Grand Floridian shouldn’t allow non hotel guests

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Will I sell my gfv contract at end of 2025, probably. Could something change my mind between now and end of 2025. Perhaps.

I knew this would come out eventually it almost always is the case. Now I'm not trying to convince you to sell or not sell that's all your business just to say it's all to easy to say one will and to list off the reasons and it's another thing to actually firmly sell, get rid of it and for the exact reasons publicly stated.

But I do want Disney to do better. Stop taking away and just do better

I think that might be the only thing collectively most of the thread agrees on.

 

[nuhusky123]

That is not an attack. It is pointing out that there are complaints about all kinds of things related to WDW all the time. Everything from paid fastpasses to ADR cancellation fees to coloring parking to deluxe Extra Hours. Constant complaints. And yet, WDW is busier than ever. There are plenty of people spend lots of money. A single guest who decides they’ve had enough is hardly even noticed.

Have a reread of your posts

 

[nuhusky123]

I knew this would come out eventually it almost always is the case. Now I'm not trying to convince you to sell or not sell that's all your business just to say it's all to easy to say one will and to list off the reasons and it's another thing to actually firmly sell, get rid of it and for the exact reasons publicly stated.


I think that might be the only thing collectively most of the thread agrees on.

Well until I put up the contract it’s not a done deal. I’d sell now but I have a trip planned in sept to go to epic universe.

Take that wdw, spending my money at universal

Post sept im good to sell

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That is not an attack. It is pointing out that there are complaints about all kinds of things related to WDW all the time. Everything from paid fastpasses to ADR cancellation fees to coloring parking to deluxe Extra Hours. Constant complaints. And yet, WDW is busier than ever. There are plenty of people spend lots of money. A single guest who decides they’ve had enough is hardly even noticed.

I wish I could find the stroller thread when Disney updated their size and to technically ban stroller wagons (outside of medical usages). If any posters actually stopped going it sure didn't seem like their lack of presence made any different to Disney's crowds or bottom line.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Well until I put up the contract it’s not a done deal. I’d sell now but I have a trip planned in sept to go to epic universe.

Take that wdw, spending my money at universal

Post sept im good to sell

haha you knew what I was getting at, I'm 100% certain on that one. But please do post back when you sell, show us the pics from the party you gotta have that's going to be a load off when you get rid of that stressor I can only imagine (completely sincere there)...to the "it's not a done deal"..yes my exact point

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

That is not an attack. It is pointing out that there are complaints about all kinds of things related to WDW all the time. Everything from paid fastpasses to ADR cancellation fees to coloring parking to deluxe Extra Hours. Constant complaints. And yet, WDW is busier than ever. There are plenty of people spend lots of money. A single guest who decides they’ve had enough is hardly even noticed.

Yes, but this thread should show it’s not just a single guest. It’s clear that for some, more than even the OP thought, the experience at those really expensive resorts has diminished, and even for those of us defending the openness of the resorts and amenities. That does have effect and we should talk about it and how it could be corrected. WDW is busier in some ways yes, but guest numbers aren’t what they were pre-pandemic, that’s just fact. What are they doing to make it better? Well that’s why we have these conversations.

 

[nuhusky123]

haha you knew what I was getting at, I'm 100% certain on that one. But please do post back when you sell, show us the pics from the party you gotta have...to the "it's not a done deal"..yes my exact point

I will 100% admit to either selling or keeping

 

[Chuck S]

Lol, no thanks. I had family that did stay there and tried to take the monorail to the Poly for dinner and it took them over an hour because the monorail wait was so long. I avoid both of these resorts like the plague!

Even on a slow day, the resort monorail will take longer than one thinks it will. Clearances to stations, safety checks, brake tests all factor in. It isn't a very speedy form of transportation. But it is still very cool IMO.

 

[nuhusky123]

Yes, but this thread should show it’s not just a single guest. It’s clear that for some, more than even the OP thought, the experience at those really expensive resorts has diminished, and even for those of us defending the openness of the resorts and amenities. That does have effect and we should talk about it and how it could be corrected. WDW is busier in some ways yes, but guest numbers aren’t what they were pre-pandemic, that’s just fact. What are they doing to make it better? Well that’s why we have these conversations.

Us at dvc have an advantage. We can get away from the main building. Imagine the poor hotel paid guest who spent $5000 to deal with the mess and be that guy screaming in the monorail line

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I will 100% admit to either selling or keeping

no no you said you were going to sell, then said probably, then said perhaps something could change your mind between now and 2025. Make up your mind OP Sorry I am lightly poking here not to offend just to point out it's basically the same thing I hear all the time "I'm not going back to Disney" followed shortly there after with "welp got another trip planned". I know it's hard to vote with the wallet but there are a lot of things I won't do based on principle just how it is. This issue seems to be so bad for you that you're willing to use it as a reason you'd sell your DVC contract, if I was at that point no pull could get me to change my mind, at least not after the claims have been made that it was one of the reasons if not a main reason I would be selling.

 

[RMDVC24]

Well until I put up the contract it’s not a done deal. I’d sell now but I have a trip planned in sept to go to epic universe.

Take that wdw, spending my money at universal

Post sept im good to sell

Out of curiosity what’s your use year? I’m looking for more VGF points. Maybe we can make a deal . I kid I kid

 

[Genie+]

Lol, no thanks. I had family that did stay there and tried to take the monorail to the Poly for dinner and it took them over an hour because the monorail wait was so long. I avoid both of these resorts like the plague!

I found Poly much easier in this regard but with only a few trips under my belt at either starting 2020, though they were all Nov-Jan.

The 2 big differences I think -

Poly is less reliant on resort monorail. It’s not a bad walk over to EP Monorail, unlike GF having to deal with a long walk, long boat line plus medium walk, or uber, etc. I actually had a big debate with DH about this a few months back, his stance being the difference was negligible (he drives or ECVs everywhere so I think he didn’t get the same experience the rest of did lol). Then there’s to/from MK. From GF the options are 15+ minute walk, or resort boat/monorail that get very backed up when the holiday crowds are peaking for hours, or weeeee you can uber to TTC lol. At least from Poly we found Ferry and Express monorail as good alternative during times the holiday crowds were peaking.

Poly also isn’t the center of holiday attention. It gets a high amount of regular traffic too, but it doesn’t have an extra level added the way GF does. WL has a combo of holiday visitors and regular traffic like GF but doesn’t seem to suffer anywhere near as badly either.

 

[nuhusky123]

no no you said you were going to sell, then said probably, then said perhaps something could change your mind between now and 2025. Make up your mind OP Sorry I am lightly poking here not to offend just to point out it's basically the same thing I hear all the time "I'm not going back to Disney" followed shortly there after with "welp got another trip planned". I know it's hard to vote with the wallet but there are a lot of things I won't do based on principle just how it is. This issue seems to be so bad for you that you're willing to use it as a reason you'd sell your DVC contract, if I was at that point no pull could get me to change my mind, at least not after the claims have been made that it was one of the reasons if not a main reason I would be selling.

No offense taken

But I did say I will sell end of 25

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No offense taken

But I did say I will sell end of 25

unless something changes your mind




something probably will

 

[Genie+]

That is not an attack. It is pointing out that there are complaints about all kinds of things related to WDW all the time. Everything from paid fastpasses to ADR cancellation fees to closing parking to deluxe Extra Hours. Constant complaints. And yet, WDW is busier than ever. There are plenty of people spending lots of money. A single guest who decides they’ve had enough is hardly even noticed.

That is the major part, maybe just not the whole story going in to 2025.

WDW had a few peak demand years there where the big money rolled in no matter how good or bad some decisions were. When I look at the plethora of changes happening across LL, DAS, DVC, JN, dining, park offerings, the conclusion I get is they’ve finally become more concerned again about guest spending commensurate with experience.

LL now has 3 pre-books, 3 rolling and the ability not to wake 7am every time

DAS impact has been curtailed

JN extended 1 hr, HS gap extended to clear day guests, shows/characters/fireworks added

DVC added MM Beyond program geared toward level of guest engagement

Dining has become easier to manage with other upsells since 2 hour cancellation policy

Park tickets more expensive but lines have become more manageable and live entertainment continues to increase

Across the board they seemed more concerned about guest experience than during the revenge travel period, where I honestly think they did not seem to care if extra spending resulted in a worse experience lol. They just didn’t need to care as much. Epic Uni is around the corner. Travel patterns continue changing. I think they are newly focused on not taking their park popularity for granted with uncertainty looming for 2025 and beyond. Sure they are not going anywhere but Disney also can’t afford risking the parks taking too much of a dive in revenue either. People have spent more than ever per capita in recent years. No guarantee that continues though. Closing off some of the common pitfalls and making sure guests see value improve in relation to spending looks to be gaining importance - at least going by the differences 2022/23 vs 2024.

 

[focusondisney]

Sorry I am lightly poking here not to offend just to point out it's basically the same thing I hear all the time "I'm not going back to Disney" followed shortly there after with "welp got another trip planned".

Just saw this same thing recently with the Cake Bake thread. Some posters were absolutely against a cake shop & were never going to go there no matter what for various reasons… didn’t fit the Boardwalk theme, a shop for cake unnecessary because there’s already a bakery at BW, way too expensive etc. Until the place opened & reviews started coming in. So now, yes, they’re going to try it at least once. Human nature.

 

[MsChristy12]

Looking at their economy, know that Japanese income is on average lower than the US and knowing the statistics on Japanese discretionary income? Prior to this past quarter, Japan's GDP has been contracting. https://apnews.com/article/japan-ec...on-inflation-f3c5a6f250f34f0630f77628185f4543
Japanese capital expenditure is significantly less than the US: https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/JPN/japan/consumer-spending

etc etc

But--and I mean this without any sarcasm--I appreciate anyone who questions statements from internet strangers! Absolutely valid to want actual confirmation that I'm not just pulling things out of my butt seriously, critical think is a great thing.

It is true that their average income is lower than the US, but they don't need to pay for multiple cars and insurance like most of us here. Food, home maintenance and medical costs are also lower in general, so when you put all of that together, their disposable income could be higher than some of us in the US. To say they don't have as much money to throw around, I simply can't agree and I would say that's actually an insult to the Japanese culture.

 

[Genie+]

Disney should make a new category of resort … a Disney Deluxe Deluxe resort if you will

I think we have that with Poly Tower 2BR Penthouse

 

[Lumpy1106]

Clearly you haven’t read the GCH thread here lol.

I do think having to go through security to get in and out from DTD has cut down on the loitering vs pre-pandemic?

Is this a case of, "if you don't see a problem with the loitering, you are the one doing it"?

 

[proudmomof4]

So, I've seen quite a few comments that things in the lobby and the transportation at the GF are MUCH worse this year than years before. And maybe I've missed it, but did anyone mention that this year is the 25th year of the GBH and Disney has released special commemorative items (I know there are pins, not sure about other items)?

People go nuts for anything celebrating an anniversary or labeled "special edition".

Maybe next year things will be different since it will be the 26th year of the GBH.