Where are you getting your dose of magic? Lost magic

[RamblingMad]

Even more ridiculous is the number of people who will pay those prices without any care whatsoever.

The reality is that most of those people are putting the extra costs on their credit card. In the future, they might file bankruptcy. But this still has the impact of keeping prices elevated.

With higher inflation, I expect Disney to hit a speed bump with pricing soon.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We are not planning on going to WDW as often and if we do go, it will be shorter trips, more time at resort, less time in parks and probably go over to Universal. We do have 2 Disney cruises planned. I prefer a more relaxing vacation and WDW is not relaxing (for us). But, it doesn't have to be Disney to be magic. You can find that anywhere.

 

[easyas123]

But, it doesn't have to be Disney to be magic. You can find that anywhere.

Exactly.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Well considering we get just as many I wanna move to WDW threads as we do waaaah the magic is gone threads around here, some people think the magic is still there.

As for me I've always liked Disneyland better. California is a better destination outside of Disney also.

I just remember when Ohana replaced pineapple with bread pudding with bananas foster sauce. The restaurant board was up in arms about how that was yet another example of declining disney. I was like Declining? Heck. that's an upgrade.

 

[Brian Noble]

Even more ridiculous is the number of people who will pay those prices without any care whatsoever.

"It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business." (NSFW)

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

For me, the magic of Disney World has been eliminated. The removal of perks and increased costs have finally taken their toll. I’m not going to spend time listing each gripe because they’ve been talked about exhaustively on message boards. I spent this last year acting like I had broken up with a lover (who was actually just Disney World). I know, I know. I’m pathetic that I would base so much of my happiness and joy around traveling to a theme park, but I did! I went through anger and resentment and depression. It wasn’t pretty. How did I even get to this place of being hooked on Disney? Remember back in college (I’m talking early 2000’s) when it was frowned upon to be a fan of Disney? Let’s face it, even though it wasn’t cool to like Disney in my late teens and early 20’s, everyone my age (millennial) always held a torch for the golden years of animated movies like Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. But for a long time, anything that held the Disney name was dead to me. Then around 2009 Disney animation was resurrected with movies like Tangled, Princess and the Frog, Frozen, and Brave. Animated movies started improving and Disney got some credibility back. Then the parks came into my life when I took a trip to Disney World, paid for by my in-laws, in 2012. It was my first time at Disney World since I went as a 10 year-old in 1995, and WOW! I was hooked. The magic I felt, from the moment I was whisked away from the airport by Magical Express to the beauty and cleanliness of Coronado Springs resort, was indescribable. I felt pure joy. The parks and rides amazed me. I felt that something that was missing in my life had been found! Since that trip I spent years telling family and coworkers how a Disney World vacation was expensive, but worth it because of how much was included! There were no worries from arrival to departure! I was all in. I bought DVC and have been to Disney World 15+ times since that 2012 trip. Now I’m here, venting about my broken heart on a message board. So if you’ve even made it this far in my rant….

What are you all doing to get your dose of magic right now? Is it still Disney for you? Have you found something new? I’m asking out of curiosity and I guess desperation to recapture the feeling that only Disney has given me the past 10 years and is now lost.

We skip the parks for the most part! We spend more money on nicer resorts and good dinners, create our own pub and restaurant crawls and see the other side of Disney. Tours, Specialty dining and cruises etc. There is so much more to Disney, let the 'influencers' have the parks! LOL

 

[tvguy]

Disney isn't charging a cent more than people are willing to pay, so far. Is this what Walt wanted? Absolutely not. But as some of the defenders of the current Disney management point out, Walt's been dead for over 55 years and the Disney family has washed their hands of the company, so it doesn't matter.

 

[TB'sWidow]

Isn't the obvious answer Disneyland? The magic is still there and improving.

This I’m going to go to Disneyland in May to celebrate turning 60 and my Dd college graduation first time I have ever been there and I’m really excited and hope I get the love of all things Disney back. I was a long time visitor of WDW but it’s just turning into a price buster for me with not much in return. Totally understand you Op

 

[CdnCarrie]

Honestly?
You're young! Go see other places! I love Disney. Just returned from DL this summer - first trip to the mouse in several years.
The truth was by day 4 (out of 5) I was bored. I have rode Peter Pan dozens of times in my life. I can't just keep riding the same theme park rides over and over.
It's a big world out thing. Explore it.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

OP, I do relate, and I'm not happy with most of the changes at WDW over the past year and previous few years. For me the breaking point was Genie+, and I have moved on from visiting the parks, at least for now. Since then, instead of looking to my next Disney trip for happiness, I've looked for ways to find more joy in my everyday life, such as new hobbies, activities, learning new things, meeting new people, etc. I'd rather have what you call "magic" be an ongoing experience instead of relegated mainly to Disney trips. I still miss WDW the way it once was, but I don't much miss it the way it is now. I'm also taking the opportunity to visit national parks and other travel destinations. Although it was sad that WDW is no longer as I liked it, I actually think it's for the best that I have new bandwidth to explore so many other aspects of life. I wouldn't want to end up regretting that I put so much into Disney that I missed all the other great experiences life has to offer. So I view this as an opportunity to do everything else.

 

[MIGrandma]

I’ve replaced WDW with Mackinac Island So beautiful! Transportation is by horse and carriage, bicycle or on foot. So much to see and do. I try to visit at least once or twice a year. DH will occasionally go with me. He likes the island but it’s not his ”happy place” like it is mine. I’m on the island now for a 5-night visit, the fall colors are just gorgeous.

 

[MillauFr]

This I’m going to go to Disneyland in May to celebrate turning 60 and my Dd college graduation first time I have ever been there and I’m really excited and hope I get the love of all things Disney back. I was a long time visitor of WDW but it’s just turning into a price buster for me with not much in return. Totally understand you Op

Disneyland is way more reasonable and a much better bargain.

 

[MillauFr]

The reality is that most of those people are putting the extra costs on their credit card. In the future, they might file bankruptcy. But this still has the impact of keeping prices elevated.

With higher inflation, I expect Disney to hit a speed bump with pricing soon.

Why would anyone put a vacation on their credit card and not pay in full every month.

 

[RamblingMad]

Why would anyone put a vacation on their credit card and not pay in full every month.

In theory that makes sense. But I highly doubt that's how most people vacation given rising costs.

 

[MamaLema]

I lost the magic many years ago. There is a big beautiful world out there to explore!
Ive been to so many cool non-Disney places and don’t miss WDW at all!

 

[MillauFr]

I lost the magic many years ago. There is a big beautiful world out there to explore!
Ive been to so many cool non-Disney places and don’t miss WDW at all!

You haven't been to Disneyland? You would never go back to WDW if you did.

 

[China Expat]

Forer cast member and AP holder here...we moved away from Disney and started to travel the world, at a fraction of the cost of a single Disney trip!

 

[Magical2017]

I love traveling to new places. Visiting a theme park every year or other year is fun, but I also like to see other parts of the world. It doesn't matter if it's the beach, lake, domestic, international, whatever. I love the planning part almost as much as the trip itself.

 

[disneychrista]

Isn't the obvious answer Disneyland? The magic is still there and improving.

I really wish I could agree with you, as Disneyland has always been my Disney park. But the changes I have seen/heard about being made just don't make it feel magical. Crowds, reservations, FP being replaced with a paid option, no more EE, etc. I really hope that when I make it back, I can still feel the "magic" I once did.

 

[MillauFr]

I really wish I could agree with you, as Disneyland has always been my Disney park. But the changes I have seen/heard about being made just don't make it feel magical. Crowds, reservations, FP being replaced with a paid option, no more EE, etc. I really hope that when I make it back, I can still feel the "magic" I once did.

Go to WDW and then go to Disneyland. The difference is outstanding.