Best and Worst Changes to Disney

[epcotty]

Best- AK will be more interesting soon, HS more interesting further in the future (although we liked it as it was too), new Fantasyland is nice, new Soarin' movie soon and better Test track
Worst-recent cutbacks, tiered 1 day tickets (especially as 1 day is what some in my family usually get), elimination of no expiration and the better FL resident tickets, ridiculously expensive after hours event, rumors of new fees, (and also FP+ is worse than FP in my opinion, especially if you can't plan that far ahead, and ends up making more lines longer with the way it's implemented) and also Frozen at World Showcase (just doesn't belong there)

 

[Minnesota!]

Best – announcement of Star Wars presence in the park, and the hope of Muppets, too!

Worst – the up-charging of everything.

I think the dining plan has sucked so much away from what dining COULD be at WDW. I was just pricing out a table service for my family of 4 when we go in June. For 4 of us, without alcohol, it would be over $100. We go out to eat pretty regularly at home…never over $50 or so unless we are at MOA and eat at Bubba Gump’s or something. Then we push $65 or so. With alcohol. I just can’t spend $35 more/meal.

Also, FP+. Waste of money, IMO.

 

[TabithaStephens]

I'm excited for AK and DHS changes...

Going WAY back...
I dislike the newer Fantasyland... I miss toon town and know my DD would have loved Minnie's house... I wish they would have made it a real attraction rather than close it...

I feel like Fantasyland looks like a scene from that Johnny Depp movie Cry-Baby or Santas Village in NH!!! gawdy and tacky!!! ESP with those random gray bricked walls behind the carousel!!!

I also dislike the way you interact with characters... I miss the two tier bus at Epcot that had like 6 or so characters get off at a time and randoms like that!!!

I AGREE SO MUCH ABOUT TOON TOWN!! It's a shame that of all the things they could have gotten rid of that they chose MICKEY MOUSE'S house. I mean, really? He's so iconic and it makes me sad that kids are missing out on seeing that...unless they have parents that are willing to haul them to DLR.

 

[leebee]

Dislikes:
MM+ and everything associated with it. We are not fans of FP+, Magic Bands and having everything linked, MDE.
Being nickel-and-dimed for EVERYTHING. One of the things we always loved about WDW was that once you were in the gates, you were IN, and everything was available and equal. Now the best seats/views are reserved for packages, premium parking, after-hours at a cost, etc.
Cutting experiences (especially in Epcot) while charging more for everything.
Layout on NFL. The big wall is tacky and random, splits things up, and there doesn't seem to be any "there" there in FantasyLand. It roams all over the place now...
FROZEN

Likes: Adding hours and attractions at AK, especially ROL. I love light shows, fireworks, etc.!

Unsure: Not sure about Star Wars Land, only because we are not big fans. I saw the original movie, and the one that came out this summer. Other than that... I'm at a loss.
Same with Avatar. Saw the movie once, don't really remember much about it. Who knows- maybe not knowing about these things will make them more fun- nothing to compare it to!

 

[mom2rtk]

FP+.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Best - all of the expansion work going on now. That is the best since the opening of AK.

Worst - The decision to have both Maelstrom and Soarin' down at the same time, causing people to spend much less time in Epcot and much more time in MK, causing huge spikes in crowd levels at MK.

 

[amscherm]

Best - all of the expansion work going on now. That is the best since the opening of AK.

Worst - The decision to have both Maelstrom and Soarin' down at the same time, causing people to spend much less time in Epcot and much more time in MK, causing huge spikes in crowd levels at MK.

When is Soarin' suppose to be done?

 

[nilla]

Likes:

FP+
Magic Bands as room keys and credit cards
Expansions (completed or proposed) in the parks and at DS
Bus wait times at select resorts
Exchanging dining credits for other dining credits (1 QS = 3 snacks, etc.)
Focus on interactive attraction queues

Dislikes:

Shorter park hours (unless you pay for the extra hours)
Removal of some in-park entertainment
Removal of the character drawing class at DHS! This is a big one for me. We LOVED that.
FP "end time" enforcement and shorter ride window

There are also some changes to attractions that I liked or disliked, but I won't get into that level of detail. Also, I like that they added the FP viewing area for Wishes, but dislike that they are taking it away.

 

[nilla]

When is Soarin' suppose to be done?

Like most upcoming projects at WDW, I don't think anyone knows.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I am excited about nighttime activities for AK as well.
I actually really like FP+, because it guarantees us 3 rides in a day, but we weren't paper FP collector's previously...we just kind of took them if they were available.

I don't like that the Jalapeno cheese pretzel has been taken away. Why!?!?!?!

 

[godders]

Best:
FP+ and MBs - As a solo traveler (and obsessive planner) it helped me with my days and meant I didn't have to waste my time lining up for FPs (normally have my non-thrill riding Mum for that).
Internet in the parks - Didn't have to kill any trees printing out all my adr/FP info and as my phone doesn't work abroad it meant I could let people know I was still alive (oh and rub it in about how lovely the weather was in Florida vs the UK haha!)
And although it's not at WDW - the Star Wars overlay of Space Mountain at DLR - fab! Can't wait for Star Wars Land!

Worst:
Increase in prices for little improvement
Removal of the Princes - now I'll never meet Flynn Ryder

 

[a742246]

Likes: Disney putting money back into the parks (MK, AK, HS, DS).

Dislikes: EPCOT needs renovation and new ideas!

 

[labattblue]

Disclaimer...not all are recent changes

Best

1 - Adding capacity to attractions that are wildly popular(Soarin' & TSMM)
2 - Finally deciding it's time to reinvest in a big way in the parks after a period of stagnancy
3 - Leaving some of the classics alone in MK despite guests lack of appreciation for them(Tiki Room, CoP, PeopleMover, CBJ, HoP, etc...)

Worst

1 - Closing attractions down with no replacement in sight(WOL still angers me...and no, using it as festival space doesn't count as a replacement).
2 - FP+/MM/what a freakin' trainwreck like horrible idea.
3 - Counteracting #2 under "best"...taking FOREVER to build new attractions/lands from time first shovel hits the ground
4 - WDW across the board out of control $$$$. The increases in prices from park tix, to resorts, to food, to ??? is just crazy compared to past years.
5 - I am really sad what has happened to Main St. I really miss the Penny Arcade, the Main St. Cinema, the Magic Shop, etc.. It really captured the essence of what Main St was all about. It still looks nice from the outside as you walk towards the castle, but...

 

[kbeam]

Best

LOTS of live music at Disney Springs. We can stop and sit with a drink and relax, listening to really great performers.


Worst

1. Way too much construction going on everywhere...parks, resorts. Spread it out.
2. Wilderness Lodge cabins. Hate that the water view will be obstructed.
3. Animation Academy gone. We have these framed and hanging on the wall going down to our basement. They were great free souvenirs.
4. Osborne Lights gone. That one really hurt.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Best:
-More interesting queues such as the changes to Peter Pan's Flight and Haunted Mansion as well s new queues that are more entertaining such as 7DMT
-Magic Bands
-New Fantasyland


Worst:
-FP+
-Changing Horizons to Mission Space
-Maelstrom becoming a Frozen ride. Nothing against a Frozen ride, but should have left Maelstrom
-FP+
-Disney Springs - don't get me wrong. I'm not OPPOSED to Disney Springs, but I didn't feel DTD needed all that attention and felt that the time and money should have been spent on improving Animal Kingdom, Epcot, or DHS
-Polynesian Village Lobby
-FP+

 

[a742246]

I am excited about nighttime activities for AK as well.
I actually really like FP+, because it guarantees us 3 rides in a day, but we weren't paper FP collector's previously...we just kind of took them if they were available.

I don't like that the Jalapeno cheese pretzel has been taken away. Why!?!?!?!

Oh no, not the Jalapeno cheese pretzel! When did that happen?

 

[mindeola]

BEST:

Magic Bands- I love that it is my room key, ticket, fast pass and credit card. So convenient!
AK Rivers of Light and added evening hours
Hollywood Studios overhaul- it needs it badly!

WORST:

All of the fast and furious changes that cost big money.

 

[DWDan]

As someone who hasn't been to WDW since I was a child (and I'm in my mid 30's now), I'm looking forward to going in May (44 days away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), but I see a lot of people saying that with all of these recent (or potential)changes, they are "paying more and getting (the same) / less", so as someone who doesn't know much about previous prices/perks and what I will be losing, I'm wondering if people can give me some specifics as to what costs more now and in return you are getting less. -Thanks.

 

[abner1776]

Best - magic bands and fast passes
Worst - fast pass + and early am ADR's along with these new special mk extra charge admissions.

 

[DiannaVM]

• Upsells on just about everything (parking, extended park hours, dining).
• Paying more for a ticket at WDW (and getting less for it) in order to fund Shanghai and Hong Kong overruns.

This so much. What I like is harder to pinpoint. I do like the new Fantasyland, however I do miss Toontown terribly.

Also as other PP's have said, I love the convenience of MB's. The only thing I dont use them for is paying for stuff because I like being more aware of my cash flow, but otherwise MB has been a great idea!