Indecision

[undertheseas]

My husband wants to book a trip next month to give our youngest something fun and exciting after a long 18 months of pandemic and since we were there for the 25th celebration. We tentatively booked a trip at the end of next month to avoid pulling her from school and I’m starting my process of catching up on everything new since our last visit. I’m really on the fence about this trip! It’s more expensive, I see it’s fewer park hours, no fast passes, no Fantasmic….. I know I’m asking other die hard fanatics but is there any benefit in going now? The only perk I see is that ME is still offered. How can I sell this to my husband? Or me for that matter! I’m just not feeling the magic right now.

 

[FCDub]

How can I sell this to my husband? Or me for that matter! I’m just not feeling the magic right now.

Honestly, it sounds like you have your answer.

 

[familyS]

The 50th anniversary celebration is 18 months long, so there is plenty of time.

 

[Dakota731]

I wouldn’t spend that kind of money if i wasn’t excited about it. Go to the beach instead

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

This is a personal decision that no one can really answer for you. Plenty of people are going right now and having wonderful trips. It's all about what you make of it and what your priorities are. I'd suggest reading through some posts on this thread to give you a better idea of the current state of the parks:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/h...riences-including-park-hopping.3807247/unread

 

[jennyq87]

Honestly, it sounds like you have your answer.

Agree with this. WDW is too expensive for "not feeling the magic".

 

[kwdw]

I was on the fence myself for quite awhile about a trip this fall. Pieces that make the cost of Disney worth it to me are either still missing or possibly gone for good.

Obviously a personal decision, but I’m one who decided to wait and spend my money elsewhere right now. All I see is Disney greed right now, not magic.

When Disney changes evolve such that now I see it as worth my money again for the experience I can expect, I’ll be back.

 

[Selket]

My husband wants to book a trip next month to give our youngest something fun and exciting after a long 18 months of pandemic and since we were there for the 25th celebration. We tentatively booked a trip at the end of next month...

So it's an end of August trip? Are you trying to avoid the 50th or see it because of course the 50th stuff won't truly start until October 1st. I wasn't sure from the way you phrased it!

I've been having the same debate with myself. I didn't make any of my usual trips to WDW because of covid and now part of me is dying to go and the other part says wow it's way more pricey for what I'm getting. I usually had free dining and I will personally struggle without the fast passes. A compromise could be to plan a trip to Florida to the beach and maybe Kennedy Space Center and stop at WDW for a couple of days. The argument against that is the 1-3 day park tickets are not economical at all.

Another option is to plan a trip when she has a school break even though that's a busy time most likely. Perhaps fast passes will be back and the new rides will be open. It's a hard decision! I just wish my husband ever in his life "wanted" to book a trip because he hates Disney so that's always a bummer. If he ever "wanted" to go I'd probably go so fast his head would spin - haha!

 

[Happy2BMommy0812]

We went in October 2020 and I swore I would not be back until things were back to “normal.” Then we caved and went in March 2021 with my in-laws and had a great trip. We are DVC owners, so we had points to use for hotels both times, which offset our cost tremendously. We knew what to expect in March based on our October trip, and we go often enough we were fine skipping long lines for rides and not seeing the shows that were still on hold due to covid. We enjoy hotel and pool time just as much as the parks, so we made good use of that.

I guess what I am getting at is, it depends on what you expect out of the trip. If you want to take in all the sights and rides, this is not the time to do it. If you are looking for a get away and don’t need to see fireworks or ride everything, maybe you can enjoy the pools and hotels more? But, it is expensive and if you are hoping for a pre-covid like experience, I would advise you postpone your trip.

That being said, expenses will go up. Most people are predicting a paid fastpass will be announced anytime now, hotel rates will rise over the 50th celebration and into 2022, and I assume there will be a annual ticket price hike next year as well.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

My husband wants to book a trip next month to give our youngest something fun and exciting after a long 18 months of pandemic and since we were there for the 25th celebration. We tentatively booked a trip at the end of next month to avoid pulling her from school and I’m starting my process of catching up on everything new since our last visit. I’m really on the fence about this trip! It’s more expensive, I see it’s fewer park hours, no fast passes, no Fantasmic….. I know I’m asking other die hard fanatics but is there any benefit in going now? The only perk I see is that ME is still offered. How can I sell this to my husband? Or me for that matter! I’m just not feeling the magic right now.

This is totally subjective and your call but we've been many times since the parks reopened and while the visits are different than pre-covid closings, they're still magical to us. All our trips are very different even during "normal" times. We've had some awesome trips and we started back at the parks last August and that's in the heat, with masks and no frills. We loved it! I think as many of the PP mentioned, it's all about expectations. If you really haven't traveled or vacationed in 18 months, it might still be a great time given your situation. But if you have your mind set on having to do the things you mentioned, then I think you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

You could wait until a better deal comes along but sadly Disney is just getting more expensive every year, that's not changed for a while but it sounds like you are not very amped for this trip. Maybe you should wait until some of those perks you like return, other than ME and maybe find another trip for your family to do.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

If we didn't have tickets that expire in September, and a really great rate at an off property resort, I'm not sure we'd be going in a few weeks. I'm still very excited to go, but having just gone to Universal in June and experiencing the lines and crowds there, and the reports that Disney is just as busy, I wouldn't want to go if I was paying for tickets and an expensive room. I'm tempering expectations of what we will be able to accomplish in a day, and hoping my almost 3 year old does ok waiting in multiple 45 minute+ lines.

 

[DizKids2]

We just returned a couple of days ago from our first trip since January 2020. We typically visit 1-2 times a year. While there are still some things missing, as you mentioned, we still felt it was very close to a normal Disney trip and it was still magical to us. With capacity restrictions, the no fastpass really was not a big deal. The only place I really missed it was for Flights of Passage and Mine Train. We chose to wait for Flights and felt it wasn't worth it for Mine Train. We were there for the 4th and from what I have heard, it was significantly less crowded then a normal 4th. The end of August is when we normally go to Disney, and it doesn't tend to be very busy at that time. I think I would take late August crowds with no fastpass vs. Spring Break crowds with it.
It is still just as expensive, so if the things that are missing would make you feel like Disney isn't magical or that it is too overpriced for what you get, then wait; however, I agree with previous posters that as things open up ant the 50th anniversary begins, it is likely to get even more expensive.

 

[undertheseas]

Thank you all for your input! We're still on the fence, I guess we'll make up our minds in a couple of weeks when the final payment is due. Our oldest two are grown/in college and our youngest is a pre-teen. We know how fast time goes and she will be too busy soon so now seems like a good time. I'd rather go in October but it's hard to pull her from school. I agree with everyone that says the prices will just go up, that with ME going away, uncertainty with FP, we may bite the bullet and go knowing we won't be back for a while.

 

[MarkS2112]

I would pass until the new rides are open and things get back to normal. You are paying allot for a not full experience.

 

[SteveH]

We had plans to go for the 50th for about 9 days - very excited, and slowly that excitement dissolved. Fact that Tron isn't going to be ready is a huge deal breaker for me, but pushing back Ratatouille was another ding. Then having MK booked for the day far in advance - the point of going during that madness was to actually be in the park on the 50th. There were other reasons too, so as the shimmer of Disney began to tarnish we decided it just wasn't the right time, we'd been there in Feb 2020 and did everything we wanted. So we made plans for Hawaii for the same dates - and we're saving money - go figure.

 

[coolbrook]

We are going next month too. This will be my 5th trip since the reopening. I don't really feel the magic until I get there and walk on to Main Street. All the nostalgia comes rushing back and I take a big sign and lean in to the magic. I hear the music and smell the smells and have my favorite Disney snacks. Each trip this past year or so has brought back a few of the things we love. For us this trip it will be fireworks shows at Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and Food and Wine at Epcot. There is so much to see and do at Disney World that we could never do it all in one trip anyway. I realize we are lucky that we can go so often even though we are not locals, but we like to focus on what we can do and not on the things that we can't do yet. We will have something new to look forward to on our next trip!

It does sound like this trip might be good timing for you with your youngest. I say seize the day and enjoy your time together!

 

[sixcats]

We have been twice since they reopened and are going again in September. I am looking forward to the Happily ever after fireworks and a nighttime show at Epcot. Having less park hours does not bother us since it will give up time to enjoy the resorts more. You will have the Food and Wine festival to enjoy. I say go and enjoy it! Everything is not going to be available as in years past, but it will give you the opportunity to take it easy and explore things that you would skip if everything was open like in years past.

 

[SwanVT2]

Thank you all for your input! We're still on the fence, I guess we'll make up our minds in a couple of weeks when the final payment is due. Our oldest two are grown/in college and our youngest is a pre-teen. We know how fast time goes and she will be too busy soon so now seems like a good time. I'd rather go in October but it's hard to pull her from school. I agree with everyone that says the prices will just go up, that with ME going away, uncertainty with FP, we may bite the bullet and go knowing we won't be back for a while.

What about going to Discovery Cove and get the package with Sea World tickets instead? That would be a special way to end the summer together. I'm not sure where you live and if you have to fly..if you are paying for flights, maybe this isn't the time for Disney? But our DD loves Sea World and we are excited to bring her to Discovery Cove this February and Sea World again..but only are going to spend one day at MK. We are, however, staying on Disney property at SSR so we can go to DS. DD LOVES DS!

 

[wdw&sonny]

First, I am surprised by the number of die-hard Disney fanatics that are waiting. We are (former) AP holders with 2-3 trips per year. WE are waiting too. Just too many things missing or unknown right now. And from reports on these boards, it is still way crowded. If I am going to battle typical crowds, typical waits, typical prices, I need APs, F!, FPs, BatB, Nemo show, among other things.

I agree with the others that suggest you wait. If you are feeling it won't be magical, it probably won't be.

 

[Boopuff]

Add me to the group that’s waiting. I really want the full-on Disney experience. I’m a huge fan of the shows and street performers. I know I’d really miss that.