WDW getting too complicated???

[Princesca]

I like planning, but yes, it's too complicated. I truly don't believe that you can have an experience nearly at all worth the cost of Disney unless you haunt these boards and develop a Monk-like (the TV show character, not the religious title) obsession with planning. It would be one thing if you could still have a reasonably good time worth $100/day or more just by showing up, but I think, just by showing up, you're looking at probably a $50 experience at best and I just don't think that's optimal.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I don't make restaurant reservations 6 months ahead. I made one for BOG about 5 months out (slow week end of August). However, I still don't really anticipate that I will be able to walk up to just any restaurant at WDW and be seated, although I did it at Spice Road recently and walked into Homecoming at DS twice (I was good with sitting at the bar though. Had a friend with me, she was good with sitting at the bar too). I'm on a Flying Fish reservation for 8 but that was made only a month ago (they were in rehab until the beginning of August though). So I don't have a problem with the restaurant reservations. I speak only for me, but that isn't going to keep me out of WDW. Yes, it will have to be Spice Road and not 'Ohana, Homecoming and not Be Our Guest. To some that would be an issue, not to me.

I just got a fastpass for Frozen for next week (of course I'm only looking for one, don't know what it is like when you have to look for a group of 6).

The days of walking in, expecting to do anything on the fly and not having to wait for it are probably gone - it does take a bit of strategy. Totally carefree vacations would probably have to be taken elsewhere. But, WDW realized that its guests do not like to wait. So it provided options that would cut wait time. Of course, many of the guests do not like the options, so they were having to balance between whether to appeal to the guests that like the options, or the guests who don't. And the world has changed drastically from 1975.

 

[minijeanie]

I know times change.

But I recall the early days--when there weren't 18 different Park Pass options.

When you didn't need to get a reservation for dinner 6 months ahead of time just so you could eat at a restaurant at the time you wanted.

When you didn't have to get a FastPass for a 2 minute long ride months in advance..or risk a 2 hour long wait in line if you wanted to get on that attraction.

Our first visit we just called Papeete Bay directly THAT SAME DAY to get dinner reservations--and got on each and every attraction at the MK w/o hardly a wait in line for any of them.

Ah--the good old days!!!

OMG you have been reading my mind for the last 6 months. I am so disgusted that I cannot eat in the restaurant of the resort I am staying in. I have been trying for 175 days now. OOOH slap my hand because I didn't try to book exactly at 180 days.This is getting ridiculous. The idyllic days of past are gone. I am saddened.

I called wdw and complained that they need to change their dining reservation system. It is total unfair that a family who decides to take a trip to the world 60 days from now cannot get a dining reservation anywhere. I was told it is because of free dining and that management has added extra restaurants to make up for all the people looking to dine in the parks and resorts. I have decided my next trip I am renting a car the entire time and just doing QS in the parks. I have already altered my plans for my upcoming trip next week. I am renting a car for two days.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I don't find it complicated because I know the ins and outs. Now when I try to explain it to someone else I think to myself "dang this is a lot of info!"

 

[yulilin3]

I like planning, but yes, it's too complicated. I truly don't believe that you can have an experience nearly at all worth the cost of Disney unless you haunt these boards and develop a Monk-like (the TV show character, not the religious title) obsession with planning. It would be one thing if you could still have a reasonably good time worth $100/day or more just by showing up, but I think, just by showing up, you're looking at probably a $50 experience at best and I just don't think that's optimal.

But then again I have struck conversations with people in lines or while waiting for the parade that just showed up that day, bought a ticket that day and held a map of the park for the first time that day. Most of them (I won't say 100%) told me they had an amazing time, I asked if they got fp, they said, no or they would say, we got them when we came in. I asked if they manage to get one for a ride they wanted to do, they usually respond "no or we didn't know we what we wanted to ride so we just made the line" Most of these people are the ones you see around the park with a smile on their face and an open map in their hands. The grumpy ones are the ones with a plan, and things to do and places to get to.
I'm not saying all planners are grumpy and I'm not saying all people without a plan are happy. It's just how you approach your day. Many people feel that if they don't have everything planned the way they want it, to go on the rides they want and eat at the restaurants they want then they are not getting their moneys worth. Others think that just being at the parks and having the options to experience many attractions, shows and entertainment is plenty of value.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Or if they are walking around thinking how things were so much better the way they used to be. These are the ones that switch to Universal, a cruise, or a beachside all-inclusive in Mexico or the Caribbean, but they are not representative of everyone at WDW.

 

[HopperFan]

Been going non-stop since a month after MK opened. If you are remembering days with no lines then you were there on the very slowest days, at off hours. I laugh when folks complain about overall lines (yes we all get that the few newer E tickets still have lines) because in the past lines were all so much longer.

As PP stated you almost had to pack a meal to be in the Dumbo line. Splash .... you know all the strange fences and ropes in the courtyard area ... yeah they were full of people wrapped around. I remember one trip if you could sing the whole song correctly you got taken to the front of the line. Haunted Mansion, hour was a norm there and forget Space Mountain .... that was forever long. Speedway, we ended up always skipping its over an hour long lines. Big Thunder, that was a treat if it were closer to an hour than longer. I remember 20,000 League lines .... PAINFUL.

Lines now are nothing especially since there are other options like FP+, EMH, EMM and parties. None of those existed back in the day. The problem now is that folks simply don't have the patience anymore. They want everything now. How many convos are there about youth's need for instant gratification? Young kids don't know how to wait ...

Disney is WAY bigger with more to do than it was. Used to be folks came for a week .... now they still come for a week but with so much more to get done ... and it's not possible. I get aggravated with some things but I think Disney has created the systems it has to give more folks more opportunities and options to get things done. Use them or not, your choice. I often go last minute. I'm going in 3 weeks for Halloween Party and haven't even decided which parks for my days, have not booked ADRs - what I get I get or I'll eat QS, have booked no FP+ .... I will when I figure out my days but we will go with the flow and we will have a good time. That is what happens when you book last minute.

If you want your top picks ........... you have to plan ahead. If you plan a last minute trip, you get leftovers since there is a finite number of eveything. No different than most things in life. I don't get the complaints that "we want to show up last minute and you haven't held back reservations or FP for us?"

As I always say "Vacations are priceless and should be enjoyable and make you happy. If they no longer do that for you, time to find a place that does." WDW is an expensive luxury destination, if you don't get your worth .... remember it's optional.

 

[DrunkJam]

But then again I have struck conversations with people in lines or while waiting for the parade that just showed up that day, bought a ticket that day and held a map of the park for the first time that day. Most of them (I won't say 100%) told me they had an amazing time, I asked if they got fp, they said, no or they would say, we got them when we came in. I asked if they manage to get one for a ride they wanted to do, they usually respond "no or we didn't know we what we wanted to ride so we just made the line" Most of these people are the ones you see around the park with a smile on their face and an open map in their hands. The grumpy ones are the ones with a plan, and things to do and places to get to.
I'm not saying all planners are grumpy and I'm not saying all people without a plan are happy. It's just how you approach your day. Many people feel that if they don't have everything planned the way they want it, to go on the rides they want and eat at the restaurants they want then they are not getting their moneys worth. Others think that just being at the parks and having the options to experience many attractions, shows and entertainment is plenty of value.

I definitely see this point, but, I think, the issue for me is, that, we are there for 10 days. I don't want to eat QS for ten days, and anyway, my DD can't eat QS at WDW, as she has food allergies which are not labelled in USA (and I don't fancy wasting my holiday in the ER) My ds has ASD, so, we HAVE to plan to be definitely able to do some of the things on his MUST DO list. And, their dad has leukaemia, and will be absolutely exhausted after a park day, so, we need to book TS at our resort, at least SOME of the time. I realise this is a LOT of issues that most people are not facing, but, as the only healthy, can go with the flow person in our group, I am feeling the pressure of organising everything for everyone to work. Having to plan everything so far out is a real challenge, without the DIS I wouldn't have a hope, and I am not sure vacation should need that level of commitment.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

With the needs and difficulties your party has, you would have needed to do extra planning anyway. You do have the option to get FPs so you know you won't have to wait for some attractions, even if things change and you end up getting to the park later than you were planning (some attractions under the old system, if you didn't get FP first thing in the morning you didn't get one at all).

 

[Uncleromulus]

I don't make restaurant reservations 6 months ahead. I made one for BOG about 5 months out (slow week end of August). However, I still don't really anticipate that I will be able to walk up to just any restaurant at WDW and be seated, although I did it at Spice Road recently and walked into Homecoming at DS twice (I was good with sitting at the bar though. Had a friend with me, she was good with sitting at the bar too). I'm on a Flying Fish reservation for 8 but that was made only a month ago (they were in rehab until the beginning of August though). So I don't have a problem with the restaurant reservations. I speak only for me, but that isn't going to keep me out of WDW. Yes, it will have to be Spice Road and not 'Ohana, Homecoming and not Be Our Guest. To some that would be an issue, not to me.

I just got a fastpass for Frozen for next week (of course I'm only looking for one, don't know what it is like when you have to look for a group of 6).

The days of walking in, expecting to do anything on the fly and not having to wait for it are probably gone - it does take a bit of strategy. Totally carefree vacations would probably have to be taken elsewhere. But, WDW realized that its guests do not like to wait. So it provided options that would cut wait time. Of course, many of the guests do not like the options, so they were having to balance between whether to appeal to the guests that like the options, or the guests who don't. And the world has changed drastically from 1975.

But I guess that's my point--you had to get a FastPass just to be sure of being able to get on a ride that lasts just a few minutes!! And a WEEK ahead of time. Others do it MANY weeks ahead. And then have to plan some part of the day AROUND your Frozen FastPass time so you don't miss the ride!!

 

[DrunkJam]

With the needs and difficulties your party has, you would have needed to do extra planning anyway.

That is entirely true, and without the DIS, where would I go to have a little whine?!
Hopefully, as I said, the planning will make the vacation, but, it is like a second job!

 

[yulilin3]

I definitely see this point, but, I think, the issue for me is, that, we are there for 10 days. I don't want to eat QS for ten days, and anyway, my DD can't eat QS at WDW, as she has food allergies which are not labelled in USA (and I don't fancy wasting my holiday in the ER) My ds has ASD, so, we HAVE to plan to be definitely able to do some of the things on his MUST DO list. And, their dad has leukaemia, and will be absolutely exhausted after a park day, so, we need to book TS at our resort, at least SOME of the time. I realise this is a LOT of issues that most people are not facing, but, as the only healthy, can go with the flow person in our group, I am feeling the pressure of organising everything for everyone to work. Having to plan everything so far out is a real challenge, without the DIS I wouldn't have a hope, and I am not sure vacation should need that level of commitment.

and that's why it's a personal experience/ Each person/family has their own unique circumstances, for you, you need to plan in advance because of those circumstances but for others it's ok with them just to show up and have fun.
What I'm getting at is that most people don't NEED to plan everything to have a good time, some just feel that by planning they are getting the most bang for their bucks, while others get the bang just by being there

 

[Sandy Fisher]

You'll get lots of responses from folks who "like it just fine" and got to change with the times and you just need to know how to work the system. You won't hear that from me. We began going to Disney in 1982 and I was an adult by that time. We loved it from our first experience. When hubby retired and we moved to Central FL to live full time, we got annual passes and lived just about 40 minutes away. Loved it still even after regular visits as our boys were growing up and even as annual pass holders. Then the other shoe dropped. Never and I do mean never used any fast pass except once in a great while to get a second ride on Soarin' before leaving the Land. And that was optional. We did all we wanted -- meals, attractions, etc. Suddenly (or so it seemed) you NEEDED a fast pass for everything. Things we never needed to stand in line for and now they required "reservations". We knew when to go. Knew our favorite things. Knew which ones would have lengthy lines if we fiddled and fooled around too long. And I expect lots of flack, but I'm too old now to care much what the popular ideas are. We were at Disney way back when and learned the ropes. We moved back north in late summer 2012 and very nearly missed all the hullaballoo and huge changes that we didn't want. We could no longer tour our way and it was as good a time as any to say goodbye to Disney. We went back once in 2014 and I'm almost sorry we did. Our Disney days were great memories. Too complicated now for us (after all those years). Everyone who loves it now is welcome to our share of it. And you surely don't think that Disney did all this for the benefit of the guest, now do you?? Seriously??

 

[Uncleromulus]

and that's why it's a personal experience/ Each person/family has their own unique circumstances, for you, you need to plan in advance because of those circumstances but for others it's ok with them just to show up and have fun.
What I'm getting at is that most people don't NEED to plan everything to have a good time, some just feel that by planning they are getting the most bang for their bucks, while others get the bang just by being there

Just show up tho and want to get on Frozen? Soarin? Toy Story? HOURS waiting in line w/o FastPass--which may all be gone by the time you realize you need to get one. Dinner at 8 California Grill?? Good luck walking in--reservations hard to get several months ahead of time.
For me since I've been to WDW 60+ times, missing a ride is no big deal. BUT then I've been on them all before. A newbie has to plan whole park days around that one Toy Story FastPass--or that Frozen FastPass.

 

[yulilin3]

Just show up tho and want to get on Frozen? Soarin? Toy Story? HOURS waiting in line w/o FastPass--which may all be gone by the time you realize you need to get one. Dinner at 8 California Grill?? Good luck walking in--reservations hard to get several months ahead of time.

Like I said before, it depends on the person/family. I've met people that have no problem waiting in an hour line for an attraction, or just pass up a restaurant because it had no availability and go somewhere else. I've also met people who will not ride anything if they have to wait more than 20 minutes and restaurants are very important to their vacation. And I've also met a lot of people in between.
What I'm saying is that it's your own personal views, I'm not saying they are wrong or right. Generalizing that it's complicated for everyone is not an accurate assumption

 

[Uncleromulus]

Actually it was formed as a question--with many possible answers.

And now I see I've been traded to the Community Board--where the thread will likely die of old age. Too bad--it was becoming a good discussion.

 

[yulilin3]

Actually it was formed as a question--with many possible answers.

And now I see I've been traded to the Community Board--where the thread will likely die of old age. Too bad--it was becoming a good discussion.

I think it's just a point that has been brought up a lot lately, and while this particular thread has been a civil, adult conversation, most of the others that have sprung up have ended with a lot of nasty comments and name calling.

 

[AngiTN]

It has been hashed and rehashed to death.
Some people are never going to be happy with the changes at Disney. They long for the old days and the old ways. They think those who are ok with the changes are wrong or crazy, or some mixture of the two.
Fact is, the old days and old ways are gone.
Fact is also, that doesn't mean you are required to use FP or book ADR. You can but there is no requirement to.
You can use stand by lines and eat QS. Even walk up at some TS and get seated.
You can plan as much or as little as you like and still have a great time.
I think the fact that there are more choices is a good thing.
When we want to plan out a trip, we do. When we don't, we don't. We love both types of trips.
But if you think that everyone who doesn't plan their day to the minute months in advance are the only ones enjoying their WDW trip you would be incorrect.

 

[HopperFan]

I think it's just a point that has been brought up a lot lately, and while this particular thread has been a civil, adult conversation, most of the others that have sprung up have ended with a lot of nasty comments and name calling.

Sadly it takes a few pages to see that it has become argumentative. Posts move from discussion points to ridiculous points, which then creates more emotional responses. I think when we step back we see that good discussion is lost. Moderators see it coming and hence move the thread.

This is a no win conversation because EVERYONE vacations different, plans different, tours different and there will never be a meeting of the minds. Some posters will insist their view is the accurate assessment even if examples posted are not what others have ever seen or experienced ..... that is where the thread begins the slide ...

 

[loves to dive]

I have mixed thoughts on the matter. If you are talking about a first time visitor who just showed up and bought a ticket, if they didn't haunt some sort of board would they even know they are missing the "must do" restaurants and rides? Probably not. Would they know they didn't have to wait in line if they had booked x amount of time in advance? Probably not. And they would probably have a great time not knowing that.

We have been going at least every other year since 1982 ish. My son was almost 3, he is now almost 36. I now go twice a year, he tries to go at least once a year but if he can't he doesn't miss the every other year trip. We have seen parks open, paper fast passes, ADRs, etc. I was just there last week and didn't book a single FP in advance and only booked one day of. The rest of the time I either stood in line or passed. I road Soarin with a 15 min. wait, I walked on the Land, Nemo, Figment, TT, Safari, EE, FOLK, Bugs Life, Pirates, Pooh, ToT, HM, COP, Peoplemover, Hall of Presidents. I waited 15 min max for TSMM, SSE, Jungle Cruise at night. I did MK on an EMH night and waited 20 min for SDMT. My only FP was Jungle Cruise during the day, I booked it while on Peoplemover because the wait was 30 min. I didn't do Frozen but only because I didn't want to. I don't ride Space Mountain and RNRC because of neck issues or Star Tours and Mission Space because they would make me throw up. I don't ride Splash Mountain unless it's raining because I don't want to walk around wet and have only ridden whatever the water ride is at AK once because, again, don't want to walk around wet. So I rode absolutely everything I wanted to ride except the things that were closed for rehab - BTM and Swiss Family. I made only one ADR, tea at the GF and I booked that 2 weeks before I went. In all fairness, I was there for F&W and all my meals other than breakfast and a F&W special lunch were from booths. Normally, when we are there we will just book our ADRs while we are walking around the parks for that night or afternoon. I didn't even know what park I was going to until the morning I got up. I think it's great if you want to plan and are into that and it's also great if you don't want to plan and enjoy just being there.