I've been reading this thread with great interest. We returned from Spring Break 8 days ago, so i'm viewing all of this thru the lens of our recent visit.
1) If the early morning event is escorted to FL, I doubt you will be allowed the time or opportunity to get pics in front of the castle in a nearly empty park.
2) Once Disney implements a new paid event or service or resort fee, I don't forsee them ever reversing it. Look at our economy. When gas prices were sky high, food and everything else took a major jump in price due to increased transportation costs. Have they gone back down relative to the current gas prices? No. I would like to think that the Disney food costs would eventually go down but I don't expect it.
3) These new paid events and other changes DO affect me, even if I don't use them. With every-increasing park crowds, it is harder to have the normal guest experience that Disney promotes. For example, taking away the prime viewing area on the MK train platform has taken away a nice chunk of area along with no more fastpasses. Yes, I can line up along the street and see the parade but sitting in the sun for 2 hours is not pleasurable. When you add the influx of people from the paid evening event, the available spots are greatly diminished. The stand-by lines are much longer, too, with the increased crowds and fastpass changes. Yes, I can still go when it opens and stay until it closes but I do less then I did before and paid more for it. Yes, I do use stand-by lines and 3-4 fastpasses per day but I'm also spending a lot of energy putting it all together like a puzzle to do what our family wants to do. Even some of the paid perks have changed, like no more assigned seating for the Wishes Dessert Party. Virtually everything that our family likes to do now comes with a hefty wait-time that can be directly impacted by a new influx of paid events. When FastPass came out years ago, Disney wanted people out of lines so they could spend more money in the parks. With the current crowd levels and anticipated increases, I will be spending more time in line and less time shopping.
4) Embarrassingly, I must admit to having an occasional entitlement attitude myself. I've staying up to midnight to get my coveted FP+s, I've diligently researched restaurants prior to my 180 window, I'm searched every DIS thread on topics that interest me and implemented those tips into my plans. All that while paying an ever increasing bill to go. Once I get there, I expect the Disney experience I see on commercials but it will never happen. I think that is why some of these seemingly innocent changes "get" to me. I've done all I'm supposed to do to customize my Disney time and then there is another curve ball.
Will we continue to go to Disney? Of course! I will also be sure to check my attitude at the door. I will continue to carve out the best vacation for me and my family.
That's just my 2 cents.
1) If the early morning event is escorted to FL, I doubt you will be allowed the time or opportunity to get pics in front of the castle in a nearly empty park.
2) Once Disney implements a new paid event or service or resort fee, I don't forsee them ever reversing it. Look at our economy. When gas prices were sky high, food and everything else took a major jump in price due to increased transportation costs. Have they gone back down relative to the current gas prices? No. I would like to think that the Disney food costs would eventually go down but I don't expect it.
3) These new paid events and other changes DO affect me, even if I don't use them. With every-increasing park crowds, it is harder to have the normal guest experience that Disney promotes. For example, taking away the prime viewing area on the MK train platform has taken away a nice chunk of area along with no more fastpasses. Yes, I can line up along the street and see the parade but sitting in the sun for 2 hours is not pleasurable. When you add the influx of people from the paid evening event, the available spots are greatly diminished. The stand-by lines are much longer, too, with the increased crowds and fastpass changes. Yes, I can still go when it opens and stay until it closes but I do less then I did before and paid more for it. Yes, I do use stand-by lines and 3-4 fastpasses per day but I'm also spending a lot of energy putting it all together like a puzzle to do what our family wants to do. Even some of the paid perks have changed, like no more assigned seating for the Wishes Dessert Party. Virtually everything that our family likes to do now comes with a hefty wait-time that can be directly impacted by a new influx of paid events. When FastPass came out years ago, Disney wanted people out of lines so they could spend more money in the parks. With the current crowd levels and anticipated increases, I will be spending more time in line and less time shopping.
4) Embarrassingly, I must admit to having an occasional entitlement attitude myself. I've staying up to midnight to get my coveted FP+s, I've diligently researched restaurants prior to my 180 window, I'm searched every DIS thread on topics that interest me and implemented those tips into my plans. All that while paying an ever increasing bill to go. Once I get there, I expect the Disney experience I see on commercials but it will never happen. I think that is why some of these seemingly innocent changes "get" to me. I've done all I'm supposed to do to customize my Disney time and then there is another curve ball.
Will we continue to go to Disney? Of course! I will also be sure to check my attitude at the door. I will continue to carve out the best vacation for me and my family.
That's just my 2 cents.
