Not Everyone Is on the Same Boat (EMH)

[momof2n2]

Since 2007, I've been going to Disney every single year, either WDW or DLR. Usually I went with my g.f.; one time I went with family members, plus a few solo trips. I fly from Eastern Canada, but still have been willing to fly all the way to California to experience whatever was new out there. Usually the formula was approximately 8 days at WDW and 2-3 days at Universal, or 5-6 days at DLR and a few days at the other Cali parks.

Now? Well, with the price hikes compared with slaps in the face like instituting cutbacks despite huge crowds, I'm rethinking my upcoming trips. We will likely do our first "Disney free" Florida vacation next year, using the Orlando Flex Ticket to spend more time at Universal, combined with parks we've never visited: Sea World Orlando, Aquatopia and Busch Gardens. We will save money (the flex ticket is about $360, a steal, and good for up to 14 days) and have a more relaxed trip. Will we miss Disney? Sure, but right now, we feel it's only worth it for us if we wait until after Pandora opens. Then we will be getting more for our vacation dollar, a new land plus the nighttime show at AK, new version of Soarin', etc.

I'm also considering a solo trip to Cali next October, in which I would be meeting up with friends there and mostly focus on doing the Halloween events at various parks. So that would include just one or two of the Halloween parties at Disneyland, and not the usual 5-6 days running around DLR.

I know I'm just one tourist, less than a drop in the bucket for this company. But if they can take one extremely loyal Disney fanatic like me and turn me into a much more casual, let's-see-what-else-I-can-do-instead visitor, I feel that says a lot. Besides, I've read countless posts similar to what I've written above. All the WDC's cynical moves, let's-see-what-we-can-get-away-with bean counter calculations, and thinly disguised contempt for their walking wallets -- uh, I mean guests -- has really rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Everyone has his limits, and I think I've reached mine. It doesn't mean I'm quitting Disney entirely, but they'll be seeing a lot less of me in the future (and all the people with whom I visit).

In that respect, I'm sure there are lots of others in the same boat.

We had the best Disney-Free vacation 2014. I have no doubt you will have just as much IF NOT MORE fun. Enjoy.

We are doing WDW in s few days. A last hurrah. The cutbacks have me chaffed. I'm spending WAY too much money, and I can't come up with a penny more to put toward extra parties or DAH, etc. I'm hoping to have a "pretty good" trip. (I've walked away from the "awesome trip" goal I used to have. If we have a better time than I'm expecting, it'll be great. If it's as I hear many reporting of late? well, at least I was well prepared by so many reports on the DIS.)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I expect we'll see more of this, not less. But if people start voting with their wallets, it can be turned back. Part of me thinks they're just hoping to confuse people into just handing over their credit cards and letting them charge whatever they deem appropriate.

We don't have more budget to spend. Disney isn't getting more out of me. But we will trim trim costs on our trips. If we face the same price issues at DLR we'll make the move over to staying offsite. They nearly tripled the price of photopss out there, so we will go without it for the first time. We already share a lot of meals.

If the trimmed back trips start feeling less enjoyable, we'll stop going.

It is what it is. I hate that statement, but it seems fitting here. But we would still do the hard ticket party. We might cut back from 2 or 3 parties (as we have done in the past) to just 1.

I totally get where you are coming from and I do expect to see more of this type of stuff more and more.

I'd like to think that in Disney people aren't openly begruding those who experience things by spending more money than the next person {speaking to the original lol topic of this thread} (i.e. early morning magic, after hours event, the new wedding feature in MK, the hard-ticket parties).

I think most of us (though of course not all) are taking a look at Disney in the perspective of too much price gouging (I know a bad term but I'm trying to lump all the changes that have happened in less than a year that have raised the overall cost of a WDW trip).

To some people all that means is cutting back here and there but still making the trip overall possible. To others that means no more trips (at least for a while) or the upcoming trip is their last (at least for a while).

And I completely agree that at a personally level once the enjoyment fades (due to too many cutback, increased pricing, decreased experiences, feeling more and more of the haves and haves not at WDW) it may mean you're done with Disney (at least for a while).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think sometimes we forget that as we are all individuals what one person finds a "big deal" is nothing to another. What one person decides "enough is enough" isn't the same for another.

I don't know how many times I've seen the "it's only X" phrase here on the boards when it comes to all the recent changes or rumors of changes that would mean an overall raise in price for a WDW trip. I've already talked about that on other boards so I'm not going to go into the nitty gritty but suffice to say that really the "it's only" phrase doesn't encompass what's going on for that person.

There are a million and one places I could vacation in a year. No matter how hard I try to convince my husband he's not a big fan of vacationing to the same place over and over (aside from the Lake of the Ozarks and to us in the KC area that's not a vacation it's just a normal place to go to in the summer). The only time we've ever gone back to the same place is Cape Cod and that was two years in a row.

Throughout my life I've gone to Disney every 5 or 6 years anyways. We as a family would not go to Disney every year or multiple times a year or even every other year. We like variety but I honestly think it's awesome to those who make it their tradition if you will to go as much as possible. Disney will always be in my heart and I'll always want to go there but I also may decide on a trip..and Disney might do enough stuff to make me rethink my desire to go THAT time but I know eventually I'll make it back there again (maybe that will be 5 or 6 years or maybe longer). To others though they may be completely done with Disney and I understand why no matter how awesome I think WDW is we all have that point where we just can't anymore.

BTW this in no way is aimed at anyone it's just a general statement so please don't take it in a bad sort of way.

 

[Planogirl]

We've been to WDW often and always have a nice time. That won't keep me from commenting on the bad at the same time as the good when I see things that way. Many people see no bad while a few might see no good and that's OK in my opinion because it's really subjective. I would bet that most people fall somewhere in the middle.

I am still concerned that EMH might disappear at some point or at the very least come with a charge. It's that type of change that I don't agree with. I know it hasn't happened yet but part of discussion is considering what might happen or at least that's how I approach it. If it doesn't then that's good.

 

[lovethattink]

Please stay on topic. There was a post that was deleted as was all reference to it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When I say someone saying that they won't go this year "makes me sad", It's because they are saying the choice is due to negative things that have been posted. Not because they just 'want' to go somewhere else.

Oh I totally understand but at the same time we don't know what else is going on that might cause them to say things like that. I'm not going to be a broken record on EVERY post listing out ALL the things I'm frustrated on with Disney's pricing and experiences in the last 10 months since I decided to go to WDW next September.

I think my point was really we have to keep in mind that it may have not been JUST something someone posted or JUST a rumor they read or JUST increases in ticket prices and food prices and added experiences that cost money. It may have been one or all or none of those.

My next trip is somewhat of a unique one. It's meant to be the last horrah before my husband and I try to have kids. I wanted to experience WDW just one more time before kids came along...but if I wasn't in that frame of mind I very much doubt I would have kept my Sept 2017 though I would have made that decision prior to purchasing both WDW and USO tickets as I have already done so. The reason I might have backed out is largely because of all the stuff (not just one thing but all things combined) Disney has been doing lately. Would I have eventually made it back to WDW? Absolutely but it may have been a very long time before that happened.

For me we can financially swing the increased costs...we just would have saved for it. But for another family they may have been unable to sqeeze the pennies to make it work if say a $15 resort fee was added or the benefits for staying on-site begin to dwindle or the food costs increased well beyond what they could make it work (and no just telling someone "bring in your own food" isn't a solution for all-there's no way as an adult with no kids am I personally lugging around things to carry like that)..and sometimes you gotta make a decision before investing too much time and money into planning for WDW.

ETA: this post was started and completed prior to moderator's most recent post.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Oh I totally understand but at the same time we don't know what else is going on that might cause them to say things like that. I'm not going to be a broken record on EVERY post listing out ALL the things I'm frustrated on with Disney's pricing and experiences in the last 10 months since I decided to go to WDW next September.

I think my point was really we have to keep in mind that it may have not been JUST something someone posted or JUST a rumor they read or JUST increases in ticket prices and food prices and added experiences that cost money. It may have been one or all or none of those.

My next trip is somewhat of a unique one. It's meant to be the last horrah before my husband and I try to have kids. I wanted to experience WDW just one more time before kids came along...but if I wasn't in that frame of mind I very much doubt I would have kept my Sept 2017 though I would have made that decision prior to purchasing both WDW and USO tickets as I have already done so. The reason I might have backed out is largely because of all the stuff (not just one thing but all things combined) Disney has been doing lately. Would I have eventually made it back to WDW? Absolutely but it may have been a very long time before that happened.

For me we can financially swing the increased costs...we just would have saved for it. But for another family they may have been unable to sqeeze the pennies to make it work if say a $15 resort fee was added or the benefits for staying on-site begin to dwindle or the food costs increased well beyond what they could make it work (and no just telling someone "bring in your own food" isn't a solution for all-there's no way as an adult with no kids am I personally lugging around things to carry like that)..and sometimes you gotta make a decision before investing too much time and money into planning for WDW.

ETA: this post was started and completed prior to moderator's most recent post.

It may not 'just' be that. I hope that whatever they do that that person and their family will enjoy it. Because there is an entire amazing world outside of just the Disney one. And that if they do go somewhere else...to not look at it as 'replacing Disney due to _____' whatever reason, but just because they want to explore!

As far as your trip...HAVE FUN!!!! I will say this, I thought I knew WDW really well. Turns out, not even close. Adult trips are so different than a trip with your child!!!! I never stressed like I did this past September, or how I am currently stressing on any trip pre kid! Hence why I am now on disboards.lol

Anyway, this thread is really starting to creep me out. So I'm going back to my 1st week of December planning group. Enjoy

 

[jamie1194]

It may not 'just' be that. I hope that whatever they do that that person and their family will enjoy it. Because there is an entire amazing world outside of just the Disney one. And that if they do go somewhere else...to not look at it as 'replacing Disney due to _____' whatever reason, but just because they want to explore!

As far as your trip...HAVE FUN!!!! I will say this, I thought I knew WDW really well. Turns out, not even close. Adult trips are so different than a trip with your child!!!! I never stressed like I did this past September, or how I am currently stressing on any trip pre kid! Hence why I am now on disboards.lol

Anyway, this thread is really starting to creep me out. So I'm going back to my 1st week of December planning group. Enjoy

Have a magical day!

 

[Kimberly9701]

lol nm...apparently someone is bored and creating multiple names to comment to me. Extremely odd... More Extreme- Super Creepy.

 

[Kimberly9701]

.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

As far as your trip...HAVE FUN!!!! I will say this, I thought I knew WDW really well. Turns out, not even close. Adult trips are so different than a trip with your child!!!! I never stressed like I did this past September, or how I am currently stressing on any trip pre kid! Hence why I am now on disboards.lol
Enjoy

Thank you and def I am forever greatful for the DISboards for all the wealth of information available to use for my next trip and any future trips

 

[Planogirl]

It may not 'just' be that. I hope that whatever they do that that person and their family will enjoy it. Because there is an entire amazing world outside of just the Disney one. And that if they do go somewhere else...to not look at it as 'replacing Disney due to _____' whatever reason, but just because they want to explore!

As far as your trip...HAVE FUN!!!! I will say this, I thought I knew WDW really well. Turns out, not even close. Adult trips are so different than a trip with your child!!!! I never stressed like I did this past September, or how I am currently stressing on any trip pre kid! Hence why I am now on disboards.lol

Anyway, this thread is really starting to creep me out. So I'm going back to my 1st week of December planning group. Enjoy

I don't actually see anything wrong with deciding to replace a Disney trip with something else. To us Disney seems off now so we are looking around to do other things which truthfully we should have done long ago. If one place doesn't work for someone then it makes perfect sense to schedule something else IMO.

That doesn't mean that we won't be back of course.

 

[Davey Jones II]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't cancel your trip due to reports of 'cutbacks' I have several friends and family who have been there the past few months- not one has complained.

If you just want another vacation besides Disney, that is totally understandable! WDW will never be my family's only destination for the year, or even while in Florida.

I just get so sad when I see people make a statement like that. There is a lot of negative reports/negative experiences on here. BUT- there are also great reports/wonderful experiences here as well, unfortunately they just don't seem to gain as much popularity as the negative ones.

Whatever you decide, have fun! But please base your decision on where you want to go, not about things that are being said. I have a facebook newsfeed full of photos from the recent trips I just spoke of...like I said, not one of those people reported anything bad/cutback/etc. If you look for problems anywhere then you can find them. If you just look for a good time- you can find that as well

I appreciate the sentiment...I even share it! The fact is, Disney management has given me and others an unpalatable choice. We love our Disney trips, and don't really want to give them up. But the cost is rising -- fast. At the same time, the management is so coldly cynical, so depressingly corporate, that their souless, manipulative, bean counting decisions always threaten to be the last straw. It is hard for me to justify giving them my hard earned money when they seem to be laughing at their guests.

How can they possibly justify cost cutting when the parks are booming and profits are rushing in like a freight train? Any cuts will be a direct hit to the already weakened guest experience. Their mascot is Mickey Mouse, but Scrooge McDuck would be a more fitting symbol -- sitting on a mountain of gold while pinching pennies. The only thing completing the picture would be an endless queue of guests waiting for the privilege of watching them do it.

As you point out, there are also positive trip reports on these boards. So I am trying to weigh different opinions when it comes to making any final decisions about our next trip. All I can say for now is: thanks for your honest and heartfelt input.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I appreciate the sentiment...I even share it! The fact is, Disney management has given me and others an unpalatable choice. We love our Disney trips, and don't really want to give them up. But the cost is rising -- fast. At the same time, the management is so coldly cynical, so depressingly corporate, that their souless, manipulative, bean counting decisions always threaten to be the last straw. It is hard for me to justify giving them my hard earned money when they seem to be laughing at their guests.

How can they possibly justify cost cutting when the parks are booming and profits are rushing in like a freight train? Any cuts will be a direct hit to the already weakened guest experience. Their mascot is Mickey Mouse, but Scrooge McDuck would be a more fitting symbol -- sitting on a mountain of gold while pinching pennies. The only thing completing the picture would be an endless queue of guests waiting for the privilege of watching them do it.

As you point out, there are also positive trip reports on these boards. So I am trying to weigh different opinions when it comes to making any final decisions about our next trip. All I can say for now is: thanks for your honest and heartfelt input.

Whatever you decide let me share this with you-
Last summer I Had a brilliant? (I thought) idea to go camping. Got all the gear, listened to all of the jokes at work and from friends (no one had faith in me lol)
So- I took my son tent camping for the first time (my first as well). We bought a little disgusting tub of night crawlers. I put on gloves and used a knife to try and cut them up..gagging the whole time (while my son was laughing at me), the only thing we caught with our fishing polls was my hand (I hooked it not him), I was able to get a fire started (after almost an entire bottle of lighter fluid), we made s'mores, we swam in the lake, and we rode around in a golf cart. Such a simple weekend. My son's response when we were packing up to leave- "Mommy, this was the best weekend ever!"

Disney is not the only place to create magical memories. If you feel you want to vacation elsewhere, just strictly look at it as that- if this makes sense. 2 situations can't and shouldn't be compared. Compared to Disney our camping weekend may sound boring. There were a lot of "hiccups" on our camping trip. But to just look at that weekend on it's own- it was wonderful.
A good time and amazing Memories aren't created because of where you are, or if something isn't as perfect as it should be, they are created by making the best of what you are doing at that moment.

 

[Nezumi Fan]

The party tikets? It is what it is. I would still go.

I hadn't heard about tiered dining packages. What's going on with that?

Already happening at Disneyland in that you can get a "Paint the Night" dining package either at Aladdin's Oasis (grab 'n' go, cheap) or at Blue Bayou (spendy). Where you sit for the parade depends on how much you spend on your meal; same as California Adventure, where you can eat at the Wine Country Trattoria (may be getting that name wrong) for not too much, or go to Carthay Circle and drop a ton. Viewing for "World of Color" is way better if you've gone with the Carthay package.

 

[mom2rtk]

Already happening at Disneyland in that you can get a "Paint the Night" dining package either at Aladdin's Oasis (grab 'n' go, cheap) or at Blue Bayou (spendy). Where you sit for the parade depends on how much you spend on your meal; same as California Adventure, where you can eat at the Wine Country Trattoria (may be getting that name wrong) for not too much, or go to Carthay Circle and drop a ton. Viewing for "World of Color" is way better if you've gone with the Carthay package.

We've done the WOC package from CC. Honestly, I didn't find much advantage to having the package. You still had to get there pretty early to make sure nobody was in front of you.

I've been watching the PTN packages. I thought it was pretty rotten that they were roping off a huge chunk of Main Street curbside seating for it. That was a substantial takeaway from other guests in the park. I have less issue with it now that they have moved it down across from the train station. But I also view that as much a much less desirable viewing area, so not worth the price.