Is Disney at fault for disappointment?

[Darcy03231]

Does anybody know if planning a vacation at Universal is any easier or more difficult? I know it's a smaller place, but they are busy too.

Much easier. We were there in August and stayed off-site. We decided with the night before or the morning of which park we were going to and just went. We didn't have express passes and managed to ride everything with minimal wait times (no more than 30 min, and most either 15 min or less). We did take advantage of the single rider line where we could. We did book an on-site hotel for one night just to get the express passes for two days, but we really didn't need to do that.

It depends. If you stay onsite with the free Express Pass then the only planning necessary,IMHO, is getting up for early entry for some the Harry Potter attractions that don't take Express Pass. Other than that it's way easier. Almost all of the restaurants inside Universal parks a mediocre at best. City Walk eateries are mostly pretty good and easy to get a table for.

I found the restaurants in the parks to be pretty good (and some were better than some of the ones at WDW).

 

[maxiesmom]

The problem is not the burgers and the chicken strip the problem is that those things are really poor quality.

Again, I don't agree.

 

[eliza61]

I don't think there is any question that a WDW trip needs to be planned more in advance than others. It's a question of "Does Disney accurately relay that info?".

100% agree. and there's the point of "research".. people here spend weeks and hours on the dis but if you're not a disney fanatic or just taking your family on a once trip are you going to do that? you pick up a birnbaums guide does it tell you that you have to get up at 12:01 on the 60 day mark in order to get a fp for 7DMT ride?

does a first timer know that if they make their adr's at 180 days out that they maybe stressing to redo them when their fp window opens up? or that if they want to make a change in maybe darn near impossible to get the same adr later?

 

[MrInfinity]

That is another thing research would fix--there are many different good options for counter service, but you need to know where to look. The chicken at Cosmic Ray's is very good, as is the mongolian beef at Sunshine Seasons.

I have to agree with you. There are lots of really great food choices. We've had the chicken at Cosmic Rays. You get a 1/2 chicken, veggies and mashed potatoes for a QS point or around $12. It's pretty awesome, healthy, and filling. Easily a parent-child split meal. If you think WDW has bad food, you obviously haven't been to local theme parks in a while. Try going to Cedar Point or Six Flags and see the same chicken nuggets and fries at every shop.

 

[Colleen27]

This. Disney is a different animal that takes lots of pre-planning. And not just a couple weeks in advance, things have to be booked and plans nailed down months in advance and I don't think people "get" that. A good friend of mine wants to take her kids to Disney this is how the conversation went:

Her "We are thinking of going to Disney during Christmas break!"

Me: Blank stare

Her: We figure it won't be crowded at all because everyone stays home for the holidays so it should be really slow

Me: THIS Christmas??!!!

I had a similar conversation with my brother in law....

He's thinking about a Disney/Universal trip for DN's birthday, and he wants us all to go in on renting a house for the week. Offsite. The first week of July. Trying to hit all four Disney parks, Universal, and "maybe Sea World" in one week. With 10 people. I don't even know where to begin explaining what's wrong with that plan and I know I'm going to be cast as Debbie Downer if I try.

Does anybody know if planning a vacation at Universal is any easier or more difficult? I know it's a smaller place, but they are busy too.

I won't be able to say for sure until Feb, but so far I'm leaning towards MUCH easier. I'm actually planning trips to both right now - separate trips, just a few weeks apart - so I'm getting a close-up look at the differences in the planning.

For the Disney trip, I booked our resort a couple months ago (before we even knew if we'd be able to take the trip!) and made dining reservations at the same time. When I made ADRs in Sept, the best I could do for dinner at DHS was 3:30 in the afternoon but I was glad to get our first choice restaurant even if it is at an awkward time. I screwed up and forgot about our FP+ day the night before, so instead of booking at midnight I did it around 10am and that delay meant I was shut out of FP for Anna & Elsa and got crappy times for a few of our top choice rides, including a TSMM FP that is going to be really tight with that 3:30 dinner. We're staying at the Poly but I don't make arrival-night ADRs because of the cancellation penalty, so we already know dinner that night may be counter service because we won't be able to walk-up to the hotel restaurants and aren't going to want to travel to a different resort for dinner after a long day getting there. And I'm checking the WDW site daily - the travel agent park hours .pdf, of course, rather than the main calendar because if I wait for the public site to be updated it'll be too late - for the Dec hours update we all know is coming eventually, because I'm hoping to rectify my FP+ failures when they extend the MK hours to accommodate the insane party-season/non-party-day crowds.

For the Universal trip, I booked our room at the Hard Rock and moved on. Dining reservations aren't required and if I did want to make some I wouldn't be penalized if they change at the last minute. And ride reservations aren't required. So by choosing dates (which is itself much simpler than for Disney because there is no hard ticket party season of limited park hours and no ride-reservation system that requires selecting specific park days in advance, and because staying onsite offers the express pass advantage that makes choosing slower times of year less vital) booking the room my planning is done. I'd say that's easier, wouldn't you? I also anticipate it will be easier/more relaxing during the actual trip, because I won't be constantly checking my watch to make sure I don't miss any ride appointments.

It was the end of February, Saturday-Sunday. A week later was a little more expensive, but not much..and still nothing near what Disney Deluxes were.

Now, Spring Break? Yeah, prices were higher. But availability was still there even 1 month prior (I wanted to go to a show again over spring break time, so I was looking. Just decided against it because of other things going on in family life at the time, not because of availability or lack thereof).

Mind sharing where you stayed? NYC is penciled in for next year for us, probably over our Feb break, and I'd love to know where to start hunting for that kind of deal!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Mind sharing where you stayed? NYC is penciled in for next year for us, probably over our Feb break, and I'd love to know where to start hunting for that kind of deal!

Pm sent

 

[Paigesmom2013]

I had a friend go to MK on Columbus Day with no fastpasses, no ADRs, staying off site. I was so worried for her beforehand. Well, she said they had a great time! Now maybe she didn't care what they rode or where they ate--her girl likes superheroes, not princesses.

I plan outings even for a beach vacation. But the 180 day dining reservations are so extreme. I'm an uber planner but it's all a bit much.

 

[eliza61]

I have to agree with you. There are lots of really great food choices. We've had the chicken at Cosmic Rays. You get a 1/2 chicken, veggies and mashed potatoes for a QS point or around $12. It's pretty awesome, healthy, and filling. Easily a parent-child split meal. If you think WDW has bad food, you obviously haven't been to local theme parks in a while. Try going to Cedar Point or Six Flags and see the same chicken nuggets and fries at every shop.

do you spend a week at 6 flags and drop easily 3000K? seriously.
Most of the time when you see advertisements for 6 flags the emphasis is not on dining offerings. when we go and the kids love to go in the summer, we know we'll be there tops 8-10 hours and the emphasis is on the thrill rides. we know we're just going to have a quick lunch. Once again what's reasonable expectations?

Not even remotely a apples to apples comparison

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I am thinking of taking the family to our first Super Bowl this year, but I'd really like it to be a spontaneous experience. Figured we'd just head to Santa Clara the night before and find a nice hotel near the stadium, then run down to the box office and grab four tickets. Should be fun!

 

[maxiesmom]

do you spend a week at 6 flags and drop easily 3000K? seriously.
Most of the time when you see advertisements for 6 flags the emphasis is not on dining offerings. when we go and the kids love to go in the summer, we know we'll be there tops 8-10 hours and the emphasis is on the thrill rides. we know we're just going to have a quick lunch. Once again what's reasonable expectations?

Not even remotely a apples to apples comparison

I think comparing quick service at WDW to fast food at 6 Flags is very much apples to apples.

 

[Red1116]

I just looked to see what was available for Dinner tonight and Lunch tomorrow....just out of curiosity. There is a dinner tonight at 5:55 for BoG for 4, there is a Le Cellier for 4, and tons of lunch options tomorrow as well. In my opinion, if you don't want to plan, that's fine. There are still tons of options available. If you promised you 5 year old DD that you were going to eat in Cinderella's Castle and didn't do any planning to make it so...that's your problem, not Disney's. In fact, I think the $10 pp charge has made it easier to get last minute reservations.

 

[Colleen27]

do you spend a week at 6 flags and drop easily 3000K? seriously.
Most of the time when you see advertisements for 6 flags the emphasis is not on dining offerings. when we go and the kids love to go in the summer, we know we'll be there tops 8-10 hours and the emphasis is on the thrill rides. we know we're just going to have a quick lunch. Once again what's reasonable expectations?

Not even remotely a apples to apples comparison

And I can't speak to Six Flags, but Cedar Point has really stepped up the food service. It is still overpriced compared to dining outside of the park, of course, and a lot of it is third-party operated (Subway, DQ, Famous Dave's, Chik-Fil-A, Starbucks, Johnny Rocket) but there's a lot more than the crappy burgers and chicken strips that they served a decade ago. And unlike Disney, where you have to do your homework to figure out where you can find something other than burgers and such, the fact that Cedar Point does use third-party operators means even the most uninformed guests can easily choose an option that suits them.

 

[lugnut33]

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[tmoo]

It is entirely Disney's fault. They have continued to cram people in the parks while not expanding or updating them in any meaningful way. There is always somebody that isn't happy, but most Disney visitors have rational expectations. They know you can't just walk up to dine in the castle. They realize you may have to wait in line for some of the more popular attractions. However, at over $100/person they expect to experience enough Disney magic to make it worthwhile.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in things we lose touch with reality.
We need to back up and get a little perspective.
Most people would not have an expectation of getting up at midnight 60 days out to schedule a time to avoid a 120 minute wait on a 2 year old kiddie coaster.
Most people would realize you need a reservation for the best restaurants but would never envision pounding the phone at 6AM 6months out just to get a table at Ohana.
Most people would expect a healthy wait for Space Mountain, but not 45 minutes to an hour for things like Jungle Cruise and Small World.
Most people would expect to meet several Disney characters without an experience that resembles Ralphie meeting Santa in Christmas Story
Most people would expect a decent view of BOTH the fireworks AND parade without having to stake out a spot for each over an hour ahead of time

A normal person that started serious planning a month out could very easily not get their money's worth and end up back at the hotel pool after a long day of waiting in line for creaky attractions thinking it is all a bit ridiculous. They start thinking about all the other great vacation options for that amount of money.

Word is getting out that the parks are way overcrowded and the attractions are outdated. I predict this irrational situation won't last forever. Disney will either have to learn how to build a new attraction in less than 5 years or attendance will reverse the gains and start to slip. Either one will be good news for those that love going to Disney no matter what.

 

[GPC0321]

But it doesn't have to be miserable if you don't plan. If you expect to have every meal at 6 pm, and expect to be able to walk on all of the rides the minute you get to it, then yes. You would be miserable. But that has more to do with having unrealistic expectations to begin with. We are all going to a theme park and sharing space with thousands of other people. How does it even make sense that you should be able to do everything you want without waiting in line? If people are flexible when they are at WDW then not planning is fine.

Exactly. People complain about long waits and people complain about being "forced" to make reservations. People complain that the parks are too crowded, and then complain about being "forced" to make ADRs and FP+ ahead of time. I don't get it. Knowing how crowded the place is, it seems like the ability to make FP+ and ADRs should be a blessing to those who want the guarantee of choice restaurants and certain attractions without long waits.

I don't see how a shorter ADR window (or none at all) or going back to paper Fastpasses obtained the day of that park visit are better than what is in place now given the volume of visitors. It seems like that would increase pressure and a last-minute frenzy to edge someone out. Long waits at restaurants for tables, or having to settle for eating somewhere else instead? Mad dashes to get Fastpasses first thing in the morning? Doesn't sound so great to me.

Thread after thread on here tells the tale of crowded parks and the demise of a slow or off-season at WDW. This means more people vying for the same attractions and restaurants. And unlike normal restaurants in normal places, many of Disney's restaurants are more than just a place to eat a good meal. The most difficult ones are hard to get thanks to another feature, either characters, entertainment, early access to a park, or unique theming/atmosphere.
Comparing getting a reservation for CRT to getting one for a local fancy steakhouse or seafood place, even in a touristy town, is still apples to oranges. The meal at CRT isn't what is in demand. The castle and princesses are. It's a meal in one of the most iconic structures on the planet with personal meet-and-greets with Disney princesses.

I would imagine that many restaurants at WDW have openings the day before or even same day so long as your flexible about when and where. Not the VERY popular ones, but still some good ones.

Ugh, I'm rambling. I guess my feeling is that some people seem to be disappointed no matter what and they're usually the same people who blame everyone and everything for their disappointment.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I need that PM also

Sent

 

[Angel Ariel]

Exactly. People complain about long waits and people complain about being "forced" to make reservations. People complain that the parks are too crowded, and then complain about being "forced" to make ADRs and FP+ ahead of time. I don't get it. Knowing how crowded the place is, it seems like the ability to make FP+ and ADRs should be a blessing to those who want the guarantee of choice restaurants and certain attractions without long waits.

I didn't always mind ADRs so much. Then they instituted the $10/pp cancellation fee. We were never ones that continued to hold multiple reservations/day and never cancelled them, we didn't abuse the system. I understand why the $10/pp was instituted, but I'm frustrated by it as we were not the cause, and it impacts the flexibility we have on our trip.

I don't see how a shorter ADR window (or none at all) or going back to paper Fastpasses obtained the day of that park visit are better than what is in place now given the volume of visitors. It seems like that would increase pressure and a last-minute frenzy to edge someone out. Long waits at restaurants for tables, or having to settle for eating somewhere else instead? Mad dashes to get Fastpasses first thing in the morning? Doesn't sound so great to me.

DLR has a 60 day dining window, and they seem to be doing just fine with it. the paper fp thing is pointless to discuss at this point, as it isnt' coming back, but FWIW, we never did "mad dashes" to get FP first thing in the morning. Never needed to. Was never shut out of a FP for any attraction.

Ugh, I'm rambling. I guess my feeling is that some people seem to be disappointed no matter what and they're usually the same people who blame everyone and everything for their disappointment.

That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. That isn't the personal experience I've had, though.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't see how a shorter ADR window (or none at all) or going back to paper Fastpasses obtained the day of that park visit are better than what is in place now given the volume of visitors. It seems like that would increase pressure and a last-minute frenzy to edge someone out. Long waits at restaurants for tables, or having to settle for eating somewhere else instead? Mad dashes to get Fastpasses first thing in the morning? Doesn't sound so great to me.

A lot of the blaming the system, at least where FP+ is concerned, comes from the feeling that they put a lot of time, money, and effort into that system rather than putting that time, money, and effort into increasing capacity to match the increase in crowd levels. If advance ride reservations had come along side by side with increased ride capacity, I don't think the reaction would have been so negative. But it has been just the opposite... even newly-refurbished rides are breaking down on a near-daily basis, and no new ride capacity is coming on line any time soon to ease the standby waits. It almost feels like Disney wants people to ride their three attractions, shop/eat, and get the heck out to make room for someone else to do the same. And that's at odds with what customers expect of a $100 day in a theme park.

And the ADR thing stems from a window that is much, much longer than any other corresponding element of vacation planning, so that getting the most popular restaurants requires having dining reservations even before you have a room reservation or firm travel dates. A shorter window would absolutely help there, IMO, because you'd have far fewer "maybe" bookings where people book high-demand dining in anticipation of free dining maybe coming out, or vacation time maybe being approved, or special event schedules maybe falling a particular way. A shorter window would mean a higher percentage of guests would have actual travel plans, rather than maybes.

 

[anniemae]

I think in the perfect world of a Disney guest, there would be no crowds and therefore, no need for ADR's or FP! Or, Disney would expand the parks and attractions to account for the increased crowds before offering all those specials and promotions/special parties designed to increase attendance. I think the problems is Disney is doing everything in it's power to fill the parks, hotels, and restaurants but they are not ready for all those people yet. The big plans have not materialized yet, expansion areas have not happened (Avatarland, star wars etc.), rides are closing for refurbishment, the parks are more crowded than ever (due in part to promos like free dining), wait times are getting longer and longer.......yet the prices have increased. I get the frustration.

 

[joannamet]

Bottom line, I think it's bad to have to plan your day so specifically that your route is predetermined from meal to FP+ to meal to FP+ to meal. Great for Disney to estimate labor needs, bad for the guest that wants to take a break with a sit down air conditioned meal and did not plan it 3 months before they arrived. And forget it if you want to change your mind and go to a different park today.

We plan less with every trip and have never failed to have a magical vacation. Knowledge, flexability and reasonable expectations can replace a lot of obsessive planning.

Honestly, i feel confident that i could book a resort tonight, leave tomorrow morning, get to WDW in the afternoon with no FPs or ADRs and love every minute of my time there.

Oh...if only I really could. Now I'm sad...so sad.