First time poster, long time park goer... BAD experience this year

[Stacy's a freak]

Hang on. I think most are being pretty hard on this OP. Just because we are all WDW obsessed does not mean that the entire world should be or should even know that pre-planning is basically a requirement these days to fully enjoy the attractions. This person's vent could be said by nearly every first-time or years-past visitor of WDW. It never used to be this way and unless you plan a week-long, on-site visit with the help of a travel agent, you're pretty much screwed if you don't know to plan ahead. I think this is totally crappy. You used to be able to just show up and enjoy. I feel for this OP and I would be peeved too if I wasn't in the know.

So give the guy/gal a break! It's fine to come here and vent and be a little sad that your first day was problematic. No one deserves to be berated on this site after having an Alexander's very expensive, problematic, parking lot annoyed and sad day.

OP, now that you know and if you plan to go back, please do stop by guest services and ask for their help for your group. And I hope you have a better time these next days (not sure if you are planning to go back).

 

[littledebbie335]

I understand that they are giving perks to those who have gazillions to stay on property.

I'm sorry, but if you own a timeshare, I don't think you're in the position to shame the "rich" people who stay on property. The value resorts are priced very competitively, and even if they don't have the most amenities compared to off-site properties in a similar price range, they're probably not financially out of reach to most people who visit Disney.

I hope the rest of your trip goes better.

Edited to add: I also think you should contact Guest Services to tell them that there were no wheelchairs at the handicapped spots, and that you were confronted by a Disney cop when you were only trying to do what you were told to do. Hopefully that can prevent the same thing from happening to someone else in the future!

 

[Dis703]

FWIW, staying on property does not mean "spending $5,000 a week," or having "gazillions" to stay on property. There are actually plenty of offsite options that cost much more than onsite value or moderate resorts. I spent about $80 a night at a value in the spring and average about $145 a night for a mod for our family of 5. And we don't have gazillions or even millions.

The extra 30 days is a perk offered to give people a reason to want to stay onsite. Just like hotels offsite offer things like free breakfast. It isn't a punishment. It also isn't necessary IME to book FP 60 days out. We've made last minute trip plans anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks out and have been able to book our FPs we wanted. We even change them the day of, it just depends on availability and may mean checking back several times.

 

[kniquy]

Sounds like the typical case of bad experience because of little planning. It is unfortunate that you have spent so much money on this trip and are not able to enjoy your time. Unfortunately, Disney is unlike any other vacation, even if you haven't been in 4 years you have to have some idea on how to plan a WDW trip. You can not go by the seat of your pants to WDW. When traveling with those with health/mobility issues it probably is doubly important to plan ahead. I guess there isn't much you can do about this trip but it is a lesson learned for the next time.

 

[wilkeliza]

Hang on. I think most are being pretty hard on this OP. Just because we are all WDW obsessed does not mean that the entire world should be or should even know that pre-planning is basically a requirement these days to fully enjoy the attractions. This person's vent could be said by nearly every first-time or years-past visitor of WDW. It never used to be this way and unless you plan a week-long, on-site visit with the help of a travel agent, you're pretty much screwed if you don't know to plan ahead. I think this is totally crappy. You used to be able to just show up and enjoy. I feel for this OP and I would be peeved too if I wasn't in the know.

So give the guy/gal a break! It's fine to come here and vent and be a little sad that your first day was problematic. No one deserves to be berated on this site after having an Alexander's very expensive, problematic, parking lot annoyed and sad day.

OP, now that you know and if you plan to go back, please do stop by guest services and ask for their help for your group. And I hope you have a better time these next days (not sure if you are planning to go back).

I don't think every single person who shows up feels the exact same way. My friends did just show up with their 4 year old and 1 year old for a 1 day stop they weren't planning and said they had a fantastic time. This was in the middle of the summer. So it isn't everyone. I think the ones saying that the new system doesn't work for them are people who had gone before and remember that time. People who just truly show up and have no experience with Disney (or no real memory of that experience because they were little kids previously) don't even realize FP is a thing and just wait because hey that's what you do at theme parks you wait in this line to ride a short ride and then wait in that line to ride a short ride and wash and repeat until you leave.

 

[Johnnyecks]

I still don't understand what you mean about property vs timeshare owners. I think the majority of people going to Disney do not own property or timeshares at Disney, we rent hotel room. Do you own property or a time share at Disney? I am sorry, I don't mean to be obtuse, I am just not following. If you own DVC, or something else why did that negatively impact your planning?

I mean the difference b/t those who own DVC, and those who stay on property vs those who own timeshares outside of Disney.

I always understood the magic hours and the discounts that DVC/Staying in prop guests get and have always been fine with that. They have the money to plop down, great. I am happy for them.

We bought our timeshare before I was aware of DVC (I can't remember if that was even a thing in 1989).


To summarize, I guess, I do not like or agree with this 30/60/180 day in advance that you have to do. Lives change, plans change. And if you are unlucky enough to have your plans change, then you very well missed out on reservations. Long gone are the days of being able to plan your day in the park on the day of. IMO that should of stayed the same. IMO FP should've stayed the same.

It didn't. I'm upset. I'm over it.

I am done complaining/debating/pleading my case. My head is clear, my chi has been reset, and I am ready to move on and take all of this and learn from it and enjoy my remaining time here this year.
Thank you for everyone who heard me out, and added their input.

 

[Dis703]

But, lesson learned. I will now purchase tickets months in advance, and plan my day months in advance even if it is completely unrealistic to ask people to do so. What if I trip on my way there, what if I got a horrible bout of diarrhea on my way to my fastpass entrance time. No room for changes. Oh well. My loss. Their gain.

The new system is actually set up to be more flexible with changes. Which is why with three young children I've loved it. If something happens and you can't make a FP window you choose a different time or different attraction. With the old paper ticket that didn't happen. We just missed it. So far, IME they have also been very flexible with running a little late and sometimes with coming a little early. I can see how it might take a little getting used to, but it's not as difficult or constraining as it may seem at first.

 

[TropicalDIS]

OP, i can't offer anything in terms of advice for most of your issues. I haven't been there with any elderly folk, and I haven't experienced the new Disney Springs yet.

The FP thing, yeah i can understand that. It 's the way it is unfortunately. I've never stayed on a Disney resort, and been looked down by plenty of people for it, so i had to get used to the new FP system a few years back. It works and i have no compaints about, but i definitely understand you. Never used to buy my tickets in advance as there was no incentive, and i enjoyed buying my tickets the day off at the booth, it was fun for me. But now preplanning is definitely key

Give this a guy a break folks. He tried his best, is upset, and is venting a little. Most people are just screaming at him to plan plan plan. Not everyone has the same amount of time to preplan. Things change, sometimes plans can't be set, or sometimes there are just other things in life going on.

OP sorry your trip was a letdown, on the brightside you are better equipped for next time.

 

[Barbara76]

I mean the difference b/t those who own DVC, and those who stay on property vs those who own timeshares outside of Disney.

I always understood the magic hours and the discounts that DVC/Staying in prop guests get and have always been fine with that. They have the money to plop down, great. I am happy for them.

We bought our timeshare before I was aware of DVC (I can't remember if that was even a thing in 1989).


To summarize, I guess, I do not like or agree with this 30/60/180 day in advance that you have to do. Lives change, plans change. And if you are unlucky enough to have your plans change, then you very well missed out on reservations. Long gone are the days of being able to plan your day in the park on the day of. IMO that should of stayed the same. IMO FP should've stayed the same.

It didn't. I'm upset. I'm over it.

I am done complaining/debating/pleading my case. My head is clear, my chi has been reset, and I am ready to move on and take all of this and learn from it and enjoy my remaining time here this year.
Thank you for everyone who heard me out, and added their input.

Ah ha, I got it now. Sorry I wasn't following. It is interesting because I was also at Disney in 1988 when I was 12, but then I didn't go back until 2013 so I actually have only known the FP+ and MDE experience, and I find it really convenient, I love being able to just change things on my phone on the go. I do understand where your frustration is coming from, there are other areas in which I was used to something and then it changed due to technology and I get grumpy and want to tell the damn kids to get off my lawn. I hope the rest of your trip is going well!

 

[Johnnyecks]

Hang on. I think most are being pretty hard on this OP. Just because we are all WDW obsessed does not mean that the entire world should be or should even know that pre-planning is basically a requirement these days to fully enjoy the attractions. This person's vent could be said by nearly every first-time or years-past visitor of WDW. It never used to be this way and unless you plan a week-long, on-site visit with the help of a travel agent, you're pretty much screwed if you don't know to plan ahead. I think this is totally crappy. You used to be able to just show up and enjoy. I feel for this OP and I would be peeved too if I wasn't in the know.

So give the guy/gal a break! It's fine to come here and vent and be a little sad that your first day was problematic. No one deserves to be berated on this site after having an Alexander's very expensive, problematic, parking lot annoyed and sad day.

OP, now that you know and if you plan to go back, please do stop by guest services and ask for their help for your group. And I hope you have a better time these next days (not sure if you are planning to go back).

Thank you. You are right. Now, that I know, this will not happen again. Yes, I plan on coming back. This has always been my favorite place on earth and I'm not going to let yesterday stain it completely.

 

[AngiTN]

To summarize, I guess, I do not like or agree with this 30/60/180 day in advance that you have to do. Lives change, plans change. And if you are unlucky enough to have your plans change, then you very well missed out on reservations. Long gone are the days of being able to plan your day in the park on the day of. IMO that should of stayed the same. IMO FP should've stayed the same.

It didn't. I'm upset. I'm over it.

I am done complaining/debating/pleading my case. My head is clear, my chi has been reset, and I am ready to move on and take all of this and learn from it and enjoy my remaining time here this year.
Thank you for everyone who heard me out, and added their input.

Actually, not at all. It may have changed but it's not gone. We frequently change our plans that day. Yes, I do book our FP at 60 days out, or whenever it is we plan a trip (often less than 60 days out)
But we rarely stick to our original plan for the entire trip.
With very few exceptions it is very possible to book FP for the park of your choice that morning. We do it all the time.
You just have to look at it differently
Glad to hear you are moving along and enjoying the rest of your trip. If it's long enough, look in to the off property ECV rentals that will fit in your car. It may improve not only Disney days but others as well

 

[ConnecticutFlea]

As I posted earlier, I'm sorry for your disappointment. This wasn't the trip you envisioned. I get that. I hope you continue to love Disney and plan another trip soon. I hope you can find some enjoyment in this trip.

I visit WDW for a week 2 or 3 times a year. I stay at Shades of Green which is not a Disney resort. I book my FPs at the 30 day mark. I modify them as needed, sometimes changing to a different park the night before or morning of. I do not feel the current system is unfair. I don't feel that there is a "divide" separating me from those who stay on site. Yes, they have an easier time getting the FPs they want, but they pay for the privilege. When I go to Universal I stay at a resort that includes the front of the line pass. That is a much greater advantage than booking FPs a month before those staying off-site. My husband has mobility problems. He uses an ECV.

I don't think you are at fault for not planning appropriately because you didn't know you had to. But now you do, so please do the best you can with the time you have left. I hear your anger directed at Disney, but it's not Disneys fault either. Its unfortunate you didn't know the current FP system or parking areas. It is what it is. I hope you can move on and enjoy part of your trip.

 

[Johnnyecks]

... I've never stayed on a Disney resort, and been looked down by plenty of people for it, so i had to get used to the new FP system a few years back. It works and i have no compaints about, but i definitely understand you. Never used to buy my tickets in advance as there was no incentive, and i enjoyed buying my tickets the day off at the booth, it was fun for me. But now preplanning is definitely key

This is what we have always done, it worked beautifully for us in the passed. But now that I know the new system, I will be better off.


This being said, I have purchased my DW/AK/HS tickets in advance (for the next couple of days, just now) and now knowing what I know, try to make the most out of the changes.

I will report back and let you know how it goes.

Today is shot, parents are using the car and are just now on their way home.... so I won't be getting into a park until 1. Taking my chances at Univ. today since I have a two day p2p ticket. Taking a breather, cleared my head, and ready to enjoy the **** out of the next 4 days.

Thank you, everyone, for your input.

 

[Jennasis]

Fwiw I do on DVC, but since I'm out of points for the rest of the year, I had to book a cash reservation off site for our very last minute trip in 30 days (12/1_12/4). I just made fast pass reservations yesterday and today (30 days out...something I consider very last minute). And while I do not enjoy the new Fastpass system AT ALL, compared to the old way of doing it, I am pleased to report that I got everything I wanted when i wanted it without any trouble yesterday morning and today.

Last minute trips can be done. inexpensive trips can be done (total for the 4 day trip around $600 with food).

 

[miamimi]

I understand venting, but you come off as extremely entitled. You do not have to go to WDW, and WDW can operate in any way it desires.

I have to ask, why do you think the OP's post was "entitled". I don't understand. Frustrated yes, but not entitled.

Additionally, I think everyone on this board realizes the they do not have to go to WDW. Actually, none of us have to do anything except die! But when someone is spending their discretionary income on a vacation to any destination and things don't go well, don't they have a right to express their disappointment regardless of the reasons?

 

[ckb_nc]

Disney is always changing; which is actually a good thing until they change something you loved. OP - Disney does a good job with the folks who have mobility issues - but it sounds like a wheelchair rental would have been a great idea. FP+ are a known entity by now and I actually like them.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thank you, everyone, for your input.

Because Johnnyecks has returned a few times to clarify info as well as to thank those who have assisted in his future planning, closing.