You pay more you get more. Is it so wrong?

[Minnesota disney fan]

School starts back up next monday, I'll be out of your hair then Minnesota fan.

People can express their opinions all they want, it's good! BUT, it's frustrating to read so many opinions with zero solutions. Everyone has a "give me more" attitude which just isn't feasible. Go ahead and ***** and moan about WDW all you want, but have realistic expectations, and present some solutions that can actually help.

In the end, though, this is internet. Nothing can stop me from coming on here and questioning everyone. Not you or flynniboy. It's the opposite of what spork does. Spork enters every thread to argue as well, but his opinions align more with yours, which is why he never gets **** from you guys.

If worse comes to worse, I think there is an ignore option, right? Go ahead and click that if my presence bothers you so much.

This is super petty, but I hate the golden gophers. That is all.

LOL, thanks for the laugh. If you are really a med student, I hope you have compassion

 

[DisneyDoctor]

This is 'They are doing SOMETHING... so why are you complaining' argument - instead of evaluating if the SOMETHING actually addresses the problem. Things like New Fantasyland were adds that didn't actually add a lot of capacity, and was largely offset by capacity LOST previously. Star Wars Land isn't a fix for crowds, it's a move to add more star wars. Disney continues to constrain capacity by artifically segmenting it with ideas like FP+.

Many change simply come too late... so the 'fix' is so far behind that even once its done, the problem really isn't eased at all. These are not 3-6month window problems... these are long term trends people are bothered by.



And here we have the 'well we arent the only bad ones argument' - This is another excuse argument that simply tries to sweep problems under the rug because "they can happen anywhere". Disney isn't just 'anywhere' - nor are you paying for just 'anywhere' types of attention and service. If your standard for Disney is the same as your local downtown hotel - then Disney's legacy is already long gone!



Maybe part of your enlightment should be "people can value things differently than me". When working with others, or in the service industry, recognize your personal standards aren't the de facto ones that matter.



I already answered this for you on another thread - Disney is more than just a vacation destination to many. Instead of claiming everyone else is broken... maybe start to recognize there is more out there than you were initially aware of. You're in a community where most people have been vacationing with Disney for DECADES... they aren't just random tourists who picked WDW off a twister wheel.

I disagree, I think Toy Story and Star Wars will help with the crowd issue. Both will help expand HS and wait times, even if slightly. If you have evidence that it won't, please share. I agree FP+ is flawed. Maybe pulling the plug on it would help, but I doubt that'll happen.

My standard for a value resort at WDW definitely isn't high. It's essentially a motel with neat decorations. As far as the other tiers, there are plenty of hotels with similar price points that I'm sure experience lapses in customer experience from time to time. Notice, too, that the majority of issues at the resorts result from HUMAN lapses. God forbid we make mistakes.

I definitely don't need to be enlightened, especially from you, Flynnibonn. I recognize that everyone has different standards. Suggesting that maybe some people would benefit from lowering there's implies I understand that everyone's standards are different. And making those suggestions doesn't make me ignorant to other peoples' standards. Right? At the end of the day all I've made are suggestions. I haven't called anyone a derogatory name or anything like that because they value different things. Having a different opinion doesn't make me or you a bad person, it just means we have different values. That idea hasn't been lost throughout these discussions.

Of course Disney is more than just a vacation destination. That's fairly obvious considering we are having a discussion on a huge forum dedicated to it.. But, the negativity on here truly is astounding. I don't understand why anyone would still continue to go to WDW if they post on here how much they dislike it. And I also don't understand why someone who hasn't gone in a long time because they dislike it would continue to post here. That logic doesn't make sense.

Flynnirider )), I appreciate you engaging in discussion with me.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

LOL, thanks for the laugh. If you are really a med student, I hope you have compassion

I have absolutely zero compassion, just going into it so I can make the big bucks.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Compassion, and spending time studying! Good luck at school.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

Compassion, and spending time studying! Good luck at school.

Thanks! Cheers to the new year and to WDW!

 

[tampabrad]

Nothing "official", but when you stay club level, the concierge seems to have different dining availability.

Personally I like the idea that once you are in the parks, it doesn' matter what resort you are paying for. If you want a VIP tour guide or "thrill ride" tour ECT, you can book that regardless of where you are staying. Resort perks seem to stay at the resorts and don' carry over to the parks.

 

[nickys]

As far as I see it, Disney reward their frequent visitors with the AP rewards, same for DVC members. They are the guests who are regularly spending more money at WDW, so they are the ones who get the rewards.

The idea of wanting rewards for staying at the more expensive resorts is fair enough. But I see it as you pay to stay in a more expensive resort for a better experience, bigger rooms, bigger beds, better facilities, better locations, nicer grounds etc. Others prefer to save money to stay at a value resort. Once there, you all have the same perks of being onsite. I'm OK with that, I get that some people aren't. The family that stays once and pays to stay at GF may be paying more for their accomodation for a week, but other than that they aren't necessarily spending any more when at WDW than those staying at POP.

I'd like to see a couple of loopholes closed though. if you cancel you should lose the benefits you gained. If you don't turn up, your FPs should go too. It's crazy that the FW campsite is one of the hardest to book because of all the throwaway bookings.

 

[ford91exploder]

I disagree, I think Toy Story and Star Wars will help with the crowd issue. Both will help expand HS and wait times, even if slightly. If you have evidence that it won't, please share. I agree FP+ is flawed. Maybe pulling the plug on it would help, but I doubt that'll happen.

My standard for a value resort at WDW definitely isn't high. It's essentially a motel with neat decorations. As far as the other tiers, there are plenty of hotels with similar price points that I'm sure experience lapses in customer experience from time to time. Notice, too, that the majority of issues at the resorts result from HUMAN lapses. God forbid we make mistakes.

I definitely don't need to be enlightened, especially from you, Flynnibonn. I recognize that everyone has different standards. Suggesting that maybe some people would benefit from lowering there's implies I understand that everyone's standards are different. And making those suggestions doesn't make me ignorant to other peoples' standards. Right? At the end of the day all I've made are suggestions. I haven't called anyone a derogatory name or anything like that because they value different things. Having a different opinion doesn't make me or you a bad person, it just means we have different values. That idea hasn't been lost throughout these discussions.

Of course Disney is more than just a vacation destination. That's fairly obvious considering we are having a discussion on a huge forum dedicated to it.. But, the negativity on here truly is astounding. I don't understand why anyone would still continue to go to WDW if they post on here how much they dislike it. And I also don't understand why someone who hasn't gone in a long time because they dislike it would continue to post here. That logic doesn't make sense.

Flynnirider )), I appreciate you engaging in discussion with me.

I don't think there are many on this board who hate Disney. That said MANY of us do indeed HATE how WDW has been run for the past decade

 

[DuckTalesWooHoo1987]

There are many, many people like you. You think you spend a lot there and deserve a rewards program, but there is limited availability and a line all the way to MCO airport.

Short answer, they don’t really need loyalty programs. If you want special perks, get an annual pass or become a DVC member.

It’s not that they don’t want your business or want you to come back...they do. It’s just really popular and too small.

I’ve been to WDW probably more than 80 times. I really expect nothing except the typical Disney experience when I’m there. When the money stops flowing, so does the Disney Magic. I’m ok with that and you need to be too.

Ironically, I'm a DVC member and have been for 10 years but our "perks" aren't really anything to write home about either. We do get good discounts on our AP's but prices on other things have gone up. We always get Tables in Wonderland but even it is more now and also dues always go up. Disney is definitely not a charity. The ways I do get what might be considered a little "special" treatment is the fact that we spend enough time at BLT to have made friends with some of the cast members there and they will give you the hook up pretty good on fastpasses. I've had 8 at one time for Toy Story before. The CM's are mostly just Disney nerds like the rest of us and really do want people to have a great time and do bend over backwards a lot to make cool things happen. I still don't feel like Disney "owes" me stuff though. I just feel like they have to honor the contract that we have as DVC members and nothing more. Our 4 AP's totaled $559 a piece when I bought them today. That was for a Platinum Plus pass at the rate of a Gold Pass. Do you think that's an over the top great deal? I personally do because we will probably spend at least 24 days there this year. If not then I'd say it's probably not that great of a deal.

 

[21stamps]

Ironically, I'm a DVC member and have been for 10 years but our "perks" aren't really anything to write home about either. We do get good discounts on our AP's but prices on other things have gone up. We always get Tables in Wonderland but even it is more now and also dues always go up. Disney is definitely not a charity. The ways I do get what might be considered a little "special" treatment is the fact that we spend enough time at BLT to have made friends with some of the cast members there and they will give you the hook up pretty good on fastpasses. I've had 8 at one time for Toy Story before. The CM's are mostly just Disney nerds like the rest of us and really do want people to have a great time and do bend over backwards a lot to make cool things happen. I still don't feel like Disney "owes" me stuff though. I just feel like they have to honor the contract that we have as DVC members and nothing more. Our 4 AP's totaled $559 a piece when I bought them today. That was for a Platinum Plus pass at the rate of a Gold Pass. Do you think that's an over the top great deal? I personally do because we will probably spend at least 24 days there this year. If not then I'd say it's probably not that great of a deal.

That’s around $300 off per person?

If so, yes it’s a good deal imo.

 

[flynnibus]

Unlike other industries... the more someone spends at Disney the more likely they would spend anyways. So giving them steeper discounts is just a waste to the company. DCL has taken the angle of perks are not financial, but instead things like earlier access, arrival gifts, etc.

Disney should be harboring its champions and making them feel welcome and appreciated. Good businesses know how to do that by making the customer feel special. Disney used to be good at this, but really hasn't leveraged the data they do have on their guests in a way the guests appreciate

 

[DuckTalesWooHoo1987]

That’s around $300 off per person?

If so, yes it’s a good deal imo.

Yeah the $559 price for that Gold Pass is only available to DVC members and FL state residents. That deal actually ends tomorrow though.

 

[NelleBelle]

So, to the OP-- if you're really looking for "perks" by spending $$ on a Disney vacation, they why aren't you doing the DCL? For every cruise completed, you work your way up the Castaway Club system (Silver, Gold, Platinum). I feel the perks are certainly better (for now, anyway), than we we stay at WDW.

I think until WDW can close their loopholes with bookings, what would the point be about getting earlier/closer ADRs and extra FP for staying at more expensive resorts? All that does is encourage people to book the higher-end resorts and cancel, therefore making it harder to get those reservations booked, especially at shorter notices. I would love for WDW to have "perks" for staying at moderate vs. value, deluxe vs moderate, but again -- I'd rather not have it until they can make it a fair system and stop those who currently abuse the current system.

Do what others have learned to do -- get your extra 5% discount buying Disney GC at Target using their Red Card/debit cards, buy an annual pass if you go more than once a year so you can take advantage of what little discounts are still offered (on dining, Tables of Wonderland, merchandise), bounce back offers, free dining, room-only discounts, free parking (which I don't believe Universal does), etc. Frankly, as much as I love Disney, I've had to swallow the bitter pill that return customers are NOT TDOs focus market group -- they want the first-time visitor who will spend, spend, spend to make it the "trip of a lifetime." I read somewhere that TDO figures it takes ~10 yrs for the average first-time visitor to make a return trip. We just are not their marketing group, despite all the $$ we put into the company.

 

[NelleBelle]

Sadly, I don't think people will ever be satisfied with WDW. If Iger gathered a list of things people dislike about the parks and implemented changes to help combat those issues, I'm certain these same people would find another 10 or so things to complain about, even after all the previous complaints were solved. At this point, I have to attribute it to our society's entitled and never satisfied culture.

All I could think about when I read this was, "1st-world problems".

 

[WondersOfLife]

 

[DisneyDoctor]

I don't think there are many on this board who hate Disney. That said MANY of us do indeed HATE how WDW has been run for the past decade

That's a good distinction to make. Thanks.

 

[NearTheEars]

You sound like me when I first came to this site. The negativity was shocking and overwhelming.
I kept thinking “am I visiting the same Disney World that these people are visiting?”
So many posts- Negative after negative after negative.

I was also viewed as “combative”.. the thing is, it wasn’t out of a want for an argument, it was to try and get people to see that their complaints are not exclusive to Disney, and they’ll have a better time if they just lighten up a bit.

Well, I learned that some people just like to complain, some like to live in a shroud of negativity, and some appear to come online to look for arguments.

Save your fingers from the exercise.

I found this site after my first visit in 2010 or so and was sooo excited to come in here at chat with other fans. The parks had blown me away. I was never able to come as a child and was so pumped up. Then I started to dive into some threads and found myself dismayed as well. Couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was like I was in the Upside Down or something (though past me wouldn’t know what that was haha).

And you’ll find that one of my early posts was a passionate plea to understand why everyone was so negative. I was so upset. And was quickly put in my place by the masses.

In the 6 or 7 years since, my glasses aren’t as rosey, but they still see a fun place to visit about every other weekend since we live nearby and have APs. If we weren’t local, I doubt we’d be visiting regularly. Just couldn’t stomach the cost. But who knows. Aside from the recently added blackout dates, I haven’t really been forced to experience any WDW withdrawal.

I’ve learned which folks here to respect and trust, even when dealing some harsh criticism (Like @marni1971 and a few others) and which ones to ignore (Like that poor exploding Ford SUV). And this fellow will likely do the same. The level that some go to push their agenda on either side of the debate does still surprise me sometimes, though.

But hey, pick nearly any topic or hobby and visit a message board associated with it. You’ll find the same cast of characters and level of negativity, especially when it comes to sports. This place is not unique.

 

[bluetiedye]

Generally loyalty rewards programs are not any kind of philanthropy to its loyalty members, despite how they may be marketed. Companies use those programs to make more money from you than they otherwise would. I guess Disney has decided that such a program wouldn't make money, which makes sense.

Though in a way an Annual Pass is a version of a loyalty program, though even better. For example, Marriott has a loyalty program, but doesn't have an annual pass. An annual pass could actually be even better if you stayed in their hotels very often. Theme parks say, pay this one price, and come any single day that you want ("blockouts may apply" )

 

[ford91exploder]

I found this site after my first visit in 2010 or so and was sooo excited to come in here at chat with other fans. The parks had blown me away. I was never able to come as a child and was so pumped up. Then I started to dive into some threads and found myself dismayed as well. Couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was like I was in the Upside Down or something (though past me wouldn’t know what that was haha).

And you’ll find that one of my early posts was a passionate plea to understand why everyone was so negative. I was so upset. And was quickly put in my place by the masses.

In the 6 or 7 years since, my glasses aren’t as rosey, but they still see a fun place to visit about every other weekend since we live nearby and have APs. If we weren’t local, I doubt we’d be visiting regularly. Just couldn’t stomach the cost. But who knows. Aside from the recently added blackout dates, I haven’t really been forced to experience any WDW withdrawal.

I’ve learned which folks here to respect and trust, even when dealing some harsh criticism (Like @marni1971 and a few others) and which ones to ignore (Like that poor exploding Ford SUV). And this fellow will likely do the same. The level that some go to push their agenda on either side of the debate does still surprise me sometimes, though.

But hey, pick nearly any topic or hobby and visit a message board associated with it. You’ll find the same cast of characters and level of negativity, especially when it comes to sports. This place is not unique.

Having been a regular WDW visitor for 30 years, the first 20 were frankly amazing,

The last 5 years the WDW experience has been defined as whats been taken away and not replaced.

I finally sold our DVC because its become obvious that things will only get worse not better and since there will not be new senior leadership until 2023 at least all the negative trends will continue and accelerate.

WRT Fox deal if it goes through WDW being in the hole by 2020. Well thats a prediction which changed because environment changed

 

[NearTheEars]

Having been a regular WDW visitor for 30 years, the first 20 were frankly amazing,

The last 5 years the WDW experience has been defined as whats been taken away and not replaced.

I finally sold our DVC because its become obvious that things will only get worse not better and since there will not be new senior leadership until 2023 at least all the negative trends will continue and accelerate.

WRT Fox deal if it goes through WDW being in the hole by 2020. Well thats a prediction which changed because environment changed

That quite possibly was one of the most pleasant posts from you that I’ve ever read.
No hyperbole, just a straight opinion. Thanks!