Does Disney care less about DVC members now?

[MarkNC2Disney]

^ yup. I reduced phone time by ~20% once I realized mobile ordering was a gimmick and doesn’t improve my efficiency. Just walk up to the window and order.

 

[New Mouse]

^ yup. I reduced phone time by ~20% once I realized mobile ordering was a gimmick and doesn’t improve my efficiency. Just walk up to the window and order.

It was a reasonable solution during covid but its just a way for them to cut labor now and in no way does it make either side of the operation more efficient.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I don't know - we actually find mobile ordering much more efficient - at least for us in our experiences with it. We no longer have to stand in line behind that family of 6 who doesn't have a clue what they want to order and take 10 minutes pointing at the menu to decide. We bring up the app, we make our food decisions in advance, and we pick it up when it's done at the time of our choosing. It might not be for everyone, but the efficiency for us is a plus, not a gimmick.

 

[Sandisw]

I don't know - we actually find mobile ordering much more efficient - at least for us in our experiences with it. We no longer have to stand in line behind that family of 6 who doesn't have a clue what they want to order and take 10 minutes pointing at the menu to decide. We bring up the app, we make our food decisions in advance, and we pick it up when it's done at the time of our choosing. It might not be for everyone, but the efficiency for us is a plus, not a gimmick.

We love it. We have set it up and ordered on the way back to RIV while on the Skyliner. By the time we arrive, it’s ready.

We have also set a time in advance for other places in the parks, and hit we are here as we walk there from whatever we were doing.

So, for us, it’s the only way we order now!

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Glad it has worked well for y’all! I love to optimize, but more often than not, our mobile order took as much time as simply walking up. Like everything at WDW, YMMV

 

[nalabear]

I don't know - we actually find mobile ordering much more efficient - at least for us in our experiences with it. We no longer have to stand in line behind that family of 6 who doesn't have a clue what they want to order and take 10 minutes pointing at the menu to decide. We bring up the app, we make our food decisions in advance, and we pick it up when it's done at the time of our choosing. It might not be for everyone, but the efficiency for us is a plus, not a gimmick.

We love quick service. DLR has a lot more options and we plan a little ahead on where we'll be an hour from present and order. The 30min window is plenty. Love it. Saves another queue.

 

[john7994]

Agree with several previous posters, absolutely love being able to walk up at a predetermined time to grab an order on the go, in the parks, or anticipating my next stop (resort or park). If we happen to forget, from time to time, we still utilize the old school method - but now find it tedious (love the example of the large family) - my favorite includes a twist of of a parent quizzing their 4 year old what they want seemingly endlessly - while everyone waits "patiently".

 

[disneyseniors]

I get it. The airfare and what not is out of Disney’s hands. But Disney is also making it much less pleasant to vacation there, and we are still spending $12k for our trip.

Sell dvc? Vacation elsewhere, or staycation and pocket the 12k+? A recession is coming, and with that bad taste in my mouth, Disney is less likely going to get our money going forward.

Brand loyalty matters. They have significantly eroded my loyalty. I don’t feel valued as a dvc member, so that’s that.

I'm not DVC, but agree with you! We were yearly or more visitors as was our big family. The kids grew up on Disney, as did our grandkids. Now, they have lost our family and their families. That's what will hurt them in the end, I think, as generations learn to live very well without disney. It will not be a tradition like it was for our family. It has already changed. Our kids and grandkids prefer island beach vacations or Universal, Sea world, and touring central Florida and the state parks. They will influence their kids, and on and on.

We were not DVC, but we spent a lot of money every year at disney with air fare, food, merchandise (gifts for all the family), plus the resorts. That is money now spent at Universal and other destinations for us.
It took a lot to make us uber- disney fans leave, but we feel the value is not there now.

As far as brand loyality, it is gone for us. And I think it is gone for a lot of other big time disney fans too.
There is life after disney after all

 

[tim494]

This!! I realized that Disney trips (while fun for our kids) were exhausting for me (wake at 6:50, get shot full of adrenaline for VQ and G+ and ILLs, fail to go back to sleep, wake everybody at 8, scramble plans on the fly always looking at my phone, figuring out VQ return, next G+ reservation slot, whether or ADRs are going to conflict, etc., run back and forth across parks to avoid crowds and do Genie+/ILL), but even worse than the exhaustion is that I spend very little time present and relaxing with my kids. I know part of it is on me as a neurotic maximizer, but when paying $1000-2000/day (tix, G+/ILL, food, merch) I want to see and do as much as possible. We migrated towards DCL, which has annoying advance planning stress, but is pretty laid back once you actually get on the ship.

Recently, we went to Universal Hollywood and did the express pass and it was a revelation— I just paid the extra up front and we could go through the park at the pace we wanted, in the direction we wanted, and ride everything once (with much shorter average waits than the average G+ return). Made me glad we didn’t renew our Magic Keys at Disneyland. I prefer the Disney IP and vibe, but not so much that I want to pay $1000+/day to be frustrated and exhausted.

I don’t like the money grab but I didn’t find myself looking at the phone all day. Family trip with 8 of us. I wake up early anyway when traveling so that wasn’t horrible.

I managed the Genie for the group. We like a lot of the same things so it was convenient. After the first day I asked if the wanted to manage their own and they said no. They were satisfied with what we were getting out of it.

We‘re in lines anyway checking emails and whatnot so pulling up the app occasionally wasn’t that different.

we just didn’t let it stress us and used it for tougher lines first and added in some quick hits through the day.

I don’t find it any worse than the fast pass rush around.

again I don’t like the money grab.

 

[tom1944]

We love it. We have set it up and ordered on the way back to RIV while on the Skyliner. By the time we arrive, it’s ready.

We have also set a time in advance for other places in the parks, and hit we are here as we walk there from whatever we were doing.

So, for us, it’s the only way we order now!

I learn something every time I come to the board.

I am planning our trip for August and I just realized how valuable mobile ordering will be for us.

Our plan is early entry, lunch as our big meal with reservations between 12 to 1 and then back to the resort.

Being able to mobile order dinner on our way back to the park around 6 will be a timesaver.

Would it also work to mobile order breakfast during early entry? We were going to eat a light meal in the room but additional options are always good.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't know - we actually find mobile ordering much more efficient - at least for us in our experiences with it. We no longer have to stand in line behind that family of 6 who doesn't have a clue what they want to order and take 10 minutes pointing at the menu to decide. We bring up the app, we make our food decisions in advance, and we pick it up when it's done at the time of our choosing. It might not be for everyone, but the efficiency for us is a plus, not a gimmick.

Glad it worked for you I did a mobile order, my friend did a regular walk-up order. He received his food abiut 15 minutes before I did at the Connections Cafe I'll be using walk up from now on.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I don't know - we actually find mobile ordering much more efficient - at least for us in our experiences with it. We no longer have to stand in line behind that family of 6 who doesn't have a clue what they want to order and take 10 minutes pointing at the menu to decide. We bring up the app, we make our food decisions in advance, and we pick it up when it's done at the time of our choosing. It might not be for everyone, but the efficiency for us is a plus, not a gimmick.

Just last night we decided at the last minute to head back into MK. Right at dinner time. Zero chance for even a walk-up list. We mobile ordered some Pecos Bill from a park bench in Town Square. Hit the “I am here” button walking into Adventureland, and got the notification our order was ready as we walked past Pirates. Zero time in line.

 

[kes601]

ust last night we decided at the last minute to head back into MK. Right at dinner time. Zero chance for even a walk-up list. We mobile ordered some Pecos Bill from a park bench in Town Square. Hit the “I am here” button walking into Adventureland, and got the notification our order was ready as we walked past Pirates. Zero time in line.

I love mobile order as well. During the week before Christmas we were at MK late morning and wanted some food. Sleepy Hollow was pretty much the only place open. There were the typical 30 or 40 people in line. We mobile ordered for the fruit waffle and literally 30 seconds (maybe less) after we said we were there we got the alert to go to the mobile pickup window......

 

[kilik64]

Just last night we decided at the last minute to head back into MK. Right at dinner time. Zero chance for even a walk-up list. We mobile ordered some Pecos Bill from a park bench in Town Square. Hit the “I am here” button walking into Adventureland, and got the notification our order was ready as we walked past Pirates. Zero time in line.

Yea but you had to eat pecos bill so that’s still a net loss

 

[DonMacGregor]

Yea but you had to eat pecos bill so that’s still a net loss

It was that or a flatbread pizza from Village Haus or a foot long coronary from Casey’s. I’ll take the fajitas any time. Eating anywhere inside MK is a net loss, it’s just boils down to degrees of magnitude.

 

[kilik64]

It was that or a flatbread pizza from Village Haus or a foot long coronary from Casey’s. I’ll take the fajitas any time. Eating anywhere inside MK is a net loss, it’s just boils down to degrees of magnitude.

Hey now that chorizo flatbread at the haus is pretty decent!

 

[tjkraz]

I learn something every time I come to the board.

I am planning our trip for August and I just realized how valuable mobile ordering will be for us.

Our plan is early entry, lunch as our big meal with reservations between 12 to 1 and then back to the resort.

Being able to mobile order dinner on our way back to the park around 6 will be a timesaver.

Would it also work to mobile order breakfast during early entry? We were going to eat a light meal in the room but additional options are always good.

I don't know what time restaurants specifically open for breakfast but if a location is open and accepts mobile orders, you should be able to use it.

I don't get the hate for mobile ordering. You can create an order literally hours in advance, then just tap "I'm here" to get in the queue to have it prepared. We've entered our lunch orders while riding the monorail in the morning, while waiting in line for an attraction or while browsing the world showcase. One time we entered our order while waiting for our checked luggage at MCO.

Biggest waste of time in all of WDW is standing in that food order queue at the restaurant. I hope to never have to do that again.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I don't know what time restaurants specifically open for breakfast but if a location is open and accepts mobile orders, you should be able to use it.

I don't get the hate for mobile ordering. You can create an order literally hours in advance, then just tap "I'm here" to get in the queue to have it prepared. We've entered our lunch orders while riding the monorail in the morning, while waiting in line for an attraction or while browsing the world showcase. One time we entered our order while waiting for our checked luggage at MCO.

Biggest waste of time in all of WDW is standing in that food order queue at the restaurant. I hope to never have to do that again.

Yeah, it works efficiently as intended probably 70% of the time for me. It’s the other 30%…when I’m head down riding the Skyliner or strolling the world showcase…and then hit I’m here with plenty of lead time and the QS still screws it up. Which then leads to regret and frustration.
But of all things to complain about, mobile ordering is lower in the stack for sure. Sorry to distract this thread from its original purpose

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

If you go on vacation you will most likely spend less than at Disney but it will still not be zero.

So, it is not $12,000 at Disney or zero.

I would guess an average vacation will run $6,000 at a minimum.

Is Disney worth that extra $6000 in comparison. That is different for every family.

$6000?! $12000?! This is insane. Does that even include food? Go on a cruise. For a family of 4, you can get on a cruise for a week for less than $6000. I recommend Princess. Or Royal. Or Carnival. Any line but Disney. We’re going on a 10 night Caribbean Christmas cruise with Holland America for $8000 for 5 people. A Christmas cruise. Which are always overpriced. That’s with their unlimited drink package and $200 per person for excursions and tips. Disney is making a fool of every one of us who continues to over pay for their sub par vacations.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

$6000?! $12000?! This is insane. Does that even include food? Go on a cruise. For a family of 4, you can get on a cruise for a week for less than $6000. I recommend Princess. Or Royal. Or Carnival. Any line but Disney. We’re going on a 10 night Caribbean Christmas cruise with Holland America for $8000 for 5 people. A Christmas cruise. Which are always overpriced. That’s with their unlimited drink package and $200 per person for excursions and tips. Disney is making a fool of every one of us who continues to over pay for their sub par vacations.

Yeah. I know. I was able to get my vacation down to $10k with Disney… it’s honestly insane. 4 people. 8 and 13yr old. 16 nights. But still.