Just back and not happy

[maxiesmom]

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.

I've not seen a decline in atmosphere or experience. But that is something each of us can view very differently. For example I can say it is a great thing that when the parks are busy, Disney won't let you hold a counter service table. They seat you once you have your food. Others hate that very thing. It doesn't mean Disney is doing anything bad or wrong.

The food thing is a bit tougher. You see complaints on both ends of the spectrum. Some complain that there isn't enough "normal" food. Others complain Disney has dumbed down their menus.

I'm not sure how people can complain about a lack of new attractions either. Not unless they are totally oblivious to all Disney has done in the last few years.

 

[willowsnn3]

Ok, just read page 1 & page 6.

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

 

[GadgetRick]

Maybe the issue is now you hold Disney to too high of a level?

Its fine it used to be better but what do you rate it today against any other place you would eat?

Disney is one of the few places where the food is better than I can make myself at home. I can go to all sorts of restaurants personally and through work and they all come up short and I find myself just thinking I could make the same dish healthier (I am not a health nut just not dripping in oil for instance) and tastier at home. Counter service is about on par with fast food and is the reason I just look to avoid it at Disney.

No offense, then you need to learn how to cook.

I rate Disney based on what they've done in the past not based on what other people are doing.

 

[GadgetRick]

No I got it-the attraction was soo bad and "not worth it at all" that you can't even get a FP+ for it. Had to be checking for availability-no irony at all? But had to come up with something negative and chose 7DMT and TSM as the examples-attractions that would/were always out of FP- before the average guest arrived at the parks.

No, you didn't get it. I didn't know how bad the attraction was until I rode it. Since I was unable to obtain a FP for it, we had to wait on line for it...for quite some time.

 

[GadgetRick]

To be fair, the word also means "to plunder" or "despoil", which have economic and environmental implications, respectively. Not every usage of the word implies sexual assault. "To rape the countryside" and "rape one's wallet" are perfectly p.c. usages of the word.

Thank you.

 

[GadgetRick]

How many people actually use it in that context, though? I just think there are many other ways he could have expressed his frustration.

Apparently, at least one since I did.

 

[GadgetRick]

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).

Thanks. Haven't been to DL in quite some time but would love to take the kids out there since they've never been there. Just too expensive of a trip.

 

[ashleymrush]

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.

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.

 

[GadgetRick]

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.

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.

 

[FLchick415]

Apparently, at least one since I did.

Still the wrong context since nothing was forcibly taken from you.

 

[itchin2go]

No, you didn't get it. I didn't know how bad the attraction was until I rode it. Since I was unable to obtain a FP for it, we had to wait on line for it...for quite some time.

(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.

 

[kaybird]

Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarfs are not happy.

 

[GadgetRick]

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.

I never said, nor did I imply, I expected something GREATER than what's there. I'd be happy with as good as what's there. This is not.

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!

Yeah, the kids hated it, too.

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!

We also go offsite (we stay offsite) to eat. However, I had family in town so we did eat a couple of meals onsite and, well, it still sucks.

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!

Again, my point is, you shouldn't have to KNOW so much in order to take advantage of it. How is it my fault that I didn't know I could change the time in the app? How does one know what they don't know?

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.

In the past, we've been able to, "work the system," so to say to get the most out of our times there. However, it's much more difficult for these spur of the moment trips.

 

[GadgetRick]

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.

Thanks. I expected the fire coming my way when I posted it. Wish people would be able to see both sides of the argument but, apparently, that's not possible for many people around here but (thankfully) it is possible for some of you.

 

[GadgetRick]

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?

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.

 

[PlutoMars]

Thanks. I expected the fire coming my way when I posted it. Wish people would be able to see both sides of the argument but, apparently, that's not possible for many people around here but (thankfully) it is possible for some of you.

It couldnt have anything to do with the manner in which you presented your findings now, could it....naawww...thats just crazy talk.

 

[flicx]

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.

Agree 110%. Gouge would also be a good word to use in place of rape, but both can mean essentially the same thing!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

after reading some more of the OP's complaints, he mentions that his entire family HATED the 7 Dwarfs mine train ride. not that they were disappointed in it, or they thought it was OK but could have been better. They HATED it.

That makes me kind of sorry the OP renewed his APs, because it does look like it's time for him and his family to try someplace else.

 

[nkereina]

You are not "forced" to do either.

If you stay at one of the three participating Universal official hotels, you get Express Pass as part of your room rate.

If you are staying offsite, you have the option to purchase Express Pass in advance of your visit or when you arrive at the park.

Or, you can ride standby.

And just to clarify......Express Pass is NOTHING like Fastpass. No "timed" windows of use. No limits on the number or frequency of use (with the exception of Forbidden Journey). No pre-booking required, as much as 60 days in advance. Front of the line, as many times as you want, when you want. It does not compare to Disney's system at all, and certainly not an "equivalent".

This is a little nitpicky of my original post. Of course you're not forced to do either in order to go, but if you want to use the equivalent of what they offer as a fast pass, then you ARE forced to stay at their resort or pay a hefty fee. If you don't want to use express pass, then this is irrelevant. But at Disney, the equivalent (FP+) available to anyone at no extra charge. That was my point.

And I know that Express Pass is not the same as FP, but it's the same concept which I why I said equivalent. The main objective of both systems is to get you to bypass the line, thus spending more time in the actual park, so it certainly is the equivalent. How they function is different.

 

[GadgetRick]

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.



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.

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. They anticipated making a LOT more food. The problem is, whomever they chose to get the food from provides inferior food.