Just home, my thoughts

[perditax]

I'm in no way saying that the following applies to the OP, or to DISers as a whole, but could some of the perceived decline be some fallout from "the entitled vacationer"? We all know them...the one who insists that the pixie dust be included in the Magicband and ready for shaking all over every aspect of their visit. Like Oprah herself is standing at check-in. "YOU get an upgrade!! YOU get an upgrade!! EVERYBODY GETS AN UPGRADE!!" If the line at a M&G moves at lightning speed, then do we diminish the chances that someone will start a Veruca Salt fight about another little gal getting more time with the Princess? Sure, Disney deals in sheer numbers (listen closely, you can hear the cash registers in the distance), but what nudges a multi-gazillion dollar company to let some shine come off its tiara? Not saying it's totally the spoiled patron, but I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Not me. I routinely make fun of those people, I have a depressingly strong grip on reality and I keep my expectations rational. Also I don't have kids so I'm less likely to be outraged on their behalf. I've just been going for decades now and I can evaluate things pretty well. Fifty bucks for a medium rare steak to arrive well done, at one of the highest-touted restaurants on property, does not scream attention to detail to me. (I'm just giving one example here. You don't serve a fifty buck steak cooked into lifelessness if you are paying your chefs a good wage and providing reasonable working conditions. The restaurant wasn't even that busy. This was Jiko, by the way, not a park restaurant.)

Tangential question: for those who are seeing the bloom come off the rose/are no longer in the bubble, if you have been on the cruises can you tell me if you get the same feeling there? The reviews seem pretty uniformly positive, especially when you contrast them with reviews of other cruise lines. I have a cruise booked in Sept. I'm not really worried about it but I'd be interested in non-bubble feedback.

 

[k5thbeatle]

...The food at disney has taken a big nosedive since our last visit. We didn't have anything all week that I would call good. Akerhaus was ok, everything else was mediocre at best...

Couldn't agree more. There's been a downward spiral/trend going on in food quality for several years now imho.

 

[lauradis]

Part of the problem is our own expectations. I include myself in that category. I started going to Disneyland in '67 and therefore have seen a lot of changes over the years. I always have a little bit of nostalgia for the way it "used to be". But last year- when I started trying to figure out when to get FP+ reservations- I threw my hands up and canceled the trip. Took a Carnival cruise instead. And yes, it is easy for me to do that because my three kids are grown up now (they still come on vacations with us though), and because we have been to Disney lots of times and know it will still be there the next time we want to put the effort in.

I prefer short trips. 4 or 5 days is all I can handle at Disney in a row. I always thought I was a pretty laid back traveler and didn't have high expectations. Apparently, my expectations are out of line. Because I expect to be able to change my mind about going on a particular ride if it is raining, or have a headache, or I'm just bloody tired of walking and want to sit down and find a cold beer somewhere! And I would like to change my mind, without it starting a chain reaction that will mean I miss my favorite ride. Yeah... I know it isn't really that serious. But I am still really irked about having to schedule 3 rides a day, two months in advance.

Oh yeah... and today is day 61 for me. So guess what I am doing in about 4 hours? Yep.... scheduling three rides a day for four days, two months in advance. ROFLMAO.

So some parents expect their children to not get the bums' rush at a princess meet and greet. I get that. I was lucky. When my kids were little the characters roamed the parks. I thought it was kind of weird when they stuck Mickey and Minnie in houses and made everyone line up.

Disney fans have really rolled with the punches. We pay enormous sums of money to the mouse, and receive less in return. Most of us have come to terms with that. But when "guests" (or "marks" perhaps) feel like they are on an assembly line and can't get off, some are going to be unhappy. Disney attendance seems to be very good right now- so obviously the issues bothering me and many other members here- aren't putting a dent in the bottom line.

Im not defending Disney but FP- &+ are new. pre 1999 there where none. It still annoys me that Disney started this craziness of FP's - or + for free.

What did you do before 1999????, because I still remember standing in line to ride space mountain for 2 hrs in June, July, August, September many many times.

I know it might sound abnormal today, but some of my favorite memories from being at Disney where standing in line.

 

[Cormoran]

I'm in no way saying that the following applies to the OP, or to DISers as a whole, but could some of the perceived decline be some fallout from "the entitled vacationer"? We all know them...the one who insists that the pixie dust be included in the Magicband and ready for shaking all over every aspect of their visit. Like Oprah herself is standing at check-in. "YOU get an upgrade!! YOU get an upgrade!! EVERYBODY GETS AN UPGRADE!!" If the line at a M&G moves at lightning speed, then do we diminish the chances that someone will start a Veruca Salt fight about another little gal getting more time with the Princess? Sure, Disney deals in sheer numbers (listen closely, you can hear the cash registers in the distance), but what nudges a multi-gazillion dollar company to let some shine come off its tiara? Not saying it's totally the spoiled patron, but I wonder if that has something to do with it.

There may be entitlement issues with guests in the parks, but Disney has done a lot to promote this notion. Look at their commercials that show empty parks and everyone smiling, look at their website and it's the same thing. Disney also continues to promote their customer service model to other companies and to their guests. I think people plan a Disney vacation and a lot of their expectations are centered on what Disney has promoted. I believe that Disney shares the blame for their guests having high expectations about their vacations.

 

[lauradis]

There may be entitlement issues with guests in the parks, but Disney has done a lot to promote this notion. Look at their commercials that show empty parks and everyone smiling, look at their website and it's the same thing. Disney also continues to promote their customer service model to other companies and to their guests. I think people plan a Disney vacation and a lot of their expectations are centered on what Disney has promoted. I believe that Disney shares the blame for their guests having high expectations about their vacations.

That's like saying if I buy Victoria Secrets stuff, Ill look like one of the models... oh plz how foolish do you think the avg person is.

 

[chrissyb2411]

I'm in no way saying that the following applies to the OP, or to DISers as a whole, but could some of the perceived decline be some fallout from "the entitled vacationer"? We all know them...the one who insists that the pixie dust be included in the Magicband and ready for shaking all over every aspect of their visit. Like Oprah herself is standing at check-in. "YOU get an upgrade!! YOU get an upgrade!! EVERYBODY GETS AN UPGRADE!!" If the line at a M&G moves at lightning speed, then do we diminish the chances that someone will start a Veruca Salt fight about another little gal getting more time with the Princess? Sure, Disney deals in sheer numbers (listen closely, you can hear the cash registers in the distance), but what nudges a multi-gazillion dollar company to let some shine come off its tiara? Not saying it's totally the spoiled patron, but I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Honestly, I know you said you don't mean this to be offensive, but it is. I know the type of person you are referring to, we saw them. I assure you, it's not me. If disney insists I must log on 2 months in advance to book a fast pass to meet a princess I will jump through that hoop (for the record, I was up til 2am Christmas Day to jump through that hoop, and was happy to do so). I think it is understandable that meeting that one character has become the center of the trip for a very excited girl. I think it is normal to feel let down when she is barked at by a cast member to open her autograph book, then literally pushed out of the way by a princess 30 seconds into the meet. We are not "entitled" vacationers. This is our third vacation in eight years. I don't think it was unreasonable to expect to be made to feel like our time mattered, when we (middle class people) just spent more than $6000 to spend a week soaking up the advertised "magic". I don't think my kid deserved any longer of a visit than usual, but I do think what we got was unacceptable. And if you really think that a greet that lasts shorter than the time it took to make the fast pass is ok, then I guess we disagree.

 

[Cormoran]

You hit the nail on the head. Until anything people complain about starts to put a dent in their bottom line, Disney ain't gonna change it.

Interesting things is that Disney's percentage attendance growth is about the same as other amusement parks. So, it's not like they're blowing away the competition! Also their increased revenue is due to increasing prices and decreasing quality. May be great now, but for how long?

 

[AllieBoo]

I think the saddest part of your report is that seeing Anna and Elsa was supposed to be the highlight of your trip. Curious----how much time do you think each child should get with the characters?

I'm sure this comes off as harsh to the OP, but I tend to agree with you. While my daughter does love to meet characters, neither she nor I place a huge amount of importance on it. Being at Disney as a family and having fun together is our "highlight".

 

[dachsie]

I rarely ever post in these threads but am choosing to this time. My feeling is you go to Disney and you "find" the magic. You make your vacation what it was meant to be. I just spent 2 days there and had a great time. I met and chatted with people from all over the world. I chose to ride rides that I either had never rode or had not ridden in a long time. I met a lady from Germany who had never been to Disney. I helped her to choose some fastpasses, got her a first visit button, advised her on some things to do, and had her meet me at BOG for dinner - I had accidentally booked for 2. She told me she never expected to have as much fun as she had and thanked me for it. THAT was the magic. I helped to create it. I was extremely cold on Friday at AK when they said the temps would be 68 and they didnt get past 55 but I didnt let it upset the magic for me. Don't expect the magic to come to you, go out and make it happen.

 

[AllieBoo]

As for the decline in the food - I'll be honest, I've never understood why some people rave about how great the food is. No one in my family has ever thought any of the food at Disney is that great; to us the majority of it is bland and extremely overpriced. For this reason, we have never purchased the dining plan.

 

[mom2rtk]

I rarely ever post in these threads but am choosing to this time. My feeling is you go to Disney and you "find" the magic. You make your vacation what it was meant to be. I just spent 2 days there and had a great time. I met and chatted with people from all over the world. I chose to ride rides that I either had never rode or had not ridden in a long time. I met a lady from Germany who had never been to Disney. I helped her to choose some fastpasses, got her a first visit button, advised her on some things to do, and had her meet me at BOG for dinner - I had accidentally booked for 2. She told me she never expected to have as much fun as she had and thanked me for it. THAT was the magic. I helped to create it. I was extremely cold on Friday at AK when they said the temps would be 68 and they didnt get past 55 but I didnt let it upset the magic for me. Don't expect the magic to come to you, go out and make it happen.

I understand and can appreciate what you are saying.

But if Disney is offering self-serve magic, they probably shouldn't charge full-service prices.

 

[perditax]

I understand and can appreciate what you are saying.

But if Disney is offering self-serve magic, they probably shouldn't charge full-service prices.

... thread winner.

 

[dachsie]

I understand and can appreciate what you are saying.

But if Disney is offering self-serve magic, they probably shouldn't charge full-service prices.

That's not going to happen until people stop going. You can always stop going.

 

[DisneyFive]

Dang! We have some people on their A game tonight ladies and gentlemen!

Dan

 

[Planogirl]

Some of what people call magic such as having fun together can be done in many places. I agree that this is magic but it isn't only to be found in a themepark.

It does sound like we might have a good time. I'm going in with very low expectations and it sounds like that is the wise way to approach the parks now.

 

[Robo]

And the irony is that's probably one of the easiest issues to fix ...

Yet Disney allows the situation to continue.

That, in particular, is SO devastatingly disappointing, considering how much attention to guest satisfaction was
historically practiced.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

I tend to agree with the OP. Seems the main focus of Disney these days is numbers and bonuses. I make the most of my visits and still enjoy them, but it has changed a lot of the years ..... there is certainly less focus on guest experience and more on getting as many people in and out as they can.

 

[alvernon90]

If this were true, why haven't the park benches been removed from the the DL resorts?

I've been to DL several times in the past few years, and I think people who want a Disney fix but are finding themselves frustrated with WDW should consider a trip to California. DLR can see some crowds, but the experience is still far more relaxed than WDW. Restaurant reservations can be made a day in advance. Park hopping is so easy that it's more like one gigantic theme park. The entire parade-firework-Fantasmic thing is far more civilized. The best rides aren't spread out across four parks but all right there within the mega-park. The compact area putting Downtown Disney between the parks and the hotels, along with all the open-air dining areas taking advantage of the beautiful weather, means all of Downtown Disney is a party every day. On the downside, the on-site hotels are stupid expensive (yet worth it to us) and the whole place was a bajillion times more fun when the FP return times were not enforced. But overall it might just be the Disney experience to remind you why you keep going back.

 

[Cormoran]

I'm sure this comes off as harsh to the OP, but I tend to agree with you. While my daughter does love to meet characters, neither she nor I place a huge amount of importance on it. Being at Disney as a family and having fun together is our "highlight".

That's great for you, but each guest has their own opinion of what makes their vacation better. I don't think the OP's whole trip was ruined by this one, very short, M&G experience. From her multiple posts, I get the feeling that she was disappointed to realize that the quality her WDW vacation had diminished. Prior to her vacation, she characterized negative posters as a bunch of "Debbie Downers."

 

[ArwenMarie]

i never timed how long we have had the pleasure of meeting characters. I would say it depends on

1. how long the line is
2. when the break is

interaction if I would guest would take less then 3 mins from walking up, talking, signing, pics. That's always the format with the rare exception.

I was talking about our specific experience meeting A&E this summer. 30 seconds from the start of the actual interaction to the end for each character.