Has Disney World lost it's magic?

[lustergirl]

I am getting long winded. You have new comers on these boards that post question like "Will I be happy staying at a value resort?" Then people get on here and bash everything about them making these people scared. How would they know what kind of time they would have or would they enjoy themselves? They basically are being told to stay away instead of experiencing and afterwards if they didn't enjoy it then stay somewhere else next time- simple as that. There is so much entitlement issues going on in our great nation- that is the real problem. I work for the federal government, have a great job, own my own home and drive a hummer. Do I feel like I am better thane everyone else- no way!! I feel blessed.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

This was my 18th visit to WDW (So I am a repeat visitor). As far as Disney making possible for more poeple to attend, THAT IS NOT MY PROBLEM. What I'm concerned about is my vacation. I am not spending alot of money to visit and have service reduced so others can benefit. As far as doing research, C'MON this is Disney World not a Tour through Europe.

While I always feel bad when I read of people not having a great vacation at WDW, I can't believe you don't think it is necessary to do a little research before planning your trip. I say this because I have gone to WDW many times since it opened, and I always do some research before planning my next trip to see what things have changed or will be changing. I too remember having to show a resort ID at my resort to ride the monorail, many things have changed at the World over the years. Some for better & some for worse. But I do think if people research before they do their planning, they will have a much better time.

 

[WDWKOOK]

So yes, I believe the ADR junk of sitting by the phone at 7:00am to guarantee eating potstickers 90 days away has ruined the dining experience.

 

[lustergirl]

Most of the food at Disney is middle of the road at best and some worse than that and I've seriously had better steaks at local steakhouses. For me, the dining was more atmosphere but even that is severely declining. So yes, I believe the ADR junk of sitting by the phone at 7:00am to guarantee eating potstickers 90 days away has ruined the dining experience.

I personally question why the heck I even book Disney trips some days. Quest for the rat I guess.

But that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. Some of us enjoy that compulsive planning.

 

[WDWKOOK]

There is so much entitlement issues going on in our great nation- that is the real problem. I work for the federal government, have a great job, own my own home and drive a hummer.

 

[lustergirl]

And what does your post mean? I certainly don't feel entitled to anything. The things that I have in life I have earned. I am a desert storm veteran and have a purple heart for my courageous action in battle. I served our great nation for 12 years in the Army and this why I have a great job. Now if there is something wrong with that I am so confused.

By the way I stay value or moderate when I visit disney world and don't feel that I am owed anything while I am there.

 

[avahoneybee]

I'll have to go back and read the letter, but I don't understand why someone shouldn't be entitled to have a sit down meal at the resort they paid for. I really don't find that too much to ask for $400+ per night. I took their post as they might as well stayed at the $80 per night motel down the road because at least they would have gotten what they paid for (a food court).

I also understand people love to plan and I have no issue with that, but the overplanning and vast information shared here has created some of these problems.

 

[lustergirl]

I'll have to go back and read the letter, but I don't understand why someone shouldn't be entitled to have a sit down meal at the resort they paid for. I really don't find that too much to ask for $400+ per night. I took their post as they might as well stayed at the $80 per night motel down the road because at least they would have gotten what they paid for (a food court).

I also understand people love to plan and I have no issue with that, but the overplanning and vast information shared here has created some of these problems.

You are absolutely right- this is system overload, especially for newcomers.

 

[vacation4me]

I am the first person to jump on board the idea that those staying at Deluxe resorts are entitled to preferred dining reservations, FastPasses, etc. but your letter could have been written in more of a manner of suggestions for future improvements to retain you as a customer rather then the spoiled pretentious manner in which it reads. I have to assume by your tone that the service you received was in response to your sense of entitlement.

Really? Don't they have guided tours and concierge already for those people willing to pay extra for the service? What you are paying for at the Deluxe resorts is a an wonderful theme, location and amenities. That is why they cost so much, it does not give the guest any more "rights" than the average guest to preferential treatment. That is one of the wonderful things about Disney, every guest is treated well no matter where they are staying.

Even in the "real" world you need to make reservations to nice restaurants. To expect that you can get into the restaurant in your hotel without at least trying to call Disney Dining in the morning is just silly. Now I am surprised that Disney no longer tries to work in Walk-ins, but that is probably a response to complaints of people waiting too long on their priority seating made months in advance.

 

[avahoneybee]

Really? Don't they have guided tours and concierge already for those people willing to pay extra for the service? What you are paying for at the Deluxe resorts is a an wonderful theme, location and amenities. That is why they cost so much, it does not give the guest any more "rights" than the average guest to preferential treatment. That is one of the wonderful things about Disney, every guest is treated well no matter where they are staying.

Even in the "real" world you need to make reservations to nice restaurants. To expect that you can get into the restaurant in your hotel without at least trying to call Disney Dining in the morning is just silly. Now I am surprised that Disney no longer tries to work in Walk-ins, but that is probably a response to complaints of people waiting too long on their priority seating made months in advance.

Probably and a perfect example of how the atmosphere of disney dining has declined (ie. listening to non-stop complaints of guests yelling at CM's because they aren't seated within 2 minutes of their adr).

 

[KatMark]

Is this letter for real or a joke?

I was wondering the same thing???

 

[luvthemouse71]

Seeing as by your own admission you had not visited in ten years, I wouldn't call you a repeat customer. I have been 5 times in the last 7 years and yeah, there is a decline in the overall quality. With that decline has also been a reduction in cost. With the Dining Plan, Magic Your Way tickets and Magical Express, a Disney World vacation has become more affordable. With affordability comes reduction in services.

Would I love to see a return to the days before the Dining Plan, OF COURSE! I think the Dining Plan has single handedly ruined one of the best experiences of a Disney vacation, but these changes have made it possible for more people to attend and more often.

Next time, do some research or better yet, stay at the Four Seasons and rent a limo your highness.

LOL..I read that letter and all I could think was "someone never outgrew the princess mentality".

 

[missnanse]

i am so grateful that i never knew about the boards when i first started going to disney because it may have scared me away. There is so much complaint on these boards and it may scare a first time away. Disney is still a wonderful place and truthfully i am amazed to what they accomplish every day. I don't sweat the small stuff and it is still my favorite place in the world. My upcoming trip is a blessing because i have had to cancel a different trip this year because of financial setbacks. My uncle always said "if you have something bad to say, don't say it all." more time is spent in life being skeptical about everything when people should feel blessed that they can even go to disney. People complain so much and that is there right. With all of this complaint you would think that they wouldn't go back to disney but keep going and going, etc.

amen!

 

[KAB1]

Since when does a WDW room have a mini-bar?

If you ever were able to stay at the GF then you would remember that the now empty Fridges used to be Minibars.

 

[KAB1]

I'll have to go back and read the letter, but I don't understand why someone shouldn't be entitled to have a sit down meal at the resort they paid for. I really don't find that too much to ask for $400+ per night. I took their post as they might as well stayed at the $80 per night motel down the road because at least they would have gotten what they paid for (a food court).

I also understand people love to plan and I have no issue with that, but the overplanning and vast information shared here has created some of these problems.

Thank you for understanding my letter. The point that I was trying to get across is that maybe it's just not worth it to stay at the GF or a deluxe resort anymore. I've read numerous posts where people have said that you are paying for better ameneties at the GF, but what are you really getting. In comparison to the GF and the Value resorts:
1) Both have beds and a bathroom
2) Both have pools
3) Both have the same privilages when it comes to dining reservations
4) The GF is located on the monorail (GREAT, but from what I Observed the transportation for the Value resorts seemed Better. There were more busses running and as you read in my letter the wait at night for the monorail was ridiculous. The bus stops going to the other hotels nover seemed full, while poeple staying at disney's three most expensive hotels (GF, Poly and CR) had to wait the longest because disney lets day guests ride now.
5) Restaurants - Value resorts only have food courts and deluxe resorts have restaurants, but without reservations you can't eat there anyway. The only place you can eat is at the snack bar which is basically a food court.
6) Lobby - Yes, the GF is much nicer than the value resorts, however how much time are you really going to sit in the lobby.

My point is, that you pay alot of money to stay at deluxe resorts because of so called Amenities, but I feel that those amenities are no longer there. I think that this post may help poeple (especially first timers) who might want to stay at a deluxe property but are not sure. I just don't feel that it is worth it anymore.

 

[WendyinMaryland]

For me, the dining was more atmosphere but even that is severely declining. So yes, I believe the ADR junk of sitting by the phone at 7:00am to guarantee eating potstickers 90 days away has ruined the dining experience..

I'm with you. To me the best part of the dining experience was always the atmosphere. And, the food was reasonably good for the price.
I have a friend with an AP who lives in Florida. Her family used to go to WDW on a whim whenever they had the time and inclination and have a nice dinner. No more. Now she needs to book dining 90 days in advance. So, she is thinking her AP is no longer worth it.
I also don't get why compulsive planners are so in love with this plan. Before the DDP, I was still able to 'compulsively plan' what parks I would be at and where I would like to eat. I was always able to get what I wanted, and it was actually worth having. Now you have to plan 90 days in advance and it is questionable if it is even 'worth' it.

 

[eliza61]

time away. Disney is still a wonderful place and truthfully I am amazed to what they accomplish every day. I don't sweat the small stuff and it is still my favorite place in the world. My upcoming trip is a blessing because I have had to cancel a different trip this year because of financial setbacks. My uncle always said "If you have something bad to say, don't say it all." More time is spent in life being skeptical about everything when people should feel blessed that they can even go to disney. People complain so much and that is there right. With all of this complaint you would think that they wouldn't go back to disney but keep going and going, etc.

See I'm totally different. When you ask me to spend 3000 dollars or more on a vacation. I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly.
How does it help me if I'm a first timer and all I hear are good reports? I want to know if the bus service from my resort is reportedly slow, I want to know if they are having problems with mousekeeping.

Why do people feel that just because some place is great, it should be absolved from criticism? No one is saying Disney isn't wonderful it is, but doesn't mean they get a free pass on shoddy services.
Why should I feel "Blessed" if I get lousy food that I pay for. Sorry, I work to hard for my little bit of money to accept piss poor food and motel 6 level service at 400 bucks a night. My uncle use to say "you get what you pay for" I pay alot for disney, I expect a lot in return.

 

[kmk1180]

June 29, 2009
Mr. Robert Iger
Mr. James Rasulo
Ms. Meg Crofton
Mr. Al Weiss

RE: Walt Disney World Vacation, June 21 through June 28, 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to voice my complaints after just returning from a seven night stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. I have traveled to Walt Disney World many times as a child staying at the Contemporary, Polynesian and the Grand and have always voted Disney as my favorite vacation. My last trip to Walt Disney World before this previous trip was in August of 1998. After being away from the magic for 10 years I decided to return with my parents, husband and 3 year old daughter. Being that it was my husband’s and daughters 1st trip to Walt Disney world, I had them so excited about what a wonderful place Walt Disney world is. We checked into the Grand on June 21, 2009 and from there my expectations began to go down. Following is a list of complaints that I incurred during my Eight days there.

1) DISNEY DINING PLAN – Extended list of problems with this.
a) I called 90 Days prior to my trip at 7am to book reservations for restaurants and was put on hold for an hour and 45 minutes. I finally was able to talk to someone and found that most of the places I wanted to eat at were already filled up.
b) The second day of our trip we did not book dining reservations because we went to the magic kingdom for the day and were just planning on staying at the Hotel that night knowing we would be tired. We walked over to the grand Floridian Café at 5:30 PM for dinner and were told that they did not take walk-ins. We asked if we could eat at Narcoosee’s, Citrico’s, 1900 park Fare and were told that none of them take walk-ins either. We were forced to eat at Gasparilla Grill which by the way was HORRIBLE.

Do you think the resturant's are for guests that resorts guests only?
If so, please show me where you read this because any one with a clue know they are not.
I mean really you talk like the GF is a gated community for guests only.


c) The last night of my trip was my birthday and we wanted to eat at a signature restaurant (California Grill, Flying Fish, Jiko) and were told that nothing was available and walk-ins were not accepted. We were once again forced to eat at Gasparilla Grill.

WOW, Disney signature resturants were busy!!OMG! So shocking!
The hostess should have thrown out the guests with ADR's that didn't pay $450 for a bed to sleep on as you did.
Then YOU could have a table. Because YOUR money is better than theirs which is clear by you instance to repead YOU paid $450 a night.
(and for the record, walk in are accepted anywhere, you just need to wait, and some times that can be awhile.)
(Or do you feel if you walk into your local Olive Garden on a Friday night, you derserve a table over someone else just because it's YOUR home town and they are from another town?)

**** My issue is this, we are paying $450 a night to stay at Disney’s Flagship Resort and nothing was done to accommodate us.

Really? Because I thought for $450 a night they would give you a BED TO SLEEP ON.
Oh wait they did give you that right? So they did accomodate you what the $450 a night as promised.

I think that Disney needs to revamp their dining plan and give some accommodation to guests willing to shell out a lot of dollars to stay at the deluxe resorts. It is inexcusable that you are a guest at a resort but cannot eat there because you do not have advance reservations. Disney 10 years ago required no advanced planning to eat dinner. If you were a guest at the Grand, than you were able to eat wherever you wanted to at night.

Pretty sure that statement isn't true. I've never known any resort or room you can book and get to EAT WHEREVER YOU WANTED TO AT NIGHT.
Unless you were maybe the Queen of England or something.

Concierge took care of that for you. I could have paid $90 a night at the All Star Resorts and received the exact same treatment.

2) GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT AND SPA – Problems with this.
a) Check in Day – Arrived at the room and opened my mini bar for a bottle of water and found an empty refrigerator. Were told that there are no more mini bars and water can be purchased at Gasparilla or the gift shop. INCONVENIENCE. Room was not turned down that night either.
b) Next day – Room was not cleaned until 6 PM. (This happened another day as well)
c) Lobby – Went at night to have a drink in the lobby and listen to the music, but waitress service is no longer available for drinks. Only at Misner’s.
Yep Disney's fault...they should have checked with you first to find out when YOU were visiting so they knew when to staff it to YOUR plans.

d) Day Bed for my daughter – Was not put back during the day into a couch and was left as a bed all day.
e) Balcony – Could not use for two days because they were washing the buildings.

How Horrible! Disney cleaning their resorts when you are visiting!
This clearly shows the decline in service. They should know better. Only do it when you not book there.

f) Public Restrooms – FILTHY and no real HANDTOWELS (Only Paper)
g) Valet Staff – RUDE and very undisney (My daughter left her donald duck in the car and was told by valet to walk to the car parked halfway acroos the lot and get it)

Might want to check what Valet means, I really don't think it means Personally Assistant to run and get things at your beck and call.
Or maybe the Monorail driver should be able to run back and get your camera if you need it?

h) Gasparilla – Could not sit outside at night and have a Cup of Coffee because it was so crowded with people coming over from the Magic Kingdom to watch the Fireworks.

Darn those people! Don't they know YOU paid $450 a night and that's YOUR table.
Maybe it was a conspiracy and they were the same people taking YOUR tables at Floridian Café, Citrico’s, 1900 park Fare.

**** Overall these were issues that were never encountered when used to stay at this hotel years ago. I find it amazing that every year prices get more expensive, but things are being taken away and service is deteriorating.

In case you hadn't notice.. but DISNEY hotels are open to ANYONE
even DISNEY HOTELS YEARS AGO.

3) TRANSPORTATION
a) Buses – Waited 45 minutes for a bus to downtown Disney and waited 35 minutes for a bus back to the Grand. Watched three buses arrive bringing guests back to the All Stars (Again why are we paying $450 a night)

There's those darn people taking YOUR spot again...so rude to plan their vacation at the same time you are there.

b) Monorail – Waited One hour and 15 Minutes to get a monorail back after the magic Kingdom Fireworks because thousands of day guests were boarding the resort monorail. Obviously they no longer check resort ID’s. Don’t you have to be a resort guest to use Disney Transportation?

Ummm..NO. Never had. Or do you think everyone else should have swam back to their cars?

All in all we had a somewhat decent vacation; however I miss what Walt Disney World was many years ago. I think that the dining plan along with other things is starting to destroy Disney. I find it sad that I can no longer refer to Disney as my favorite vacation destination. I do not know how inclined I will be to visit again in the future.

And if you find some of these comments rude or insulting, sorry.
But they are no more rude then the way you seem to look and treat the rest of us staying at Disney and not paying $450 a night.
Which by the way is just about everyone at the resturants we were inconveniencing you from by eating at, Or riding the monorail when you wanted to.
Or taking a bus and visiting a resort open to the public.

If you feel so entitled by paying for $450 a night, my I suggest next time going to an all enclusive resort where everything is paid for when you rent a bed for the night...
And prefferably one that is CLOSED TO THE PUBIC with armed security guard at the gates and in boats on the beachs to keep anyone else away who didn't paid $450 a night.

 

[lustergirl]

See I'm totally different. When you ask me to spend 3000 dollars or more on a vacation. I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly.
How does it help me if I'm a first timer and all I hear are good reports? I want to know if the bus service from my resort is reportedly slow, I want to know if they are having problems with mousekeeping.

Why do people feel that just because some place is great, it should be absolved from criticism? No one is saying Disney isn't wonderful it is, but doesn't mean they get a free pass on shoddy services.
Why should I feel "Blessed" if I get lousy food that I pay for. Sorry, I work to hard for my little bit of money to accept piss poor food and motel 6 level service at 400 bucks a night. My uncle use to say "you get what you pay for" I pay alot for disney, I expect a lot in return.

Eliza- you are so entitled to your opinion and I value it. It just seems like there is so much criticism on these boards lately. I have always had a beautiful time at disney, no matter where I am staying. I have stayed at the Poly and to me it isn't worth the cost- that is my opinion though. My question is why do people keep going back if they are so dissatisfied then??

 

[Scott MC]