It's finally starting to get to me . . .

[ktlm]

I can't tell you how disappointed I am in this particular change. We also take 5+ day trips, so are also looking at that 200% increase, for a much lesser product. It's absolutely ridiculous. DLR will be hearing from us about that.

Definitely let Disney know you are not happy about it. The more people that complain, the better the chance they will fix it. I sent them an E-mail about my concerns for people with multi-day park trips- especially those with 5 days like us. I told them that photopass was an important part of our trip and asked if they had any plans to correct this situation for their multi-day guests and this is the generic response I got:

Thank you for contacting us regarding Disneyland.com/PhotoPass.

Your feedback is very important to us, and we appreciate your taking the time to share your comments about our new products and website. We have passed along your comments and concerns to the teams that handle our product and website offerings.

Please know that our goal is to continually review and enhance our services to provide new functionality, products, etc. so your experiences are always positive.

Thank you for contacting Disney Photo Imaging.

I would say even the canned response is a cut back. I can only remember sending a complaint to WDW in one other time which was in 2012 when they removed Belle in her red dress from MVMCP and there was no longer any way to meet her in her holiday dress during the Christmas season, and I'm not sure, but I may have also discussed the fact that there was no longer any regular meet and greet with her in her gold dress for autographs and photos taken by parents in any park outside of the paid Akershus character meal since she does not sign at ETWB, does not really interact much with the kids much and parents can't take their own photos. That time I got a personalized E-mail, and I think even a phone call. My hopes are that they have had so many complaints about the photopass situation that they can't be more personalized- but my suspicion is that it is just another area where they have cut back on personalized service.


I don't think it is oversaturation of visits. I have been every few years since I was a kid. As a pre-kid adult, we still went every few years. Since DD turned 2, we have been every year. Even with all those trips, the customer service and little perks never seemed to have been significantly reduced. They might have changed, but it never actually "felt" different until this last trip. While I hate when favorite things close and may complain and whine about being unhappy about losing certain attractions- I'm not one that gets overly mad at Disney because they don't have new attractions, or because they replace old attractions. I get that is going to happen. I love New Fantasyland. I don't really get the appeal of the Storybook Circus area, but I do think the new Dumbo is beautiful at night. I miss the old Snow White ride, but I love 7DMT. While I might complain that a big favorite is down during a trip (almost switched a trip due to Peter Pan being down because it was DD's absolute favorite when she was younger), I get that refurbs happen and rides are going to be down. That is not what is tipping the scale for us. We used to feel like Disney really cared about its customers in general. That is one of the things that made it special. It isn't the CMs either- we think they are in large part fantastic and are good at making people feel special. It is the cutbacks in entertainment, characters, little special touches, hours of certain things, etc. I will also admit that it irritates me when they make you lock into a FP+ 60 days in advance and then you might get an E-mail 2 weeks before your trip that they have changed the FP+ on you as what you booked is "no longer available". I would get it if it was for an unexpected refurb- but they have been known to do that when they want the viewing areas for private parties or celebrities- and also when they have glitched and overbooked FP+ for an attraction- or sometimes the system just randomly glitches and reassigns. When they change you, it is usually not for something remotely on the same level as what you wanted or that you needed. For example, we know people that got their Festival of Fantasy switched to Small World not too long before their trip. We had an incident where we were booking A&E, and the system gave DD A&E, but switched DH and I to the Mickey meet and greet (pre-talking Mickey and long lines). I also had an in park incident where the app glitched and totally messed up and lost FP+ and we were told at a kiosk that it was a system glitch, but there was nothing we could do to get back our FP+ that the glitch lost and they could not do anything for us. It just feels like they want you locked in, but they don't want to be bound by their own system that locks you in and just don't care about the customer. Like I said before, it just seems like a bunch of little things are adding up.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

IMO, although I'm sure very unpopular, I think a lot of the disappointment with WDW on the Dis boards have to do with too many visits. Many here visit so often that they don't appreciate the entire value of the parks. To someone who's never been, or only goes every few years, all the things "missing" aren't missed, and the things closed are just another reason to come back again in a few years. But when someone goes every year, or twice a year changes, closures, construction seem to be taken much more personally because it's "just not the same" as six months ago, or six months before that, or six months before that. Sometimes there's a such thing as "too much." No one should be sad, annoyed, or angry about trips to Disney.

Well said. Yes, I am a regular visitor, but, I find something new to do everytime, somewhere or something new to eat or go hunting for the unusual or fun theming, how about a theme for photographs, sounds daft, but, what about the bins, different depending on where you are in the park. Or that really artistic photo of sunset over Epcot. Too many people just go for the attractions and characters and not the full magic that is Disney. If you find it disappointing then don't go, but, quit the whining and spoiling the anticipation of those who going for their first trip, which will be magic despite what the naysayers might say.

 

[Nancyg56]

You are exactly the type of guest Disney loves. No matter how much they raise prices, diminish guest experience, remove things, charge for things that were previously free, cut hours, etc, you'll still spend your money there.

You make this guest, and I fall into that category, sound as if we cannot determine what is a value for our family. My family has never been "that" family. You know the one..... Spreadsheets in place with a battle plan that starts with arrival and ends with departure..... Structured to capture every available attraction and event. From attractions to parades to fireworks to evening entertainment. All detailed in notes and timeframes. Nope, we are polar opposites. We miss a lot of oercusced value because if something catches the eye of one of our group we toss our plan out the window and head elsewhere.

We stand in character lines, we shop in just about every store, but but not much. We hit snack kiosks and sit in benches to enjoy the view. I have been often enough to know what we are missing..... Not a blessed thing. The attractions are only a fraction of our park ticket value. I am not always pleased when a favorite site interaction or show is removed. I still miss that little Christmas play in tomorrow land. But I know what is valuable to me on a vacation.

I do not ridicule those folks who pay a lot of money to rent a house on the beach and leave with nothing more than a sunburn. They get what they want from their investment and as rentals increase they complain as they book the next trip.

We all know wgat we want and what we will pay for.

This thread makes me sad. Our trip is in mid-May and is a once (maybe twice) in a lifetime trip. When we started planning last summer, I had no idea things would go downhill so fast.

Stop. WDW did not go downhill on a sled, it has changed. We went in December and even with the cuts in decorations we still had a blast.

You will love your trip. Remember that even frequent guests cannot fit everything that WDW offers into one trip. Yes there have been cuts, but you don't notice them, not if you are concentrating on what you do have available.

Continue to plan your dream trip and keep in mind that for everyone who notices the chsnges( I do as well) many of us continue to go back. There is a reason for that

 

[MakiraMarlena]

So, if you haven't decided that you aren't going back to WDW, then you're being foolish with your money? Who says? Or do some think that we, the fans, ought to quit the place in droves to "teach them a lesson?"

There is still so much to do there, and it's easy for me to get there and find something to keep me occupied, and to meet friends. I know it makes a huge difference to some that you can't meet Lady Tremaine or Chip & Dale in the park anymore (but they are finally adding Olaf after a long wait...). I still go, and my favorite thing ever at WDW closed in 2008. I do know a few people who quit going after 2008. That was enough for them. I'm still holding onto an AP though. Even now.

 

[Nancyg56]

So, if you haven't decided that you aren't going back to WDW, then you're being foolish with your money? Who says? Or do some think that we, the fans, ought to quit the place in droves to "teach them a lesson?"

There is still so much to do there, and it's easy for me to get there and find something to keep me occupied, and to meet friends. I know it makes a huge difference to some that you can't meet Lady Tremaine in the park anymore (but they are finally adding Olaf after a long wait...). I still go, and my favorite thing ever at WDW closed in 2008. I do know a few people who quit going after 2008. That was enough for them. I'm still holding onto an AP though.

I agree.

 

[shanethesaint88]

I respect all of your opinions and am wonderfully happy that you all enjoy the parks the same. I do not wish anyone to have a bad trip. However, I do not feel the same. That does mean I wish to discourage anyone from going or enjoying or appreciating wdw. It just means that I will not be going until 2018 at the earliest. Unless I hear reports of major cutbacks on the crowds

 

[LumosQ102]

Oh you'll all be back...just wait until Rivers of Light, possibly a new stage show at MK, Toy Story land, the new Soarin', Star Wars land start opening. You'll be clamoring for those resort ressies, buying DVC points at VWL II like candy bars, and proudly mentioning your platinum plus annual pass once again! Mark my words!

I want to be back! I love Disney, I'm a complete disnerd and love nothing more than walking down main street on a balmy Florida morning. I love FP+, New Fantasyland, think Disney Springs is utterly charming. But cutting staff, cutting entertainment? Whats next, the trolly show? The fact that they are reducing custodial staff... its madness. The next few years were already going to be rough because of the scale of the construction, but add in less cast in those key positions that impact guest experience, that's where I have an issue. 1 Fantasmic! a night during easter? Utter madness.

Lets not forget that this is an anniversary year - 45 years on October 1st. Where are the celebrations? not even a little one?

That's interesting, because I see a lot of regulars actually posting about how much they are cutting back. (Not renewing APs, going once a year instead of twice, cutting back on the number of Disney days in a given trip). It seems very credible to me. Many of them have posted in this very thread.

yup. Never thought I'd be here.

 

[NorthshoreTigerFan]

I just got back from a week long trip last week. While we had a great time (my wife and I have 3 kids aged 11, 10 and 6, so they are in the Disney sweet spot), we agreed afterward that to us it isn't worth the money to visit every other other year (and an extra visit for good measure). We had one trip to Discovery Cove, Sea World and Aquatica, and we want to do that again much more than the Disney parks again. And with our youngest getting a little older, we want to check out Universal (never been there before).

But I completely see how for someone that has never been before, or will only be able to go two or three times in a lifetime, the experience is worth every penny spent. When you step back and look at it objectively, Disney World is that good. I joke with people that Disney has done the impossible...for those that don't go regularly they get you to spend every nickel in your trip budget (if not more than what is in your budget) and you leave with a smile on your face, wondering when you can do it again.

From a big picture, this discussion is all about perspective. To us Disnerds that are the most rabid fans, we feel we have a lot to complain about. For the first timers, the experience is mind blower.

 

[IrishNYC]

I respectfully disagree. We haven't been since 2012 and I'm VERY upset about the character cuts. I love Lady Tremaine (yes, I can still see her at 1900PF but that's not guaranteed as last time I went there, the mice were there instead of the Tremaines) and hopefully Soarin' will be back open before our trip but if it isn't, that will be extremely disappointing. While there are still lots to do, it is still upsetting that it keeps going up and up in price while they are taking things away. Especially the characters (for me). They are what make the trip magical (again, for me)

While you will miss Soarin' there are hundreds of complaints right here on Dis about how it was so outdated, and needed to be changed. There's no winning.

This thread makes me sad. Our trip is in mid-May and is a once (maybe twice) in a lifetime trip. When we started planning last summer, I had no idea things would go downhill so fast.

My advice to you:

1. Close your browser.
2. Remember how you felt when you booked the trip? Recapture that feeling.
3. When you go to WDW in May, have a positive attitude. Enjoy the good instead of looking for the bad.

If you've never been to WDW, chances are you won't notice most of the things people are upset about anyway.

@kellya222 @nilla has wise advice here. I was you at the time last year, with a May visit planned. Neither DH nor I had been to WDW in a very long time, and after I read entirely too much Debbie Downer info here and elsewhere, and DH had conversations with a disgruntled frequent visitor coworker, we really thought we would regret our plans. We didn't at all. We had a fantastic time and can't wait to go back again...but not too soon!

You're going to have a great time, kellya222! DH, who isn't (wasn't) a Disney fan suggested we go back this fall for MNSSHP, but I convinced him to wait until 2017 when DD is 8 and has better nighttime endurance.

 

[ktlm]

This thread makes me sad. Our trip is in mid-May and is a once (maybe twice) in a lifetime trip. When we started planning last summer, I had no idea things would go downhill so fast.

WDW is a wonderful place, and you are not in the position we complainers are, as you are on a first once in a lifetime trip and won't know what little things are missing. You are that person we are talking about that Disney seems to be to be catering to- the one time visitors that don't know what they are missing. You will have a wonderful time! I second the poster that said to close this thread and don't come back! If your trip turns out not to be a once in a lifetime and you find yourself going more often than you thought you would, then you can join in a thread like this one! Have a great trip!!!

 

[Mark P.]

WDW does not have a food and wine festival in the spring...but they did extend Flower and Garden another couple of weeks.

Probably extended Flower & Garden because Star Wars Weekends were scrapped. Hmmmm...Easy sell for our 14yr. old son - Star Wars for Topiaries!

 

[mshanson3121]

This thread makes me sad. Our trip is in mid-May and is a once (maybe twice) in a lifetime trip. When we started planning last summer, I had no idea things would go downhill so fast.

Trust me, you will have an amazing time. We went in June for the first time and LOVED it. So many here complained that AK and HS were half day parks. But we LOVED them. We spent two days at AK, and a full day at HS, and still wanted more.

I agree with so many of the comments - but especially that a first time goer will have a magical time.

But having been now once, though I want more than anything to go back, because it was THAT magical... I also know that we are pretty well priced out and can't afford much more, and it is annoying that they're continuing to raise prices, all while making cutbacks. We are planning a repeat trip next summer, but we'll have to see what they do with their pricing and whether we can continue to afford/justify the cost. But I am so glad we got to go at least once, and I will never regret it.

 

[DavidNYC]

OP:
"Disney sucks and is too expensive...that's why I'm going several times this year"

You clearly didn't read what I wrote. Never did I say Disney sucks. I explicitly said the opposite. I already have an annual pass and will be using it once more before it expires since I have it. But it will be a longer gap before my next trip than it has been before when I've gone every year.

 

[DavidNYC]

You know, OP, two years ago when a thread of this vein was started, it was met with a significant amount of objections. For sure there were some posters in agreement (many no longer post here); but overall there was a lot of disagreement. Today, you have a lot of folks with like-minded responses. I get that WDW doesn't need repeat visitors.* I hear that here repeatedly. If we accept that DIS board members are among the most rapid fans, it's worth noting the tide is turning. Or it is at least seeing some loss of momentum.

* or do they?

Two years ago I was probably one of the objectors! But I agree with many of the people who get my argument. It's not that I won't go again. But the business model has turned it into something that is an every few year thing than a every year thing. I equally agree that first time visitors will love it and not notice any of this.

 

[rteetz]

On another board a poster is saying that CMs are reporting significant cuts in staff, and that it appears this is paying for cost overruns i Shanghai.

Shanghai, Paris, MyMagic+, WDI there are a lot of factors here.

 

[labattblue]

The whole thing is sad, but as has been previously stated, more than likely the emphasis is on the first time guest. The only way the cuts stop is when people stop going(and even then Disney may use that as an opportunity to CUT EVEN MORE). If it is true that the cuts in profitable parks(WDW) are being made to offset losses in other parks, then that SUCKS for those of us who visit the park being slashed.

I'm definitely done until Pandora opens, and I may even wait until TSL & SWL are open.

 

[DavidNYC]

Then how come it was great to go every year for so long? Not attacking you, just asking genuinely. I mean I'm 23 and have been at least 18 times and I've never relented going every year until now. Granted most of that was when I was a kid, but as of recently and even paying for my trips I wasn't disappointed ever with wdw until last year. I even signed up to work there for 6 months. Lol maybe that has colored my perception

To me the biggest factor is price (and now taking a wife and kids instead of the quick trip with girlfriend. Disney to me used to be a very inexpensive vacation compared to many other places for how much you got. But now for what I pay for a week there are so many things I can do. I remember my 10 day non expiring ticket for $300! What a value (even taking inflation into account.). A whole day at a Disney park for $30?!?! But now with two kids, more expensive airfare, it adds up. When it was I could go to Disney for a week or spend twice as much on a cruise I'd keep going to Disney. It really was a bargain. But now I'll switch it up a lot more. Listen - I get it. You shouldn't be a bargain when you can charge more. But it has an effect on long term customers.

 

[shanethesaint88]

To me the biggest factor is price (and now taking a wife and kids instead of the quick trip with girlfriend. Disney to me used to be a very inexpensive vacation compared to many other places for how much you got. But now for what I pay for a week there are so many things I can do. I remember my 10 day non expiring ticket for $300! What a value (even taking inflation into account.). A whole day at a Disney park for $30?!?! But now with two kids, more expensive airfare, it adds up. When it was I could go to Disney for a week or spend twice as much on a cruise I'd keep going to Disney. It really was a bargain. But now I'll switch it up a lot more. Listen - I get it. You shouldn't be a bargain when you can charge more. But it has an effect on long term customers.

I'm actually agreeing with you. It's just not as worth it anymore as it used to be. I know how much it is for just me and my gf, I can imagine how much it would be with kids. It's crazy. And my point is with the crowds and cutbacks and closing of attractions/areas the worth of a trip to disney has been devalued for me. It just has

 

[Planogirl]

All of this talk about Disney only caring about first time visitors makes me wonder. If true how can that be enough? There can't be an unlimited number of first time visitors that can afford the parks.

 

[amg35]

This thread makes me sad. Our trip is in mid-May and is a once (maybe twice) in a lifetime trip. When we started planning last summer, I had no idea things would go downhill so fast.

Okay, stop reading the boards. If you weren't reading people telling you things have gone downhill, would you still think that? You've never been there. It's gonna be amazing!!!!

I personally can't wait to go back in 2017. We loved it in the 80's, in 2000, in 2011, in 2014 and sure to again. Things changed, some things are long gone (When I think of World of Motion and Horizons it still makes me wish I was a kid and my parents were young again), but we always have a blast.