Do You think DISNEY has gone down hlll the last few years?

[k5thbeatle]

Downhill? Things have definitely changed but I'm not sure I'd say it has all been downhill. The only thing I will say that has gone downhill is the restaurant food quality...big downhill since the whole ddp concept was introduced. Does it make Disney more money, sure but the whole restaurant experience has gone downhill including the food quality.

 

[dvcdisney]

I'm not sure if I would call it Downhill either, but it is definitely not as "magical" as it was for us. But it's all a combination of service cutbacks, economy, CM attitudes, and downright rude and entitled guests.

We have been going yearly since 2002 and twice a year since 2005. This past August was the first time we went to Orlando without visiting Disney. I know...I never would have thought we would, but since our last August trip was during Free Dining (and yes, I did knowing it was during that time, but we had no choice with our vacation dates). Now, as DVC members we do not participate in Free Dining so I really wished we could have gone another time. However, those were the dates.

I think that if Disney would remove the Free Dining, I would be a little more hopeful. I know many rely on it, but it makes our vacation a little less magical. Since we've been going, I find the worse experience overall is during Free Dining. We've gone many times during the Food and Wine Festival (before Free Dining was introduced) and although it was busy, I don't recall it to be as frustrating as when Free Dining is offered.

We had always raved about Disney. So this past year, one of our friends and their family had gone for the first time. I wasn't aware of it until they came back. They went during Free Dining and when I asked them how they enjoyed their vacation, they told me that it's not for them....it was too busy and they had some bad experience with guests and CMs. I suggested that they should avoid Free Dining at all cost next time they visit. I don't think they'll be going again. They mentioned that they were so excited before they went.

We decided that we would not go during the August free dining and just go elsewhere. This was also the first time we didn't renew our APs. Now, I'm upset as well about the Free Dining offer during the Spring break. This past March, it was busy but manageable, but I'm worried that it will soon become like the August Free Dining and we'll have to consider changing those vacations as well.

I know it's not realistic to blame one thing - Free Dining- for the decline of "magical" vacations for my family. But it seems to be the most prominent problem during our stays. And although the food is not awful. I do see the decline in quality and a few times we have left the property and eat elsewhere, which we thought we would never do.

We still go at least once a year, but now we're willing to split our vacations with some other park/venue.

 

[rie'smom]

Yesterday while reading a post I saw someting disappointing- Epcot Fower and Garden Festival is closing 2 weeks earlier than it has in the past.
We go to WDW every year at the end of May and loved seeing the gorgeous floral and topiary displays. One more way WDW is sliding.

 

[Donut23]

I have to agree about the entitled guests at WDW.

The last time we traveled to WDW was late spring for F&G. We were actually staying in a lovely 2 BR villa at Kidani with our DVC co-horts.

Sadly, we had 2 unfortunate situations where guests were absolutely awful to castmembers. At one point, my DH stepped in to stop it.

Both times were guests complaining that they were OWNERS= had paid THOUSANDS of dollars and expected better service. It was embarassing.

Honestly....I don't know if it was a free dining period......we never take advantage because it works out better for us to not use free dining. Maybe that was part of the problem.

 

[KellyNY]

There is a site Stupidgueststricks, if I am not mistaken, with tons of CM stories about rude guests. Lots of them actually during free DP.

 

[BigGreen73]

True, esp. when nothing new is added, people feel it can be less often. Believe it or not, this trip we spend only some days at parks and mostly were in hotel and DTD, nothing new. My original plan for this year vacation was Universal only but then I got scared I will not be able to fill 7 days with only 2 parks and how I will be able to skip Disney, so we went with usual plan and skipped Universal, again, big mistake.

I am curious to see what affect the fantasy land expansion will have on crowds etc. once completed. Wll that be enough to get the crowds back and let WDW get away from all the discounts?? Could this help WDW bring back a lot of the little things etc that were cut?

 

[Donut23]

There is a site Stupidgueststricks, if I am not mistaken, with tons of CM stories about rude guests. Lots of them actually during free DP.

Whew, they have probably seen it all!

 

[BigGreen73]

I too agree that downhill may be too strong a word, but is there really another word we could use? I would agree that they are making cuts etc that really aren't well liked, but I would see downhill as cube steak at Le Cells or buffets consisting of hot dogs and burgers only with half the parks rides broken down daily...Now that would be downhill for sure.

 

[KellyNY]

I am curious to see what affect the fantasy land expansion will have on crowds etc. once completed. Wll that be enough to get the crowds back and let WDW get away from all the discounts?? Could this help WDW bring back a lot of the little things etc that were cut?

Who knows. I personally do not see expansion like something to make a trip for, but my DD is 18 already, so you see, we have no interest there. I admit that I will probably spend an hour there just to take pictures of all the cuteness but that would be it. I believe that for many, who does not have little girls FL is really nothing. As for discounts, I think till economy is down, they will not be able to stop offers. Will they bring back what was cut, time will show. So far we can speculate on how many people gave up Disney because of cuts and how many did because of economy but we do not know exactly. Only when economy will hopefully go up again we will be able to see true picture in attendance and if it will be low, it will be up to Disney to make a move.

 

[BigGreen73]

Yesterday while reading a post I saw someting disappointing- Epcot Fower and Garden Festival is closing 2 weeks earlier than it has in the past.
We go to WDW every year at the end of May and loved seeing the gorgeous floral and topiary displays. One more way WDW is sliding.

Where did you read this? That would be a shame. My DW and I usually go the 1st two weeks of May because of the weather, low to average crowds, and flowers/toparies at Epcot. If we go, I want to make sure that we don't miss out.

 

[KellyNY]

I too agree that downhill may be too strong a word, but is there really another word we could use? I would agree that they are making cuts etc that really aren't well liked, but I would see downhill as cube steak at Le Cells or buffets consisting of hot dogs and burgers only with half the parks rides broken down daily...Now that would be downhill for sure.

I think it did not go downhill completely but it is going there, to be exact, it is not on a top of the hill anymore. OK, I know, I am going into annoying specifics.

 

[Planogirl]

I too agree that downhill may be too strong a word, but is there really another word we could use? I would agree that they are making cuts etc that really aren't well liked, but I would see downhill as cube steak at Le Cells or buffets consisting of hot dogs and burgers only with half the parks rides broken down daily...Now that would be downhill for sure.

Maybe we should say "going downhill" rather than "gone downhill". That's a fine point but certainly means different things.

I don't know if the expansion will do much to bring in crowds. I agree that it's great for little girls but other than that...

 

[brunette8706]

I'm not sure if I would call it Downhill either, but it is definitely not as "magical" as it was for us. But it's all a combination of service cutbacks, economy, CM attitudes, and downright rude and entitled guests.

We have been going yearly since 2002 and twice a year since 2005. This past August was the first time we went to Orlando without visiting Disney. I know...I never would have thought we would, but since our last August trip was during Free Dining (and yes, I did knowing it was during that time, but we had no choice with our vacation dates). Now, as DVC members we do not participate in Free Dining so I really wished we could have gone another time. However, those were the dates.

I think that if Disney would remove the Free Dining, I would be a little more hopeful. I know many rely on it, but it makes our vacation a little less magical. Since we've been going, I find the worse experience overall is during Free Dining. We've gone many times during the Food and Wine Festival (before Free Dining was introduced) and although it was busy, I don't recall it to be as frustrating as when Free Dining is offered.

We had always raved about Disney. So this past year, one of our friends and their family had gone for the first time. I wasn't aware of it until they came back. They went during Free Dining and when I asked them how they enjoyed their vacation, they told me that it's not for them....it was too busy and they had some bad experience with guests and CMs. I suggested that they should avoid Free Dining at all cost next time they visit. I don't think they'll be going again. They mentioned that they were so excited before they went.

We decided that we would not go during the August free dining and just go elsewhere. This was also the first time we didn't renew our APs. Now, I'm upset as well about the Free Dining offer during the Spring break. This past March, it was busy but manageable, but I'm worried that it will soon become like the August Free Dining and we'll have to consider changing those vacations as well.

I know it's not realistic to blame one thing - Free Dining- for the decline of "magical" vacations for my family. But it seems to be the most prominent problem during our stays. And although the food is not awful. I do see the decline in quality and a few times we have left the property and eat elsewhere, which we thought we would never do.

We still go at least once a year, but now we're willing to split our vacations with some other park/venue.

*
Hi dvcdisney!

Great, well thoughtout post! I do concur along with many many people on here that Free Dining has nearly destroyed all the food quality and pricing at WDW!

 

[BigGreen73]

Speaking of downhill, I was pricing for May 2011 and the DDP went up? I don't usually use it so maybe I missed the announcement. Last I new it came to $84 for 2 people, now it's $92. Really? And now on the WDW website it says save up to 20% with the DDP, didn't they used to advertise save up to 30%? Last I checked, May wasn't overly crowded or a peak season. Oh well, prices just keep a climbing.

 

[brunette8706]

Speaking of downhill, I was pricing for May 2011 and the DDP went up? I don't usually use it so maybe I missed the announcement. Last I new it came to $84 for 2 people, now it's $92. Really? And now on the WDW website it says save up to 20% with the DDP, didn't they used to advertise save up to 30%? Last I checked, May wasn't overly crowded or a peak season. Oh well, prices just keep a climbing.

*
WOW! I think Tiger, a while back did mention that the price of DDP was going up in 2011. Yes, you are right, I do believe that Disney stated save up to 30 percent on food with the DDP. Now it's only 20 percent! WOW! Maybe this is a way to ween people off DDP? I don't know. Good point though, thanks for bringing it up.

Brunette

 

[flicx]

Speaking of downhill, I was pricing for May 2011 and the DDP went up? I don't usually use it so maybe I missed the announcement. Last I new it came to $84 for 2 people, now it's $92. Really? And now on the WDW website it says save up to 20% with the DDP, didn't they used to advertise save up to 30%? Last I checked, May wasn't overly crowded or a peak season. Oh well, prices just keep a climbing.

Huh another price increase imagine that!

 

[Tiger926]

Speaking of downhill, I was pricing for May 2011 and the DDP went up? I don't usually use it so maybe I missed the announcement. Last I new it came to $84 for 2 people, now it's $92. Really? And now on the WDW website it says save up to 20% with the DDP, didn't they used to advertise save up to 30%? Last I checked, May wasn't overly crowded or a peak season. Oh well, prices just keep a climbing.

*
WOW! I think Tiger, a while back did mention that the price of DDP was going up in 2011. Yes, you are right, I do believe that Disney stated save up to 30 percent on food with the DDP. Now it's only 20 percent! WOW! Maybe this is a way to ween people off DDP? I don't know. Good point though, thanks for bringing it up.

Brunette

Yup, DP has gone up, yet again. There seems to be only a $1.00-$2.00 (depends upon what website you use) difference between regular and peak season though, so that's a bit confusing, as it's been $4.00 over the past few years, plus, those of us who pay cash, get charged buffet surcharges of $4.00/pp. All plans went up, with DxDP going up the most $72.00 to $79.00 approx.

Here is the link to prices: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-dining-plan.htm#prices

By the way, Disney used to advertise save up to 40% with the DP, and like you both noticed, it's now down to 20%.

Tiger

 

[Donut23]

Yup, DP has gone up, yet again. There seems to be only a $1.00-$2.00 (depends upon what website you use) difference between regular and peak season though, so that's a bit confusing, as it's been $4.00 over the past few years, plus, those of us who pay cash, get charged buffet surcharges of $4.00/pp. All plans went up, with DxDP going up the most $72.00 to $79.00 approx.

Here is the link to prices: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-dining-plan.htm#prices

By the way, Disney used to advertise save up to 40% with the DP, and like you both noticed, it's now down to 20%.

Tiger

you know what I'm going to say.....

"give 'em less....charge 'em more".

 

[Planogirl]

I just saw a TV ad and it said save up to 25% on your trip. I know that it used to be 40%.

 

[Headlesshorseman]

So suellen what is your appraisal of disneyland.Is it alot different than the world?Worth about the same financially? Just fishing for honest opinions.I know quite a few posters claim the service is better at disneyland.Any truth?

Flicx, I usually "DO" Disneyland...and LOVE IT...it's no where as big as WDW...but it's so darn cute and quaint....

We were there this time last year for their version of the Halloween Party...it was held next door at California Adventure...that was a great time....

This year it's moved across the courtyard to Disneyland's Magic Kingdom...

I am super new here so I can't post any pics...but when I Get the GREEN LIGHT to post...I will if you'd like

HH