WDW… charmless on June 2022

[Ddean52]

So I have always been a huge WDW fan. We’ve visited 6 times. Last visit 2000. In June of this year we spent a a week there and we’re shocked. The charm of the Great movie ride and Peter Pan flight …etc……all the rides were the same…huge lines..” the world is coming to an end..bla..bla..bla. Even the Norway and Mexico ride were different. Even the simple charm of living with the land lacked its original charm. Couple this with the ridiculous genie, genie plus and lighting lane options, there were few moments of joy and excitement and discovery. What more can I say? Oh, and Port Orleans River resort was as sterile as an operating room. Our beds and room was never cleaned or made up, even though we requested it three times.so WDW is charging more delivering much less!
DID WE FEEL THE MAGIC? All the magic was gone, taken over by the magic of greed. Could have taken a trip to Europe for a week for our party of five. We did this trip for our granddaughter. It’s done our granddaughter has the memory’s. Never again.

 

[k5xs]

So I have always been a huge WDW fan. We’ve visited 6 times. Last visit 2000. In June of this year we spent a a week there and we’re shocked. The charm of the Great movie ride and Peter Pan flight …etc……all the rides were the same…huge lines..” the world is coming to an end..bla..bla..bla. Even the Norway and Mexico ride were different. Even the simple charm of living with the land lacked its original charm. Couple this with the ridiculous genie, genie plus and lighting lane options, there were few moments of joy and excitement and discovery. What more can I say? Oh, and Port Orleans River resort was as sterile as an operating room. Our beds and room was never cleaned or made up, even though we requested it three times.so WDW is charging more delivering much less!
DID WE FEEL THE MAGIC? All the magic was gone, taken over by the magic of greed. Could have taken a trip to Europe for a week for our party of five. We did this trip for our granddaughter. It’s done our granddaughter has the memory’s. Never again.

Please send this via email to guest.services@disneyworld.com

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy any of your trip. While there are many who share your displeasure there are more who are still able to find joy. Most find trips fall somewhere between the joy of the past and total disgust.
I am not understanding how Peter Pan Flight's, Donald's ride in Mexico or Living with the Land has changed since you went in 2000. Even the ride in Norway was the same as it is now in 2000. Maelstrom was changed well before that.
I mean, there are lots of things that have changed but those rides haven't. I'd have thought you'd have found them to be the same and one of the few highlights that were like your past trips.

 

[DL1WDW2]

It does help to be able to come to talk about the takeaway with strangers… because most of our friends or relatives simply do not understand .
For me the biggest disappointment was the removal of Scary Adventures of Snow White attraction for Magic Kingdom which also took out half of the amazing gold gilded Cinderellas mosaic in the walk thru from Main Street !
For shame Disney .Needless to say I do not enjoy those staged stage shows.

 

[notatallmagic]

I'm so sorry. Your granddaughter will have some Disney memories; and you will have the memory of taking her - so please hold on to that.

We are also a long time true Disney family who is struggling with the "new" Disney. Disney was our family's escape from some really tough times, and I have so many precious memories that have been created there.

But the "new way" is sad for me. My biggest challenge - along with many others - is charging more for so much less; as well as the absence of the Disney Magic that we'd become used to. Room cleanliness is HUGE for us (and other Orlando resorts and hotels HAVE returned to daily cleaning and bedding - we were just at Renaissance Seaworld for a week in June and had a clean room EVERY night, and bedding changed twice). Yes, there are still some great Cast Members, but they ALL used to be great, and that was the Disney Difference. Cleanliness - also a thing for us (restrooms especially); the lack of the Magicial Extras (free Magic Bands, Park Hopping anytime, Magical Express, luggage transfers)...and don't even get me started on the lines, park reservations, and LL/Genie.

I'm so sorry for your experience. We have decided to take a break and try other things - we just had a wonderful expereience at Discovery Cove in June; and have become Universal Annual Passholders. We are voting with our feet for now, and hoping that Disney can figure out what it values. If they decide to value the Guest experience again, then we'll be back. If not...

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy any of your trip. While there are many who share your displeasure there are more who are still able to find joy. Most find trips fall somewhere between the joy of the past and total disgust.
I am not understanding how Peter Pan Flight's, Donald's ride in Mexico or Living with the Land has changed since you went in 2000. Even the ride in Norway was the same as it is now in 2000. Maelstrom was changed well before that.
I mean, there are lots of things that have changed but those rides haven't. I'd have thought you'd have found them to be the same and one of the few highlights that were like your past trips.

I think they were saying Peter Pan lost it’s charm, not that it’s different. As for the Norway and Mexican ride, Maelstrom became Frozen in 2014, and the 3 Cabeleros ride only came in 2007, so both very different rides for them now if they haven’t been since 2000.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I think they were saying Peter Pan lost it’s charm, not that it’s different. As for the Norway and Mexican ride, Maelstrom became Frozen in 2014, and the 3 Cabeleros ride only came in 2007, so both very different rides for them now if they haven’t been since 2000.

You are right. Somehow I read that as 2020 not 2000. Totally my mistake

 

[Miffy]

OP: Yes, I miss Snow White's Scary Adventure too. I often wonder why they didn't keep it along with the 7DMT. And I agree with you about Living with the Land--it was a much better ride when there was a person who narrated the trip instead of a recording.

But I gather from your post that you didn't do any research before going, or you would've known about the attractions that are no longer there--and the new attractions that are there.

When you were last there, Animal Kingdom had just opened. There are so many attractions there now that weren't there in 2000--Pandora, for one. Did you go there? Avatar Flight of Passage is amazing. And the safari ride, for example, is so much better than it originally was since it now has no unnecessary storyline and you can just appreciate the animals. Expedition Everest wasn't there in 2000.

DHS has two entirely new lands, both worth visiting and enjoying. Rise of the Resistance is an extraordinary experience.

At MK, Philharmagic wasn't there until 2003. Did you do that?

WDW has always required a certain amount of research before going. Granted, now it requires even more research and planning and the prices are certainly much higher. But with research and planning, it's quite possible to have a wonderful time there. I'm sorry you didn't.

ETA: OP, I also agree with you about housekeeping, yet if you'd done some research you would've realized what's going on with that as well. Except for Club Level (and maybe at the GF?) there hasn't been daily housekeeping at WDW since it reopened in 2020. I really wish you would have read some relevant posts here on the DIS before your trip. You wouldn't've been so blindsided.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

OP: Yes, I miss Snow White's Scary Adventure too. I often wonder why they didn't keep it along with the 7DMT. And I agree with you about Living with the Land--it was a much better ride when there was a person who narrated the trip instead of a recording.

But I gather from your post that you didn't do any research before going, or you would've known about the attractions that are no longer there--and the new attractions that are there.

When you were last there, Animal Kingdom had just opened. There are so many attractions there now that weren't there in 2000--Pandora, for one. Did you go there? Avatar Flight of Passage is amazing. And the safari ride, for example, is so much better than it originally was since it now has no unnecessary storyline and you can just appreciate the animals. Expedition Everest wasn't there in 2000.

DHS has two entirely new lands, both worth visiting and enjoying. Rise of the Resistance is an extraordinary experience.

At MK, Philharmagic wasn't there until 2003. Did you do that?

WDW has always required a certain amount of research before going. Granted, now it requires even more research and planning and the prices are certainly much higher. But with research and planning, it's quite possible to have a wonderful time there. I'm sorry you didn't.

ETA: OP, I also agree with you about housekeeping, yet if you'd done some research you would've realized what's going on with that as well. Except for Club Level (and maybe at the GF?) there hasn't been daily housekeeping at WDW since it reopened in 2020. I really wish you would have read some relevant posts here on the DIS before your trip. You wouldn't've been so blindsided.

Yes to the change in house keeping except the OP stated they were there for a week. All resort levels are supposed to have rooms serviced during a week long, I think every 4th day, stay unless they opted out. Since they stated they requested service I don’t believe they did that

 

[Ddean52]

Yes to the change in house keeping except the OP stated they were there for a week. All resort levels are supposed to have rooms serviced during a week long, I think every 4th day, stay unless they opted out. Since they stated they requested service I don’t believe they did that

Not to put to fine a point to this…..I research every trip we take in the world. The motion sensor rides became boring when waiting in longlines. And let me shock you all. The attraction in Disney Studio….the big unforgettable ride..rol what ever it’s called was boring..after all the hype could not believe it. This is just our “opinion “ take it with a grain of salt. I’m planning south of France n September. Be well. Live long. Bye Walt.

 

[kimmar067]

....sounds like the OP might need this: