We Just Returned - Some Opinions

[Baklava]

"Discrimination."

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means..."

 

[supertinyluckycat]

"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!).

It's not even just the children. Cigarette smoke is bad for everyone. It gives me an instant headache when I walk through it. Other people shouldn't have to suffer because someone chose to pick up a disgusting habit.

 

[Raetz]

Your pool story reminds me of a situation I witnessed or may have played a part in several years ago at river country. These two ladies were sitting on the edge of the pool with the drop slides. There were getting really annoyed by people splashing them as they swam over to the ladder to get out of the pool. Every time they got splashed they got these disgusted looks on their faces and gave the offending party the stink eye. Instead moving from the high traffic area they just kept getting more and more irritated by the people enjoying the refreshing pool on a hot day. So some big guyjumped in and sent a tidal wave in their direction soaking them like a wet dog. When he sat back down in his lounge chair, the other adults in the area that had observed the story unfolding quietly thanked him for his public service and one even said he wished he had thought of it.

 

[MammaMoe48]

As a former smoker, I can see where you're coming from but you're lucky that they offer a place to smoke at all. I do think that there should be more places to smoke (off the beaten path of course) because - and this is a fact we are all aware of - many people don't follow the rules so if they are in Adventureland and the nearest smoking spot is near Fantasyland, they won't go all the way over there, they will just try to sneak a smoke where they are.

 

[Shanti]

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...

Yes, I think many of the complaints about expensive food are largely tied to people's experiences/eating habits in their hometowns. I've read bitter complaints about counter service meals being "outrageously" priced at $15 per person including drinks, but in my hometown experience, at the take out places we go to, that is standard. It seems that some people either aren't used to the expense that comes with eating out for every meal on vacation, or they're used to fast food or Walmart pricing when they do go out to eat.

I agree that character meals/buffets at Disney are pricey for what you get if you're only considering the food, but no one is only considering the food when they make character buffet reservations.

The non-character food at Disney isn't cheap- Disney isn't Walmart, thank goodness- but it's pretty much in line with what we'd pay at the same kind of restaurant at home, perhaps with a 10-20% theme-park mark-up, but I don't see any more price increase than that. I think Disney avoids making their restaurants crazy expensive, in order to keep them full of people who are eating there repeatedly on multi-day trips.

 

[FoxC63]

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.

Agreed. Also there are sites dedicated on tips "How to save money at any theme park/vacation" which includes BYO food, go grocery shopping, have food delivered via amazon, garden grocer. You don't have to rent a car to go grocery shopping there are three resources I'm aware of: taxis, uber & lyft. I also don't think people really take the time to research and plan for their vacations. Most people plan for a year and then some just to save and be well informed.

 

[Shanti]

Your pool story reminds me of a situation I witnessed or may have played a part in several years ago at river country. These two ladies were sitting on the edge of the pool with the drop slides. There were getting really annoyed by people splashing them as they swam over to the ladder to get out of the pool. Every time they got splashed they got these disgusted looks on their faces and gave the offending party the stink eye. Instead moving from the high traffic area they just kept getting more and more irritated by the people enjoying the refreshing pool on a hot day. So some big guyjumped in and sent a tidal wave in their direction soaking them like a wet dog. When he sat back down in his lounge chair, the other adults in the area that had observed the story unfolding quietly thanked him for his public service and one even said he wished he had thought of it.

Cannon-balling into a pool, so that you splash other people who aren't in your group, is rude, period.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes, I think many of the complaints about expensive food are largely tied to people's experiences/eating habits in their hometowns. I've read bitter complaints about counter service meals being "outrageously" priced at $15 per person including drinks, but in my hometown experience, at the take out places we go to, that is standard. It seems that some people either aren't used to the expense that comes with eating out for every meal on vacation, or they're used to fast food or Walmart pricing when they do go out to eat.

Yeah I can agree with that. My husband and I never spend more than $30-$40 for 1 meal when we go out to eat (the exception is when we go on vacation however we still don't usually spend more than what I listed maybe a few dollars more). That includes tax and tip. We prefer to spend our money on different things than food but we have friends who go out all the time and spend $40-$60 easy and they do it all the time.

That being said I in no way expect to spend my normal amount when I go to Disney but nor do I think Disney is completely outrageous on food prices. If someone has any interest in cost of food at Disney they can look at the menus online on Disney's website (and if a member of the DIS website there is a thread with the up to date character dining or AYCTE pricing if you need that info). Food prices are listed for the vast majority of the items on the menu. Tax and Tip are obviously not included on the menu but it can give you an idea on the expense before you go so you can decide what works best for your family (bring in outside food, eat at less expensive places or do more of a balance between what a person finds affordable and the more expensive places, budget more for food, buy groceries and eat 1 meal in your room,/have snacks in your room, etc).

 

[Hikergirl]

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.

1) Summer is peak season at WDW so its going to be crowded. I'm sorry you weren't prepared for that.
2) We love AK so we wouldn't skip it, and I am looking foward to the new night time show/attractions they have in the works.
3 & 4) I'm not really a big enough SW fan to make it a point to see that stuff, and for us HS is the park that we would skip.
5) That is just rude. I cut kids a break on vacation, but sometimes enough is enough. I would have said something.
I don't find the pools at the resorts relaxing because they are filled with excited kids. I don't spend much time in the pools, but if it were a must do on vacation, I'd pick a resort with quiet pool options.
6) Disney is expensive, but thanks to this board and other sites, people can find many ways to save money on their trips.
7) Smokers are not a protected class, there is no discrimination going on. Disney is changing with the times, smoking in public places is really on its way out. Someday there will most likely be no smoking allowed on WDW property.

 

[Disgrammy]

We were there from June 10-19th. We promised ourselves we were going to do rope drop at MK on the days we had FP. We never quite made it there before 9 ( 4 adults and 3 children under 10). The crowds were crazy getting into the park. It had been 18 years since we had been there in June, July or August. Our trips in between had been Oct thru Feb. I greatly underestimated the heat/humidity....My husband and I (the grandparents) went back to the resort every afternoon for a rest.
We stayed at POR and loved it. This was our first time at a moderate.
We will probably try our hardest to avoid the summer months in the future. We ate less than in the past (drank a lot of water), the dining plan would have been a big mistake for us.

 

[FoxC63]

Here now and since Thursday June 16. I'm surprised how light the crowds are.

But maybe I either lucked out or I'm better than I thought at following easywdw's calendar, rope dropping, only staying until about noon (then later after pool break at resort, go back to Epcot or HS for 4th FP and something without a line like movie or Nemo and aquarium).

We eat at breakfast and either lunch or dinner in the room, from suitcase food (peanut butter sandwiches, cereal, power bars). I prefer regular food most of the day (ok, and I'm frugal!).

It’s more than being frugal. You’re teaching your kids how to save, plan and prepare. Good on you!

I pack Horizon Milk, juice packs, drink mix packets, hot coco, breakfast bars, cereal, crackers, tuna packets, apple sauce packets, gum & twizzlers – all in our suit cases! We eat breakfast in our room, eat buffet for lunch and eat a lite QS/snack for dinner. Wish my DS wasn't allergic to peanuts - major cost savings there!!!

 

[cattrix]

Having a "smoking section" anywhere is like having a "peeing section" in a pool.....

 

[rg35]

If other people's kids are acting obnoxious in the pool (or at the playground, or anyplace for that matter), I will say something to them myself if the parents are "absentee." Yes, I'm that guy. What is the saying..."it takes a village to raise a child." Of course there are parents that don't want anyone saying anything to their kids, but if they were actually keeping check on them it wouldn't be necessary. And no, I'm not a stick in the mud - I use the waterslides and cannonball into the pool with my kids. We are just aware of other people and not acting like the whole thing is just for us, and our kids are respectful of other people's space. Time and place for everything.

Yes, one of the "good" things about NYC is that Disney prices for anything don't really seem outrageous. Pretty much in line with going out for dinner here. For the first time ever I did a cost analysis of the deluxe DDP yesterday for our upcoming trip and it doesn't come anywhere near to being worthwhile, and that is even with three 2-credit meals (tiffins, boathouse, CRT) and several AYCTE meals (garden grill, boma breakfast, liberty tree tavern). We'd have to use all our snack credits to basically break even from a monetary standpoint, and it would just be so much wasted food. And even with the meals we have planned we would still have a bunch of meal credits leftover because the majority of our breakfasts are eaten in-room.

As for smoking, my dad was a long time smoker (but he quit about 10-15 years ago) and I've always hated it so I'm not sympathetic to the plight of the smoker in any way.

The thing about Disney is that, yes, it can be expensive, but there are so many ways to craft a Disney vacation to suit almost any budget. Choice of lodging (even beyond the basic onsite vs off site), # of park days, packing your own food and snacks, rental car vs. bus transport, etc.

 

[jknc]

I'll drink in a smoking jacket and smoke in a Members Only jacket, I straight don't care.

 

[FoxC63]

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!!

I do have a question about HS, would you say it was worth spending a full day? We have no interest in AK and I've read on different sites HS wasn't a full day. I do have a DS (13) and we would like to do M&G and see B&TB show. Thanks for your input and I look forward to your response.
Oh, could you share your touring plan for HS? Thanks again!

 

[tinkerbell1112]

By 5 my daughter could calculate how many overpriced cokes were in a souvenir and would get right testy if someone ordered a coke.

LOL. I loved this. We are the same way. I'm always talking to my kids about prices and their comparison to healthy - especially while we're at a park like Disney.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Crowds were extremely bad! Yesterday (Tues) at MK, it was so packed everyone seemed to be complaining.

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.
.

It's so popular no one ever goes there anymore
- Y. Berra.

 

[dkrauss]

Given the OP hasn't visited in roughly 8 years I can see where the OP would have sticker shock! However, the menus and pricing for each location is available online...........I guess that only works if you use the internet........Lol When my wife and I go.........we save for at least 6 months just for the food and suvi's . In recent visits we've cut back on TS meals due to cost. So I do agree its expensive to eat at Disney..............but it shouldn't be a surprise.

The issues the OP discusses are point of view issues. While I don't agree with all those points of view.........everyone has a right to their own. We also have a right to not visit.......which is how the OP will deal! Again nothing wrong there either...............unfortunately it's going to take "Millions.......and..........Millions" of visitors to impact Disney........especially on pricing.

As for the smoking issue.................I'm not a smoker.........lost my grandmother and mother to that insidious habit. The fact that Disney does have locations for smokers is a big deal. I look forward to the day when smoking is banned on Disney property...........but that me.

Doug

 

[FoxC63]

It's so popular no one ever goes there anymore
- Y. Berra.

I get who Sergeant Tibbs is, but were you in the military?

 

[JimmyV]

EVERYTHING is so expensive!

We think Disney prices are a bargain when we compare them.

Both are right. For example, the prices for most of the Deluxe Resorts are crazy stupid expensive given the true quality level of those hotels. They can be as high as many world-reknown 5 Diamond Resorts with not nearly the level of comfort, luxury or servce. When Disney charges in excess of $700 per night for a hotel room that can only be described as "industry standard", it is impossible not to contend that that is expensive. But then Disney offers you an opportunity to stay at a Value Resort for under $150 per night. Is that price higher than a Comfort Inn or Holiday Inn Express or most other limited amenity hotels? Sure. But it is difficult to make out the argument that $135 for an on property hotel room at WDW is expensive.

And Disney charges $16 for appetizers and $48 for entrees that could most charitably be graded as "good-to-pretty-good". While the pricing may be in line with major cities such as New York or San Francisco, the quality is way behind. A restaurant such as Artist's Point could not survive a week in a major city at those prices. It's not bad. But it wouldn't make anyone's "Top 10" list in any major dining destination. So yes, at the high end, Disney is expensive. But it also offers you Counter Service meals like a Rib Platter at Flame Tree, or a Cheeseburger Combo almost anywhere that are well within the budget of most people. Is the food as cheap as a Combo Meal at your local fast food place? No. But the size and quality are probably a step above. Do I like Five Guys and Shake Shack more? Sure. But I don't save any money by going to those places. Disney is not out of line with its CS pricing, especially when other amusement venues are taken into account.

As for ticket prices, once one gets into the 5 day passes, it is hard to contend that the daily fee is high when compared to other "active" vacations. There are no top quality golf courses that one can play for that amount, or no top ski area that costs that little. I suppose one could argue that all of these things (as well as sporting events) are expensive, and I suppose that is true. But relative to one another, WDW does not stand out.