Is anyone getting as turned off as I am?

[branv]

Absolutely. I couldn't wait for when we had a child that I could introduce to WDW. Now we have one, and next year we are taking him for his first trip at age 2. I always thought we'd visit every few years to experience it with him at the different stages of his life. But the way things have been going, the direction I well Disney is headed with WDW, I can honestly see us going this trip, then one more time when he is around 6, and calling it quits.

As silly as it sounds, part of me feels like I'm in mourning! Again, I get how crazy that is, but I'm just sad. I don't mind change. Even Walt would have been all about constant innovation. But I don't see change for improvement, I see change for money *only*.

Hey, I'm fine with paying. It's a corporation, I'm not stupid. But people don't give a corporation money just because. They do it to buy into something. And Disney's cache had always been that they are on the front line of magic, innovation, quality and unparalleled customer service. Always seeking to improve and be unmatched. In my opinion, they've declined on all those fronts. They aren't just resting on their laurels, but making short-sighted decisions out of touch with their customer. Which happens to many formerly innovative companies as they become too driven by this quarters financials and its impact on stock versus a long term greater gain.

Maybe today looks good for them, but I predict down this type of path lies a loss of the nostalgia and reputation that keeps people coming back and paying $$$$. There are too many other amazing things grabbing the attention of the next generation.

 

[DebbieB]

I think they should charge for parking at DTD like DL does. First 3 hours free, 5 hours free with validation. That would stop people from offsite parking there for free, walking over the bridge to SSR and catching a bus to the parks (busses that DVC members are paying for). It would also free up parking spaces for those who really want to visit DTD.

Am I turned off? Nope. Love Magic Bands & FP+.

 

[Patience]

After our last trip in 2013, we thought we would go back in 2015. Nope, we decided to take a cruise instead (and for a lot less money than going to WDW). Then I thought maybe we would go in 2016. Nope again. We are going to Hawaii for our oldest daughter's college graduation. So yes, I believe I am turned off. I don't want to have every minute of my day scheduled.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm not done with it. I still have a really good time when we are in the Disney Parks. As long as that is the case, we will keep going.

I am done giving Disney all of my Orlando spending. Personally, I am done with their resorts, the prices are out of control for what you get (we always rent a car so we don't get anything out of the transport). I'm also done with their dining, unless we are in the parks and don't have a choice. And next trip I might even start packing lunch, that's how much I think their food is overpriced for what you get. So we will be spreading our spending around...some to offsite hotels, some to offsite restaurants, some to Universal as well, where I think the onsite experience is worth the price you pay.

Regarding spending, the other issue for us is airfare. I know airfares are not in Disney's control, but we also factor in how much a Disney vacation is worth with the airfare added in. But I'm sure Disney knows how sensitive their business is to airfares.

Anyway, those are just my personal gripes. I do think the answer is to optimize how much you spend there, in whatever way that is, to the point where you still feel like you are getting a good value. If you can't do that, then it's time to stop going.

As for FP+, I've accepted that I have to do more planning, yet at the same time be flexible when things don't work out once we are there. We don't get to do as much as we used to, but I still think it's worth the ticket price. For now...

 

[Arielle22]

DH and I have been going for 25 years. We took our DDs there every few years. So I remember the old times.

I prefer the magic bands and FP+. We pick the rides we really want and know we will get them. Now that DDs are grown, they don't want to be up for rope drop so we can sleep in.

I never watched the groups at Epcot so the change out doesn't bother me.

We have gone other places for vacation and like a variety. I am starting to plan our first trip to Ireland for next year. However I don't see us giving up Disney any time soon.

 

[DisneyKidds]

A note about food at WDW......I don't find it bad at all. As for the theme parks, I think you'd be hard pressed to go to any other amusement park and find better food for less. Hershey Park? Been there, nope. Six Flags (New England, Great Adventure)? Been there, nope. Is there some better and some worse food in spots? Sure....but it's theme park counter service food that, low and behold no matter what park you go to (Disney or otherwise) cost you $10 give or take for a meal with drink. Not sure what people expect or what their frame of reference is, but I don't get the criticism.

I also don't tend to get much counter service food, because as standard (quality and prices) the food is for theme park fare, that's not generally what I like to eat.

So, let's criticize the resort and sit down restaurants then! Well, be it Morton's Steakhouse in Hartford, CT or Yachtsman's or Shula's steakhouses in WDW.......the prices and quality are the same! I have no criticism there. There is very good food to be had in WDW, and it isn't priced terribly compared to what I pay in most places where I live. Nice meal in a good Italian restaurant with a couple apps and a bottle of wine......same price as at home, and while the overall quality of the food may not be AS good (we are in a theme park, remember) it is very good, and the enjoyment of the overall experience is just as good.

We really enjoy the food we have at WDW. Sure, at a few locations like Le Cellier the price of the filet may be a little too high......but our country operates on the law of supply and demand!

 

[NC State]

Just for some background....
I live in Florida and have been going to Disney for over 40 years.
Recently, though, I've noticed changes that are turning me off to want to visit, or spend my money there.
For example: * the fastpass+ thing and having to plan before you go.
* ending the American Adventure Fife and Drum Corp. (and not replacing it with any other patriotic program)
* people reserving throwaway campsites at Fort Wilderness just to get their magic bands
*......and don't get me started on those!
* and now we're gonna have to start paying between 10 and 20 dollars just to park at Downtown Disney.
* oh, and Starbucks

The list goes on, but these are just a few at the tip of my fingers.
Sorry. Had to vent.

I haven't read all the posts but I agree with you. This will be our last trip to the parks for a long time. We're sticking to cruising.

 

[DisneyFive]

None of the changes are bad enough yet to keep us from going.

The change that I'm most sympathetic about, for the OP and others that have AP's and visit regularly, is the FP+ system.

No longer can you decide the day before to visit on a whim and expect to ride the headliners without a wait. With onsite guests being able to reserve 60 days out, and offsite at 30 days, some of the main draws are just gone. Seven Dwarves Mine Ride, A&E meet and greet, etc... I see these as things that regular park visiters would particularly want to see, since all the other stuff the have already done over and over again.

No longer are you on an equal footing with everyone else, like when paper FP's were around.

Dan

 

[5olearys]

We don't live in Florida, however, we just returned from our 10th trip with the kids, and 15th overall, a week or so ago.

Honestly? It was the best trip ever. So much so, that my thoughts before going of maybe taking a few years brake are now gone. (Already booked our bounce back for next year).

We loved the magic bands, and especially FP+. The convenience of not having to run into a park every morning at rope drop just to grab the FP we wanted was a God send! The magic bands, along with the app, on iPhone, worked flawlessly. Those few things made the trip even more magical for us.

As far as other changes? Like most of it so far. I LIKE change. Especially when it is to a place I have visited often. I would not go back every year if there were not new things to try, new shows to see, and yes, some "old" stuff that does eventually go away. I think it is all positive, and I am not a Disney fan boy. I just think it is still the best vacation value out there for all you get to do!

Loving the positive response. It's only our second trip with the kids (my 6th), and I think I've freaked myself out reading some of these threads. Thank you for sharing your good news.

 

[ineedavacation33]

A note about food at WDW......I don't find it bad at all. As for the theme parks, I think you'd be hard pressed to go to any other amusement park and find better food for less. Hershey Park? Been there, nope. Six Flags (New England, Great Adventure)? Been there, nope. Is there some better and some worse food in spots? Sure....but it's theme park counter service food that, low and behold no matter what park you go to (Disney or otherwise) cost you $10 give or take for a meal with drink. Not sure what people expect or what their frame of reference is, but I don't get the criticism. I also don't tend to get much counter service food, because as standard (quality and prices) the food is for theme park fare, that's not generally what I like to eat. So, let's criticize the resort and sit down restaurants then! Well, be it Morton's Steakhouse in Hartford, CT or Yachtsman's or Shula's steakhouses in WDW.......the prices and quality are the same! I have no criticism there. There is very good food to be had in WDW, and it isn't priced terribly compared to what I pay in most places where I live. Nice meal in a good Italian restaurant with a couple apps and a bottle of wine......same price as at home, and while the overall quality of the food may not be AS good (we are in a theme park, remember) it is very good, and the enjoyment of the overall experience is just as good. We really enjoy the food we have at WDW. Sure, at a few locations like Le Cellier the price of the filet may be a little too high......but our country operates on the law of supply and demand!

When we lived in CA a few years back, we took our first trip to Disneyland and even the food selection and options there pale in comparison to WDW.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

We are not coffee drinkers so Starbucks doesn't affect us. Both DDs love it though I like the magic bands it is less to keep up with for my family and makes life easier. I don't mind the FP+ either although even 60 days out in July we weren't able to get Anna & Elsa or the mine train. I think they should allow 3 different FPs on MDE after the first 3 have been used. The stands to get more FPs are ridiculous when the technology is there for people to choose options.

 

[Juwu]

Not being able to sit down and eat without having a reservation 180 in advance.

I understand the big headliners like CRT and BOG not being available last minute. But I should be albe to eat at my hotel while I'm staying there (a sit down place).

Nothing is worse than fighting with your family over food because you didn't plan every tiny thing before you came.

 

[disneydentist]

Seems to me we've been hearing all the "I'm not going" any more rhetoric for quite a while now.

Changes (of any type) get made and people claim they're not going back.

If all these people aren't going back then why are the parks still crowded?

If FP+ for (insert ride/meet and greet here) is impossible to get, then why do "other" people have them?

Starbucks doesn't bother anymore than McDonalds or any other sponsor does.

Have to agree with PPs who said Disney fast food is no better/worse/more expensive than other theme parks. Even with changes the selsction is far better than places like HersheyPark.


Our last two trips were the week before Easter. High crowds. I enjoyed not running around to get my Fastpasses. Number of attractions was very close when comparing legacy to FP+ trips. What was a lot lower was walking distances.

I can certainly appreciate that not everyone wants the same thing from a vacation. But, Disney must being doing something that people like because the parks are far from empty.

JMO.

 

[georgina]

I'm not turned off either. It seems a lot of the unhappy people are those who have gone a lot (disneydentist excepted!). We haven't gone that often, and still enjoy our trips. I am looking forward to new entertainment at Epcot, while I enjoyed the retiring acts, I have seen the World Showcase Players Holy Grail show a few times too many. I don't mind the extra layer of planning for FP+. No problem with Starbucks, even though I miss the bakery. We will be there during free dining (which I don't have) and I have been able to rearrange my ADRs 3 months out. There is availability at the resort restaurants I am looking at. My kids are all adults now; we did get everyone there for a few days last summer, which I thought would be my last trip for a while. Then I did a solo trip in May and DH and I are going in December. So rather than being turned off, I find I am going more often!

 

[kbelle8995]

I won't say I am not going again. I will eventually.

I am letting my pass go for now. I have no intentions of renewing it at this time.
And the sad part is that the last time I let it go I felt bad about losing my pass. This time not so much.

 

[Jennasis]

But, Disney must being doing something that people like because the parks are far from empty.

JMO.

Of course they are. And they're doing things that some don't like. Its possible for them to do both at the same time.

 

[JanaDee]

And for some, it is one level too many.

 

[JanaDee]

Absolutely. I couldn't wait for when we had a child that I could introduce to WDW. Now we have one, and next year we are taking him for his first trip at age 2. I always thought we'd visit every few years to experience it with him at the different stages of his life. But the way things have been going, the direction I well Disney is headed with WDW, I can honestly see us going this trip, then one more time when he is around 6, and calling it quits.

As silly as it sounds, part of me feels like I'm in mourning! Again, I get how crazy that is, but I'm just sad. I don't mind change. Even Walt would have been all about constant innovation. But I don't see change for improvement, I see change for money *only*.

Hey, I'm fine with paying. It's a corporation, I'm not stupid. But people don't give a corporation money just because. They do it to buy into something. And Disney's cache had always been that they are on the front line of magic, innovation, quality and unparalleled customer service. Always seeking to improve and be unmatched. In my opinion, they've declined on all those fronts. They aren't just resting on their laurels, but making short-sighted decisions out of touch with their customer. Which happens to many formerly innovative companies as they become too driven by this quarters financials and its impact on stock versus a long term greater gain.

Maybe today looks good for them, but I predict down this type of path lies a loss of the nostalgia and reputation that keeps people coming back and paying $$$$. There are too many other amazing things grabbing the attention of the next generation.

I 100% agree.

 

[Laketravis]

I don't agree with or like many of the changes we've seen at WDW over the years, but from a pure business perspective I can't blame them.

As long as there are enough people willing to fork over seemingly unlimited amounts of cash with a smile on their face for things that previously nobody in their right mind would have paid for or paid as much for, WDW will continue to do so.

All I can do is hope that market segment grows smaller over time and is replaced with more and more customers who demand value for their dollar.

Only then will we see the pendulum swing the other way.

 

[W.E.D.]

We went on a week long cruise over SPRING BREAK for $1500 for 3 of us. That included our cabin, our meals onboard, entertainment & the teen club for my DD. It did not include tips or excursions which probably ran us another $500. At $276 per night at POR over Easter week I would have paid more for the 'resort' room alone.

We went to London for a week (off season) and paid less then we would have paid for our usual trip to WDW.

Disney will need to make numerous horrible decisions (IMO) before we would quit going. But the constant price increases are becoming a hinderance. There are so many wonderful places to explore in the world for less.