With all the recent changes, have they impacted you wanting to go to Disney any time soon?

[Chi84]

Since the advent of COVID, many restaurants have adopted a system of mobile check-in to avoid having people approach and congregate around the host stand. This isn't unique to Disney - it's also done in my city. As far as I understand, this is being done as a form of social distancing, and it seems to be a fairly reasonable request.

Obviously, restaurants will differ in how well they accommodate people who won't comply. I suspect that if someone explained that their phone was dead or lost, or that they still had a flip phone, reasonable accommodation would be made. Under different circumstances ("I don't wanna"), maybe not.

I'm far less understanding when it comes to WDW's own app glitches that prevent people from ordering food. That's certainly Disney's fault and they need to figure it out. But there are a lot of people who resist the system just because it's new or they don't like it, so it's been a difficult balancing act for the CMs. Like it or not, people need to be on their phones to successfully navigate WDW. I don't think that's going to change and it will definitely deter some from visiting again.

 

[ppete1975]

yes- Its disney and the only place in the world that i feel 8 years old. When i see the castle or spaceship earth I am transported to being a child.

no- they havent changed all that much in the last 7 years so for the increases in prices and headaches its not worth it

yes- time moves quickly, kids grow up and parents grow older. Right now the kids in my group are still at an age where they have a blast, not the cynical emo teens they will be soon, or the starving college kids that cant afford or care to go (afford being getting time off work). The older people in my group are in great shape and get excited about going, 5 years from now... sadly they may not be around or not able to move around as freely.

no- i dont want to be on my phone 90 percent of the time and lots of the time I will be there will be waiting in lines

yes- covid taught us that we never know whats around the corner.. the parks might be shut down again or some other disaster happens that changes the world, or you might not even be here

no- id rather not go during the covid time

So there are many reasons to say yes and to say no. On one hand the company has changed, they have implemented tons of things I dont agree with, they have destroyed several of the things I loved, and the additions related to costs have not kept in line.

But.... I am going with a huge family group in november.. why? Because I love Disney, my mom loves Disney, my family loves disney. Life is too short to put off things waiting on them to get better when in this case we know they wont in the foreseeable future. I cant put off this vacation a year because next year hurricane damage will be cleared up, my broken bone will be healed, covid fears (examples I came up with no broken bones).. because at the end of the day the issues at Disney are not going to change in the time frame that I have. This isnt environmental, medical or world situations.. this is poor management that no longer cares about the consumer, its time to realize in the next 10-15 years it will only get worse. Hopefully then they will have to reboot.. but Im not confident.

So I will love my last trip to disney world and enjoy it with my family before the kids are too old and the people that I want to enjoy it with are still around and in good shape.

Some day i will go to Disney Land just to see walts original park and give respects to monstro... but The Worlds time is prob about done for me.

 

[ppete1975]

We booked for April 2023, but we have no idea if we will go or not. I will say due to mostly pandemic related issues, I'm not really in a hurry to go back. But it's the year we both turn 50, so we had planned to celebrate it there. But now we may cruise instead or just take an island vacation instead.

I will also say, we booked Wilderness Lodge. We are so excited to stay there, that the issues with Genie + and rides, etc., aren't as big a deal because we're just so darn happy to be trying this resort! (if we go)

you can already book for 2023!!! Wow thats crazy

 

[Master Yoda]

Since the advent of COVID, many restaurants have adopted a system of mobile check-in to avoid having people approach and congregate around the host stand. This isn't unique to Disney - it's also done in my city. As far as I understand, this is being done as a form of social distancing, and it seems to be a fairly reasonable request.

Obviously, restaurants will differ in how well they accommodate people who won't comply. I suspect that if someone explained that their phone was dead or lost, or that they still had a flip phone, reasonable accommodation would be made. Under different circumstances, maybe not.

I'm far less understanding when it comes to WDW's own app glitches that prevent people from ordering food. That's certainly Disney's fault and they need to figure it out. But there are a lot of people who resist the system just because it's new or they don't like it, so it's been a difficult balancing act for the CMs. Like it or not, people need to be on their phones to successfully navigate WDW. I don't think that's going to change and it will definitely deter some from visiting again.

Our biggest issue was that there was no reasonable backup plan for when mobile ordering was not possible. Their backup plan on that particular day was to go wait in the corner for 45 minutes until we call you. Then, and only then could you go up to the counter and order.

 

[dreday3]

you can already book for 2023!!! Wow thats crazy

Just room only, over the phone for 499 days out. Like it used to be.

We specifically wanted a courtyard view, so I figure book early!

 

[Chi84]

Our biggest issue was that there was no reasonable backup plan for when mobile ordering was not possible. Their backup plan on that particular day was to go wait in the corner for 45 minutes until we call you. Then, and only then could you go up to the counter and order.

I agree that's not reasonable when your inability to order is due to their faulty technology. We never had issues with mobile ordering, but Genie+ gave me a few headaches. I don't even want to get started on the issues with MDE randomly dropping people from my planning party from time to time. When I called, I followed numerous prompts until I reached MDE technical support, waited for a CM, and then was told the only way to actually get technical support was to select "password reset" from the menu and that I had to start over. Luckily I have a good sense of humor but Disney IT can really challenge it sometimes.

 

[ppete1975]

Just room only, over the phone for 499 days out. Like it used to be.

We specifically wanted a courtyard view, so I figure book early!

I honestly didnt know that you could book that far ahead.. thats crazy. Not you.. but that they even open it up.

 

[dreday3]

I honestly didnt know that you could book that far ahead.. thats crazy. Not you.. but that they even open it up.

Oh I'm crazy too.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

I still have a flip phone and have no desire for a smart phone guess I don't eat at WDW or do anything else--thanks a lot Disney

Yep,, I'm an old dinosaur with an ancient flip phone too, LOL!
I refuse to update just to use a phone while at disney. We always ordered at the register and got by just fine without a phone. Now? I don't even want to try.

 

[John park hopper]

Our biggest issue was that there was no reasonable backup plan for when mobile ordering was not possible. Their backup plan on that particular day was to go wait in the corner for 45 minutes until we call you. Then, and only then could you go up to the counter and order.

Now they have stand by lines to get QS food with a 45 minute wait. Disney you never cease to amaze me --in a negative way

 

[Chi84]

Now they have stand by lines to get QS food with a 45 minute wait. Disney you never cease to amaze me --in a negative way

I don't think that's what's intended. It just works out that way for those who aren't currently using mobile ordering. It's one thing if it's a person's choice, but if you try to use mobile ordering and it doesn't work because of Disney's issues, they shouldn't solve the problem by making you wait 45 minutes.

 

[Nunu]

I was 'allowed' to order at the counter of Regal Eagle Smokehouse and Columbia Harbor House three weeks ago. Just told the CM at the door that I preferred to make the charge to my MB.

Both had lines of about 10 people, and just one cash register open at each place. The whole process took me about 20mins. Not bad, imo. Glad I was not turned away at the door!

 

[Master Yoda]

Now they have stand by lines to get QS food with a 45 minute wait. Disney you never cease to amaze me --in a negative way

The comment I made to my wife and other travel companions was "Congrats Disney. You figured out how to make QS dining more difficult than TS dining."

 

[ShookieJones]

I am pretty happy and truly impressed with how many folks around here are voting with their wallets.

With that being said, I have to admit, I've been suckered in for at least one more trip this coming May .

Honestly it was hard to resist when my adult children still wanted to go, are paying their own way and want to hang with us, but I will be for the first time going into this trip with a whole new mentality and be weighing value of this trip against the dough I am spending.

Either way I am looking forward to it (for now).

 

[Chi84]

The comment I made to my wife and other travel companions was "Congrats Disney. You figured out how to make QS dining more difficult than TS dining."

I wouldn't blame you if you didn't, but I wish you would give mobile ordering another try. The only thing I hate worse than learning new technology is standing in line, so I tried mobile ordering as soon as it was introduced and it's worked so well for us! Also, the system has greatly reduced the number of people tying up tables while a family member is standing in line waiting to order.

 

[John park hopper]

I was being sarcastic about stand by lines for QS but it kinda look like it

 

[Tonga Toast]

We are DVC members but our plans are now changing. We'll keep our DVC but use our resort stays for other things in Florida. As of now, we have had it with the parks. Prices are criminal (just like everything else). The differences we saw between other parks and Disney are disappearing. It is becoming a resort for the rich. Let them have it. Chapik will start to see the impact of his decisions in a couple years. It will be a slow wave of regression.......park attendance will drop due to the high daily cost. Resorts will not fill up, again due to the high costs.

 

[CAV]

In my case where the app would not complete a mobile food order, I had to go from CS restaurant to CS restaurant until I found one that would allow me to go to the counter and order.

Yep. Annoying as H E double hockey sticks.

 

[CAV]

Let them have it. Chapik will start to see the impact of his decisions in a couple years. It will be a slow wave of regression.......park attendance will drop due to the high daily cost. Resorts will not fill up, again due to the high costs.

By that time, he will be filthy rich, he got his and he won't care.

 

[RoadiJeff]

Yep,, I'm an old dinosaur with an ancient flip phone too, LOL!
I refuse to update just to use a phone while at disney. We always ordered at the register and got by just fine without a phone. Now? I don't even want to try.

Heck, a year ago this month I spent a little over $1,200 on a 5G smart phone, partially to get a couple of seconds edge on obtaining a virtual queue for RotR. Before I arrived later in the year, they changed the system. However, I was still able to get on it via the long standby line (pre ILL).

The phone is nice, has an excellent camera and it did help me get a low boarding group for Remy's.