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

[Lothlórien]

For me, the major disappointment comes with the constant price hikes while so many things are closed down and being removed (taken away).

 

[Planogirl]

We are taking a wait and see approach. I've booked a trip to another place already and plan to continue to do so. We hope to go back someday but if we don't we had some great times.

 

[jillt2ph]

I have 3 trips planned between now and Labor Day, and am already feeling a little sad about them. I am trying to focus on the new things to do (Club Villain in March - with the increased price of that being another example of a money grab - I sure hope they don't increase the number of tables; Rivers of Light in May, hopefully) but it will be hard not to notice the recent changes. It is the little things, like not being able to see Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore, that lessen the magic for me.

My last trip to Disneyland was also a disappointment as it was in the midst of all the closures in May 2014. I ended up spending most of my time there in DCA. I am seriously thinking of either renting out my points next year or maybe going to Aulani again.

 

[Aurora0427]

Agree... The recent round of character cuts is what did it for me. We won't be back for awhile.

 

[LumosQ102]

For me it was the double news this week of slashing characters and then curtailing the entertainment schedule and hours over the Easter /spring break period. I am hoping they are going to change that, but if single showings of Fantasmic! and the Main Street Electrical Parade are the order of the day at one of the busiest times of the year, where will that leave us for the second half of May? Penny pinching on Entertainment just feels like madness.

I'm a positive person, have been excited about the changes, but we have reached my limit. We'll be back for 2 weeks in May, but the usual second 2 week trip this year isn't happening, the AP isn't getting renewed & we're heading to Cali next summer - an overall loss for Disney as we'd spend 2 weeks in WDW, in DL we'll be there for 5 days max with D23 Con, then head into LA for the rest of our vacation. We'll take a view on 2018 in due course, I'll think about renting my points in the interim. It just makes me so sad that its come to this. Not that the company will notice of course, there will be people to take our place...

 

[summerw]

I've had Disneyland passes for more than 10 years of my life, as well as my son and husband. This is our second trip to WDW which I've been excited about planning for years. They're sucking all the fun out of it and making me not feel at all sad we won't be able to get back for a while. Here's my list of cuts that just make me sad: Agent P hours, HISTK playground, Soarin, BTMRR, Inside Out Characters (if Kenny the Pirate is right), Sleepy Hollow chicken waffle, croissant berry pudding from Sunshine Seasons and how long they're taking to announce everything .

I want to always be positive about a Disney vacation, but if we weren't renting points, I'd have cancelled our April trip by now. No matter what it will be great spending time with my family, but I could be spending a lot less money to be less annoyed.

 

[Mark P.]

Some thread, huh?
Up until last year or so, we've always gotten more out of WDW than we've given.
Sadly, that has gone the other way.
When I encounter a CM, even if I purchase a bottle of water, I always look them in the eye, and give them a genuine thank you. I appreciate them, it's the suits that have screwed it all up, IMHO.
Right now, my tickers says 2 weeks and 2 days until our vacation. I'm looking forward to getting out of miserable NJ weather/work, and relaxing a bit.

 

[freediverdude]

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!

 

[Nancyg56]

We are taking a wait and see approach. I've booked a trip to another place already and plan to continue to do so. We hope to go back someday but if we don't we had some great times.

We are doing this as well. My DD has a trip booked in July with her family, and this one will probably be it for them for a while, and I have one in December booked so I can take the girls I care for. Time will tell if this one is the last one to Disney. My DH is telling me that the cost is way more than the value...well he was saying that until my friend sent him videos of Nola belting her little heart out at the Sing a long. Then he told me the last trip was worth every penny.

I do think that the value tends to decrease for thos of us who are long time visitors. We knwo the cuts, and we have already done some of the events that after once or twice do not need to be done or seen again. The folks who are new to visiting WDW have a lot to get accomplished in their first trips, so they may not feel the differences.

 

[Pooh2]

We are going to wait until 2018 for our next trip when some of the major projects are done.
Planning on our first cruise this year (DCL) and maybe try Hilton Head or Vero Beach in 2017 to keep some Disney going.

 

[dkrauss]

I can't argue with the points you've made but we still go to Disney, however it is usually just once a year. And the reason is simple---we know what we are getting at Disney. I'm not a beach person having had melanoma and don't want to risk a reoccurrence. We go on cruises regularly as well, but Dismey is "our vacation spot"

We look for ways to make it less expensive by cashing in points or air miles to help pay for it. We stay in budget resorts as we are in the parks when they are open so see no need to pay for a room we are not in that much. The way we do Disney does not work for every family, but it works for us. So even with the closures, cutbacks, etc. it is still magical to us and we look forward to,seeing what will be coming next!

Excellent post here..........I too am a survivor of melanoma and understand your concerns about the beach.........although we must also be careful in the Orlando sun too . My wife and I are more recent converts to the church of Disney. We've only been hardcore since 2010. We use the Disney Vacation Acct to manage and save for AP's and other trip expenses.........its not perfect but works for us. All the construction is bothersome.........in fact we call WL our home resort but won't be back there until the construction is over.

And in 2018/19 will have StarWars/Toystory Lands to enjoy........and complain about...........crowds will be epic! It makes me sad to see long time Disney lovers so dis-heartened. If you're slowing down your Disney visits perhaps that is the medicine for you.

Unfortunately, the impact to Disney for all this displeasure is small........if at all. I know we all hate this but...........as long as the bottom line is good............they're gonna do what they do!

Doug

 

[Laz]

Our child was born in 1990, and almost every year we went to WDW. We have not been back since the start of FP+. Instead, we have enjoyed DLR. However, due to flight costs, our visits are more spread out. I was just thinking that WDW has a great marketing opportunity once all the construction is finished. In a way, they could relaunch the entire world, inviting former guests like me to relive the magic. They could find some way to help us old timers overcome our reluctance to return. Somehow, show me that the magic is still there--that there is value to spending my vacation dollar at WDW.

 

[mshanson3121]

Agree... The recent round of character cuts is what did it for me. We won't be back for awhile.

So who all has been cut?

 

[ArwenMarie]

So who all has been cut?

Kenny the Pirate has a bunch of blog posts up about the character changes.

If you look on EasyWDW, he has a post up about changes for March regarding the parades and shows versus last year.

 

[Musicman20]

I understand the frustration...


I visited from the UK in Oct 2015. However, I still found the experience MINDBLOWING. It was so warm, so fun, so crazy busy (both the parks and our daily visits to parks etc) that we booked for Sept-Oct 2016 (but this time, just myself and my partner).


I do see the frustration about the parks, maybe more so with HS. Years ago, when I visited in 2005 (MGM or HS then?!), I would say it was probably my favourite park, in fact even perhaps before when I visited twice when I was much younger, the then MGM was very entertaining. I can distinctly remember the artist area.


However, closures etc and no new attractions coming up for some time do frustrate me.


Now I'm in my mid 30s, I enjoy Epcot much more than I ever have, and MK is actually a much bigger deal for me. Animal Kingdom seemed to have less emphasis on the animals when I went in Oct 2015, but I remember in 2005 we spent a good 2-3 days taking it very easy in there, with no EE, low crowds, and spending a lot of time just watching the animals, which I really enjoy and want to do again in 2016.


The other strange thing was Disney Springs was bigger, yet felt disjointed compared to Downtown Disney, mainly due to the building work. However, I still loved it and when I return I can't wait to see the changes.


A big draw for us is US and IOA....Harry Potter was such an amazing experience, I cannot wait to get there! The new Kong ride will hopefully be ready soon before we visit.


What will be new at Disney for us in Sept-Oct 2016? Well, for me personally:


EE (I didn't ride it last time)

Space Mountain (ditto)

Toy Story Midway Mania (ditto)

Other smaller attractions - about 5 or so over the 4 Disney parks we didn't get to

Hopefully Frozen (not a fan of the film but I loved Maelstrom)

Hopefully Soarin' update

Rivers of Light (WOOOHOOOOO!)

Star Wars meet and greet

Anything else slightly Star Wars related and more time on the actual attraction!

New places to eat



…and I’m sure plenty more, so I am still very excited!

 

[dsdeleon]

I just read the easywdw post and now I am officially upset! For us, it's not so much the parades or shows but the lack of late nights and early mornings over spring break? What does this mean for the summer?? Disney is obviously in the mode of maximizing profits and minimizing value to guests. This is are clear by minimizing the perks of staying on site and just providing something that doesn't cost them anything (30 days more FP+ selections.)

 

[mshanson3121]

I just read the easywdw post and now I am officially upset! For us, it's not so much the parades or shows but the lack of late nights and early mornings over spring break? What does this mean for the summer?? Disney is obviously in the mode of maximizing profits and minimizing value to guests. This is are clear by minimizing the perks of staying on site and just providing something that doesn't cost them anything (30 days more FP+ selections.)

So... why the penny pinching? Are they hurting in a way we don't know? Did they overspend overseas? Or, are they trying to penny pinch to pay for all the renovations between AK/HS/DL? All these changes - cutting staff, cutting entertainment, characters, hours etc... really makes me wonder what's going on. Have they ever behaved like this before?

 

[IrishNYC]

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.

 

[TippeeCanoe]

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.

I honestly feel very sorry for people who will be visiting WDW for the very first time in the next 12 months. They are being royally ripped off.

 

[anniemae]

So who all has been cut?

I thought I read that Darth Vader was no longer doing meet and greets. Many loved interacting with this classic character.