DISers View of WDW

[Disneylover99]

I would personally be overwhelmed if I found these boards before my first trip, so I'm glad that it took me a few trips to find this place.

Scanning through the threads, I really don't see much negativity. I mostly see lots great tips, info. and advice.

 

[xipotec]

Just my two cents as someone who has gone to WDW about 1-3 times per year since 2005, gets a TIW card, and eats at 2 TS restaurants every day of our trips... I don't think the bold part is true in our experience.

We LOVE WDW food. But there have been grumblings about it on the boards lately.

I love almost everything about WDW....I was just commenting on what people have been saying. We have been away for a long time (in our standards) 2 years.......So I will need to check all the "issues" out for myself.

Last visit, we were testers for MDE, Magic bands, and got a preview of FL before it opened.....it was sweet! I have great pics of the Mine Train being built..this visit we will get to ride it!!!!

WOOT@!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We LOVE WDW food. But there have been grumblings about it on the boards lately.

I love almost everything about WDW....I was just commenting on what people have been saying. We have been away for a long time (in our standards) 2 years.......So I will need to check all the "issues" out for myself.

Last visit, we were testers for MDE, Magic bands, and got a preview of FL before it opened.....it was sweet! I have great pics of the Mine Train being built..this visit we will get to ride it!!!!

WOOT@!

Very cool! No, I totally know what you meant. Just wanted to share that from my family's perspective, there hasn't been a decline in the last few years. Just to add to the data you're collecting for your upcoming trip!

 

[lovethattink]

The DIS has been invaluable to me for many years.

We didn't know to plan anything for our first trip. We went with resort reservation and tickets. And winged it for 7 nights. That was back in '92.

Learned about the DIS after we moved to FL. There is so much good information on these boards!

Over the years I've enjoyed the sense of community here. Met many wonderful DISers. Still usually find my Disney information here first. And in the past year became a moderator.

I'm at Disney often. Usually once a week. We still vacation at Disney too. My family and I rarely have a bad experience at WDW. When I report back on our experiences, I give an honest report back.

There's been many changes recently and sometimes they take some getting use to. But the magic is still alive and well!

 

[xipotec]

Very cool! No, I totally know what you meant. Just wanted to share that from my family's perspective, there hasn't been a decline in the last few years. Just to add to the data you're collecting for your upcoming trip!

Good to hear this....

Highlight of MY trip are always Narcoosee, Teppen Edo, and Cali Grill.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Good to hear this....

Highlight of MY trip are always Narcoosee, Teppen Edo, and Cali Grill.

Love Teppan Edo and Cali Grill! Our current favorites: Jiko and Via Napoli.

 

[baildrk]

I found this site while looking for info for a bigger family trip, since the information is "watered" down on the Disney site, we were trying to find out more about the different resorts. What we found on this site was tons of great info, that we still are going through and every time we look we find something new that helps us, but I will say a few things,
1. I will say that the some "personal" viewpoints on this site come from a lot of people who have been to Disney more than I have been to local sporting events in my life. Those viewpoints in my opinion are skewed because they have been there so often that I'm sure some rides/experiences get old after awhile.
2. kind of goes along with #1 This will be only my 2nd trip to WDW along with my kids 2nd trip. Our first trip was a disaster because we had gone with an un named group(for my protection they tend to get a little mad when I bring it up) who had been to WDW several times. All that we heard through most of the trip was how "stupid" everything was, how everything was changing. For me it wasn't a big deal as I can make my own decisions, but there are people out there that are easily swayed but other peoples opinions and will base there entire trip around what they can find online or by word of mouth. they could easily skip over something that has been deemed "overrated."
3. Its Disney, just have fun.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm glad I found the DIS there is no way I would have thought about making reservations 180 days in advance for places other than QS, there is no way I could have relied solely on Pinterest (which is how I found out about DIS it was on some random blog I went to after Pining something) and WDW's website for information such as MB, FP+ and overall park touring.

There is negativity all over the place not just on the DIS. Read comments on new stories and you'll find all sorts of really far out there negative talk.

Quite frankly yes some posters do tend to be a bit curt (annddd not so much in the good way) in my opinion on some things. I'd like to think that most of the time it just comes from seeing the same "mistake" over and over. I respect those who are straight to the point without really trying to hurt someone. Again really I don't think most people are trying to be mean but sometimes the complaints I see like "omg a bug in my room which is located on the 1st floor" or "omg no one helped me get my luggage at one of the All-stars" or "they should give me this or that for this or that issue". It's those cases that really in all honesty it was more likely that either someone who approaches a situation in a wrong way (i.e. I had to be on the phone for an hour give me free hoppers) or had expectations that couldn't be met ( like bugs in general happen in FL;an exterminator only does so much-also bugs happen at all levels of resort types at WDW) though yes truly bad experiences def.happen.

There are also the types of complaints/negative talk you see from people who have been time and time again. I think that happens no matter where you go if you've been to a place over and over. You notice a lot of little things others don't. Just because someone has a bad experience at X place doesn't mean I will and just because someone misses this attraction or the original version of an attraction doesn't mean I will. However, I still might learn something about their experience and that to me is all worth reading their complaint/negative experience just like I think reading the 1 and 2 star reviews for things in general (products, restaurants, vacation places, hotels, etc)is important.

Really though fellow DISers are just amazing. For me personally I think I would have been more overwhelmed had I not come here before really starting to plan for my next trip. My other trips will be nothing like this next trip because I haven't experienced MB, FP+ (just used to the Legacy FP), didn't eat at any other places but QS, didn't stay on-site, etc. I want to experience the stuff just mentioned and this is hands down the best place to get that information.

So thank you all for the answers to questions I've already asked in random threads and to the ones I will be asking when it's time to make more concrete plans for my next trip

 

[JimmyV]

The single best thing about the DIS is its comprehensiveness. And comprehensiveness requires analysis that can be viewed as both positive and negative. (Note that I said "can be viewed as". Many posts that people consider as "negative" are simply factual reports of things that either did not go well or did not live up to expectations. The poster is reporting. If the reader views that as a "negative" post, that is on the reader, not the poster.) Without comprehensiveness that includes all sides of the story, this site would suffocate under its own pixie dust. An "all positive all the time" site would teach newcomers very little. That's called a fan Boi site, not an information site. Let's not forget what the "I" in "DIS" stands for.

 

[TiffanyA]

I wish 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was still there and not the Little Mermaid, I wish prices were cheaper, I wish crowds were like I remember when I was much younger ..

THIS! OMG THIS. I also want FP- back SO BADLY.

My take on this board: I really appreciate the frankness with which people talk about Disney. I value honesty. That being said, I still believe in being polite to others (like your fellow posters) and dislike the "blame the victim" tone on here sometimes when a poster had a bad vacation because he/she didn't get to do this or that because the line was too long, etc. A little empathy will go a long way. That is the type of negativity I could do without.

All the rest though? That's healthy. I don't consider it bickering as long as people can keep it out of the personal attack zone. It's a discussion and I feel informative of how Disney's biggest fans see the state of their beloved mouse kingdom.

 

[Mikie]

In the years that I lurked prior to ever signing up and the year or so planning my most recent trip, I had to kind of duck in and duck out, avoiding "hanging out" on the boards. I felt discouraged or disillusioned by some of the less concrete posts like all the love/hate, what would you change, and "what if" posts. Those are the things that felt more negative to me, whereas the specific how-to posts were immensely helpful!

Now, when I'm twiddling my thumbs between trips, I enjoy all of the discussion. I was shot down for mentioning this another time, but I really feel like folks who aren't currently planning a trip and people who have been too many times to count are more likely to take a cold analytical view with no benefit of pixie dust in their eyes. When I was planning a trip, i was overly sensitive to criticisms of Disney because they feel like an attack on the wisdom of my choice of vacation. It makes me think of the way car companies market to people *after* they've bought their car - it eases the cognitive dissonance that comes with making a big expenditure and reassures you how wise and wonderful you were for making that buying decision! Some discussions on DIS are certainly the antithesis of that!

 

[Planogirl]

I think that new people would get a lot of useful information here but they would also find a lot of biased people too. I think that many are biased to always see everything at WDW as wonderful and many don't see much good. I would think that somewhere in the middle is the truth.

I think that WDW has gotten worse over time but I don't know how much that would matter to a first time visitor. They can't compare it to the past like I can. However they can see big crowds and rundown areas and high prices. Whether any of that bothers any of them is hard to say.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think that new people would get a lot of useful information here but they would also find a lot of biased people too. I think that many are biased to always see everything at WDW as wonderful and many don't see much good. I would think that somewhere in the middle is the truth.

I think that WDW has gotten worse over time but I don't know how much that would matter to a first time visitor. They can't compare it to the past like I can. However they can see big crowds and rundown areas and high prices. Whether any of that bothers any of them is hard to say.

Agreed. In-laws going with us won't have been for like 16 years I believe at that point so most of their memories aren't going to be of the paint or details like that (ETA at least for them they've already told me their memories are a bit fuzzy of their last time at both WDW and USO). They basically are going for the 1st time since WDW has changed so much since then and maybe no so much on attractions stuff (though yes plenty has been added there) but really the overall process of WDW-see my earlier post on this thread for more of what I mean there (i.e. all the planning).

 

[Planogirl]

Agreed. In-laws going with us won't have been for like 16 years I believe at that point so most of their memories aren't going to be of the paint or details like that. They basically are going for the 1st time since WDW has changed so much since then and maybe no so much on attractions stuff (though yes plenty has been added there) but really the overall process of WDW-see my earlier post on this thread for more of what I mean there (i.e. all the planning).

I just did.

I also learn a lot from all experiences both good and bad. People simply gushing about magic or ranting about how bad everything is don't help much but I don't think you see that much of either.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I just did.

I also learn a lot from all experiences both good and bad. People simply gushing about magic or ranting about how bad everything is don't help much but I don't think you see that much of either.

Very much agreed

 

[Xennia]

I got frustrated with this board just before my trip and kind of acted childish, said my "goodbye" and went away in a huff. The constant negativity does get exhausting. Especially to those of us who are so excited that we get to go to WDW, and want somewhere to talk about that excitement and read other people's excitement. I come here to get pumped up about WDW and help pass the time until I go again. Unlike many of the people here, I haven't gotten to go one or more times per year for most of my life. I've been, five times, I think? And there was a 17-year gap before my last visit over Easter. Lord willing, I'll go again in December 2017 to see it at Christmastime, something I've never done and always wanted to do. I don't have a lot of money to spend on vacations, and there are other circumstances that kind of make it difficult for me to get away. Yet, when I *can* make a vacation happen, I can thin of no other place I'd rather go than WDW. To me, it's the quintessential vacation. I just love it.

I wish people who no longer find it worth the money or effort could simply go find somewhere else to vacation and not feel the need to come here and vent their frustrations day in and day out, but it is what it is. Find a message board about anything in the world that a lot of people love, and there will always be negative posts and threads ripping it to shreds.

I sometimes think people come online to complain and argue about things like Disney because that's a distraction from the real problems they might otherwise have to think about if they weren't so engrossed in the outrageous prices of MVMCP tickets.

I'm clapping and standing and a tear is rolling down.

Nailed it.

I personally still love it here. I've been peeking in here for years before signing up. I ignore the few that complain. Just like I do on Facebook.

 

[85glht]

I fell upon the DIS site by accident while I was looking for ways to decorate magic bands. I've only been a member for a couple of months. I totally got sucked in! There really is great information on here and some very helpful people.

What I find hard to swallow is the negativity and the argumentative nature of some people on these posts. If you are really a Disney fan, I would think exuding "magic" would come natural. Those people who bash CMs for being rude or dismissive, or how dirty the bathrooms are, how expensive things have gotten (have you gone to the market lately?), food quality has gone down hill, Disney hasn't done enough, etc. are the one's who should take pause. Most of us have learned that people in glass houses should not throw stones or if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. I understand the occasional bad meal, or rude CM or long wait or whatever and venting is always a healing process but it happens EVERYWHERE - not just Disney. The "magic" of Disney is what makes most of us giddy like a child. Maybe people have lost that "magic" feeling and should step back to re-assess their own choices.

I wasn't fortunate enough to experience Disney as a child. I didn't get to go the first time until my honeymoon (1st marriage) because I wanted to enjoy it before I had children. I've only been a handful of times. My children are 20 and 10. I've experienced the wonder of Disney thru both of their eyes as a young child and it is amazing. I am taking my youngest next month because when we went Christmas of 2011 I was not prepared to deal with the crowds. I had never "planned" my Disney vacation - I only flew by the seat of my pants but that Christmas experience opened my eyes! Was I bitter for not seeing and doing everything I wanted to do on my youngest's 1st trip, no, but I was grateful for what we DID do. My profile pic is proof that magic still exists because I can't look at it without getting emotional - my youngest meeting Tink for the first time was amazing! I can't wait to experience Disney again with her next month.

So, for all of you DIS posters who are "veterans", thank you for taking the time to educate people like me.

For all of your DIS posters who need to vent, have at it - I'm sure we all can relate on some level. For all of you DIS posters who exude negativity, are quick to judge, or are dismissive and argumentative, please do not sour this experience for us "newbies" because some of us who love Disney (probably just as much as any of you) still tap into our 7 year old selves and we are very impressionable.

Peace, Love, Disney

Well said!

I Think the only thing that I really dislike of what a Disney vacation has become is the COMPLETE planning of ones day. I get it that I need dining reservations and I'm ok with that...... But to plan down to the hour of where I need to be for a fastpass just infuriates me. I liked the old way of a paper fastpass better. It really took away the spontaneity of our day..... Sometimes at the hotel bus stop, we used to just take the first bus that came along, no matter what park it went to. So, either we go without fastpasses or suck it up and plan our whole day.

I'm ok with most of the changes that have/will happen at WDW. As long as it stays SAFE and CLEAN is what really matters to me most.

 

[PSUGuy]

IMHO the following things from your list are actually true:


Disney is cutting service? Yes
Disney is cutting quality? Yes

This is an exaggeration but partly true:

Disney is a mere shadow of what it used to be? Maybe

That said, someone coming to WDW for the first time would probably still be impressed. Many of us here have expectations based on what used to be and WDW just ain't what it used to be. Gone is PI with the Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse, New Year's Eve every night, Off Kilter, World Showcase Players, many DHS Street Performers SpectroMagic.... add your own favorite thing that is no more. So why continue to come? WDW is still a 'Place'. There's an atmosphere in each park that is attractive without there being anything else going on. In MK just riding up Main St in the horse trolley and riding the People Mover makes our day. Having a morning coffee and cigar on the bench next to Atlantic Dance as the sun comes up is among my favorite things to do in Disney. There probably is some deal breaker for us, limit the Eat to the Beat concerts in Food&Wine to weekends only as F&G is might do us in, hope not to find out.

Bill From PA

 

[aprincessatlast]

1. I will say that the some "personal" viewpoints on this site come from a lot of people who have been to Disney more than I have been to local sporting events in my life. Those viewpoints in my opinion are skewed because they have been there so often that I'm sure some rides/experiences get old after awhile.

#truth...lol

I so remember my first trip after reading on these boards. It was a terrible one because like the group you were with I kept noticing things I would have never noticed in a million years, but because I was reading here I somehow let that affect my trip. I am embarrassed to say that now looking back. Negativity rubs off. Mind you this was just over 10 years ago. So not much has changed around here as far as the negativity.

I will say though I have personally felt the disboards is not as informative as it used to be. You used to be able to weed through the negative to find some useful info. That is harder to find anymore. imho

 

[nilla]

It depends on what you focus on. There are A TON of positive posts on the DISboards, too.