Has there been a change in management?

[Laketravis]

This FABULOUS "new system" is fraught with hidden (and not-so-hidden) bugaboos for first-time visitors and seasoned veterans, alike.

LOL! I see what you did there

 

[shyjade]

Last month was my worst WDW trip of all time and I've been going regularly since 1972. Fastpass+ is dreadful. Didn't feel like Disney to me at all. What has changed? And why?

$$

 

[anonymousegirl]

I live 6 hours drive from Disneyland and a 6 hour flight from WDW. Yet I have usually vacationed more at WDW as it had more to offer with resorts, shows, parks, restaurants, and nighttime entertainment.

But DLR is lots of fun and has that special Walt magic, and suddenly it is looking a lot more attractive.
The pluses:
Old FP system,
more dark rides
more single rider rides (including Soarin' and Radiator Springs Racers)
better versions of IASW, SM, HM, POTC,
Aladdin, Mickey and the Magical Map, and World of Color

I am thinking that next year I will be spending more of my vacation dollars in California.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I live 6 hours drive from Disneyland and a 6 hour flight from WDW. Yet I have usually vacationed more at WDW as it had more to offer with resorts, shows, parks, restaurants, and nighttime entertainment.

But DLR is lots of fun and has that special Walt magic, and suddenly it is looking a lot more attractive.
The pluses:
Old FP system,
more dark rides
more single rider rides (including Soarin' and Radiator Springs Racers)
better versions of IASW, SM, HM, POTC,
Aladdin, Mickey and the Magical Map, and World of Color

I am thinking that next year I will be spending more of my vacation dollars in California.

Maybe that's Disney's secret plan? I'm not going to WDW when I'm in Orlando next summer, and I'm saving my Disney Visa rewards to see Disneyland in 2016 or 2017.

 

[GoofyKidd]

Our Feb 2104 trip to WDW was the worst trip ever. FP+ has screwed up things more than anyone could imagine. I vowed we were done with Disney for a few years. Over the past month or so our family has been getting the itch to go back. And just when I think, maybe we'll go back with an open mind, a thread like this peaks my interest & I remember why I vowed we will not go back for a while. I did email a complaint when we returned. I got a return call that lasted for almost an hour. But apparently no one really listened because it's getting worse. The Toy Story Mania FP+ only test is such a bad idea on so many levels. Admission to Disney parks is expensive. Very expensive. If I were a day-tripper to DHS during this test I'd be ticked that my admission price doesn't allow me to ride TSM. Even if there's a 2 hour wait-riding the ride is possible. With this test there's no hope. So what does the price of admission really get you? I know some FP are available the day of, but we all know how long those last. Maybe the old Disney is gone and isn't coming back. Sad thought but I see no hope in sight. Sad they don't want our hard earned money anymore.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Currently standing outside in a q line for great movie ride. Never ever had to wait outside.

Oh I LOVE the Great Movie Ride!

Just curious...is Hollywood Studiod crowded today or is it just FP+ gumming up the works?

 

[waynesgirl]

Currently standing outside in a q line for great movie ride. Never ever had to wait outside.

Maybe the old Disney is gone and isn't coming back. Sad thought but I see no hope in sight. Sad they don't want our hard earned money anymore.

I kinda get depressed when I read this stuff- I have been reading but not posting because it just doesn't seem to end.

I went to HS a few years ago and had to stand in line, outside, on a slower day for the Great Movie Ride. It has happened, just maybe not to you. And this was before FP+.

I cringe a little when I read that people say the old Disney is gone. They do want your hard-earned money, trust me. But they are a business and they have more to cater to than all of us here on the Disboards who like the old way, or we could ride 26+ rides a day, and we could make 3 ADRs a day, and we could all work the system to be what we wanted from a vacation that we had come to expect.

Well, Disney had to change the rules and we might not like it but we are not the ones coming in for the 1st time with our kids and paying full price, or visiting after several years being gone and bringing our grandkids and paying full price or close to it.

We are the ones who wanted a way to continue to get the most from our vacations and we demanded that we get to make reservations in advance for food and rides and all the other things. And because it wasn't done how we like it, we all complain.

I'm not saying it's the greatest thing since sliced bread but I still think it isn't a terrible vacation- I like some of the changes that have been made. The customer service I encounter is still top-notch. The accommodations are exactly what I'd expect- I don't stay onsite very often because I am a AP holder. Mind you, I only go between 3 and 6 times a year, so I would rather not stay onsite. The food is still delicious- I choose not to have a sit-down TS meal 3 times a trip- been there and done it. This is not just at Disney- everything is rapidly declining in this ME ME ME world we are in now.

Look at the bright side; you're still at Disney. If it doesn't excite you, then don't go any more. There are lots of other vacation spots to visit that will take your money and not deliver as well as Disney. Trust me, I know. Just this year, I've been to France, Texas, NC, SC, West Virginia, and a few others.

Breathe- it will be ok.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

And the less-than-glowing comments on WDW's Facebook page continue to pour in. Hopefully, they'll take notice.

They will just remove them. They have done it in the past.

Currently standing outside in a q line for great movie ride. Never ever had to wait outside.

Amazing, this is what aggravates me most. Rides that usually do not have significant lines being crazy busy. Don't think it would have anything to do with Columbus Day being that is not until Monday. Anything else going on at WDW this week?? I guess it could be everyone who wanted to ride TSMM are now going to GMR??

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

The only bright side I see to all of this is that there are a lot of people experiencing the Great Movie Ride! I think it's an overlooked wonder and is one of my favorite rides in all of WDW.

 

[Tinker12]

Just returned from 11 days. Yes, it was a big disappointment this year. My DH and I kept asking each other if management changed... Lines for rides that did not have lines in the past... i.e. Thunder Rollercoaster 25 minute wait and only one line was open as you walked down into the train station and then opened up on both sides.

During the trip, splash mountain shut down and we waited on the logs for 10-15 minutes. They escorted us out through the back side... which was cool! Got to see the behind the scenes. They said they would hand out Fast Passes but we got a bag of Halloween candy instead. POC shut down as well. On the boat for at least 20 minutes and they had to turn the pumps off and on. At the end, we did receive fast passes. People mover had issues as well. It became a runny joke between DH and I that every ride we rode, stopped... bad luck? Our friends back home were texting us that our family was bad luck for the parks..

We have been going to Disney for 7 years and was really looking forward to this last trip. Turned off by all the construction in every park or resort we visited.

We will be taking the next year off and hopefully will look forward to a Disney trip in 2016.

We know what Disney can do and how they can make anyone's day Magical. We did that every day we were at the park or at the resort just by saying "Hello" to everyone we past.. or talk to the children that were dressed up.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just returned from 11 days. Yes, it was a big disappointment this year. My DH and I kept asking each other if management changed... Lines for rides that did not have lines in the past... i.e. Thunder Rollercoaster 25 minute wait and only one line was open as you walked down into the train station and then opened up on both sides.

When do you usually go to WDW? I've been in March, May, July, October, and December, and I can't remember not waiting 25 minutes or more for BTMRR. I would definitely be happy with that for a stand by time.

 

[magicbob]

Currently standing outside in a q line for great movie ride. Never ever had to wait outside.

I have. Of course, that was in 1989 when it was brand new.

 

[tmosier]

With all of the changes going on at WDW over the past few years which leave me feeling less of the magic and more squeezed, visiting DL in the future instead of WDW is sounding more and more appealing.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

I was just reading in the latest episode of WIRED magazine about the tracking elements of the MagicBand. (It actually goes into the how it works..) I wish I could find an online link that doesn't require the subscription info. The only article open to everyone is a more look at the ethical issues.MagicBands' RFID can track a guest's movement up to 40 ft away from certain attractions--allowing the park to encourage more movement to less crowded areas.

I am thinking that not enough folks are moving on from the crowded attractions and now that technology is not paying for itself. So, force the guests to move on because there are no sb lines.

 

[Robo]

With all of the changes going on at WDW over the past few years which leave me feeling less of the magic and more squeezed, visiting DL in the future instead of WDW is sounding more and more appealing.

Cars Land, alone, is worth the price of admission to DCA.
It is OUTSTANDING!

The Radiator Springs Racers is an amazing attraction!

 

[nemodeb]

Posts like these really make me worried about our Jan'15 trip. We went in Jan'13 with our 3yr old and had an amazing time. We went with the flow of things, and loved the entire This time she is 5 and we also have an almost 2 yr old.
FP+ has me in a total panic. Obviously with our DD being 5 she is completely Princess crazed, and definitely knows what she "must" do at Disney this time. BUT with having a little one things are going to be alittle unpredictable. I really hate that I have to BOOK our ride/M&G's at specific times when who knows how our littles be at those times. Will really suck to miss out on riding our favorite rides because someone needs a rest. Or taking them to meet their favorite princess when they would rather be eating/napping etc.

This. I think you have made a very valid point, something that Disney is either ignoring or is choosing not to care. Many guests are families with small children. Schedules mean nothing to small children, heck, they don't mean much to me when I'm on vacation. A child is having fun doing one thing, suddenly the "schedule" says we have to leave this and go do something else. Or forcing families into having to make hard decisions on whether their child needs a nap/snack/break/whatever before they have a meltdown vs gotta get on this ride because we will lose our only fp opportunity to ride this ride is really kinda heartless. Something I'm sure Walt wouldn't agree with.

To me, the best vacations we've had have been spontaneous, free flowing, and unscheduled. We're just not clock watchers. Vacations are supposed to be about having fun, relaxing from the day to day grind. I'm sure this can still be done at WDW, as long as you don't care about riding all the rides. Like others have said, it's all in your mindset. God bless all you CM's that still work hard to keep the magic alive. Please, don't lose heart, we love you!

 

[Sandy321]

Last month was my worst WDW trip of all time and I've been going regularly since 1972. Fastpass+ is dreadful. Didn't feel like Disney to me at all. What has changed? And why?

Actually its reminding me more and more of the ticket system, the special "E" tickets of old! you got more than one E ticket tho didn't we? I can't imagine only having 1 E ticket at Epcot, either TT or Soarin, not both...

I'm spending more money and time at Universal

 

[johde]

Actually its reminding me more and more of the ticket system, the special "E" tickets of old! you got more than one E ticket tho didn't we? I can't imagine only having 1 E ticket at Epcot, either TT or Soarin, not both...

I'm spending more money and time at Universal

In 1971 the year the park opened, there were 25 attraction at the MK that took tickets (counting all Main street vehicles as 1 attraction). Your ticket options were 7 Adventure books and 11 adventure books. The 7 adventure books had 2 E tickets and the 11 adventure books had 4 E tickets and there were 6 E ticket attractions.

 

[Laketravis]

In 1971 the year the park opened, there were 25 attraction at the MK that took tickets (counting all Main street vehicles as 1 attraction). Your ticket options were 7 Adventure books and 11 adventure books. The 7 adventure books had 2 E tickets and the 11 adventure books had 4 E tickets and there were 6 E ticket attractions.

And if I remember correctly (it's been a LONG time...), you could buy additional E tickets.

 

[Sammie]

Sorry you did not enjoy your trip. We however love the new Magic bands and Fastpass+ and see it as a huge improvement over the old system.

So not everyone thinks it is a failure.