Do any Disney long-timers think things are better?

[tentaguasu]

So we've all grown used to threads where Disney long-timers complain that, "it just ain't like it used to be... the magic is fading."

Do any of you long-timers think the opposite? That things are getting better? That you prefer the parks now to what they were?

 

[pepe of ohio]

So we've all grown used to threads where Disney long-timers complain that, "it just ain't like it used to be... the magic is fading."

Do any of you long-timers think the opposite? That things are getting better? That you prefer the parks now to what they were?

We're old timers, grew up on the parks and for us, it's not the parks that have changed nor the magic but the logistics in total....

We do not care for dining plans and what they have contributed to the way a vacation is run, nor the pleasures of daily dining....

We also don't care for all the promotions being run and the usual slack times being filled up...

We can remember back when June meant the start of summer season and parks, MK, stays open till 11pm weekdays and midnights on weekends... No E nights then, no parties, just endless park time.....EPCOT opened, you played there till 9pm and had 3 more hours to play at the MK ..... Never a dull moment!

Be it what it may, the magic is still with us after 35 years and 47 trips to WDW.... The direction Disney is taking.... It's the cyber, electronic age, it passes us old timers up who preferred Disney the way it used to be but that's a sign of the times.... Got to go with the flow, enjoy it for what it is or get rolled over!!

 

[fla4fun]

Personally, I think they are improving. However, I think the golden age of WDW was the mid to late 80's - MK had matured, Epcot had just hit it's stride, and the Studios was brand new (as were many of the resorts). I think the parks have gone through a period of, if not neglect, then maybe corporate disinterest, but the last couple years it seems like they are taking steps to improve things a lot. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues - I hope it does.

 

[maxiesmom]

As an old timer (been going to WDW for almost 20 years) I have to take into consideration that they opened Animal Kingdom. That is a huge check into the things are better column.

The only thing I can think of that is a negative (and not a product of people and their ever increasing demands) is that they no longer shuttle each guest to their room when you check in. Back in the day you always got a golf cart ride to your room. Which was nice, not only the ride, but not having to wander around figuring out where exactly your room was.

Another big plus for me is Magical Express. It is great not to have to budget money for a so so shuttle to the resort. And having to be packed into a van shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of strangers.

I can also remember when the only park that had nightly fireworks was Epcot. Everyone went to Epcot at night, there was nothing else to do.

So I guess I think there are way more things that have been added that make the parks better, than things that they no longer have that I miss.

 

[estherhead]

Disney is my happy place so it's hard for me to compare it with itself. I'm always happy there, past and present.

I love the interactive games, loved when EE arrived, TSM, glad Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was replaced. I think the Boardwalk area is fantastic, tho seeing the swan & dolphin from Epcot does annoy me. I remember when ITTBAB opened how amazing it was over honey I shrunk the audience. I love AK. I think it's just an amazing park.

And FP is for me a huge thing. It was shockingly fantastic the first time I used it.

Remember when you couldn't eat in the castle? I loved when they made the castle a thing.

When my baby (5 yrs old) was 6 months we did free ddp. To our family it was a revelation. Prior to that we stayed offsite and didn't eat onsite much. To have a hotel in my price (all stars) and food changed my Disney world forever.

And I'm glad when they change rides, usually. My family loves the Donald version of the Mexico ride. And Judy Dench. And the new star tours. Hopefully we'll love test track.

So I guess I am one that likes change. I am worried about fp+ but it's probably more because there are unknowns that make planning my summer trip hard right now than not liking the concept.

As for crowds all the time, I love that wdw is international. It's so fun to talk to people from all over the world. But if its an international audience, the regular slow seasons will be off since their summers are not always ours. Plus, I now have kids in school and have to go in August. So I've learned to deal with crowds and its my own doing. Plus, the shows are more enjoyable with crowds. The walkways are irritating. But the actual shows are livelier.

I'm a fan girl. We're snowed in this weekend and watched Treasure Planet, Dumbo, and The Great Mouse Detective.

I loved wdw as a girl, very fond memories of my grandparent there. And my dh and I had a fantastic date there when we were first married. It was in 1995 I think & my dad dropped us off at the Dolphin and we did Epcot & MK in one day. Such a fun day.

So me. I'm not sentimental. Change with the times. Pretty sure Walt himself said, "We aren't sentimental around here. We keep moving forward."

I love that. And I love that despite that, they keep a few nostalgia things like CoP.

 

[circus4u]

For the most part, I think Disney is much better now than when it first opened. There are things I wish were still there now such as the Mickey Mouse Revue but overall, the park(s) are much better than the opening year. Our favorite place in all the parks has always been the World Showcase since it opened. What do I miss the most? Well, believe it or not, the low prices of food. I was in the military when the Magic Kingdom opened; at that time, a hamburger cost less at the Magic Kingdom than it did in the snack bar at MacDill AFB in Tampa. Many people used to go just to walk around the park; you didn't have to buy a ticket book for the rides, but could just purchase an admission ticket and stroll around the park (not certain, but I seem to think an admission only ticket was around $5.00). Crowds were virtually non-existent. Those are the things that I miss about Disney World; it was a less hectic and more relaxing time. Our children and grandchildren were raised at Disney and those are the memorable things for us.

 

[bytheblood]

I still enjoy my Disney vacations, but it is not better. There are some things they do that are better, but there is quite a bit they have done that has been quite disappointing.

The dining has progressively become more unenjoyable
Perks are removed every year
The new Fastpass changes are HORRIBLE
The way they they do the dining plan now is terrible
The number if cutbacks is too great for the price increases


But, I do still go to Disney (we are owners) and enjoy what they offer.

 

[Mousin' Around]

I have been going for about 20 years. We go every 2 years or so. Over the years we see the removal of favorite items and notice a lot has been taken away. I dont mind business evolution so much; however I do mind the price hiking when I am not getting the same value. Our family still likes going to Disney.

 

[PJ]

We've done Disney almost every year for the last 32. I love this question, because we do tend to focus on what we think has deteriorated over the years, and this made me shift my thinking.

Although my opinion may change with FP+, I think hands-down the introduction of the original FP is the single best HUGE improvement. Not having to wait in lines has greatly enhanced our enjoyment of the parks.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have been going for about 20 years. We go every 2 years or so. Over the years we see the removal of favorite items and notice a lot has been taken away. I dont mind business evolution so much; however I do mind the price hiking when I am not getting the same value. Our family still likes going to Disney.

Can you explain what you feel has been taken away? Because I honestly struggle to come up with much. The only thing I can come up with is the escort to your room. You are not the only poster to say much has been taken away, and I really can't think of more things that have been taken away.

 

[Mrs Eeyore]

I do not presume to qualify as a long-timer, but I did visit WDW and Disneyland in the 1970s with my parents. The all-inclusive admission did not exist then and I remember a frustrating hour or two wandering the parks clutching books of A and B tickets that no one wanted to use. My parents were frugal and insisted that we use the tickets up because we paid for them!! No exaggeration, those old tickets sat in my father's dresser drawer for at least ten years after each trip. Because we paid for them! and you can't just throw them away. So yeah, things have improved since I was a kid anyway.

 

[larryz]

Dividend = $.75 per share.

That pretty much says it all. The company is making money hand over fist, and the parks are paying their own way...

So while the amenities may have changed in quantity and quality, and the prices have outpaced inflation over the past couple of years, the people keep on going... and going... and going...

And that means they haven't hit any exceptionally vulnerable nerves in the family entertainment world.

 

[The V Gang]

Great question! As a child, our yearly trip to Disneyworld was the highlight of our year. We stuck to MK and Epcot. I do like the evolution of the attractions but miss the feeling of our laid back visits. No rushing around to grab fastpasses (they didn't exist) or make it to dinig ressies.
Now I visit with my own kids and see the same delihht. Fastpass is huge for us. Definitely a favorite in terms of Disney additions. The dining plan on the other hand is a huge disappointment. The price has almost doubled in the past 8 years with no noticable improvements to warrant such increases (things seem to have gone downhill almost as quickly as prices went up). We miss old attractions like minny n mickeys house and even SWSA but enjoy the new ones.
As for my family. We change our Disney strategy based on the changes. We no longer purchase the dining plan and stick to the base tix. We only travel when room discounts are available and take advantage of EMH. We still enjoy Disney but spend less than we used to.

 

[minnie mum]

Since I first visited WDW in 1975, and have continued to visit fairly frequently ever since, I think I qualify as a long-timer. Are things better? Compared to what? Compared to when, exactly?

When I first went there was only one park. You had to purchase ticket books with precious few tickets for the coveted E rides. No fast passes. No EMH. But the characters roamed freely in the park.

The only on-site resorts were all deluxe. No moderates, values or villas for those guests with other resort needs. And there was no such thing as DME.

DTD didn't exist. There was just the Disney World Village in what is now the Marketplace. And most of the shops were non-Disney, and had a wealth of unique, special items to tempt the pocket book. This is probably one area where I think things were better for the guest in the past. Disney merchandise was special back then. Most of what you bought in the park or at your resort was special to WDW. You weren't going to see the same things every time you walked into a Walmart or Target. (The fact that neither of these places even existed back then is immaterial).

WDW is constantly evolving, just as Walt predicted (yeah, yeah, I know he was specifically talking about DL, but you know what I mean). There are a few changes that I'm not happy with; but for the most part I think they've done pretty well.

 

[SaraJayne]

I still enjoy my Disney vacations, but it is not better. There are some things they do that are better, but there is quite a bit they have done that has been quite disappointing.

The dining has progressively become more unenjoyable
Perks are removed every year
The new Fastpass changes are HORRIBLE
The way they they do the dining plan now is terrible
The number if cutbacks is too great for the price increases

I've been a frequent visitor since 2006, so probably not considered a "long-timer", but I agree with the above post.

 

[maxiesmom]

I've been a frequent visitor since 2006, so probably not considered a "long-timer", but I agree with the above post.

Though just maybe with the new menus at BoG and the Castle they are working on the food angle. If not too many people complain about it, that is.

I haven't used the Dining Plan much, only fairly recently, so would you explain what they do now that is so different from what they used to do? I know about cutting the snacks to 1 a day. However they did add the mug, which I really like.

 

[SaraJayne]

Though just maybe with the new menus at BoG and the Castle they are working on the food angle. If not too many people complain about it, that is.

I haven't used the Dining Plan much, only fairly recently, so would you explain what they do now that is so different from what they used to do? I know about cutting the snacks to 1 a day. However they did add the mug, which I really like.

For me, I barely know what I want to eat tomorrow, let alone six months from now. I think it is ridiculous to expect people to make eating reservations six months in advance. So I don't and still get great places to eat. I just booked CRT and Akershus a few weeks ago for April.

For us, the dining plan is not a good value, since my 10 year old is considered a disney adult (whole 'nother thread) and eats hardly anything. I'm not paying $57 a day for her to eat what she does. The snack credit has been reduced (down to 1) and the price went up. How is that logical?

 

[larryz]

I haven't used the Dining Plan much, only fairly recently, so would you explain what they do now that is so different from what they used to do?

Originally, the DDP included appetizer, entree and desert, and the tip. And because they weren't "giving it away" to fill resort rooms, you could walk in at most restaurants and reasonably expect to get seated fairly quickly.

 

[SaraJayne]

Originally, the DDP included appetizer, entree and desert, and the tip. And because they weren't "giving it away" to fill resort rooms, you could walk in at most restaurants and reasonably expect to get seated fairly quickly.

Yes, this. Sorry, I got so annoyed typing out my post above, I forgot about this.

 

[larryz]

The snack credit has been reduced (down to 1) and the price went up. How is that logical?

The pricing strategy appears to be:

1) jack up the prices of all the TS meals to make the DDP look like a better value
2) jack up the price of the DDP because it's (apparently) such a good value
3) if people keep buying the DDP, go to step 1 and repeat.