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

[Sirwalterraleigh]

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.

This is kinda where I’m at. Using DAKL or boardwalk as a “base of operations”

I’m not gonna line their coffers as I have loyally my entire adult life…nor will I rent it so some fools who look at it like beach rentals can show up and blow cash on stuff that I know you shouldn’t (Halloween parties on august 15th ) to let Disney profit off my investment and commitment to them 17 years ago.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Literally nothing. WDW is my happy place. Always has been, always will be. I choose to adapt and go with the flow, as opposed to whining about every little change. I’ve never not had a great time when I’m in WDW. Nothing in life is perfect, but WDW comes darn close for me.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Literally nothing. WDW is my happy place. Always has been, always will be. I choose to adapt and go with the flow, as opposed to whining about every little change. I’ve never not had a great time when I’m in WDW. Nothing in life is perfect, but WDW comes darn close for me.

I wonder what age bracket you’re in? That’s not a troll…it just helps me understand your perspective

 

[JusticeDisney]

I wonder what age bracket you’re in? That’s not a troll…it just helps me understand your perspective

I’m 50. Been going to WDW for 4 decades. I’ve experienced it from its roots through its current form.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m 50. Been going to WDW for 4 decades. I’ve experienced it from its roots through its current form.

I gotcha. You cut your teeth during its high point. I can totally understand that.

 

[The Lochness Monsta]

Money, I'll be priced out if it gets too high in price.

Second would have to be crowd levels. It looks like it's been superpacked even during the supposedly low crowd time.

 

[dreday3]

Literally nothing. WDW is my happy place. Always has been, always will be. I choose to adapt and go with the flow, as opposed to whining about every little change. I’ve never not had a great time when I’m in WDW. Nothing in life is perfect, but WDW comes darn close for me.

I’m 50. Been going to WDW for 4 decades. I’ve experienced it from its roots through its current form.

This is same for me. Been going since the 70's, 80's, missed most of 90's (I was too cool ) came back and started again in 2000.

As someone posted a lot more eloquently than I can, going there reminds me so much of my youth and my Dad. He's 83 now and not as active, but he would still go if he could. Disney will always be in our trip rotation until we just plain can't afford it. It just feels like home and I'm happy just being there.

I also can say I get why people are over it and would never convince them they shouldn't be.

 

[LittleMerman]

Honestly nothing which is why Disney continues to raise prices while taking things away. They know we love it and a lot of us will always go back no matter what. At the end of the day, they continue to offer an amazing product. We overanalyze the company and everything in the parks on this forum but to me, it's still a fantastic experience. I was there for 9 days a few weeks ago and had a blast despite the shortcomings. The changes for the worse are bad in theory but once I was there I barely cared because I was having so much fun!

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

I went in late Jan and was so completely frustrated with all the price increases, especially Genie+. I was on a buddy trip with my friend and texted my husband that we should cancel a trip we had planned for Nov due to how expensive everything had become. Now that being said I am the one in my family who absolutely loved going to WDW so I decided to book one last solo trip for a couple of reasons. One, I’ve wanted to go on a solo since my last one a few years ago and two, it’s going to be the last trip for a while. Not sure how long, but I know prices will continue to rise and rise in the meantime. So who knows when I’ll go back but in the meantime we’re going to start traveling and doing other things, like our first cruise ever that’s replaced the trip to WDW (and staying in the WL ). I’m incredibly sad that over the years that love I’ve had for so long has been eroding. I cannot even imagine what the cost will be when I finally decide to go back.

 

[Nottamus]

The nickel and diming will continue In little increments but it’s got to hit a point somewhere where it’s just too much.

The overcrowding is an issue, probably calm down when panic vacations aren’t a thing anymore, but not to the relaxing empty park level

The removal of perks that came with AP or DVC or even all perks like parking for free at resorts for anyone. The bubble is getting a little riddled with holes that make staying outside more attractive to some

Personally, I will stop going when the wife I no longer have fun, when it’s just too much. There’s places to look for an enjoyable vacation past the rides with their Genie tolls, and long lines - but they are getting fewer as well.

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

Money, I'll be priced out if it gets too high in price.

Second would have to be crowd levels. It looks like it's been superpacked even during the supposed low crowd time.

I'm quoting this reply not as a direct response to the poster, but because it illustrates something I struggle to understand. Before I start, please know I'm not in disagreement with either of these points because they're both an issue individually IMO.

Both price increases and overcrowding have a large majority of votes. Logically I wasn't expecting both of these reasons to draw a majority of votes. Almost 2 in 3 voters chose at least one of these two reasons, and given that they're both voted by a majority, there has to be overlap. The part I can't understand is how someone can expect crowds to shrink if prices were reduced. One can't expect crowds to shrink if Disney makes it more affordable considering they're already drawing record crowds. I mean, as a matter of argument you can state that Disney needs to open up new parks/attractions and spread the crowd out more, but that only brings higher prices to pay for the expansion. I'm not saying they shouldn't expand. They absolutely should, but as a business, if you produce a lower value product for an increased price and you still attract record crowds, then there's really no reason to try to improve anything let alone reduce prices.

I'm sincerely asking if I'm missing some other way to reduce crowds and prices at the same time, and still make business sense? Just curious.

 

[tagoofy]

Sorry if this has been done before, but I'm really curious of everyone's thoughts. In dozens of different threads I've seen comments from folks saying they're done with WDW for various reasons. Others feel TWDC can do no wrong and will go no matter what leadership crams down their throat. So, I'm wondering what will it finally take to stop people from going. No weekend trips. No annual pass. No 8-day vacations. What will it take? I turned this into a poll, but I'm really curious about people's opinions, so please elaborate especially since the poll only allows 10 options. The poll allows voting for multiple reasons. Please pick all that apply.

For me it's the following, some of which have been realized already, some perhaps not.

• attraction line system that actually makes the whole experience worse (Genie+)
• ripping out beloved attractions like HM, PotC, SoC, GMR, RnRC would be or has been catastrophic to my experience
• replacing beloved rides with IPs like Stitch in place of Alien Encounter, M&MRR in place of GMR
• killing rides that had great effects for lazy efforts like the aforementioned M&MRR
• disrepair or poor condition of the parks and rides
• reduced entertainment like shows, fireworks, meet & greets, etc.
• nickle & diming the customers. I find this a distinctly different category from just price increases. This is the deceptive practice of charging small amounts for just about anything you can do, therefore hiding the overall cost. I don't mind the cost increase because it can reduce crowds. The nickle and diming is a deceptive practice I despise.

Really all of the list contributes to it, but I checked the most egregious ones for me. SO MANY things no longer even pretending to follow WWWD.
For me, this is not a hypothetical, but already happened. At least for now, I may stay on property (because I'm a DVC Member) but leaving the Disney parks out of it. At least for now, this camel's back has broken. Was there in Jan to watch my daughter run in the Disney Marathon (Goofy Challenge) and to watch her was the only time any of us went into the parks (and just during the open gate times to watch her run thru). We went to Universal instead when doing "park'n". It was actually the first time we've ever done Universal in the many years and times visiting (since '95, usually multiple times a year). We actually got APs for U (at a cost of less than 1/2 of a DVC discounted AP for WDW) and plan another trip in Dec also staying at our DVC, but only going to the U (maybe Sea World). Going to wait and see if Disney can right the course some before deciding to go back again or not.

 

[Rickcat96]

I'm sincerely asking if I'm missing some other way to reduce crowds and prices at the same time, and still make b

1. Staff the park attractions, maintain them so they don't break down every 10 min, Staff all table/quick service and snack carts, bring back parades and entertainment.

2. Open parks at 8am, close at 12 am.

3. Genie is not the answer to capacity shortage, it made it worse for ride lines. If they needed more money, which they do, find a different way. Genie could work better if you add #2.

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

Staff the park attractions, maintain them so they don't break down every 10 min, Staff all table/quick service and snack carts, bring back parades and entertainment.

Genie is not the answer to capacity shortage, it made it worse for ride lines. If they needed more money, which they do, find a different way.

I agree completely with your points, but there was overcrowding before covid. The items you mentioned made it even worse, but I don't think they would eliminate overcrowding because that's been a complaint of many for several years prior to covid. And then insult to injury with price gouging and nickle and diming.

In all seriousness, would anyone be shocked if Disney installed EZPass at the beginning of each Land and as you pass through into the new Land, they collect a $3.50 toll for each magic band that passes through??? Sounds ridiculous right? Probably not that far off tho. I'm not sure they realize it, but that's how effing ridiculous some of their nickle and diming has gotten.

 

[Rickcat96]

I agree completely with your points, but there was overcrowding before covid. The items you mentioned made it even worse, but I don't think they would eliminate overcrowding because that's been a complaint of many for several years prior to covid. And then insult to injury with price gouging and nickle and diming.

In all seriousness, would anyone be shocked if Disney installed EZPass at the beginning of each Land and as you pass through into the new Land, they collect a $3.50 toll for each magic band that passes through??? Sounds ridiculous right? Probably not that far off tho. I'm not sure they realize it, but that's how effing ridiculous some of their nickle and diming has gotten.

I added some other points after your answers. Pre-Covid they also had the parks open later in the day and earlier at night.

 

[Todd H]

Already stopped and don't plan on going back. It's a shame too since I'm 52 and have been going since I was a kid. The constant price hikes for everything and the dropping of quality pretty much did me in. It's almost like Disney is purposely making things worse and worse to see what the breaking point for visitors is.

 

[Ayla]

We are like you in that we enjoy the resorts and the amenities there, and use them. We joined DVC so we didn't have to pay $300 for a night at POFQ. We're spending less that $200 (cost of dues for the points) per night to stay at the Poly on our next trip.

Conveniently not mentioning the cost of your DVC "investment".

 

[GimpYancIent]

Already stopped and don't plan on going back. It's a shame too since I'm 52 and have been going since I was a kid. The constant price hikes for everything and the dropping of quality pretty much did me in. It's almost like Disney is purposely making things worse and worse to see what the breaking point for visitors is.

Ditto! Done stopped and no plans. Oh, I'm 72 so Disney Inc has gotten plenty of money from me. Not anymore. I am happy with the memories.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I'm quoting this reply not as a direct response to the poster, but because it illustrates something I struggle to understand. Before I start, please know I'm not in disagreement with either of these points because they're both an issue individually IMO.

Both price increases and overcrowding have a large majority of votes. Logically I wasn't expecting both of these reasons to draw a majority of votes. Almost 2 in 3 voters chose at least one of these two reasons, and given that they're both voted by a majority, there has to be overlap. The part I can't understand is how someone can expect crowds to shrink if prices were reduced. One can't expect crowds to shrink if Disney makes it more affordable considering they're already drawing record crowds. I mean, as a matter of argument you can state that Disney needs to open up new parks/attractions and spread the crowd out more, but that only brings higher prices to pay for the expansion. I'm not saying they shouldn't expand. They absolutely should, but as a business, if you produce a lower value product for an increased price and you still attract record crowds, then there's really no reason to try to improve anything let alone reduce prices.

I'm sincerely asking if I'm missing some other way to reduce crowds and prices at the same time, and still make business sense? Just curious.

I’m starting to wonder if this is still Covid driven crowds or if this is the new normal as wages have been increasing across the country, as wages have gone up Disney parks are now within reach of millions of people that couldn’t afford them before.

If so the question becomes, do we support initiatives like G+ that are trying (failing) to accommodate the bigger crowds, just accept this is how it is now and a Disney vacation has fundamentally changed, or do we support another massive ticket increase to once again make the parks out of reach to people with less money (and which may include some of us)?

The perfect solution (imho) would be a new resort in middle America to capitalize on all the new demand but I have no faith in Disney management to be that proactive.

 

[mysto]

I feel that high prices, and nickel and dimeing, are separate related issues.

) High prices:
Depressing, but one and done, and you know what you're getting into.
) Nickel and dimeing:
The true cost is obscured, and your soul is crushed as you constantly reach for your wallet instead of playing.

I object to one more than the other, but cannot vote accordingly in the poll as it's currently constructed.