Are You Skipping Disney This Year?

We're long time DVC'rs. So we stay onsite no matter what. But ticket prices in the last several years have been so high we've skipped WDW parks. WE have platinum passes for BG, and those give us free admission to Sea World and Aquatica, as well as free parking.

We may get off the wallet one day this year to go to the MK, otherwise, it's Sea World parks for us.
 
Well we already did Disney this year. We are thinking of skipping next year, but we might not be able to. DH god daughter first trip might be next year we promised her parents we will go with them. If they decide to wait another year then we will have to decide then. Since we are moving closer we might end up doing a long weekend to WDW.

I wished we would have skipped this year. Our trip was full of issues and for the first time I was actually happy to leave. If we skip it next year it will be because of our bad experience this year and because we would rather spend money on another vacation. Disney is not usually our only vacation except in 2009 so we get to see other places too.
 
We used to be annual visitors when the kids were younger. Once the youngest became a Disney adult we started branching out and taking other vacations. We've been back a couple of time since then (last trip was in 2012), but aren't going back for a while for a number of reasons.

1. There are still a lot of places out there that we want to see.
2. DH is retiring this year, so our budget won't be quite a big as it used to be.
3. Disney keeps raising prices, but not updating the parks. I know Fantasy Land was expanded and, IMO, it should have happened a long time ago. There really hasn't been anything new that's made us say "we need to go back and see that!" We have been back to Universal several times over the last few years because they keep adding new stuff.
4. I don't want to go back until the Magic Band/Fast Pass Plus system has been up and running long enough for all the bugs to be worked out. From what I've read it's worked great for some people, but others still have some valid complaints.

For my family Disney just doesn't have the same "bang for my buck" that it had in prior years. While I know I'll go again at some point, its not a priority right now.
 

DD13 and I love us some Disney. But as she's gotten older, we've branched out a bit. We've gotten into a mode where we do international trips every other year with extended family - thanks to DSister's FF miles and hotel points :rotfl: Two years ago, we went to China (DDs birth country) and this year we are going to Paris (my absolute favorite city in the world :love:) The year we went to China, I still managed to slip in some days at Disney, but this year I am on the fence as to whether or not we will do that. I keep pricing out trips, and getting frustrated. WDW is out - I don't like the idea of dealing with FP+. Our trip there last year was a blast, in large part because we were more spontaneous than we'd been on previous trips. I feel like FP+ would keep us from having that same sort of experience, that I'd be forced back into plan-every-minute mode or we would end up spending too much time in line. DLR is still in the running, but the cost of hotels and tickets have stopped me from booking so far - things don't seem so bad when you price out a 7 or more day trip, but when you are looking at just a 4 day trip like we would have to do this year, the price per day is crazy high. I also get frustrated by the crowds there, which doesn't help. (And before anyone asks - no, we are not going to DL Paris. I want to spend my time soaking up the city - it will be quite awhile before I get back there again.)

I'll probably waffle for a few more months before I commit one way or another. At least with DLR I can do that because we drive there, not fly.
 
Have been going every 2-3 years, but definitely skipping for now, until the kinks get worked out of FP+ (we are optimistic that changes will be made to lift some of the restrictions). There is plenty to see and do elsewhere.
 
Just posted this on another thread, but I will copy it here- this is how we fell and why we are skipping our annual trip this year:

We have gone to WDW every year since 2008, once twice in a year. For the past few years we have gone to DL in the summer and WDW in the fall or winter. Before 2008, we (being DH and I, and before DH my family from the time I was a kid) went to WDW about once every 3 years and had not been to DL in decades. For the first time since 2007, we are not planning on going this year and it is directly related to MDE/FP+. We dealt with it last fall and that was enough. We aren't looking forward to spending a good deal of money to have to deal with it again.

We dealt with MDE/FP+ last fall before tiering and now it is worse. We will still be going to DL. Until last fall, I had never even really thought about whether we got our money's worth out of WDW. Last fall we didn't get any type of discount, so it was the most expensive trip we have had in a while- that would not have even phased me EXCEPT that with MDE/FP+ we felt like we got less out of a trip that we paid more for. For the first time EVER I was left wondering whether we really got our money's worth out of a Disney trip. MDE kept me on the smart phone a lot-which was in part due to its glitching and errors- which kept the vacation from being the focus on family and putting down the phone that we like- DD (then 7) even complained about me messing with the phone as much. MDE was just one big annoying glitch that was not at all user friendly when it came to tweaking specific times one by one or changing anything- this was for the initial set up and became 100 times worse once you are actually at WDW. It took me hours to initially get it set up and tweaked to the times I thought would be best (you have to move things out of the way to get other things where you want them and then move things back etc.) We felt like we got less done because we were having to criss cross the park with the FP+ and felt very rushed. We didn't get to finish an area completely without having to run over to the next place, and that limited my shopping time substantially because shopping is No. 3 after rides and shows in an area. When I have to leave an area prematurely to get to the next FP+, I don't get to shop. We felt like we weren't controlling our vacation, WDW was. We were not FP- superusers by any means, but we utilized them to maximize our day. Now, the inability to FP both Soarin and Test Track in a day really hampers our day. At EPCOT basically we got 2 FPs a day-one for each of these (occasionally we might get a 2nd FP for Soarin since it is a favorite, but usually that didn't fit with our WS schedule). Now we feel like we are stuck with 1 useful FP in a day at EPCOT. Likewise the inability to FP both TSM and RNRR in a day really is unacceptable to us. Having to predict what the lines will be like when we are there right down to the exact time of day to decide if we need a FP for a certain thing, along with the inability to change it in the park (which is much worse now that it has opened up for everyone), is unacceptable. Having to absolutely be locked in to where you will be in the park when and which rides to your best guess two months in advance will need FP at that time of day is not acceptable. The system is a mess and in its current state we are not inclined to spend our money on a WDW trip to have to deal with it. That said, I'm still optimistic that changes are going to be made, so I have caved a bit and we will book a trip (don't want to miss those all important 180 day ADRs), but we will cancel the trip if things don't change by then. The last thing I want is not to book anything, and then see that changes are made for the better and I can't get any ADRs we want if I book a trip.

While we hate MDE/FP+ and what Disney has done in that respect- we still love Disney and certainly aren't boycotting all things Disney. We will still make our regular DL trip this year to get our Disney fix. So Disney will still get some of our money- it will just not get the money for our WDW trip. There is a lot more world to see out there. We have fallen into the Disney trap that we love it so much and it is so easy in that everything is right there (unlike a City where you have to figure out where you want to go) that we just wind up re-booking there instead of trying other things. MDE/FP+ seems to be fixing that for us. We are thinking of maybe doing NYC in the fall instead as DH and I love it there and DD has never been and wants to go.
 
Yes we are skipping WDW this year. Went to F&W last October & absolutely hated Fastpass+ We are the ones who knew how to utilize Fastpass from previous trips. CMs were stressed also. I work hard for my money so it is on to other vacation destinations - going to Savannah this year. Now saving up money we used to spend at WDW for our next planned trip, taking a small ship/yacht cruise to Alaska in 2 years
 
We've only been once, and don't plan to go this year or next. Other things to do first before we go back.
 
We are going to give it the old college try. We are staying at Universal for the first time ever (split stay) and will decide this trip to upgrade to Universal or Disney APs. I am mostly concerned about the DAS for my ASD son, so having the FOTL option at Universal will probably work better for us. Plus it will save a ton of $.
 
We are not going to Disney this year. We went to both WDW and DLR during Summer 2013. We typically only visit every couple of years, and I wanted to get our trip in before all the FP+, My Magic changes hit. I won't return until the Magic Band & FP+ kinks have been worked out. Once the system has finished testing, has been tweaked for the better, and Disboards and Touring Plans tells me the best way to maximize the system I will go back. I hope this happens soon!

In the meantime we are going to the Outer Banks, NC for Spring Break 2014 and to Sedona & the Grand Canyon for 9 days this summer. I can't wait to explore the American Southwest with my family! DS16 will also be traveling to Normandy and Paris in June on a school trip. I am still working on plans for our 2015 summer vacation. My DS will be starting college and my DD will be taking a mandatory summer class so our time is very limited during summer 2015. I'm not sure we'll be able to fit anything in.

We will all be back at WDW eventually because we have 10 Day No Expire hoppers with Water Parks & more with enough days left for 2 more trips. Plus my DD14 will be going to WDW for Spring Break 2015 with her high school softball team. And my DH and I are planning a Disney Cruise for January 2016 to celebrate our 25th anniversary.
 
Taking a bit of a break this year. Maybe even next year too.

Last few trips just didnt feel the same. Whether it is we are Disney'd out, kids are getting older, or all the changes :confused3 FP+ rollout made our decision ALOT easier.
 
Yes, we are skipping Disney this year. We have gone multiple times a year since 2008.

FP+ is the main reason, but increasing prices with declining value is another reason. We can afford the increases, but I am choosing to spend my vacation dollars elsewhere.

This!!

Went the week before Thanksgiving and hated fp+ . We have been at least once a year (sometimes twice) since 2005. This year we are going to Gatlinburg and then driving up to Cedar point.
 
We are, but because we don't do Disney every year. We take other vacations. We aren't planning on being back at Disney for another two and a half years.
 
It should be a vacation, not being told how to vacation. There are limitations, and they know where you are every minute. I am grateful I went once in 2006.
 
We are going to WDW for the first visit in 10 years. We are doing a DCL cruise and then 2 days at the parks. Looking at the boards is exhausting, as the number of commando over-planners is ever growing. Miss the old days of no adrs and relaxed visits.
 
We go every year with our kids and our parents (odd years with hubby's parents, even years with mine). We go during super-duper-double-secret value season ("September" for all you normal folks) and we get the free dining.

This year, money was a bit tight (a layoff didn't help), so we had tentatively decided to skip it. However, we figured out that using Starwood Points to stay at the Swan or Dolphin, not doing the dining plan (my parents always paid the difference to upgrade to deluxe - those tips on exorbitantly priced meals added up FAST!) and driving (not flying) *might* save us enough $$ to be able to swing a trip this year. :idea:

Jury's still out...but this Disney Freak is holding out hope that my plans will be sprinkled with Pixie Dust. pixiedust:
 
Have been going every 2-3 years, but definitely skipping for now, until the kinks get worked out of FP+ (we are optimistic that changes will be made to lift some of the restrictions). There is plenty to see and do elsewhere.

Wow I've been out of the loop and don't know anything about the new FP+.

What is the big difference between the fastpass and the new FP+?
 
Wow I've been out of the loop and don't know anything about the new FP+.

What is the big difference between the fastpass and the new FP+?

^^Yes, I wondered the same thing. *runs off to search this topic*

We don't often mess with the FP system, as our kids are little. We hit the "big" rides first thing in the morning (we are those annoying morning people who never miss RD), then meander around and ride all the less popular stuff. I have a feeling this will change as the kids get older. *bites nails*

Last year we didn't have Magic Bands, either.
 





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