Just back and not happy

[helenb]

To the OP: I can understand your frustrations. I agree that without planning in advance, your experience at WDW will likely be impacted. Gone are the days when you could simply wander around and go where you felt like it and discuss where you should go next.

This being said, I think you will love this aspect of Universal: you can still be very spontaneous. With Unlimited Express Pass, only minor planning is needed (to see the Harry Potter areas). Everything else you can just wing it and go when you please. Many people here have said that staying onsite at Universal is expensive. IME, this is not true: prices for the deluxe Universal hotels are comparable to the Deluxe WDW resorts, but provide much more in terms of location and Unlimited Express Pass. Park tickets and hoppers are comparable to WDW as well. But you may find yourself missing Disney while you are there. We much prefer Universal for the ease of visiting, but always go to WDW as well for the attractions we love.

You may want to consider a visit to Disneyland. It is much closer to how I remember WDW from 10-15 years ago: manageable crowds, easy to do with a touring plan, even on a 'last minute' trip, and of course, the wonderful legacy FP. You will find that counter service restaurants have a lot of variety and are often of better quality than WDW (although WDW has DL beat for table service, no question).

 

[FLchick415]

The point is, the OP wasn't FORCED to do anything. Nothing was taken from him against his will.

 

[jade1]

I didn't realize I could correct it on the app and went to the attraction to ask how to have it corrected. They directed me to a kiosk. Huh!!?? Why couldn't they have either told me I could use the app or, better yet, why can they not do it themselves at the attraction? That's just plain stupid, but, then again, the whole system is stupid.

And I'm sorry but I've been there 3x since FP+ came out.

So you have written over 600+ posts on here, live 2 hours away, and have annual passes and didn't know anything about how to use FP+????

I guess I am confused?

I did not say that. Again, point was missed. You shouldn't HAVE to research it for hours and read through tons of threads to understand how it works.
.

Prob meant this.

I didn't realize I could correct it on the app and went to the attraction to ask how to have it corrected.

 

[JimmyV]

How many people actually use it in that context, though?

So we should blame those who do?

I just think there are many other ways he could have expressed his frustration.

Can't disagree with that.

 

[cah5525]

We were there apr 26-may 9 with a 3 day cruise in the middle. Already had reservations for christmas and our next cruise planned before this one even began. We were very disappointed. After our first park day, spent 3 hours at HS before the kids asked to leave and go to the pool, i knew things were going bad for this trip. We added the water parks option that day- best part of our vacation- the other park days... The same thing happened, kids were sick of standing in lines just to go on a few rides. Mind you, we were not fp grabbers prior, we just went in at rope drop, maybe get a fp or two and spend all day until closing at each park. Now, my kids are asking to go back to the resort to swim and its not even noon?! We checked into kidani and our room wasnt ready. The cm said you can go to the parks today and we'll send you a text when your room is ready! No thanks, we're tired from traveling - we'll just grab a bite to eat and wait. Got the text, went to our room, none of the mb's would open the room. Back down to the lobby and the same cm says, "well! I guess it's a good thing you didn't go to the parks today!" What? Anyway, he took each mb and did something in his computer and we were able to get into our room. Other things disappointed us too so, when i got home, i canceled our future christmas trip and our cruise - yeah, it was that bad!

 

[slickpoetry]

Food still sucks although we did dine at Be Our Guest and I was impressed. Food choices were better and, as long as you didn't get the standard fare (e.g. hamburger/hot dog/french fries) it wasn't half bad. Rooms were also very cool although I'm not a Beauty and the Beast fan but I can appreciate what they did there. So that was nice although it was RIDICULOUSLY expensive ($60+ for 2 adult choices and 2 kid meals).

This is a guy who calls a sit down dinner in a theme park for four people, with food choices that he actually enjoyed and in rooms that he thought were very cool, "RIDICULOUSLY expensive" at around $60.


what a joke. I have a family of four and that's about what a dinner at applebee's would cost.

 

[jade1]

Exactly you didn't get the point. I'm pretty sure the point is that some rides you can't get FP's for the same day. So, people who don't like to plan their park stay 60 days in advance or who don't know how to use FP+ can't possibly get FP's for them the same day. Has nothing to do with his liking of the ride. Also, if you dislike the ride you are more likely to not to care if you only waited 20 minutes via FP rather than two hours in standby.

My point is the attraction apparently is "worth it" and not disappointing enough to not be constantly sold out, a lot of feedback points to success.

Secondly-seems odd someone would keep checking 7DMT availability if not at all interested.

Third-folks are having a lot of month before, week before, night before and even same day success.

Fourth-many folks now have 7DMT and TSM FP+ that would not have before.

 

[maxiesmom]

The point is, the OP wasn't FORCED to do anything. Nothing was taken from him against his will.

Exactly.

 

[Lorelei528]

Totally disagree. We love the food.

I agree! I have been to WDW many times before DDP and with DH after....I see no difference at all in quality or service.

We're not exactly "foodies" but we do enjoy a nice meal and eat at a lot of signature places for dinner.

If you ask my DH what his favorite thing about going to WDW is, he will always say "the food".

OMG..tried California Grill on our trip in Dec for the first time..SO good!! And Monsieur Paul!?!? OMG..

AND the surf and turf burger at Kona Cafe? Soo yummy!!! LOL. Those are just a few observations from our Dec. 2013 trip.

 

[JeRmS]

Yeah, it's one of those posts...

Been going to DW for about 20 years now. Have seen lots of changes. Haven't liked the direction they've been headed for the last 10 (or so) years. I may have finally reached my breaking point. Unfortunately, we had just renewed our APs.

Anyway, first of all I must say, I'm incredibly-disappointed in the new 7 Dwarfs Mine Train attraction. Really? That's it? After all that time and all that hype? Even my 11 and 8 year old kids were like, "That's it?" Sure, the 11 year old is liking bigger rides but the 8 year old still likes some of the tamer rides. But it really was disappointing. I'm sure there are people here talking about how awesome it is. Well, nobody in our party (7 in all) thought it was worthwhile at all and we've all been Disney fans for many years.

Anyone that was hoping Disney would have an epiphany and build some super coaster that would appeal to all age groups was highly mistaken. Disney rides are NOT ... repeat ... NOT Universal or Islands of Adventure rides. in my opinion Disney rides are geared primarily towards an age group between 5-10 years old, with the occasional ride that appeals to an older crowd (Rock-N-Rollercoaster) but to think that Disney is going to change their business scope overnight and create some great coaster is just assinine.

That being said ... I've not ridden the ride myself but I am also not holding my breath that 7DMT is going to be better than any of the other Disney Coasters that are already in the parks, then again I really don't go to Disney for my personal enjoyment to be honest, I do it for my kids!

Food still sucks although we did dine at Be Our Guest and I was impressed. Food choices were better and, as long as you didn't get the standard fare (e.g. hamburger/hot dog/french fries) it wasn't half bad. Rooms were also very cool although I'm not a Beauty and the Beast fan but I can appreciate what they did there. So that was nice although it was RIDICULOUSLY expensive ($60+ for 2 adult choices and 2 kid meals).

Agree here ... 100% ... Disney food is rediculously overpriced and underwhelming. In fact, rarely does my family eat in the parks - if we're at MK we may get a Waffle Sandwhich from Sleepy Hollow or some Cheese Fries from Casey's. Other than that ... we leave property and go eat at one of the many fine establishments around Orlando!

And, most of all, Fast Pass Plus SUCKS!!!!!!! I thought it sucked when they first rolled it out but I was hoping they'd correct some things. Well, they didn't. Still impossible to get the popular attractions unless you book very far in advance. Like most people, I don't know what I'm doing in 2 hours much less 30 days from now. A vacation shouldn't have to be planned out to the minute.

If you miss your FP+ time, well, that also sucks. I didn't realize I could correct it on the app and went to the attraction to ask how to have it corrected. They directed me to a kiosk. Huh!!?? Why couldn't they have either told me I could use the app or, better yet, why can they not do it themselves at the attraction? That's just plain stupid, but, then again, the whole system is stupid.

I guess this all depends on how you like to plan for "vacation". I'm also a semi-local AP holder and I absolutely LOVE FP+ ... my family knows exactly when we are going to the parks and for us to be able to secure FP for rides that we wouldn't have been able to get previously is absolutely amazing.

We have been to Disney numerous times in the past, and have never ridden TSM ... with FP+ we can now secure a FP weeks in advance and have no worries!

As far as missing your time slot - you've admitted that you didn't know you could use the app to make changes so a bit of blame falls on you for that. The CM is not going to tell you about the App, because there are still a large portion of the population that don't have smart phones so therefore the CM is probably directed to advise the customer of an opportunity that EVERYONE has (to use the kiosk). The CM's at the Kiosk don't have the ability to change time slots because imagine the backup that would cause ... family A is in line and get's to the front and Voila, they have missed their time slot, so now the CM has to stop the line, pull up the families FP+ in the system and make changes while Families B,C,D,E,F,G and so on are stuck behind them because Family A couldn't make the right time!

I actually said to my family after this trip I'm thinking of doing Universal once these APs are done. I got not push back, which I didn't expect as we've been a Disney family forever. It's really a shame they've taken something which was so great and turned it into the money machine it is now. They seem to only want to get that family coming for that, "once in a lifetime," visit so they can squeeze a bunch of money out of them and they know they won't get the complaints from them because, well, they just don't know any better. It's obvious they couldn't care less about regular customers.

I waited a few days before writing this to think more about it. Wanted to make sure it wasn't a knee-jerk reaction. Well, it's not. Again, it's a shame but I'm very disappointed in Disney and what they've become.

I agree with this to an extent, I do think Disney caters to those visitors that come in and spend $2-3K on their vactions more than the average local visitor BUT as an average local visitor myself I know how to work the system and get Disney to cater to me as well .. again it all goes back to how you like to plan out your trips.

 

[sethschroeder]

Exactly you didn't get the point. I'm pretty sure the point is that some rides you can't get FP's for the same day. So, people who don't like to plan their park stay 60 days in advance or who don't know how to use FP+ can't possibly get FP's for them the same day. Has nothing to do with his liking of the ride. Also, if you dislike the ride you are more likely to not to care if you only waited 20 minutes via FP rather than two hours in standby. Also, just because you can't get a FP+ for something doesn't make it a good attraction. It just makes it a new attraction.

TSMM is still open for tomorrow for instance? Yes 7DMT is out but if you were to arrive at like 10am without FP+ in the old system its likely that FP- would have been gone and the line would have been very long then as well.

Pick your option:
1.) No Fast Pass - faster stand by
2.) Fast Pass Minus - the key rides could have all FP gone before vacationers arrive at 11am though
3.) Fast Pass Plus - vacationers can lock in the key rides way ahead of time so they at least they know they have a spot of TSMM or 7DMT
4.) Fass Pass Pay - you have to pay for FP or its only open to Deluxe resort guests more like Universal

No matter what someone is upset about Fast Pass so from a business side who will make you the most money? The local who pays less on tickets on a per day basis? The local who buys less souvenirs on a per day basis? The local who buys less expensive meals likely as well? Its your right to be upset that Disney doesn't suck up to the locals but they are a business and looking out for their bottom line first and the consumers second. Universal could be said to do the same thing with their Express Pass and such as well...

 

[king kamehameha]

We also have decided not to go back. It's just not worth it anymore.

 

[disneymac000]

Can't a guy be upset about something without you all attacking him about being upset. He didn't have a good trip and you all saying he probably did this and this wrong etc, probably won't make him go back any faster or want to go back any faster.

When you actually like something you hold it a high standard. I hold Disney to a high standard because they set the standard when they don't meet it. People should be allowed to talk and vent about it. Thats why people are turning down the road to other parks...not because they don't like Disney anymore. Its Disney isn't keeping the standards it set for itself.

 

[leebee]

2.) Fast Pass Minus - the key rides could have all FP gone before vacationers arrive at 11am though

Over our 25 trips to WDW, we have found this to not actually be true much of the time. We don't do rope drop; our goal is to be out of our hotel room by 10:30am and into a theme park by noon. The ONLY FP- we were never able to obtain on our lazy schedule was TSMM- even Soarin' and Test Trak were reliably available- and we travel at reasonably busy times of year: mid-August, first two weeks of March, Columbus Day weekend. I have never been to WDW when we've been shut out of Space, Splash, and BT Mountains, TT, Soarin', ToT, RnRC, EE, KRR, or Dinosaur. Yes, the return time might be at 7 or 8 pm, or we might have to ride single-rider, but people who choose to go to the parks late in the day recognize that they'll have to stay in the parks late into the evening or make other adjustments if they want to ride everything they are interested in. We'd rather choose to sleep in and ride late into the night than choose to do rope drop and ride earlier in the day.

Now, of course, I am not sure HOW we'll tour and play at Disney. A vacation shouldn't be this complicated or stress-inducing. We are already planning our next trip to Orlando, but at this point, it doesn't include Disney World.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

You're one of the few. Lots of threads over the years talking about how bad the food has gotten.

I agree completely with this and have been saying it for years. Free Dining completely diminished the quality and diversity of food. I watched some wonderful dishes disappear from menus.

I understand the OP's frustration with FP+. Our Easter Trip saw a signficant increase in SB lines particuarly at RD, and yes, for us when we tried to move our FP+ the App took FOREVER to load and we did not have availability to move later FP+ to earlier in the day.

The number of people walking and looking at their phones significantly increased. I did it too. Had to - to watch the green circle move around and around on MDE. I would rather be enjoying the scenery or theming.

Our next trip is coming up soon. I've set the bar low. When I made my FP+ reservation the general concesus was to do RD and make your FP+ reservations for the busier afternoon. Guess what, they changed the rules, now we can get a fourth one. So when I tried to get mornings, guess what, 7DMT and splash was gone. So I'm stuck with all afternoon FP+ and long lines at RD.

I don't even want to talk about the stress over the dissapearing FP+ for our July Trip Doesn't everyone want to spend 40+ mintues every day over Memorial Weekend on the phone with IT?

This is too much work and I am looking forward to my vacation at Universal in August.

 

[itchin2go]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

That said, I don't understand someone taking the time to come here and complain about their vacation AFTER THE FACT, and not taking the time BEFORE their trip to find out about FP+, Magicbands, etc.

My last trip was October of 2013 -- before FP+ (at least for me - they may have been testing it for some). I have not set foot on Disney property since then. However, because of these boards, I know (a) when my FP+ window opens, and (b) which attractions to prioritize. I know that the only attractions I'm likely to have a problem scheduling advance fastpass plus with are (1) A&E, (2) 7DMT and perhaps (3) Toy Story. As far as other "popular attractions", I have no indication that I will have trouble booking those ... when my fastpass window opens, and probably for some time after.

I don't understand not educating yourself.

Actually, I take that back. It's fine if you choose not to educate yourself, but I don't understand complaining about it if that is the road you chose.

I also don't see why fastpasses or lack thereof will make or break your vacation. Even if you couldn't book the fastpasses you wanted, you could still show up at rope drop, right?

 

[maxiesmom]

Can't a guy be upset about something without you all attacking him about being upset. He didn't have a good trip and you all saying he probably did this and this wrong etc, probably won't make him go back any faster or want to go back any faster.

When you actually like something you hold it a high standard. I hold Disney to a high standard because they set the standard when they don't meet it. People should be allowed to talk and vent about it. Thats why people are turning down the road to other parks...not because they don't like Disney anymore. Its Disney isn't keeping the standards it set for itself.

What standard for riding rides are we talking about exactly? There never was a standard where you could ride whatever you wanted to ride, right when you wanted to ride it. Before FP you often had to wait in long lines. With FP you had to criss cross the parks pulling FPs and then going back to use them. And there were rides that if you didn't get to first thing, the wait to ride them with FP was a long one.

 

[JoeA]

I'd like to preface my post by saying I am a little burnt out on Disney and probably won't be going back for a few years. Disney didn't get worse, I just got tired. We started taking our kids in the mid-80's when we lived within driving distance and now that we're out west we go back once or twice a year just to get away. Been there a BUNCH!

I've been several times since FP+ rolled out and have no issue. At all. People ***** about having to plan 180 out to get what they want but that hasn't been my experience. We were most recently there May 18th and I did our FP+ 3 or 4 days in advance and got the (morning) times and rides we wanted - Star Tours, Toy Story, Tower of Terror. Boom Boom Boom! Then we went to AK and got a FP for Everest.

Easy.

During the "paper days" of FP you too had to be somewhere at a certain time and had zero control, and TS FP was often gone well before noon. If you were late getting a paper FP then the times were often in the late afternoon or early evening which forced you to perhaps stay in the park longer than you wanted (can't hop, have to stick around for my FP time slot!).

The food? Man, it's a freaking park, not gourmet dinning! And I don't find the cost outside the norm. Been to an NFL game recently? Or a concert? I just left a resort in Clearwater. Whew! They did a good job of sucking money out of my wallet!

I wish Disney would add more rides but the fact is, the attendance is going up and profits are strong. So I just shake my head at people who say, "I've been 50 times and...blah...blah...blah...". We can't expect Disney to be different every time we go! Go to Universal. Go to the beach. But come on folks, don't blame Disney for a bad trip when you knew what Disney is/was before you got there. As noted, it didn't change!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The dining plan and the streamlining of the restaurants has made WDW dining a shadow of its past...but it doesn't uniformly "suck." There are still places to get great food. There are just fewer of them. And yes, the prices are skyrocketing...what prices aren't.

Citywalk has some good restaurants. I am not a fan of Mythos. I had a bad experience there, much like folks report on these boards when they have a bad experience at a WDW restaurant.

Free Dining completely diminished the quality and diversity of food.

It's nothing to do with free dining. Free dining is a resort discount and not a restaurant discount. The restaurants do not pay for free dining - the resorts do.

It's more to do with the fact that WDW wants guests to be on a dining plan so they'll eat at WDW and not go someplace else, and the restaurants get reimbursed by Disney for DDP orders. They get reimbursed only a certain amount, so they have less to work with.

 

[disneymac000]

What standard for riding rides are we talking about exactly? There never was a standard where you could ride whatever you wanted to ride, right when you wanted to ride it. Before FP you often had to wait in long lines. With FP you had to criss cross the parks pulling FPs and then going back to use them. And there were rides that if you didn't get to first thing, the wait to ride them with FP was a long one.

Not riding of rides but quality of the parks and atmosphere and experiences. The fact people are still complaining about food quality, feel as if they, the repeat consumers needs aren't being met after being loyal to a company, that's a major problem that needs to be addressed. But of course, Disney knows they can screw over the repeat visitor by enticing them to buy a DVC and lock them in to coming for years to come and screw them over with no new e-ticket attractions, mediocre food, long waits and know they will some come back. I'm shocked a lot of you don't see this or feel this way.