We Just Returned - Some Opinions

[Poohsmommi]

7) All parks are down to TWO smoking areas! I heard many people complaining about this and saying unless something changes, they will not be giving WDW anymore money. It's discrimination plain and simple. I'm not saying you should be able to smoke anywhere, but two spots in a place like MK is insane.

No one should be smoking in a park full of children. Discrimination? LOL People should be allowed to sue smokers for second-hand smoke. Nasty habit. Keep it you yourself.

 

[Purplestorm]

Really? Red Robin's burgers are $8.99 with fries https://www.restaurantmealprices.com/red-robin-prices/

Yes the least expensive Red Robin burger is $9, but that is a restaurant quality burger (lower end) where as the counter service burger equates more to a fast food burger (quarter pounder at Mc Donalds) which is about $5.50 with the fries. At Rainforest Café, a burger is 11.50 and that is a superior burger.

 

[Purplestorm]

And yet a combo meal at McDonalds cost more than that.

A meal at McDonalds with drink included, is under $7 and there are options to make it less.

 

[jknc]

Now we are rationalizing WDW food prices with professional/college athletics?

I weep for our future.

 

[AngiTN]

Remember, no one makes anyone buy the food in the parks. Disney graciously allows you to bring in all your meals, if you so choose.

All things considered, compared to the prices we paid at our local theme park in the 70's, Disney is not even remotely as expensive as it could be. The costs of the drinks and food at Opryland when I was in high school was outrageous. We never bought the food or drinks due to the cost, compared to cost of things outside the park. Compared to costs outside the park, I've actually always been quite surprised that Disney doesn't charge more than it does.

 

[MammaMoe48]

If I ever do go back, unless they add more to do at AK, I will skip that park. There is just not enough there to keep me interested.

We aren't even doing AK this trip - and it's our first trip. We're staying at the BWV so we want to focus on EPCOT, DHS (for SW) and of course we will do MK. We figure our next trip we'll stay at AKV, do that park and EPCOT again then rent a car and go off property.

 

[MichiganScott]

Myself, my daughter and 14 yr old granddaughter just returned from WDW. I'd like to post a few observations. We stayed 4 nights at All Star Sports. Please remember these are MY opinions and not all will agree with them!!

7) All parks are down to TWO smoking areas! I heard many people complaining about this and saying unless something changes, they will not be giving WDW anymore money. It's discrimination plain and simple. I'm not saying you should be able to smoke anywhere, but two spots in a place like MK is insane.

I was with you on pretty much everything until this one. I tend to view that as 2 too many smoking areas in the parks. And discrimination? People who choose to smoke are not a protected class of any kind.

 

[godders]

I do wish they would lower their food prices... a burger and fries should not cost more than $7 unless it is at Le cellier

You would struggle anywhere in London - your average burger at a pub (just a normal one) is about £8-£11 ($12-$15ish) and that goes up the higher quality the place. One of the benefits of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world is that pretty much everywhere else is cheaper hahahaha

OP sorry you didn't have such a good time. I think others recommendations for a different resort for whenever your next trip is is a good one. I think that a resort with multiple pools would definitely suit you better. As a smoker (not all the time but when I'm on holiday) I can understand your frustrations completely but some of the areas were badly placed so at least the ones in MK are easily avoidable for non-smokers (I haven't checked where the other ones are). I do think saying it's discrimination is a little over the top however. On my next trip I'm going to be thinking that all that extra walking to a smoking area is an extra zebra dome or other delicious Disney snack.

Really glad to hear that you enjoyed Launch Bay and the Star Wars Fireworks. Can't wait to try them on my upcoming trip!

 

[SaintsManiac]

A burger and fries at most restaurants is more than $7. When I go to Disney I am not looking to eat burgers. We spent way less on food than I thought and I ate salad and fresh choices every day. Oh except for those corn dog nuggets during the parade

 

[jknc]

All things considered, compared to the prices we paid at our local theme park in the 70's, Disney is not even remotely as expensive as it could be. The costs of the drinks and food at Opryland when I was in high school was outrageous. We never bought the food or drinks due to the cost, compared to cost of things outside the park. Compared to costs outside the park, I've actually always been quite surprised that Disney doesn't charge more than it does.

Well it is called Fantasyland, I reckon.

 

[MammaMoe48]

You would struggle anywhere in London - your average burger at a pub (just a normal one) is about £8-£11 ($12-$15ish) and that goes up the higher quality the place. One of the benefits of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world is that pretty much everywhere else is cheaper hahahaha

I hear you, I live in NYC and NOTHING is cheap! There's a place called Five Napkins by me that charges $13 for just the burger - fries are extra. You can find cheap places to eat around the city but for your typical tourist staying in mid-town and doing the "tourist" things, NYC is probably just as expensive as WDW and a lot less safe. There are no clean buses and boats and trams to get you around and there certainly are no CMs ready to help you figure out where you're going.

 

[tlmadden73]

I do wish they would lower their food prices... a burger and fries should not cost more than $7 unless it is at Le cellier

Food prices are expensive everywhere, not just Disney. I've never understood MASSIVELY overcharging for a "captive" audience like they do in Theme Parks, airports, zoos or stadiums, but they do .. and people need to eat, so they pay it.

I actually find prices at Disney World reasonable compared to airports, some zoos and especially stadiums. At least at Disney World you are getting some cool theming.

In my home town even the local burger joints you can't get a burger and fries for less than $8.
Ever gotten a burger at a Five Guys? $6+ for a regular ..and doesn't include Fries or a Drink (but is DARN good).
You can barely get away with Burger/Fries and drink at a McDonalds for under $7.
I went to a Buffalo Wild Wings in an airport where my beer cost as much as my meal!

 

[supertinyluckycat]

I'm glad they only have 2 smoking areas. I find it disgusting to have to walk through people's toxic smoke clouds. Even if they're in the smoking area it still blows everywhere. Cutting down on smoking areas is in no way discrimination. Smokers are lucky there is any smoking area in a theme park full of children.

 

[North of Mouse]

Have never understood the DDP's, and especially during the hotter months. Can't imagine faced with eating all that food in the heat. We eat very lightly when we're out and about, then throw in a great snack sometime in between.

Never go in the hot months anymore, so tend to eat a little more in cooler weather, but still our oop is far less than the DDP, as our eating habits are different when we are on vacation - tend to eat lighter, but more often.

 

[apdismom]

1) I won't be returning any time soon, especially during the summer. Crowds were extremely bad! Yesterday (Tues) at MK, it was so packed everyone seemed to be complaining.
2) If I ever do go back, unless they add more to do at AK, I will skip that park. There is just not enough there to keep me interested.
3) LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the new Launch Bay! We saw Chewbacca and Kylo Ren both with minimum wait times. The Storm Troopers were inside walking around and that was cool! The Ewoks were about too and my granddaughter got her pic taken with one of them.
4) The new Starwars fireworks are spectacular!!!! Don't miss them!!!!!!
5) I was at the pool on 3 different days. I got so irritated at the unruly children that cannon-balled in right next to me, kicked their way past me as I just relaxed along the edge, threw toys at me, etc., etc., Parents - please teach your children pool etiquette!!!! If there is an adult relaxing in the pool, make sure your children give them just a little bit of space without soaking the adult every time they jumped in. This happened every day and ruined my times at the pool.
6) EVERYTHING is so expensive! I don't know how those of you with children can afford to take them to WDW, even with the dining plan! Disney is out-pricing people from returning.
7) All parks are down to TWO smoking areas! I heard many people complaining about this and saying unless something changes, they will not be giving WDW anymore money. It's discrimination plain and simple. I'm not saying you should be able to smoke anywhere, but two spots in a place like MK is insane.

Oh, I really liked using the MDE although I couldn't make more FP+ after I had used my originals. I called Customer Service and they were able to make new ones for me right over the phone. That was nice.

1. so I looked at your signature and the majority of your travel to WDW has been during oct/nov/jan so the crowds are so much lighter to begin with that for you the crowds probably were outrageous! we like to go in oct/nov going any other time of year and the crowds seem insane to me and my mom laughs because we only went during spring break as children and that was terrible!
2. my parents hate AK we love it. My girls adore it and we spent 2 days there on our last trip. but its your preference! DHS is usually a 3 hour park for us.
3. like I sais DHS is very short lived for us we may go there this fall to see the new launch bay we may not.
4.I've heard this multiple time!
5. This is a parenting problem. However, I myself would not get in an all-star pool from 2-4 for any kind of relaxation. We would bring the kids down to tire them out in the pool so they napped before an evening back in the parks. (we go go go) That being said, my kids know that splashing others and throwing toys at people would be the end of pool time for the remainder of the trip, so we don't usually have an issue.
6.We try to go with the free dining promotion. I bring glow sticks for when the glow toys come out at night. The one thing we have and other people find odd is we do not do a lot of Christmas presents and family members started a "princess fund" that they put money in for the girls spending money (usually about $100 per child for the duration of vacation) throughout the year all of our change goes in a bucket and every Friday my husband and I have our own "allowances" within our budget, if we have $1's at the end of the week we put them in the change bucket, we also do this with our monthly family entertainment budget. it works well for us and we probably can only afford to go because we budget the way we do. But we love Disney, we don't necessarily give up other things for Disney we just budget.
7.I am a smoker so I know your pain. this last trip I chewed nicorete gum constantly.

 

[HollywoodTowerHotel]

No one should be smoking in a park full of children.

Smokers are lucky there is any smoking area in a theme park full of children.

"Won't somebody please think of the children?!"

If smokers want to smoke, go find the designated area and be happy there's at least one. And, non-smokers can now avoid theses areas much easier since there are less and they are off the regular paths.

Summer is hot and crowded and Disney is always expensive. I know these things but I still go - in the summer - because that's when I can go. We take breaks, utilize FP and air-condition, realize that you're never going to get anywhere quickly, and know that someone will eventually do something annoying (he/she might even be in our group!).

 

[mshanson3121]

Myself, my daughter and 14 yr old granddaughter just returned from WDW. I'd like to post a few observations. We stayed 4 nights at All Star Sports. Please remember these are MY opinions and not all will agree with them!!

1) I won't be returning any time soon, especially during the summer. Crowds were extremely bad! Yesterday (Tues) at MK, it was so packed everyone seemed to be complaining.
2) If I ever do go back, unless they add more to do at AK, I will skip that park. There is just not enough there to keep me interested.
3) LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the new Launch Bay! We saw Chewbacca and Kylo Ren both with minimum wait times. The Storm Troopers were inside walking around and that was cool! The Ewoks were about too and my granddaughter got her pic taken with one of them.
4) The new Starwars fireworks are spectacular!!!! Don't miss them!!!!!!
5) I was at the pool on 3 different days. I got so irritated at the unruly children that cannon-balled in right next to me, kicked their way past me as I just relaxed along the edge, threw toys at me, etc., etc., Parents - please teach your children pool etiquette!!!! If there is an adult relaxing in the pool, make sure your children give them just a little bit of space without soaking the adult every time they jumped in. This happened every day and ruined my times at the pool.
6) EVERYTHING is so expensive! I don't know how those of you with children can afford to take them to WDW, even with the dining plan! Disney is out-pricing people from returning.
7) All parks are down to TWO smoking areas! I heard many people complaining about this and saying unless something changes, they will not be giving WDW anymore money. It's discrimination plain and simple. I'm not saying you should be able to smoke anywhere, but two spots in a place like MK is insane.

Oh, I really liked using the MDE although I couldn't make more FP+ after I had used my originals. I called Customer Service and they were able to make new ones for me right over the phone. That was nice.

My feet are killing me and I'm tired, tired, tired!!!!! I need a vacation from my Disney vacation!

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them.

What time of day did you do Launch Bay?

 

[mshanson3121]

I do wish they would lower their food prices... a burger and fries should not cost more than $7 unless it is at Le cellier

To us, this is normal, lol. A Quarter Pounder with a regular fry at McD's costs $7 up here in Canada. We were pleasantly surprised at how affordable Disney food was. But I know for Americans, it seems expensive.

 

[Alice777]

How did you even get to take pic with jawas? When we tried in April, he/she wouldn't stop long enough for us to take pictures. We eventually gave up chasing it and just took pic of it as a background.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

A meal at McDonalds with drink included, is under $7 and there are options to make it less.

You know that wasn't the point of my comment. There are multiple meals that are around the $7 or more range at McDonalds..point was it's McDonalds..which is considered cheap food to most (though it's obviously not so cheap anymore).