What is your line in the sand?

[Laketravis]

Your comparison would make more sense if the themed or film entertainment industry were as new as the mobile phone industry. Theme parks are over 50 years old, the film industry is over 100 years old. Themed entertainment is hardly in its infancy, so rocketing to success by selling a brand new product in the very early stages doesn't apply to the Disney parks now, maybe in 1960?

You're right. Maybe that was a bad example. I guess it didn't matter that Moto had been around since like 1928....just 5 years after Disney.

Think Sears. Or J.C Penney. Or maybe even what was once the largest retailer in the US, Montgomery Ward.

Oh, wait - that last one isn't around anymore and the first and second, well..........

 

[metzgardesign]

Our line in the sand is wait times followed by money. If they raise prices we'd go less often, but if we can't hop around from ride to ride anymore then it won't be worth it at any price. We're comfortable waiting 20 minutes or so for anything consistently, once everything is 30 or more then we get antsy. More than a half hour and we won't wait - usually at that point its crowded and we start talking about taking a break or going somewhere else.


I don't see the point of paying a bunch of money to waste most of our time in lines, so its absolutely my line in the sand, and three guaranteed experiences per day with minimal waits aren't enough to change that.

We have and do vacation places other than WDW - in a couple weeks we're going to Hawaii again, and are heading the Europe this fall instead of WDW. We are doing a long weekend at DLR in January.

This post really mirrored a discussion here in our family.

We came to the realization that we were PAYING the WDW folks thousands of dollars for the privilege of waiting in lines.

What an odd concept (and no, not one exclusive to WDW.....but the cost-to-line ratio may be higher at WDW than many other places.....higher costs and longer lines, that is).

Not to say that we will never do it again. But it really was a lightswitch moment for us.....

....we are paying way more for WDW hotel rooms than comparable non-property rooms (for the convenience, and inclusivity of course); way more for declining food quality not to mention the need to book much of that 6 months ahead of time (for the shear fact that it is convenient and brings back previous good dining memories....even if the menus have changed and service may not be as good); we are trying to figure out a way to work within WDW's highly manipulative new attraction system, etc. (the list really could go on for us).....

.....all to 'get away from it all' and stand in line.

Odd concept, indeed.

 

[Laketravis]

This post really mirrored a discussion here in our family.

We came to the realization that we were PAYING the WDW folks thousands of dollars for the privilege of waiting in lines.

What an odd concept (and no, not one exclusive to WDW.....but the cost-to-line ratio may be higher at WDW than many other places.....higher costs and longer lines, that is).

Not to say that we will never do it again. But it really was a lightswitch moment for us.....

....we are paying way more for WDW hotel rooms than comparable non-property rooms (for the convenience, and inclusivity of course); way more for declining food quality not to mention the need to book much of that 6 months ahead of time (for the shear fact that it is convenient and brings back previous good dining memories....even if the menus have changed and service may not be as good); we are trying to figure out a way to work within WDW's highly manipulative new attraction system, etc. (the list really could go on for us).....

.....all to 'get away from it all' and stand in line.

Odd concept, indeed.

Wow... since you put it that way.... yeah. I already know how many hundreds of dollars per day it costs us to stay, eat, and play on site - now with 3 FP's and long lines for everything else WDW is making it really easy for me to calculate what I am getting in return.

I know this probably sounds silly because it really isn't "free" but our line in the sand is most likely "free" dining. We've been able to get it every time we've gone since 2010, and we max out our stay at 14 nights to get max value out of it. And max value we get - I gained 4 lbs this last trip. We consumed what would have been over $200 a day in meals and snacks. I would never willingly pay that much out-of-pocket, so in absence of that last little incentive we will be staying off-site in March and eating at places with comparably better food for less dollars. Like Capital Grille. Yum. Caveman like Meat.

That will be the first time we've ever stayed off-site. Ever. Since 1972. I can't even imagine what we might do if we find out we actually LIKE it and making the trek into WDW to use 3 FP's just doesn't seem to be worth it anymore.

 

[JimmyV]

After over 450 posts, it would be impossible to add anything new. But I will just add my $0.02 and echo what many others have said. But as of right now, for the first time since 1972, we do not fall into any of the following categories:

• Just came back from WDW
• Will be going to WDW soon
• Are in the planning stages of our next trip to WDW

Is money the issue?
It's not really the money for us. If we skip going to WDW for a year, we just reallocate that vacation money elsewhere. It's still going to get spent.

Is FP+/MDE the issue?
Hard to put a finger on just one thing. As noted in posts above, Disney has engineered a system that more or less mandates that guests extend their stays (and stay out of the competitor's parks). An interesting strategy, but one that hurts families like ours who were not booking any vacation days in those other parks to begin with. Stretching out my vacation experience over more days just leaves me feeling like I am doing less now each day than I did before. I don't enjoy that. But also as noted above, a lot of this uneasiness will wash away by going at less crowded times. So perhaps we haven't reached a "hard line" in the sand of never going again, we have reached a "soft line" in the sand of never going again during crowded times. We are well past the point of taking the kid out of school, so we probably won't be back until she is in college. And even then, it may just be the wife and I unless the college calendar allows us to do a family vacation when crowds are low.

Is boredom the issue?
Perhaps this feeds into it. We have been to WDW a lot. We were always very conscious of the fact that a child at age 2 has a different experience than a child at age 4, who in turn has a different experience than a child at age 7...and so forth. So we wanted to capture all of those magical ages. But as the parents of a mid-teen, the need to go as often has dissipated. I think that big changes are coming, especially to DHS and hopefully Avatarland will be worth seeing. I can certainly see going back again in several years after there has been some significant expansion. But right now, as of December, 2014, there are fewer things to see and do now than there were in June of 2010. New Fantasyland got added. But more has been stripped away than added in that period of time. My "soft line" in the sand will wash away when there are new, exciting things to do and see. Again, that may be 4-5 years from now.

Is technology the issue?
Maybe. But this is a problem that isn't going to fix itself in 4 or 5 years. I hate that the world is now viewed from a screen held 18 inches from our collective eyes. I hate that when you "people watch" at WDW now, all you see are people staring at their phones. I hate that I have to micro-plan my vacation. It was bad enough having to make calls at 7:00 a.m. to get into CRT or the California Grill. But to have to go on line at midnight to secure spaces to ride rides that may not have standby lines again? While one might think that this feeds my anal-retentive vacation planning nature, it doesn't. It saddens me. I don't want to be tethered to technology when I am on vacation. A beach in the Virgin Islands starts to look more and more attractive.

Are hard ticket events the issue?
Somewhat. Disney seems to be dumbing down the "included in the price of admission" experience so that it can sell you what you used to get as part of your basic ticket. And then when I see reviews like Pete's on the Villains Unleashed event, it sours me all the more. I am not at all opposed to buying an upgraded experience. But it had better be an upgraded experience and not merely a replica of what I used to get before. And it had better last more than an hour if I am going to shell out another $300 for my family.

So there it is. No one thing puts me over the edge. I just don't operate like that. But unless I can go to WDW and visit without the need for apps to secure me ride space, and can complete a full day's itinerary like I am accustomed to, and do not have to pay exorbitant prices to gain access to that which I used to get at no extra cost, and unless there are new, updated rides that don't break down for hours at a time, I will find other ways to spend my vacation dollars.

 

[Laketravis]

Awesome post, Jimmy. I have to say I agree with every word.

After over 450 posts, it would be impossible to add anything new. But I will just add my $0.02 and echo what many others have said. But as of right now, for the first time since 1972, we do not fall into any of the following categories:

• Just came back from WDW
• Will be going to WDW soon
• Are in the planning stages of our next trip to WDW

Is money the issue?
It's not really the money for us. If we skip going to WDW for a year, we just reallocate that vacation money elsewhere. It's still going to get spent.

Is FP+/MDE the issue?
Hard to put a finger on just one thing. As noted in posts above, Disney has engineered a system that more or less mandates that guests extend their stays (and stay out of the competitor's parks). An interesting strategy, but one that hurts families like ours who were not booking any vacation days in those other parks to begin with. Stretching out my vacation experience over more days just leaves me feeling like I am doing less now each day than I did before. I don't enjoy that. But also as noted above, a lot of this uneasiness will wash away by going at less crowded times. So perhaps we haven't reached a "hard line" in the sand of never going again, we have reached a "soft line" in the sand of never going again during crowded times. We are well past the point of taking the kid out of school, so we probably won't be back until she is in college. And even then, it may just be the wife and I unless the college calendar allows us to do a family vacation when crowds are low.

Is boredom the issue?
Perhaps this feeds into it. We have been to WDW a lot. We were always very conscious of the fact that a child at age 2 has a different experience than a child at age 4, who in turn has a different experience than a child at age 7...and so forth. So we wanted to capture all of those magical ages. But as the parents of a mid-teen, the need to go as often has dissipated. I think that big changes are coming, especially to DHS and hopefully Avatarland will be worth seeing. I can certainly see going back again in several years after there has been some significant expansion. But right now, as of December, 2014, there are fewer things to see and do now than there were in June of 2010. New Fantasyland got added. But more has been stripped away than added in that period of time. My "soft line" in the sand will wash away when there are new, exciting things to do and see. Again, that may be 4-5 years from now.

Is technology the issue?
Maybe. But this is a problem that isn't going to fix itself in 4 or 5 years. I hate that the world is now viewed from a screen held 18 inches from our collective eyes. I hate that when you "people watch" at WDW now, all you see are people staring at their phones. I hate that I have to micro-plan my vacation. It was bad enough having to make calls at 7:00 a.m. to get into CRT or the California Grill. But to have to go on line at midnight to secure spaces to ride rides that may not have standby lines again? While one might think that this feeds my anal-retentive vacation planning nature, it doesn't. It saddens me. I don't want to be tethered to technology when I am on vacation. A beach in the Virgin Islands starts to look more and more attractive.

Are hard ticket events the issue?
Somewhat. Disney seems to be dumbing down the "included in the price of admission" experience so that it can sell you what you used to get as part of your basic ticket. And then when I see reviews like Pete's on the Villains Unleashed event, it sours me all the more. I am not at all opposed to buying an upgraded experience. But it had better be an upgraded experience and not merely a replica of what I used to get before. And it had better last more than an hour if I am going to shell out another $300 for my family.

So there it is. No one thing puts me over the edge. I just don't operate like that. But unless I can go to WDW and visit without the need for apps to secure me ride space, and can complete a full day's itinerary like I am accustomed to, and do not have to pay exorbitant prices to gain access to that which I used to get at no extra cost, and unless there are new, updated rides that don't break down for hours at a time, I will find other ways to spend my vacation dollars.

 

[Hokie2000]

You're right. Maybe that was a bad example. I guess it didn't matter that Moto had been around since like 1928....just 5 years after Disney.

Think Sears. Or J.C Penney. Or maybe even what was once the largest retailer in the US, Montgomery Ward.

Oh, wait - that last one isn't around anymore and the first and second, well..........

I didn't say that Motorola was a new company, I said that the consumer mobile phone industry was new. Certainly newer than the entertainment industry.

 

[Hokie2000]

I'm actually glad to hear you say that, because a secular bull market can only continue as long as some people still remain relatively pessimistic. And I'm counting on this one lasting a few more years

Good for you!

 

[Andtototoo]

Great post, Jimmy. Well said.

 

[metzgardesign]

After over 450 posts, it would be impossible to add anything new. But I will just add my $0.02 and echo what many others have said. But as of right now, for the first time since 1972, we do not fall into any of the following categories:

• Just came back from WDW
• Will be going to WDW soon
• Are in the planning stages of our next trip to WDW

Is money the issue?
It's not really the money for us. If we skip going to WDW for a year, we just reallocate that vacation money elsewhere. It's still going to get spent.

Is FP+/MDE the issue?
Hard to put a finger on just one thing. As noted in posts above, Disney has engineered a system that more or less mandates that guests extend their stays (and stay out of the competitor's parks). An interesting strategy, but one that hurts families like ours who were not booking any vacation days in those other parks to begin with. Stretching out my vacation experience over more days just leaves me feeling like I am doing less now each day than I did before. I don't enjoy that. But also as noted above, a lot of this uneasiness will wash away by going at less crowded times. So perhaps we haven't reached a "hard line" in the sand of never going again, we have reached a "soft line" in the sand of never going again during crowded times. We are well past the point of taking the kid out of school, so we probably won't be back until she is in college. And even then, it may just be the wife and I unless the college calendar allows us to do a family vacation when crowds are low.

Is boredom the issue?
Perhaps this feeds into it. We have been to WDW a lot. We were always very conscious of the fact that a child at age 2 has a different experience than a child at age 4, who in turn has a different experience than a child at age 7...and so forth. So we wanted to capture all of those magical ages. But as the parents of a mid-teen, the need to go as often has dissipated. I think that big changes are coming, especially to DHS and hopefully Avatarland will be worth seeing. I can certainly see going back again in several years after there has been some significant expansion. But right now, as of December, 2014, there are fewer things to see and do now than there were in June of 2010. New Fantasyland got added. But more has been stripped away than added in that period of time. My "soft line" in the sand will wash away when there are new, exciting things to do and see. Again, that may be 4-5 years from now.

Is technology the issue?
Maybe. But this is a problem that isn't going to fix itself in 4 or 5 years. I hate that the world is now viewed from a screen held 18 inches from our collective eyes. I hate that when you "people watch" at WDW now, all you see are people staring at their phones. I hate that I have to micro-plan my vacation. It was bad enough having to make calls at 7:00 a.m. to get into CRT or the California Grill. But to have to go on line at midnight to secure spaces to ride rides that may not have standby lines again? While one might think that this feeds my anal-retentive vacation planning nature, it doesn't. It saddens me. I don't want to be tethered to technology when I am on vacation. A beach in the Virgin Islands starts to look more and more attractive.

Are hard ticket events the issue?
Somewhat. Disney seems to be dumbing down the "included in the price of admission" experience so that it can sell you what you used to get as part of your basic ticket. And then when I see reviews like Pete's on the Villains Unleashed event, it sours me all the more. I am not at all opposed to buying an upgraded experience. But it had better be an upgraded experience and not merely a replica of what I used to get before. And it had better last more than an hour if I am going to shell out another $300 for my family.

So there it is. No one thing puts me over the edge. I just don't operate like that. But unless I can go to WDW and visit without the need for apps to secure me ride space, and can complete a full day's itinerary like I am accustomed to, and do not have to pay exorbitant prices to gain access to that which I used to get at no extra cost, and unless there are new, updated rides that don't break down for hours at a time, I will find other ways to spend my vacation dollars.

Very good thoughts.

 

[olwyngdh]

What an odd concept (and no, not one exclusive to WDW.....but the cost-to-line ratio may be higher at WDW than many other places.....higher costs and longer lines, that is).

I have waited in longer lines at other parks than at Disney, although not as bad as DD29 and DSiL--they waited 6 hours for Kingda Kaa the summer it opened at 6 flags NJ.

6 Flags NE often has long waits for rides than Disney.

Back when I used to go to Cedar Point they had long waits.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg often has had lines over 2 hours long. I know at the first year they did Christmastown it was 2 hours just to see the penguins.

Now, all these parks have rides that have shorter lines, but then, so does Disney.

 

[kbelle8995]

I have waited in longer lines at other parks than at Disney, although not as bad as DD29 and DSiL--they waited 6 hours for Kingda Kaa the summer it opened at 6 flags NJ.

6 Flags NE often has long waits for rides than Disney.

Back when I used to go to Cedar Point they had long waits.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg often has had lines over 2 hours long. I know at the first year they did Christmastown it was 2 hours just to see the penguins.

Now, all these parks have rides that have shorter lines, but then, so does Disney.

These are busy times at Disney too. Christmas it will be at least 2 hours to get on Soarin. I believe I saw it was 360 minute wait one holiday. Let's also talk the 5 hour wait just to meet Anna and Elsa this summer. Long lines happen at all theme parks including Disney. So you are correct but I have waited at equally long lines at Disney.

 

[Laketravis]

Yeah, we have AP's for Six Flags as well and take DS for weekend trips to Six Flags over Texas and Fiesta Texas.

They can both have very, very long lines by mid-afternoon. We get there at park opening, ride what we can with short waits, and get out. I can't really stay at either of those parks more than 3 hours or so anyway before I'm ready to leave.

I suppose they actually figured out how to increase guest turnover in their parks long before Disney did, except they don't use FP to do it.

 

[metzgardesign]

I have waited in longer lines at other parks than at Disney, although not as bad as DD29 and DSiL--they waited 6 hours for Kingda Kaa the summer it opened at 6 flags NJ.

6 Flags NE often has long waits for rides than Disney.

Back when I used to go to Cedar Point they had long waits.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg often has had lines over 2 hours long. I know at the first year they did Christmastown it was 2 hours just to see the penguins.

Now, all these parks have rides that have shorter lines, but then, so does Disney.

Doesn't make it any less an odd concept (and one I am guilty of taking part in at times).

Disney seems to strike me a bit more vividly, as it's a place that people are willing to spend tremendous amounts of money and in many case travel great distances, to spend (for some) at least a week of standing in lines for virtually everything.

Salesmanship is everything....."We invite you to spend $4,000+ to travel a great distance from home, to stand in lines that often exceed 10 times the length of the attraction itself. For 3 attractions, we'll allow you make reservations for (within limits) each day (make sure to carry and refer to your smartphone throughout the day for updates and scheduling).

Please remember to schedule your dining 6 months ahead of time. And in exchange for the convenience of onsite transportation (which may be spotty at best sometimes) and more advance capabilities for ride reservations and dining reservations....we will provide you with a basic hotel room (themed, of course, in a decidedly Disney fashion) for 3 times per night what you could get outside the gates.

Don't forget to buy your Walt Disney World® T-shirt and Mickey® plush!"

Not just a WDW phenomenon, but one which they have excelled at.

 

[Suvadoo]

Yeah, we have AP's for Six Flags as well and take DS for weekend trips to Six Flags over Texas and Fiesta Texas.

They can both have very, very long lines by mid-afternoon. We get there at park opening, ride what we can with short waits, and get out. I can't really stay at either of those parks more than 3 hours or so anyway before I'm ready to leave.
I suppose they actually figured out how to increase guest turnover in their parks long before Disney did, except they don't use FP to do it.

OK I give, why do you have to leave after 3 hours? Is it the restrooms?

 

[Laketravis]

OK I give, why do you have to leave after 3 hours? Is it the restrooms?

LOL! It probably has more to do with the predominately teenage local crowd that begins to get overwhelming by mid afternoon than anything else.

They bought their AP's using the monthly pay plan, they've paid for their food for the entire year (lunch and dinner on each park visit) for $75, and they get free tickets to bring their friends.

I think Six Flags figured out there's a ton of disposable income in that demographic, they just need more of them in the parks. They don't seem to put as much line pressure in the parks per-person because they are content to just hang with their friends.

So they attract and use one group of visitors to create higher guest turnover per day among the rest of the groups.

 

[olwyngdh]

Doesn't make it any less an odd concept (and one I am guilty of taking part in at times).

Disney seems to strike me a bit more vividly, as it's a place that people are willing to spend tremendous amounts of money and in many case travel great distances, to spend (for some) at least a week of standing in lines for virtually everything.

Ok, that makes sense--it strikes more vividly at Disney because of the travel and expense. I have been really confused about why people have been upset by lines at Disney when they wait as long or longer at other parks.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

After over 450 posts, it would be impossible to add anything new. But I will just add my $0.02 and echo what many others have said. But as of right now, for the first time since 1972, we do not fall into any of the following categories:

• Just came back from WDW
• Will be going to WDW soon
• Are in the planning stages of our next trip to WDW

Is money the issue?
It's not really the money for us. If we skip going to WDW for a year, we just reallocate that vacation money elsewhere. It's still going to get spent.

Is FP+/MDE the issue?
Hard to put a finger on just one thing. As noted in posts above, Disney has engineered a system that more or less mandates that guests extend their stays (and stay out of the competitor's parks). An interesting strategy, but one that hurts families like ours who were not booking any vacation days in those other parks to begin with. Stretching out my vacation experience over more days just leaves me feeling like I am doing less now each day than I did before. I don't enjoy that. But also as noted above, a lot of this uneasiness will wash away by going at less crowded times. So perhaps we haven't reached a "hard line" in the sand of never going again, we have reached a "soft line" in the sand of never going again during crowded times. We are well past the point of taking the kid out of school, so we probably won't be back until she is in college. And even then, it may just be the wife and I unless the college calendar allows us to do a family vacation when crowds are low.

Is boredom the issue?
Perhaps this feeds into it. We have been to WDW a lot. We were always very conscious of the fact that a child at age 2 has a different experience than a child at age 4, who in turn has a different experience than a child at age 7...and so forth. So we wanted to capture all of those magical ages. But as the parents of a mid-teen, the need to go as often has dissipated. I think that big changes are coming, especially to DHS and hopefully Avatarland will be worth seeing. I can certainly see going back again in several years after there has been some significant expansion. But right now, as of December, 2014, there are fewer things to see and do now than there were in June of 2010. New Fantasyland got added. But more has been stripped away than added in that period of time. My "soft line" in the sand will wash away when there are new, exciting things to do and see. Again, that may be 4-5 years from now.

Is technology the issue?
Maybe. But this is a problem that isn't going to fix itself in 4 or 5 years. I hate that the world is now viewed from a screen held 18 inches from our collective eyes. I hate that when you "people watch" at WDW now, all you see are people staring at their phones. I hate that I have to micro-plan my vacation. It was bad enough having to make calls at 7:00 a.m. to get into CRT or the California Grill. But to have to go on line at midnight to secure spaces to ride rides that may not have standby lines again? While one might think that this feeds my anal-retentive vacation planning nature, it doesn't. It saddens me. I don't want to be tethered to technology when I am on vacation. A beach in the Virgin Islands starts to look more and more attractive.

Are hard ticket events the issue?
Somewhat. Disney seems to be dumbing down the "included in the price of admission" experience so that it can sell you what you used to get as part of your basic ticket. And then when I see reviews like Pete's on the Villains Unleashed event, it sours me all the more. I am not at all opposed to buying an upgraded experience. But it had better be an upgraded experience and not merely a replica of what I used to get before. And it had better last more than an hour if I am going to shell out another $300 for my family.

So there it is. No one thing puts me over the edge. I just don't operate like that. But unless I can go to WDW and visit without the need for apps to secure me ride space, and can complete a full day's itinerary like I am accustomed to, and do not have to pay exorbitant prices to gain access to that which I used to get at no extra cost, and unless there are new, updated rides that don't break down for hours at a time, I will find other ways to spend my vacation dollars.

Well said. I especially agree with the Technology paragraph. It does make me sad, because like Jimmy, we had the privilege of watching my son grow up at WDW, and I had hoped to watch my DGDs do the same, but this last trip has me questioning the possibility of us doing this. It really hits home when you're off to drag them around to make the ADRs and the fp+s, and they're begging for nothing more than to stay and swim in the pool. I can do this anywhere, and since I take 2 trips to Myrtle Beach yearly, it is becoming more of a lure than standing in a long line at a hot amusement park.

 

[canoe86]

Well said. I especially agree with the Technology paragraph. It does make me sad, because like Jimmy, we had the privilege of watching my son grow up at WDW, and I had hoped to watch my DGDs do the same, but this last trip has me questioning the possibility of us doing this. It really hits home when you're off to drag them around to make the ADRs and the fp+s, and they're begging for nothing more than to stay and swim in the pool. I can do this anywhere, and since I take 2 trips to Myrtle Beach yearly, it is becoming more of a lure than standing in a long line at a hot amusement park.

I figure a pool and an escalator, that's about all my kids need.

 

[pooch]

So do we HAVE to drag them to the ADRS and FP+? Sometimes I really question whether any of that adds to my enjoyment. I am at the point where what rides I do (or don't) has little to do with my love of WDW. I could easily spend all morning watching the dancing fountain & listening to my beloved Future World music, having a few drinks & watching World Showcase entertainers, strolling Main Street, watching the entertainers at DHS. These are my Disney moments. Really I don't care if I get a FP for Soarin or TSMM. Been there done that & will be back to try again another time. I will make all my ADRS &. FP+ but not at midnight of day 60. What I get, I get. No worries here. As repeat "offenders" thus should be easy

 

[connorlevismom]

So do we HAVE to drag them to the ADRS and FP+? Sometimes I really question whether any of that adds to my enjoyment. I am at the point where what rides I do (or don't) has little to do with my love of WDW. I could easily spend all morning watching the dancing fountain & listening to my beloved Future World music, having a few drinks & watching World Showcase entertainers, strolling Main Street, watching the entertainers at DHS. These are my Disney moments. Really I don't care if I get a FP for Soarin or TSMM. Been there done that & will be back to try again another time. I will make all my ADRS &. FP+ but not at midnight of day 60. What I get, I get. No worries here. As repeat "offenders" thus should be easy

I am not sure if you posted earlier, but do you have kids? There is NO way that my kids would be happy sitting around watching dancing fountains, as much as I would love to. In the 10 day trip that we just got back from we went to the parks everyday, yes everyday. Because my kids love the rides and that is all they wanted to do. So FP+ and ADR's are extremely necessary for us. And all of that had made the trips much less enjoyable. I don't want to plan where I am going to be 2 months from now, what rides I will want to ride and where I am going to want to eat. But it has gotten to the point where that is what you have to do, because standby lines have gotten longer and without FP+ reservations, we may not get on what you want to ride without a 45+ minute wait.