Prices just hit my threshold :-(

[Redcon1]

Sadly I think this is the exact response of the current board. There hasn't been a customer focussed executive in a real position of control since Wells passed.

Matt Ouimet was one, but of course, he was basically forced out. Lassiter could be considered another, just not sure how much influence he has though.

 

[MrInfinity]

And I would say that you missed an opportunity to help the person "up their game". I don't see any point in dumbing down my answer to fit the person's current state of knowledge, and instead see more value in tailoring my answer to help them "level up." If I see a blank stare, I will educate and explain instead of giving up. Neither of us is right, but we absolutely do look at the learning opportunity differently.

By the fact that you call it dumbing down to talk to someone on a level that is not on par with your thoroughly-studied and relatively expert understanding of Disney World is kind of insulting.

 

[momof2n2]

Yes. The only time it was iffy was epcot last year.

Then you must share your touring plan.

 

[starjazz]

Prior to FP-, I don't recall getting on all of my favorites multiple times. I recall 120 minute Space Mountain waits and actually debating whether we'd get in line.

I do remember doing POTC over and over at closing time. But FP- definitely made things better as far as standing in line.

For those that don't plan, and I know several in the past couple of years, getting there during peak season without a game plan can turn the place into a less-than-awesome time. I had family go last spring break. They had no idea what they were getting into. They waited in 2 hour lines the whole week. And pretty much hated it. I felt terrible for them.

I've got another friend taking his family down in a couple of weeks. They JUST got their FP+'s made. None of the E-tix were available. They'll be in some big lines, too.

Planning ahead is what makes the place work, imo. But then, some are totally okay with big lines. I just am totally not good with standing in long lines for a ride that lasts a couple of minutes.

 

[Angel Ariel]

You're kidding right? Do you have daughters? Because I do. Lots o' them. And most of my friends have daughters. And guess where most of my friends want to take their daughters to eat.

Lol, yep. My friend who I planned for last year decided they were going at less than 3 months out. When she talked to me about what she wanted, *she* was the one who said a princess character meal was a must. She brought it up, not me. I did manage to get her an Akershus reservation, but only because of the cancellation thread here. It never came up for me online or on the phone, despite a *lot* of checking. Thankfully I knew about these boards and the cancellation threads, or she would have most likely been out of luck.

And just FTR, since it was brought up in a previous reply - when I help someone plan a Disney trip, it is entirely geared to *their* wants. I tailor what I say to what they are looking for in their vacation. I don't plan for them the way I would plan for me, because I'm not them.

 

[momof2n2]

Not kidding. Yes, have a daughter, see my signature. If you want to take your kids to eat there, then make a reservation. Just saying most people do not set out with that as a requirement. Most probably don't even know it's something they could do, until like us, they get there and learn about it. And obviously most cannot do it in a day, because the restaurant only handles so many yet there are 50,000 guests in the MK. So are you saying that anyone who simply cannot fit in CRT (which will be like 98% of the guests) should leave disappointed? That is absurd. To go to Disney World, not get to eat at a restaurant and leave disappointed. By your expectation that you must eat there else it's a fail, pretty much all trips are doomed. ROFL.



We waited 2 hours to go on Under the Sea with Nemo when it opened at Disneyland, and we were happy to do so cuz it was opening week. So what. It's a THEME PARK we go expecting lines, like everyone else.



Again most people don't study it this deeply. Just cuz you do, you are assuming that is typical but it's just not. It's not a problem to go and ride them via waiting in line. Such is the normal expectation.



Why would you do that?



Again, you want these things. Other people are going to Disney World to ride some rides, but to wait for them is not a problem. They're not trying to do 20 in a day. 5 or 6 is typical, and a breeze to do with no planning.

Neighborhood kids go and really do come back with wonderful stories about how awesome it was. None of them are griping about the waits. That is a Dis-thing, for people who used to be able to skip every line by FP-.

It's obviously hard for you to relate to people having a good time there without being planned to the hilt, but they do.

Who doesn't know you can eat with Cinderella? I sort of stopped listening after that - until I got to:

Neighborhood kids go and really do come back with wonderful stories about how awesome it was. None of them are griping about the waits. That is a Dis-thing, for people who used to be able to skip every line by FP-.

My kids have a great time at the zoo. I drop about $100 for an annual pass. It's the mom and dad that need to live with the ROI. And I must run with a different crowd, because five or six attractions would not cut it.

 

[MrInfinity]

Did you ride everything you wanted in five days in the same trip? With multiple rides on your favorites? I used to be able to. I have my doubts I'll be able to replicate that this trip.

I really think you'll be fine. We rode everything we used to under FP-, via FP+, and in a more relaxed way. I am a convert. As great as FP- was, I really do like FP+. The few rides that I can cherry pick save me way more time than the sort of random options you'd get via FP-. You have 4,000 posts under your belt so I figure you know the ins and outs enough to still get as good an experience as before, or better. Just be willing to ditch your old strategies for new ones and realize where FP+ saves you time that FP- didn't. Have you been since FP+ was implemented?

My kids have a great time at the zoo. I drop about $100 for an annual pass. It's the mom and dad that need to live with the ROI. And I must run with a different crowd, because five or six attractions would not cut it.

Exactly. You run with a different crowd. Most families do not set out to ride 15 things in a day, nor is that even possible for everyone to ride that much. If you add up all the ridings of all the rides at the MK, it works out to, seriously, about 5-6 attractions per person per day. So for every you or me that rides 15, there's a ton of people happy to ride 5 or less. So it's only complicated to ride 15 things if you're one of the people trying to ride 15 things, which is not the typical non-planning vacationer.

Who doesn't know you can eat with Cinderella? I sort of stopped listening after that - until I got to:

Ok, well I read everything you had to say and am trying to relate and discuss. If you don't want to do the same then we don't really have a functional conversation here. :-/

 

[Angel Ariel]

Who doesn't know you can eat with Cinderella?

I also think this is a bit dubious. Most very non-disney people I know know that you can eat with characters. They may not know at which restaurant to find what character they are looking for, or what specific characters are available at meals in general, but they are aware that dining with a character is an option. If it's an option that's important to them (as it was to my aforementioned friend), and I'm helping them plan, they then ask me about it.

 

[jesse8931]

Then you must share your touring plan.

Its super simple.

I wake up eat I get to the park at open I ride all the major rides first.

I eat lunch finish the other lower end rides.

And to finish I eat some dinner.

It's not hard and you may have to wait but it can be done and has been for 40 years.

 

[Redcon1]

Harry potter will never get old. Ever. People will regularly flock to universal just for harry potter. Universal was smart to build it so well and also to connect the parks with it. Even if people don't spend as long a vacation at uni, people will go just for hp. I will and I'm not even a super hard core fan haha.

And if they build Nintendo land smartly like they did hp world, then that would kick ***. Uni seems to be learning how to build great themes. Which I'm thankful for as a disney and universal lover.

I agree with you on HP and not sure why the other poster said it will get old. Peter Pan is based on a film that's four decades older than HP and it still draws a waiting line.
Why would Universal's HP land and attractions supposedly lose its customers interest in the future and not Disney's?

 

[WillAustin]

If you give out the same advice to everyone and you're getting blank stares, then you missed a chance to help them in a way they would relate to. You assumed they were needing the advanced strategies that you use, when really they needed to know about more basic stuff first, or more likely, they just wanted to talk and be excited with you because they know how much you love it there, and you turn it into this horrendous task they face. How fun! So you don't have to tell them to wing it, but you want to judge by their body language and responsiveness to your advice, whether you are on the right page w the type of things you're telling them.

Without "advanced strategies" the inevitable response after the trips is, "it was too crowded and too expensive." I hear it all the time. I haven't had anyone I know wing it and come back planning a return trip.

 

[Redcon1]

Yeah but it all worked out for Disney. They jumped on the next big franchise that has had world wide appeal and crosses generations lines and gave up control for Avatar. No not the Japanese anime cartoon that's popular but the movie. You know the one with the blue people. No not the smurfs the other blue people. Never mind just know "floating islands".

That's kind of like Sean Connery signing up for League of Extraordinary Gentlemen after passing on Lord of the Rings and Matrix.

Actually the thought of Smurfs in AK would excite me more than Avatar. La-La-Lalala..lalalala.

 

[MrInfinity]

Without "advanced strategies" the inevitable response after the trips is, "it was too crowded and too expensive." I hear it all the time. I haven't had anyone I know wing it and come back planning a return trip.

Maybe they aren't planning a return trip because most people don't go and immediately plan to go back. I'm thinking about the next one before I even leave the first one, but that's not typical. Most have just gone, and they're going back to work, the next trip to Disney not even conceived of yet. It was a vacation after all, most do not plan their vacations several years out. Really Will people that go and come back are raving about the good times they had, posting pictures on facebook of them having a blast, etc. Nobody really grumps the whole trip with FB posts about it being too crowded, nor comes home and just gripes about it being a poor experience. That's just not what's driving 18M people to Disney World. They ARE having magical times, with minimal planning, despite the misconception out here that that is even possible.

 

[disneyseniors]

This is making a trip to Disney World out to be way more complicated than it is. Most people do not care about all of this.

You tell people you have to make ADRs at 180 because YOU have to make ADRs at 180. Most people don't. We went in 2010 with no ADRs and the DDP, we picked things day-of and had a blast. Did we get into CRT? No, we learned about it then, couldn't get in, so we noted to reserve it next time, and did. It wasn't a big deal. And most guests never used FP- and now can use FP+ to skip a few lines, it is not so complicated that if you do not stay up till midnight to book A&E, you won't get to see them or ride the Mine Train.

If what you tell people about Disney is sad (yet you still love to go) then why are you talking about things that sadden you about Disney instead of talking about what makes you happy or why you actually go. Especially when it comes to vacations, people want to talk to people about how they will have fun, not how Disney isn't as good as it used to be.

You're just making it sound complicated in general because it's complicated for you.

We have a great time at Disney World, so we go! People we know go with WAY less planning, down to almost no planning, and come back with great memories and their kids are talking as fast as they can about this and that experience, not how it was sad and not great. Just because you feel compelled to plan does not mean everyone is so.

Oh, Mr. Infinity, why do you feel the need to comment on my posts??? Does something bother you? So sorry. But when people trust you to tell them what you have to do to plan a trip to Disney Now, you do it. It is not made up. It is what it is. We do have to jump through these hoops now. It is sad that now we have to do these things. I am sad over that. I never said I don't tell them all that is great about Disney! I do tell them all about Disney, what we love and what we do on each trip. But I do not sugar coat what is expected now to set up a successful Disney trip. Everyone I have told about the adr's and fp's have looked in horror and disbelief at having to do all that. Don't come back with you don't have to do all that. I know that. But if you want to get adr's and fp's for those coveted experiences, then YES you do! You know that, as does everyone else on here. That's why there are multiple threads helping people with fp's and adr's.

And saying that I am saddened yet still love to go, what's wrong with that. I think anyone who has seen the decline at Disney is not happy. We do love Disney, and have had our trip set up for months. Most of us here expressing our opinions Love Disney, or we wouldn't be saddened with what we see. We have all grown up on Disney, visited before all the new requirements and all the obvious changes not for the good. We come on these boards to discuss these things. This is a discussion board, for everyone, not just for those who feel they must jump on everyone else with a different opinion. Who cares?

As for me being compelled to plan, I would suspect that most people on here do have to plan. Again, Disney has made it so that if you want that adr for your trip, you must plan and prebook it. If you want a chance at the most popular fp's, then yes, you do have to plan. That's just the way you have to do Disney now. You can choose to not do any of it too of course. I never said everyone had to plan. That is a false statement.

So now we know that yes, you do have to plan to get what you want. Yes you can not plan; it's still a free world and free choice. But if someone asks me my opinion, I will tell them the facts of adr's, fp's. and all that I feel is Disney, including the good. I also direct them to the multitude of Disney sites that have many threads on obtaining these same adr's and fp's. They are not made up by me.

So have a good day, and don't feel like you have to respond, again...... I'm bored with it, as others are too, I suspect.

 

[momof2n2]

Its super simple.

I wake up eat I get to the park at open I ride all the major rides first.

I eat lunch finish the other lower end rides.

And to finish I eat some dinner.

It's not hard and you may have to wait but it can be done and has been for 40 years.

Are you a solo traveler? I'm really impressed and sincerely hope to have the same experience.


If I can do every ride (& reride) and show we did last trip when we go next May (same week) I will come back to the board and eloquently apologize for my negativity. I will also feel like I got a good ROI & the money will have been well spent.

But there are a lot of posters (on both sides of the FP+ issue) who suggest I need lower expectations.

 

[MrInfinity]

Oh, Mr. Infinity, why do you feel the need to comment on my posts??? Does something bother you?

No. You?

But when people trust you to tell them what you have to do to plan a trip to Disney Now, you do it. It is not made up. It is what it is. We do have to jump through these hoops now. It is sad that now we have to do these things. I am sad over that. I never said I don't tell them all that is great about Disney! I do tell them all about Disney, what we love and what we do on each trip. But I do not sugar coat what is expected now to set up a successful Disney trip. Everyone I have told about the adr's and fp's have looked in horror and disbelief at having to do all that. Don't come back with you don't have to do all that. I know that. But if you want to get adr's and fp's for those coveted experiences, then YES you do! You know that, as does everyone else on here. That's why there are multiple threads helping people with fp's and adr's.

Maybe people I run into are less abhorred by the thought of booking a restaurant reservation if they want to go somewhere popular. I don't know. You're making it sound like this horrible process. I, for one, do not think it is. Nor is it required, for only some 2% of guests can see CRT even if they want to, most do not know or want to.

I think anyone who has seen the decline at Disney is not happy. We do love Disney, and have had our trip set up for months. Most of us here expressing our opinions Love Disney, or we wouldn't be saddened with what we see. We have all grown up on Disney, visited before all the new requirements and all the obvious changes not for the good. We come on these boards to discuss these things. This is a discussion board, for everyone, not just for those who feel they must jump on everyone else with a different opinion. Who cares?

No one cares, and I welcome the discussion! It's you who A) questioned why I comment to you, and then B) says we should discuss because it's a forum.

As for me being compelled to plan, I would suspect that most people on here do have to plan. Again, Disney has made it so that if you want that adr for your trip, you must plan and prebook it. If you want a chance at the most popular fp's, then yes, you do have to plan. That's just the way you have to do Disney now. You can choose to not do any of it too of course.

Most people on here. Exactly. Most people on here need to plan. But we are collectively the top 1% of planners. What most people on here don't always keep in mind is that most people out there are by the fact that they aren't out here, not as into planning! It is wrong to assume other guests are like you or plan like you do when you are among the top 1% of planners when you discuss out here.

So have a good day, and don't feel like you have to respond, again...... I'm bored with it, as others are too, I suspect.

Aren't you on a roll. Going back to A) and B) above, we now add C), you post on a forum, and then are disinterested in responses that are contrary to your views.

 

[Roxyfire]

I also think this is a bit dubious. Most very non-disney people I know know that you can eat with characters. They may not know at which restaurant to find what character they are looking for, or what specific characters are available at meals in general, but they are aware that dining with a character is an option. If it's an option that's important to them (as it was to my aforementioned friend), and I'm helping them plan, they then ask me about it.

I'm going to be honest and say I didn't really know this when I started all of this research and I'd been when I was a kid too. So clearly my parents didn't love me enough to take me for breakfast with a Princess (/kidding). But seriously it wasn't even on my radar as an option. I think either Tusker House or Garden Grill was recommended when I got my booklet in the mail but that's about it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm going to be honest and say I didn't really know this when I started all of this research and I'd been when I was a kid too. So clearly my parents didn't love me enough to take me for breakfast with a Princess (/kidding). But seriously it wasn't even on my radar as an option. I think either Tusker House or Garden Grill was recommended when I got my booklet in the mail but that's about it.

I am not saying absolutely everyone knows dining with characters in an option. I do not, however, think that the number of people who know about that as an option is small, nor do I think that those who know about it are limited to those "in the know" about all the ins and outs on disney chat boards.

 

[BK2014]

I am intrigued by some of the positions that seem to be asserted here. One being that a WDW trip is only fun/successful if I (or my kids) can do everything they want, without waiting in lines, and do so multiple times in whatever number of days I scheduled for my trip. I agree with some of the PPs who understand that not every family planning a WDW trip will know about FP+ and ADRs, or even that you can eat with Cinderella. As with any social circle, the more you interact within that circle, the more you believe that it represents the social reality of most people. People on these discussion boards are generally WDW experienced. But I think the percentage of WDW guests that are characteristic of the people on these boards is often over-estimated. I would guess that there are a lot of people who, at least on their first trips, simply book a room, travel and tickets and head down without much other research. And I think that you can still get value for your money in doing so. If your mentality is that I/or my children must have everything, do everything and should not be inconvenienced in the process, then you will likely receive less value for your money. But that is a tall order at a popular place with a limited number of rides/attractions.

I wonder what would happen, and how people would feel if WDW simply did away with ADRs and FP+? Just leveled the playing field and made everything first come, first served.

 

[dfb]

Pricing and FP+ I believe will have me reducing my WDW trips. I bought DVC in 2009 and have since made several trips a year (except 2010/2014). Since 2009 DVC pricing has almost doubled. PAP pricing is now close to doubling in price since that time. I'm anticipating using future DVC points to explore other attractions near Orlando, Hilton Head, Vero Beach, etc. I'm not tired of going to WDW, my family and I still look for opportunities to go and are looking forward to see the changes to park attractions but with the pricing increases and FP+ we don't see the same value as before to warrant the same frequency of trips.

Although I do give suggestions to people asking about a WDW trip, I don't try to justify the expense, any longer.

I think Disney like many companies push the price to the point they feel they can get away with, no problem. They will charge whatever people will pay. I know there will always be a gozillion first timers to where losing some repeaters will be no problem. I do think during down turns in economic cycles, the repeaters are the ones that help carry you thru. I guess they are not too concerned about the economy.