Putting Off Next Trip

[Ninja Mom]

Absolutely disagree and I find it disheartening that you're discouraging people from going.

I'm encouraging people to make a cost estimate and compare that to other vacation destinations.
I'm encouraging people to talk to others who have recently returned from a Disney vacation. I'm telling them what others are telling them, that the vacation experience they are paying for and then getting is not the vacation experience that they are hoping for. That is the unpalatable reality of what current management is turning a Disney Parks vacation into.

~NM

 

[Farro]

I'm encouraging people to make a cost estimate and compare that to other vacation destinations.
I'm encouraging people to talk to others who have recently returned from a Disney vacation. I'm telling them what others are telling them, that the vacation experience they are paying for and then getting is not the vacation experience that they are hoping for. That is the unpalatable reality of what current management is turning a Disney Parks vacation into.

~NM

And if they want a different side, have them talk to me.

 

[Klayfish]

Curious, what proof do you have that it's not?
~NM

Let me refresh your memory of what you posted in your rant... You said: "It's sad that the only priority with Disney is to make enormous, over the top, profits at the expense of everything else. It's obvious that Disney has abandoned their focus on innovation and customer service excellence in pursuit of extreme profits.

Disney has become primarily a "Media" company, and the parks and resorts only serve to market the media properties. Leadership no longer cares about the parks and resorts, except for when it is time to prop up the stock price. Then the parks and resorts are used as a financial cash cow to gouge the guests so those stock price parameters are met and the executives get their bonuses."

You say these as if they are indisputable facts. I've not said such things. Those are simply your opinion, and I very much disagree with those opinions. I don't work for Disney just like you don't (I presume). Do I believe they want to make a profit? Heck yeah, of course. They're not a charity, they're a for profit business, just like Wal-Mart and McDonalds. So even at a basic level I don't get the chastising them for wanting to make money. In that case, you ought to chastise any company at all that you shop at that isn't a charity, because they're trying to make money too. Do I believe the parks are used as cash cows to "gouge guests" just so executives get their bonuses as you claim? Not for an instant. Basic principals of Business 101 would tell you that's probably not the case, but YMMV.

 

[qman6975]

No, can't say I do. It's clearly subjective. To you, "doing it right" is staying on property for example, and the "bubble" clearly has a mystique for you. Not saying that's wrong, it's just a value judgement. To me, staying off property is far better than on for so many reasons, it's the only way we'd do Disney. We also think the "bubble" concept is completely silly.

WDW is expensive, no doubt about it. However, there are ways to do it reasonably, IMO.

IMO saying that someone else's idea is "completely silly" is a bit rude.

Hey, you like staying off site, good for you. I can see a lot of valid arguments for that stance. We like being immersed in the experience and never leaving the property, that how we enjoy our vacation. Different ways to the same end.

 

[Fred M]

That usually is enough to convince them that a Disney Parks vacation is not what it used to be and a poor financial value.

Every vacation is a poor financial value. That’s what I like about them!

Both because of the cost, and the current construction. I’ll probably be back for the 50th celebration.

Sometimes you get to do interesting stuff during construction. When they closed the Disneyland Railroad as part of the Galaxy’s Edge construction, they had one of the engines out as a static display at New Orleans Square and let people sit inside and talk to the CMs about it. They also let you go to the other side of the tracks and check out the buildings and equipment, pull the chain on the steam whistle on the far side of the tracks, check out part of the backstage area, and enjoy a small part of the park that is never open to, but always seen by, the public. It’s one of my favorite Disney memories.

Why do you find it disheartening that they are discouraging people from going?

The person is expressing their opinion to their friends.

Couldn’t agree more. Besides, she’s a Ninja. They work in mysterious ways. Just like Santa.

 

[KenHutch]

Wow! I'm not disagreeing with your assessment, but realize that it's personal choice. You're choosing to spend $30k on a trip like that (or that's what it would cost if you took it), it's not a requirement. You don't have to stay at the Poly, you don't have to have a deluxe meal plan. I could do the trip you're doing...12 days at WDW, 2 at Universal and one day in Daytona Beach and bet I'd spend just 25% of what you would, or less...and have an absolute blast.

Everything you say is true but I came to fatherhood a lot later than most (40) and I make good money and those 2 girls are my Universe. I freely admit I could stay at my favorite resort (French Quarter) and use the normal plan but I like teaching them what making good money can buy for them and it looks like I am going to have a mechanical and an electrical engineer. I do wince a bit about the cost because in 2006 on our 1st trip with one girl 12 days ran me $6000. But oh well.

 

[Klayfish]

IMO saying that someone else's idea is "completely silly" is a bit rude.

Hey, you like staying off site, good for you. I can see a lot of valid arguments for that stance. We like being immersed in the experience and never leaving the property, that how we enjoy our vacation. Different ways to the same end.

Fair enough, no offense meant. Didn't mean it to be rude, just giving my views on the need to stay in "the bubble". Maybe a better way to put it is that I don't subscribe to the entire concept of it.

Everything you say is true but I came to fatherhood a lot later than most (40) and I make good money and those 2 girls are my Universe. I freely admit I could stay at my favorite resort (French Quarter) and use the normal plan but I like teaching them what making good money can buy for them and it looks like I am going to have a mechanical and an electrical engineer. I do wince a bit about the cost because in 2006 on our 1st trip with one girl 12 days ran me $6000. But oh well.

I hear ya. I'm in a similar situation to you. I came into fatherhood late too. Not quite as late as you, but I was in my 30s. Make good money and my kids are my world. We have trended more toward the quantity over quality formula...not that we've gone for the poorest quality, but you get my point. At Disney, that means staying in a very nice off site property (which we'd want anyway even if it weren't cheaper), packing most meals, skipping the high cost extras. But in return, over the course of 2 APs we spent literally 100 days at WDW. With our kids sports, we get them involved in as many leagues and tournaments as the calendar will allow (we're travelling 8 out of 10 weekends, starting 2 weeks ago). However, we don't stay at the $200/night team hotel, we stay at a $80/night decent hotel. I'm with you for sure, I'd do anything for those kids...and they know it, sometimes to my detriment.

 

[KenHutch]

Fair enough, no offense meant. Didn't mean it to be rude, just giving my views on the need to stay in "the bubble". Maybe a better way to put it is that I don't subscribe to the entire concept of it.



I hear ya. I'm in a similar situation to you. I came into fatherhood late too. Not quite as late as you, but I was in my 30s. Make good money and my kids are my world. We have trended more toward the quantity over quality formula...not that we've gone for the poorest quality, but you get my point. At Disney, that means staying in a very nice off site property (which we'd want anyway even if it weren't cheaper), packing most meals, skipping the high cost extras. But in return, over the course of 2 APs we spent literally 100 days at WDW. With our kids sports, we get them involved in as many leagues and tournaments as the calendar will allow (we're travelling 8 out of 10 weekends, starting 2 weeks ago). However, we don't stay at the $200/night team hotel, we stay at a $80/night decent hotel. I'm with you for sure, I'd do anything for those kids...and they know it, sometimes to my detriment.

Sports? To cool I cannot get either girl to go to a Chiefs game with me I have 2 classic Jewish Princesses. And we spend most weekends at robotics.

 

[NickC]

We are still doing the yearly visits (leave in 9 days!!) but over the last few trips, the need to return has diminished. I'm optimistic that we will continue to get that Disney feeling each time we go, but we may have to start putting off our trips in favor of other destinations.

 

[KenHutch]

We are still doing the yearly visits (leave in 9 days!!) but over the last few trips, the need to return has diminished. I'm optimistic that we will continue to get that Disney feeling each time we go, but we may have to start putting off our trips in favor of other destinations.

Don't feel bad because of the many factors this next trip of mine will include 2 days at Universal. If it works well we will continue to go to WDW but the number of days will decrease in Universal/Florida's favor. I could see us easily dropping from 12 to 8 days.