Taking a break from some of the parks until new attractions?

[mrzrich]

I've been an AP holder for more than 10 years visiting at least 4 times a year.

Just got home yesterday with a heavy heart and a decision that it's time for a break. My goal is to wait until 2017, not sure if my will is strong enough to hold
Out that long.

Besides the construction (IN EVERY PARK AND DTD), the food was pretty awful and more expensive than ever. For the first time ever, I experienced dirty bathrooms. On several occasions I encountered Cast Members fraternizing with each other rather than engaging guests.

It just wasn't the Disney that I fell in love with.

 

[Planogirl]

I've been an AP holder for more than 10 years visiting at least 4 times a year.

Just got home yesterday with a heavy heart and a decision that it's time for a break. My goal is to wait until 2017, not sure if my will is strong enough to hold
Out that long.

Besides the construction (IN EVERY PARK AND DTD), the food was pretty awful and more expensive than ever. For the first time ever, I experienced dirty bathrooms. On several occasions I encountered Cast Members fraternizing with each other rather than engaging guests.

It just wasn't the Disney that I fell in love with.

I can relate.

 

[mrzrich]

I can relate.

Thanks for that. Sometimes I'm afraid to say anything negative here because some folks here act like if you find something wrong at WDW, that there's something wrong with you

 

[Planogirl]

Thanks for that. Sometimes I'm afraid to say anything negative here because some folks here act like if you find something wrong at WDW, that there's something wrong with you

Someone mentioned attitude and expectations. I think that we all have different expectations and it's hard to compare today's Disney to what there once was. Maybe when the construction is done, it'll be different.

 

[georgina]

No, if I am making the trip to Disney World I am going to all 4 parks, at least for half a day. I did a Universal only trip in January with DD to see Diagon Alley, which is always more relaxing since there are only 2 parks and we have the Express passes.

I think if I had visited 40 times in the last 10 years I would be ready for a break too! To me it still is the Disney I fell in love with.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

Our last trip was a "park free" vacation. We did eat at some of the resorts but did not spend any time in any parks the entire two week period. We took the time to do so many other things that we never paid much attention to during our previous trips and had an absolute wonderful time. We'll probably repeat these types of trips until something new and exciting causes us to change, but I can't imagine how long that might be.

 

[Lady Hiss]

I agree with you Planogirl!
We're using our DVC points and staying on site early next year, BUT, for the first time in 20 years, we'll be using our car to go off property (Universal, etc.) instead of spending all our time (and $$$) at WDW. I never thought I'd say this, but my attitude toward Disney is 'meh' - the latest stuff (Little Mermaid, Mine Train, new Fantasy Land, and yes, FP+ ) just didn't do it for us. It's not innovative or enjoyable. Specifically, HS has little of interest (we enjoy TSM, ToT, and maybe Star Tours); AK - not excited about Avatar theme; EPCOT (our favorite park, but needs more than Soarin'). So, yeah, we're going but taking our big bucks (hee, hee) elsewhere.

Lady Hiss

 

[disneyseniors]

We wouldn't skip any of the parks for several reasons. I don't actively dislike any of the park attractions that I can think of; I may not LOVE some of them, but I'd rather be at WDW than doing most other things. I would hate to travel so far and skip any of the parks. (Note that we always get park hoppers, so we aren't ever married to spending an entire day at any one park.)

My immediate family and I had been going to WDW approximately yearly up until a couple years ago (we've skipped a couple years because we had so much going on - new baby, moving across country...). So besides never having been able to do "everything" there is available to do on WDW property (or even just in the parks), several things are new since we were last at WDW (notably BOG, 7DMT, and A&E). There are several other things that we've never gotten around to (such as Jedi Training Academy), or that we've only done or seen once (Animation Academy, Flights of Wonder, LMA, Indiana Jones, TSMM,...). There are also many more things outside the parks that we've never done (Typhoon Lagoon, mini golf, either of the dinner shows,...).

My parents and brother are also coming along this time (they've each only been to WDW twice, most recently about 6 years ago). There are many rides and attractions that my parents and brother have never experienced. (DB has never been in the Enchanted Tiki Room; hasn't ridden Dumbo since he was a small child; I don't think he's ever been to Tom Sawyer Island; never seen Lights, Motors, Action; never seen any of the shows (FOTLK, Nemo, BatB); I don't think he's ever even seen Fantasmic!) We're looking forward to introducing my parents and brother to some of these new-to-them ride and attractions.

Especially for those of us with small children, each trip is different because the kids are physically and mentally able to do more and more each trip. DD is petite for her age, and she is finally tall enough to ride most of the 'thrill' rides at WDW (this will also be DS's first ever trip to WDW). Even if DH and and I have experienced something a hundred times, each time we ride or see something with one of our kids for the first time, seeing it through their eyes makes it like a whole new experience.

Wow, I completely agree, tXAKdisneyfan! We are in our 60's and still have not seen or done it all. I took a Disney "bucket list" with me last November, and never got around to doing even one of the things on it. We always try something we've never done, redo the ones we love, and have not tired of it yet. We try to go yearly, and at our ages, we will go as long as we can walk all those miles. Love It

 

[cakebaker]

Wow, I completely agree, tXAKdisneyfan! We are in our 60's and still have not seen or done it all. I took a Disney "bucket list" with me last November, and never got around to doing even one of the things on it. We always try something we've never done, redo the ones we love, and have not tired of it yet. We try to go yearly, and at our ages, we will go as long as we can walk all those miles. Love It

We made our first trip in 1987, skipped a lot of years and started back in 2000 and we've been going at least every couple of years and sometimes more ever since.

We haven't come close to doing it all and now with a grandson, even the things we have done many times are new again. I don't see us ever getting tired of WDW so like you, as long as I can go, I will.

 

[momof2n2]

When we hit Florida next year we will do all four parks. Likely MK twice. But --- it will have been five years since our last visit. Prior to that we went frequently and had park hoppers. We regularly either skipped DHS (MGM) or Epcot. Our kids were younger and we preferred AK & MK by a large margin. Sometimes we would just hop to Epcot after AK closed for Illumimations.

It will remain to be seen what we do 2017 and on. We'd like to see DLR, but we are also big cruise fans.

 

[Mickey&Mouse]

I've been an AP holder for more than 10 years visiting at least 4 times a year.

Just got home yesterday with a heavy heart and a decision that it's time for a break. My goal is to wait until 2017, not sure if my will is strong enough to hold
Out that long.

Besides the construction (IN EVERY PARK AND DTD), the food was pretty awful and more expensive than ever. For the first time ever, I experienced dirty bathrooms. On several occasions I encountered Cast Members fraternizing with each other rather than engaging guests.

It just wasn't the Disney that I fell in love with.

Thanks for that. Sometimes I'm afraid to say anything negative here because some folks here act like if you find something wrong at WDW, that there's something wrong with you

I can understand the need for a break from WDW. IMO the fact that you have an AP and have visited the parks so often really has no bearing on the items you experienced while there. A first-timer would also see the amount of construction, experience the quality and price of the food, see the dirty bathrooms, and witness the CM behavior. I've been seeing more and more comments along these same lines on this forum as well as others recently- and from a range of WDW visitors. So that's interesting in and of itself. I'm hoping on our upcoming trip that we don't experience the same.

As far as your second comment, I personally find a lot of benefit in reading others experiences at WDW- both positive and negative. In fact, the posts that would be considered more negative have been incredibly useful while planning our trip. Besides, often times people will post in such minute detail when they've been through a particularly negative experience; whereas, on the flip side it's harder to glean the details needed for planning purposes. To sum up: there's absolutely nothing wrong with you if you've found something wrong at WDW! Furthermore, don't be afraid to post the negative. If folks only heard the positive here on the DIS, well then it would sort of constitute a propaganda arm of Disney itself and not really be an open message forum any longer.

Additionally, if Disney has fallen short in many a visitors eye, then it should be known by all who are interested- but especially Disney itself. And one of the better ways to hopefully see improvements made is posting on social media.

 

[momof2n2]

I can understand the need for a break from WDW. IMO the fact that you have an AP and have visited the parks so often really has no bearing on the items you experienced while there. A first-timer would also see the amount of construction, experience the quality and price of the food, see the dirty bathrooms, and witness the CM behavior. I've been seeing more and more comments along these same lines on this forum as well as others recently- and from a range of WDW visitors. So that's interesting in and of itself. I'm hoping on our upcoming trip that we don't experience the same.

As far as your second comment, I personally find a lot of benefit in reading others experiences at WDW- both positive and negative. In fact, the posts that would be considered more negative have been incredibly useful while planning our trip. Besides, often times people will post in such minute detail when they've been through a particularly negative experience; whereas, on the flip side it's harder to glean the details needed for planning purposes. To sum up: there's absolutely nothing wrong with you if you've found something wrong at WDW! Furthermore, don't be afraid to post the negative. If folks only heard the positive here on the DIS, well then it would sort of constitute a propaganda arm of Disney itself and not really be an open message forum any longer.

Additionally, if Disney has fallen short in many a visitors eye, then it should be known by all who are interested- but especially Disney itself. And one of the better ways to hopefully see improvements made is posting on social media.

Amen.

I for one appreciate thorough reviews whether glowing or not. My WDW vacation represents a huge financial investment and I want as much honest information as I can get. If I want rah-rah I can get a planning DVD or Birnbaum's!

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

Last June was my first time ever at both DHS and AK, so they're both in the rotation for the foreseeable future because so much of it is new to me!

Epcot might be more the place I hop to after everything else is done, though. We'll see how the next trip goes.

 

[DVCcurious]

I think you just gotta lower your expectations a little bit.

Disney has a lot more customers in 2015 than they had even just three or four years ago. More people + same amount of attractions = longer lines. Sure we got New Fantasyland, but I don't think the added capacity is even close to the increased MK attendance figures.

Just keep your expectations low until the next recession when attendance drops again and the lines shorten a bit.

 

[mrzrich]

I think you just gotta lower your expectations a little bit.

Disney has a lot more customers in 2015 than they had even just three or four years ago. More people + same amount of attractions = longer lines. Sure we got New Fantasyland, but I don't think the added capacity is even close to the increased MK attendance figures.

Just keep your expectations low until the next recession when attendance drops again and the lines shorten a bit.

If I lower my expectations, will they lower the price?

 

[mrzrich]

Truthfully lines are not an issue for me btw. I have a pretty good touring plan and use FP+ pretty efficiently.

 

[kaceyo]

I have been 3 times in the past two years and my goal is to wait until 2018 to go back.

 

[Astridia]

Our last trip was a "park free" vacation. We did eat at some of the resorts but did not spend any time in any parks the entire two week period. We took the time to do so many other things that we never paid much attention to during our previous trips and had an absolute wonderful time. We'll probably repeat these types of trips until something new and exciting causes us to change, but I can't imagine how long that might be.

Ok, so what did you do for 2 weeks? We need detalis.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We have been skipping AK for the last 3-4 years, but plan to visit on our upcoming trip. Seems like it has been long enough that perhaps our absence will make the heart grow fonder.

As for Epcot, this next trip there could be our last for a while. There are so few attractions there now. The new version of Test Track is not as fun as teh former iteration. The park needs to be updated and some attractions need to be added soon

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

Ok, so what did you do for 2 weeks? We need detalis.

Well, it probably won't be quite as exciting as it sounds. We had to finalize some furniture and decorations for a townhouse we purchased a few months ago and had to finalize a contract with a management company who will monitor our townhouse for us while we're not there. I'd say about a week of those 2 were spent specifically on the property issues as opposed to actually "vacation fun". We did go to the east coast and spent time at the Canaveral Seashore and had a blast there. We spent some time on International Drive and had a lot of fun checking all that out because we'd never ventured over there yet. We did a lot of just slowing down and looking at the resorts we visited and the other areas we visited as well. It's just the two of us now and we've slowed down a bit so a slower and more relaxed couple of weeks was perfect and just what we needed.

We did play some putt-putt golf at Fantasia Gardens but, aside from the resorts we visited and ate at, that was the extent of our Disney exposure.