Just back and not happy

[highlander]

I can see why people have given up on this board. Someone that has a history with Disney made a comment on their experience and then had everything picked apart. I don't see anything wrong with the OP comments. If I ran the park, I'd want to hear if something didn't meet realistic expectations.

I agree that there have been changes to the park experience over the past 10 years. I'll find out for myself how FP+ and the new rides are when I go in July. But reading everyone's flame-o-grams makes me wonder if it isn't better to keep an opinion to yourself, even it is constructive. It must be tough sitting up on those high pedestals and being right all the time.

I think it was helenp that made the suggestion to try DL. I agree with that. I've gone twice in the past 5 years and actually enjoy the parks and that they're less crowded, at least when I was there. You still have rides that are tough to get on like Radiator Springs, but worth the effort.

Maybe some of us have gotten to the point where we need to do something else. For the rest of you, keep going and enjoying.

 

[GadgetRick]

Ok, just read page 1 & page 6.

Why would anyone who has been unsatisfied with WDW for the past 10 years renew an AP??

Where, exactly, did I say I was, "unsatisfied," for the past 10 years? I said I've seen a decline over the last 10 years.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Sorry but the DDP has EVERYTHING to do with the food sucking. That is when they standardized ALL of the food (other than a few signature places) to get it ALL from the same place (obviously) to save money.

I didn't say the dining plan had nothing to do with the food sucking. In fact I said the opposite. I said FREE dining doesn't have anything to do with the food sucking. Totally different thing.

And ALL the food doesn't suck.

I'm ready to agree with you on some of it but I'm not in agreement with the blanket statement that ALL the food at WDW, everywhere, sucks. Yes, more of it sucks than it used to.

 

[GadgetRick]

I totally get what you are saying but to be fair, the post was put up with a negative title in a place where people come to read about something they love...Disney. People are likely to get upset and defensive when they read negative comments. On top of that, it was posted in what is most likely the most popular forum on Disboards. If the post was put up in the Disney Trip Reports forum the responses would probably have been more tame. The OP is obviously knows the world of Disboards well and probably knew what they were getting into by having such a negative post. Anyone that frequents Disboards knows this will happen. Dare I say he asked for it? He couldn't have possibly expected people to completely agree with him or just accept his criticisms.

To the OP - I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your time. I hope you can find a vacation that is better suited for your family in the future. It breaks my heart when people don't feel the magic anymore. I hope you find it again one day.

I posted it here (specifically) because it's not actually at trip report. I also posted it here because I want people who are going to DW to know about these things. This belief by some (not saying you because I don't know) that all you should post are positive things is just stupid. When someone complains about something they then tell that poster they should have researched it.

People need to know about the bad just as much as they need to know about the good. If someone reads this thread and learns something which makes their trip better then good on them.

 

[itchin2go]

You're right. I'm totally wrong because I didn't spend HOURS of my time researching something which shouldn't be so complicated for a long weekend.

You're right. It shouldn't be so complicated. I (and probably loads of others) are with you on that.

However, right or wrong, FP+ is the new reality. Either you spend some time (I think "hours" is an exaggeration) researching it or there is a price to be paid. (The same was true of the previous system, if you were a first time visitor. You and I (and plenty of others) just knew it by heart. It sucks that it changed.)

Whether you want to continue to visit Disney World is certainly up to you. However, the outcome of your vacation can't be laid solely at the feet of Disney, since you had the power to better it and you chose not to.

 

[GadgetRick]

(bold added by me)

No, you didn't HAVE TO do anything. You didn't have to go. You didn't have to ride it at all. You didn't have to NOT make FP+ in advance. You didn't have to NOT educate yourself about FP+. Nobody put a gun to your head.

You made choices, and things didn't turn out the way you wanted.

Last trip, the new mermaid ride was new to us. We went to it EARLY because we knew it would be packed. That's always been the deal. New attractions are uber-popular, not because they're awesome (maybe they are, maybe they're not), but because they're new. You and I are light years beyond so many Disney visitors because we know it's new. We know it will be packed, and we know to plan ahead.

Before, the plan would have been to rope-drop it or fast pass it. Now, the plan is rope drop it or fastpass plus it. Granted, you MAY have to make that decision ahead of time now. That's how it is. I don't like it better than the old system, but spending the $$ on the vacation, hiding my head in the sand and griping is not going to turn back time.

If you invest the $$$ in the vacation, I don't understand not investing the time in educating yourself about the system. And if you choose not to, I don't understand griping and acting like it's someone else's fault.

::::facepalm:::

 

[jeffbear]

Huh? I got a sandwhich, my wife got a sandwhich, my kids got grilled cheese. Yes, $60+ is RIDICULOUSLY expensive for that kind of food.

In the context of a non-theme park world, absolutely. However, theme parks, professional sports venues and airports apparently have different realities when it comes to food pricing. I'm a season ticket holder at an NHL arena and $15 a head for the kind of food you describe is pretty much par for the course. God forbid you feel the need for a pint of decent beer ... that's bloody $9.00!

Sad, but true.

Not defending Disney here ... just pointing out that they clearly aren't alone when it comes to ridiculous price points on food and bev.

 

[NYDisGuy]

I didn't say that I agreed with the premise for which the word was used. I only stated that the word was being used in the "plunder" sense. Look at any dictionary. I will be very, very surpirsed if "plunder" is not used to define the word at some level. Do I think that WDW engages in plunder? No. But that doesn't make the word choice wrong. The conclusion maybe. But not the terminology.

1a : to take the goods of by force (as in war) : pillage, sack <invaders plundered the town>
b : to take by force or wrongfully : steal, loot <plundered artifacts from the tomb>
2
: to make extensive use of as if by plundering : use or use up wrongfully <plunder the land>

Which one of these applies? Is Disney forcing OP to do anything? Are they stealing from him? Are they ransacking his land? Are they raping him? NO. The terminology is wrong. You don't like the prices, don't go. Just know that Universal charges the same amount so I guess they are also plundering you.

 

[GadgetRick]

I didn't say the dining plan had nothing to do with the food sucking. In fact I said the opposite. I said FREE dining doesn't have anything to do with the food sucking. Totally different thing.

And ALL the food doesn't suck.

I'm ready to agree with you on some of it but I'm not in agreement with the blanket statement that ALL the food at WDW, everywhere, sucks. Yes, more of it sucks than it used to.

I never mentioned free dining.

 

[jeffbear]

You're right. It shouldn't be so complicated. I (and probably loads of others) are with you on that.

I agree on that, but it must be noted that for some of us, the new system really only required an hour or two of get-aquainted time and wasn't really all that complicated. There are too many glitches, and those glitches seem to be disproportionately impacting Annual Pass holders, which is a crime given how much time and money those people spend in the parks.

But if it all goes well and you put in an hour or so ... it's doesn't have to feel like getting an advanced degree in biochemistry.

 

[GadgetRick]

In the context of a non-theme park world, absolutely. However, theme parks, professional sports venues and airports apparently have different realities when it comes to food pricing. I'm a season ticket holder at an NHL arena and $15 a head for the kind of food you describe is pretty much par for the course. God forbid you feel the need for a pint of decent beer ... that's bloody $9.00!

Sad, but true.

Not defending Disney here ... just pointing out that they clearly aren't alone when it comes to ridiculous price points on food and bev.

I understand this, however, I can go to a different place in DW in the parks and it won't be that expensive. That is a more expensive restaurant. I expected it. I didn't expect THAT much more expensive.

 

[GadgetRick]

1a : to take the goods of by force (as in war) : pillage, sack <invaders plundered the town>
b : to take by force or wrongfully : steal, loot <plundered artifacts from the tomb>
2
: to make extensive use of as if by plundering : use or use up wrongfully <plunder the land>

Which one of these applies? Is Disney forcing OP to do anything? Are they stealing from him? Are they ransacking his land? Are they raping him? NO. The terminology is wrong. You don't like the prices, don't go. Just know that Universal charges the same amount so I guess they are also plundering you.

Keep arguing a stupid detail. Makes sense.

 

[itchin2go]

Regarding food prices:

DUDE - you knew that before you went! The prices are public knowledge.

That's like going 4th of July weekend and saying, "OMG, it was so hot and the lines were so long."

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I never mentioned free dining.

Maybe you didn't but someone else did. I even quoted them. They said free dining made the food suck. It didn't. The resorts pay for free dining, the restaurants have nothing to do with making it free.

I wasn't responding to you, plenty of persons are posting on this thread.

 

[jeffbear]

I understand this, however, I can go to a different place in DW in the parks and it won't be that expensive. That is a more expensive restaurant. I expected it. I didn't expect THAT much more expensive.

OK ... different point then. The menus and prices are posted about 10 easily accessed places online. Just sayin'

Plus ... I'm still getting over the fact that DW has bottled water priced at $2.50 when it costs me $4.00 at a hockey game. What a bargain ... ?

 

[wendyt_ca]

I am sorry you had such a terrible experience OP. I think a lot of it comes from a person's attitude though. I am pretty optimistic so even if I am disappointed with something I am not phased. I personally have low expectations for the mine train and have from the beginning. It's an extra attraction which was not there before so I am at least happy to see something new. When we go in September the only thing I have high expectations for is Diagon Alley and I am sure I won't be disappointed.

I have been to Disney 10 times and I am still a fanatic. Some things have changed but that does happen, but I still feel Disney is a very magical place. I could spend the day in a park and go on no attractions and be happy.

I personally love most of the food at Disney as does DH as well as a friend I travel with from time to time. We constantly talk about one of the things we are most looking forward to being the Disney food. I have certain places I HAVE to eat every trip because I crave them when I am home. With that said there is also a lot of places I don't like so maybe it depends where you are eating. I do always have a hard time finding anything I want to eat in HS so I usually just get fries somewhere. In Epcot we LOVE Yorkshire. I don't mind BOG and yes it can be overpriced so we normally go to Peco's Bills several times during our trip. And I am prob the pickiest eater you will ever meet...My food choices are very limited.

FP+ seems to get mixed reviews and I think Mesaboy created a great guide for it! It can be a bit confusing but I think that's just because it's new and of course there are still bugs to work out. I used FP+ back in Oct and I loved it and couldn't stop raving about how great it was. Mind you I am a planner (I already have my planners created for our trips in Sept and over Christmas/NYE in Disney), so for me it just helps me plan better. It allowed us to have more relax time back at the resort and we didn't need to get there for rope drop for popular attractions like TSM. It made such an impact on our vacation for the better.

I do hope you are able to find the magic for yourself again some day. It seems maybe Disney just is no longer the option that suits you.

 

[FLchick415]

OK ... different point then. The menus and prices are posted about 10 easily accessed places online. Just sayin'

Plus ... I'm still getting over the fact that DW has bottled water priced at $2.50 when it costs me $4.00 at a hockey game. What a bargain ... ?

I paid SIX DOLLARS for a bottle of water at a concert a couple of months ago. Bargain, indeed. lol

 

[disneymac000]

Regarding food prices:

DUDE - you knew that before you went! The prices are public knowledge.

That's like going 4th of July weekend and saying, "OMG, it was so hot and the lines were so long."

Just because you know the prices before you go; doesn't mean the prices aren't ridiculous or a rip off. Wife: Oh look, Harambe Nights tickets are on sale. They are 150 bucks and we don't get access to all the park and if we want to go in the daytime, we have to get an park admission ticket. Husband: Its okay dear. We have the money for the tickets since you want to go but thats ridiculous pricing. It may not be worth it but lets get them to find out.

 

[GadgetRick]

OK ... different point then. The menus and prices are posted about 10 easily accessed places online. Just sayin'

Plus ... I'm still getting over the fact that DW has bottled water priced at $2.50 when it costs me $4.00 at a hockey game. What a bargain ... ?

So now we have to go and check prices of menus everywhere before we go?

You guys really are ridiculous. But you do have me laughing.

 

[flicx]

OK ... different point then. The menus and prices are posted about 10 easily accessed places online. Just sayin'

Plus ... I'm still getting over the fact that DW has bottled water priced at $2.50 when it costs me $4.00 at a hockey game. What a bargain ... ?

Yes what a bargain when they probably paid less than 10 cents a bottle for it.