travel solo for close to 15 years always looking for, if you'll pardon the expression, one little spark and it was never there. But at least back then it was still fun and not a hugely expensive, massively confusing and a planning brain scramble. It just became something else completely. Sure some of the same attractions still existed, but never made the same impact.

View attachment 626063

The young lady on the left now has two kids in college and one 10 year old and the little one on the right has two step kids in their 30's, one boy of her own halfway through college and one of the step kids is about to make her a step grandma. I need to point out that that particular change came about in what seems like a week and a half. Also note that those gas station sandwiches in the plastic wrap were what they sold in the Pinocchio Village Haus at the time. So some things have gotten better.

Thanks for sharing! What a great picture!!

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Ah, memories. They can be hard to deal with at times. I still vividly remember our first family trip to WDW in February 1983. My wife and I and our two girls. (photo below) Now that I think about the last 48 trips since then have been an effort to relive that one trip. It never happened. Fun, yes but all the rest are just a blur of random memories. I guess in many way it followed the idea of "you can't go home again". I could never duplicate it to the same degree of excitement, joy and wonderment of that first one. A good time, to be sure, but never the same. The little girls grew up, the wife left. I took everyone daughters, sons in laws and grandkids there for a huge family trip, with my sister and nephew there were 11 of us on that trip. That was the last time we were there all together at the same time. I started to travel solo for close to 15 years always looking for, if you'll pardon the expression, one little spark and it was never there. But at least back then it was still fun and not a hugely expensive, massively confusing and a planning brain scramble. It just became something else completely. Sure some of the same attractions still existed, but never made the same impact.

View attachment 626063

The young lady on the left now has two kids in college and one 10 year old and the little one on the right has two step kids in their 30's, one boy of her own halfway through college and one of the step kids is about to make her a step grandma. I need to point out that that particular change came about in what seems like a week and a half. Also note that those gas station sandwiches in the plastic wrap were what they sold in the Pinocchio Village Haus at the time. So some things have gotten better.

I love this post and think this is why so many of us are such huge Disney fans, we directly associate Disney with good memories. I look around my house and most my pictures are from a Disney park or runDisney. I’ve been all over Europe and those probably account for 10% of the pictures in my house, the other 90% are me with friends and/or family at Disney.

 

[jlhwdw]

You need the "I already stopped" option

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

You need the "I already stopped" option

I thought about this, but decided "already stopped" isn't a reason for stopping. My goal is to figure out what reasons people would consider, or having already stopped. In the "already stopped" case, please tell us what caused your stoppage.

 

[Wilbret]

We already don’t go as often. We won’t go this year, will do universal instead. It’s a combination of everything you mentioned.

Ultimately, when it feels more like Six Flags than Disney, we wouldn’t go. Disrepair, dirty bathrooms, closed entertainment, overcrowded “special” events, carnival rides (ahem Alien Swirling Saucers), sketchy parking lot… etc.

We have passes to several other parks, and can get our kicks in for waaaaay less than Disney. We are DVC, so we still get the feel of being there a couple times per year, even if just doing SeaWorld and Legoland.