Disney is no longer an enjoyable experience

[Praying Colonel]

It started being that way for us a few years ago. We chose to start spending more of our vacation dollar elsewhere.

I don't think it matters that much to WDW. Disney doesn't adhere to the old poker adage "You can shear a sheep a hundred times but skin it only once." They're focused on squeezing the first-time visitor and not on repeat business.

In a way we're the suckers, expecting things to change while they continue to go the other way.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

You don't have to stay home. There are many amazing destinations other than WDW with a lot more bang for the buck...less stress too. I can spend three weeks in Europe vs one week at the World. The Bahamas, Caribbean and all of the Americas...great vacations for less money. The DGKs have started asking for alternatives. Let me say...HUGE in my book.

You’re absolutely right. Poor choice of words on my part. Should have said, you either make the most of it or go someplace else.

 

[Jrb1979]

You’re absolutely right. Poor choice of words on my part. Should have said, you either make the most of it or go someplace else.

My family has chosen to go someplace else. There is many other parks we want of visit before we go back to Disney.

 

[RivShore]

What I see most of the changes are for crowd control and are to benefit the out of town travelers. Disney is just too popular

That is the sole reason for the recent price increases, lack of discounts, and freebe reductions. Once demand levels off I could see some of that coming back to spark demand again.

 

[MillauFr]

Disney doesn't adhere to the old poker adage "You can shear a sheep a hundred times but skin it only once." They're focused on squeezing the first-time visitor and not on repeat business.

I guess I don't agree. They have been remarkably restrained in their price increases. They priced the annual passes so low at Disneyland they sold out within 2 months.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I definitely agree that Disney is not enjoyable the way it once was, but the message you want to send won’t be heard. For every repeat Disney guest who chooses not to return there will a first timer taking their place. They will have an enjoyable magical trip and maybe even become the new repeat guest. In 20 years they will be here having the same conversation lol

I took my last trip almost a year ago. After decades of going it just wasn’t the same. That’s OK, things change and there are so many other places to visit in this world. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, but not to “send a message” just do it for yourself

That's what I think I don't quite wrap my head around sometimes, why do folks feel the need to "send a message" to a company/corporation vs. just doing it for themselves? So much getting on a soapbox to be heard vs just making a choice that suits you and your family and moving along. Kinda of like "goodbye cruel board" posts that folks will make at times. Announcing your departure vs. just departing. Like you want the attention or something. Anyway, it is ok when things change. Sometimes it's the push you need to branch out and try other things.

While we are still making visits to Disney we are finding we need less time there now so we are going out and doing other things and it's been fun. Getting best of both I guess.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I guess I don't agree. They have been remarkably restrained in their price increases. They priced the annual passes so low at Disneyland they sold out within 2 months.

Yes, I'm not referring just to price increases, which are inevitable. Without getting too deep in the weeds, I dislike the Era Of Upsell and the reduction of perks and overall quality while prices increase. Those of us who are long-time guests notice, but the first-timers don't have that frame of reference.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I get that point of view, but disregarding cost, I like G+ more than the old FP+. Planning in advance was cool, but if you changed your mind about which park to go that day, sorry no fast passes for you at all. Park passes can make it hard to switch if passes are gone but that’s rare. And your choices were pretty limited because of the tiers. I’m able to get way more line skipping with G+ than I could before. And the “tied to your phone all day” thing is WAY exaggerated. Doesn’t require much time in the app once you get used to it. A minute or 2 every couple of hours. FP+ was the same after the original 3. Looking at your phone for times, etc. now the 7 am thing really does suck, no denying that.

People have different ways of touring and it fits our style very well, but not others, I get that. I think people had pre-decided to hate G+ because it used to be free and now it’s not (not you, just in general), but if you look at it just as a system it’s pretty good IMO.

Nowadays you are tied to a park with the reservation system. It is difficult to use Genie+ if you park hop. We tried it and was unimpressed. And you weren't "skipping line" with FP rather reserving a virtual spot...same with Genie+. I disagree regarding being tied to your phone. I never had to bring two power banks until recently.

I'm a planner. Although I'd rather have our must do events decided in advance...not constantly checking my phone trying to make it work. It's just my style....less stress for me. And yeah I don't love spending an extra $700-$800 a week for a FP system that doesn't work for me. Let's add twice the price for an AP IF they were available plus using a system that requires separate screens for different passes in your group. Oh and the inability to book dining reservations for my family without splitting us up. These are just a few of my top complaints about the new improved WDW vacation "enhancements".

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

You do you!

We have a trip planned in a few weeks and will enjoy it like we always do.

 

[igrsod]

Disney is using a form of "skrinkflation".... but they also are increasing prices too. So you get less and you're paying more.
I think that is what rubs long time Disney vacationers the wrong way. And maybe it won't matter because there are always new people to fill the holes that we leave when we stop going.
But I also think that listening to some first time visitors reports, I'm seeing some dissatisfaction there too. They will be one and done. Can you replace them so quickly?
Time will tell. At this point, we are still going. But those trips are skinnier... less merch, less meals at the restaurants. The bubble that once existed, that we loved, doesn't exist for us anymore.
We rented a car last time as Magical Express wasn't around anymore. With that car, we ate off site, we shopped at Walmart and some outlets for Mickey souvenirs, we bought groceries and alcohol to have in our room.
We spent far less and it didn't all go to Disney, whereas before all those vacation dollars went to Disney.

 

[Minniesgal]

Personally a trip to Disney is what you make it. We haven’t been since 2018 and coming from the U.K. there have been times I actually didn’t think we would get back. We will just be grateful to be there. We take the parks as they come if we get 4 rides in we will enjoy that the same as if we get 8 rides in we will just enjoy being there and doing whatever we get done. If you focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have your whole vision changes

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

It's not really for us anymore. We had some really enjoyable trips when the kids were little, and there were times that were completely uncrowded back then. But now with older kids, we much prefer exploring other parts of the world. Between the crowds, too much planning with not much wiggle room for spontaneous changes, and worst of all the heat, I just wouldn't have a good time there and our whole family would be cranky. The only way I could see having a sort-of Disney experience would be to stay in one of the deluxe resorts and really just enjoy relaxing there and hanging out at the pool, without the park experience. Maybe a waterpark would be okay. I would happily go on a Disney cruise as well. But the parks not so much.

 

[RamblingMad]

That's what I think I don't quite wrap my head around sometimes, why do folks feel the need to "send a message" to a company/corporation vs. just doing it for themselves? So much getting on a soapbox to be heard vs just making a choice that suits you and your family and moving along. Kinda of like "goodbye cruel board" posts that folks will make at times. Announcing your departure vs. just departing. Like you want the attention or something. Anyway, it is ok when things change. Sometimes it's the push you need to branch out and try other things.

While we are still making visits to Disney we are finding we need less time there now so we are going out and doing other things and it's been fun. Getting best of both I guess.

The reality is that most of the folks that want to send the message can't afford to go anyway. The big exception I've seen to this is the impact Blackfish had on Sea World. It's hard to overlook harm on animals. But I don't see this at all happening with Disney as the complaints aren't universal across everyone. Now, if Disney started beating puppies, then I'm sure that would have an impact on attendance to the parks.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

The reality is that most of the folks that want to send the message can't afford to go anyway. The big exception I've seen to this is the impact Big Fish had on Sea World. It's hard to overlook harm on animals. But I don't see this at all happening with Disney as the complaints aren't universal across everyone. Now, if Disney started beating puppies, then I'm sure that would have an impact on attendance to the parks.

For every person who refused to support them and their puppy-beating policies, someone else would double down and start going twice as often just to be contrary. These are the times we live in.

 

[RamblingMad]

For every person who refused to support them and their puppy-beating policies, someone else would double down and start going twice as often just to be contrary. These are the times we live in.

The nutters tend to have less income.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

The reality is that most of the folks that want to send the message can't afford to go anyway. The big exception I've seen to this is the impact Blackfish had on Sea World. It's hard to overlook harm on animals. But I don't see this at all happening with Disney as the complaints aren't universal across everyone. Now, if Disney started beating puppies, then I'm sure that would have an impact on attendance to the parks.

Bring up a good point. I was, well, still am, part of the won't go to Seaworld group. Didn't go around broadcasting it. Just don't go. If someone asks "why don't you go to Seaworld" I'll tell them but I don't go around explaining it otherwise. And their changing or revamping themselves will never get me to change my mind. So yeah, I guess I do get the purpose behind a meaning of not doing something. It's more of the announcement of it all that I don't quite get.

And it brings up a boycott over something that goes way, way back with Disney and I think, the Baptist church. In the 90's I think? Though I couldn't tell you what it was about. I don't think it amounted to much of an impact on their business then either. And it just withered away. Even my brother and his family, who were staunch supporters of it then, have given up and go to the parks now.

 

[RamblingMad]

Bring up a good point. I was, well, still am, part of the won't go to Seaworld group. Didn't go around broadcasting it. Just don't go. If someone asks "why don't you go to Seaworld" I'll tell them but I don't go around explaining it otherwise. And their changing or revamping themselves will never get me to change my mind. So yeah, I guess I do get the purpose behind a meaning of not doing something. It's more of the announcement of it all that I don't quite get.

And it brings up a boycott over something that goes way, way back with Disney and I think, the Baptist church. In the 90's I think? Though I couldn't tell you what it was about. I don't think it amounted to much of an impact on their business then either. And it just withered away. Even my brother and his family, who were staunch supporters of it then, have given up and go to the parks now.

It has to be something that resonates broadly across a large group. The problems that are pointed out for Disney amounts to paying up for better service, so it's purely an economic discussion. And that doesn't resonate as much as hurting animals.

 

[Sinder]

Personally a trip to Disney is what you make it. We haven’t been since 2018 and coming from the U.K. there have been times I actually didn’t think we would get back. We will just be grateful to be there. We take the parks as they come if we get 4 rides in we will enjoy that the same as if we get 8 rides in we will just enjoy being there and doing whatever we get done. If you focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have your whole vision changes

Disney set the standard for what to expect on a vacation there.
They no longer live up to that standard IMO.
For our family the value just isn't there for the cost of the vacation. I'm not dropping 10K and settling on 4 rides and a "just be happy I'm there attitude. I'm not going to be grateful that I get to pay a small fortune for a mediocre watered down version of what used to make Disney a truly special and magical vacation experience for us. It's great that works for you and your family but I'd rather my focus be on a vacation that lives up to my expectations, not one where I have to re-adjust what I look forward to just so I can be happy to be there.

 

[longboard55]

Take your family skiing and see what that costs

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

On the up-side, the number of high grade rides is expanding, meaning more to do and greater capacity