Just back and not happy

[pjhootch]

GadgetRick, you know how this works.

This must be your fault somehow because you didn't do things right. lol. I get it completely. I haven't been since FP+ started so don't know if I will be disappointed or frustrated. I am not overjoyed about the new system. I like to make decisions on the fly. I appreciate the fact that there are lots of people out there that love to plan and think FP+ is wonderful and going to work well. But I am in the camp that doesn't understand why people want to argue about your OPINION or your personal experience.

There are all kinds of changes at Disney that I like, and a whole bunch more I don't like. I really didn't like the idea of fastpass when it started. Eventually it grew on me and I figured out how to use it to our advantage, without changing how we tour the parks. FP+ IS going to make a difference to how we tour, there is no doubt.

As for Universal... have a great time. We love going to Universal and it is a completely different experience. Yes- it is expensive. Yes, the best way to do it is to stay on property. For us, the unlimited express pass makes a world of difference. Oh yeah, the food at Universal sucks too- at least within the actual parks. And the food at City Walk may be better, but is pretty expensive. We are going to run into that at all theme parks.

I hope our next trip is enjoyable no matter what, but for certain, when I want to just relax and not have to plan ahead, we go to Universal.

 

[si-am]

We will have to agree to disagree that FP+ is equivalent to Express Pass. I am guessing you have never been to Universal and used their Express Pass (either as a guest of an onsite resort or by purchasing the perk a la carte). Equivalent by definition means to be equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc. FP+ is definitely NOT equal in value, amount or function to Express Pass. You may not like the fact that its given as a perk to onsite guests, you may not like the fact that it can be purchased by those who want it, but it most definitely does a better job at getting those guests with EP onto rides quicker than those in the standby lines, and it does that job in a far different manner than FP+. It doesnt have to be prebooked. Your are not limited to a certain number per day. Timed entry is not an issue. Its not tiered. Its easy.

Express Pass much more resembles SeaWorlds Quick Queue than it does Disneys FP+. And yes, I have personally used all three systems, so I speak from personal experience.

We did both WDW and Universal last week and actually the FP lines at Disney seemed far quicker and more efficient than Express Pass at Universal, I hate to say it. Sometimes the EP lines were pretty long; we turned around and left Hulk after 10 minutes of waiting because the Express line looked to be another 30 minutes at least. Didn't encounter that at Disney.

Both systems have their drawbacks, in other words.

 

[Disneychick75]

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.

We used to love Star Wars Weekends but, this year, they really took all of the fun out of it. Not nearly as many SW characters out and about in the various areas for photo ops. The new Darth's Mall is ridiculous. Had to wait on line to get in even though it wasn't terribly crowded inside. Apparently, it was so people could take photos in front of a couple of backdrops using an app, which adds things to the photo and has some video stuff. Why do we ALL need to wait on line? Does Disney just want EVERYONE to wait on a line while on property?

Once into the shopping area I was like, "Where is all of the cool stuff they've had in past years?" The merchandise was lame (at best) and they didn't have all of the art they used to have on display/for sale. Big fail.

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).

We had gotten the postcard in the mail months ago about getting the bracelets. My kids and wife wanted them so I tried to order them online. Couldn't get it to work. Called customer service, they walked me through ordering it. Ok, order placed about a month before this trip. Well, they never showed up.

So we stopped by Guest Services to inquire. They just went in and placed another order. Not sure exactly why they can't just give them out there. I mean, they actually SELL them in the parks. I know, what about personalization? Who cares if my name is on the darn thing? We all chose different colors. Another thing which makes no sense.

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 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.

We got back early this morning and were also disappointed. I had decided not to go after the FP+ reviews first came out but then after the ability to get more, we changed our minds- BIG MISTAKE
Our first day we had no problems with FP- probably because we were only getting them in the MK for rides we though our baby grandson would like. I knew about changing FP+ on the app but the service was
s l o w or we'd get the server is not working, etc.
We're done with Disney to the point that we'll probably be listing our DVC pts.

Well, Disney is a for-profit corporation. So is Universal. At Universal, you're forced to stay at a Universal resort or pay an exorbitant price for access to the equivalent of their "fast pass". If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express in the new Diagon Alley, you're required to have the park-to-park ticket. So they all have their pros and cons. Sorry you were so disappointed.

Have you stayed at Universal? With an AP discount, the deluxe Royal Pacific is not a lot more than a Disney moderate.
If you want to ride Space Mountain and Expedition Everest, you're also required to have a park to park ticket.

GadgetRick, you know how this works.

This must be your fault somehow because you didn't do things right. lol. I get it completely. I haven't been since FP+ started so don't know if I will be disappointed or frustrated. I am not overjoyed about the new system. I like to make decisions on the fly. I appreciate the fact that there are lots of people out there that love to plan and think FP+ is wonderful and going to work well. But I am in the camp that doesn't understand why people want to argue about your OPINION or your personal experience.

There are all kinds of changes at Disney that I like, and a whole bunch more I don't like. I really didn't like the idea of fastpass when it started. Eventually it grew on me and I figured out how to use it to our advantage, without changing how we tour the parks. FP+ IS going to make a difference to how we tour, there is no doubt.

As for Universal... have a great time. We love going to Universal and it is a completely different experience. Yes- it is expensive. Yes, the best way to do it is to stay on property. For us, the unlimited express pass makes a world of difference. Oh yeah, the food at Universal sucks too- at least within the actual parks. And the food at City Walk may be better, but is pretty expensive. We are going to run into that at all theme parks.

I hope our next trip is enjoyable no matter what, but for certain, when I want to just relax and not have to plan ahead, we go to Universal.

That's why we love Universal. You actually get to have a relaxing vacation.

We did both WDW and Universal last week and actually the FP lines at Disney seemed far quicker and more efficient than Express Pass at Universal, I hate to say it. Sometimes the EP lines were pretty long; we turned around and left Hulk after 10 minutes of waiting because the Express line looked to be another 30 minutes at least. Didn't encounter that at Disney.

Both systems have their drawbacks, in other words.

That's crazy- we've been to Universal at Christmas time and didn't have 30 minute waits in the FOTL line. Maybe the ride was down for some reason. Usually, we walk right on the Hulk.

 

[AJP71]

I am so sorry you were disappointed in your trip. I haven't read through all of the responses so I apologize if I duplicate someone else. I think the bottom line with Disney is that you really can't just go and show up anymore. You do have to plan extensively. Even down to the hour. My husband spent months researching, using the WDW APP, checking wait times, etc., just to perfect our itinerary. (And it literally was down to the hour on some days.) At the end of the day the Fast Passes we secured 60 days out were a saving grace. We got on all of the popular rides, did all of the meet/greets for our 4 year old, including the coveted Anna and Elsa, even got FPs for Wishes (which I had no idea would make such a difference but it did)--due to planning far in advance. As a result we couldn't have asked for a better vacation at Disney. Had my husband not been so diligent and persistent, I'm sure I would've been grumbling too. For those who like more leisurely vacations with more spontaneity - I would say take a pass on Disney. I wish you better luck next time!

 

[Davey Jones II]

The mass disappointment of 7DMT is a hot topic thread the last few days. It was exactly what I expected, as I knew not to trust the hype and impatience of fansites like this one. In my opinion, Disney itself has not hyped it.

I am not aware of any burgers or hot dogs available at BOG, even for kids.

Links like the green one in my signature were written to help anyone interested in learning all about FP+ before going. Your statement that it is "impossible to get the popular attractions unless you book very far in advance" is incorrect.

I'm coming to this thread very late, since it has already balooned to many pages. I just wanted to point out that the above bold seems inaccurate. For every post expressing disappointment, I've read at least one expressing how much the poster and family enjoyed or loved it.

So the reaction, at worst, can best be described as "mixed". And the actual quality of the ride is seldom attacked; it's mostly the shortness of it. How anyone could expect a long ride in FL is beyond me...

 

[shepd]

So if you don't want to stay on-site then why would you expect the same benefits as those guests who spend the extra $$'s with Disney?

Because I paid the same price for my tickets to access the parks as the guys in Disney's hotel rooms, and Disney doesn't give the hotels away.

I'd be fine with it if Disney cut off-siters a break in the price and charged those going to a hotel extra for those perky tickets they get.

Just for comparison, most theatres here in Canada are owned by a major Canadian bank (Scotiabank)--yes, it's for real. Imagine if, for the exact same price as anyone else pays, by having a scotiabank account you could watch a movie a few days before it comes out.

Hey, it's up to Disney, and it would be up to Scotiabank, but if you didn't want an account with Scotiabank, and you're not interested in shacking up with the mouse, in the end, the deal just serves to devalue the rest of the second class tickets. Disney is absolutely welcome to do that, but it seems to me to be a bad business decision in the long run. They're doing well now, but others will catch up. I know it's hard to believe... However, I've seen it first hand having worked for a certain once extremely popular phone manufacturer that spent a lot of time milking its cash cows and not enough time watching as the competition built Harry Potter... sorry... iPhones.

Well, either way, I'm looking forward to my first visit in 30 years. However, I think I'll wait another 30 to visit one last time if Disney wants to keep the value so very low for us second class citizens. Hopefully for them they can cut a deal with Universal in the meantime, you know, because Disney hotels make everything else better, right? I figure in 30 years they'll have one hell of a theme park.

 

[CounselorX]

I didn't read the many pages of this thread. However, FP+ and magic bands are great, especially since they've added the option to get 4 or more fast passes. If you didn't understand how the system works by the time you got there then that's your own fault. I know if I'm spending thousands of dollars on a vacation, I'll make it a point to know what the heck I'm doing.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We did both WDW and Universal last week and actually the FP lines at Disney seemed far quicker and more efficient than Express Pass at Universal, I hate to say it. Sometimes the EP lines were pretty long; we turned around and left Hulk after 10 minutes of waiting because the Express line looked to be another 30 minutes at least. Didn't encounter that at Disney.

Both systems have their drawbacks, in other words.

If your FP+ line at Disney is long, though, you have no other options other than wait it out for that ride (or ride standby, and "waste" your FP since it will expire after the time allotted). At Universal, your EP will get your front of the access at any other ride, anytime. If Hulk's EP line is too long, you can pick another attraction immediately and use your EP privileges there. No fiddling with scheduling a ride time on your cell phone app then being a slave to the FP+ window. Then go back later, and ride Hulk with your EP when the line is more acceptable to you.

I am not saying the EP system at Universal is perfect. But it has Disney's counterpart beat by a country mile for ease of use and overall benefits to guests.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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.

To plunder (a place). Not a wallet. And every restaurant provides pricing up front. Given the OP's past opinions of the food, his choice to eat there anyway belies his claim. And usage.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I hear ya! Me and my son are doing a split trip to Universal and I couldn't believe the prices! I thought Disney was expensive, we are spending 3 days in US, had to stay at the Royal Pacific and the 2 day pass with hop option is so much money! My US trip is the same price as going to Disney for 5 days. Disney looks reasonable to me now!

No offense, but you simply need to do more homework.

 

[sonofanarchy]

We will have to agree to disagree that FP+ is equivalent to Express Pass. I am guessing you have never been to Universal and used their Express Pass (either as a guest of an onsite resort or by purchasing the perk a la carte). Equivalent by definition means to be equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc. FP+ is definitely NOT equal in value, amount or function to Express Pass. You may not like the fact that its given as a perk to onsite guests, you may not like the fact that it can be purchased by those who want it, but it most definitely does a better job at getting those guests with EP onto rides quicker than those in the standby lines, and it does that job in a far different manner than FP+. It doesnt have to be prebooked. Your are not limited to a certain number per day. Timed entry is not an issue. Its not tiered. Its easy.

Express Pass much more resembles SeaWorlds Quick Queue than it does Disneys FP+. And yes, I have personally used all three systems, so I speak from personal experience.

I missed that post, but even having not used FP+ yet, that's just a ridiculous comparison. UE is in a league all it's own. It's Unlimited and is good at almost every attraction.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that people who frequent Disney boards have a different vision of WDW than people who do not. I am taking my friend in October, and she has been several times. In my opinion, she did nothing, but she had a great tie. If I had not shared my experience with her, she never would have known the difference. For many FP+ is a great invention because they never even used FP well, so now they have a better chance to get to their favorite attractions. I have no idea how I will feel, October is my first time using FP+.

I think that we also need to respect that some people re going to be upset with the changes. They are not all positive for frequent flyers. They just are not. WE lost our beloved RIverside PARk and got Six Flags NE. Based on the traffic, long lines, and crowded pathways, a lot of people love this, but not me. Went two time and will never enter again. I do not ridicule those people who are okay with the change, the cost and the constant money mongering. The OP has experienced what he finds to be unpleasant, and he is justified in his opinion. I think the food has gone downhill, and the cost to eat it has increased.

I really wish someone could discuss their experience. Disney is not offended if someone is unhappy with the change.

 

[GadgetRick]

Given the OP's past opinions of the food, his choice to eat there anyway belies his claim. And usage.

One last post because this part of the, "discussion," has gone on way too long.

First of all, it wasn't my choice to eat at this place.

Second of all, none of us had any idea we'd be eating at this place...EVER. Was spur of the moment decision by one of my visiting family members.

Third of all, because it had just rained, there was no line outside--like there usually has been in the past--so I did not have a chance to check a menu before going in.

Before people get on their high horse and make assumptions--you know what happens when you assume--maybe you should know the whole story. And this is directed to ALL of you who seem to think I should have known the prices before I went there.

Back to your regularly-scheduled, "discussion."

 

[Seeker615]

I hear ya! Me and my son are doing a split trip to Universal and I couldn't believe the prices! I thought Disney was expensive, we are spending 3 days in US, had to stay at the Royal Pacific and the 2 day pass with hop option is so much money! My US trip is the same price as going to Disney for 5 days. Disney looks reasonable to me now!

Hmmm....we stayed 5 night at Universal last year at Royal Pacific, had 3 day park to park tickets, a dining plan and tickets to the Blue man Group and it was more reasonable then staying 5 nights at Disney at Port Orleans. With our stay we had the UNLIMITED Express passes as well. As an added bonus you can walk to both parks from the hotel as well as Citywalk. There is no waiting for shuttles and everything is so close. Believe me you will love it!

I love both Disney and Universal. Right now I have been more of a Universal person. The theming and the rides and the convenience are just more appealing to me right now. I don't want to wear a band nor do I want to plan out what I want to ride and when. I don't want to be tied to anything other than a few dinner reservations nor do I want to plan my reservations 6 months out.

I will definitely be back to Disney. Hopefully in a few years with my grand-kids!

 

[2Tiggies]

I understand the profit thing. My point is, they've ALWAYS been for profit and it's been (relatively) lately they've been moving in the direction they've been going. So, it doesn't HAVE to be that way. You can still make money and provide a great product.

There are a few points you raised in your opening post where I have different views, but on this point I agree. I think where the change has come in is that even though they were always 'for profit' they made the guest feel like it was 'for you'. It is glaringly apparent now that Disney is [openly] focused on the profit side and whether perceived or actual, it certainly translates to the guest as a decline in the value of the visitor.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm here, at WDW, now. Got here on Sunday. My dh made the statement, on Tuesday, that you really can't do attractions if you don't have a FP+. But.....he left yesterday, and is the kind of person who wants to go to a park, do the stuff he wants to do, and then leave....after just a few hours. Well, that isn't possible anymore. But, you certainly can do the things you want to do if you head to a park late in the day. Dd and I got to DHS yesterday around 10ish, in the morning. We rode StarTours, TGMR, RnRC, ToT and headed to BC for lunch at Beaches and Cream. We left the park at 12:30. Then, headed out to MK around 7ish. Got a FP+ for BTMR. Ate at Cosmic Rays, then rode PoTC, Jungle Cruise, watched the tail end of MSEP, did HM, watched Wishes from the Tom Sawyer Island boat dock area, rode BTMR, and then left the park around 10:30.
Did we do everything? No, of course we didn't. But, we were able to do what we wanted to do, with very short waits.

I've been able to tweak my FP+ choices as I go....at least the day before, and sometimes the day of. No, not for hugely popular things like SDMT. Or certain meet and greets. But I've been able to do what we've wanted. It is fairly crowded at the moment. So, that tends to slow you down a bit.

 

[NYDisGuy]

Take away the incentives and what does Disney have to get butts in beds on-site?

I never understand how people make this point. If price is an issue, stay at Pop Century or one of the All Stars. The rooms are usually under $100 a night and you get most of the same incentives as deluxe. MDE and the park buses are worth it alone for that price.

 

[Lucky4me]

If you buy your Universal tickets online before your trip and book a discounted room on site at Universal, it's cheaper than anything comparable Disney has to offer. And FOTL included makes all the difference. Just like Disney, the longer you stay, the less you pay per day. With the addition of Diagon Alley, I think Universal at least equals, if not surpasses the value of a Disney vacation.

I miss legacy fastpass. I miss less people in the parks during off season. I miss all the rides that have closed that I really loved. I am not impressed with the very few new rides/attractions/shows they've added the past ten years. For ME, I think Disney has lost their edge.

So, I will go to Universal.
Members of my own family disagree with me on this. My daughter is spending nine days in Disney World on her honeymoon in October. We just agree to disagree and that's okay.

 

[DisneyLover0610]

I'd consider myself a Disney fanatic, slightly obsessed, a dork, whatever. My DH and I have been going each year since we were married (just 4) and we've done it differently each year. From mega planning, to just making ADR's. It completely changes the feel of the trip, but when you (DH) works for/with your family, averaging 75 hours a week, go home to emails and phone calls and only get one vacation a year, you make the best of it. Do we have expectations? Of course! And I'm sure there's a time we'll have disappointments. But honestly, for me, a lot of that comes from all these "fan" sites. My expectations come mostly from all the blogs, news, sites that I read. If I went off my expectations from Disney, I'd know there would be FP+ and MDE problems. And that comes from the poor Disney website. And I've had those problems (this past April). Sometimes I'll get a CM on the phone that hates their job that day, but I guarantee I've been that "CM" at my job to someone before (I know that doesnt make it right). The next time I call I'll get someone like Burke who I've gotten multiple times and makes me so excited to be going back. Unfortunately that's part of life. It does stink when you pay $6000 to have things go wrong. Just like it stinks to buy a new car and have problems with it, or just decide it wasn't the right one for you. For me, whether I didn't have a good meal, had to wait in a longgg line for a 2 min ride, or had to pay $12 for a drink, I'm with my DH. I sleep next to him each night but don't get to spend nearly enough time with him. When I go with my parents, My mom gets so uptight and angry when things go wrong there BECAUSE she lets all the Disney sites get her hyped up for an amazingly terrific vacation where nothing can go wrong! But my dad and I will sit back an order another beer. Maybe someday these things will bother me too. Honestly, as I gear up for our October trip, I plan to be less of a Disney nut and just let whatever happens, happen. Will Disney hear about it if I'm not happy, for sure. Will others, quite possibily. I think reading negative or disappointing trip reports can help others see that not every experience is magical at all times.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

If you buy your Universal tickets online before your trip and book a discounted room on site at Universal, it's cheaper than anything comparable Disney has to offer. And FOTL included makes all the difference. Just like Disney, the longer you stay, the less you pay per day. With the addition of Diagon Alley, I think Universal at least equals, if not surpasses the value of a Disney vacation.

I miss legacy fastpass. I miss less people in the parks during off season. I miss all the rides that have closed that I really loved. I am not impressed with the very few new rides/attractions/shows they've added the past ten years. For ME, I think Disney has lost their edge.

So, I will go to Universal.
Members of my own family disagree with me on this. My daughter is spending nine days in Disney World on her honeymoon in October. We just agree to disagree and that's okay.

Until Universal offers the ability to ride a monorail, take a boat ride, walk along a Boardwalk, and have access to multiple resorts (not just 3) the "value" will never even be close. If Universal was the size of WDW, FOTL would not be possible.