I just returned from WDW and we had a really, really great time while we were in the parks. We stayed off property in a beautiful Marriott timeshare and enjoyed our vacation. We don't go often as it isn't in our budget. But we save and look forward to it and have fun. I have to say though, even though we had fun, I feel like a little of the magic has dulled at Disney. Don't get me wrong, they do A LOT right. They always have, and always will. But I feel like some things have become so automated--(Pre-Registering for fast passes, no dinner reservations unless you are on the phone 180 days out booking ADR's, bracelets to track and plan your every move, and the push to spend more to have a more personal experience ($50 per person for dessert and a good seat for fireworks, spending $60 to over $200 for bibbidi bobbidi makeup, etc is taking away some of the common joy of just going and enjoying the parks together. And even though we have found May to be a great time of year to go in the past, the crowds were unreal this year, and not very nice! I was run over so many times by either a stroller or hit by one of those motorized scooters, and people would save way more space than they needed for parades, etc and be so territorial about it all, it was kind of disheartening. There's room for everyone! We will go again of course, but I hope I feel a little more magic and a little less "managed" by it all next time. Thoughts?
Agree with all of this. My husband and I used to love Disney and went regularly. Our last couple of trips with the kids just left us sad (and a little angry after the last one). Disney simply doesn't suit the way we travel any more. We aren't planners. Lots of trips we take are last minute decisions (we're about 6 hours from Orlando by car). Our last two trips were for Star Wars Weekends, with a day or two for other parks.
Want to have a sit down dinner? Nope, no reservations available at all, even the "crummy" places are full.
Want to ride a major attraction? Nope, all fast pass' are gone and lines are 1 hour+. So, we either skip them or wait. I may be in the minority, but a 2 hour wait during park day that I paid over $100 for isn't happening.
Want to watch the fireworks, better find a place that isn't reserved for people who've paid additional money.
Want to meet a character? Great, stand in line for 1 hug, 1 picture, then you'd better get moving so the next person can go.
Crowds? Unbelievable, even in the non-SWW parks (I expect it in the Studios)
Cast-members? Stressed, short tempered, overwhelmed,and sometimes downright rude. I stepped to the side during the mass exodus after the fireworks one night because I'd gotten separated from my husband. I knew he was behind me so I moved over to the side with the kids to wait for him. No sooner had our feet started moving than there was a cast member in my face yelling at me to keep moving (i was out of the way by a bench, not blocking the path). On the flip side, on another occasion we were in an area that was so crowded no one could move. Again, cast member in people faces yelling at us to keep moving. I looked at the girl point blank and said "Where exactly to do you expect me to move to? If I could move I wouldn't be standing here."
So, I'm sad to say, we are going elsewhere. I personally love Universal Studios, we can go at the last minute and still be able to eat and do all the rides. The cast members aren't great, but we've had some awesome character interactions there. Including one CM who left my chatterbox of a son absolutely speechless. He was wearing a pirate coin around his neck and when J asked him what it was, he launched into a 5 minute dialogue about his "booty." He had absolutely no way of knowing that it was J's favorite word at the time and was absolutely hysterical (some pirates like to bury their booty, but I don't like my booty to get cold and wet).
Anyway, things change, some people like the changes, some don't. There's plenty of other places to spend our vacation dollars.
We've done 
, they can plan their own vacations with their own money. 
