Amazed and Disappointed

[MarBee]

I've made 20 trips to WDW, so I'm no newbie either. As I said, that is standard for any other time of the year, for the masses to leave pretty much all at once.

Are they not opening the auxiliary walkway at all to help with the congestion on Main Street?

The walkway was open when I was there in July but the line for the ice cream shop prohibited most people from getting to it. There were HUNDREDS of people lined up for ice cream because there was NOTHING to do anywhere after 10:00 in all of Disney World- unless you wanted to go to Pandora and wait in line for 3+ hours.

This is my 6th summer trip to Disney. Mass exodus after the fireworks shows or one of the parades is normal. This year was not like that. It was waaaay different, and not in a good way.

 

[wdwlver]

The walkway was open when I was there in July but the line for the ice cream shop prohibited most people from getting to it. There were HUNDREDS of people lined up for ice cream because there was NOTHING to do anywhere after 10:00 in all of Disney World- unless you wanted to go to Pandora and wait in line for 3+ hours.

This is my 6th summer trip to Disney. Mass exodus after the fireworks shows or one of the parades is normal. This year was not like that. It was waaaay different, and not in a good way.

This actually mind boggling. And not in a good way.

 

[robl45]

So not looking forward to our august trip. I think we might even take a break from Disney next year and forgo the annual passes. Maybe go for a day or two to see the new toy story world, but other than that, forget it with this nonsense.

 

[MarBee]

So not looking forward to our august trip. I think we might even take a break from Disney next year and forgo the annual passes. Maybe go for a day or two to see the new toy story world, but other than that, forget it with this nonsense.

Don't get me wrong- we still enjoyed our trip and made the most of it. But instead of renewing our passes and buying DVC like we planned on doing before we left the park, I am home researching other vacation destinations. You'll still have fun in August!

 

[DaisyJ]

The walkway was open when I was there in July but the line for the ice cream shop prohibited most people from getting to it. There were HUNDREDS of people lined up for ice cream because there was NOTHING to do anywhere after 10:00 in all of Disney World- unless you wanted to go to Pandora and wait in line for 3+ hours.

This is my 6th summer trip to Disney. Mass exodus after the fireworks shows or one of the parades is normal. This year was not like that. It was waaaay different, and not in a good way.

All the sidewalk vendors closed right after the fireworks. Also keep in mind the bathrooms are closed very shortly after 10pm.

 

[Monykalyn]

Don't get me wrong- we still enjoyed our trip and made the most of it. But instead of renewing our passes and buying DVC like we planned on doing before we left the park, I am home researching other vacation destinations.

Check Timeshare Users group for lots of info. Recently there were weeks (1 bedroom) available at SSR this summer to trade into with RCI timeshare. Heck there is a week at Poly for rent (studio) 12-1/9-12/26 for $2200-if we could have made that week work would have snatched that up in a heartbeat. Have fun researching other vacation destinations! I am looking for a free/cheap TS on a beach (gulf florida or SC) or in Smokey mountains. Lots of world to explore!

I hope those that experienced less than magical exit strategies/lack of offerings emailed Guest Services to let them know of their(WDW) poor planning. Only way to get them to change is to speak up

 

[dkrauss]

Very interesting thread. We visited at the end of June and most nights MK closed at 10pm............the one night we were there it closed at 11pm. For my wife and I it didn't make much of a difference. The one thing we did notice was the parks were not nearly as crowded as we expected (and were told to expect). I would imagine that for many the 10pm closing will be of no impact at all. Now for many on the DIS yeah it has an impact...........them (we, us ) are more "so to speak" experienced and have well tested touring plans that during the summer expect a later closing time. I would say that much of this is actuarial study based on room bookings something that has been mentioned here. I'm curious to see how this may change come the late fall. I base this on the dearth of discounts available for that time period. Let's see if there's a connection.

The other thing I noticed in the thread is the number of folks who say they're taking a break from Disney or not renewing their AP's (we have an AP and were not renewing anyway ). Hey if you're unhappy....change it up. I'm also curious if that has any impact....my gut tells me the numbers won't be significant enough to have an impact. Again.........the folks here on The DIS are an educated and dedicated bunch..............but only a fraction of the folks who visit Disney World.

Doug

 

[robl45]

Don't get me wrong- we still enjoyed our trip and made the most of it. But instead of renewing our passes and buying DVC like we planned on doing before we left the park, I am home researching other vacation destinations. You'll still have fun in August!

Not really, our fun time was at night at the parks, whether that was late night at DHS, we really had fun at that or late night at the MK actually getting to ride the rides. Add to the fact that we can't change all our plans around to account for the earlier closing time, and its really just a mess. Example, I would shift my dinners a little earlier but of course there are no times at this point, nor were there times to move them a month ago. Fast passes are locked in place and you can't change them either so we looking at maybe getting an hour at night at the MK and spending lots on UBER to actually get to the parks at night and still have a slight bit of time to do something. Then probably UBER home as I hear the buses at night are insane now.

I'm researching seaworld and Universal for next year.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Not really, our fun time was at night at the parks, whether that was late night at DHS, we really had fun at that or late night at the MK actually getting to ride the rides. Add to the fact that we can't change all our plans around to account for the earlier closing time, and its really just a mess. Example, I would shift my dinners a little earlier but of course there are no times at this point, nor were there times to move them a month ago. Fast passes are locked in place and you can't change them either so we looking at maybe getting an hour at night at the MK and spending lots on UBER to actually get to the parks at night and still have a slight bit of time to do something. Then probably UBER home as I hear the buses at night are insane now.

I'm researching seaworld and Universal for next year.

If you're not going to have fun on your upcoming trip why go then? Honest question.

Vote with your wallet and not go then in August and take some time off from WDW. Nothing wrong with that. Just don't understand why have such a negative outlook on your upcoming trip that you haven't even had yet and yet still go. What's more important to you-potentially losing the money already spent on the trip or going on a trip that you look forward to and anticipate having a good time on?

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's easy to say just don't go, but try to look at it from other person's POV. Let's say you are a rope dropper. For all of your trips, you are there are at rope drop because you love those early hours. Then they decide, eh, we're going to open MK at 10:30 AM instead. Wouldn't you miss that hour and half? Sure an hour or so sounds like nothing to someone who isn't a rope dropper, but to you it was something. (Substitute in whatever hours you enjoy) It's the same thing happening here...people who like touring MK at night don't have that option as often anymore.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It's easy to say just don't go, but try to look at it from other person's POV. Let's say you are a rope dropper. For all of your trips, you are there are at rope drop because you love those early hours. Then they decide, eh, we're going to open MK at 10:30 AM instead. Wouldn't you miss that hour and half? Sure an hour or so sounds like nothing to someone who isn't a rope dropper, but to you it was something. (Substitute in whatever hours you enjoy) It's the same thing happening here...people who like touring MK at night don't have that option as often anymore.

No it's not easy to say just don't go. I'm not using it as a cop out or anything it was directly related to the poster's comments/vibe not a general comment nor a comment related to anything other than the poster's comments.

I was responding to the person who was told by another poster "I'm sure you'll have fun" and the person responded with "Not really". If you're not going to have and you've already decided that then why go? I'm not sure what anyone could say at this point to get this poster happy about their trip. I mean I wouldn't have even said anything if the poster responded more in a tone of "thanks, I'll try, I'm just bummed about the hrs", but nope it was a dismissive negative tone of "Not really" thus prompting my "why go if you know you won't have a good time" comment.

 

[wdwlver]

I think most posters who are disappointed like me are upset that our years of summer trips (see my signature...95% of those in summer) now have to change. For example we rd them swim and chill at resort all afternoon then dinner and evening in parks. I've had to try and change our dinners for earlier times which cuts into pool/resort time. And when you've gone every summer for a very long time it really does impact your trip. Just checked crowd level at MK for yesterday. It turned out to be a 7. That seems high for a 10 pm close.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think most posters who are disappointed like me are upset that our years of summer trips (see my signature...95% of those in summer) now have to change. For example we rd them swim and chill at resort all afternoon then dinner and evening in parks. I've had to try and change our dinners for earlier times which cuts into pool/resort time. And when you've gone every summer for a very long time it really does impact your trip. Just checked crowd level at MK for yesterday. It turned out to be a 7. That seems high for a 10 pm close.

I totally get being disappointed and I understand exactly why. That was not my point in commenting about the person at all. Again it was more in regards to the poster being told by another poster "I'm sure you'll have fun" and the person responded with "Not really" in a dismissive negative tone. There's nothing wrong with being bummed about the hrs or anything like that;it just came off as someone was trying to give a positive "make the most of it" comment and the person disregarding that entirely and responding in a continued negative way. If you're really truly not going to have a fun time then don't go. Only thing I can think of is if the poster is just down in the dumps right now but will strive to have a good time on their trip regardless, it just didn't seem that way from their comments.

 

[DoTheDisFam]

"Negative tone" ? (in typed words, no less).

Perception is the new reality, everyone!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

"Negative tone" ? (in typed words, no less).

Perception is the new reality, everyone!

Context is probably important too. But yes it's entirely possible to have negative tone in typed words. And from yours I'm getting a sarcastic tone.

 

[DoTheDisFam]

Happy Disney to you, too.

 

[bryanb]

No it's not easy to say just don't go. I'm not using it as a cop out or anything it was directly related to the poster's comments/vibe not a general comment nor a comment related to anything other than the poster's comments.

I was responding to the person who was told by another poster "I'm sure you'll have fun" and the person responded with "Not really". If you're not going to have and you've already decided that then why go? I'm not sure what anyone could say at this point to get this poster happy about their trip. I mean I wouldn't have even said anything if the poster responded more in a tone of "thanks, I'll try, I'm just bummed about the hrs", but nope it was a dismissive negative tone of "Not really" thus prompting my "why go if you know you won't have a good time" comment.

I'm going to second this comment. I'm not taking sides on whether people should be disappointed or not, or whether Disney has been making the best business decisions for guest satisfaction. But the best way to ensure that you'll have a terrible vacation is to go in with the attitude that you're going to have a terrible vacation.

Even in the best of times, there are guests who go to the parks like this and for their own sake, it's just a bad idea. Vacations cost a lot of money, which goes without saying since we're talking about Disney vacations. And time, which is not replaceable. And if people know they're going to be unhappy, it makes no sense to go.

Again, I'm not saying that people shouldn't be disappointed. But if it's something that will ruin their trip, I really wouldn't want them there either.

Also keep in mind the bathrooms are closed very shortly after 10pm.

I have not found this to be true.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Happy Disney to you, too.

Same to you!

*though no sarcasm in my comment no need for that really*

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm going to second this comment. I'm not taking sides on whether people should be disappointed or not, or whether Disney has been making the best business decisions for guest satisfaction. But the best way to ensure that you'll have a terrible vacation is to go in with the attitude that you're going to have a terrible vacation.

Even in the best of times, there are guests who go to the parks like this and for their own sake, it's just a bad idea. Vacations cost a lot of money, which goes without saying since we're talking about Disney vacations. And time, which is not replaceable. And if people know they're going to be unhappy, it makes no sense to go.

Again, I'm not saying that people shouldn't be disappointed. But if it's something that will ruin their trip, I really wouldn't want them there either.

Agreed.

 

[DaisyJ]

I'm going to second this comment. I'm not taking sides on whether people should be disappointed or not, or whether Disney has been making the best business decisions for guest satisfaction. But the best way to ensure that you'll have a terrible vacation is to go in with the attitude that you're going to have a terrible vacation.

Even in the best of times, there are guests who go to the parks like this and for their own sake, it's just a bad idea. Vacations cost a lot of money, which goes without saying since we're talking about Disney vacations. And time, which is not replaceable. And if people know they're going to be unhappy, it makes no sense to go.

Again, I'm not saying that people shouldn't be disappointed. But if it's something that will ruin their trip, I really wouldn't want them there either.



I have not found this to be true.

I just came home from a week at Disney. Bathrooms in Adventureland were closed at 10:05.