For those who say Disney has gone downhill

[linskypens]

My trip in May will be my 20th give or take.
Ive waited in long lines, learned to deal with FP- (became an expert in beating the system) dealt with time window enforcement last year, with kids, without kids, onsite, off site, with car, without car.
Im 52 now, and will be taking my daughter on our last Daddy Daughter Disney trip in May, before she's off to college in August.. Ive taken her every year since she was 5, just the two of us.
Its been special time. Is Disney the same as it was when we started?
Nope.but that's not to say its better or worse.
Let's all slow down and take into account what I would hope is the reason we all go in the first place.
Ive made memories with her that I wouldn't get anywhere else. Plucking a gem out of the air in Philharmagic...Being "That Guy" in the laugh floor. Playing the game at the end of mission space for hours on end. Watching her run down Main Street at 11 years old, to be the first at a fast pass machine(wont see that again)
Our first Dole Whip together. The thrill we get just passing under the sign as we drive in from the airport(she'll be driving this year!!)
Taking her picture on the toy horse as you enter HS every year. Too many to count really. But the best of it is the time we spend together. Im taking her this time with no expectation of anything but doing what we can do, and i'll be happy with that, because it is precious time I get to spend with her. For me, that's what its all about. Ill deal with the food, and the FP+ baloney, and the increasing prices, because time stands still there, its magical, and has been since that first time I walked through the train station in 1975.
So go to Six Flags, or Universal, and complain all you want. I'm going back, and I wont stop

 

[minmate]

Let's all slow down and take into account what I would hope is the reason we all go in the first place. Ive made memories with her that I wouldn't get anywhere else.

100% agree! Time with family making great memories is what's important to me too!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

My trip in May will be my 20th give or take.
Ive waited in long lines, learned to deal with FP- (became an expert in beating the system) dealt with time window enforcement last year, with kids, without kids, onsite, off site, with car, without car.
Im 52 now, and will be taking my daughter on our last Daddy Daughter Disney trip in May, before she's off to college in August.. Ive taken her every year since she was 5, just the two of us.
Its been special time. Is Disney the same as it was when we started?
Nope.but that's not to say its better or worse.
Let's all slow down and take into account what I would hope is the reason we all go in the first place.
Ive made memories with her that I wouldn't get anywhere else. Plucking a gem out of the air in Philharmagic...Being "That Guy" in the laugh floor. Playing the game at the end of mission space for hours on end. Watching her run down Main Street at 11 years old, to be the first at a fast pass machine(wont see that again)
Our first Dole Whip together. The thrill we get just passing under the sign as we drive in from the airport(she'll be driving this year!!)
Taking her picture on the toy horse as you enter HS every year. Too many to count really. But the best of it is the time we spend together. Im taking her this time with no expectation of anything but doing what we can do, and i'll be happy with that, because it is precious time I get to spend with her. For me, that's what its all about. Ill deal with the food, and the FP+ baloney, and the increasing prices, because time stands still there, its magical, and has been since that first time I walked through the train station in 1975.
So go to Six Flags, or Universal, and complain all you want. I'm going back, and I wont stop

I love this-it brought tears to my eyes, I know exactly how this feels.

Like you, we have been fortunate enough to take DS once a year since he was 6. Our family memories, our family pictures--those come from WDW.

DS is 19 and for the first time since he was 6, missed out on going in 2013. He is in college now. May 1st is his last final. We will be anxiously waiting for him to finish so that we can pick him up and head out. I just can't wait to have this time with my family

 

[sunshine1]

LOl. Not sure if I would call 3 years a long time Disney visitor or a lot of time to do a comparison.

But here are my thoughts.

first, I find that any complaint on the dis board garners the claws to come out. I don't think we are very objective. I always tell first timers, this is a great site for information, it's not the best site for objective reviews as any negative review will get flamed. Why would some one give their honest opinion? just like the posters above, one of the first things we're told is we're "nitpicking". Huh??

Now sorry I've been going the last 20 years and the world has definitely changed. some good, some not so much.

1) IMO the food has most definitely declined. call it due to the ddp or just way more mouths to feed or the fact most people aren't that demanding but I think most long time visitors feel the food quality has gone down hill.

2) Everybody has different ideas about what is important to them. It's not nitpicking, it's called people value different things.

For example. when they outsourced valet parking it went downhill. Now for you guys valet parking is probably not important but for my family it is extremely important because we use to travel with a mobility impaired grandparent. I can't tell you how many times people will tell me, I complain about nothing because of the lousy valet service. for you it's not nothing, for my family it is an issue.

3) down hill doesn't mean we hate it.

Generally we do have a great time and I do agree that part of it is because I use to be an annual visit. what happens we you go there so often, you tend to notice the dirty rugs in the hallways. (yuckie) and the paint peeling.

4) Complete trip reports.

Now another phenomenon I noticed on the dis is when you mention a "negative" people swear you are complaining I know when I write trip reports I tend to give the good, the bad and the ugly. Does not equate to complaining. For example, I once wrote about how I found cigarette butts on my balcony and every day I spoke with the front desk about it but the message never got to mouse keeping. No my trip was not ruined, yes I had a good time but if I'm writing a trip report I will say that mousekeeping was laxed. Which I've come to realize breaks some sort of commandment. "thou shall never disparage the mouse world" So yes, even if some thing goes wrong, like you I handle it immediately but if I'm writing a trip report should I never mention it? no, like I said I give the good, the bad and the ugly.

I still enjoy my vacations but they have changed. We no longer go every year and rarely do we eat on site. Meals are super important to us so we'd rather go offsite. Once we use to go yearly for 8-9 days. Now 5 days is enough

But back to the original topic.

Op, glad you had a great time. Even if I don't think it's as magical as when I first started to go, I do think it's a special place and I'm always happy when folks have a good time.

Thanks for your reply. I have had 6 visits to Disney World since 2003. My first trip to Disney out in California was 1991.

 

[sunshine1]

What's that old saying? ..."Familiarity breeds contempt"?

After going to Disney four years in a row, I noticed that I was spotting little negative things that I didn't the first year. The more familiar you are with something, the more you notice all the nuances, and I think that's part of why people think it goes downhill. Not all of it, but partly.

I also think people tend to remember the best memories of previous trips, so when they go back, they are comparing their current experience to many of their "best of Disney" memories. Makes it tough for their current trip to live up to those in the past.

I don't know, but I think these two things explain some of the reason for the "downhill" mindset.

Dan

Yes I agree. If I go back to Disney too soon after a previous visit then I do tend to compare it more and not enjoy it as much.

For me, I think it is best to go every 2-3 years or so.

 

[sunshine1]

My trip in May will be my 20th give or take.
Ive waited in long lines, learned to deal with FP- (became an expert in beating the system) dealt with time window enforcement last year, with kids, without kids, onsite, off site, with car, without car.
Im 52 now, and will be taking my daughter on our last Daddy Daughter Disney trip in May, before she's off to college in August.. Ive taken her every year since she was 5, just the two of us.
Its been special time. Is Disney the same as it was when we started?
Nope.but that's not to say its better or worse.
Let's all slow down and take into account what I would hope is the reason we all go in the first place.
Ive made memories with her that I wouldn't get anywhere else. Plucking a gem out of the air in Philharmagic...Being "That Guy" in the laugh floor. Playing the game at the end of mission space for hours on end. Watching her run down Main Street at 11 years old, to be the first at a fast pass machine(wont see that again)
Our first Dole Whip together. The thrill we get just passing under the sign as we drive in from the airport(she'll be driving this year!!)
Taking her picture on the toy horse as you enter HS every year. Too many to count really. But the best of it is the time we spend together. Im taking her this time with no expectation of anything but doing what we can do, and i'll be happy with that, because it is precious time I get to spend with her. For me, that's what its all about. Ill deal with the food, and the FP+ baloney, and the increasing prices, because time stands still there, its magical, and has been since that first time I walked through the train station in 1975.
So go to Six Flags, or Universal, and complain all you want. I'm going back, and I wont stop

Magic.

I went with my Father too on this trip. It was his first time and I agree memories are priceless.

 

[norybell]

My trip in May will be my 20th give or take.
Ive waited in long lines, learned to deal with FP- (became an expert in beating the system) dealt with time window enforcement last year, with kids, without kids, onsite, off site, with car, without car.
Im 52 now, and will be taking my daughter on our last Daddy Daughter Disney trip in May, before she's off to college in August.. Ive taken her every year since she was 5, just the two of us.
Its been special time. Is Disney the same as it was when we started?
Nope.but that's not to say its better or worse.
Let's all slow down and take into account what I would hope is the reason we all go in the first place.
Ive made memories with her that I wouldn't get anywhere else. Plucking a gem out of the air in Philharmagic...Being "That Guy" in the laugh floor. Playing the game at the end of mission space for hours on end. Watching her run down Main Street at 11 years old, to be the first at a fast pass machine(wont see that again)
Our first Dole Whip together. The thrill we get just passing under the sign as we drive in from the airport(she'll be driving this year!!)
Taking her picture on the toy horse as you enter HS every year. Too many to count really. But the best of it is the time we spend together. Im taking her this time with no expectation of anything but doing what we can do, and i'll be happy with that, because it is precious time I get to spend with her. For me, that's what its all about. Ill deal with the food, and the FP+ baloney, and the increasing prices, because time stands still there, its magical, and has been since that first time I walked through the train station in 1975.
So go to Six Flags, or Universal, and complain all you want. I'm going back, and I wont stop

This is so beautiful, it made me cry!

 

[Amanda999]

...
ANd everything is dependent on your experience, anyway. I can walk through MK and see beauty and cleanliness and joy. What I don't know is that 2 minutes before I got anywhere along my walk there was a CM right in front of me, cleaning it. And 5 minutes before they got there, it was all a mess with wrappers everywhere and someone having been sick next to a garbage can. And there was someone between the people messing it up and the CM cleaning it up, who had a totally different experience than I'm about to.

Hope that makes sense. We never know what happened before or after us, and we can have a totally different experience than someone just minutes before or after us in any given place and time.

I think bumbershoot makes a great point.

My somewhat similar story: TSM broke down while we were on it; it's one DS's favorite ride. After a long wait sitting still, they turned on all the lights and everyone had to walk out of their 'ride vehicles' and to an exit. (Turns out the power went out in a large section of HS.)

DS (both DSs) thought it was the best experience of the entire trip! It was such a rare thing, to see how TSM looks with the lights on - they could see the engineering/ropes/parts/behind the magic/whatever. And, they just felt special, I guess, being trusted to walk carefully in order and not touch anything.

So many around us were complaining, but I noticed that most families with small kids were like ours: happy! (FWIW, we all got untimed FP (FP- then) for use any time that day.)

 

[k5thbeatle]

LOl. Not sure if I would call 3 years a long time Disney visitor or a lot of time to do a comparison.

But here are my thoughts.

first, I find that any complaint on the dis board garners the claws to come out. I don't think we are very objective. I always tell first timers, this is a great site for information, it's not the best site for objective reviews as any negative review will get flamed. Why would some one give their honest opinion? just like the posters above, one of the first things we're told is we're "nitpicking". Huh??

Now sorry I've been going the last 20 years and the world has definitely changed. some good, some not so much.

1) IMO the food has most definitely declined. call it due to the ddp or just way more mouths to feed or the fact most people aren't that demanding but I think most long time visitors feel the food quality has gone down hill.

2) Everybody has different ideas about what is important to them. It's not nitpicking, it's called people value different things.

For example. when they outsourced valet parking it went downhill. Now for you guys valet parking is probably not important but for my family it is extremely important because we use to travel with a mobility impaired grandparent. I can't tell you how many times people will tell me, I complain about nothing because of the lousy valet service. for you it's not nothing, for my family it is an issue.

3) down hill doesn't mean we hate it.

Generally we do have a great time and I do agree that part of it is because I use to be an annual visit. what happens we you go there so often, you tend to notice the dirty rugs in the hallways. (yuckie) and the paint peeling.

4) Complete trip reports.

Now another phenomenon I noticed on the dis is when you mention a "negative" people swear you are complaining I know when I write trip reports I tend to give the good, the bad and the ugly. Does not equate to complaining. For example, I once wrote about how I found cigarette butts on my balcony and every day I spoke with the front desk about it but the message never got to mouse keeping. No my trip was not ruined, yes I had a good time but if I'm writing a trip report I will say that mousekeeping was laxed. Which I've come to realize breaks some sort of commandment. "thou shall never disparage the mouse world" So yes, even if some thing goes wrong, like you I handle it immediately but if I'm writing a trip report should I never mention it? no, like I said I give the good, the bad and the ugly.

I still enjoy my vacations but they have changed. We no longer go every year and rarely do we eat on site. Meals are super important to us so we'd rather go offsite. Once we use to go yearly for 8-9 days. Now 5 days is enough

But back to the original topic.

Op, glad you had a great time. Even if I don't think it's as magical as when I first started to go, I do think it's a special place and I'm always happy when folks have a good time.

This. (and I've been going since it opened)

 

[DVCFan1994]

My trip in May will be my 20th give or take. Ive waited in long lines, learned to deal with FP- (became an expert in beating the system) dealt with time window enforcement last year, with kids, without kids, onsite, off site, with car, without car. Im 52 now, and will be taking my daughter on our last Daddy Daughter Disney trip in May, before she's off to college in August.. Ive taken her every year since she was 5, just the two of us. Its been special time. Is Disney the same as it was when we started? Nope.but that's not to say its better or worse. Let's all slow down and take into account what I would hope is the reason we all go in the first place. Ive made memories with her that I wouldn't get anywhere else. Plucking a gem out of the air in Philharmagic...Being "That Guy" in the laugh floor. Playing the game at the end of mission space for hours on end. Watching her run down Main Street at 11 years old, to be the first at a fast pass machine(wont see that again) Our first Dole Whip together. The thrill we get just passing under the sign as we drive in from the airport(she'll be driving this year!!) Taking her picture on the toy horse as you enter HS every year. Too many to count really. But the best of it is the time we spend together. Im taking her this time with no expectation of anything but doing what we can do, and i'll be happy with that, because it is precious time I get to spend with her. For me, that's what its all about. Ill deal with the food, and the FP+ baloney, and the increasing prices, because time stands still there, its magical, and has been since that first time I walked through the train station in 1975. So go to Six Flags, or Universal, and complain all you want. I'm going back, and I wont stop

IMO perfectly said!

 

[vicb]

WDW is a happy tradition in my immediate family. All our trips have been different, some effected by weather, post- 9/11, crowds, illness etc... All have their own special memories. Even the bad things like a crappy meal at Tony's or the time my 3 yo DS went to the wishing well and wished he was back home have become a WDW memory we now laugh about. Even the trip we had to be there during Easter week (which I swore I would never do) to watch DS march with his band in MK turned out great. We went with very low expectations that week and were surprised. Surprised at how friendly CM's were and even the guests we had to wait in long lines with. Maybe you get more out of a trip if you go in NOT expecting it to be perfect and magical every moment.

I have an upcoming trip with my 22 yo DD, 18 yo DS, DH and myself. We told DD to celebrate her college graduation we would take a 4-5 day family trip, destination her choice in continental US. We thought she would pick NYC or somewhere she has never been but she picked WDW because "it reminds me of my happy childhood" So no stress over FP+ or if SDMC opening or not is going to beable to spoil this trip for us!

 

[johde]

My trip in May will be my 20th give or take.
Ive waited in long lines, learned to deal with FP- (became an expert in beating the system) dealt with time window enforcement last year, with kids, without kids, onsite, off site, with car, without car.
Im 52 now, and will be taking my daughter on our last Daddy Daughter Disney trip in May, before she's off to college in August.. Ive taken her every year since she was 5, just the two of us.
Its been special time. Is Disney the same as it was when we started?
Nope.but that's not to say its better or worse.
Let's all slow down and take into account what I would hope is the reason we all go in the first place.
Ive made memories with her that I wouldn't get anywhere else. Plucking a gem out of the air in Philharmagic...Being "That Guy" in the laugh floor. Playing the game at the end of mission space for hours on end. Watching her run down Main Street at 11 years old, to be the first at a fast pass machine(wont see that again)
Our first Dole Whip together. The thrill we get just passing under the sign as we drive in from the airport(she'll be driving this year!!)
Taking her picture on the toy horse as you enter HS every year. Too many to count really. But the best of it is the time we spend together. Im taking her this time with no expectation of anything but doing what we can do, and i'll be happy with that, because it is precious time I get to spend with her. For me, that's what its all about. Ill deal with the food, and the FP+ baloney, and the increasing prices, because time stands still there, its magical, and has been since that first time I walked through the train station in 1975.
So go to Six Flags, or Universal, and complain all you want. I'm going back, and I wont stop

I would add to that that several people seem to be myopic about there previous trips to WDW and only remember the good things. We normal traveled during the off season and I remember several years when Spectromagic would to be once a week if at all during in off season. Times when during the week the MK would be open from 9:00 to 5:00. As late as 2009, Fantasmic was shown only 8 nights in September. I remember the opening of TT being delayed for 2 YEARS while they worked out technical issues.

I remember the days before FP waiting hours for Splash Mountain and before that waiting in long lines for Country Bear Jamboree.

Compared to the past, Disney has longer hours now, is showing the nighttime show more frequently than in some previous years.

 

[TLSnell1981]

We've been visiting, since 1980 and there have been too many changes, that make us unhappy. Disney definitely isn't, what it once was...

 

[linskypens]

Thanks everybody for quoting my post. Im glad I touched some people with it.
Wanted to add, dont get me wrong, Ive had some HORRIBLE experiences there!
I'll never go Christmas week again , thats for sure! I rent a car every year for a reason, Ive had some horrible bus rides. They dont play my favorite cartoon reel in ASMo rooms anymore, which we found incredibly sad.
They took the popcorn lights out of the roms in ASMo when they refurbed, which was my daughters favorite thing(fortunately I scored one on ebay so it hangs above her bed in her room) Ive had rude CM's, horrible meals, been stuck on attractions( a 45 minute adventure in mission space comes to mind). I've waited in lines that were prepostrous. I despise The Main Street Electrical Parade, I'd give anything to get Spectro back. They destroyed Alien Encounter and put in Stitch. The Wonders of Life pavillion sits empty. You could go on and on.
Yet in the end, thats not what I take away with me.
I take away the CM working in the gift shop next to Snow White's Scary Adventure, whom after I told her I was looking for a place to buy some plastic gems, because the one I usually pull out of the air in Philharmagic had fallen out of my pocket, said hold on a minute, and went four gift shops away , and came back with a handful. "We dont sell these anymore, but I found some out back"
What do I owe you ?
"Dont be silly sir, have a magical day"

I take away the CM who called me "that guy" for the rest of the day every time we walked past Buzz. Made my daughter very happy

All the CM's who called her princess, gave her free cake on her birthday at counter service. The cast of Hoop DE DOO who always say hi to her every time we go. (not cause they know her, its just what they do.)

I take away the smile she wears from the moment we get there. I also take away the thrill she gets planning now, talking about what we are going to do for six months leading up to the trip. Talking about past trips, where to make FP+,the thrill of scoring a SCi-Fi ADR after trying unsuccesfully 5 times a day for a week.

Im a mushy guy, I know. I dont begrudge anyone their opinion, and Id never say that you arent entitled to your opinion. I read everyone's posts, keep my mouth shut, and try like He** not to flame anyone. I just really really like the place.
I've been told that my daughter is looking forward to having me take her kids when she has them. Gotta say I'm looking forward to that too

 

[csmith041177]

Always happy to read a positive trip report!

 

[tim123]

Sorry but I got to disagree. I have just returned from my 6th trip after last visiting 2011 and for me, it is still great as ever.

I found the parks to be spotless and the cast members to be as helpful and as cheerful as ever.

If something is not good I will be the first person to call it.

I couldn't find fault with Disney on this trip.

After reading all the above content I offer my two cents. Flame away.. For me magic is family and what you bring to your vacation. The 27,000 acres are wonderful if you come with a good attitude which I can't see why one wouldn't. Now that being said where it has gone down hill for me (and I recognize that things in life change and the good ole days are just that)….But, I think they have overbuilt and gotten gready…I think the Grand Floridian looks horrible with the new DVC jamming in your face and smack up against the Poly…I think the Bay Tower looks like an ugly building you could find in any city in the world and dwarfs the beautifully placed and designed though dated Contemporary…I think the Poly new water huts ruin the view and heh you can't even swim in the Lagoon since how long now? and ripping up sunset point…ug…..I think little changes here and there that add to the bottom line but take away from the magic has definitely brought the place downhill..but that has been true for the last 35 years now in corporate culture..its no different at Disneyworld. But that doesn't mean I still don't love the place. $500-700 a night to stay in one of the originals..hummm.

 

[Indio]

We've been going for 20 years and although there have been changes we still love everything about WDW. I'm disgusted by ticket prices but that's the price we have to pay if we want to go. There are restaurants we've eaten at that we didn't like and won't do again, but that doesn't mean Disney is going downhill - just means we didn't like the food at that particular place. We too go for the laughs and the memories. I have 3 boys from 14 to 22 - they all still love it and can't wait to go back. They laugh and play and get along great while at Disney and that just makes me smile. People complain about rides breaking down, BUT getting stuck on ride breakdowns have brought us some pretty cool/funny experiences. Last summer Spaceship Earth broke down and they turned the lights on and we had to walk down from the top. It was great!! Got to see what the building really looks like and it was weird seeing all the animatronics move with no sound. We also got stuck in Small World once - talk about getting a song stuck in your head!

Anyway, we love Disney and I never seem to notice if something is not particularly spotless - lets face it - most of us are not completely spotless at home. Stuff happens and sometimes you're going to see a little mess. Not gonna ruin my trip! CM are real people - sometimes they have bad days - I certainly do too! Not gonna ruin my trip!

 

[PSUGuy]

It all depends on how you measure 'Down Hill'. My whole family loved Pleasure Island, The Adventurer's Club alone was worth a flight from Pa to Fl in my eye so losing that is a down hill step to us. I seem to remember the Main Street parades in the evening in MK being every night or nearly so, same with Fantasmic. If my memory is correct then that's another step down. I recall all the Hopper Plus passes being non-expiring without an exorbitant extra price, no more. I was never one to think that the parks themselves were getting trashy or un-maintained but the things I cited were objectively better in the not so distant past.

Now, we're still Disney-philes, we were there last Oct for 8 days, last month for 5 and I'm about to make ADRs for our 9 day stay this Oct. But by my measure, things important to us have gone down hill.

Bill From PA

 

[tim123]

It all depends on how you measure 'Down Hill'. My whole family loved Pleasure Island, The Adventurer's Club alone was worth a flight from Pa to Fl in my eye so losing that is a down hill step to us. I seem to remember the Main Street parades in the evening in MK being every night or nearly so, same with Fantasmic. If my memory is correct then that's another step down. I recall all the Hopper Plus passes being non-expiring without an exorbitant extra price, no more. I was never one to think that the parks themselves were getting trashy or un-maintained but the things I cited were objectively better in the not so distant past.

Now, we're still Disney-philes, we were there last Oct for 8 days, last month for 5 and I'm about to make ADRs for our 9 day stay this Oct. But by my measure, things important to us have gone down hill.


Bill From PA

agreed. its called greed. and it is pervasive in todays corporate culture including and it seems more and more at WDW.. but we look the other way or we are used to this climate or we are too young to remember when things were not this way..or we turn a blind eye because we love the product OR we have so much $$$$ that we pay for special treatment!

 

[morethananyonex]

I don't get why it's so hard for some people to accept that people experience things differently.

Some people might have really truly had something crappy happen to them at WDW that you (general you) didn't. That doesn't mean you just have a better outlook than they do, it means nobody's experience is the exact same as someone else's.

I had a good trip last trip. That doesn't mean someone who went at the same time as me couldn't have possibly experienced something that made their trip less than awesome. As great as Disney is, it is not immune from being a less than perfect place sometimes. Some people are unlucky and experience that. I don't know why people have to be so condescending about that. A person's attitude only determines so much.