To visit or to wait.

[JennyN]

ok to start I am not trashing DL. I am honestly asking a question. All the things i have read recently about the changes to DL, (I’m talking about the differences between now and precovid) have me wondering if it is worth going to DL at the moment or if we are better to wait until things return more to normal ( hopefully). I cant help thinking that all the restrictions, booking days in the parks, ordering take away meals, no live shows, limited character interactions etc may make the time less enjoyable. To visit DL is not a cheap holiday as it is an international trip for us. I know a lot of you are going to DL despite the changes but I would also like to hear from the dis board members who have doubts about visiting. Thank you.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

I think we've officially returned to as normal as it is going to get - reservations are likely to stay, mobile order is actually an awesome benefit and you can still stand in lines for food the old way if you want, live entertainment has returned, character meet and greets are by and large back to normal interactions, and nighttime entertainment has returned.

 

[chezcurrie]

DL is the one place that actually feels “normal” to me right now, especially coming from Canada where we were in lockdown for so long. Reservations can be a slight hassle at the onset of planning but shouldn’t affect your trip. My answer to when is a good time to Disney is always: yes.

My sister vowed (early on in the pandemic) that she would not return to Disney with masks or reduced anything. Well, I convinced her to go Sept 2021 and to say it was exactly what the doctor ordered is an understatment. So much so that she now she forgot we were even masking when we were there, lol.

Ultimately how you spend your vacation time and money is so subjective. For me, I don’t go down the rabbit hole of how things used to be, but rather seek to find the amazing things that are, and many that are even better than before (DL just hits differently after all we’ve been through.) If the past 2 years have taught me anything is don’t put things off that bring me joy.

 

[gelatoni fan]

After Fantasmic returns at the end of this month, it'll be pretty much back to normal. The situation you are describing is closer to what it was like a month ago.

But right now, there are still some staff shortages and the systems in place can be stressful. This includes the reservation system but World of Color virtual queue is also selling out in seconds. I think August right after kids return to school but before September with Halloween season will be the best time for lower stress. Otherwise, I'd wait till next year.

If you have other places you'd like to visit, we're approaching the end of the window of opportunity when you can book those places for cheaper than they were pre-pandemic.

 

[BadPinkTink]

ok to start I am not trashing DL. I am honestly asking a question. All the things i have read recently about the changes to DL, (I’m talking about the differences between now and precovid) have me wondering if it is worth going to DL at the moment or if we are better to wait until things return more to normal ( hopefully). I cant help thinking that all the restrictions, booking days in the parks, ordering take away meals, no live shows, limited character interactions etc may make the time less enjoyable. To visit DL is not a cheap holiday as it is an international trip for us. I know a lot of you are going to DL despite the changes but I would also like to hear from the dis board members who have doubts about visiting. Thank you.

I am from Ireland and did my first trip back to Disneyland since 2019 in January. I had an amazing time and for me the magic is still there. I cried when I reached the Esplanade and saw the gates and heard the music and just being around park people.

All the negatives you mention, to me they were just new and a different way to enjoy my happy place.

Booking park reservations I had no issues with, I always plan my park days anyway, and the reservations open 120 days in advance so I was fine with that.

I did a mix of mobile ordering, table service and walk up ordering at quick service. Again no issues, I was able to get my food when I wanted it.

The no live shows in January actually gave me more time to spend on rides and just soak up being back in the parks. I did see some live entertainment in California Adventures park, Avengers Campus especially has some great character mini shows. Things have change since my January trip and all the big shows, fireworks, Fantasmic, World of Color as well as the Fantasyland Theater are restarting.

I loved the new character interactions. It was so nice to just stroll up the character and have a little chat, without the forced production line of talk, photo, autograph, NEXT and spending ages waiting in line. I never did character meets in the before times as I just thought it was so impersonal.

I know its not a cheap holiday, my flights alone cost about $1000 to fly transatlantic, but I am so glad I went in January.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

I am surprised by this thread. Lol I was literally about to start one with the opposite view. On top of a positive visit in the fall, the return of so many things has me feeling like every time I come to this board I am rolling in pixie dust.

I am also learning new things for the first time!! I just saw on Disney Food Blog Instagram about the leprechaun who “lives” at Disneyland from the Little Golden Books. I can’t wait to share that story with little ones in our traveling party.

Yeah Chapek is awful, but I look forward to my next visit.

 

[StormyCA]

I agree that it's as 'normal' as it's going to get. If you're waiting til reservations go away, I seriously doubt if that's ever going to happen. Reservations seem to be working very well for Disney in terms of crowd control and staffing levels.

Same for mobile ordering, it works well for Disney in terms of monitoring and 'controlling' eatery traffic and allocating staff. I have dietary restrictions so mobile ordering is something that I won't do (other than a Dole Whip). Don't know about DL, but in 2021 WDW always had manned registers for those of us who chose to 'walk up'.

Personally, I was planning on going in June or July but now I'm waiting for the onsite perks to come back before picking my dates.

 

[Kit Jackson]

It's been awhile since I visited but my understanding (and someone who has been more recently can correct me if I am wrong,) is that aside from park reservations, things are almost back to normal, or should be in a few months. Masks are no longer required, character meet and greets are back to what they were or will be very soon, mobile order is an option but not the only way to order quick service meals (waiting in a regular line is still an option,) most of the shows have already returned or are scheduled to return soon.

I totally understand it is a long way to travel and an expensive trip, but maybe it's worth taking the time to look into what the situation is now and what is scheduled to come back in the next few months. Make a list of your absolute deal breakers and see if any of them are still relevant or will still be relevant by the end of the summer or whenever you are planning to go.

 

[ColoradoLime]

Ditto to everything already said. We haven't gone back yet but all I read is positive things and all the things that are coming back. If anything I think what remains in place just provides more structure to combat the busy times - reservations, mobile ordering show queues, etc.

 

[Lisa24jks]

I’ve taken 3 trips to DLR since August 2021 and each one has been fantastic in their own way. The most recent one was April 21-23 and it was easily one of the best trips ever.

Are any of these trips absolutely perfect? Of course not. No trip ever is! But, even the tiny blips were insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Gamedog]

Short answer? Visit.

Fantasmic to me is the only thing left for the full "experience", which is right around the corner.

 

[AustinTink]

If the past 2 years have taught me anything is don’t put things off that bring me joy.

This is me. My first trip on a plane since before the pandemic will be to Disney. I honestly well up every time I think about it. I'll never take it or anything else for granted again.

OP, go for it. If you have the means go sooner than later. Who knows what tomorrow may bring.

 

[CodeGoddess]

Took our 21st trip to a Disney park a couple weeks ago And I'm actually a big fan of the changes. Mobile ordering is amazing I no longer had to stand in line for 30 minutes when it was busy. And I can almost get instantaneous times whenever I wanted food maybe I waited 15 minutes at most.

The reservation system seems to keep it where the parks do not feel as packed as they did in 2020. We went back in February 2020 before reservation started and it was chaotic during a non-peak time. We went earlier in April to Walt Disney World and it was during peak time and felt so much less crowded.

Genie Plus while it does cost money is so easy to use and it was actually more effective for us than the fast pass system.

I think once all the in-person meet and greets are back which should be before summer things will feel pretty normal.

 

[DLgal]

I go every week. It's pretty darn close to "normal." The only thing I wish would go away is Genie+. That said, I actually used it last week for the first time with a friend who was visiting on vacation...and I have to begrudgingly admit its pretty great, albeit expensive. It makes your day very efficient. But as a MK holder who refuses to pay for it regularly, I hate it.

But you should come now, before it gets even more crowded. Staffing limitations are keeping crowds lower due to the reservation system.

 

[AustinTink]

Mobile ordering is amazing I no longer had to stand in line for 30 minutes when it was busy. And I can almost get instantaneous times whenever I wanted food maybe I waited 15 minutes at most.



Genie Plus while it does cost money is so easy to use and it was actually more effective for us than the fast pass system.

I'm really looking forward to using both of these services in August.