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

[IrishNYC]

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.

But my point was that to YOU think they're getting ripped off because you've been there over and over again, but that trip may be their once in a lifetime trip, and it's going to be the very best thing they've ever done. They don't know that Maelstrom is gone, or how characters used to roam freely, or lines used to be shorter, or any of the other terrible awful things frequent visitors know. To them it's their one chance to go to Disney, and they're going to love every minute of it.

 

[amg35]

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.

Totally agree. When I was planning the RC cruise last year, it was like reading the DIS. Soooo many complaints about cost-cutting, losing the little things, service going downhill, don't care about loyal customers, etc...
Well, it was our first cruise and we didn't notice any of that - and still had a blast. And what people described as missing, while it may have been important to them, it certainly didn't impact our trip. Now if I went on a cruise every six months to a year, then I would probably end up comparing each trip and finding the little things I missed.

Plus, I can't see going anywhere year after year without getting a little bored.

None of this is meant as an insult by the way, I understand when a product changes that you used to love.

But in the spirit of the thread, I still miss the Eastern Airlines ride....If you had wings.......

 

[anniemae]

I have to agree.

We have made yearly trips to Disney since 2007 and over the past 2-3 years, there have been so many closures and losses at the same time as price increases that it really does impact not only the value of a WDW trip but also the experience of the trip as well.

Our last visit was in June 2015 and although we had an awesome trip, we will be waiting until likely late 2017/early 2018 before we return (especially with the Canadian dollar right now-- the additional cost really impacts the value of a trip!). We do look forward to seeing the Avatar expansion completed, Rivers of Light, Disney Springs completed, Frozen Ever After and Soarin post-refurb. I expect that we will be returning before Star Wars/Toy Story is finished, but it is getting more and more difficult to justify a trip with the state of the parks right now.

I figured they would not increase prices or heavily promote until more things are done. I feel like Disney is in a transition stage. BUT, people are still going to Disney, so why not increase prices? The parks are busier than ever in spite of all the closings and construction. It seems no matter what they do, the popularity increases. The more things they close, the more people come. The more they raise the prices, the more crowded it gets.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I've been disappointed at all the closures etc but we are still going for 9 days. Our oldest turns 10 in Aug. and we wanted to get a trip in before he becomes an "adult." My youngest was 2.5 last time we stayed, so he doesn't even remember it. The price is a lot but we had friends move to FL recently so he could work at Disney, and they got us a nice F&F discount. We could still probably take 2 cruises for the price we are paying. So for us, this is really one last hurrah. We will not be doing a week or more again or at least any time soon. My parents winter in FL so we will most likely take day trips since they are only 30 min. away or even 2 or 3 nights but the kids are getting older so there are many more options for spending that money and it going further. We are looking forward to the new stuff, and will probably start considering the day trips or short stays in 2+ years.

 

[dsdeleon]

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?

I think they were caught off guard in 2001 and 2008. They are now paying a lot of $ and have a lot of big data to see things coming. Subtle changes are much better for press and profit than say 10,000 layoffs. It's a long con.

 

[North of Mouse]

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!

Well, I do appreciate your enthusiasm, but don't presume to know what 'we' will do!! Yes, we, personally, plan to go back in a few years to check out things when the 'dust' settles on all the construction, but we have no plans to continue the way we have been!

We have been going to Disney since 1972 (only MK opened), remember the 'good ole days' when there were no crowds, and you could just ride whatever/whenever, no planning, just eat where/when you wanted, etc. But that changed in the 1980's and has steadily gotten worse.

The advent of the FP+'s has hit us the most when they 'limit' what you can ride (tiering). Almost back to the 'E' tickets, all the way down to using 'all' your tickets (down to A) so as not to waste $$'s.

We've had AP's the last several years (no more, just finished our last visit on our current ones). Price increases, plus 'making' us pay for the photo pkg. (which we don't want/don't use) has turned us off completely on those.

Sure, they will continue to get new/young families with children who have been brought up to think Disney is a 'right of passage' no matter the price to pay, but I've never seen such frustration and yes, disgust, with the crowd that has been going to Disney for many years.

We have always vacationed other places - especially the mountains and National Parks - so will mostly exclusively go to other destinations, do more, enjoy more, with much less $$$'s to boot!!

 

[TippeeCanoe]

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 am returning a year from now, the only reason being to watch DD march down Main Street. Disney will get 2 days of our 8 day vacation. Our vacation money is and will be spent elsewhere. Maybe I'll come back to Disney someday, maybe not, but don't presume to speak for me.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

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.

I don't feel that way at all. Still plenty to do - so much so that we still can't do everything we want with a 2 week trip.

 

[sunshine1]

There are so loads of refurbs going on at DLP but they have brought back characters in the hotel lobbys and seem to be making a big effort with guests.
Someone even suggested that the prices are a bit lower due to the refurbs.
Shame about WDW not making a similar effort.

 

[Miss Frankie J]

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 agree with this as well, and I visit WDW almost every year.

I am sad to see certain things change or leave entirely but I also know that in order for WDW to grow it must happen. I looked at tickets I purchased years ago and they were cheaper but I can honestly say that with each visit my experience has improved so for me. There were un-magical moments of course but that is to be expected of any trip. I remember visiting AK last summer and the construction was so loud during the day that my boyfriend was bothered by it. We ended up having Lunch at Yak and YetI our waiter was amazing. The food was fantastic and all the CM's that day really made me forget about the displeasure of the loud noise when when first entered the park. The good outweighed the bad and that keeps me coming back. I'm sure the CM's know that this sucks for many but they still put on a happy face to make things special for us on a personal level. That I can't honestly find anywhere else.

 

[sunshine1]

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?

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?

I wonder if it is because of the £600 million pounds (not sure of US Rate) that the walt disney company had to give Disneyland Paris has anything to so with it?
If they hadnt have given that cash injection DLP might have closed for good. Someone told me that DLP has only ever made a ptofit twice since opening back in 1992.
Soooo many refurbs at DLP from now until next year when it is the 25th anniversary as they let the rides get outdated/etc.

 

[slbgnb]

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 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)

 

[starsweeper]

OP, I understand your post. Since adopting our first 2 kids (and having 2 naturally later), we've visited WDW 5 times in the past 9 years. The value for our family has definitely fallen in the past couple visits. We still have preschoolers and 3rd graders that are in love with WDW, especially MK, so we know more visits are in our future. Despite their disappointment, I had to put the brakes on a 2016 trip. DH & I decided our next trip won't be until late 2017 or 2018. The closure, cuts, etc. combined with price hikes makes justifying a trip more difficult for the next few years. WDW was never going to be our only vacation spot, but we're scoping out more locations than ever for vacations.

 

[gdrj]

Well written post. For many of the reasons you've listed we've decided to take a break from Disney. It breaks my heart but my hubby insists that he isn't going back until Star Wars land is done. We are off to a quiet Hilton Head vacation this year.

We are using our AP's one last time in March and will not be renewing. We will be visiting Hilton Head for the first time this Summer. The past few years we have gone to WDW 3 to 4 times a year and while we still enjoy ourselves, we have a hard time justifying the cost of the AP's, the increased cost of TIW, the failure of EPCOT to be anything more than a place to eat and drink and the reduction of HS to 1/2 a park soon.

 

[Mikie]

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!

Absolutely! Everyone has a different "last straw" and I sometimes roll my eyes when someone says the replacement of Main Street Bakery with Starbucks will end their trips FOREVER, or the change in design on refillable mugs is IT for them. . . But I realize it's not that single change "ruining" things for them - it's that, to THEM, it's emblematic of a change in style and philosophy that diminishes the Magic that Disney itself markets to get you to choose them (and pay more for them) over other destinations.

I'll be back! I love WDW. I believe that being a sporadic visitor helps, as @mshanson3121 mentioned above. However, my approach has always been to maximize the "included" items and not to buy hard party tickets or other add-ons. All of these discussions, changes, elimations are likely to make me hyper-aware of my value-per-dollar at WDW and to look at other theme park destinations when I otherwise would not even have thought of them. It will make me look at off-site lodging when I never have before. And discovering that there is magic to be had outside the Magic Kingdom could certainly lead me to spend vacation dollars elsewhere when I never even considered it before.

 

[TXStormtrooper]

We are blessed to be able to visit every few years. Each trip has brought different closures, but also new experiences. I can't lie and pretend I'm not incredibly disappointed that 2 of our favorites will be closed for our upcoming trip (Soarin' and BTMR), but we also get to experience 7DMT for the first time!! This will also be my son's first time to experience RnR, EE and Space Mountain!! He wasn't tall enough on our last trip. We are still thrilled to be able to enjoy our vacation, and that is exactly what we will do. Enjoy it!! No matter what is open or what is closed, we will feel blessed to be there and enjoy every minute of our time together in the World!

 

[strat68]

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.

I tend to agree. We go about every 4 years. This November and probably not again at least until all the new work in DHS is done. It's too expensive to go every year. We could afford it but there are other place we like to go. Not just Disney.

 

[nilla]

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.

What about me? I'm visiting for the 11th time in as many years, but I don't think I'm being ripped off. I love it. I'm never happier than I am in Disney. From the moment I step out of our Cabanas room at Coronado and take that beautiful morning walk to El Centro, to how I tear up during the opening shows, to riding the Haunted Mansion, to all of the little pieces of Magic (tm) we are treated to along the way. Nothing compares. We do beach trips. We've done historical trips. My in-laws have a lake house. All fun, but again, nothing compares.

Being "royally ripped off" is subjective. I feel like every dime we've spent on Disney has been completely worth it. THIS is "heaven" to me. And sure, I liked the old Test Track better, but I also remember having to run across the park to get Test Track FPs. Yes, I'll miss the Maelstrom, but I love Frozen, too.

If you feel "ripped off", don't go. Shorter lines for me But to some of us, the Magic (tm) never left.

 

[Cadaverous Pallor]

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

 

[TippeeCanoe]

What about me? I'm visiting for the 11th time in as many years, but I don't think I'm being ripped off. I love it. I'm never happier than I am in Disney. From the moment I step out of our Cabanas room at Coronado and take that beautiful morning walk to El Centro, to how I tear up during the opening shows, to riding the Haunted Mansion, to all of the little pieces of Magic (tm) we are treated to along the way. Nothing compares. We do beach trips. We've done historical trips. My in-laws have a lake house. All fun, but again, nothing compares.

Being "royally ripped off" is subjective. I feel like every dime we've spent on Disney has been completely worth it. THIS is "heaven" to me. And sure, I liked the old Test Track better, but I also remember having to run across the park to get Test Track FPs. Yes, I'll miss the Maelstrom, but I love Frozen, too.

If you feel "ripped off", don't go. Shorter lines for me But to some of us, the Magic (tm) never left.

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.