Pssssst.. Do you think Disney even knows?

[aussietravellers]

Id gladly sign a waiver to ride in front of the monorail again…to me there is nothing like zooming into the Contemporary and sitting in front on the way to Epcot..big time memories for me that others should still be able to enjoy..history has its charms and although the suits are 'smart' i.e. 100% stock return in 2 years….at what cost to the 'magic'..clearly many hear feel the price for the bottom line is too much….

You can still ride in the front of the monorail at Disneyland. Rode in it myself just a few months ago.

 

[Networth]

Maybe one day riding in the front of the monorail will return. Have such great memories of doing this as a kid. Would like if my children and others could get the same experience. I know why they stopped but if their safety systems are upgraded and they are willing to send us on potentially "dangerous" rides ToT, RNRC, EE, MS. I don't see why they can't lift the monorail ban.

 

[christmas angel]

what is FP+? sorry, new to the forum. not yet up to par with the acronyms.

 

[tinks_1989]

I just had my 14 th trip and it was the most magical Trip I have ever experienced.

 

[susanh]

Because it's assumed we are all capable of deciding on our own what we should or should not read. If this thread is a huge downer for you, that is your issue.

More out of curiosity than anything since there seem to be rules to play nice that we agree to before joining.

 

[becpee]

Perspective.

I see it on this forum all the time, the things that "ruin the magic" that shouldn't, just don't let it.

I've seen complaints as inane as "The castmember didn't say have a magical day".
Seriously?

We all have moments of irritation where things didn't work out quite as we wanted it to, move on to the next thing.

If things continue with irritation and disappointment (especially if the irritation is due to changes that management has put in place), you're vacationing in the wrong spot.

Pretty sure nobody's holding a gun to anybody's head telling them they have to go to WDW, the choice is yours.

 

[AJ1983]

Personally, I don't think the magic is gone Now, I haven't been there since FP+ was introduced, but it won't deter me from going there.

I have learned to take complaints on this board with a grain of salt. I actually saw someone state here once that WDW was not as well maintained as previously because they noticed a street light out on Main Street. I mean, COME ON! What are they going to do, drag a ladder out among the throngs of people to fix it on the spot?

I, for one, don't mind reserving 3 rides in advance. Yes, the tiering sucks, but just get there first thing in the morning to avoid a long wait for the Tier 1 attractions you can't access via FP.

Or just adjust your touring plan. I was on the Touring Plan site, and by visiting ETWB at midnight on a night MK is open until 2 am, I would have a 5 minute wait as apposed to using up an hour of park time first thing in the morning when I could be riding the Mountains with little to no wait.

 

[chmurf]

I love those threads where people complain that the Magic is gone.

I live less than 1 hour from Disneyland Paris, 2 parks, biggest "MK" (castle) type park in the world, where the AP is only $260 (yup)

And even with a Disney Resort right at my doorstep, I still spend $15,000 a year to bring my family of 3 to spend 3 or 4 weeks at Disneyworld, because that's where the magic is, when I could get my Disney fix, every weekend for less than $1k (and I actually do too )

When it comes to Disney Magic, there is no place like Disneyworld or Disneyland in California. It's a bit sad that some guests stop seeing it. I guess it's a "been there, done that" attitude.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

That the Magic is gone?

I don't know who is to blame, but WDW is a mess. Sure they will still be getting crowds, but the newcomers will be less repeaters, and the long timers know how bad it has become.

I strongly disagree!.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

That the Magic is gone?

I don't know who is to blame, but WDW is a mess. Sure they will still be getting crowds, but the newcomers will be less repeaters, and the long timers know how bad it has become.

~For me, the magic is what you make it out to be -- some people can find magic anywhere. Disney is still a great place to have fun, relax, & make lasting memories -- no one else can do that for you. Disney is in the vacation business they're not miracle workers.

 

[AmyB2006]

From all the back and forth remarks, it looks like the Magic has gone out of the DIS Boards. Everybody has a right to their own opinion and there is not need for the kind of bickering that is going on, on this thread.

Actually, from the posts here, it looks like the magic isn't gone for a lot of people. I would have said just the opposite.

But I agree about the bickering.

 

[crostorfer]

I think for many of us with tweens and teens, and any massive Harry Potter nerd, (like myself), the "magic" has moved up I-4 to another theme park.

I will concede that US/IoA as a whole doesn't have the "bubble" that WDW has, however, the recreation of the world of Harry Potter is so ridiculously spot on and detailed in that specific area of the park they have nearly out-done any area at Disney. And the things they didn't get right the first time, (like Ollivanders being in Hogsmede rather than Diagon Alley), they are fixing with the expansion.

 

[ConvenientTruth]

If you lost the Magic, I will gladly find it for myself....

 

[DVCFan1994]

Been back a week today. Sad to be home, would rather be there. I've been at least once a year since 1986. Annual pass holder since mid 90s. The magic was still there for me. The simple act of walking up main street still made me happy. Taking my daughter on ToT for the first time was fabulous. Enjoying a quiet afternoon with her and my mom in MK after I ran the PHM and everyone else had gone back to the hotel to rest (ironic I was the one up at 3:25am) was very special. Taking my son on Everest twice in 15 minutes, and having him love it was amazing. Watching my 2 year old nephew meet characters for the first time was so fun, and brought back the magical memories of my kids doing the same.

We return for another 5 days in 48 days Clearly we still enjoy the magic. Is it the exact same magical experience every time? No, but what fun would that be. I thought FP+ was better than I expected. Made changes on the fly no problem. But still hate tiering and being confined to one park per day for Fps. Hoping they will work that out.

These are vacations. We all have a choice where were go and where we spend our money. I don't care for universal, not enough for my young kids to do. I vote for that choice by not going. Those who have lost the Disney magic are totally within their right to vote similarly.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think for many of us with tweens and teens, and any massive Harry Potter nerd, (like myself), the "magic" has moved up I-4 to another theme park.

I will concede that US/IoA as a whole doesn't have the "bubble" that WDW has, however, the recreation of the world of Harry Potter is so ridiculously spot on and detailed in that specific area of the park they have nearly out-done any area at Disney. And the things they didn't get right the first time, (like Ollivanders being in Hogsmede rather than Diagon Alley), they are fixing with the expansion.

I thought UOR felt more like a bubble than WDW when we stayed there. Taking the boat around was way more magical than buses and parking lots. It's not as big though.

 

[wiigirl]

I just had my 14 th trip and it was the most magical Trip I have ever experienced.

 

[JimmyV]

There is a huge difference between "things aren't quite as nice as they have been in the past" and "the magic is gone." The latter term makes it sound as if Bedford Falls has descended into Potterville, and I don't see that at all. But many people who have been going to WDW since the 1970s have noticed that something has changed, and if so many people notice it, they all can't be wrong.

A corporation is, to some degree, an aggregation of its employees. I have noticed slippage there, and have a brother who was a CM, and who gave it up because of the way employees were treated. And I'm not talking about mean or abusive treatment. Instead, hours were cut so that employees were barely above the level of part-time workers. They couldn't earn a living doing what they were doing. Benefits were cut. College students were being brought in as temporary interns who were taking the places of more experienced, higher paid long-term employees. All of this made WDW a less and less attractive place to work. And when your work force is disgruntled, negative changes will be noticed, and many people here have noticed them. Does that make WDW "non-magical"? I doubt it. But it would be naive to suggest that disgruntled employees, fewer employees, and a cut-back in ride maintenance budgets aren't bleeding through. Back in the day, a kernel of spilled popcorn was swept up in 30 seconds. Not any more. Does that ruin the magic? No. But it is silly to say that these changes aren't noticeable. We all interpret them and react to them differently.

Once upon a time, it seemed as if the Theme Parks were loss leaders designed to draw you in to the "world of Disney" so that you would buy tickets to see their movies, buy their toys, shop at the Disney stores, stay at their hotels and immerse yourself in the entire Disney experience. And if that meant that they lost a bit of money on every guest who walked through the gates due to extraordinary overhead, so be it. Every fire hydrant was going to be perfect. Every automatronic figure was going to function perfectly. Every kernel of popcorn was going to be swept up, and the employee who did so was going to whistle a happy tune while he did it. Then, it seemed as if a change occurred whereby the parks had to be profitable, and one of the best ways to increase profit is to decrease overhead. Yes, I notice the decrease in overhead. If you have been going to WDW since 1972 like I have, it would be really hard not to. Is it disappointing to see that WDW is no longer orders of magnitude better than its closer competitors? Sure. But does that decline equate to Disney being no better than its closest competitor, or to a total loss of magic? Not by a long stretch. Just my $0.02.

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

I think there are issues right now yes... But Disney has and will always be my love and happy place No matter how "bad" it is or will be... I will be there with a HUGE smile on my face!
And I still think the magic is there!!!

 

[sephorachick]

I disagree.

I was just at WDW for my bday in December. Crowds weren't too bad & we had a great time. It is all how you see things. I'm a half cup full kind of a person. I NEVER expect Disney or cast member to do anything for me. Anything above & beyond is special.

 

[Mousemommy1]

OP, I am genuinely concerned for you. Clearly, the recent changes have hit you incredibly hard and the magic is gone for you. Post after post from you, I feel like you are trying to get closure on a chapter? I hope you find that and are able to move on.

For us personally, the changes don't make a difference at all. We are getting new annual passes this year and have two trips planned and couldn't be more excited. I would be super sad if I didn't feel that way, so I am sorry that is gone for you.