Is anyone getting as turned off as I am?

[msb578]

Kind of. We've been AP holders since 2006, and gone two-five times a year since 2005. Due to a roof and a son's wedding we skipped 2013 so this was our first FP+ trip that wasn't during the test. We hated it. If we hadn't already had our trip for December booked I probably would not have gotten the APs again when we went in August. I've always been a planner but having to know six months ahead where and what time I want to eat was bad enough. Now I am supposed to plan two months ahead not only what park I'm going to but where I will be at a specific moment in the day. I couldn't even get 7DMT sixty days out in August (last week in August, crowds were very low) so I can't imagine getting it 30 days out on the next trip will be any better. Ugh. Makes the vacation more like working... I know a lot of people love FP+ but we aren't among them. I loved the old fastpass where everyone was on equal footing. This not so much. Our next trip we're trying staying offsite for the first time. If we don't like that better than we did on our August trip onsite, then come April our spring vacation will be somewhere else. Maybe just go sit our tails on a beach for 10 days instead of running all over WDW and actually relax a bit.

Regarding 7DMT- that's disappointing. I was there that week and got a same-day FP for it on Thursday. I thought maybe things were "calming down" with that ride. But maybe I was just lucky to snag someone's cancelation.

 

[DOOM1001]

I just saw something on Twitter (which may or may not be accurate) that said Valet pricing is now based on length of stay: 0-2 hours: $10; 2-3 hours: $15; 3+ hours: $20. Maybe that's what PP was referring to?

That has to be what they're referring to,I seriously doubt they will charge for regular parking with the increased amount of shops and restaurants,that's a recipe for disaster for the shops and stores,just ask the tenants at Pointe Orlando.

 

[Super 27]

I definitely agree with a lot of the points here, but I really can't completely get on-board with all the Starbucks hate that seems to be going around. I openly admit that I'm pretty much a coffee snob, so for me it's a HUGE plus to finally be able to get a decent cup in the parks (no, the Nescafe colored water that they serve everywhere else doesn't count).

That being said, I wish they would've just brought in Starbucks coffee as an addition to WDW restaurants, not as a replacement. I would gladly settle for a "We Proudly Brew Starbucks" sign and some good coffee versus a full-fledged Starbucks store - as much as I love their coffee, I find Starbucks' breakfast offerings to be rather bland.

 

[FLchick415]

That has to be what they're referring to,I seriously doubt they will charge for regular parking with the increased amount of shops and restaurants,that's a recipe for disaster for the shops and stores,just ask the tenants at Pointe Orlando.

Agreed.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Turn offs for me is the price of WDW (increasing so much over the years) and the food. Friends of ours did Mexico, all inclusive, 7 nights, 8 days for 2800. Two adults and two kids 10+. The kids raved about it. The adults loved it. I can't even get hotel and tickets for that price for the four of us at WDW. That's not even counting food.

If I'm paying the inflated prices for food can it least be decent? Half the time it's crap. When I vacation I like convenience. I don't want to go off site for food or pack food. I want to grab and go. Or sit and eat where I am.

FP+ doesn't bother me so much. It is kind of irritating to plan your rides 60 days out but we go during very low crowds so I don't think it will be too bad for us. ADR's I'm used to.

My kids haven't been since 2011. They are begging to go. I will take them next year and I don't think I'll be back for at least another 4-5 years . Or just go for mother/daughter and mother/son trips when they are 16 or graduating. I LOVE Disney but we like doing other things which we have these past few years. We did Nicaragua, Jersey shore, Ocean City, Virginia. For much much cheaper. We want to go to Puerto Rico and maybe do a cruise or two.

 

[JanaDee]

I just saw something on Twitter (which may or may not be accurate) that said Valet pricing is now based on length of stay: 0-2 hours: $10; 2-3 hours: $15; 3+ hours: $20. Maybe that's what PP was referring to?

Yes, I saw that, too.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

change have been made at WDW for years, some like them, some do not........what ever WDW does there will be pros and cons.

Actually the pricing at WDW is not all that bad when compared to other venues and attractions, Uni is right up there with WDW in some areas and gaining in with price increases in others...............Go to a big name concert lately???...easily hundreds for a 3 hours show......

We will continue to be going and enjoying the magic found no where else.

AKK

 

[cakebaker]

In the end, it's not so much Disney that is ruining Disney as it is the current society who thinks they are entitled and deserve and don't want to follow rules. And that really bothers me

And I'm tired of when Disney decides to put a stop to the abuse, they don't care who gets penalized in the process.

They'll get sick of the 1 night stays that are blocking out longer stays and they'll put in a minimum night stay requirement.

They'll catch on to the business of carrying around a backpack full of bands to get more fp+ and maybe they'll start charging for them and stop handing them out like candy.

They changed the free dining rules to put a stop to throwaway campsites just to get the food. They cut back on transportation from DTD to stop the abuse. The list goes on and on and no one cares.

Just abuse it and take advantage of it until they figure out a way to stop the cheating, then move on to the next trick someone figures out. That seems to be the mindset these days.

 

[disney212]

Nope. We've been going to Disney World more because of the changes. We love FP+, love the convenience of the Magic Bands, VERY happy Starbucks is in the parks now, love some of the new updates, couldn't care less about the+ performers at Epcot. Overall, we're very happy and leaving to go back for our 6th time in just over a year in two days!

We love FP+ and Starbucks. Hate to see Off Kilter leave but looking forward to see the new entertainment. We go several times per year.

 

[Jennasis]

Annoyed and concerned by the changes...not turned off...YET.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Not renewing our APs, and won't be back for a long while. In addition to the points the OP raised, I don't like the way WDW treats offsite APers. For example, if you're an offsite APer who visits 4 weeks/year and gives WDW thousands of dollars in meal and merchandise purchases, you get treated worse on FP+ than someone renting a campground for 1 day and giving WDW a tiny fraction of that. We're going to see some other stuff for awhile.

 

[slickpoetry]

I don't understand people who say they hate "planning" their vacations. I mean I understand if you're local and you can pop over to WDW whenever you want...that should be an easy laidback experience. But the idea of flying (or driving a long, long distance) and wanting to just "wing it" boggles my mind.

But I've been accused of overplanning, so maybe I'm the odd one


That said, I don't think picking out 3 rides each day is that big of a deal. And unless you're aiming for the most rare FP+ (A&E, 7DMT, TSMM) you shouldn't have any problem picking out FP+ even the night before or the morning of your park visit.

 

[ScottieMouse]

I don't understand people who say they hate "planning" their vacations. I mean I understand if you're local and you can pop over to WDW whenever you want...that should be an easy laidback experience. But the idea of flying (or driving a long, long distance) and wanting to just "wing it" boggles my mind.

But I've been accused of overplanning, so maybe I'm the odd one


That said, I don't think picking out 3 rides each day is that big of a deal. And unless you're aiming for the most rare FP+ (A&E, 7DMT, TSMM) you shouldn't have any problem picking out FP+ even the night before or the morning of your park visit.

I agree completely.

Also I find it odd that people seem to act like the 3 rides you choose are the only ones you get to do...You can still ride whatever else you want even if you don't have a fast pass for it.

 

[hakepb]

I definitely agree with a lot of the points here, but I really can't completely get on-board with all the Starbucks hate that seems to be going around. I openly admit that I'm pretty much a coffee snob, so for me it's a HUGE plus to finally be able to get a decent cup in the parks (no, the Nescafe colored water that they serve everywhere else doesn't count).

That being said, I wish they would've just brought in Starbucks coffee as an addition to WDW restaurants, not as a replacement. I would gladly settle for a "We Proudly Brew Starbucks" sign and some good coffee versus a full-fledged Starbucks store - as much as I love their coffee, I find Starbucks' breakfast offerings to be rather bland.

I'm disapointed in the loss of the bakery, but otherwise ... Why does the Starbucks naming bother anyone.

Back in the day.....Disney World and Land was way more "commercialized" with every attraction having a corporate sponsorer.

I guess the corporate sponsorship had dwindled, and they still had all of those quaint Kodak logos everywhere, but that's not the way it always was.

 

[slickpoetry]

I agree completely.

Also I find it odd that people seem to act like the 3 rides you choose are the only ones you get to do...You can still ride whatever else you want even if you don't have a fast pass for it.

And if it really is such a big deal for you to plan 3 rides a day, you still have the choice to just not do it. My dad took 6 of his grandchildren, along with my sister and her husband, to WDW in April and didn't make a single FP. Nobody complained about the trip. They still had a blast.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I don't understand people who say they hate "planning" their vacations. I mean I understand if you're local and you can pop over to WDW whenever you want...that should be an easy laidback experience. But the idea of flying (or driving a long, long distance) and wanting to just "wing it" boggles my mind.

But I've been accused of overplanning, so maybe I'm the odd one


That said, I don't think picking out 3 rides each day is that big of a deal. And unless you're aiming for the most rare FP+ (A&E, 7DMT, TSMM) you shouldn't have any problem picking out FP+ even the night before or the morning of your park visit.

I don't think anyone is saying they hate planning a vacation. For most of us scoping out airline tickets, renting cars, finding lodging, researching things to do, scheduling time off from work, making reservations at rstaurants - you know, all the normal parts of planning a trip is fun to most.

Booking a theme park ride 2 months in advance? No thanks.

 

[kbelle8995]

I don't think anyone is saying they hate planning a vacation. For most of us scoping out airline tickets, renting cars, finding lodging, researching things to do, scheduling time off from work, making reservations at rstaurants - you know, all the normal parts of planning a trip is fun to most.

Booking a theme park ride 2 months in advance? No thanks.

You voiced my thoughts better than I could. Even though we are in-state we enjoy planning too.

But Planning rides and having to reserve times month in advance was a step too far for me at least.

 

[slickpoetry]

I'm not out to change anyone's mind about it. To me, it's just one more level of planning.

 

[Flight]

I don't think anyone is saying they hate planning a vacation. For most of us scoping out airline tickets, renting cars, finding lodging, researching things to do, scheduling time off from work, making reservations at rstaurants - you know, all the normal parts of planning a trip is fun to most.

Booking a theme park ride 2 months in advance? No thanks.

Brilliant post! Thank you for quickly summerizing what is the problem with the new system.

 

[SGMCO]

I wished I lived in Florida!!!