I'm Done!!! Too Many Changes We Don't Like

[Audray]

We've got a trip coming up in a couple of weeks, and are really looking forward to it. FP+, Magic Bands and the new ADR policy weren't on our radar screen when we first started planning, but we've adapted. If these new factors create issues, which may or may not happen, we will roll with it.

We are planners, and enjoy working on trips six months in advance. Once we've decided when we are going, we check the crowd calendar for our days and pick our parks. Then, at the six month window, we book our ADRs. After that we revisit our selections occasionally, as our schedule permits, and try to fine tune our plans subject to availability. We don't see this as stressful at all.

Once we get there, things can and do change, but by being flexible, we've never had a bad trip. There are things that have made each trip special and memorable. Some of those memories started off as bad luck (i.e. injuries, illness, cancelled flights, screwed up reservations).

I've been to a lot of places and done a lot of things, but my best travel moments will always be when I hold my daughters' hands during the opening ceremony at the Magic Kingdom and see the tears well up in my wife's eyes. At that moment, I know with certainty that changes like FP+, ADR policies and Magic Bands won't matter to me one bit.

I'll be there regardless, even if it is from beyond the admission line because my Magic Band isn't working, and if I can't get on my favorite ride because of FP+, and if my ADRs get messed up and I have to eat lunch from a vending machine. Worst case, that bad luck will be the start of a good memory of how we pulled together and overcame.

 

[WDSearcher]

Every WDW guests opinion has merit, whether they are a first time visitor or a long time local.

I have never felt an ounce of guilt about spending my money on other vacation destination. In fact, it has never even occurred to me that I should feel guilty.

Which is why I said "not you necessarily". I was merely putting forth a theory. I do think some people feel that way.

My point about your non-renewal is that if you weren't planning to renew it anyway -- because you really only needed it for this year and the four trips -- then you'd have chosen not to renew even if everything had been pitch perfect. And so recent changes would have had nothing to do with that decision.

And, again, not saying that's the case. Just thinking out loud.

 

[Ceryssa]

We haven't been yet so I don't have much to compare to (last time I was there I don't think FP had even been implemented lol), but I can see how some of this would be frustrating. One thing I do support, however, is the cc guarantee required for ADRs. Considering how hard people have to work to get reservations at certain restaurants (and still can't get into some, like BoG), I find it completely inconsiderate that someone would take a reservation from someone who would use it, and then no-show. Plus, from a business standpoint, that's a seat that goes empty, and Disney loses money. Since this could be our only trip, or at least the last one for a while, there are certain restaurants we definitely want to experience, I find it extremely frustrating that someone might take a reservation I would use, rendering me unable to get in, and then not show up.

 

[Mad Hattered]

We haven't been yet so I don't have much to compare to (last time I was there I don't think FP had even been implemented lol), but I can see how some of this would be frustrating. One thing I do support, however, is the cc guarantee required for ADRs. Considering how hard people have to work to get reservations at certain restaurants (and still can't get into some, like BoG), I find it completely inconsiderate that someone would take a reservation from someone who would use it, and then no-show. Plus, from a business standpoint, that's a seat that goes empty, and Disney loses money. Since this could be our only trip, or at least the last one for a while, there are certain restaurants we definitely want to experience, I find it extremely frustrating that someone might take a reservation I would use, rendering me unable to get in, and then not show up.

They are still doing it but just cancelling the reservation before the CC charge hits them (24 hours before). So that guarantee doesn't make it any easier for you to land that "coveted" reservation you are trying to get at 30 or 100 or 180 days out.

Yes, when they cancel it you will have a chance to snag it. But then who knows what your plans are when it shows up available just 24 hours before?

 

[JanaDee]

Which is why I said "not you necessarily". I was merely putting forth a theory. I do think some people feel that way.

My point about your non-renewal is that if you weren't planning to renew it anyway -- because you really only needed it for this year and the four trips -- then you'd have chosen not to renew even if everything had been pitch perfect. And so recent changes would have had nothing to do with that decision.

And, again, not saying that's the case. Just thinking out loud.

If no changes had been implemented and everything was "pitch perfect", yes, my AP more than likely would have been renewed.

 

[rebbyparker]

They are still doing it but just cancelling the reservation before the CC charge hits them (24 hours before). So that guarantee doesn't make it any easier for you to land that "coveted" reservation you are trying to get at 30 or 100 or 180 days out

I wasn't really sure that people were still doing this, multiple bookings, but I was on a FB page last night and someone was musing "which ADR to keep for Christmas morning, Kona or Ohana, because we have both". So I guess it happens.

 

[Nancyg56]

I wasn't really sure that people were still doing this, multiple bookings, but I was on a FB page last night and someone was musing "which ADR to keep for Christmas morning, Kona or Ohana, because we have both". So I guess it happens.

It does, but I bet not as rampant as it was before.

 

[robpa]

We haven't been yet so I don't have much to compare to (last time I was there I don't think FP had even been implemented lol), but I can see how some of this would be frustrating. One thing I do support, however, is the cc guarantee required for ADRs. Considering how hard people have to work to get reservations at certain restaurants (and still can't get into some, like BoG), I find it completely inconsiderate that someone would take a reservation from someone who would use it, and then no-show. Plus, from a business standpoint, that's a seat that goes empty, and Disney loses money. Since this could be our only trip, or at least the last one for a while, there are certain restaurants we definitely want to experience, I find it extremely frustrating that someone might take a reservation I would use, rendering me unable to get in, and then not show up.

That is part of the problem with the world today. Its all about ME!!!! Who cares if someone else is affected by my decisions as long as I get mine.

By the way Disney marketing is genius in this whole restaurant thing. Making a theme park restaurant something that needs to get booked 180 days in advance? I can't afford to eat at some of the most upscale restaurants in this country but I doubt you have to book 180 days to get in. Probably goes for affordable popular restaurants also.

I'm guessing a lot of it now has to do with the thrill of the hunt because I have read how food quality has diminished throughout the years at these restaurants. So its kind of a status symbol to snag a coveted reservation. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Colleen27]

We did notice, however, there was a LOT of trash around. It was not as clean as it normally was. The bathrooms in the parks were very dirty which are not like Disney. I absolutely noticed the park cleanliness was lacking this past trip as compared to all previous trips.

We too noticed band aids and small debris in the BC pool that were there for days in a row. I do think they need to improve on the cleanliness standards like they used to. It has gone downhill.

With all that being sad, we still love Disney and will always return.

And that, in a nutshell, is why it will continue to decline - because people will continue to go, even if they're effectively limited to only one useful fastpass per day, the parks are dirty and the bathrooms gross, the food quality so-so, and the overall experience continuing to trend downhill. Remember, Disney is a publicly traded company - if they thought they could charge current gate prices for a street carnival level experience with a few characters around, they'd do just that. That's why I get annoyed at some of the posts from Disney apologists poking fun at the idea that anyone would actually stop going to Disney after years of price increases and declining amenities - the one and only way we'll ever see anything improve is if a significant number of people start doing just that.

It does, but I bet not as rampant as it was before.

Again, I challenge anyone who feels that way to spend some time on the dining reservations board. You see plenty of posts from people canceling 2-3-4 reservations for the same restaurant during the same week, but now they're doing it a day or two in advance.

 

[k5thbeatle]

Although I dislike having to plan everything out as much as the next guy, I will say I disagree with many here about the ADR CC policy. Before this people would make several reservations and then choose at the last minute, artificially making things appear booked and hence making it harder to get in when in fact there actually would be openings otherwise. I think the people that complain about this the loudest are the ones who know they were scamming the system previously! Making CC reservations is common to many industries.

While I don't like a lot of the changes WDW has made I like the CC requirement!

Now how many posts after this will it take till someone says they made reservations like this but ALWAYS cancelled them and/or never played the system?

That is part of the problem with the world today. Its all about ME!!!! Who cares if someone else is affected by my decisions as long as I get mine.

By the way Disney marketing is genius in this whole restaurant thing. Making a theme park restaurant something that needs to get booked 180 days in advance? I can't afford to eat at some of the most upscale restaurants in this country but I doubt you have to book 180 days to get in. Probably goes for affordable popular restaurants also.

I'm guessing a lot of it now has to do with the thrill of the hunt because I have read how food quality has diminished throughout the years at these restaurants. So its kind of a status symbol to snag a coveted reservation. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Excellent points!

 

[Kristine316]

These types of threads always make me wonder what the OP's endgame is.

• Are they just ranting -- the online equivalent of yelling something in the car, just to get it out of your system?
• Do they want to find a whole bunch of other people who agree so that they can assure themselves they've made the "right" decision?
• Are they hoping someone will talk them out of it?
• Do they think that by threatening not to go, Disney will change their mind and put all the stuff back that the complainers don't like?
• Are they picking a fight?
• Are they looking for attention or trying to be part of the "cool kids" by dissing Disney?
• Are they just in a pissy mood?

If you don't want to ever go to Disney again, then don't. If you want to make an issue out of it, tell Disney. But I don't get the "announcement to a bunch of strangers" mentality. "I shall now announce that I will never visit Walt Disney World again. Everyone please take notice." Clearly there's a reaction the OP wants ... I just don't get what it is.

What is the difference between this and someone starting a thread to say how excited they are about going to WDW to counter all the "negative FP+ threads"? Its the same thing... in reality these threads serve no purpose at all but, when someone started a thread to prop up Disney recently I didn't see anyone but, myself ask the logic or need for it.

Both of the posters came on to express a thought.. one against WDW, one for... I guess some of you believe (not sure about you, just speaking in general terms here) only the threads that are "for" Disney are valid and deserve to be read. Seems a little hypocritical to me.

 

[Mad Hattered]

What is the difference between this and someone starting a thread to say how excited they are about going to WDW to counter all the "negative FP+ threads"? Its the same thing... in reality these threads serve no purpose at all but, when someone started a thread to prop up Disney recently I didn't see anyone but, myself ask the logic or need for it.

Both of the posters came on to express a thought.. one against WDW, one for... I guess some of you believe (not sure about you, just speaking in general terms here) only the threads that are "for" Disney are valid and deserve to be read. Seems a little hypocritical to me.

Because the person you just quoted WORKS for Disney. I wouldn't find their opinon biased at all.

 

[Nancyg56]

Again, I challenge anyone who feels that way to spend some time on the dining reservations board. You see plenty of posts from people canceling 2-3-4 reservations for the same restaurant during the same week, but now they're doing it a day or two in advance.

I have no way of knowing for sure if the number of people who do this has decreased, but I imagine that it has. That cancellation thread is like anything else on the DIS; it is an encapsulated snapshot of what is occurring in one segment of Disney's guests.

Now I won't argue that for those people who are really good at working the system, they are sure making it look as though the changes to how we all have to make ADR's is justified. And that thread (which I really have to stay away from ) is an infuriating example of the mindset some people have in regards to rules and how they apply to them individually. I don't have an issue with a CC guarantee, and for the most part, I don't mind the time frames given to cancel without penalty. I do mind that these folks are provong daily that the changes needed to be made.

 

[k5thbeatle]

Because the person you just quoted WORKS for Disney. I wouldn't find their opinon biased at all.

LOL!

Indeed, what is the point of this entire site if not to share opinions with others good or bad?

 

[WDSearcher]

Because the person you just quoted WORKS for Disney. I wouldn't find their opinon biased at all.

Well ... Yeah, I work for Disney, but I don't understand how that applies here. What part of my post quoted above is "biased?" I asked what the endgame for a post like the OP's is. I don't think I tried to choke anyone on pixie dust or lock them up in a magic castle. It was a valid question.

 

[mom2rtk]

I asked what the endgame for a post like the OP's is. I don't think I tried to choke anyone on pixie dust or lock them up in a magic castle. It was a valid question.

Wait...... you can get me into the castle?

 

[Mad Hattered]

Well ... Yeah, I work for Disney, but I don't understand how that applies here. What part of my post quoted above is "biased?" I asked what the endgame for a post like the OP's is. I don't think I tried to choke anyone on pixie dust or lock them up in a magic castle. It was a valid question.

I think you should answer Kristine's question. I didn't really ask one. I was just informing a rather infrequent poster who she was asking to answer her question. I find that applicable.

But like mom said...if you can get me in the castle then I totally take that back!

 

[agavegirl1]

Well ... Yeah, I work for Disney, but I don't understand how that applies here. What part of my post quoted above is "biased?" I asked what the endgame for a post like the OP's is. I don't think I tried to choke anyone on pixie dust or lock them up in a magic castle. It was a valid question.

I did not feel your listed questions were biased and seemed to convey a genuine interest. However, your additional comment that the OP should simply "just not go" without announcing it in any way to this board suggests that you object to their right to express this opinion regardless of reason. I realize it was phrased as a question but it seemed rhetorical.

So long as the conditions of use of this board are met, the OP is within their rights to announce to this group of "strangers" whatever their heart desires to express.

Let's reverse it. If the OP had said, "The new changes have really been great for my family and I, for one will going more often"....Would you have listed five questions asking why they posted that?

 

[WDSearcher]

What is the difference between this and someone starting a thread to say how excited they are about going to WDW to counter all the "negative FP+ threads"? Its the same thing... in reality these threads serve no purpose at all but, when someone started a thread to prop up Disney recently I didn't see anyone but, myself ask the logic or need for it.

Both of the posters came on to express a thought.. one against WDW, one for... I guess some of you believe (not sure about you, just speaking in general terms here) only the threads that are "for" Disney are valid and deserve to be read. Seems a little hypocritical to me.

I think the negative threads get more attention because there's some ambiguity there. When someone posts that they're bubbly and excited about their upcoming trip, that's pretty clear.

When someone who's been going for years posts that they're never going again because of FP+ or dining policy changes or Starbucks on Main Street, it just seems like there's got to be more to the story. The OP must be looking for some type of reaction or response -- i just can't tell from the post what that reaction / response is. Hence, the question.

 

[Murron]

Adapt or die.