We're here now and after 3 days of parks we wont be coming back again

[RamblingMad]

Until international travel takes off again, I would expect ridiculous crowd levels. You couldn't pay me to go to WDW during spring break now.

 

[Marionnette]

why does having empty tables matter? If the policy is that you have to make a reservation then make the reservation, don't complain because you want to be the exception to the rule.

I think the point was that in the past CMs could exercise a little flexibility with the "rules" and there's little evidence of that occurring now.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Until international travel takes off again, I would expect ridiculous crowd levels. You couldn't pay me to go to WDW during spring break now.

With the war in Europe it may be a very long time before travel overseas increases. No one wants to be stuck that far away from home when the US eventually gets attacked and all air travel stops again. Sorry to be a downer, just my opinion.

 

[PinkPixel]

We did a 7 day Fantasy cruise followed by a week at WDW. This was our 5th Disney cruise and about our 20th WDW visit, our last visit was a week before things closed for covid. I'm a huge Dis fan and supporter, but after the last few park days, we wont be returning again. Next week is Spring break and M-F all parks but EPCOT are sold out, but this week all parks are available. The cruise was wonderful and up to the previous standards. The parks however are a bust. It is obvious they are over selling and crowd levels are nearly impossible to manage. We stayed in EPCOT for less than 60 minutes before giving up to salvage the day elsewhere. 30-45 minute wait just to buy a food sampling in World showcase, just so you can stand in the middle of a moving sea of people to try to eat it. I cant begin to imagine what it will be like next week. As for Cast members, about 50% I would now call employees, with as much cheer and helpfulness as the McDonalds window sever during lunch hour. Perhaps they're overworked, or maybe new and untrained, but either way they are not the Cast members of previous visits. Ex: I approached a guest service Plaid with a Pad for assistance. I was greeted with "Did you need sonething?" I explained my issue and they said "give me your phone". I did, they fixed the issue on their pad, and said "Ok, its fixed", handed me my phone, looked past me to the person behind me and said "Did you need something"? And so it went. Some Cast members were great! But there is an obvious decline in their usual solidarity of friendliness. In the Magic Kingdom I was celebrating my birthday. After lunch at Jungle Nav Co, we headed to Cosmic Ray's so I could watch Sonny Eclipse (huge fan here) and I was sporting my favorite Sonny E Tshirt. Upon arriving, the cast members closed ranks at the door and refused to let me in since I hadn't done a mobile order. I explained that I just wanted to watch Sonny Eclipse. At first they said no, I couldnt go in. And even tho there were many many open tables, If I hadn't been wearing a bday button and tshirt I wouldnt have finally been 'allowed' to go inside. This is what Disneyworld has become! If they cant extract money from you for something you are of no use to them.The inflated prices, overcrowdedness, obvious money grabs at every turn have sucked the magic out of the most magical place on earth. Whats even worse is the fact that even with all this money grabbing, our DIS stock is worth far less today than a year ago. I'm so sorry to be writing this as I've loved Disney World since childhood and go every other year, but those days are behind me. I will still cruise on DCL and visit Hong Kong, Paris, and other parks, but here in the USA I'm done and dont see ever returning again

Sorry you were disappointed. I've experienced that in lots of circumstances over last year, from Jet Blue, to Nordstrom, the local car wash, TJmaxx, you name it. Things have changed, customer service seems to have been killed off. Now, as a consumer, you're expected to provide the business and employee with the service of your business and they want YOU to smile and be happy waiting for them etc. It's almost an exact reverse. It's all very odd. I'm trying to adapt after several years as a customer service manager when my job depended on me ensuring customers left wanting to come back. I don't think a curt and "efficient" employee is a problem at this point. I would be frustrated if they they said those things but then were slow and unhelpful. Cosmic Rays...I never expected to sit and relax at a restaurant or quick serve without ordering something. I worked in NYC and that was considered loitering and untenable in a city, you had to buy something. The mobile order situation, why not place an order for French fries and then come back after walking around?

 

[TikiRob]

Have you been since Genie was released? That’s seems to be when all of the complaints started.

Twice and it worked fine for us.

 

[georgina]

Sorry OP has had a bad experience. We visited WDW in Sept and it was fine. Will be returning in May and have adjusted our expectations so I am sure we will have a good time. We did a Disney cruise once and it was a one and done for us. Kids preferred Royal Caribbean. To each their own...

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Sorry OP has had a bad experience. We visited WDW in Sept and it was fine. Will be returning in May and have adjusted our expectations so I am sure we will have a good time. We did a Disney cruise once and it was a one and done for us. Kids preferred Royal Caribbean. To each their own...

Keep in mind your September trip was before Genie+ was in use.

Your May trip will feel very different than your last one.

I was also at WDW in September and I had a good time as well.

 

[Sweettears]

I think that full capacity is relative and maybe a bit misused. I noticed longer lines but also noticed that several of the rides weren’t operating at full capacity creating longer lines.

As far as QS restaurants I did see most offering mobile and walk up. However the mobile lanes were reserved specifically for mobile pickup and out numbered the walk up 4 to one

 

[georgina]

Keep in mind your September trip was before Genie+ was in use.

Your May trip will feel very different than your last one.

I was also at WDW in September and I had a good time as well.

I am well aware. I will be celebrating my 60th birthday and we will be doing a relaxing trip. Staying at Old Key West on credit from canceled 2020 trip dvc rental.

 

[lowlight]

Keep in mind your September trip was before Genie+ was in use.

Your May trip will feel very different than your last one.

I was also at WDW in September and I had a good time as well.

Yeah unfortunately, for people like me, there is nothing they can do to genie + to fix it, other than just make it FP+. Every time I go back it will be a huge headache and anxiety causing issue, because I’m a planner and I don’t like the way it causes me to tour parks.

 

[DonTheDuck]

In another post I mentioned how I haven't been back since 2017 and am going with my toddler for the first time. Me and wife were frequent visitors and the magic was palpable and what kept us wanting to come back for many years. Reading everything negative the last year or so has really disheartened me because I know that although there may be an element of exaggeration, for the most part most of the negative experiences are valid and unavoidable. If we weren't such Disney lovers and if this wasn't something we had always wanted to do with our kid then we would not be going just as a couple because I would not want to tarnish the great feelings we had all those years. (The stock doing as poorly as it is and some of the controversies sure don't help!). I feel like I'll still have a good time and there will be magic but it will be from seeing my kid in the place I loved. I really hope they get their act together because this is not going to bode well for the future of the Disney park fans (notice I didn't say company). The company will thrive in one way or another but will there still be a legion of fans that pine day and night thinking of the day they get back to their beloved parks.

There’s just nothing like Disney through your child’s eyes. There’s no way it won’t be your best trip ever.

 

[bumbershoot]

"Did you need something"?

The CM fixed your issue quickly and efficiently. Literally the only thing weird about the story you told was what she was saying. So write in and tell them that although she fixed your issue perfectly, she might need a bit of retraining so she's not saying that phrase.

If I hadn't been wearing a bday button and tshirt I wouldnt have finally been 'allowed' to go inside. This is what Disneyworld has become! If they cant extract money from you for something you are of no use to them.

They are still trying to control movement around the parks, and they are trying to keep seats for the people actually purchasing food at the restaurant. Very little to do with money, and it's a welcome change for anyone who has struggled to find seats after they get their food.

So now it seems you can't just go sit inside a QS restaurant to enjoy a few minutes rest & the ambience unless you've ordered food?....

I love just ordering a soda & drinking up the atmosphere everywhere (Pinocchio's,

When were you supposed to just go into a QS without getting anything to get atmosphere? You even said you bought a drink.

the overcrowding to bust the seams

Fewer rides rides to soak up people, changes in lines, fewer restaurants fully open to soak up people, fewer parades etc... You FEEL crowded, but it's entirely possible that another "land" isn't feeling like that.

it actually had to be ready in order for me to enter and find a seat.

Thank goodness.

sit 3 kids down and get them ready and then after that 10 minute ordeal, go get my cold food.

Not sure what ordeal your children put you through, but I strongly encourage you to maybe practice at home with how to do it at disney so they can be of help to you. That way the kids can be a part of it all and you'll all get warm food, and then maybe work up to hot food.

Life would be very miserable for myself and everyone in the mobile order pickup line if I brought my 3 kids with me while I picked up my food. Path of least resistance.

Hmm.

Attendance was down, 1/3 of all guests were happily using Genie and spending on food and merchandise was up. Guess they don't spend anytime on these boards.

Maybe they have access to the actual numbers and know what they are talking about. Therefore, it would be good to write them and say what you FELT.

Well, in the good ole' days, like 4 yrs ago, using a table to enjoy a drink wasn't a problem...

It was. Even before then it was. At least it was for the families trying to find places to sit and eat the food that they ordered.

As I said, there were three occupied tables. LOL

What you see at ANY restaurant isn't what is going on behind the scenes. I have a very dear friend who nearly went ballistic at Cheesecake Factory once because there were 10 tables "over there" but we were being made to wait an hour. She never worked as a server and didn't realize that they simply didn't have the staffing for those tables. We could have been seated but still have needed to wait an hour because they didn't have anyone to serve those tables.

Me and wife were frequent visitors and the magic was palpable and what kept us wanting to come back for many years.

Similar complaints were being made even before 2017...

when the US eventually gets attacked

Um... Apart from a small group of non-country-affiliated people in 2001...the only time we have been attacked was when those in charge let them in. So let's hope our leadership doesn't WANT us to get involved in a war so they get get public approval by letting fighter planes in, yes? (we could also refuse to be manipulated like that since it's finally common knowledge that PH was allowed to happen.)

 

[bumbershoot]

There’s just nothing like Disney through your child’s eyes. There’s no way it won’t be your best trip ever.

Oof. The trips with my young child were literally the worst. They weren't a vacation at all, and I was exhausted to the point of hysteria by the time the trips were done. Do I have the marvelous memory of my little guy facing me in his Ergo, looking up at the twinkle lights in the Disneyland trees and whispering "Disneyland...." in awe? Yes. And I also have the memories of me stopping him and his dad from arguing, from realizing it was 9pm and we hadn't eaten since lunch and I had to be the one to figure it out, and of having at least one crying jag on every trip due to being bone-tired and wiped out...

I strongly urge @TheDailyMoo to temper expectations thoroughly, and plan LOTS of downtime. And pool time without any expectation of hitting a park later on.

 

[TinkB278]

We visit Disney once or twice every year and are dvc. I didn’t enjoy either of our trips last year for many of the same reasons you mentioned. The lightning lanes makes me almost dread going. Paying all that money for a less version of something that was once free. I’m just tired of feeling nickel and domed by them and getting less in return.

 

[lowlight]

Oof. The trips with my young child were literally the worst. They weren't a vacation at all, and I was exhausted to the point of hysteria by the time the trips were done. Do I have the marvelous memory of my little guy facing me in his Ergo, looking up at the twinkle lights in the Disneyland trees and whispering "Disneyland...." in awe? Yes. And I also have the memories of me stopping him and his dad from arguing, from realizing it was 9pm and we hadn't eaten since lunch and I had to be the one to figure it out, and of having at least one crying jag on every trip due to being bone-tired and wiped out...

I strongly urge @TheDailyMoo to temper expectations thoroughly, and plan LOTS of downtime. And pool time without any expectation of hitting a park later on.

Yikes.

 

[DonTheDuck]

Oof. The trips with my young child were literally the worst. They weren't a vacation at all, and I was exhausted to the point of hysteria by the time the trips were done. Do I have the marvelous memory of my little guy facing me in his Ergo, looking up at the twinkle lights in the Disneyland trees and whispering "Disneyland...." in awe? Yes. And I also have the memories of me stopping him and his dad from arguing, from realizing it was 9pm and we hadn't eaten since lunch and I had to be the one to figure it out, and of having at least one crying jag on every trip due to being bone-tired and wiped out...

I strongly urge @TheDailyMoo to temper expectations thoroughly, and plan LOTS of downtime. And pool time without any expectation of hitting a park later on.

I went this past June with my 3 year old and 1 year old. You have to watch for your children’s temperament for sure and not overdo it at the park. But if you listen… it is a really special time watching their eyes light up when they experience things for the first time.

I brought grandma with us and that was a huge addition I highly recommend.

 

[kimmar067]

We did a 7 day Fantasy cruise followed by a week at WDW. This was our 5th Disney cruise and about our 20th WDW visit....I'm a huge Dis fan and supporter, but after the last few park days, we wont be returning again. Next week is Spring break and M-F all parks but EPCOT are sold out, but this week all parks are available....... I will still cruise on DCL and visit Hong Kong, Paris, and other parks, but here in the USA I'm done and dont see ever returning again

...I can sum up your disappointment and frustration in two words:

BOB CHAPEK

 

[mom2rtk]

As far as your sunny eclipse experience is the reason why I love mobile order, they don't let people in who didn't order which is the way it should be. It's the worst when your actually trying
to have a meal and can't find a table because half of them are being occupied by people just hanging out. Aside from maybe a fast food restaurant can you just walk in a restaurant and
sit without ordering anything, why should a theme park be any different. Since Disney started this process finding a table has been a breeze and I hope it stays this way.

That's a problem of inadequate infrastructure for the people they serve every day. The answer isn't to block those nasty non-payers from entering. The answer is to add more seating (with more restaurants if needed) or to decrease the number of guests there every day.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes.....I paid more than I ever had for a room.

Yes.....I got G+ every day.

Yes.....I bought more food from them than ever

(these 3 things do not mean that I was happy about it!)

I believe that is the miscalculation they are making.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

As far as your sunny eclipse experience is the reason why I love mobile order, they don't let people in who didn't order which is the way it should be. It's the worst when your actually trying
to have a meal and can't find a table because half of them are being occupied by people just hanging out. Aside from maybe a fast food restaurant can you just walk in a restaurant and
sit without ordering anything, why should a theme park be any different. Since Disney started this process finding a table has been a breeze and I hope it stays this way.

I was going to say the same thing. In most restaurants in the "real world," it's really not permitted, or at least it's frowned upon, to go take up a table but not order anything. Maybe this works in a Starbucks or McDonald's but even then I'm sure it's not something those businesses are going to be promoting. I'm the kind of person who buys a soda at McDonalds if I need to use their restroom, because it's not a public bathroom right? It's for patrons. Same goes for tables, as far as I'm concerned, and in somewhere as crowded as Disney World, I completely understand why this would be the rule. I'd be pretty irritated to go buy my lunch somewhere and then not have a table bc non-eating people were taking up tables.