Are You Skipping Disney This Year?

[TwoMisfits]

Yes, we are skipping. Why?

- There have been WAY too many price increases for way too little return in the last few years (tickets, dining, parking, etc). The only new rides that opened since our last trip in Fall 2012 are in New Fantasyland - and while Storytime and Little Mermaid are nice (I can't count the Mine Train since it STILL isn't open), we're not big princess fans here...and in my opinion, there are 4 parks and each should have a new ride or major experience EVERY year. If my local Six Flags can do it, why can't Disney?
- FP+ was the nail in the coffin - I won't be a test subject on my vacation...ever...unless you offer me the visit free. Until Disney announces they are out of the "Testing" phase, I'll be out of the vacation phase there. Even if they consider it "final", I will wait to see how they treat all guests and how it works in application.

So, we were out if 2013 and 2014...and probably 2015 (and we were annual visitors since 1999 before this)...I may visit in 2016 since MK crowds should have died down from New Fantasyland by then and maybe another park might have a new ride or two...

 

[Nayan]

We just came back but we are done. For the money, crowds, etc. it's just not worth it anymore so we'll be spending our vacation dollars elsewhere.

 

[3PrinceMom]

I think this will be my last year of buying the annual pass for myself and my children. They are now $800. I renewed mine prior to the price increase, but I could get another trip for the kids by purchasing new ap's with the way the dates fall. My kids are getting older and enjoy thrill rides more and more. Disney is lacking on the thrill rides. I think it's time to try something different, and I'm so sad about it. I think Disney has just out priced me.

 

[tlh0726]

Just to clarify, the bolded red only applies to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. There are no tiers at MK or AK.

yet

 

[DizMe]

Over on the DL board, which is where I usually hang out, there has been a huge increase in posts from WDW regulars who are going to DLR. The crowds have been increasing dramatically, and I am guessing the FP+ system at WDW has a lot to do with the sudden change.

 

[JanaDee]

yet

Right. I think if they will be implemented, it will be with the opening of 7DMT.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

I'm not skipping, but I do not go every year. Every few years is good enough for me. FP+ won't make me stop going. My boys growing up and wanting to go to Universal instead of WDW will probably [eventually] make me stop going.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

We are skipping, but we do not go every year. I changed our vacation plans back in February. We were planning an April stay at SOG, now we are doing a beach vacation. I do want to wait until the new ride opens and FP+ has had more of a go. We just started with WDW not long ago and from what I read on here I feel like me and my family really missed out on the good stuff! Cheaper resort rates, dining plan including app and tip, actual off seasons, better souvenirs, etc. I feel like with the amount we spend is not truly comparable to what you receive in other locations. But I know we will be back, I just want to wait until it is more worth the money. I hate to waste money!

 

[ktlm]

I used the system in Dec and found it absolutely ridiculous. It took me more than 2 hours to book 2 days' worth of ride times from home, I was constantly watching the clock so as not to miss our appointments, and we skipped some rides that we'd normally do rather than wait in long standby lines. It just doesn't work the way the old system did, and it is a terrible fit for those of us with kids at different stages/sizes because you can't get FP for Soarin' and Test Track in the same day, or for Rock & Roller Coaster and Toy Story.

Yep- that sounds like us. I totally agree. You do make me feel better about the fact it only took me 3 hours to book 9 days of FP+ initially. I couldn't believe I sat there for 3 hours trying to get them all placed where I wanted them. Basically if you don't stick with the times they pick for you whether you like them or not, it is a total pain to move and tweak them. I actually probably did spend another hour before our trip once they became available for parades and shows, trying to rework a day to get a parade FP (FYI- you have to have another option set at the time of the parade FP+, or the parade FP+ will never come up as an option for you). We did the constant clock and phone watching. We skipped rides we never skip. I really feel for those with kids who want to go different directions- that has got to be horrible. We only have 1 kid- but she isn't happy about having to pick Soarin or Test Track, and DH and I aren't happy about having to give up RNRR so that we can all ride TSM. DH and I usually FP it and take turns. We won't take turns standing in a long standby line for it.

 

[texasroni75]

We are still hoping for a trip this September, but if no free dining promotion then we won't be going until next year. It's not that we "couldn't" go this year without it, but we decided if FD was offered we would go. If not, then we will skip this year and stay longer next year for my 40th Bday

FP+ and rising ticket prices haven't stopped us from planning trips altogether, it just might take a little longer to save for them and involves more detailed park itineraries once we do book.

 

[toweristops]

We are skipping this year. We have been every year since 2000 but several issues have caused us to want to miss this year. First is FP+ and wanting WDW to work out most of the bugs and so far we are glad we have missed it. Now things may be worked out by summer but so far I am not impressed with the system. The bigger issue for us is swinging the money and finding the right time to travel with the kids. It is becoming more difficult for us to swing this large sum of money for 4 to stay on site. We have been able to save at least $750 our last few trips by staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for a 2 BR deluxe and I can't talk my spouse in going back to Disney Resorts and paying the same amount for a standard room at a moderate. However, we are still looking at around $1000 for tickets for the family and then you have to eat.

The last issue is my issue about the state of the parks. The last few years has been hard to see what has happened to many of the parks. I appreciate the money they have put into MK as it is the crown jewel and Avatar is coming to AK. I realize that all industries are impacted by the economy but seeing the maintenance issues of the rides (even at MK) and the poor condition of a lot of things that were always pristine is troublesome. Add to that the dismal state of Futureworld at Epcot (Imagination, Energy, Wonders of Life) and nothing being done at HS (assuming Carsland and Star Wars Land have been put on indefinite hold until Avatar is done at AK), I am just finding it hard to get motivated like in the past and I am supposed to be the instigator for the trips!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

We changed plans, but Disney is still getting our money!

I just don't want to go to WDW with all that construction. I know some is necessary, but it is a lot right now. Those walls and construction equipment really interferes with my enjoyment.

Then there's FP+ and crazy lines and too much planning required.

Instead we went to Disneyland in January (loved it!) and we are going on a cruise later this year. Maybe when we go on the cruise we will go to the MNSSHP.

 

[JillianMarie]

We won't be back until the fall of 2015 unless something drastic happens. I really want to go over the Halloween season and we're just doing other things this fall. Money and FP+ aren't factoring into it. Despite being there twice in 2013 (not really planned, but that's how it goes sometimes) we think that every other year is probably about right for us.

 

[ChristineNic]

We are taking a year off from Disney and doing Universal instead. Since we have lived in FL, we have had APs to Disney and Universal. This year, our Disney passes were due to renew when the website was having so many issues. I couldn't manage to log in to renew our passes. I figured the internet spirits were telling me something and I let the passes expire.

We were also in the middle of moving from South Florida to North Florida. I am enjoying having time in my new home without feeling like I have to plan a trip to WDW so I don't "waste" my pass.

DH and I agreed to skip Disney until this fall.

 

[tzeitel]

We decided to try something new and are going on a cruise. Money is not the problem since it will come out about the same. We just wanted to visit different places (going to Belize, Mexico and Honduras).

Next year we will probably be doing DLR instead of WDW - unless other family members want to go to Disney and then we would do WDW since it is closer to everyone else.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

We have been to Disney every year since 2001. Now that 4 of my kids are now considered adults, even with 12% discount off tickets the price increase is insane, on site resorts are too pricey for out family size. We are skipping Disney this year. I'd like to go Spring or Fall 2015, I have a 3yr old & I know next year she will enjoy Disney much better at 4-4.5 yrs.

 

[bianca]

When we go back to WDW this fall, we will be staying on property with our DVC points. HOWEVER, we are renting a car and skipping Magical Express, purchasing Annual Passes for Universal Studios and skipping all the craziness that Disney has become. Our last two trips were complete debacles between the MDE (a complete mess from beginning to end), the FP+, MagicBands that did not work for half of our party and the complete mess they made of our room charges. I am OVER it! They can keep their "technology" that doesn't function. I'm going back to KTTK exclusively ...... Without charging privileges attached to the room, since I don't trust that any longer.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We started going every year when kids were younger, then it went to every two years....We just went in Dec 2013 and our next Disney vacation is june 2015...My daughter has moved out and in college so trying to go when all of us can go together..Not 100% sure if staying on rented DVC points or renting a house offsite..We would have to rent two DVC studios, the house while offsite would allow us to bring our little dog and have more privacy as we each would have our own room,,pool....be able to cook..

 

[100AcreWood]

Thank you for explaining FP+ and Magic Bands.

We took a 4 night Disney cruise last year and have another 4 night planned this Fall at the same time. A lot of folks on the cruise board are also complaining about the rates going up considerably. If Disney can get people to pay, they will keep raising the rates until people stop filling the parks or the ships.

 

[IUTBAM]

We *used* to be the family who went to Disneyland or WDW at least once a year, for 10-14 days at a time, staying onsite, and getting annual passes, even though we never lived in Florida OR California. We went so often because of my son, who has Autism. It was a magical place for him, and the type of family vacation where things were actually made easier for us (the one time a year that happened) because Disney used to be sensitive to the needs of people with Autism. We spent, on average $10-15,000 a year on Disney trips (I always told my DH it was cheaper than therapy, and we are fortunate to be in an income bracket where we could afford this type of expenditure without incurring debt).

Our last trip to DLR was last summer. We were planning a trip over Thanksgiving 2013 before our Annual Passes expired, but when they changed to the DAS cards for special needs people, we paused. Once I spent some time seeing how it worked for others, I knew it wouldn't work well for my son. So, Disney is no longer at the top of our vacation list...we are going next Christmas ONLY because I promised that to my son last summer...it's a special trip because he'll be turning 21. He has talked about it every single day. I'm not looking forward to it because I know it's going to be very stressful on him (even though he doesn't realize it yet, he will when we get there) due to the DAS changes. But I promised him, so we are committed to going. But after that trip, it will be a LONG time until we take another Disney trip. I think they missed the mark for those with Autism with the new DAS. But on the upside, so many other places will benefit from our vacation budget.