Just back and some thoughts

[Jhondy210]

We just got back today from a wonderful week long trip at WDW. So, I thought I would give a couple quick thoughts:

• Magic Kingdom was definitely always busy and the parks were way busier than they were 2 years ago! However, we found with several days at MK and FP+ we were able to ride everything we wanted even though we did not do rope drop (my husband says its not a vacation if he has to wake up early…it was so hard for me to miss rope drop). We did go to the recommended parks each day but I didn't see much of a difference between a 5 and an 8 crowd day at the parks.
• Cirque du Soleil is the most amazing show that I have ever seen! We got Cat. 2 tickets and the view was awesome!
• Wishes Dessert party changed how they do things. You now check in and then grab whatever table you want. No one stands at the railing anymore and there are tables against the railing (we also saw a mouse run across the railing..eek!)
• Marceline to the Magic Kingdom tour was interesting but I don't think I'll do another tour. It was just too much time for the information given and how much of that information that I will retain.
• Busses were great for Saratoga Springs…we never waited very long for a bus and most the time we walked up as a bus was pulling up.
• Didn't see much for big tour groups. Definitely saw a lot more dance groups then we did the 15's. of the 15's that we did saw, I didn't note anything remarkable about them besides there was a lot of them. They were not loud nor rude and honestly but for the matching shirts/backpacks and number of them I wouldn't have noticed they were a tour group
• I find how people walk in the parks annoying. If you need to stop or meet up with your group do it off to the side and not in the middle of the walkway! Along with that, people walking in all directions was annoying too. Like if most the people on the left side are going one way and most the people on the right are going the opposite way, why are you going the opposite way then the majority. Lastly, if you have 5+ people in your party, you probably shouldn't walk side by side blocking the entire pathway.
• Cast members that we encountered were nice but nothing spectacular. There was nothing about any of them that made me think "this is a disney worker"
• The Change an ADR feature on the website worked well to change times for ADRs on the day of the ADR. The only blip was the restaurants system didn't update as quickly as necessary for me to show up at my new ADR time and be in their system for the new time.
• The shop park app still stinks! I can never get the app to work right when I'm there. Every time I scan something it either tells me they have something the store doesn't, that the store doesn't have something it does, or that the app can't look up the item I want to look up.
• Also MDE is annoyingly glitchy but that is nothing new.

We had a great vacation but I'm definitely happy to be home and, while I'm hoping to go back before my annual pass expires, I don't think my husband and I will be going back to WDW together for 3-5years from now. The crowds are definitely too much for my husband so I think we will wait till some of the new stuff opens and hope the excitement of new stuff will help us forget about how bad I imagine the crowds to be when the new things do open.

 

[larryz]

Sounds like you had a good time. Thanks for posting!

 

[Disnut4925]

Great report, thanks so much!

 

[Davey Jones II]

Thanks for the report. A few comments on your comments:

* The crowds are definitely out of control. But since you are not rope drop people, have you considered going to WDW during "party season" (when the Halloween or Christmas parties are on). Yes it's still crowded, but on party days, the MK is noticeably quieter. And if you do one of the parties, most rides are a walk on all night.

* Overall, cast members are not what they used to be. I blame Disney for that. CMs are overworked, stressed and underpaid. Not to mention that their training is cursory.

* The tours are not usually worth the money. You already paid to enter the park, you can do your own touring without paying extra. Just my opinion.

* I don't often read a good review of the bus system. Maybe you were lucky, or the service to Saratoga Springs is better than most.

* Did you like 7 Dwarves Mine Train?

 

[jon18uk]

I don't often read a good review of the bus system. Maybe you were lucky, or the service to Saratoga Springs is better than most.

We stayed at Saratoga Springs five years ago and found the bus service to be good. I think it also helped that the resort was empty, most of the time we were the only people waiting at that particular bus stop.

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you had a great time!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I hadn't heard that about the Wishes Dessert Party...so no more assigned seating? Hmm. And no more standing at the rail...did you think that worked better, like could everyone see properly?

 

[lugnut33]

We just got back today from a wonderful week long trip at WDW. So, I thought I would give a couple quick thoughts:

• Magic Kingdom was definitely always busy and the parks were way busier than they were 2 years ago! However, we found with several days at MK and FP+ we were able to ride everything we wanted even though we did not do rope drop

Bob Iger is very pleased to hear this comment.

 

[Jhondy210]

Thanks for the report. A few comments on your comments:

* The crowds are definitely out of control. But since you are not rope drop people, have you considered going to WDW during "party season" (when the Halloween or Christmas parties are on). Yes it's still crowded, but on party days, the MK is noticeably quieter. And if you do one of the parties, most rides are a walk on all night.

* Overall, cast members are not what they used to be. I blame Disney for that. CMs are overworked, stressed and underpaid. Not to mention that their training is cursory.

* The tours are not usually worth the money. You already paid to enter the park, you can do your own touring without paying extra. Just my opinion.

* I don't often read a good review of the bus system. Maybe you were lucky, or the service to Saratoga Springs is better than most.

* Did you like 7 Dwarves Mine Train?

I actually am a rope drop person, my husband is not and I chose to make sure the vacation was relaxing for him. The lines were not terrible it was more the shear number of people in the parks that was crazy. It was hard just to walk around.

All the cast members were polite but they were how I expect all customer service employees to act. Maybe if we had kids it would have been different. I want to emphasize that I had no bad experiences with cast members and I don't think they were doing anything wrong, they just didn't add anything special to the vacation.

I agree with you on the tours. I had never taken one and heard such good praise about them so I decided to give it a try. There was some neat facts but I bet I could have found those on the internet and seeing behind the scenes of haunted mansion was neat but not worth the 3 hour tour during prime park touring time.

I also may not be very picky about busses. I've been going to WDW for quite some time now and I can only remember one bad bus experience…which was at GF. So, either I'm generally pretty lucky with busses or I'm just not that picky.

We rode 7 Dwarves mine train twice, once during the day and once at night. My husband really liked it because he isn't a big fan of roller coasters but I thought the ride was too short. However, at night, I did really like 7 dwarves mine train. It just felt like the car swung more and the car moved faster.

 

[Jhondy210]

I hadn't heard that about the Wishes Dessert Party...so no more assigned seating? Hmm. And no more standing at the rail...did you think that worked better, like could everyone see properly?

We had a table right up against the railing and we could see fine. I didn't hear any complaints from the table behind us. Also, the smallest tables are now for 4 so if you are a party smaller than that you still sit at a table for 4. All the tables for 4 were up against the railing and the tables for 4+ were behind the tables for 4.

I'm not sure which way I like better for the party. We lined up 30 minutes early and were about the middle of the line they also let people in 15 minutes early. In a way, it was nice getting to sit and watch the fireworks but I didn't like feeling like I had to line up 30+ minutes early to make sure that I got the seat that I wanted. However, on the flip side we had booked the dessert party late so I figured we wouldn't have that great of a seat and it turned out we were able to pick a pretty good seat.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We had a table right up against the railing and we could see fine. I didn't hear any complaints from the table behind us. Also, the smallest tables are now for 4 so if you are a party smaller than that you still sit at a table for 4. All the tables for 4 were up against the railing and the tables for 4+ were behind the tables for 4.

I'm not sure which way I like better for the party. We lined up 30 minutes early and were about the middle of the line they also let people in 15 minutes early. In a way, it was nice getting to sit and watch the fireworks but I didn't like feeling like I had to line up 30+ minutes early to make sure that I got the seat that I wanted. However, on the flip side we had booked the dessert party late so I figured we wouldn't have that great of a seat and it turned out we were able to pick a pretty good seat.

I guess if everyone is sitting, everyone can see.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I liked the assigned seats because you didn't feel like you had to line up early. I'm really surprised they went back on that, seems like more line management for them. But it is nice if you get there early enough to get the front row and be able to sit the whole time.

Thanks for the info!

 

[showers2flowers]

Your husband sounds a lot like mine! We returned a couple of weeks ago, and he's made it clear that he's not going again for at least three or four years. He kindly humored my early bird schedule (I am definitely a rope dropper, as is my son), but complained mightily at times. He doesn't do well in crowds either. My son and I are already planning a mother/son trip, since we aren't going to wait 3+ years to go back! My husband is a Star Wars fan, so I do hope we can talk him back off the ledge for a family trip after the big stuff opens in DHS.

 

[goofy4tink]

I just got home yesterday, there for a week. I have similar thoughts! The people walking side by side, down the middle of the walkway, was soooo annoying. We had to actually step way over to the side to allow huge groups to move by!! Drove me nuts!
Tons of dance groups!! We overheard several groups telling CMs they had large numbers in their FP group..one was 60!!
I had very good bus service.....and I was at BW!
I have to say that the parks, especially MK, were crazy crowded! The Wishes FP area was full to the point of overcrowding! Never saw so many strollers. Not to mention so many people sitting in the ground, stretched out!! Sat night was awful!! Even the FP return lines were long!
Epcot wasn't bad....but with Soarin' down, not many people have much interest.
DHS wasn't much fun....just not all that much to do. But, the Star Wars fireworks were incredible, best I've seen. We actually made a trip back there just for the fireworks..it had rained almost all day, so not many people by the time the fireworks happened.
AK was fairly crowded. In the usual places.
I've been to WDW at this time of year before. It was much more crowded than I expected. Had some really terrific CMs. A few that should work elsewhere!

 

[buzznina]

I started laughing when I read your comment about people stopping in the middle and also the family that has to walk side by side and take up the whole walk area. Those are 2 of my standard gripes when we are there. I think the slow periods do not exist anymore at WDW, but we still have a great and relaxing time. We have 30+ trips and I can honestly say that we are very happy with WDW buses and the % of times we were disappointed is verrrry low.

 

[laceyinwonderland]

We just got home from a Saratoga Springs stay as well!! We had GREAT bus service!! Ive only ever stayed at Pop and AKL, which both have just 1 bus stop. I was so worried about the multiple stops, but it wasnt bad at all. I know everyone says SSR is soooo far away from everything, but I didnt think it was bad at all!!

I also noticed that CMs didnt seem as overly nice. We never encountered anyone rude by anymeans, but I remember years past, SEVERAL CMs stopping my daughters to ask if they were having a good time, what favorite things they had done, calling them princesses etc. Not ONE time did a CM have a friendly chat with us, and I made a point to strike up converstaions as much as I could. Weird!!

 

[stinkpickle]

I agree on the crowded feeling part at MK. After visiting both MK and DL last summer during similarly posted crowd levels, MK felt more crowded, even though DL actually had longer wait times. There were a LOT more strollers at MK eating up the walkways.

 

[Meriweather]

Also just back (last night) from a 2 week trip.
I am always annoyed by people stopping in the middle of the walk ways
Buses for the most part were great....from resort (OKW) and from the parks.
CM were fine.....a few very good!
We go on long trips so I love the tours....did Backstage Tales this time (AK) and loved it.
I agree Star Wars fireworks are the best! We watched them twice.
I was disappointed in some of the dining this time.....not usual for me. Not impressed with Coral Reef, 1900 Park Faire (although loved the characters), Garden Grill (again did love the characters) or Cape May

We do rope drop....or close too. Best time without crowds. We found almost every day it was very crowded by 11.
Lots of dance teams and tour groups.

 

[tlmadden73]

We had a great vacation but I'm definitely happy to be home and, while I'm hoping to go back before my annual pass expires, I don't think my husband and I will be going back to WDW together for 3-5years from now. The crowds are definitely too much for my husband so I think we will wait till some of the new stuff opens and hope the excitement of new stuff will help us forget about how bad I imagine the crowds to be when the new things do open.

Wow .. the crowd reports from last week of January is crazy. I went this exact time of year 6 years ago .. and it was so empty, it was amazing. I think Disney is just THAT popular now . and so crowded OTHER times that people are desperately trying to find a time that was traditionally less crowded to come (which makes those times even more crowded).

I think a lot of frequent visitors MAY wait the 3+ years for "everything" to be done before going back because of the crowds and the new stuff "coming soon". (Pandora, Toy Story, Star Wars).

I find how people walk in the parks annoying. If you need to stop or meet up with your group do it off to the side and not in the middle of the walkway! Along with that, people walking in all directions was annoying too. Like if most the people on the left side are going one way and most the people on the right are going the opposite way, why are you going the opposite way then the majority. Lastly, if you have 5+ people in your party, you probably shouldn't walk side by side blocking the entire pathway.

These are just the same people who congregated in the middle of the hall in High School (and never grew out of it) .. they are just a type of person who is UNAWARE of anything around them but themselves. Frustrating for sure.

 

[blestmom]

Also just back (last night) from a 2 week trip.
I am always annoyed by people stopping in the middle of the walk ways
Buses for the most part were great....from resort (OKW) and from the parks.
CM were fine.....a few very good!
We go on long trips so I love the tours....did Backstage Tales this time (AK) and loved it.
I agree Star Wars fireworks are the best! We watched them twice.
I was disappointed in some of the dining this time.....not usual for me. Not impressed with Coral Reef, 1900 Park Faire (although loved the characters), Garden Grill (again did love the characters) or Cape May

We do rope drop....or close too. Best time without crowds. We found almost every day it was very crowded by 11.
Lots of dance teams and tour groups.

Here now towards the end of a 2-week trip, and pretty similar experiences. We've found the buses good, and the CM's friendly. Tons of tour groups. Less today....I think the dance competition is over. We did the KTTK tour and loved it. Want to try the Backstage Tales next time. Traveling with a teenager so we do less rope drop and more late nights. Since we stay for longer trips I pretty much plan for when I can get the cheapest room rate. And we got an annual pass so we'll most likely be back next January....tour groups and all.

 

[Meriweather]

Here now towards the end of a 2-week trip, and pretty similar experiences. We've found the buses good, and the CM's friendly. Tons of tour groups. Less today....I think the dance competition is over. We did the KTTK tour and loved it. Want to try the Backstage Tales next time. Traveling with a teenager so we do less rope drop and more late nights. Since we stay for longer trips I pretty much plan for when I can get the cheapest room rate. And we got an annual pass so we'll most likely be back next January....tour groups and all.

We'll be back next January too....still like it
We will also be there in March and November.