Is it even worth it????

[wdwmom3]

Don’t stress yourself. It’s a long way out. And even if they come up with some kind of paid FPP it won’t mean you can’t ride things.

 

[samsteele]

Agree with the PPs to give it time to get a better sense of what is unfolding. But keep an eye on your refund date just in case. Touring Plans is a respected and established outfit and usually has solid info. For me, the stress of traveling during covid, getting tested, getting on a plane and riding on crowded WDW buses in combination with getting less for more this year made it an easy choice to push my vacation to 2022. I'll watch and wait. As an adult solo guest I also have the option of Universal if ends up being a better value next year. And Europe once vax passports get settled and I'm more comfortable traveling.

 

[hdrolfe]

I'm on the "wait and see" boat. While I can see a paid option being brought in, I'm not sure how it would work or how much I am willing to pay, when I am already paying stupid prices for tickets. I do hope they don't just add it to the Deluxe resort reservations. Honestly, I'd love more after hours events. I'd probably do that instead of day tickets most days. We did the early morning magic at HS and MK in 2019 and enjoyed that experience, getting to ride a few things we really loved, and getting breakfast as well, was nice.

Honestly, we love Disney as it was, and cruises. So we'll see which option we're able to do again. Maybe we'll try Universal, maybe we'll try and all inclusive. Kiddo is getting older so perhaps we don't need the rides and all that walking all day long. Who knows.

 

[TommyJK]

It is beginning to look like one needs an advanced degree in Disney planning just to take a holiday. I was ok with planning everything 60 days out but this could be the tipping point for me.

Beginning? One has needed an advanced degree in Disney Planning for at least 1/2 a decade now. Being the "Theme Park Guy" amongst my friends, any time a friend has asked me about planning a Disney vacation and I start going through ADRs, FP+, Rope Drop and/or touring strategies, Boarding Groups etc. they stare at me dumbfounded. I always get one or more of the following questions/statements:

1. How am I supposed to know where I want to eat and when 6 months out? What if we're not in the mood for that when the day comes can't I just decide when I get there?
2. I have to pick these rides 2 months out? What if it's raining that day or we want to go to another park instead?
3. I want to do that new Star Wars ride, your telling me I might not get to ride it? Can't I just get there early and wait in line?
4. This is all so overwhelming. I feel like I need to do spreadsheets just to sort all of this out. <Shows them some of my past Disney Spreadsheets> *cross-eyed stare*
5. Can't I just go and have fun?

World has boxed itself into a corner for quite some time. IMO they grew way too fast over the last 10ish years without the same level of park growth to keep things balanced between # of guests vs. breadth of activities to do for all of those guests, and now they're trying to figure out how to re-blanace things with all of these new attempts/changes for crowd management. We've refused to go there anymore since our last trip in 2017. Between the price, ever increasing intense forms of planning (in order to have a good time) and the loss of most forms of spontaneity we have been done with World. Since that time we've been to DLP which was awesome and plan do to DLR sometime in the future (for Galaxy's Edge).

But Universal has been our home now (4 times in last 6 years). Stress free vacation with nearly zero pre-planning needed and more thrilling attractions (my kids are now in their early teens).

 

[Nabas]

Well, I guess I am worried bc Disney Paris and Shanghai has paid fast passes and at some point...you just cant afford it

For fun, I had a look at ticket prices for Saturday, September 18.

Disneyland Paris: $81.42.

Shanghai Disneyland: $78.35

Walt Disney World: $132.00

You're already paying for Fast Passes at WDW.

 

[pigletto]

Beginning? One has needed an advanced degree in Disney Planning for at least 1/2 a decade now. Being the "Theme Park Guy" amongst my friends, any time a friend has asked me about planning a Disney vacation and I start going through ADRs, FP+, Rope Drop and/or touring strategies, Boarding Groups etc. they stare at me dumbfounded. I always get one or more of the following questions/statements:

1. How am I supposed to know where I want to eat and when 6 months out? What if we're not in the mood for that when the day comes can't I just decide when I get there?
2. I have to pick these rides 2 months out? What if it's raining that day or we want to go to another park instead?
3. I want to do that new Star Wars ride, your telling me I might not get to ride it? Can't I just get there early and wait in line?
4. This is all so overwhelming. I feel like I need to do spreadsheets just to sort all of this out. <Shows them some of my past Disney Spreadsheets> *cross-eyed stare*
5. Can't I just go and have fun?

World has boxed itself into a corner for quite some time. IMO they grew way too fast over the last 10ish years without the same level of park growth to keep things balanced between # of guests vs. breadth of activities to do for all of those guests, and now they're trying to figure out how to re-blanace things with all of these new attempts/changes for crowd management. We've refused to go there anymore since our last trip in 2017. Between the price, ever increasing intense forms of planning (in order to have a good time) and the loss of most forms of spontaneity we have been done with World. Since that time we've been to DLP which was awesome and plan do to DLR sometime in the future (for Galaxy's Edge).

But Universal has been our home now (4 times in last 6 years). Stress free vacation with nearly zero pre-planning needed and more thrilling attractions (my kids are now in their early teens).

It’s almost beginning to worry me how often I’m reading “I’ll take my money to Universal” because I want it to stay uncomplicated lol . We’ve always loved both, but Universal is by far the more relaxed and go with the flow of the two .

 

[TommyJK]

It’s almost beginning to worry me how often I’m reading “I’ll take my money to Universal” because I want it to stay uncomplicated lol . We’ve always loved both, but Universal is by far the more relaxed and go with the flow of the two .

Well, out of every 10 people that say "That's it, I'm done with Disney.", my guess is that at least 8 of them actually just keep going back to Disney. They're lifers.

 

[Going to WDW]

I have to say with all the balls still up in the air about different things (general covid travel (vaccine mixing/passports, etc....), general disney stuff, emh for deluxe/DVC only, WDW menus, WestJet becoming the least dependable airline ever, etc...) we have a March 2022 reservation booked at Gran Destino Tower Club level and I am anything but confident that it will actually happen at this point for this time frame. With the FP+ questions (availability/$$) it's just another brick in the wall.

Everything from air travel (we booked Westjet but have ZERO confidence they won't rebook to a far worse itinerary before March --- my DH's WJ Sept trip to BC is literally a flaming pile right now and there is NO ability to get it straighten out without a multi hour on hold calling sessions and frequent cut offs --- their call back service is totally non-functional --- is WJ even really a major airline anymore?

There are changes to many WDW restaurants menus that make them less worth the $$$'s than they even were before --- which for some were overpriced then. I think we'll make the call whether to keep the ressies in the new year but I had enquired why when Gran Destino Tower costs as much as a deluxe doesn't offer the extra hours perk the response I got from WDW was they couldn't have cared less. I'm sure any FP+ availability/costs will get the same casual/non-interested reply. WDW has been our go to vacation since 1998 --- based on what I've seen from WDW I can't see that be true going forward.