Five Years On...

[KatheeME]

So.... 5 years after the great COVID pandemic... what are the things that have actually changed at Disney Parks and Resorts?

Obviously there was a lot that occurred over the past five years, and some things were reversed.... but... what are the changes? I don't mean rides necessarily, but more culturally what are the changes...

Here are some I can think of:
1. One fewer dinner show (no more luau), continuing the tradition of eliminating dinner shows (the Top of the World Supper Club show at Contemporary)
2. Paid Fastpass/Genie/Lightning Lane/whatever they name it next
3. Fees for individual rides to wait
4. Fewer spas and Bippidi Bopped Boutiques

What else?

street performers at HS, we miss them so!

 

[vinotinto]

street performers at HS, we miss them so!

Yes! The Citizens of Hollywood. They were so fun!

This thread is making me very nostalgic.

Pre-Galaxy's Edge, (so way before 2020), my DD (she must have been around 9-10 at the time?) traded with the Jawas. Definitely a highlight for her!

 

[pink elephants]

Speaking of the Grand Floridian Orchestra, I believe Disney cancelled other musical performers too, like the guy who sang Hawaiian songs while playing the ukulele outside Ohana's. I miss those random musical acts.

Also, while the menus have gotten better, they're still more limited than they used to be. And the Plaza Restaurant's menu has never recovered. We used to love the Plaza, but we've stopped going.

Ditto all the wonderful little Food & Wine demos and events. I also miss all the goings on at the Festival hub at the old Wonders of Life pavilion - like the chocolate tableaus of Disney movies by Ghiradelli and the various random tastings. I'm glad they brought back the Parisian Brunch this year. I hope it does well, so they'll bring back more events.

 

[team bradfield]

MGM/HS Street janitors were the best, so much fun, really miss them and all HS citizens

 

[Teamubr]

Trails End Buffet.-. Was the best meal for the money on property.

j

 

[kylenne]

Swan and Dolphin losing Disney bus transportation was a huge blow. Being forced to deal with the TTC like the “real” offsite hotels or budget for Minnie vans really sucks.

Re: room service getting lost everywhere but GF, I miss the Twilight Feast at Poly more than anything. Nothing like eating Ohana food in your PJs watching Mickey cartoons and skipping the madness of trying to get reservations. But I knew it wasn’t ever coming back given how much they gave you and how much cheaper it was than eating in the actual restaurant. Last time we got it we ate noodles for breakfast for like 3 days!

I also checked into YC the day room service went away there. That one hurt.

Being able to mobile order TS to go was a great add, and with the exception of my late beloved Twilight Feast the food is generally much better (and cheaper) than room service used to be. But I still miss having it as an option. Sometimes you just don’t want to walk to the restaurant to pick up a bag. We definitely splurged on it at GF last year and I forgot how much of a fun little treat it is on vacation until we did it the other night in Vegas (just decent pizza from the Italian spot, nothing fancy).

 

[kylenne]

Speaking of the Grand Floridian Orchestra, I believe Disney cancelled other musical performers too, like the guy who sang Hawaiian songs while playing the ukulele outside Ohana's. I miss those random musical acts.

There’s still ukelele players inside and outside of ‘Ohana. Usually there’s one out on the tiki terrace in the evenings. The coconut races never came back though, and neither did the torch lightning ceremony since it was done by the fire guys from the luau.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Has anyone mentioned mice boats. Was hoping to do them last time I went to Grand Floridian but they were gone any hotel has them anymore.

 

[PolyRob]

Park pass reservations for AP holders/non date-based tickets

AP sales that can “go away at any time”

AP vouchers that expire one year after date of purchase

Upcharge for PhotoPass downloads with APs

Significant cuts to Festival of Fantasy, Mickey's Boo to You Parade, and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade (dancers, characters, toy soldiers, floats, etc)

PM extra magic hours reduced and only available to deluxe resort guests

Reduced park hours overall

Dine with an Imagineer at Hollywood Brown Derby never returned

Morocco pavilion just removed the sign for Restaurant Marrakesh. That place is a ghost town

Dining cancellations changed from 24 hours to 1 hour to 2 hours

Smartphone reliance (cannot book Genie+/LL via computer + removal of FP+ kiosks)

Starcruiser was built, opened, closed, and retooled to offices

A bar opened in Magic Kingdom

 

[FanforDisney]

RunDisney events stopped providing awards to male/female age group top 5 runners. Missed getting a bunch of them since 2020.

 

[PolyRob]

Park pass reservations for AP holders/non date-based tickets

AP sales that can “go away at any time”

AP vouchers that expire one year after date of purchase

Upcharge for PhotoPass downloads with APs

Significant cuts to Festival of Fantasy, Mickey's Boo to You Parade, and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade (dancers, characters, toy soldiers, floats, etc)

PM extra magic hours reduced and only available to deluxe resort guests

Reduced park hours overall

Dine with an Imagineer at Hollywood Brown Derby never returned

Morocco pavilion just removed the sign for Restaurant Marrakesh. That place is a ghost town

Dining cancellations changed from 24 hours to 1 hour to 2 hours

Smartphone reliance (cannot book Genie+/LL via computer + removal of FP+ kiosks)

Starcruiser was built, opened, closed, and retooled to offices

A bar opened in Magic Kingdom

Listening to my WDW playlist and music from Rivers of Light just started playing. I would lump that into park hours and entertainment cuts.

 

[BrianL]

Listening to my WDW playlist and music from Rivers of Light just started playing. I would lump that into park hours and entertainment cuts.

Ehh, they cut Rivers of Light because everyone couldn't stop complaining about it. Nobody appreciated it's subtle beauty. They tried to make it more mainstream (and worse), but people just didn't respond. It's things like that that make me lose faith in humanity.

 

[Minnie1222]

Ehh, they cut Rivers of Light because everyone couldn't stop complaining about it. Nobody appreciated it's subtle beauty. They tried to make it more mainstream (and worse), but people just didn't respond. It's things like that that make me lose faith in humanity.

...and now they're complaining that Starlight is not Spectromagic so it probably will get cut too.

 

[BrianL]

...and now they're complaining that Starlight is not Spectromagic so it probably will get cut too.

Nothing's ever good enough. I just hope I get to see Starlight before it is retired and not replaced.

That is the problem though. People weren't likeing Rivers of Light, but they should be doing something in that amphitheater!

 

[Minnie1222]

A bar opened in Magic Kingdom

Along with the largest futuristic architectural piece:  Tron.