Recent 10 day trip - my genral impression and observations

[golden6911]

I just returned from a 10 day trip from Nov 3rd-13th. While the trip was fun overall, I definitely have some concerns about the direction Disney is going. I just have some general observations. The last trip for us was in 2006 and I have noticed some changes since then, not all for the better.

1) The fastpass system works very well for keeping ride lines down. With the exception of Toy Story Mania which was mobbed all day long with fastpasses mostly gone by noon, it was not very hard to get on any ride with minimal wait. I think now that most people are used to the system it really has reached its potential and works to decrease even the standby lines.

2) While the ride lines are better, the general park congestion is far worse than I remember from 2006. I really do agree that there are no slow times at WDW anymore. The first part of the trip WAS during Jersey week and so I expected heavier crowds, but even after Jersey week ended, I found moving through the parks very unpleasant and difficult. There were just too many people to be able to move through the parks without constantly stopping, getting jostled, having people step in front of you etc, etc...

3) Related to the above comment, I feel like most of my time this trip was spent waiting or fighting crowds. Even when I made an ADR somewhere, I had to wait in line just to check in, then wait again to be seated. I guess my point is that Disney just feels overcrowded at this point. If this is what it is like in early to mid November, I can't even imagine what it is like in the summer.

4) I applaud WDW's attempts at trying to make foods healthy, but I think they have gone way too far. The mandatory wheat rolls for hot dogs and hamburgers was just obnoxious. It would be one thing if they tasted good but they were like cardboard and fell apart. The chicken hot dogs were gross also. I am on vacation! I would at least like a choice of a white roll or an all beef hot dog.

5) Food prices vs. quality have reached a critical stage IMO. I saw a lot more people bringing food into the parks, and I can't blame them. Paying $8-9 for a hamburger that is poor quality is just wrong. Perhaps the dining plan is to blame for this, since those that get free dining don't have a choice and are therefore captive to eating the food, and are also not looking at prices as much. In 2006, my impression is that the counter service food was generally good quality if slightly overpriced. Now it is very average quality and significantly overpriced. I did have a few meals that were very good, but they were extremely expensive table service meals. I feel that more people may start looking outside the parks for food or bringing their own food. I know that next time I probably will.

6) I did notice a lot of good things. The service was overall quite excellent and I feel that they are really trying their best to give peoples vacations that extra touch. The CMs were generally friendly and the parks were clean as always.

[NikitaZee]

Thanks for your report. We were there the week before you, and I noticed the same things regarding meals. We also noticed that it took and extremely long time to compete a meal - from start to finish, we averaged an hour and a half, sometimes longer. It was also very hard to change or get any new ADR's while there. Another thing we noticed were the bathrooms - dirtier than I ever remember them being in the past. We had better luck with wait times for rides, we didn't find that too bad at all.

I agree that it's hard to find a slow time of year anymore - but with all the promotions Disney is offering, I'm sure that's exactly what they want.

[KYCruiseCrazy]

did you have any magical moments? what food/dinning is still great? what resort where you at? thanks

[Planogirl]

I have a feeling that going during November isn't really all that different from going in the summer nowadays. It appears that these promotions are really packing them in at all times now.

As far as the food goes, there are still a handful of places that are good and reasonably priced IMO. But not enough considering the prices - I do agree with that.

[TIGGERGUY]

I find myself eating in the Universal parks much more than the Disney parks nowadays. Disney's prices have gone way up and the quality has gone down. Universal can't take my money for granted, and seems to work harder to earn it at a better value. Add in the 10% discount for AP/AAA members and their food is a much better value. I'll take Mythos or Lombard's over most Disney table service restaurants. The Universal counter service by and large is much better than Disney's.

We did the MNSSHP and were let down by the candy. AP discounts have been eliminated on more restaurants. Sigh.

[cbsnyber1]

Originally Posted by golden6911

I did have a few meals that were very good, but they were extremely expensive table service meals. I feel that more people may start looking outside the parks for food or bringing their own food. I know that next time I probably will.

During my planning I have noticed the high, high prices for TS meals on the Allears menu links. This really bothers me - it seems Disney realizes they have a captive audience and are gouging accordingly. I understand supply and demand, but this is getting ridiculous. But, as long as there are people out there willing to pay the price, Disney will continue to charge it.

[golden6911]

The first part of the trip I stayed 5 days at the Fort Wilderness Cabins. I liked the resort, there is a lot to do there, but it does seem less "Disney" than even the values or other moderates. The extra space was nice however. I know lots complain about the bus service at FW but I really think that it is no worse than anywhere else. It is true that you have to take an internal bus, but I never waited more than 5 minutes for one and the buses to the parks are direct, with no other stops to resorts in between. Therefore the buses were generally less crowded.

The next part of the trip was 5 days at the Wilderness Lodge Villas, my hands down favorite resort. We shared a 2 bedroom villa with the in-laws, which was fabulous.

We DID have a lot of magical moments. My 5 year old son was chosen to be in the HoopdeDoo Revue during the Davy Crockett skit, which was so cool! My daughter was the "Honorary Princess of the Day" at our CRT lunch, which wasn't too big of a deal really, but she got a kick out of it. As we were checking out, the housekeepers gave each of my kids a towel animal to take home, which was a cool souvenir.

It was a great trip overall but I wanted to comment on some things that did suck some of the fun away for us. To be honest, with the popularity of the dining plan, and all the promotions, I don't really see things changing much in the future. At this point WDW really needs a another destination, a 5th park, to lower the crowds.

[RachaelA]

I just wanted to say i love your children's names. My niece's name is Aurora and my brother and SIL had Orion picked out as well if she had been a boy.

[Micca]

Thanks for your observations Judi. I have to agree with you about the state of dining at WDW. Something's gotta give

[auntsue]

Sadly, I have been reading a lot about the overpriced and under-quality food of late. For the first time since 1982 we will not be getting a dining plan next trip because we no longer think it's worth it. The restaurants used to be such a delight, now they all seem lacking in more ways than one.

It does seem to be crowded most of the time now. I guess free dining and 4/3 will do that.

[SuperTink]

We've never really cared for the food, which is one of the reasons we do CS. Saves time and money we would otherwise (over) pay for very mediocre TS food. We eat all our breakfasts in the room with food we get from Garden Grocer. Good thing we have lots of nice restaurants at home.