Maybe it's just me...

[Thiago Acquaviva]

You know guys, let's just be honest...

I'm kinda new to this WDW thing, even I researching and been obsessed with it since a little kid.
I'm from Brazil and we all know this country isn't easy, specially for a mid-class or below.

I started going to WDW in 2014, after a whole life living in a family with some rich members, who visited WDW year by year for decades. I was growing up hearing about this fantastic and magic place but I couldn't have a chance to go.
I went on 2014 for the first time with my boyfriend, thanks to HUGE efforts we made, and then the magic was all true and we fell in love with that thing that I always thought to be just a dream.

Next year (2015) we made huge efforts again and we wew able to go one more time to our dream world. We took a friend with us, we got engaged during Wishes, it was pure magic.

With all the rises and big costs changes in 2016 we weren't able to go again. We have to double the period of the time to wait and the efforts.
We made once again huge efforts and went on 2017. 3rd time is a charm like people used to say, we fell even more in love with this magical place, but we had to make a lot of cuts to fit in our pocket.

Now we are trying to plan to go this october, but things keeps rising and been even more difficult. Even if we got to go this year, I don't think we will be able to go again soon. maybe 2021-2022 but not sure.


What I wanted to say is that it has been a lot more difficult year by year indeed for most of the regular people like me, specially for international visitors like us, which USA dollar values 3.5x our money.
You guys can't imagine (I know some of you can) how frustrating is to have to make so huge efforts all year long to be able to have a few days/weeks at this wonderful and loved place.
I know Disney has to pay for all the new lands and attractions, but it seems so frustrating to see that much things changing and upcharging, prices rising year by year for restaurants, producst, hotels, tickets, all at the same time!

I know most of you have good financial conditions, and I know Disney focus on that. I also know that living in USA it's "easier" because a ticket that costs 120 US dollars costs 120 US dollars not 420 like for us.

I'm just afraid Disney to be cutting off the mid class oportunity and also international visitors.
Because now it seems that even the value resorts and basic activities are getting moderate/deluxe costs.
I don't have any problem on doing split staying as we always do to have the opportunity to live disney magic at a value and then move to an off site for the costs. But what happens to our biggest dream to be able to marry and spend a couple days at Polynesian?
You know what I'm saying? It's been impossible a value vacation, imagine a moderate that once was kinda possible for a couple of days "splurging".

I'm just scary to not be able to live our dreams at the most magical place on Earth in the future because things have been changing real fast

ps: sorry for my english

 

[GillianP1301]

OP, I doubt you are alone. I happen to feel differently about it than you do, but can still understand where you're coming from.

The flip side argument to what you're saying is some people may actually like having the option of "upcharge" activities like parties, early or late night extra hour ticketed events, dessert parties, etc... because it gives them an option to avoid heavier crowds and to maximize their vacation time. I suspect there are enough people who fall on this side of the argument or there would be no reason for Disney to continue with these options.

 

[wdw4rfam]

But since a less than stellar trip this year and watching all the upcharges, add-ons, hard ticket events, and especially price increases and gouges, I'm feeling pretty disillusioned with Disney right about now. We're planning another trip probably in late 2020, but the shine is gone. Like I said in the thread title, maybe it's just me (and my DW) that're feeling this way. I guess the thing that bothers me most is that Disney doesn't seem to care about disenfranchising their long-time, loyal fans/guests. They just seem happy to take our money and offer us less and less value for it each time we come back. Won't be long before that money train runs out I suppose. Like I said, maybe it's just me...

I’m with you. Never thought we’d say it. We are planning a universal trip next year and hitting a beach. We’ve been going for a long time, and each year goes up in price and we get less for it. I expect the price increase, but not the quality decrease. We finally hit that breaking point, that if you asked me a few years ago, I would have said would never happen. We are going in a little over 2 weeks, and I havent even got a packing list, gathered anything up. I’m just not as excited as I used to get. We always have our next trip booked before we go, and we all voted that we skip a few years. We went to universal last year for 2 days and it wow’d me. I’m sure we will go again after toy story opens and again after Star Wars, but it will be offsite. Probably at one of the Disney springs resorts or SOG that still get onsite perks without the monsterous price.

 

[mrswillson]

If people can't be happy in Walt Disney World, I don't think that's Walt Disney World's fault.

I'm glad this insight was shared, as I now know that it's our fault as consumers that Disney has cut corners and benefits and is no longer providing an exceptional product. My bad.

 

[AFwifelife]

I'm sure you aren't alone but I don't feel that way. If you don't find the value, then don't go. We don't pay to see professional league sports or concerts because we don't find them worth the money, so we don't go.

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

I’m going for the first time in October, and these kind of threads (plus Tuesday’s podcast, and other places that express the same sentiment) really scare me. I’m not saying that people’s experiences are not valid, and I’ve worked in the Disney Store so I do understand the expectations of good service that Disney creates.

We are going for 4 weeks on what was intended to be a once in a lifetime trip. I get very worried when I hear how many long-term visitors are being turned off, because this trip is very expensive and we will be there for a long time - if I want to leave after 5 days, we can’t!

I’m hoping that, because I don’t remember the “good old days”, that I will still enjoy the trip and not notice the drop in standards that so many regulars are frustrated by.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I’m going for the first time in October, and these kind of threads (plus Tuesday’s podcast, and other places that express the same sentiment) really scare me. I’m not saying that people’s experiences are not valid, and I’ve worked in the Disney Store so I do understand the expectations of good service that Disney creates.

We are going for 4 weeks on what was intended to be a once in a lifetime trip. I get very worried when I hear how many long-term visitors are being turned off, because this trip is very expensive and we will be there for a long time - if I want to leave after 5 days, we can’t!

I’m hoping that, because I don’t remember the “good old days”, that I will still enjoy the trip and not notice the drop in standards that so many regulars are frustrated by.

You're going to have an amazing time. Do not let these opinions scare you. They had me in a tizzy before our Thanksgiving trip and it was everything we hoped for and more. Enjoy your first time, because there will never be another first visit!!!

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

You're going to have an amazing time. Do not let these opinions scare you. They had me in a tizzy before our Thanksgiving trip and it was everything we hoped for and more. Enjoy your first time, because there will never be another first visit!!!

Thank you - that’s really good to hear!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Actually the only reason we are still going this year is that our youngest is a high school senior and we started going when he was 2 and we want to go full circle and do our last trip right before he goes away to college

Even with saying that I'm still toying with just switching to universal. No planning- unlimited express passes and Portofino feels more like a real deluxe resort

 

[LMA712014]

I’m going for the first time in October, and these kind of threads (plus Tuesday’s podcast, and other places that express the same sentiment) really scare me. I’m not saying that people’s experiences are not valid, and I’ve worked in the Disney Store so I do understand the expectations of good service that Disney creates.

We are going for 4 weeks on what was intended to be a once in a lifetime trip. I get very worried when I hear how many long-term visitors are being turned off, because this trip is very expensive and we will be there for a long time - if I want to leave after 5 days, we can’t!

I’m hoping that, because I don’t remember the “good old days”, that I will still enjoy the trip and not notice the drop in standards that so many regulars are frustrated by.

You’re going to have a GREAT time!

We went in February during a crazy busy week (my first time and our toddlers first time) and we had a blast. I think it being fresh and embracing a go with the flow attitude seriously makes such a difference.

 

[KenHutch]

While many people can afford these so called wonderful upcharge opportunities many can not. I help teachers plan and book vacations and these people are on limited incomes (decent but not great) one of the teachers I am helping now asked about the desert parties and actually gasped when I told her the price. I can well afford this greed but I refuse to pay for the upcharge stuff. In this particular teachers case since Disney started charging for parking we booked her a room at Swan/Dolphin and got a very nice teachers discount. I know people who would love to do Disney but in the last 10 years Disney has priced itself out of their range. And in my opinion its greed. Bob Iger is pushing the profit thing to make his bonus money larger and probably figures the one and dones will carry him. I will watching with interest what happens when we hit the next recession (and it will happen).

 

[loves to dive]

I think "less than stellar" experiences always put a bad taste in one's mouth and it's not wrong or right to question that. I've had great trips to Disney, I've had good trips to Disney, I've had o.k. trips to Disney, I've been going for over 35 years. We don't pay for the upsale things very often. I've been at Halloween and Christmas time more than once and have never attended a party and probably never will, they just don't appeal to us. We have done tours and loved every one of them, we did the dessert party at MK once when it first started and were less than impressed so we never did it again. On the days MK closes early, no problems we go somewhere else since we always have park hoppers. We still enjoy going but when we stop enjoying it, we will stop going.

You know guys, let's just be honest...

I'm kinda new to this WDW thing, even I researching and been obsessed with it since a little kid.
I'm from Brazil and we all know this country isn't easy, specially for a mid-class or below.

I started going to WDW in 2014, after a whole life living in a family with some rich members, who visited WDW year by year for decades. I was growing up hearing about this fantastic and magic place but I couldn't have a chance to go.
I went on 2014 for the first time with my boyfriend, thanks to HUGE efforts we made, and then the magic was all true and we fell in love with that thing that I always thought to be just a dream.

Next year (2015) we made huge efforts again and we wew able to go one more time to our dream world. We took a friend with us, we got engaged during Wishes, it was pure magic.

With all the rises and big costs changes in 2016 we weren't able to go again. We have to double the period of the time to wait and the efforts.
We made once again huge efforts and went on 2017. 3rd time is a charm like people used to say, we fell even more in love with this magical place, but we had to make a lot of cuts to fit in our pocket.

Now we are trying to plan to go this october, but things keeps rising and been even more difficult. Even if we got to go this year, I don't think we will be able to go again soon. maybe 2021-2022 but not sure.


What I wanted to say is that it has been a lot more difficult year by year indeed for most of the regular people like me, specially for international visitors like us, which USA dollar values 3.5x our money.
You guys can't imagine (I know some of you can) how frustrating is to have to make so huge efforts all year long to be able to have a few days/weeks at this wonderful and loved place.
I know Disney has to pay for all the new lands and attractions, but it seems so frustrating to see that much things changing and upcharging, prices rising year by year for restaurants, producst, hotels, tickets, all at the same time!

I know most of you have good financial conditions, and I know Disney focus on that. I also know that living in USA it's "easier" because a ticket that costs 120 US dollars costs 120 US dollars not 420 like for us.

I'm just afraid Disney to be cutting off the mid class oportunity and also international visitors.
Because now it seems that even the value resorts and basic activities are getting moderate/deluxe costs.
I don't have any problem on doing split staying as we always do to have the opportunity to live disney magic at a value and then move to an off site for the costs. But what happens to our biggest dream to be able to marry and spend a couple days at Polynesian?
You know what I'm saying? It's been impossible a value vacation, imagine a moderate that once was kinda possible for a couple of days "splurging".

I'm just scary to not be able to live our dreams at the most magical place on Earth in the future because things have been changing real fast

ps: sorry for my english

Not everyone is rich or even middle class who go. When we started going I was a secretary and a single mother. I worked two jobs to make ends meet. My son and I rarely ate out and when we did we shared a happy meal. If we went to movies it was matenees and I snuck in candy and water. Our weekends were spent going to park with packed PB&J sandwiches. I saved for two years for us to go so we went every other year. Back when we first started going there was no such thing as value or moderate resorts, not even the Epcot resorts were there. If you wanted to stay on site, you stayed at a monorail resort. My son's clothes came from Penney's and mine from consignment shops, his toys from the dollar store. We made sacrifices to just live day to day and even more to go on any kind of vacation. We both knew it and didn't mind doing it. I have the luxery now of affording to go more often but that wasn't always the case.

 

[mrswillson]

I’m going for the first time in October, and these kind of threads (plus Tuesday’s podcast, and other places that express the same sentiment) really scare me. I’m not saying that people’s experiences are not valid, and I’ve worked in the Disney Store so I do understand the expectations of good service that Disney creates.

We are going for 4 weeks on what was intended to be a once in a lifetime trip. I get very worried when I hear how many long-term visitors are being turned off, because this trip is very expensive and we will be there for a long time - if I want to leave after 5 days, we can’t!

I’m hoping that, because I don’t remember the “good old days”, that I will still enjoy the trip and not notice the drop in standards that so many regulars are frustrated by.

While I don't mean to be a debbie-downer, I will be realistic.

I worked for the Disney Store as a Cast Lead for 3 years until 2014, and I have noticed that the level of guest service that we provided at the store vastly outweighed anything I received (or saw others receiving) at the parks, especially up to present. I have been very underwhelmed, and at times frustrated - especially since I understand exactly what expectations are set and should be upheld.

I truly hope that you will have a wonderful trip. I know I was for several years, but as of late had only been able to spend a couple hours in a park at a time, as the experience was becoming less-than-magical. Some of the things I took note of during my trips did make me realize that the quality Disney provides has been on a steady decline. For the first time ever I've noticed how filthy the rides have become, especially in Magic Kingdom. Disney's transportation is not as reliable, and especially in the case of the Monorails, are broken more often than functioning. Most of all, the horrible crowding and subsequent wait times makes it difficult to enjoy a full day at the park without spending most of it standing. (You know it's bad when Animal Kingdom's minimum wait time is 120 minutes and it's a Thursday.)

 

[Mome Rath]

I’m going for the first time in October, and these kind of threads (plus Tuesday’s podcast, and other places that express the same sentiment) really scare me. I’m not saying that people’s experiences are not valid, and I’ve worked in the Disney Store so I do understand the expectations of good service that Disney creates.

We are going for 4 weeks on what was intended to be a once in a lifetime trip. I get very worried when I hear how many long-term visitors are being turned off, because this trip is very expensive and we will be there for a long time - if I want to leave after 5 days, we can’t!

I’m hoping that, because I don’t remember the “good old days”, that I will still enjoy the trip and not notice the drop in standards that so many regulars are frustrated by.

Although this conversation probably belongs better on the community board, I just had to chime in here. I'm about as regular a visitor as one gets without living in Florida. I've been going over 3 decades now; if you go to have fun, and to spend time with your family, to make memories, and learn to balance planning with going with the flow, you will have a ball. It's Disney World! I remember "the good ol' days" and here's the truth from my POV; they really were not that different than now. Disney has it's ups and downs; sometimes it goes through a streak where the parks are less than immaculate, sometimes there's bad weather, sometimes rides break down, etc... etc... but through the years I've seen them respond to that over time. Sure I've ran into a handful of grumpy CM's, but that's over 30 plus years and most CM's are really good workers, and some are fantastic with great senses of humor.

Take breaks on your vacation when you need to take breaks, as being there a month is a long trip. Don't get so wore out and tired of it that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of anxiety and dread. lol Go have fun, it is still there!

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

You’re going to have a GREAT time!

We went in February during a crazy busy week (my first time and our toddlers first time) and we had a blast. I think it being fresh and embracing a go with the flow attitude seriously makes such a difference.

Thank you! I’m definitely very excited, and I think you are right about making sure our attitude is not too rigid.

Being new, I actually don’t mind the uncharges, probably because I never knew any different. To me it just seems like other options that we can choose to add on. Because my husband and I both gave health problems, we are used to paying more to get the experience that we want or need, so maybe that’s another reason that it doesn’t faze me. Paying to do the dessert parties to get a less crowded view is annoying, but to me it’s no different than us having to pay more to sit in the first class train compartment because that’s less busy - if we can’t afford to sit there then we don’t do the journey, and if we can’t afford the dessert party then we don’t see the fireworks. Having a disability is expensive, and these Disney upcharges just feel like that to me - if we want a less crowded experience then we have to pay more. I can absolutely see why it is frustrating for people though.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

While many people can afford these so called wonderful upcharge opportunities many can not. I help teachers plan and book vacations and these people are on limited incomes (decent but not great) one of the teachers I am helping now asked about the desert parties and actually gasped when I told her the price. I can well afford this greed but I refuse to pay for the upcharge stuff. In this particular teachers case since Disney started charging for parking we booked her a room at Swan/Dolphin and got a very nice teachers discount. I know people who would love to do Disney but in the last 10 years Disney has priced itself out of their range. And in my opinion its greed. Bob Iger is pushing the profit thing to make his bonus money larger and probably figures the one and dones will carry him. I will watching with interest what happens when we hit the next recession (and it will happen).

Going to Disney is a privilege, not a right. There are lots of exotic vacations I would love to take, but not all of them are in my budget. If I can't afford it, I don't go...plain and simple. I don't complain that those destinations should be "affordable to everyone". Is there a greed factor on the part of Iger? Maybe. But at the end of the day it's supply and demand. They can only charge what people are willing to pay. There is a whole thread of people on here who are anxiously awaiting the release of dessert packages for the summer....they are clearly willing and able to pay what is being charged. There are also plenty of people who aren't willing or able...and that's ok too.

 

[Spencer Wright]

One way to look at it is look at all these upcharges and add on's. Disney is nickle and diming its customers to death! Or look at it as wow! Disney is offering all these cool add ons so we can get some party time, early access etc. It's all perspective. The best part is we still have the option to not purchase the "Extras" if we don't want to.

I think one issue with this is that the Extra's can affect the guest experience for everyone else. For example, MNSSHP will now impact guests in Mid-August, for something pertaining to Halloween. Or Dessert party viewing may close off areas once available to anyone. These Extra's do not occur in a bubble, and are beginning to chip away at everyone else's experience.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Going to Disney is a privilege, not a right. There are lots of exotic vacations I would love to take, but not all of them are in my budget. If I can't afford it, I don't go...plain and simple. I don't complain that those destinations should be "affordable to everyone". Is there a greed factor on the part of Iger? Maybe. But at the end of the day it's supply and demand. They can only charge what people are willing to pay. There is a whole thread of people on here who are anxiously awaiting the release of dessert packages for the summer....they are clearly willing and able to pay what is being charged. There are also plenty of people who aren't willing or able...and that's ok too.

I agree with this. My daughter's first trip was put off time and again, because things happened that made ANY vacation impossible. We didn't go anywhere for years. I never begrudged anyone who could.

 

[Disneytam]

Doesn't bother me because it doesn't affect me. I don't pay for the upcharges, add ons, or stay on site. However I don't feel like prices have gone up that much and I don't think they price gouge. Disney is just as expensive as Universal and right on par as far as ticket prices and in park food/merchandise

The add ons are great additions for those with extra money to spend and want to do more. Some of them allow people to do more with a short trip than they could on their own.

I have to disagree with this. One day park tickets may be the same or close to the same as Universal but as far as a stay on property is concerned Disney is more than double. Last year we did a split stay between a CL room at the BWI and a CL room at the PBR at Universal. We had AP for both and used an AP discount for both hotels, parking fees didn't count because we fly to Florida and don't rent a car. I don't have the exact prices in front of me now but our room at the BWI CL with an AP discount was almost $600 a night and our room at PBR CL was under $300 a night with our AP discount. Staying at PBR gives you free front of the line passes to almost every ride and show at Universal unlimited. If I want to do a ride at Universal three times in one day than I can, no problem. Disney gives you 3 free FP with restrictions but if I want to cough up another $50 they will give me three more.

As far the resorts go we love both of them and they both have wonderful CM and similar food and drinks out with the exception that if you want a mixed drink in the evening you can have one made for you for a fee ($5) at PBR. The rooms at PBR are much larger and nicer than any we have stayed at Disney. That AP we purchased at Disney was around $750 each and the price has just been raised again. The AP we purchased at Universal was a seasonal one that ran us under $300. The black out dates are summertime and holidays, times that we would never go to a theme park anyway.

We love Disney and have been going for many years so I know what we are now missing and what the price used to be. I can remember staying in a theme park view room at the GF RPC (the main building) for $380 a night. The same room will now cost you well over a $1,000 a night. That was less than 20 years ago and the service was top notch from having free valet parking to be escorted up to your room and receiving wonderful take home gifts. I still have the canister that the wonderful raspberry shortbread cookies came in!

With all that said our AP at Disney runs out in November and we will not be renewing them. We may fit in one more trip before then but then we will be taking a break and doing something else for awhile because for us the value is just not there anymore at Disney. They have wrung the last drop out of us so to speak.

 

[Spencer Wright]

You’re going to have a GREAT time!

We went in February during a crazy busy week (my first time and our toddlers first time) and we had a blast. I think it being fresh and embracing a go with the flow attitude seriously makes such a difference.

Yes!! We are going in August and are beginning to get bummed out. I recommend people look at the Trip Reports forum who are getting bummed out, and see all of the overwhelmingly positive experiences guests are having.