I think I am finally sick of Disney...

[lugnut33]

Sold our two contracts over the last two weeks and I'm glad I did. Don't regret buying DVC at all and we had great vacations, but I really dislike what's happening in the parks between the crowds, price increases, cut backs, and FP+. I have seen a real devaluation in our vacation dollars because of what I already mentioned.

Here's the really cool thing though, I can still visit WDW when I want to. I just won't be staying in a nice resort. We bought AP's back in August, and I need to get some more use out of them so I'll probably go in May for a Star Wars weekend.

 

[Jonell]

I have to agree we are also getting sick of the parks. We have had at least 1 sometimes 2 upcoming trips since 2007, but right now I have none scheduled and I really don't care. IMO the parks have become way overcrowded and I miss the slow times when we could just walk on rides and not be tied down to FP. Also, entertainment has been cut back drastically. I miss running into PUSH in tomorrowland or visiting our friend, Brian the Magician on the Boardwalk. These are some of the small things that made WDW magical for us that are no longer there.

 

[DeeCee735]

Okay, sooo....I'm not sick of Disney! I'm sorry that all of you feel this way. I agree that the park ticket prices are getting nuts, that the food prices are high (we paid higher on our Aruba vacation), and the crowds can be a drag. Yes I miss the well priced AP's with the discounts and don't like the AP changes.

That being said, we didn't buy this timeshare for only those things. Yes, it's nice to go into a park and ride some rides, and it's nice to eat at a good table service restaurant, but like any timeshare in the world, we bought where we want to go the most.

Things changed, yeah they definitely did, and not for the best - park wise. So...maybe next time we rent a car and go to Universal and fight the crowds for Diagon Alley. I'm not renewing my AP anymore, so that solves that problem, and will actually pay much less for tickets per year, because we'll probably just go with one or two day park tickets for a couple of trips and no park tickets for other trips. Doing the parks less makes sense after being there 37 times anyway, and saving the park touring for trips with our adult kids and hopefully one day in the future, our grandkids works for us.

We started trading out and LOVE this option. We've been to Charleston when the Charleston Place was in the Concierge Collection and we've gone to Sedona AZ/Grand Canyon and recently Aruba. We are looking forward to our adult children using DVC for trips to Florida as well. And we are looking forward to our own continuing trips as well as the option to trade out. Disney has made themselves "just another timeshare" by forcing park touring options moreso out of the equation and that's fine by us. I love the pools, the spas, the dining, the Boardwalk, the fireworks, the DTD area and trying all the DVC resorts, each making a different vacation. I love being in the Central Florida area for many of our vacations, and being in the World is even better.

The one thing about being DVC is that we never went off property. Now, we can start to spread out our vacation dollars in other area attractions and still have an awesome home away from home to go to every night. I'm okay with Disney making changes I can't keep up with, it just makes us change direction a little bit, but it doesn't make us love our home resorts any less by any means.

Animal Kingdom Villas...that IS a vacation in and of itself. And the Boardwalk is an awesome location for parks, no parks, dining, drinking and hanging out. We still love it, we still feel the magic and we're still going strong after almost 16 years!

I have a trip in December with my cousins, who have come to love going there once a year with me, and one in February with my DH. My kids want to go to Aulani in a year or two, and we are hoping to trade out with more than one place on the radar.

It gives us vacations we'd never have planned without owning. It was, for many years, the only place we wanted to go, and then as time went on we decided to try trading out a bit and love this option. I should also mention we've cruised on points and are looking forward to the conceirge collection, Disney Paris, Disneyland and Hawaii!

Nope, we're still good! And selling yikes! that's not even on the radar!

JOHO

 

[granmanh603]

Oh yes how could I forget to mention Brian, I miss him a ton. I would go down almost every night to watch him on the Boardwalk. He always made me laugh no matter how many times I saw the same act. He always made it a little different. Also miss the music Off Kilter and Morocin and the other street acts. Very sad place now. It's lost its magic over there. Also got a wurst over in Germany, they raised the price of that too up to .9.99 from I think 7.49 and added these awful hard seasoned chips, oh and the roll was stale.

 

[dclpluto]

Go to aulani very very nice. Go on a Disney cruise go to Disneyland. Lots more to dvc than wdw.

 

[kniquy]

I think the frequency in which people go to Disney will lessen the magic that you feel. I can see how multiple trips per year would just become the same ole thing and creates a frustration in how expensive everything is. We just bought our first contract which will allow us to go every 2-3 years. Being one of the most expensive vacations that we take we need time in between to save up for all the food and park tickets. We want to have some time in between to miss being there and will still allow us to take different vacations in between. We have also thought that the orlando area does have a lot to offer so we might stay at Disney while exploring the other attractions. Maybe try out the other non-WDW resorts to get a break from the park thing.

 

[andiraye]

We went every few years when I was a kid into my early 20's, then I skipped a long period of time. Finally went back this year and last with my own family. I loved every second of both trips. But I do think we will be taking a few year break. I want to give WDW the time to put some new things in. I think I would feel this way even if they weren't rolling out Avatar, Star Wars and Toy Story, but those things certainly help.

For me and my husband, we just don't find doing the same thing over and over again to be as enjoyable as trying new things. It's not a criticism of WDW, just more our personal preference.

I think if we were within easy driving distance (anywhere in the south) I might feel differently. But flights for a family of four tip the cost of the trip into a big deal.

 

[andiraye]

I think the frequency in which people go to Disney will lessen the magic that you feel. I can see how multiple trips per year would just become the same ole thing and creates a frustration in how expensive everything is. We just bought our first contract which will allow us to go every 2-3 years. Being one of the most expensive vacations that we take we need time in between to save up for all the food and park tickets. We want to have some time in between to miss being there and will still allow us to take different vacations in between. We have also thought that the orlando area does have a lot to offer so we might stay at Disney while exploring the other attractions. Maybe try out the other non-WDW resorts to get a break from the park thing.

I completely agree with everything you said. I've also learned about all the family activities Orlando has grown to have over the decades, and there is so much competition among hotels that there are some really good deals to be had. I never thought I'd say this after thinking of myself as a "Disney" person since my first trip to DL at age 2, but I would consider an Orlando area trip that doesn't involve WDW! Again, not a criticism of WDW, more a statement of what Orlando as a whole has become as a family vacation destination.

 

[JimmyV]

I agree that if a person goes to the same place, three times a year, every year, for 15 straight years, it is going to get stale. I also agree that the business model that Disney has adopted recently stinks. Too many expensive, hard ticket special events that suck out the fun from the average guest. And for the privilege of paying $70+, you get a sideways view of whatever it is that you are supposed to be enjoying, along with a mass-produced dessert. Whoopie!! That said, I think the real culprit here has been the glacial pace of change and progress at the parks. Lots of people who post here say things like: "I have been going every year since 1997", or "...since 2003", or "...for the last 15 years." Think about how little was added to WDW in that timeframe as compared to the years between 1980 and 1995. Epcot opened in '82. DHS in '89 and AK in '98. Typhoon Lagoon opened in '89 and Blizzard Beach opened in '95. Pleasure Island opened in '89. So....if you were one of the people who said "I have been going to WDW for the past 15 years", and you made the statement in 1998, look at what you would have witnessed. Epcot had just opened, and every other park and water park would have opened during that stretch. Now, when you say "I have been going for the past 15 years", what do you have to show for it. A few new rides and an FL expansion. Of course it is going to get stale. But I suspect that the next 15 years might be a bit more dynamic than the last 15 years, so we have that to look forward to. By 2050, I suspect that people are going to refer to the time period between 9/11 and today as "Disney World's Dark Period". It does not surprise me that morale toward WDW is at an all time low. Construction walls are coming, so we have something to look forward to with all this building and re-imagining. I just hope I live to see it through!

 

[Shonte Durrett]

IMHO....it is what you make of the experience. Of course longer lines and increased food prices can bring down the overall enjoyment BUT think about what brought you to Disney in the first place. It's time away from the normal grind and you don't have to face reality until you go back home.....very sad...home! Yeah, you can get that anywhere but you chose Disney for many times and many years. Just like the PP said maybe you're burned out on Disney and anything new will seem "better". For me and the wife, we're going to keep on returning because we feel the magic!! Three FPs are enough in a day and we will wait in line for a ride that could not be FP and if we can add another, more power to us! I hope the desire for Disney doesn't burn out but just calms down for a short period so you can return with the excitement you have enjoyed over the course of many years.

I wish I could like this post ^^^^^ multiple times! lol


As I read everyone's posts, I was getting discouraged. I'm trying to book for 2016 and haven't been there in 5 years. Nervous but then I read your post and thought, you know what? My DH and 2 kids have NEVER been to WDW, me & my other 2 kids have but it's been years. The magic will be there because they haven't witnessed Disney at it's fullest experience (if it is indeed declining they won't know the difference). My fear is my husband wont be in absolute aww because he's not a die hard Disney fan, like me and my 2 oldest.

We are just excited to have a vacation. One that is JUST US, we are expecting stupid long lines and expensive food because that is EVERY theme park in the world. The magic will come when we see our kids faces light up and see our 2 year old jump up and down with the excitement when she sees her Disney Junior characters. - We went to Vegas this past Summer and she saw a dirty nasty looking Elsa in front of the M&M store and didn't want to leave Elsa! hahaha It was a great experience to see her heart swell with joy over that! So my DH and I will feel the wonderful magic as we look at our kids! After all that's what it is about for us, seeing the older girls just be kids again, my DH and I just enjoying our family, and the toddler witnessing the amazing things before her eyes of everything that's so magical to her. - That's magic..

I buy thin toilet paper all the time because I'm poor! LOL... .haha Hot dogs have become an expensive meal to me. ha

Though I did enjoy the massive amounts of food & cheaper packages, I think we will give it a shot and hold on to the little things (like children smiling) that make it magical for us.

 

[McCrae]

I wish I could like this post ^^^^^ multiple times! lol


As I read everyone's posts, I was getting discouraged. I'm trying to book for 2016 and haven't been there in 5 years. Nervous but then I read your post and thought, you know what? My DH and 2 kids have NEVER been to WDW, me & my other 2 kids have but it's been years. The magic will be there because they haven't witnessed Disney at it's fullest experience (if it is indeed declining they won't know the difference). My fear is my husband wont be in absolute aww because he's not a die hard Disney fan, like me and my 2 oldest.

We are just excited to have a vacation. One that is JUST US, we are expecting stupid long lines and expensive food because that is EVERY theme park in the world. The magic will come when we see our kids faces light up and see our 2 year old jump up and down with the excitement when she sees her Disney Junior characters. - We went to Vegas this past Summer and she saw a dirty nasty looking Elsa in front of the M&M store and didn't want to leave Elsa! hahaha It was a great experience to see her heart swell with joy over that! So my DH and I will feel the wonderful magic as we look at our kids! After all that's what it is about for us, seeing the older girls just be kids again, my DH and I just enjoying our family, and the toddler witnessing the amazing things before her eyes of everything that's so magical to her. - That's magic..

I buy thin toilet paper all the time because I'm poor! LOL... .haha Hot dogs have become an expensive meal to me. ha

Though I did enjoy the massive amounts of food & cheaper packages, I think we will give it a shot and hold on to the little things (like children smiling) that make it magical for us.

If you are smart it's easy to avoid long lines. We won't wait more than 20 mins for a ride. Use the FP's well and it's easy. When things get busy head back to the hotel and chill out. Disney is one of the most relaxed vacations I have.

 

[Shonte Durrett]

If you are smart it's easy to avoid long lines. We won't wait more than 20 mins for a ride. Use the FP's well and it's easy. When things get busy head back to the hotel and chill out. Disney is one of the most relaxed vacations I have.

I don't think I'm very good at using FP's. lol... I tried when they first came out and didn't do that well. haha I need to get practice runs in my head before we go. I'm sure it's not hard just not sure how to organize. Maybe checking out the threads here will help get a game plan down.

 

[granmanh603]

Ok even if you get 3 FP in the AM you have to use those 3 FP before you are aloud to get 1 more and then all that is left is things you can ride mostly with no line anyway????? I tried last week a slow week to get FP at EPCOT at like 11 AM and not much was left no Sorin or TT and all the others again you could get on without much of a wait anyway. We got a FP for the Living with the land for after lunch say 2 and we on the fast pass line waited longer than the stand by line??????

 

[AdamsMum]

Ok even if you get 3 FP in the AM you have to use those 3 FP before you are aloud to get 1 more and then all that is left is things you can ride mostly with no line anyway????? I tried last week a slow week to get FP at EPCOT at like 11 AM and not much was left no Sorin or TT and all the others again you could get on without much of a wait anyway. We got a FP for the Living with the land for after lunch say 2 and we on the fast pass line waited longer than the stand by line??????

This is what fastpass plus has done. I always used the fastpass system, but only for the popular rides that I really wanted to ride. Most of the time I used 2 fps maybe only one. Now I have to take 3 and in some of the parks 2 of them are for rides I don't really care about. (1 from this category and 2 from this category) Now fun little rides like journey into your imagination that used to be a walk on have 20-30 minute wait times. I realize this is a strategy by disney to distribute guests throughout their parks, but I feel like I'm being manipulated. The last time I was there, I felt like I was on a schedule. Ended up blowing off most of my fastpasses because I didn't feel like hurrying to get to the other side of the park. Sold one of my small contracts last year, but I think I'll hang on to the others since the cost of selling was high. I intend to go to the food and wine festival next year then, I think I'll take a break until the new lands are built, then reassess how I feel. I do still love disney, I think the people in charge have lost some of their magic though.

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

We too visited the dark side and we had a BLAST!! I was in awe! Park was clean, no shoulder to shoulder, no one yelling to fill in all available spaces, the parade was not crowded, and the character interactions were not rushed!! We too enjoyed it so much we are all headed back in December. The best part was being able to do walk ups at nice restaurants and not be turned away for not booking 180 lol.. The food was fresh, and the service was amazing! Not worrying about booking rides in advance was also a plus. For my family and myself, Disney has turned into a one park vacation.. and we're okay with that!! So goodbye pixie dust, hello diagon alley!!

I agree. The last time I went to Universal I was amazed at the attentiveness, cleanliness, and overall great experience. This last trip we didn't even go to a park because it is just getting to expensive. I didn't renew my AP pass because it was just to expensive. I am not sure how this will all play out but I feel that our vacations are getting spread to thin. Even the cruise lines are getting to expensive. I love Disney and I will continue to visit but I won't be going to as many parks as I used to. Maybe one or two a trip. Also some of those new restaurants at Disney Springs are unnecessarily expensive. IE boathouse with 21 dollar Mahi Mahi or 20 dollar "Award winning burger" I will say I had a great time at the congress park pool. So relaxing. I hope Rick Bayless has cheaper food. Mexican food should only be around 10-15 dollars at Disney maximum.

 

[granmanh603]

As for Mexican food at Disney they just took the burrito that was at tourga tavern for 8.99 and moved it to Pecos Bills for 11.99. So guessing at a sit down restaurant at Disney Springs its gonna be alot more.

 

[tup1830]

Disney set the bar really high. They wrote books on management and making the customer first. They had a institute to teach other companies how to focus on their customers.

While the attractions hooked me to Disney, it was the service that had me coming back.

Now its almost like walking into clueless cast members. I've seen cast members complain out in the open, some just talk rude to guests, and others that can walk by and not care to pick up a bottle tossed to the ground.

Not all cast members are like this...but more are becoming like this. There are those that LOVE their job and it shows, while others loathe it and its only a paycheck. I've seen the most grumpy bus drivers in the world at Disney..those that can't smile or say good morning when you walk onto a bus (after you say good morning to them).

Like the OP i used to go 2-3 times a year and went for over 18 months without a visit...and never missed it once. I guess the honeymoon is breaking up.

I won't stop going forever...because a part of my childhood is there...but i won't be rushing back.

For those that keep saying that Disney doesn't have to care because there is an army of people willing to take my spot...i'm sure i'm not the only one feeling this way and that army may dwindle one day and you only have left those that were burned.

 

[njmeisje]

I'm done with WDW. We just sold our two BCV contracts. They were fun for many years, got my money's worth. But done. We own HHI, which I still love. Used it to get into VGC in May. Love Disneyland and Cali Adventure SO much more. Its the relaxation and joy of what WDW USED to be. We bought Aulani. Now that's vacation! I'm done waiting in line and calling it vacation.

 

[tgropp]

I understand how the OP feels as I share some of the same concerns. We as a family also are "taking a break" from Disney for the foreseeable future. We will rent out points but I feel confident that when we do return that the "Magic" will again reappear for us. For me I think that a change is as good as a rest

 

[Sur]

I'm done with WDW. We just sold our two BCV contracts. They were fun for many years, got my money's worth. But done. We own HHI, which I still love. Used it to get into VGC in May. Love Disneyland and Cali Adventure SO much more. Its the relaxation and joy of what WDW USED to be. We bought Aulani. Now that's vacation! I'm done waiting in line and calling it vacation.

Aulani still uses the antiquated line system for anything worthwhile (subject to interpretation). We won't buy there until I don't have to wait in the early morning hours to sign up for kids club activities.