What is your line in the sand?

[pooch]

For me the line would be lack of ride maintance, lack of cleanliness, lack of general maintenance, things like that. Those are the reasons we don't go to 6 flags New England, even though it is only about a half hour from our house. I think we have been spoiled between going to disney and the years we lived near Busch gardens Williamsburg. Run down parks that think they are all that and a bag of chips are just not places I want to spend my time and money even if they do have new rides I figure by the end of the first season they will have suffered from the se poor maintance as the rest.

I'm literally across the river from 6 Flags New England and haven't set foot in there for YEARS. YUK!!!

I still love Disney. Love the Dining Plan when its free (I know, I know) FP+ lets me continue to skip rope drop (have never been!) SWA gives me free flights and, MOST IMPORTANT, DD lives in Kissimmee. So a visit to WDW means a visit with her. PRICELESS at any price for me

 

[poppinspenguins]

I'm literally across the river from 6 Flags New England and haven't set foot in there for YEARS. YUK!!!

I still love Disney. Love the Dining Plan when its free (I know, I know) FP+ lets me continue to skip rope drop (have never been!) SWA gives me free flights and, MOST IMPORTANT, DD lives in Kissimmee. So a visit to WDW means a visit with her. PRICELESS at any price for me

We took our 80 year old grandmother (in great shape, walked all day) to Epcot for her birthday and for her first time. She is an avid gardener and we went during Flower and Garden. I may harp on the price (deservedly so!), but that day truly was priceless.

 

[ladyjubilee]

I have to make a confession, WDW isn't my favorite vacation or my family's favorite. Before my son came to us, we picked SeaWorld or going to historical sites.

Once my son came to us, we heard how great WDW was for ASD kids. And my son does make months of progress during trips.

So my line is when WDW stops working for my son. We'll see during this trip if it still works for us.

 

[RustManFan]

Price has made it so my trips are less frequent.... changing benefits by hotel category would cost them a customer.

 

[warrenz1963]

WDW is not our be-all end-all destination. It's one of many vacation destinations (national parks, "coaster" parks) where we go to enjoy ourselves. The only thing that would keep me from returning to the Magic Kingdom (or any other Disney park) is price. So far it's still doable for us, but for example we visit national park sites throughout the US much more often because it costs so much less in every aspect.

 

[chelseabun76]

As long as I can get my youngest son on his trip (but maybe to DL for the Cars land), and then maybe go on one more trip in the distant future, I'll be happy with my trips there. It's the flights that kill us, we don't find the hotel bad since we usually pay about the same for a hotel in the city near where we live that we do at Disney...

 

[SmithSmith]

Im glad that all the changes have been beneficial for you. But I only give those as examples.

Can you think of anything that would change your mind? All those changes were good with you, and that is a wonderful thing. But they pushed a lot of people too far. Obviously they didnt push me completely over the edge, i still go, just less. I also added Universal this last trip. So my touring has changed.

I truly am very curious.

Other examples (would these bother you?) These are all just brainstorming (Disney please dont get any ideas)
1. 25-50% upcharge for MK
2. Discontinuation of Annual pass (i have no bias in this, not an AP holder)
3. Charging admission fee for 1 yr old and up.

Thanks! I really can't think of a single thing that would turn me away.

1. An up charge for Magic Kingdom wouldn't bother me one bit. On our next trip we'll be getting 7 day pass (no hopper) for about $50 per person, per day. I honestly can't think of anywhere else I could get a full days worth of entertainment and transportation for so little money.

2. I'm not an AP holder, so I don't care. However, I think AP's are a bargain! If only I lived closer!

3. I don't have kids, and I doubt I ever will, but if I did I wouldn't bother taking a 1 year old.

 

[ariane37]

A couple things touched on by PP's would most likely cause us to cut our trips down to every few years - I can't say that I would totally stop going

If all rides/attractions became FP only. I know it gets thrown around here, some think its coming and others don't see it ever happening. I like to think it won't ever happen, but you never know.......

As corny as it may sound, when the "magic" is gone. I'm in my 40's & still find the word "magical" applies on our trips. Not necessarily every day, and some trips more than others, but its definitely still a feeling I get when I'm there If that stops, the trips become less.

 

[OB1]

WE are still regulars, with often multiple trips per year. Since the price keeps going up, up, up, we have adjusted by either eating off site, no table service, and fewer souvenirs. The cost is higher, but we have kept the increases under control.

As long as we keep having a great time and enjoying the Disney touch, we will keep attending. If it gets too expensive, we will drop to just once a year. We considered a trip mid December, but because of the cost, decided the Biltmore would be a good Christmas cheer trip. Its also a 3rd of the travel time.

 

[Mome Rath]

I love FP+, it suits our touring style.
I love that on-site guest get preferential treatment.
CM's and guest services have been fantastic!
I am not wealthy by any means, but I do not think Disney is too expensive.
I can't wait to see the results of all the recent construction.

I love what Disney has been doing, so for me, there is no line in sight.

I agree. I've been going to the World since I was a little un, and I took a break when I was a teen. Not because of Disney, just because I had other interests. I would go then every other year or so during that time, as an adult I began going yearly again, and now I go twice a year, and that includes flying there for me. So, no realistic line in sight for me presently.

Now, if we are going hypothetical... they could close or destroy (literally) World Showcase in EPCOT, and that would probably do it for me.

 

[MsThumper]

WDW is our "no-worries" trip of the year. An hour and a half drive and we are there. However, paying rack price to stay in one of the deluxe resorts would be our line in the sand.

 

[kelleybean]

Cost. Knowing that we could go to Europe or South America for (oftentimes) the same price irks me a bit. If it becomes too cost prohibitive it might be just a once in a great great while treat.

But in terms of service and decision-making, we were on the Fantasy in Hurricane Sandy and after a death-defying night Disney gave us only 25% off another cruise. It fell short of expectations, especially after a night sitting in the lobby thinking we might be in the water at any moment BECAUSE of their decision making. They wanted to push up the coast to get back to port. It was a decision based on their schedule and finances, not the safety and comfort of passengers.

And after all of that, GUESS WHAT WE DID LAST FEBRUARY. I'll never cruise in hurricane season again, but I gladly used my 25% off for a Western Caribbean Cruise and we had a great time. So maybe if I HAD actually died I wouldn't go back again? HA!

We were on the same cruise! That was awful! I was furious with them for how that was handled. I wasn't so much worried that we were going to go under water, but that it got SO rough. Our closet door was absolutely slamming open and shut every time the ship moved. I was traveling with both my parents and in-laws and was very worried that someone was going to fall and get seriously hurt because the ship was rocking so hard. In my opinion, that decision to get back to port was insane.

 

[allshookup]

The things that keep us coming back are cleanliness, upkeep and friendliness of most CMs, but the deal breaker would be lack of transportation. I know a lot of people don't like using the buses, but a big draw for us is never having to drive anywhere. Driving for both me and DH is stressful and we like to be able to have a couple of drinks with dinner and not worry about having to jump in the car. Not saying that would ever happen, but if it did....

 

[Jennasis]

Well we just bought DVC this year so it isn't that we don't have have a line in the sand, rather that line has changed. We will continue to travel to Disney, and stay at our DVC resort (so increases in resort price aren't an issue), but we may adjust what we DO with our time while there. I foresee trips with NO park time...instead using the resort as a base while we explore the beach, Orlando, USO, SW and other spots. Or even trips that are solely to relax AT the resort. I can foresee less onsite eating, and more off site noshing. We already do very very little in the way of souvenirs.

We don't fly, so that isn't an issue. No kids either.

 

[jensen]

Here's another vote for price.

We first started going to Disney as a family soon after 9/11 when things were cheap. Ten years later and our kids are now Disney adults. We are staying in the same value resort, but only getting QS dining instead of the DDP (which at that point included tip and appetizer). We are expecting to spent nearly 200% more than that first trip.

We still love it, but they are pricing us out of annual visits.

Does anyone know? Does Disney do something as a reward for frequent visitors like they do for the cruise lines? Castaway Club?

 

[SmithSmith]

For me the line would be lack of ride maintance, lack of cleanliness, lack of general maintenance, things like that. Those are the reasons we don't go to 6 flags New England, even though it is only about a half hour from our house. I think we have been spoiled between going to disney and the years we lived near Busch gardens Williamsburg. Run down parks that think they are all that and a bag of chips are just not places I want to spend my time and money even if they do have new rides I figure by the end of the first season they will have suffered from the se poor maintance as the rest.

So far this is the only example given that could turn me away. However, I think this scenario is highly unlikely.

 

[wisblue]

I don't draw lines in the sand because the rain tends to come and wash them away.

There isn't one factor that goes into any decision I make about where I want to travel, and WDW is no different. If I decide that I don't want to go again anytime in the near future because it costs too much for the enjoyment I get, I won't go. But, I probably won't come to a website to announce that I'm not going because I don't see why anyone should care.

 

[kbelle8995]

I think my line in the sand was the high prices and the implementation of FP+.

Especially when one look around and sees more affordable options.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I don't really know if I could pinpoint anything specific. I'd first have to have something that I could compare WDW to for reference, but there really isn't anything like it. The closest option I have is Cedar Point, which really isn't comparable. Now, when I do Cedar Point I stay on site for free (my parents have a boat), the tickets and in-park costs are comparable to WDW's, and the thrill rides are spectacularly better than anything the mouse puts out. But the food sucks, shows are basically nonexistent, workers clearly would rather not be there, the park is dirty, my daughter and husband actually can't ride most of the rides, there's rarely fireworks, zero 'magic', you can't go there during the winter (and you wouldn't want to), and there's nothing offsite worth seeing (unless you're really into off track betting on harness racing). And ultimately, it's ONE park. So basically, in order to stop me going to WDW, Disney would have to offer a product that is inferior to what I get at Cedar Point.

I'm really impressed at people who say they can travel to Europe for less than a WDW vacation. My last Europe trip was more than twice what I usually pay to go to WDW. I'm by no means rich, but I consider WDW to be a cheaper option trip to be taken in between more expensive vacations. I mean, international airfares alone are killer! Perhaps it's having multiple kids that makes a difference.

Edited to say, I really do like Cedar Point! It's a different experience.

 

[poppinspenguins]

Well we just bought DVC this year so it isn't that we don't have have a line in the sand, rather that line has changed. We will continue to travel to Disney, and stay at our DVC resort (so increases in resort price aren't an issue), but we may adjust what we DO with our time while there. I foresee trips with NO park time...instead using the resort as a base while we explore the beach, Orlando, USO, SW and other spots. Or even trips that are solely to relax AT the resort. I can foresee less onsite eating, and more off site noshing. We already do very very little in the way of souvenirs.

We don't fly, so that isn't an issue. No kids either.

Totally agree. We did this last trip and loved. We did go to the parks 2 days, but the rest of the week we did as we pleased. Shopping, Universal, pool time.
I think i am more disillusioned with the parks than the resorts right now. A value resort can make a really good home base for a family doing Orlando on a budget.