What is going on with Disney parks?

[Q-man]

Uh, no. I'm a late Gen X-er, and the first SW hit the screen about 5 weeks after I was born. Z comes after X.

I totally blew this. You are absolutely right. I misread which generation and will burn my Douglas Coupland book and Reality Bites VHS tape. As a 1966 kid I'll hang my head in shame for a minute.

 

[Q-man]

I think that was Gen X - 1961-1981. Gen Z follows the Millennials at 1996-roughly 2010.

Lots of differing opinions as to where baby boomers end and Gen X starts. Some say '61 and others '65. I'm the youngest of 6(and my parents' we thought we were done whoops) and would say all my older siblings, except maybe the December '63 brother, are of a different generation.

 

[SaharanTea]

Lots of differing opinions as to where baby boomers end and Gen X starts. Some say '61 and others '65. I'm the youngest of 6(and my parents' we thought we were done whoops) and would say all my older siblings, except maybe the December '63 brother, are of a different generation.

Generations are an interesting sociological topic. They are meant to be a tool for looking at big historical events and their impacts on development and society, but they become interesting talking points in and of themselves.

I was born in 1980. I see parts of both Gen X and Millennials (used to be Gen Y) as familiar and foreign. I find more comfort in the Xenial subgroup describing those between the two. It makes sense as being born on the border tends to give you traits of both. And really, generational groups might be a tad bit too large.

I also find the weird bickering between generations amusing. It's an ancient hobby of the young and old alike to complain and shake their fists at each other. When I was a kid it was Gen X against the Boomers. Poor Gen X is being forgotten as now all the memes are Millennials against Boomers.

Sorry for straying off topic.

 

[YesterDark]

Being flexible and rolling with things is the key. I think all the planning that we do before the trip makes us think that everything has to go on schedule as planned. On my last trip I found myself getting really stressed by day three until I reminded myself where I was and that things didn't need to go as planned to have a great time. The technology and planning that is supposed to make are lives easier and less stressful more often than not has the exact opposite effect. We need to remind ourselves that things don't have to go as planned. Often some of the best and most memorable things on a vacation would have never happened if things went as planned.

I plan a lot, and I'm pretty thorough. However, when I get to the park I toss the plan out the window except ADRs and FPs. The planning is all about preparing for the park and knowing everything you can know. This way you can do something else if you're not in the mood. By being a fanatical planner, it just forces me to re-learn WDW since the last time I was there.

This mentality also helps you to be not disappointed if something doesn't work.

 

[YesterDark]

*Please put your controversy shades on now*
I agree about the not being impressed with Pandora part. To me it's two boring rides, (one of which, IMO, is probably one of the most overrated things in all of Disney's history. FOP.) an okay gift shop, and a pretty good QS restaurant. I feel that they've added the absolute minimum amount of content possible for a new land here, as well as all lands since. Pandora, Toy Story, and Galaxy's Edge all seem to be underdeveloped despite the money spent on them. Personally, I find Galaxy's Edge to be completely insulting in it's opening form. And I find it to be the culmination of all the bad park decisions made over the years.
*It's now safe to remove your controversy shades*

Satuli Canteen is probably the best quick service restaurant, by a decent margin, in any of the parks. Calling it "pretty good" is a disservice! (my opinion!)

 

[Heather07438]

The magic evaporates every time a guest is distracted about being ripped off. Yes, Disney always felt somewhat expensive. The difference now is most every price is outright questionable. $35 for Mickey Ears. $7 pretzel. $100 desert party. $75 pirate fireworks cruise (but hey you get a small bag of popcorn and a Costco cupcake). APs that don't break even for 98% of ppl. A hoodie is $70+ but not decent quality of the past (look on ebay at the nice $40-$50 hoodies not long ago that were embroidered, good material and tailoring). Every one here can name 5 more things off the top of their head. WDW has an unparalleled environment so it deserves a premium price but crazy price increases don't bode well in tandem with value cuts. Rip-off territory. I don't wanna spend time considering just how bad value to cost ratios are, especially when it's eating into my magic time

Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings
Every time a WDW cash register rings a guest now stops to think about the crazy price

 

[YesterDark]

That's why I do the dining plan. I break even on the meals by doing character meals for my little kids. The snacks everyday are a bonus since I don't have to think about that $7 pretzel and lose the magic. It's the biggest reason I'm a proponent of the dining plan. The less money I have to think or budget on vacation, the more magic.

That goes with any vacation. I love all-inclusive.

 

[Heather07438]

The less money I have to think or budget on vacation, the more magic.

WE like the dining plan for that too. Save up for it and then not think about it while you're there. Order whatever you want and enjoy the moment.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Being flexible and rolling with things is the key. I think all the planning that we do before the trip makes us think that everything has to go on schedule as planned. On my last trip I found myself getting really stressed by day three until I reminded myself where I was and that things didn't need to go as planned to have a great time. The technology and planning that is supposed to make are lives easier and less stressful more often than not has the exact opposite effect. We need to remind ourselves that things don't have to go as planned. Often some of the best and most memorable things on a vacation would have never happened if things went as planned.

I plan a lot, and I'm pretty thorough. However, when I get to the park I toss the plan out the window except ADRs and FPs. The planning is all about preparing for the park and knowing everything you can know. This way you can do something else if you're not in the mood. By being a fanatical planner, it just forces me to re-learn WDW since the last time I was there.

This mentality also helps you to be not disappointed if something doesn't work.

I completely agree, but like I said before, I often consider it more research than planning since I try to build it to be as flexible as possible. We don't do a lot of ADRs, but if we do we've evolved to mostly lunches in the park to keep our evenings loose. And certainly everything in WDW is a trade-off because you can't do everything, but I still feel like the reduction in park hours raises the stakes in terms of flexibility. Like, if we're relaxing by the pool in the afternoon or having an adult beverage at the resort bar and we want to stay longer, if the park is closing earlier than previous years/trips we're cutting into that evening park time, and it seems tougher to modify FPs in those situations now. I also agree that being flexible can help offset feelings of disappointment, but we're fortunate enough to go fairly regularly, so we know we'll be back at some point if we miss something.

 

[billlaurie]

Second that Yesterdark! Only wish the dining reservation system didn't open until after FP and after park hours are finalized.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

DISNEY, ARE YOU READING???

 

[scrappinginontario]

Each person is different. I like booking our dining first then working our FP's around that. But that's just me.

 

[YesterDark]

Second that Yesterdark! Only wish the dining reservation system didn't open until after FP and after park hours are finalized.

Personally, I don't care when they open. Except for places like Cinderella's Royal Table, most of the places I want to go with my kids have always had openings available. ADRs just get me a preferred time.

I often change them throughout my 180 days. My last trip I had the following:

• Crystal Palace (kept time)
• Akershus (changed reservation day before)
• CRT (kept)
• Tusker House (changed time a month before trip and then again the day of)
• Hollywood and Vine (booked at 30 days, changed day of for a better time)
• Marrakesh (cancelled during trip to book SC)
• Skipper Canteen (booked when I cancelled Marrakesh)
• Chef Mickey's (adjusted time week of trip)

Anything that I had adjusted was just an available time anyone could have picked up. Crystal Palace had different times available all the way leading up to the trip, but I had a good time I wanted. CRT was the only thing jammed up unless you wanted to eat very late. There is a myth that you can't book ANYTHING unless you do it at 180 days out. That's not true at all. You just wont get the time you want.

Also, even if it's not available, there are websites that you can use to alert you of an opening. Works like a charm.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Second that Yesterdark! Only wish the dining reservation system didn't open until after FP and after park hours are finalized.

I believe I heard they've had a tighter reservation time but guests complained over time and wanted more time to plan or something to that effect.

In terms of adjustments with the sheer number of places to eat that take ADRs, especially at WDW, there's more built-in flexibility there in comparison to FPs to be able to change your plans--at least when you're comparing FP to ADR.

 

[MeridaAnn]

While I agree that the necessity of so much complex planning is an ongoing issue for Disney, I don't think it accounts for this most recent dip. It's a long-term issue that is likely causing some gradual decline, but it doesn't explain why Disney is panicking all of a sudden just over the last couple months.

SWGE was not the impossibly crowded mess that they were expecting / planning for. That's not a bad thing from guest perspectives, and I like what I've seen of it so far, but discussions ahead of time were talking about people camping out overnight like for the old Star Wars Weekends and whether you'd even be able to get into the land for months on end. Certainly the partial opening without RotR is a major contributing factor. I also think the comments earlier about the downsides of having identical SWGE lands in both DL and WDW make sense for lower than expected crowd levels.

Outside of SWGE, I just think timing is one of the biggest elements. They're charging more now, but everything in the parks now is about prepping for the 50th. It becomes and easy choice to just at least wait until the full Star Wars land is open or even to wait until 2021 when everything else is open. I'm excited for the future of the parks, but that makes me excited to go a year from now - they aren't doing anything to make me excited to go to the parks today.

 

[billlaurie]

I believe I heard they've had a tighter reservation time but guests complained over time and wanted more time to plan or something to that effect.

In terms of adjustments with the sheer number of places to eat that take ADRs, especially at WDW, there's more built-in flexibility there in comparison to FPs to be able to change your plans--at least when you're comparing FP to ADR.

Agree. That is why I think it would make more practical sense to start building your dining plans after you make FP instead of making reservations then having to change them after making FP, since the FP is the limiting step. It is a time suck to have to redo dining plans, sign up for touring plans, hope you are the first to see the alert, etc.

 

[ChipnDale79]

That's why I do the dining plan. I break even on the meals by doing character meals for my little kids. The snacks everyday are a bonus since I don't have to think about that $7 pretzel and lose the magic. It's the biggest reason I'm a proponent of the dining plan. The less money I have to think or budget on vacation, the more magic.

That goes with any vacation. I love all-inclusive.

we do the dining plan as well. Family of 4, ive got two boys that are 7 and 8.

Last year i kept track of how much the meals were to see if the DDP was worth it.

We ate at the following:
Whispering Canyon - food disappointing and felt rushed, total with tips $177.05
Yak & Yeti - First time here, loved it $148.00
Coral Reef - ehhh, we've been before, food was good, not great $158.00
Tutto - it was good, its been A LOT better $197.20
Ohana - Always good $219.00
Tusker House - its a tradition. its good, not great...breakfast $136.20
Mama Melrose - Really good in 2018, so we went back this year. it was just ok $183.00
Garden Grill - It just ok. $223.00

Look at this freakin prices...its a family of 4. It's insane. The quality of the food has declined massively over the years. I hate spending $50 when we eat out at home.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

The magic evaporates every time a guest is distracted about being ripped off. Yes, Disney always felt somewhat expensive. The difference now is most every price is outright questionable. $35 for Mickey Ears. $7 pretzel. $100 desert party. $75 pirate fireworks cruise (but hey you get a small bag of popcorn and a Costco cupcake). APs that don't break even for 98% of ppl. A hoodie is $70+ but not decent quality of the past (look on ebay at the nice $40-$50 hoodies not long ago that were embroidered, good material and tailoring). Every one here can name 5 more things off the top of their head. WDW has an unparalleled environment so it deserves a premium price but crazy price increases don't bode well in tandem with value cuts. Rip-off territory. I don't wanna spend time considering just how bad value to cost ratios are, especially when it's eating into my magic time

Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings
Every time a WDW cash register rings a guest now stops to think about the crazy price

Yes to most of that, but I don’t agree with the line where APs don’t break even for 98% of people.

DH and I paid I think $20 ish less for our APs (with the increase) than we would have for hoppers for our two trips. That’s forgetting pictures, discounts, etc. Locals have to be breaking even if they go somewhat frequently. People taking at least 2 trips have to be pretty close to break even even with shorter trips with how front loaded tickets are.

The APs are very expensive, but the regular tickets are too.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Agree. That is why I think it would make more practical sense to start building your dining plans after you make FP instead of making reservations then having to change them after making FP, since the FP is the limiting step. It is a time suck to have to redo dining plans, sign up for touring plans, hope you are the first to see the alert, etc.

I can see that. I think it's an individual thing. And I think like in many instances we have priorities. To me working with what I've got a FP for a ride has more value than an ADR because ADRs are just not that important to us (and no we're not eating cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets or hot dogs either lol). Even if you reduce the lead time I'm still going to scrap an ADR over a FP because the initial flexibility of FP is more limited than places to eat. There's only 1 Test Track but several places that are Mexican style (maybe I prefer one over the other but you get what I mean).

If the people were the ones complaining about planning can't really blame Disney for pushing it out further. I don't think we want FPs to become 180 days out though and I don't know that they could effectively reduce the time nowadays unfortunately

If you're like me you're more take what's available shrug your shoulders if you can't, ADRs aren't that important kind of person. But if you're the person who needs a BOG at exactly 3pm for 4 people on Friday the whatever you may find it more difficult, you may also find that more difficult if you want that but also want 7DMT for the morning but can only see at that initial looking one for right around 3pm. Is that a Disney-issue only? Eh IMO not because I run into do I pick this or pick that in my vacation planning elsewhere. I will say there might be more of a sense of urgency that both need to work out just right (the ADR and the FP) at Disney and I honestly totally get that.

 

[TwoMisfits]

we do the dining plan as well. Family of 4, ive got two boys that are 7 and 8.

Last year i kept track of how much the meals were to see if the DDP was worth it.

We ate at the following:
Whispering Canyon - food disappointing and felt rushed, total with tips $177.05
Yak & Yeti - First time here, loved it $148.00
Coral Reef - ehhh, we've been before, food was good, not great $158.00
Tutto - it was good, its been A LOT better $197.20
Ohana - Always good $219.00
Tusker House - its a tradition. its good, not great...breakfast $136.20
Mama Melrose - Really good in 2018, so we went back this year. it was just ok $183.00
Garden Grill - It just ok. $223.00

Look at this freakin prices...its a family of 4. It's insane. The quality of the food has declined massively over the years. I hate spending $50 when we eat out at home.

Not only is that a family of 4, but it's one with 2 Disney-aged kids...I don't think any of your bills will be under $200 when your kids turn 10 and 11...and that's crazy for what's mostly TGIFridays/Chili's/Cracker Barrel food quality...