My Slow Divorce from Walt Disney World

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you read my previous post you’ll see we had a successful WDW trip. Weve been to WDW several times and I just used the system last year a DL. I can’t imagine taking my first trip to WDW and trying to navigate all this. I can see why people say never again. Honestly I’m the only one in my family that could have made this work. I’m the momma duck and everyone just follows. Of course the advice I get from these boards helps tremendously.
I never plan when I go to DL even with genie plus I didn’t plan.. I dont remember DL having the 2 hour rule. I feel I was booking another LL as soon as I scanned in, but maybe I’m not remembering correctly. The standby lines were shorter at DL too so that could be what I’m remembering. I know we rode every ride in both parks multiple times. It was very easy.

Yeah..I think what I'm saying is getting misconstrued what I'm saying is you can't just randomly decide to go to DLR you still have to get park reservation and those be available. And the advice being given to some people is to get a hotel reservation as that bucket tends to not run out as fast. No where in my comment was I comparing WDW and DLR. It was all about DLR to DLR. Never was my point about less planning than WDW cuz that goes without saying..

 

[Jrb1979]

After spending last week at Cedar Point and how easy it was to visit and ride things we wanted to ride, Disney just doesn't compare. It is too much work to have a great time.

 

[BayouQueen]

I haven’t posted on this thread before. But I had a mental epiphany — my divorce must be final. I no longer even think to look at the trip planning threads. I look in here because the community is so nice, but not even curious about the latest hoops to jump through to visit a park. I’m super surprised to realize this.

 

[Christine]

We just finished six days at WDW. It was better than expected except for the extra cost. We spent 700 on genie plus and ILL. For the most part genie plus worked well for us. I think with some practice it could even be better. I found the standby lines were shorter than with fast pass plus which was a good thing. I hated fast pass plus. I actual preferred no fast passes at all over either system.

We spent 3 days at Universal too. It was packed. We had express passes, but their two main attractions Hagrids and velacocoaster with no express passes were just under an hour wait. Rise was always between 120- 200 minutes. You really have no choice but to get a lightening lane if you don’t want your whole day ruined.

I will say Guardians of the Galaxy is all that and then some. Disney out did themselves with this one. Any of you that have trips planned are in for something special. Wow just Wow. I won’t spoil it for you.

Other than the hit to my wallet it was a great trip. We’ll be back in a year or two to ride Tron.

Good to hear. I'll be doing my first DLR trip in about 2 weeks and I'm nervous. I have this compulsion, from my WDW days, to try to plan, plan, plan, but as I scour the internet there doesn't seem to be much to do. I feel so helpless! LOL!

I'm going with my two adult children, but despite being in my late 50s and they much younger, I seem to be better at the whole Disney app then they are. Or they are just lazy. I'm stuck with doing it all and I'm a bit nervous about Genie+. I keep watching videos, reading tips, and I've got a bit of anxiety about it. I've only got two days there (one not even a full day) and I want to make sure I get it right.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I'm just glad we had all the fun trips we did when Disney was easy. It's hard to say good-bye, but I see it coming. Sigh.

 

[DisWeaver]

I see a lot of these posts, then I visit the parks and they are more packed than ever. I’m gonna need more folks to “divorce” Disney so these wait times reduce

 

[Jrb1979]

I see a lot of these posts, then I visit the parks and they are more packed than ever. I’m gonna need more folks to “divorce” Disney so these wait times reduce

It will come don't worry. Right now it's still a lot of people that have cancelled vacations to make up. After this summer things will be different. It's not just Disney, many places are experiencing higher attendance due to missing out on vacations the last few years

 

[rotlex]

This thread sits well with me. My wife and I have been taking the Kids to Disney yearly, sometimes twice for the past 15 years. Alas, this year, we are going to Universal and Clearwater beach. I just can't anymore. I can't deal with the planning, the cost, the disappointment in service. I really am glad we were able to create so many great memories over the years, but I think it is done. We may go back in 3-5 just to see what's new, but honestly, at this point, our "divorce" is final. We all seem to agree on it and look forward to making some great new memories over the next 15 years.

Thanks God we never actually purchased DVC as well. We considered it very seriously for many years, but were always able to get either free dining, or a decent discount. I'd be kicking myself if I was paying yearly dues right now and wanting to vacation elsewhere.

 

[Jrb1979]

Cedar Fair parks have recently been stepping up their game. I would rate King's Island's 50th anniversary fireworks on par with Disney's. The best part is how they embrace their history.

 

[Liz]

My two children were raised going to Disney World practically every year. Now my son is grown with a family of his own and he lives in Washington state. They planned a Disneyland trip for the fall. It would be the first trip for our soon to be 5 year old grandson. They eventually decided it was too expensive and too much work so they aren’t going, which makes me kind of sad because I’m sure it would have been wonderful. But they are coming where we live instead so that makes me happy. I hope we can have one more trip to WDW some day and then be done.

 

[DCLMP]

This thread sits well with me. My wife and I have been taking the Kids to Disney yearly, sometimes twice for the past 15 years. Alas, this year, we are going to Universal and Clearwater beach. I just can't anymore. I can't deal with the planning, the cost, the disappointment in service. I really am glad we were able to create so many great memories over the years, but I think it is done. We may go back in 3-5 just to see what's new, but honestly, at this point, our "divorce" is final. We all seem to agree on it and look forward to making some great new memories over the next 15 years.

Thanks God we never actually purchased DVC as well. We considered it very seriously for many years, but were always able to get either free dining, or a decent discount. I'd be kicking myself if I was paying yearly dues right now and wanting to vacation elsewhere.

I didn’t notice a decline in service, but we rented points so there wasn’t any service anyway. We did get housekeeping everyday at Universals PBH. Sometimes we got it twice a day. The service was great there I highly recommend that resort.

 

[DCLMP]

I'm just glad we had all the fun trips we did when Disney was easy. It's hard to say good-bye, but I see it coming. Sigh.

Before you say goodbye ride Guardians. Disney service may be declining, but their new rides continue to impress.. There is nothing in the world that compares to rise of the resistance or Guardians.

 

[Jrb1979]

Before you say goodbye ride Guardians. Disney service may be declining, but their new rides continue to impress.. There is nothing in the world that compares to rise of the resistance or Guardians.

Disagree. Hagrids and Velicoaster are on the same level.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There is nothing in the world that compares to rise of the resistance

We weren't really impressed Rise. I know we're minority but honestly? It was "meh"...when you like the queue and the transport experience more than the ride that's saying something. Maybe tech-wise sure that's cool but that also is what causes it to break down so frequently so that becomes a con to me.

Disagree. Hagrids and Velicoaster are on the same level.

My husband loves VeliciCoaster and really enjoyed Guardians. He says he can't really compare the two because they are just so different but he did like Guardians more than Hagrid's. I won't touch VeliciCoaster period because that is way too intense for me but it sure has a lot of thrills just based on watching it. Guardians is basically a modern Space Mountain...that's not a knock on it but it's more akin to that. Honestly it doesn't need a story and I feel the story convolutes it. They should have just made it about rockin' out to music. The music is all anyone seems to be interested in anyhow. Hagrid's is amazing for how much launches it puts you through and it gets points for the theming of it. I won't be riding Hagrid's or Guardians again but they are good rides. Guardians did break down halfway through on our first try during previews although my husband rode it several days later again on another preview and made it through all the way. Hagrid's also breaks down. That said I feel Rise breaks down the most and that's drops it down quite a lot on my list of amazing rides.

According to my husband he'd ride VeliciCoaster and Guardians again and again. Rise I doubt we'll ever do again unless the wait is as short as it was when we did it (35mins or so with a 50 or so min posted wait just after it had broken down and came back on) and Hagrid's he'd do again and wait a while for it if I'm in line with him and then wait for him at the family swap area.

They all do IMO have good innovations to them so I would agree with you casting a wider net on top recent rides.

 

[MillauFr]

I see a lot of these posts, then I visit the parks and they are more packed than ever. I’m gonna need more folks to “divorce” Disney so these wait times reduce

For every 100 people claiming they are going to divorce only about 5 of them will follow through and those 5 will be replaced by 10 new guests.

 

[Jrb1979]

For every 100 people claiming they are going to divorce only about 5 of them will follow through and those 5 will be replaced by 10 new guests.

That's for 2 reasons. One being that Disney is a rite of passage for many. The biggest one is many don't know other parks exist. I will leave this here to show that other parks do have just as good a night time show as Disney.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Disagree. Hagrids and Velicoaster are on the same level.

I agree with you. On my trip in May I enjoyed Velocicoaster and Hagrid's more than anything at WDW. Velocicoaster is probably the best coaster I have ever been on and Hagrid's is just pure fun. Rise is great too, don't get me wrong. But to say Rise is better than any ride ever made is not exactly true in my opinion.

 

[DCLMP]

We weren't really impressed Rise. I know we're minority but honestly? It was "meh"...when you like the queue and the transport experience more than the ride that's saying something. Maybe tech-wise sure that's cool but that also is what causes it to break down so frequently so that becomes a con to me.


My husband loves VeliciCoaster and really enjoyed Guardians. He says he can't really compare the two because they are just so different but he did like Guardians more than Hagrid's. I won't touch VeliciCoaster period because that is way too intense for me but it sure has a lot of thrills just based on watching it. Guardians is basically a modern Space Mountain...that's not a knock on it but it's more akin to that. Honestly it doesn't need a story and I feel the story convolutes it. They should have just made it about rockin' out to music. The music is all anyone seems to be interested in anyhow. Hagrid's is amazing for how much launches it puts you through and it gets points for the theming of it. I won't be riding Hagrid's or Guardians again but they are good rides. Guardians did break down halfway through on our first try during previews although my husband rode it several days later again on another preview and made it through all the way. Hagrid's also breaks down. That said I feel Rise breaks down the most and that's drops it down quite a lot on my list of amazing rides.

According to my husband he'd ride VeliciCoaster and Guardians again and again. Rise I doubt we'll ever do again unless the wait is as short as it was when we did it (35mins or so with a 50 or so min posted wait just after it had broken down and came back on) and Hagrid's he'd do again and wait a while for it if I'm in line with him and then wait for him at the family swap area.

They all do IMO have good innovations to them so I would agree with you casting a wider net on top recent rides.

I agree with you except you are in less then the minority. The technology on that ride is one of a kind. Anybody can build a roller coaster.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I agree with you except you are in less then the minority. The technology on that ride is one of a kind. Anybody can build a roller coaster.

In terms of the actual ride I disagree. Pooh's Hunny Hunt in Tokyo Disneyland opened in 2000 and uses the same trackless system as Rise of the Resistance. In terms of the whole package (the stuff before the ride + the ride), I agree.

 

[DCLMP]

I agree with you. On my trip in May I enjoyed Velocicoaster and Hagrid's more than anything at WDW. Velocicoaster is probably the best coaster I have ever been on and Hagrid's is just pure fun. Rise is great too, don't get me wrong. But to say Rise is better than any ride ever made is not exactly true in my opinion.

I agree both those coasters are fantastic , but not comparable to Rise, MiMRR, or Remi. The are totally different experiences. I enjoy all types of rides when they are well done.