Venting. Am I wrong?

[LisaR]

I guess I just don't get it. I go on vacation to spend quality time with my family. We choose Disney because of the entertainment value for all ages, the clean facilities, the numerous dining options, the weather and the quality of service. I have never traveled anywhere in my life where I have gotten the consistent, all around nice employees that I continue to encounter at Disney. Sure, there are some rude CM's but the vast majority are so kind. It is all part of the magic for us. I have failed to see where Disney has gone so wrong for so many people. Yes, they have cut back on things. Guess what? So has every business in America! We just found out we need to pay $1000 out of pocket for health insurance this year. In my Dh 21 years of employment with one of the big 3 companies, we have never paid a penny out of pocket for insurance. What should he do? Quit? Complain? Maybe just deal with it. Things have changed. Disney is in the business to make money. They will do whatever it takes. If having the MK open from 9am - 9pm isn't enough, will anything ever be enough?

Good luck finding the perfect place.

Lisa

 

[halfway there]

Boy! I think I have to agree with the ones who say stay on-site. Just remember what driving and parking and walking or taking a tram (with 2 strollers??) will actually be like (both ways!). Save your MK days for when you're at the Poly. Take advantage of being able to sleep in a bit or have a leisurely breakfast (with characters even). Perhaps then your kids will be able to make it all day without a nap.
There is so much more to experience at WDW than just the parks. This will be a great opportunity for you to see everything else in the World! If it's really the money, do like everyone else suggests and try a moderate for less. What ever you decide for your family, I'm sure you'll make the best of it.

 

[SouthernMom]

Lisa,

Though most people have not been happy with Disney's cubacks, I think they understood them to a certain level -- and accepted them, albeit a bit grudgingly. After all, they are (were) still going, and they've adjusted their schedules accordingly.

That's not the point. The point is Disney's inability to make any decision and stick with that decision. In the example you gave of your husband's company -- sure you hate it; but you understand. But let's say in six months the company says, "Your insurance isn't going to cost you a dime again." That's great! But then two weeks later they come back and say, "Well, we changed our minds. We want that $1,000 again." I don't think you would be happy. And if you would -- you would definitely be in the minority.

That's the sort of game Disney is playing. And that is, in most anyone's book, poor business practice.

 

[LisaR]

Southern Mom,
You make a good point. However, I guess everyone plans their vacations in a different way. I am leaving in 3 weeks and I don't have a clue what the hours will be when we are there. I will probably check a few days before we leave just to get an idea but I guess I don't expect anything to be set in stone. With two kids, we go at their pace. We may think in our mind we are going to spend most of the day in one park and for one reason or another, it just doesn't work out.

The way I look at it, the only way a vacation is going to be perfect is if you let it be that way. Our January trip was one of the greatest trips we have had. Yet, I read trip reports of people that were there at the exact same time as us and they had nothing but complaints. You honestly would never have guessed we were in the same place! If I look back at our trip, we spent a day and a half in our room doing nothing but watching TV because my son had a fever. 24 hours before we were flying home, my dh was throwing up! We are pretty certain he had food posioning from Olive Garden. Oh yeah, we also had the worlds worst rental vehicle. We were shocked we actually made it back to the airport. Again, we thought we had a wonderful vacation. We made the best of everything and had fun whenever we could. I suppose it is just how you look at things.

I am not some "disney can do nothing wrong" person. But these changes have been going on since September. If they were enough to bother me, I would not wait until a few weeks before my trip to go elsewhere. I think the original poster is just setting herself up for a disappointing vacation. If you go into it with the wrong attitude, it will not be a good vacation. JMHO!

Lisa

 

[LindaBabe]

to really enjoy the zero entry pools at both ALK and the Polynesian. I'd stay at both on site resorts, save AK for days I was at AKL, and MK for Days I was at the Poly, and enjoy the time at the resorts.

I've only managed to stay awake and alert for e-night once, in 17 trips - and that was in September, when the parks closed at 7 pm, and I was still in bed by 10, exhausted.

 

[SouthernMom]

Lisa,

I can certainly see how this probably does not effect you -- in fact, MOST trips it would have little impact on us. We've never even done an e-night before! But this trip we sort of have a unique situation in that hubby will be at a convention, which means it will be 2:00 before we can even GET to the parks most days! With them closing at 6:00 & 7:00, we were really counting on e-nights to be able to do MK, so for us it almost seems like a pointless trip now. We did "wait" for many months to decide for sure until the hours and e-nights were posted. And CERTAINLY thought this close in -- and with them not posting until two weeks ago -- that they would be good!

Anyway, I certainly meant nothing negative towards your viewpoint, just explaing why it effects others differently. (Many of us aren't as spontaneous as you -- though I'm sure we'd be a lot less stressed if we were! I'm envious!)

I know we'll still have fun -- although it's probably going to have to be in the "other world."

Have a magical trip yourself -- and stay away from the Olive Garden!

 

[dtuleya]

Have a magical trip yourself -- and stay away from the Olive Garden!

SouthernMom-

I realize it might have been said tongue in cheek, but what does that mean? We were planning on eating there one night since it's my DS's favorite restaurant (love the salad) and we thought it would be a nice change for him (since he probably will only eat chicken fingers/ff everywhere else).

 

[Bob NC]

We stay onsite for many reasons, none of which include EE or E-night. We like the themeing of the resorts and we like being close, real close. When we go to Vegas we don't stay in Henderson, when we go to Key West we don't stay in Key Largo.

Going during May you don't really need EE or E nights. You will get everything done during the hours they are open. We go every year during the last week of April, first week of May. Lines are short, crowds are very reasonable.

 

[SouthernMom]

dtuleya, sorry about the olive garden confusion. that post was meant jokingly for lisa ... she had mentioned in a previous post that her ds had become ill after eating there on a previous trip. by all means, go and enjoy. i'm sure it will be great!

 

[gepetto]

Bob NC....Memorial day week is quite crowded and park hours are considerably shorter than last year.

 

[Bob NC]

gepetto....Thanks for the heads up on Memorial Day...But, Bast is going on May 9th, and I was replying to that post.

 

[soluc]

I would definitly stay onsite. We stayed offsite last site yr, yuck!
There was nothing for us to do at night, no Disney Magic floating in the air and totally stressed out people everywhere, I say again Yuck!
This was just our experience, hope to never have to go through that again!
Stay on site and have fun, feel the Magic day and night, go for moonlight walks, DD, disney quest, whatever..just Feel The Magic!

 

[ducklite]

I'm confused by your post. Why would you plan on taking those young kids to an E-Night? Even if you are at home, and they get a good afternoon nap, are they still awake and HAPPY at 11:00pm?

At WDW they will be off schedule, no matter how hard you try.

Do them, yourselves and everyone else a favor. Stay on site, make sure they get afternoon naps, do'nt keep them up late at night for YOUR enjoyment (there are very few E-Ticket rides they can even go on!), and keep in mind that there will always be a next time.

Anne

 

[damo]

We've stayed off-site four times, on-site 3 times and at USF two times. We didn't feel we missed anything staying off-site. In fact we loved the large accomodations provided by the many suite resorts and the USF resorts. However, you definately don't feel as Disney off-site but it certainly doesn't ruin the vacation. Also the travelling time back and forth to hotels is really not a big deal when you have no choice. The parking lots are always full so it can't be that big a deal. We have waited a long time for Disney transportation too. Whatever you decide, you will still have a wonderful time because you are on vacation!!!! As long as your accomodations are safe and clean and fit your budget, you will be happy. If you are over your budget you will see every little flaw and that will definately ruin your vacation. It is very difficult to go to Disney and pinch pennies.

 

[Bob NC]

Do them, yourselves and everyone else a favor. Stay on site, make sure they get afternoon naps, do'nt keep them up late at night for YOUR enjoyment (there are very few E-Ticket rides they can even go on!)

Geez, other folks know your kids better than you do....LOL....

My kids have always been great with staying up late at WDW....Other kids have a problem with it....I wouldn't presume to know which kids you have.....

 

[Jennie4647]

I agree with Damo, we stayed off site and it was fantastic. The drive into any park was short, parking was no hassle. We had meals at various disney resorts and enjoyed these. I don't think staying onsite, or EE or Enights are the be all and end all. Just you and yours chilling together anywhere is bliss.

Jennie

 

[macs4us]

My husband is often on business when we are in Orlando (at Universal - but we still haven't been to their parks), so I am either doing things by myself or hanging around the resort until he gets back. Shorter hours definitely play a role in our trips, since he is often not back until 4PM. If you stay at Ft. Wilderness, you are still onsite, yet there are a lot of fun activities for families at the resort itself (petting zoo, horseback riding, campfire, boating, etc). We like the cabins, and love having a kitchen. I don't know if this would be your kind of resort (everyone has different tastes), but it may be worth looking into, as you can usually get a pretty good rate - we have paid $134/nt with AP discount. And you never know - we have been at WDW and they have decided to add an e-night due to attendance increases.

 

[mrsltg]

IMHo, offsite would be the better choice. Saving $1000 is really worth it. DH and I stayed onsite last year, but with a rental car. I didn't have a problem parking the car, and we never needed a tram. Granted, you're going to need to take two kids out of carseats, but is it inconvenient to the point of $1000? Probably not! Although I must add that I would rent a car anyway if my DD was with us. On the WDW bussing system I doubt that you will be installing proper carseats, and as the wife of a cop and daughter of a trauma nurse I can tell you with great certainty that small people don't fair well unrestrained in vehicle accidents!

Erin

 

[Traveliz]

With a 3 year old and a 2 year old I am wondering how many enight attractions they can enjoy (Buzz for sure and the People Mover and Country Bear but I don't find the last two of those too hard to get into normally) but height wise can they do Space, Splash, BTMR, Alien? Fright wise will they enjoy Haunted?

Anyway I would stay onsite - if I wanted to save money I would do a moderate or a value - but if I had reservations at the Poly and AKL and could afford to stay there I sure would - they are perfect for young children.

I enjoy enights but that sure wouldn't be the deal breaker for me.

Liz

 

[mirlow]

Even if you are at home, and they get a good afternoon nap, are they still awake and HAPPY at 11:00pm

My kids are 1,3 and 7 and they do great staying up late if they get their nap in We are in the mtn time zone so staying up to 11:00 is only 9:00.