POLL: Is it possible to be Frustrated with WDW Value, but still love it?

[jetdoctor]

Please read the whole post before commenting THANK YOU.

This is not a new topic just want a fresh take. I apologize in advance if this has been discussed before. This maybe a topic for Locals but open for all. I realize that this thread could really be lively, lets keep it civil. We all know that Disney is expensive that is not the topic here Disney has always been expensive. What I am trying to convey is, is the Value there for you or not. How do you feel Disney should or could enhance your experience


I am a Disney Platinum Plus Passholder
Just know that I have a true passion for WDW, this is why I feel like hearing what others have to say. I am a local with a family now and go to the property a lot, like once or twice a week. I am now 40, and that could be some of the reason for my views. I am admittedly been frustrated with some things @ WDW for some time. I do want to make it very clear that I have a true love affair with the place. I may have oversaturated myself with the experience and am probably just getting board with it. I have been obsessed with the place since I was a kid, coming in 81. So a lot of this maybe memories I had as a child, that could be a factor as well . With that said when I was a child my parents footed the bill. Now I am so I am sure that has effected my over all experience. I know that some think that us long time patrons feel that we are entitled to special treatment. I know that I have been guilty of being that way, admittedly.

What I'm trying to get across here I have experienced a lot of rude and entitled people excluding myself. The parks are very crowed and things like some really poor customer service, this maybe do to the large crowds. LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THESE CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES ARE ISOLATED. I have been told that cast member training at Disney U has been cut down to 1 day now instead of a full week. That i am sure as a part in all of this. I know that budget cuts need to come from somewhere. I have seen a lot of trash in the MK and those trash cans at the TTC parking lots. A lot of just not so Disney things or what I believe I am custom to experiencing. I believe that some of the shows such as illuminations really needs an update. Some other shows need a refresh. I know that The MSEP is going away for good sometime in Oct. So maybe we will see something Fresh there.

A recent article as been written about an pass holder survey http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...ls-passholders-discontent-20160826-story.html This also may ignite further talk. But I do see pass holder non blackout ticket going up soon or in the near future. DLR non blackout pass is I believe $1000. Agin not talking about how expensive it is but will it be a value to you and your family?

Oh and ONE thing I failed to mention is that the other parks one in particular has really upped their game. Not just in attractions but in over all customer experience. They took a page right out of the Disney play book. Plus hiring some former Disney imagineers doesn't hurt their case.

 

[Number Six]

I've been going regularly for 10 years, and in my opinion it doesn't have the same value as it used to. Prices are up, crowds are up, and it's harder to do as much as we used to thanks to fastpass plus. Planning a 2-minute ride two months from now to save an hour in line is just dumb to me, the old way worked better for me. Benefits are less (less discounts, less normal hours I think, less EMH hours for sure). Disney's added some new things in that time, but too often at the expense of other things (Princess meets instead of Snow White, Frozen instead of Malestrom, Storybook Circus instead of Toon Town to name a few). My passes expire soon and I won't be renewing them. So yes to your question, I love Disney and I am frustrated with it too.

I will say that front line cast members are still as great as they've always been in my experience.

 

[Chant124]

Unfortunately, WDW has gotten to the point that could charge whatever they want and still max the place for the most part....I would bet the could eliminate the annual program and the place wouldn't skip a beat. I like those on the thread have been going since 1982 and I'm still obsessed with the place. Just wish they would go back to their roots like Epcot was when it opened.

 

[jetdoctor]

Unfortunately, WDW has gotten to the point that could charge whatever they want and still max the place for the most part....I would bet the could eliminate the annual program and the place wouldn't skip a beat. I like those on the thread have been going since 1982 and I'm still obsessed with the place. Just wish they would go back to their roots like Epcot was when it opened.

I Agree! 1 million % I think they really don't value local pass holder that much. I have been told that we are valued customers right after DVC but I just don't buy it.

 

[SaintsManiac]

The value is high for us, because we are joyful when we are there. We forget our problems when we are there. We love to be in the bubble. However, we purposely go every OTHER year to keep it that way. While there are many times and many days that I wish I was in the parks, I am glad we don't go all the time.

 

[maxiesmom]

For me, the value is still there. Even paying my own way a trip to WDW feels like an escape from reality. I budget for it, and set aside spending money, so I don't feel guilty for buying another Mickey tee shirt or another Dooney purse.

I know for some the resorts are priced to high, but I don't think they are. When I have to pay $160 a night for a Super 8 in St Ignace, MI paying $125 for a Disney value seems like a great deal.

 

[Accident]

I personally think the value is different depending on how much you visit. I was one of those once ever decade or semi close to a decade visitor. I remember big new things being available for every trip. A new park, expansion, something was big and new and some old favorites were around to spark those childhood memories of being here very young.. Now as I've become more financially successful the value shifted to how it makes my daughter feel. This place is her escape and the meaning of disney changed and what I was willing to spend to see her happier really changed. I've ramped up from that decade something big being new to experience to regular going 2 times a year to now local going whenever I want. The value is much less now having moved here. I get to experience the little changes but they aren't the excitement of those big changes from the past..

There is a point where price exceeds value and disney is close to that. The best example I can give is I just renewed my annual pass for the first time ever. I've never gone enough before to need to renew it. Now being a local I had more options for less money as well as being able to spread out the payments monthly. The last year I viewed it as I already paid, got my moneys worth and now it's just exciting to visit and spending even more on some events wasn't a big deal.. Now that I have a dollar value per month that I'm spending with disney, it's a very different feeling on value because it's not just the event cost addon but also the monthly pass cost so I'm seeing the price in a different way and in a way I' don't like. Sure it was great to not shell out the costs of APs right away but now looking at parties and things, I'm not sure we're going to any of them or how often I would do it. In addition to the party cost, I also need to get my AP value that same month.

So the value of disney these days is less and I go for different reasons. The excitement is there but not like it used to be. Disney has become stale and less relevant. Hopefully what universal has done with harry potter and I hate to use this term, followed walts traditions better than disney has really wakes them up. Disneyland iterrates a lot. All the other properties are just getting more and more stale and not constantly upgrading. This is where universal is more walt than disney is. They are really seeing the value of constantly keeping the park up to date and relevant that disney seems to not understand even though walt said it the day disneyland opened...

 

[FastPasser]

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[Spaceguy55]

Unless they are at 100% occupancy at all times they will always give FL residents discounts. Unlike DL they have 4 parks to fill and 1000's of rooms. It's a revenue stream that they count on and would need to replace it if they discontinued the discounts....that would mean higher prices for everyone.

 

[jetdoctor]

For me, the value is still there. Even paying my own way a trip to WDW feels like an escape from reality. I budget for it, and set aside spending money, so I don't feel guilty for buying another Mickey tee shirt or another Dooney purse.

I know for some the resorts are priced to high, but I don't think they are. When I have to pay $160 a night for a Super 8 in St Ignace, MI paying $125 for a Disney value seems like a great deal.

I understand. I love staying at the deluxe resorts but for what you get as it comes as far as experience at lets say a 4 seasons for less$.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

The value is high for me, because I just absolutely love visiting Disney. Not going to lie, I'm absolutely obsessed. I'm a Floridian, so I go a lot. I'm a Gold Pass AP-- I'd never go during the Holidays and busy spring break time, so I thought it was a better deal than the platinum plus. For me, value is relative to the experience had. I find Universal/IOA a waste of money because I don't really enjoy it too much.

I don't wear jewlery. I'm not into expensive clothes, I only own one purse (just bought my first purse in 5 years lol). I'm not into make up or fancy hair products. I splurge when it comes to Disney because it's what I consider a personal value

 

[jetdoctor]

I personally think the value is different depending on how much you visit.

I agree I does play a factor in amount of visits. I did state that I may have over consumed the product.

 

[jetdoctor]

The value is high for me, because I just absolutely love visiting Disney. Not going to lie, I'm absolutely obsessed. I'm a Floridian, so I go a lot. I'm a Gold Pass AP-- I'd never go during the Holidays and busy spring break time, so I thought it was a better deal than the platinum plus. For me, value is relative to the experience had. I find Universal/IOA a waste of money because I don't really enjoy it too much.

I don't wear jewlery. I'm not into expensive clothes, I only own one purse (just bought my first purse in 5 years lol). I'm not into make up or fancy hair products. I splurge when it comes to Disney because it's what I consider a personal value

Disney is my thing too. I don't go to Bars or drink and party anymore. My thing is DISNEY WORLD. But for me my love affair hasn't change its just that I am seeing the value erode. I more than like need a break. "But it's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday" lol

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

Disney is my thing too. I don't go to Bars or drink and party anymore. My thing is DISNEY WORLD. But for me my love affair hasn't change its just that I am seeing the value erode. I more than like need a break. "But it's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday" lol

I feel you. A break can do you some good! Nothing wrong with needing a Disney break

 

[trouttigger]

I'm not a passholder, live in Georgia, a 9 hour drive away. I've taken advantage of free dining for 2 years, and we've visited once on odd years since 2009, staying on property.

Thanks to a friend introducing me to the disboards, I get so much more for my money by planning a strategy and getting detailed dining recommendations. However, my friend who has been a Disney lover far longer than me tells me specific ways of how it ain't what it used to be, including the changes for the worse of the dining plan and items deleted from restaurants. I find that to be sad.

We're going on Thanksgiving Day this year and staying off property and taking in some nonDisney attractions on other days. While we love Disney, we have other interests that we choose to give attention to. If free dining happens next December, and the related hotel prices aren't insane, we will probably do that again. I work the math every time, and in the past, it has been the best deal for us.

All that to say, yes, it still has value for our family, but I could never justify the cost of annual passes for us (unless they extend the FL discount to GA )

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We only go once per year. We do notice a price hike but budget accordingly. Eventually we may not find it worth it but for now I'm willing to pay for the magic.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I will answer this poll when I come back from my October trip. The last time I was there was June 2012. I'm interested to see how noticeably things have changed in the past 5 years.

I have to say that the menu prices are scaring me. When I was last there, we were on the deluxe dining plan. A relative who did not have a dining plan visited one day that trip, and I was pretty horrified at some the prices he had to pay for things like Mickey bars and a bottle of soda.

Back then, I was concerned that they were marking up prices to push people into buying the dining plan. You can't buy one if you aren't staying in a Disney resort.

 

[EagleG17]

Has anyone recently stayed in a NYC hotel? Philly hotel? Boston hotel? Chicago hotel? Yup, $300+/night easily.

Disney prices are right in line, even for Deluxe Resorts. I will gladly fork out $$ for what you get, not even a question. There's more to Disney than the so-called 'high prices', it's about spending time with my family for me and sharing this experience every year. This is the TRUE VALUE in Disney.

 

[IrishNYC]

Has anyone recently stayed in a NYC hotel? Philly hotel? Boston hotel? Chicago hotel? Yup, $300+/night easily.

Disney prices are right in line, even for Deluxe Resorts. I will gladly fork out $$ for what you get, not even a question. There's more to Disney than the so-called 'high prices', it's about spending time with my family for me and sharing this experience every year. This is the TRUE VALUE in Disney.

I agree. The food prices are also right in line with other amusement parks or entertainment venues.

 

[jetdoctor]

ok most of you are not locals. this is a locals PoV