Not going to be popular, but really, tell me your thoughts

[MKCP5]

I just returned from WDW and we had a really, really great time while we were in the parks. We stayed off property in a beautiful Marriott timeshare and enjoyed our vacation. We don't go often as it isn't in our budget. But we save and look forward to it and have fun. I have to say though, even though we had fun, I feel like a little of the magic has dulled at Disney. Don't get me wrong, they do A LOT right. They always have, and always will. But I feel like some things have become so automated--(Pre-Registering for fast passes, no dinner reservations unless you are on the phone 180 days out booking ADR's, bracelets to track and plan your every move, and the push to spend more to have a more personal experience ($50 per person for dessert and a good seat for fireworks, spending $60 to over $200 for bibbidi bobbidi makeup, etc is taking away some of the common joy of just going and enjoying the parks together. And even though we have found May to be a great time of year to go in the past, the crowds were unreal this year, and not very nice! I was run over so many times by either a stroller or hit by one of those motorized scooters, and people would save way more space than they needed for parades, etc and be so territorial about it all, it was kind of disheartening. There's room for everyone! We will go again of course, but I hope I feel a little more magic and a little less "managed" by it all next time. Thoughts?

 

[loves to dive]

I've heard others complain about the crowds, I may be lucky and go during less crowded times or go so often I don't know it's crowded but they don't seem that bad to me. I think the rude people and crowds just go hand in hand, try going to a Georgia football game, it's every man for himself. I agree about the parades and territorial people, it's just silly how some people will spread out and push and shove. I think the whole pre-planning thing and booking FPs and ADRS so far out gets way too much play on these boards. It is entirely possible to go and not do that and still have a great time, I might even argue a better time. You may not get the pre-park opening to BOG, which in my opinion is over rated, but you also might get to ride a ride you never would have thought to ride and really enjoy it. You might not eat at that restaurant everyone says you have to, again BOG I'm looking at you, which may or may not be great but if you are flexible and willing to try new things, you might find that restaurant where you had the best meal you've ever had at Disney. If you aren't worried about getting on this ride at this time you might just slow down and look at things you've missed before. Everyone has their own style, some are planners and some are not, there is room for both.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Thoughts?

Don't make ADRs at 180 days, you don't have to. Same with fastpasses, simply stand in line. Don't buy Magic Bands, instead use your plastic ticket. Tell your kids no, when they ask about BBB or Dessert parties.

For us, I like the new fast pass system. It makes it that my husband can actually walk around the park with me, instead of having to run around like a chicken with his head cut off grabbing paper fast passes. I also like making ADR, it is better than standing in line waiting to eat a meal. Magic bands work for us, it is something that I don't have to carry around. And I have not stepped foot into BBB, nor a dessert party.

It is actually pretty easy. Don't do the things you don't like. And do the things you do.

 

[NinaBella]

I just returned from WDW and we had a really, really great time while we were in the parks. We stayed off property in a beautiful Marriott timeshare and enjoyed our vacation. We don't go often as it isn't in our budget. But we save and look forward to it and have fun. I have to say though, even though we had fun, I feel like a little of the magic has dulled at Disney. Don't get me wrong, they do A LOT right. They always have, and always will. But I feel like some things have become so automated--(Pre-Registering for fast passes, no dinner reservations unless you are on the phone 180 days out booking ADR's, bracelets to track and plan your every move, and the push to spend more to have a more personal experience ($50 per person for dessert and a good seat for fireworks, spending $60 to over $200 for bibbidi bobbidi makeup, etc is taking away some of the common joy of just going and enjoying the parks together. And even though we have found May to be a great time of year to go in the past, the crowds were unreal this year, and not very nice! I was run over so many times by either a stroller or hit by one of those motorized scooters, and people would save way more space than they needed for parades, etc and be so territorial about it all, it was kind of disheartening. There's room for everyone! We will go again of course, but I hope I feel a little more magic and a little less "managed" by it all next time. Thoughts?

Sounds like you have outgrown Disney. My family has. We are now planning our vacations to Niagara Falls, Ireland, Korea, etc. We would rather travel to new cities and countries than go to Disney. We went to Universal memorial day weekend only because I had passes from my work for $25 a person, included pre-paid parking pass and $40 in gift cards. Something like $480 value for just $100 ($25 per person). So we went for about four hours. We spent 4 hours there last year too. My kids enjoy thrill rides (larger coasters than what Disney offers) but we don't particularly feel the need to go to theme parks anymore.

 

[wilkeliza]

Outside of the crowds the rest are things that have either been around for awhile now (BBB and dessert parties) or not really needed. You have never been able to just show up at Cinderella's Royal Table. However, I have had several trips that had 0 plans or were planned in less than a month. If you can't get every FP you can still wait Stand-by. At least now you have a chance to not wait those crazy times and it is free at Disney. Now we just accept it and do it. Our local Six Flags still sees 3+ hour waits for some rides in the summer and nothing was more frustrating then being on the load platform just to have some group who bought the unlimited flash pass flash their gold bands and get to ride again with out exiting. One time I had to watch 4 cars load while I was next on the load platform before I finally got to ride. There are some upsells we have done and some trips where we come and plan on the bus to the park and every one has bene a good vacation.


I do think if you feel like you can't do Disney with out all the up sells then maybe it is time to go somewhere else.

 

[Kellars]

We did the overplanned, over stressed vacation at Disney and it says a lot about the magic that we return. Now DH and I don't plan ADRs, fast passes, or anything more than our room and date of arrival. We plan to stay X number of days and even change that once in awhile for an extra night.
Disney has become even more enjoyable for us. This time we aren't even planning park tickets but will buy a day pass for one of them when we get there if we want to. This works for us because we are a couple of almost retirees and don't have to entertain kids.

 

[nooneshome]

Thoughts?

Don't make ADRs at 180 days, you don't have to. Same with fastpasses, simply stand in line. Don't buy Magic Bands, instead use your plastic ticket. Tell your kids no, when they ask about BBB or Dessert parties.

For us, I like the new fast pass system. It makes it that my husband can actually walk around the park with me, instead of having to run around like a chicken with his head cut off grabbing paper fast passes. I also like making ADR, it is better than standing in line waiting to eat a meal. Magic bands work for us, it is something that I don't have to carry around. And I have not stepped foot into BBB, nor a dessert party.

It is actually pretty easy. Don't do the things you don't like. And do the things you do.

Agreed. We eat mostly CS with one TS per trip. We also try to lunch once at BOG. MBs & FPs are where my planning mostly lies. I get plan out a park FP strategy and get mine at the 60 day mark. The only real tough one is 7DMT. This will change with the new attractions opening in the months to come. I get NBFPs which complicates things but is worth the effort. In the past we have done the parties and such but we feel no need to do these anymore. We tour commando in the morning and wing it at night and try to see all the nighttime stuff relaxed. It works for us.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Last trip was our third with magic bands and the first time I actually planned it all out like a crazy woman. It was also my first trip with the dining plan, we went during free dining and during Christmas party season. Ugh! Never again. I prefer my regular way. We eat quick service and maybe a table service meal or two and check the day of or night before, never was an issue before. This past trip I bought into the need to get into BOG for pre park breakfast and all that jazz and I realized it wasn't for me. We also tried and tried and tried to get the elusive 7DMT FP+ and I finally got it but my daughter thought it was so boring. Lol. And we did the Christmas party which was fun but the parties take away from our late night styling, so no more party season Disney trips for us. I know some people love them but they aren't for us and that's quite alright.

So our next trip in February we are going back to our zero stress, less planning, park hopping do what we want Disney touring. The lines don't bug us, we chat and have fun. We will take the FP+ I can get at my 60 day and if we don't use them or switch them out that's okay too. As far as rude people, they are everywhere, not just at Disney, I try not to let it get to me.

 

[kathy884]

I'm burned out on WDW too. // This August we'll be in Colorado for a week in the mountains, and then in January (slow season week day) we're going to do a mini trip to Hollywood and Disneyland --- A Disney fix that is a little different and because of catering to locals not as much advanced planning (no ride reservations ahead of time and fastpasses day of). Plus a chance to see Walt's original park. There is a big wide world out there, so do whatever fires you us. // I'm sure I'll be back to WDW again, but I have no immediate plans for that and think I'll take a break for a while.

 

[Vijoge]

First trip I had a Passporter and planned every waking moment. I think I made everybody, including myself, miserable. Our 4th trip is coming up in January. We'll see what we see and eat what we'll eat. No matter what we end up doing I'm sure we'll have fun.

 

[msmayor]

Honestly, all the things you mention that 'dilute the magic' came about not because Disney necessarily wanted it...but the circumstances of the paying public dictated it. 180 days for ADR's? If the public wasn't clamoring for a spot at the table, it wouldn't be a problem. But as the dining plan became more popular, so did the sit-down restaurants...and the best way to control the crowd and make sure people didn't spend hours waiting for a table (instead of wandering the parks and enjoying the attractions) is the ADR. Only so many to go around, so planners get the jump.

$50 for a prime dessert spot? Again, can't fault Disney here. They are a business, plain and simple. They see an opportunity to make more money they take it...and if people are willing to pay $50 for some dessert and a key spot for the fireworks, why not?

The things you describe are only options, not requirements. The best moments are those you just let happen, and often don't cost a dime extra. One of my most favorite Disney memories is of my husband and I sitting on a bench out on the beach by the Wilderness Lodge boat dock as the sun set...our two kids were playing tetherball while we watched. They were laughing and having fun, my husband and I loving every minute. Completely unplanned. It was a perfect 60 minutes that didn't cost any extra.

The magic is there, you just have to let it happen.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

The magic is there, you just have to let it happen.

I deleted the rest, not because I didn't agree. But I really wanted to highlight this.

Yes, the Magic is there, and we find it every time we go.

 

[goodhartc]

I agree that there is still magic to be had but I also agree with the first post. We are just completing our 3rd stay on property. Yes my kids are bigger and yes we still had fun but it did seem a bit more like a business than an escape from reality. There was no extra "magic", no spontaneous character sightings, no super great cast member interactions. Overall it was a great time but it's hard not to miss little things like "Push" the talking trash can or not seeing Starbucks everywhere.

Just to add, yes I understand economics and that it's a ultimately a business. I

 

[akayek31]

I have never done a dessert party or BBB. Now that I am going to have a DGD in August I can't wait to try it out. My daughter was 12 when I found out about it and didn't want to do it. I only eat at TS a few times a trip and plan it that day sometimes. I can't wait to show my DGD my happy place in February

 

[revdisney33]

This will be the 8th trip since '11 for me and my DD12. Great Dad and Daughter trip every time. Each trip has had a different dynamic and traveling group. From just the 2 of us to 13 people. I do all the planning every time for everyone. We do our fast passes, but almost always change them around, day of sometimes. A few ADR's, many the first few trips,but do mostly CS now as we like to use our time in the parks and my DD isn't a huge eater. Again, I've changed my ADR an hour before, because we were running late. Thank you MDE app. Those extras we do not do. On her first trip, we shipped her beautiful dress down and then went to CRT without BBB. The princesses always look beautiful, but lots of $ for a short time. We didn't even do the face painting anymore as in hot days, it was gone quite quickly.

Guess what I'm saying, is you can do a little planning.....we don't always stick with it and still feel the magic either way. We have dealt with rude people, but also very many nice people which outnumber the rude. The more people, the more chances to meet rudeness. I can go to my small town parade and see the same behavior....

Final thoughts.....the magic is there....as others said...let it happen and deep down we sometimes need to make our own magic for ourselves and our kids and family.

 

[MKCP5]

Thanks for all your thoughts. I still love Disney. I always will. I was one of the original college program members and stayed on as a cast member for another 2 years. I think one of the posters said it best when saying that in some ways we have outgrown Disney. Our wanderlust and desire to explore the world has included Italy and Turkey, the Caribbean and Seattle, Nova Scotia and Ontario. So I think Disney may always be my "hometown" and I will always love it, and still come back, and it makes me a little sad that I feel this way, but right now my heart wants to explore.

 

[mommycrawford]

OP, I feel a similar way!...I miss Pleasure Island's Adventurer's Club and Improv Comedy place, and all the things you could do spontaneously!...The silly things like walking into an Epcot shop, and a CM having your child do a hunt for a stuffed animal & receive a certificate for a Magic Moment, or make a friend on a line (a physical line) or waiting for a parade....Arriving at RD and the park being quiet and wonder filled, and not being herded in like cattle. I think the whole tech element of Disney isolates people, but it is pervasive in our culture as a whole now...reflected in our politics of the day!...The first time I went to Disney, you could order a custom cake (not so grand as the ones in Disney now) at the Main Street Bakery, and now it is a Starbucks, and that kinda says it all. I admire Walt Disney, the man! He had a beautiful, clean, creative, imaginative vision, (that he realized with his brother's help,) and now it is in the hands of others....How people treasure what you leave behind is up to them. There is magic in the parks, but you have to look harder for the special feeling.

 

[Eureka]

Sounds like you have outgrown Disney. My family has. We are now planning our vacations to Niagara Falls, Ireland, Korea, etc. We would rather travel to new cities and countries than go to Disney. We went to Universal memorial day weekend only because I had passes from my work for $25 a person, included pre-paid parking pass and $40 in gift cards. Something like $480 value for just $100 ($25 per person). So we went for about four hours. We spent 4 hours there last year too. My kids enjoy thrill rides (larger coasters than what Disney offers) but we don't particularly feel the need to go to theme parks anymore.

This is us. Don't get me wrong, I still love it, but the last Disney trip we took, the kids were 12 and 10 at the time and they had more fun on our Universal days. Now, that could have been because we had never been there and had done Disney three times in five years. But they are ready for different things. This summer (kids are 15 and 13 now) we are doing a Canada trip and they have never been out of the country, so that's something new and exciting (even if they won't admit it because they are typically teens, lol.)

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I felt the same way after our last trip in August.

I think for me the biggest problem was that our 2011 trip was hands down our best trip ever. My kids were, IMO, the perfect age at the time. DS11 and DD5. We surprised the kids that morning so they were excited. It was pretty much a last minute trip with minimal planning. We made a few ADR's before we left and got everything we wanted without stress. Pre park BBB with CRT lunch, Ohana, CM (on arrival night), VN, etc. We picked which park on which day based on if and where we had an ADR. We literally went with the flow. Met every princess that trip without planning to, rode everything we wanted, used the old FP system to our advantage without having a diagram, watched Wishes and Illuminations, etc. It was just a magical trip.

This trip I felt that I had to plan so much. ADR's, FP+, which park which day. Then my kids were 15 and 9 and having a teenager made the trip less magical. When they were younger they just did what I said. This trip it was a fight before every single ride or attraction. "Well what's this about. Well I would rather do SM. Why can't we go to Epcot now?" It was so frustrating because I would try to explain that Splash had a 40 minute wait but I have a FP+ for it in an hour. This was the theme of our trip. If we had an ADR at Ohana DS would ask why we couldn't just go to X place instead. It was constant COMPLAINING from my DS. Then when DS starts DD thinks she MUST be missing something and joins in.

I still LOVE Disney but I need to remember my trips will never be like they were when my kids were little. DS says he wants to go again but I don't know if I can handle him there again. I'm thinking Universal may be a better bet for him but he swears he misses WDW everyday.

FTR I am NOT a commando planner. I do pick which park which day and try to maximize RD. I don't have a touring plan but I have a mental note to ride certain rides first before they have 2 hour waits. DS doesn't get that. He will wait in a 2 hour line for SM even if I tell him the lines will die down in 2 hours. Then when I tell him he can wait alone he doesn't want to so it becomes a battle with us.

We have Dominican Republic coming up next year and DS wants to do Puerto Rico instead of a graduation party in 2018. He will go to WDW for his senior trip March 2018. I want to squeeze in a WDW with DD and my SO while DS is at his senior trip but we will see.

 

[dreiwhit]

Even though my wife and I had to Disney before, it had been a while - 30+ years for both of us. We told our 13 year old son and 8 year old daughter for the first time last March. It was our first time as a family and we had a blast. We're planning on going back next year, mostly to do what we didn't get to do before, and do what we liked again.

My wife and I are both planners, but we were both surprised at the amount of planning we (mostly my wife) had to do. And that was just when to go to which park, what rides to go on when, what to take with us, and what rides to get FPs for. And, we stayed off site and used credit card-style tickets. We didn't get much time to prepare, about a month before we left. IMHO, the planning we did was one of the reasons why we had such a good vacation.

But both of us realize there may not be a third trip for many years after this next one. The big reason is that Disney costs a lot, about 150% more than what we normally spend on a vacation. We just can't spend that every year.