- Joined
- Apr 16, 2006
Eh, this isn't really a spoiled brat picking up the toys and going home - its just that these changes are honestly frustrating people. Telling them not to let the door hit them on the way out isn't very nice at all.
I think I will do a classic "this board is getting pretty mean" comment.
Why so mean?
I feel sad that they're alienating people who aren't looking forward to the changes. Not everyone can afford to be onsite, or want to schedule everything down to a T for their vacation. It doesn't make their priorities "wrong" to say that. They just don't tour the same way you do.
On the other hand its not the changes that are making me consider not going back for a few years, its the poor execution. I arrive in 82 days and my tickets still are not linked properly to my account and I can't seem to get the new system to add them (we have APs) so will likely miss out on FP+ altogether. I've had the premier annual pass for three years now and there has not been ONE time in either park where I have been able to do anything online properly (and in some cases walk through a turnstile - whenever I go from one to the other it needs to be reissued for their system. California & Florida do not link up properly even after so many years!) without having to call them to fix my account. Mind you the IT people work on a shorter day, so catching someone who can help can be frustrating as I also work a normal 8-5 workweek. I missed out on passholder experiences because the site won't accept my # as valid even when I CAN get into that resort (such as the soft opening of Fantasyland).
We have to book things 6 months in advance for dining but now there are rumors that Kona might be closed (RUMORS mind you - they have not said anything about it), Remy gets pulled from Chef's de France, etc on their whim very close to the time they take effect. Since everything is on east coast time getting said dining reservations means waking up at 3am and I am tired of that too anyway. Specials like Free Dining sells out if you don't get up early as well, oh except the times they release at midnight but they don't tell you that ahead of time either. If you wait on hold for an hour or more they MIGHT be able to find you something that works with your dates. My mother spent three hours and was in tears trying to get a B.O.G. reservation when it opened and were it not for people finding a back door phone # to get in she wouldn't have gotten to go even after all that effort. Their phone system is atrocious.
We do not get PINs ever (don't even get me started on that alienating program), do not live in a state that has a theme park for resident rates, and will never understand why AP holders can't get free dining sometimes along with it being offered to the GP. Oh, and they cancelled my birthday cruise in January a few months before our sail date (that's on DCL I know) AFTER many had booked airfare and only paid their change fees, though not for any increase in price. This is also an industry where you need to be quick - book on opening day for the best price means knowing where you will be two years from now and willing to put 20% or more down on it.
I too am getting beaten down by Disney's way of doing things and I don't even have anything against FP+ or wristbands or whatever else. Dining and discounts and everything else is just completely adding up for us and the difference between the way you do things going to DLR vs WDW is like night and day - truly DLR is more relaxing! If I stop going I'll just stop going, I assure you, no stomping of feet or posting a thread about it, just quietly into the night. But I do have empathy for others who are sad about it too.
Nice rant.
No, really. It was well stated and you've obviously put some thought into it.
Thanks for sharing.