Is anyone getting as turned off as I am?

[cakebaker]

As far as them sweetening the pot for onsite, be careful what you wish for on that. The more they differentiate their onsite properties from the offsite competition, the more they will be able to charge for their rooms. I was surprised that they didn't use FP+ to do this, but maybe the capacity wasn't there to give extra FPs to onsite without completely driving away offsite.

But I'm okay with that. I'm one of those who believes the decline in service is directly related to their attempts to push Disney as a bargain vacation- they sell it for less, they provide less. I'd rather pay more and get more. I don't vacation at Disney because I can do it on the cheap.

 

[Suvadoo]

But I'm okay with that. I'm one of those who believes the decline in service is directly related to their attempts to push Disney as a bargain vacation- they sell it for less, they provide less. I'd rather pay more and get more. I don't vacation at Disney because I can do it on the cheap.

Wow, you must have a lot of disposable income! Lucky you! Unfortunately I don't. Not if I want to retire someday. I don't regard a Disney vacation as being inexpensive by any stretch of the imagination. I feel that I'm paying a lot of money for my vacation and that Disney is reducing my experience on every trip to WDW.

 

[LvTinkerbell]

I am planning a trip in December 2014. Will be there the 19th thru the 26th 11 other family members. 4 of them are kids 13 and under and 2 are seniors. The seniors will have scooters but I do have one question for those that have used the new fastpass system. We are doing the base ticket because of the many family members and I am not exactly sure what day we will be in what park. Are any of the rides that are fastpass still easily accessible without reserving ahead of time? Also has anyone been there during this time of year and what parks should we avoid on Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day? I have been to WDW many times just never this time of year? Also if anyone has traveled with someone on scooters your experience would be helpful.
Any help would be so appreciated.

 

[tim123]

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.

Ok I have to chime in here because this post has had 500 comments and 35,000 views in 9 days. WoW! Obviously the title has had an impact on us WDW nuts.
Here is my take after just returning from 10 glorious days at the Polynesian solo in early September. First off my MBs worked perfect. They were convenient and flawless. I never once needed the fast passes that so many people on here hate. The whole of WDW was a ghost town . Fps were a joke because everything was a walk on. ADRs? Who needed them? Not me. Walk in.
Ok Ok I can hear you now..bo boo I am so lucky to go in September bla bla.. Yes I know those who go on July 4th and then complain.. Really don't know what to say to them…
What do I hate about WDW?…here's the list. the stripping of Walts name. The generic branding of 'Disney Parks' everywhere. Yuk. No resort specific merchandise in many places but inexplainably many items in some resorts..
As for what the corporate thugs have done to the Poly. I Yi Yi…Bulldozed Sunset Point. Threw the iconic fountain in the trash. Ruined the lovely, classic and historic view from 80 % of the longhouses so that a few rich people can stay on a mosquito , alligator and snake filled, brown, unswimable lagoon…
BUT BUT BUT…did I have fun? Yep! Did this turn into an amazing experience on those 30,000 still beautiful acres YEP. Does the greed of today and the change of the past bother me? A little. But its like anything else in life..As you get older you long for the good ole days…well guess what its always gonna be the good ole days for each succeeding generation. This time around I saw the changes but they in no way ruined the magic for me. it was there 100% because I brought it and I lived it in my heart. And the swamp still shined..weeds and all! My take. thank you for listening.
Film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCDjdbRcEHU&feature=em-upload_owner

 

[Ellwood970]

i'm still convinced this is part of the reason they have cut out so much entertainment. Gotta find the money somewhere.

agree

 

[Disneyhappy]

Wow, you must have a lot of disposable income! Lucky you! Unfortunately I don't. Not if I want to retire someday. I don't regard a Disney vacation as being inexpensive by any stretch of the imagination. I feel that I'm paying a lot of money for my vacation and that Disney is reducing my experience on every trip to WDW.

I agree. While we have much more disposable income at this point in our lives, it wasn't always so. Therefore, we still appreciate the value of the dollar. Prior to DVC ownership, we stayed in the deluxe resorts, many times club level. Last year we thought about adding on a day to stay at our favorite resort - Polynesian club level. My jaw literally dropped when I received our discounted AP quote for one night. I had no idea the prices had changed so much over the last 8 years which was our last stay there. While we could afford it, for us, we opted not to stay and paid cash to add onto our DVC villa for the one night at BCV. Disney is in the business to make money so they price the rooms as high as the market allows. Based on our traveling experience in other resorts across the country, the Polynesian does not hold that value for us at the price quoted.

I do like that there are value resorts for families who cannot afford moderate and deluxe so they can enjoy the onsite experience. I do not like the decline in food quality and generic offerings with the prices forever increasing. Again, Disney pricing reflects what the market allows. If not for the TIW card, we would be eating more of our nicer meals off site than we currently do.

 

[minnie mum]

I am planning a trip in December 2014. Will be there the 19th thru the 26th 11 other family members. 4 of them are kids 13 and under and 2 are seniors. The seniors will have scooters but I do have one question for those that have used the new fastpass system. We are doing the base ticket because of the many family members and I am not exactly sure what day we will be in what park. Are any of the rides that are fastpass still easily accessible without reserving ahead of time? Also has anyone been there during this time of year and what parks should we avoid on Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day? I have been to WDW many times just never this time of year? Also if anyone has traveled with someone on scooters your experience would be helpful.
Any help would be so appreciated.

Your post really doesn't relate to anything on this thread.

And you have multiple questions that require detailed answers that, again, don't belong on this thread. I would recommend that you start a new thread of your own. There are lots of us who would be happy to help.

 

[mesaboy2]

With your experience, makes sense. It doesn't matter to music what the return times were because We knew the parks. We knew what we could do in between.

Most never used it.

I said nothing about availability.

FP was difficult to use. You found this beyond laughable. I suggested you thought this because your experience said otherwise. I suggested actual use (most didn't use) supports the point that it was difficult to use.

And somehow I'm talking about availability?

Difficult to use includes "difficult to understand" but isn't limited to that. I knew how to use it but return times sometimes made it difficult to use, especially when one of my kids was less than pleasant or one of my in laws legs started cramping.

What I found laughable was comparing the two systems and claiming the new one is "far easier" to use, not your claim here that Legacy FP was difficult.

You keep referring to how most people didn't use FP, and by inference (and presumably fact) that more use FP+. This is an availability problem, not a difficulty problem. What is your point here then in a discussion about ease of use?

Ease of use of the system necessarily includes understanding how it works, from start to finish. This would be questions like:

- what do I need to book in advance?
- when can I do it?
- what determines when I can do it?
- how many can I get?
- for which attractions can I get them?
- are there any attractions I can't get them for?

The answers to these questions are a clue to how easy the different respective FP systems are to use, not just redeem as perhaps you are focusing on.

That this new system is easier to use, from womb to tomb, then the old one is again, beyond laughable.

 

[OtherScott]

What I found laughable was comparing the two systems and claiming the new one is "far easier" to use, not your claim here that Legacy FP was difficult.

Board is replete with those reporting ease of use of FP+

You keep referring to how most people didn't use FP, and by inference (and presumably fact) that more use FP+. This is an availability problem, not a difficulty problem. What is your point here then in a discussion about ease of use?

If the minority of guests who pulled legacies all prebooked 3 and the majority prebooked and pulled none, like before, availability under FP+ would increase. Unless you think even less people were using legacy, and if those who were pulled less than 3. Just math.

Availability is down because participation is up.

Ease of use of the system necessarily includes understanding how it works, from start to finish. This would be questions like:

- what do I need to book in advance?
- when can I do it?
- what determines when I can do it?
- how many can I get?
- for which attractions can I get them?
- are there any attractions I can't get them for?

The answers to these questions are a clue to how easy the different respective FP systems are to use, not just redeem as perhaps you are focusing on.

The answers with FP+ are known in advance. The answers with legacy were situational, changing dynamically throughout the day. I'm focusing on how the return time + individual party considerations affected the willingness to use an available FP, not redemption. Guests don't pull FPs they don't feel they can redeem.

That this new system is easier to use, from womb to tomb, then the old one is again, beyond laughable.

Oh well.

 

[tim123]

I agree. While we have much more disposable income at this point in our lives, it wasn't always so. Therefore, we still appreciate the value of the dollar. Prior to DVC ownership, we stayed in the deluxe resorts, many times club level. Last year we thought about adding on a day to stay at our favorite resort - Polynesian club level. My jaw literally dropped when I received our discounted AP quote for one night. I had no idea the prices had changed so much over the last 8 years which was our last stay there. While we could afford it, for us, we opted not to stay and paid cash to add onto our DVC villa for the one night at BCV. Disney is in the business to make money so they price the rooms as high as the market allows. Based on our traveling experience in other resorts across the country, the Polynesian does not hold that value for us at the price quoted.

I do like that there are value resorts for families who cannot afford moderate and deluxe so they can enjoy the onsite experience. I do not like the decline in food quality and generic offerings with the prices forever increasing. Again, Disney pricing reflects what the market allows. If not for the TIW card, we would be eating more of our nicer meals off site than we currently do.

If you are smart you can stay at The Polynesian for $189 a night in a beautiful room facing the water. Club level is a waste. Bring your own goldfish crackers and bud wiser and save $500a night. The new 2015 rate is $199 a night for those who know how to get it. Mid August to mid September. And you don't need to give Disney 10 years of vacation money up front.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Availability is down because participation is up.

Not necessarily the case. FP+ makes you pick 3 FP when you're selecting. Before you could just decide to walk up and pick one if it looked good and you wanted it.

Now I got a comparision of Supersizing in my head. Sorry - you can't get the burger, small fries and large coke. You have to take the large fries too! We've had plenty of FP's that we haven't used simply because we had to pick. But that doesn't mean that because we got that FP for Little Mermaid that we really wanted it or even used it.

Also, now people can select FP's ahead of time even if their not certain they'll be in the park - just as a back up if they make it. That reduces availability compared to the previous system.

Overall I'm still puzzling out how on earth my friend and I managed to figure out FP back in 2000 and without using the internet. Now it takes videos and emails and sticky threads to work thru it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Overall I'm still puzzling out how on earth my friend and I managed to figure out FP back in 2000 and without using the internet. Now it takes videos and emails and sticky threads to work thru it.

And don't for get the secret handshakes. There are many of those.

 

[mesaboy2]

Oh well.

I agree with this--oh well.

There is obviously a wide gulf between us and I will leave it there, shaking my head in amazement that two people can have such dramatically different opinions on this.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

If you are smart you can stay at The Polynesian for $189 a night in a beautiful room facing the water. Club level is a waste. Bring your own goldfish crackers and bud wiser and save $500a night. The new 2015 rate is $199 a night for those who know how to get it. Mid August to mid September. And you don't need to give Disney 10 years of vacation money up front.

$189?!! What kind of package deal is that?! I've never been able to find Poly at that rate

 

[tim123]

$189?!! What kind of package deal is that?! I've never been able to find Poly at that rate

Its not a package. thats the room rate for those days…but I can't say where on these boards..PM me.

 

[mom2rtk]

Its not a package. thats the room rate for those days…but I can't say where on these boards..PM me.

Great. Even more secret handshakes.

 

[tim123]

Great. Even more secret handshakes.

thats the way it is. why shouldn't people know that they can stay at the poly without paying $600 bucks a night? secret handshake? they just are not allowed to advertise the rate. would YOU rather pay $600 for the same room you can get for $200?

 

[OtherScott]

Not necessarily the case. FP+ makes you pick 3 FP when you're selecting. Before you could just decide to walk up and pick one if it looked good and you wanted it.

Now I got a comparision of Supersizing in my head. Sorry - you can't get the burger, small fries and large coke. You have to take the large fries too! We've had plenty of FP's that we haven't used simply because we had to pick. But that doesn't mean that because we got that FP for Little Mermaid that we really wanted it or even used it.

Also, now people can select FP's ahead of time even if their not certain they'll be in the park - just as a back up if they make it. That reduces availability compared to the previous system.

Overall I'm still puzzling out how on earth my friend and I managed to figure out FP back in 2000 and without using the internet. Now it takes videos and emails and sticky threads to work thru it.

Before +, less than 1/2 of Disney guests used FP at all. They didn't pick burger, fries or coke.

If the small number who were picking burger, fries, coke, pie, shake, salad are now limited to burger, fries and coke, and availability has gone down, it's because those who chose nothing before are choosing something now.

I'm hungry.

 

[OtherScott]

I agree with this--oh well.

There is obviously a wide gulf between us and I will leave it there, shaking my head in amazement that two people can have such dramatically different opinions on this.

I'm defining "use" much more broadly, and applying it to a more generic experience.

This board breaks down about 50/50 on the question, so I'm amazed that you're amazed.

 

[crostorfer]

thats the way it is. why shouldn't people know that they can stay at the poly without paying $600 bucks a night? secret handshake? they just are not allowed to advertise the rate. would YOU rather pay $600 for the same room you can get for $200?

At this moment that resort isn't worth the $200 a night you are paying. After the renovations are complete, you are going to have to re-configure that secret handshake. That rate is temporary due to a GREATLY diminished experience. Who wants to spend $200 a night to stay in a construction zone with no main pool?