Your 10 Worst Things and 10 Best Things About WDW

[avoiding work]

This is pretty fun!

Top 10:

10. Singing Zip-a-dee-do-dah at the end of Splash Mountain
9. Running and skipping to the bus terminal in the morning to head to the parks
8. Riding Thunder Mountain when its dark outside
7. Flying in Peter Pan’s pirate ship
6. Eating Mickey-shaped ice cream
5. Walking back after Illuminations, including Mouse Gear
4. Boat rides between Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin, and YC/BC
3. Being there with great weather and low crowds
2. Swimming in the fun pools with my kids
1. Using fast passes when the regular line is very long.

Bottom 10:

1. The whole last day.
2. Paying a ton of money for park admission, and then paying a lot more for the Halloween or Christmas party
3. Rude people and line cutters
4. Picking the slowest line for ride or food
5. Rides that are being refurbished while I am there.
6. Just missing a bus/boat, and then waiting for a real long time for the next one.
7. The back half of Hollywood Studios
8. The amount of time it takes to take a bus from one resort to another (which requires a stop in between)
9. People who hold tables for the rest of their party who are in line, while my family stands there with our food getting cold, waiting for a table.
10.

 

[Fanboy]

10. That horrific drinking water that tastes like farm-runoff. I'm pretty sure it's just piped directly out of the surrounding swamps. With the annual price increases you would think they could afford to throw a filter in there somewhere.
9. Coca-Cola having the drinking concession which means that once the SmartWater is sold out, all that's left is that Dasani-tation water which tastes IMHO worse than the farm-runoff water.
8. Calling the value resorts "resorts" when they are no better than any highway motel, with theming. We stayed at the ASMo this trip, our first on-site stay, and while the room was clean and functional, calling it a "Disney resort" built up certain expectations in our minds that were immediatly expunged upon opening the door to the room.
7. Photopass pricing. I can get 2 4"x6" prints for only $14.96 plus shipping? WOW! Where's my wallet!?
6. SOME Photopass pictures. Okay, this one is definitely results may vary, and many of our Photopass pictures are wonderful! They are artfully arranged and well composed. However many of them -- TOO many of them considering the pricing -- are fuzzy, out of focus, focused on the floor or capturing moments that aren't really moments, like Buzz crossing in front of the kids so all you see is a big fuzzy, out of focus picture of Buzz Butt.
5. Spending countless hours planning and route mapping only to just throw it all away to wing it at the parks -- and still having a great time! Was that time just wasted?
4. Pizza Planet. Let this stand in for all the horrible "restaurants" at HS. The worst, bar none, pizza we have ever had the displeasure of paying $60 for. They were so bad that no one, not even DS5 who eats everything, could even finish their pizzas.
3. That horrible CGI abomination fiasco (fiasconation? abominasco?) that's supposed to be Journey Into Imagination. I love Monty Python and Eric Idle is a genius, but even he couldn't save this patient.
2. Construction! I know it's a necessary evil, but no IASM or Teacups for us made me a sad panda.
1. Drunks at Epcot. I love the park, but some people treat it like it's the wagon and they can finally fall off. No problem with drinking, but the beligerence and aggression is not something I want, or want my kids, to see on vacation.


10. The Disney Store at Olando International. A really nicely themed little taste of what's to come.
9. Magical Express. This FANTASTIC service is included in the cost of my stay? That's a piece of Disney magic that further helps set the stage.
8. THE SIGN and the ME bus driver who slowed down on the way into the park so that everyone on the park could take a picture of that iconic entrance sign.
7. Free dining and the restaurants we got to try out that we never would have without it. 'Ohana, 1900 Park Faire and Whispering Canyon Café were all excellent meals and, more importantly, excellent memories all due to FD.
6. Sitting on the bridge over Splash Mountain and watching the water cannon catch people unawares (the way it caught me moments earlier).
5. Tinkerbell's flight during Wishes, especially as everyone discovers her and you can hear the whole audience explode in a rising "Ooooohhhhh!!"
4. The look on DS5s face (and whoops of joy) when he and dad rode BTMR and the elation he exuded afterward telling his mom and DD7 (and random CMs) about every twist and turn. It was his first roller coaster and was an extra special landmark after having been heartbreakingly sent out of the lineup for the Primeval Whirl at AK the day before because he didn't make the height requirement.
3. Both the "Partners" statue, to remind you where it all began, and the statue of Roy with Minnie to remind you of the other players that made it happen.
2. Going through the turnstiles and seeing the WDW Railroad pulling into the Main Street station above the garden of Mickey and it finally hitting you where you are.
1. The magic. I've been to lots of other amusement parks, but there's only one Walt Disney World.

 

[Minnesota!]

Worst:

1 - Prices of deluxe for what you get. Even with discounts, there is no way that I would spend that money to stay there when I am out of the room for most of the day. And, match up the prices you are paying to any 5* hotel and it doesn't even compare. The service, while excellent, is far below anything you would receive at a comparably priced hotel outside of WDW.

2 - Free Dining. Ruining the food choices. Ruined the ability to be spontaneous in your choices of meals.

3 - The pit that is DTD. When there were nightclubs and a night life there...it was a blast!!! We had so many good times there. Now...a ghost town after a certain time of day. Very depressing to not have that night life available to us anymore!

4 - Lack of new countries in Epcot. We need some fresh "meat". There is the room, there is the need. What about bringing in Russia, South Africa, Greece, Iceland, etc. Something new and fun!

5 - All the old empty buildings at Epcot! Odyssey is so depressing...PUT SOMETHING THERE! What about the Wonders of Life pavilion?? I loved it there!! Bring something back!

6 - Lack of boy themed attractions/meals. My kids would love a Star Wars meal at DHS or something along those lines! ENOUGH PRINCESSES!

7 - Skyway - I only got to ride it once. And I loved it!

8 - Aunt Polly's "restaurant" ceasing to exist. That used to be our fave. We would take the raft over, grab a turkey sandwich and a bag of chips and sit on the patio and people watch. Was a nice respite from the crazy park!

9 - Restaurant in American pavilion. What a joke. So that's what we want the rest of the world to view us as? Fast food junk food? What about a nice steakhouse with Midwest beef, some fabulous southern sides, some food from every region in the country?? I don't get it. This is supposed to represent US and we give them processed frozen meats and the same fries you get everywhere. Charming.

10 - The lack of creativity in this new theme. Blech. Fire whomever came up with that one!


Best:

1- the Disney smell. Hot sun, clean, happiness. I wish I could bottle it.

2 - the cm's. Seriously. Most of them have been amazing. The training program that WDW has in place must be incredible!

3 - The music. just hearing it puts me in an instant happy mood!

4 - the transportation. While it's not spot on 100%...for as many people as they must cart around every day...they do a damn fine job!

5 - the themes at resorts. While not all are anything I am interested in, they do a good job of getting you believing you are actually in the Caribbean, or actually at a North woods lodge.

6 - Boma dinner. Nuf said.

7 - Illuminations

8 - Spaceship Earth. We must ride it at least 20x a trip. So relaxing, so nice. it just really makes me feel like I am on vacation!!

9 - Pop Century. Hated it my first time there. Now, through my kids eyes, I have come to love it. It's loud, crazy, colorful, teaming with happy people. A lot like my life

10 - being able to go as much as I have been able to. We have been blessed to be able to afford as many vacations there as we have. It's our happy place. It's our go to place when things are rough. My DH and I have reconnected there, we have made big life decisions there, we have shared amazing times there with just the 2 of us and now with our boys. There is nothing like WDW...i

 

[John Paul]

10 Worst

1.Tom Sawyer Island...It takes way too much time to wait to go over and then wait to come back! I don't like watching others having fun while I wait in line to get over to wait in line at BTMRR! Que Lengths

2. Empty Wonders of Life

3. Captain EO

4. Lack of restaurants in AK

5. Missing fireworks due to ADRs being pushed back from walk up eaters

6. Tomorrowland Speedway should be renamed Last century Speedway!

7. No Mr Toad!

8. Lack of a GOOD Cheeseburger or cup of Coffee!

9. Dinoland

10. Sounds Dangerous???

Good
1. Sights, sounds walking from Illuminations toward Spaceship Earth at park close!

2. School Bread

3. TOT

4. Monorail entering Epcot!

5. AKL and Boma!

6. CM's

7. Oh Canada!

8. Character Interactions with kids!

9. Haunted Mansion at night

10. Splash mountain!

 

[marielynn724]

10 WORST things about Walt Disney World:

1. The new million-dollar luxury vacation homes, as mentioned by OP. Everything keeps getting more and more expensive and inaccessible. Disney should not just be for the very wealthy.
2. The constant pushing of the DVC all the time, also as mentioned by OP.
3. Lack of individualized merchandise, also mentioned by OP.
4. The relentless corporate sponsorship. I know it is a necessary evil, though.
5. Nasty disgusting food at Tony's Town Square. Especially spaghetti and meatballs *gag*
6. Crowds and long lines.
7. Expensive!
8. Super-cold air conditioning (I know most people probably love this, but I am freezing all the time!)
9. I'm afraid DTD is going to lose all of its original funky character with yet more shopping. Please Please PLEASE bring back the Adventurer's Club!
10. Carousel of Snoozefest. I mean Progress. (And a few others that really, really need an update)

10 BEST things about Walt Disney World:

1. Most of the food. Dole whips, chocolate covered rice krispies treats, mickey waffles, butterfinger cupcakes, turkey legs for the hubby, le cellier cheddar cheese soup, food and wine festival yummies, I could go on and on.... just check out the food porn thread!
2. The cleanliness of everything.
3. The kind, helpful, friendly, and unrelentingly polite CMs. I have never encountered a CM anywhere that did not go above and beyond to be nice and perform their duty efficiently. No other place in the world has employees like Disney.
4. How easy and hassle-free everything is compared to other travel. Geez they even take your luggage for you! Magic Express is the best thing ever! And once you are there, you can get around anywhere!
5. The insane level of detail that goes into the themes of each place, whether it is a land, a resort, or a specific attraction. Especially the music!
6. Cinderella's castle. I see it and I just start crying. It never fails and I just can't help it.
7. Soarin!!!!
8. MNSSHP
9. World Showcase
10. Animal Kingdom as a whole.

 

[eliza61]

It is so interesting how different peoples likes and dislikes are.

I don't think I have 10 dislikes.

1) Disney food. Sorry, over priced and mediocre value, even for a theme park, it's bad.
2) No individuality anymore in merchandise. Do I really need hannah montana at the Beach club gift shop?
3) Lack of creativity in DTD. or the "Walmartization of DTD" The new hyperion wharf is about as "un-imaginative" as you can get IMO. It's a mall with big spot lights. My 12th grade design and tech students could have come up with more than these.
4) Empty buildings at Epcot. Eye sores plain and simple
5) Broken Yeti. Never, ever worked consistently. piss poor job disney
6) Fantasmic cutbacks Dear Disney, one should not have to plan down to the nano second in order to see one of your most popular night time attractions.

10 things I love.

1) attention to detail. for the most part, some of the cues are just about as interesting as the ride.
2) Music It seems to go so perfectly with the rides and the resorts. hearing the music at WL or on the broadwalk always makes me smile.

3) Waldorf Astoria You know I don't mind paying deluxe prices if what I get is truly a deluxe. What I do hate is paying Grand floridian prices and get Marriott quality. finally a place for me for the few times I want to get my "luxury" on and feel like I'm getting my moneys worth.
4) Guest for the most part, guest are happy and smiling. sure you get the occasional kid meltdown or stress out parent but 90% of the time I find the guest I encounter are happy, pleasant and polite. That's pretty nice.
5) Pools I love the resort pools.
6) live shows. You know, they're pretty good.
7) the monorail classic disney.
8) space ship earth, space mountain, tree of life and Hollywood hotel
9) Welcome to Disneyworld sign dontcha just get happy when you pass under that sign on the highway?

 

[hsmamato2]

wow I have a hard time arguing with OP! tho I don;t mind the big hat too much,I love the studios and think they're fun. other than that I agree on best and worst!

 

[JennyMP03]

My lists are based on my one visit as an adult and in no particular order.

Worst:

1) People pushing and making a mad rush when the doors to a show or attraction opens. That scared me as a petite woman, even with my husband seizing my hand and refusing to let go as we were driven forward on the wave of swarming guests; I can only imagine how frightening it can be for small kids being tugged behind their parents!
2) Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. So glad to hear it's gone.
3) This was our fault: being so exhausted that I was falling asleep while sitting straight up on the last day. We had one week in August and pushed ourselves hard, never taking a day to rest or even returning to the resort to nap. We went all day, everyday, and it took its toll. It was the best vacation I've ever had, but there were several points where I felt ill because it was just too much. I know now to do things differently next time.
4) Long lines for characters.
5) DHS has no charm in my eyes. Like a few others have said, it almost doesn't feel like Disney World. I think perhaps the theme work there is just not as immersive as the other parks.
6) Trying to ride TSM three different times and never managing to do so because FastPasses were out and the standby line was always more than an hour long.
7) The summer humidity is killer, and I live on the Gulf Coast, so it's not like it's anything new to me.
8) I tried a turkey leg with great expectations and almost gagged. It was so fatty! DH wouldn't eat it either, so into the trash it went.
9) People taking flash pictures on Pirates of the Caribbean. Rather inconsiderate.
10) As many others have pointed out, that last-day-feeling isn't a pleasant one. How sad it is to ride the Magical Express as it takes you AWAY from WDW!


Best:
1) WDW buses. Part of the magic of the trip was that DH and I could both observe and chat while someone else ushered us around. I love seeing others planning their day, loved the music, loved the drivers. Seeing the bus round the corner with your destination flashing on the front sign is a wonderful moment of triumph: yay, finally, here we go!
2) Disney Dining Plan. When we go out to restaurants, we choose entrees with the price in mind. At WDW, we ordered whatever we wanted and it was a wonderful sense of freedom.
3) We're eternally grateful that a friend insisted we try the Dole Whip Float! It was the perfect treat on a hot summer day.
4) Kilimanjaro Safari first thing in the morning. The animals were out and a giraffe walked right up to our jeep. We just loved it.
5) Animal Kingdom in general-- just gorgeous theming, and two of the best shows on property: FotLK and Nemo.
6) The Norwegian bakery, where I held out my hand with a bit of coconut and one of the tiny birds jumped into my palm to get it. Thanks for my Disney Princess moment, sweet tiny bird!
7) Cinderella's Castle, an enduring symbol of childhood hope and imagination.
8) Watching Wishes from California Grill.
9) Wearing our Just Married buttons and being congratulated, given champagne, taken to the front of the line on Expedition Everest, showered with confetti, fussed over by characters. We would never ask for extras-- being at Disney World was enough-- but cast members and even other guests really made us feel special. I have to smile fondly when I look at those buttons in my WDW box!
10) Character dining, which was supposedly booked for my benefit but made my husband grin ear to ear.

 

[sigmaphi289]

My DD's top 10 List. 6 years old

1. Run away train - BTMR
2. Lion King Show
3. The Princesses
4. BBB - Bibbity Boppity Boutique
5. Fairies
6. Alladin's Magic Carpet
7. Soarin
8. Safari Ride
9. Seeing the Castle
10.Meeting Rapuzel

Bottom 10 List

1. Splash Mountian
2. Leaving
3. Space Mountain
4. Drew Carey's Show - Sounds Dangerous
5. Tower of Terror
6. Figment
7. Living with the Land
8. It's tough to be a bug
9. Pull out beds are hard
10. Waiting in lines

DS's Top 10 List, 3 years old

1. Buzz Lightyear Ride
2. Peter Pan
3. It's a small world
4. Toy Story Mania
5. Meeting Peter Pan
6. Snacks, Preztels, Popcorn and Mickey's Ears Ice Cream
7. Soarin
8. Monorail
9. Safari
10. Pirate Show

Bottom 10 List

1. Maelstrom
2. Goofy's Barnstormer
3. Spaceship Earth
4. Philarmagic
5. Haunted Mansion
6. PoTC
7. Snow White Scary Adventure
8. Alladin's Magic Carpet, Dumbo rides
9. Ellen's Energy Adventure
10. Ride home

DW, Top 10

1. Seeing the Castle
2. Seeing disney through kids eyes
3. RNRC
4. Mickey's Rice Crispy Treats
5. Fantasyland
6. Soarin
7. Lion King Show
8. Space Mountain
9. Disney Hotels
10. Night Parade/Firework Show

Bottom 10

1. Disney bus system
2. Rude cast members
3. Haunted Mansion
4. Jungle Cruise
5. Test Track
6. Waiting in long lines
7. Living with the Land
8. Getting too expensive
9. DinoLand
10. Counter Service Meals

Mine, DD Top 10

1. Disney Experience
2. The Welcome to Disney Sign
3. DVC - it keeps us coming back all the time
4. Haunted Mansion
5. Disney Hotels
6. Trill Rides
7. Philarmagic
8. Monorail
9. The different Smells of Disney
10. Planning for the vacation

Bottom 10

1. Lines
2. Price is getting tough to swallow
3. Line jumpers
4. Tea Cups - puked once and never again
5. Stich's ride
6. Trail of tears - around 4-5 o'clock when everybody is tired
7. Leaving and going back to reality
8. Bag check, when I hear of an 80 year old lady attacking the US than you can hold her up in the bag check line.
9. Empty buildings in Epcot
10. Food quality - except Le Cellier.

 

[MadiPan]

10 Worst - (in now order)
1) I feel that Disney is losing touch with it's animated classic films. Even Princess Aurora gets NO attention. Not to mention - where's Robin Hood, The Fox and the Hound, Bambi?
2) It's just plain expensive there. Even with a 40% resort pin, my family can only afford to stay four nights at a deluxe. Crazy.
3) Yeah...Dinoland.
4) The loss of some very good (albeit, slightly dated and simple) classic attractions. I want the Skyway, Horizons and the Swan boats!
5) Like many here have said, resort and attraction specific merchandise. Why can't all attractions have the awesome gift shops that Splash, HM, POTC, ST, TOT and RNRC have.
6) The awful layout of HS. I could get from Main Street to the Haunted Mansion with my eyes closed, yet I consistently get lost in MGM.
7) Tour groups.
8) Rude geusts (of course no one from the DIS!)
9) The obsession with Pixar. I LOVE Pixar and all, but I feel that eventually, all Disney movies will be is Pixar, which makes me sad.
10) I feel that Disney doesn't always listen to what the people want. SO many people are not happy with the over-princessization and fairy obsession. Disney doesn't seem to care.

Best! In no order -
1) Main street - so cute, so quaint, so sweet.
2) Just the entire Magic Kingdom. Nothing better!
3) World Showcase. Brilliant.
4) The smells! The mucky water smell, the burning of Rome smell, the smell of Main Street, and the smell of the bottles bursting on Phillar Magic!
5) You're just so well taken care of. Cast members really seem to care.
6) The characters who really play their part!
7) Seeing all of the little kids in awe at everything magical around them - I can't wait until I have children!
8) The food. When Disney wants something to taste good, BOY it does!
9) I feel that to an extent, Walt's vision is alive in every park. And I think thats wonderful.
10) The magic in general. No one really knows what creates it, it's just there.

 

[Colleen27]

You already covered the top things I'd list as worsts -
1) the loss of unique and diverse merchandise at the resorts and around the parks. I used to love shopping at Disney, now I can count the number of things we buy on one hand with fingers left over.
2) Disney's current approach of leasing out bits of the property to various third parties rather than developing their own resorts, shops, and dining.
3) the homogenization of dining and bar menus (though I don't believe it to be a consequence of free dining or the DDP in general - I think it is a symptom of the corporate mindset behind all of the above)

And I'd add -
4) the terrible maintanence/operational stability of the monorail of late. It used to be my favorite thing, such a quiet, air-conditioned, quick way to get around, but the many reports of getting stuck on it have drained away all its charm.
5) the pricing. Prices go up-up-up every year, while the experience continues to suffer from layoffs, staffing cuts, deferred maintainence, and the aforementioned homogrnization of practically every aspect of a Disney vacation. I don't mind increasing prices for a top-notch experience, and I understand cuts need to be made in tough times, but I have a hard time swallowing both simultaneously.
6) the kids menus. I think this deserves separate mention from the overall dining experience because they are just that bad. I work hard to raise children who enjoy eating well, and I cringe at the utter junk food garbage that makes up most of the 1 credit restaurants' kids' menus.
7)the website. OMG, how can a company as large and innovative as Disney not have a competant, creative web team?!? And would it kill them to hire a proofreader? Us restaurants board regulars are getting tired of all the threads generated by the errors on their dining section!
8) not Disney's fault, but the Orlando area water. I drink a lot of water at home, but the tap water at Disney is so bad that it is bottled or nothing.
9) the domination of hard ticket parties all fall. Nothing worse than being there when the MK is closing at 7pm four nights of the week and feeling like you need to drop $300 to have semi-normal amounts of time in the park. It wasn't bad when the Halloween party ran in October and the Christmas party started around Thanksgiving, but now it is non-stop from before Labor Day through to Christmas!
10)... can't really think of anything else about the park/resort experience, so I'll be terribly unoriginal and add "leaving".

Bests, in no particular order -
1) Wishes. There aren't many things in life that can make me tear up over and over again, but that's one of them.
2) Tower of Terror. I just love the immersive atmosphere and all the little Twilight Zone touches they worked into the queue, and of course the ride itself isn't half bad either.
3) Disney transportation. Sure, it gets a lot of complaints, some justified, some nitpicky, but there aren't many other places that we travel to where DH & I can both enjoy an adult beverage or two without worrying about who's going to do the driving.
4) the World Showcase. The whole thing. I just love the different landscapes and architectural details that went into creating each country.
5) the attention Disney gives to the queue areas. We go at slow seasons and there are attractions that make me wish we had more time in line just to see everything!
6) the smells of Soarin'. Oh how I wish they sold scented candles themed to that ride!
7) Chef Yoshi at California Grill. Say what you will about the trends in Disney dining, the sushi there is never anything less than outstanding.
8) Splash Mountain at night. The view is nothing less than stunning.
9) the look on my youngest's face when she sees Mickey. It doesn't matter if it is the first or fifth time, she is so absolutely in awe.
10) the escape from reality feeling that Disney does so well. No where else we've traveled has that "world of its own" feeling that you get staying on property at WDW.

 

[managerdreamer]

Mine are in no order

10 Worse

1. Test track just nothing great for me about going around at 60 MPH.

2. Flame BBQ

3. Your favorite ride closed for refurbishments. It has to be done but sucks when your there.

4. Rude people Come on grow up!

5. LONG LINES come on we all want to get on rides faster!

6. The burgers not thing to write home about and could leave them.

7. Broken Yeti

8. Jungle cruise

9. Parents when don't take their very tired children back to the hotel and all you hear is crying.

10. Sounds Dangerously.



Ten things I love....

1. The magic just how things seem to happen

2. Finding Nemo musical, Lion King, and Beauty and the beast.

3. MICKEY MOUSE it all stated with a mouse.

4. One mans dream.

5. innovations!! LOVED it back in 2002 when all the building going. But like the new one too.

6. Spaceship earth.

7. The MOUNTAINS all of them

8. The carousel of progress just a classic for me.

9. Wishes and Jimminy Cricket.

10. Earl of Sandwich Best QS meal!!! LOVE That place.

 

[stacynak]

Ten worst:

"If you don't stop crying Mickey Mouse is going to spank you!" I actually heard that the last time we were there

It may just be may warped sense of humor but this is one of the funniest things I've heard in a long, long time!!!

 

[MissStitch626]

The Ten Best Things About Disney​

(in no particular order)

1. Sitting on Main Street USA an hour before Wishes, watching the world go by while enjoying hotdogs and a Coke from Casey's.
2. Wishes - and that moment you know is coming when you know the music is going to get to you and you feel yourself start to well up. . .
3. Merchandise, merchandise, merchandise.
4. The boat ride from POR to DTD as the sun sets
5. Pirates of the Caribbean - yo ho yo ho you know you're in Disney now
6. The moment when the voice comes on the buses to tell you you're almost at the Magic Kingdom
7. Illuminations - especially when the firework rises into the sky as the music soars.
8. It's A Small World. Yip, you read that right.
9. Dinosaur - no matter how many times I ride this I still hide from the dinosaur at the end
10. The smell of the water rides

The Ten Worst Things About Disney​

1. I live too far away from it
2. It's Tough to be a Bug - awesome show but it FREAKS ME OUT
3. The heat - I love Florida but I'm from Scotland - I'm ill equipped to cope with high temperatures
4. Baggage allowance - how is one expected to cope with only one suitcase?! Where am I supposed to put my merchandise?
5. Mission Space - only because I'm such a chicken I've never made it on to it yet! Maybe this trip. . .
6. Rock n Roller Coaster - thought I was going to faint waiting for that green light!
7. The food - there's too much! I want to eat in every restaurant and want to try everything!!! It stresses me out!!!
8. The guns on Buzz Lightyear - mine never works! No really, it's not me, it's the gun. I hardly every get a good score, it surely has to the gun, right?
9. Circle of Life in Epcot - I actually love this but it makes me cry
10. Leaving. It's not fair. It's not right. It's depressing.

 

[wcpamotm]

In no particular order:

Worst:

- That Studios Hat! It is wrong on so many levels. Among all the park icons, it is singularly clunky and graceless. Not only does it look dreadfully out of place at the end of the otherwise elegant Hollywood Blvd, it blocks the view of a genuinely attractive landmark. And all this for - a gift shop.
- I too will chime in with the homogenization of merchandise. Anyone remember Old World Antiques and Yankee Traders (before it became yet another branch of the Disney Store)? And at the resorts - of course, I miss all the resort-specific merchandise, but the selection used to go even further. I still treasure old purchases such as northwoods/bear candleholders from WL and a t-shirt with dixieland instrument designs from Port Orleans.
- The dumbing down of restaurants and food options. There is still decent food to be found, but compared to about 10-15 yrs ago you must look much harder to find it. I don't know that it's entirely the fault of the DDP, but I do know that it's much less common now to find main course and dessert options which are priced significantly above the the average for that restaurant. Along with that,
- The need to make ADRs so far in advance. Now, I'm a planner so it's not quite so bad for me, but I remember being able to choose from a fair selection of restaurants that you'd have a good chance of dining at as a walk-up. It would be nice to be able to be that spontaneous again.
- The Powers That Be seem to think of World Showcase as just a big fancy shopping mall these days. Although there is plenty of room, we haven't seen a new country added in over 20 years. Attractions get only modest updates (if that). Entertainment, at least of the non-amplified variety, seems to be diminishing. Perhaps the biggest expansion in WS during that time is the enlargement of the Mitsukoshi Store, along with the addition of two restaurants.
- Stitch's Great Escape. 'Nuff said.
- The perponderence of Character Meals. I know I'm in the minority with this one. Maybe I don't mind the characters themselves, but they often make the restaurants they appear at insanely popular. I hate waiting 30-45 minutes past my ADR to get into Crystal Palace, and I won't return to Akershus or CRT (places I've enjoyed in the past) until prices return to something approaching santity.
- Prices. I know prices are going to be higher here; a quality product commands a quality price. I get it, I really do, and I can live with that. But why do the prices have to increase so much, frequently at a pace that well outstrips the consumer price index?
- Journey Into Imagination, current edition. Along with the Image Works, which is a faint shadow of the attraction which used to bear that name. JII is a step up from the previous JIYI, but still needs major improvement. It's something of a black eye for the imagineers that the FW attraction that is least successful in treating its subject is the one dedicated to imagination itself.
- The post-show at Test Track. (I need a tenth entry.) Really just a big showroom for GM cars, along with the mandatory gift shop. The old TransCenter had a showroom too, but it also had some fairly worthwhile exhibits. But the real kicker is that looking at the cars here makes me less likely to consider a GM car - don't they have anything approaching the gas milage of my Honda?

For the best, I will forego choosing any attraction in favor of some of the little things that set Disney apart from any other high-dollar theme park enterprise.

- IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. A great show featuring a soundtrack which I think contains the best music ever written for a theme park. And so reasonably easy to see.
- The Electrical Water Pageant. It uses 70s (at best) technology and I can't really recommend that anybody should go out of their way to see it. But consider this: It's outside of every park, generates no revenue, is not a big enough deal for Disney to use in any promotional media, yet it's been making nightly (weather permitting) appearances on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake since the early 70s. Just a great little bit of lagniappe to enhance the guest experience.
- Boat rides on warm evenings, whether across Seven Seas Lagoon or down the Sassagoula River. Another thing that Disney really doesn't have to do, and yet they do!
- The Disney Cast Members. This almost didn't make my list because regrettably, less-than-magical interactions with them are becoming less rare. Still, the majority do a great job of adding just the right touch of magic to a vacation. All the more remarkable considering how underpaid and overstressed they must be.
- Stepping up to the rail upon arriving at World Showcase Plaza and seeing the vista spread out before me. An evening stroll around World Showcase is also a favorite way to experience it.
- Fastpasses! They have done nothing short of revolutionizing my theme park experiences. Between them, a basic understanding of how crowds work (Thanks UG!) and judicious picks of times to visit, I seldome wait more that 15-20 minutes for any attraction.
- The Wilderness Lodge, particularly its lobby. No one else does cozy on such a grand scale.
- The general ambiance of the Magic Kingdom at night. By day it's delightful, after dark it's magical.
- The Oasis. Instead of funneling guests toward an imposing structure at the end of a main thoroughfare like at the other parks, here pathways meander this way and that with not necessarily any clear destination - a design of genious! And it is so peaceful and relaxing. I always try to spend some time here to decompress.
- Lastly, there always seems to be something new to discover on every trip, whether it be a new tasty appetizer, a previously overlooked design flourish, or perhaps a just-noticed bit of music or aroma.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

TOP 10 WORST (in no particular order)
4. Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management. Please, FIRE the New Management. Bring back the Original, or bulldoze it...

Technically Disney didn't "fire" them, but the Tiki Room did *ahem* get a little hot a few weeks ago...

Top 10 Worst
7. DHS, this park IMO is a giant bust, its design and layout is very poor, the rides barely keep me for 1/2 the day and there are no edible restaurants in the entire park, we literally starve at DHS bc its better than eating the food

Here! Here!

My Top 10 Worst (in no order - at all):
1. Allowing attractions to get "aged" and not kept up. That was probably my biggest complaint in 2009. The tents in Toontown were in BAD need of a paint job - then they announced FLE. But that was not the only place I saw that was in need of a little TLC.
2. Letting Future World not be so future oriented anymore.
3. Tickets prices. Uncle Walt is probably turning over in his grave - Disneyland (and World) was supposed to be a place where EVERYONE could go! If I hear "but I paid XXX for this trip" one more time, I'm going to hurl!
4. Toad. 'Nuff said.
5. Busses. I will never again use them unless I absolutely have to. Like PPs have mentioned, there is no reason for deluxe busses to be so... un deluxe. You are at the top tier - act like it!
6. DHS. The whole thing. Bring back what it was meant for. Start producing Disney shows in Florida again. If anything, put up some animation studios and do some shorts/shows again. The property lacks in the glitz and glamour it was intended to showcase!
7. AK and it's extreme lack of shade for a park that is COVERED in foliage.
8. Empty buildings. Fill them. There are many things that Disney could do to fill the empty buildings that housed some of our favorites. The company has been around long enough and has a multitude of things to work with.
9. Over expansion. WDW is too big. I understand the park will never be complete, but as per #8 - there is a ton of space that is wasted... how can anyone even consider adding a 5th park when they don't use what they have already?!?! And enough with the closed and delapidated... There's no reason for places like Discovery Island or River Country to lay in ruin when everything else is so manicured.
10. Leaving. There. I said it. Nothing in the world is worse than leaving, except for never being able to go back. That would be the worst.

10 Best
1. The Disney water attraction smell. There's nothing like it!
2. Le Cellier. I know it's not as popular as before, but the place was wonderful and very special to us.
3. POTC, JC, Dumbo, Peter Pan. Classics, originals, the best!
4. Moderate resorts. Out of all the choices on property, this tier of resort has so much to offer and at a relatively decent price. The grounds are lavish and themed and while one particular Mod is not for my family, we'd still pick it over other resorts if it was there or no where.
5. The partner statue. There is nothing more iconic to me than that statue (and Roy's statue too - even though it gets moved on occasion). I can't help but pay Uncle Walt and the head cheese a little nod every time I pass it. Talk about two people who really did change the world for the better.
6. Service. Top notch and something that all companies should use as a role model. Regardless of how crappy a person's day is - they always offer up a smile and a hello. It's just that simple.
7. Dole Whip. 'Nuff said.
8. World Showcase. There is no greater gem at WDW than WS. The food, the atmosphere - it is truly a place that can be enjoyed by everyone.
9. Fireworks. Where else can you see elaborate fireworks shows that celebrate our cinematic favorites on a daily basis?
10. Characters. Another gem is the character interactions that we all experience down there. The characters really know how to "talk" to people. Terk saved our night at MNSSHP in September. DS4 was grumpy and out of sorts (because the ghosts at HM were "acting up" and standing by me away from the "action." Terk walked over, gave him a little hug, and led him by the hand over to Lady Jane, DD, and DH to get him involved. DS felt like he was wanted by the characters, that they were glad that he was there. You can't find that anywhere but at Disney.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

"If you don't stop crying Mickey Mouse is going to spank you!" I actually heard that the last time we were there

I've used that one... but it wasn't Mickey... it was Donald. And it wasn't for crying... it was for misbehaving...

Before our last trip, DH was on 2nd shift so it was just me and the kids at home. Being that I'm a Disney nut, I mean I was preparing my 2 and 4YO for the trip... we would watch something Disney-related every night for the month leading up to the trip.

One night, DS picked my Disney Treasures complete Donald (or whatever it is called) and there was a short on it where Donald was a bell hop and Pete and his son were in the hotel Donald worked for. Pete's boy absolutely terrorized Donald and the hotel and the cartoon ended with Donald paddling Pete's boy!

DS's eyes got as big as saucers when I told him that Donald isn't afraid to swat kids who misbehave (really, really badly, not minor infractions)! He's never behaved better in his short little life!

 

[freakylick]

Best
10. Fastpasses (and that they don't cost extra)
9. Le Cellier…All of the food, but especially the Cheddar Cheese soup
8. Boatride from POR to DTD…so peaceful and relaxing.
7. Off Kilter
6. Character Dining
5. Hidden Mickeys (and other characters )
4. Tower of Terror…Favorite attraction at WDW.
3. Port Orleans Riverside…Love this resort!
2. Free Dining…It's what makes the trip affordable for many people while still eating nice meals.
1. Cast Members (Where the magic really happens)


Worst
10. The layout of DHS…I don't mind the attractions or theming, but I have a hard time navigating the park.
9. Rides that need updating…Country Bear, CoP, etc…
8. Souvenir Prices…I hate seeing so many things that I love and then looking at the price and saying "No thanks"
7. Overabundance of all things princess/fairy related
6. Lack of enough quality counter service locations
5. Stitches Great Failure (or whatever it's called)
4. Rude guests…The sense of entitlement is out of hand.
3. I will combine many into this one…long last attractions like Adventurers Club, Horizons, Mr. Toad's, 20,000 Leagues etc...
2. Leaving
1. C'mon and sing with me "It's a world of laughter, a world of tears..."

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Worst:

10. Ellen's Energy Adventure. I have a feeling Disney management does not appreciate me shouting, "Eat her!" to the dinosaurs during the middle of the ride.

9. Toy Story Mania. I don't understand how, when fastpass seems to work so well in all the other parks, I had such a hard time getting on this ride.

8. Failure to update DisneyQuest. I love DQ, but I wish they'd get some new rides...and replace the jungle cruise one that makes me want to hurl. Oh, and what's with it closing so early now?

7. Stich's Great Escape. This ride pretty much sucks.

6. Buses. I didn't personally have a huge problem with the bussing, but boy did I feel bad for those Caribbean Beach folks. They seemed to get shafted every single time. I will avoid that resort at all costs after seeing how its guests are treated after a long day at the parks.

5. Slow erosion of the "Ultimate" park hopper ticket. I like the water parks, but I'm not going to pay the extra price for one day of swimming, no Pleasure Island, and very little DisneyQuest time (because of reduced hours that make no sense). Could we at least put the mini-golf places on it?

4. Cutting back on themeing. I know, you're all probably thinking, "What is she talking about? Disney has great themeing." Yeah, but it's not what it once was. The character meals that offered something different (Liberty Tree Tavern, Garden Grill) are being cut back. The shops are all alike (see below). The Whispering Canyon Cafe is actually quiet. The parks are full of princesses and Pixar and...well... Even V&A's no longer has servers named V&A. We visited Universal Studios for the first time this past year to see the Harry Potter exhibit. You want to talk themeing?! Holy cow! The only thing that place got wrong was thinking too small.

3. Homogenization of food choices. Some have blamed this on the Dining Plan, but I fail to see how having more people patronize your eateries would require a dumbing down of the menu. If the people are going to eat there anyway, you shouldn't need to cater to the less refined palates among them.

2. Homogenization of merchandise. Ride specific. Resort specific. More "special event" (i.e. MNSSHP) specific. If you create it, we shall open our wallets.

1. Closing the Adventurer's Club. Here was something that worked, that brought Disney magic to jaded, but money handling, adults. Soon, it will be a store full of overpriced merchandise. Poor play, Disney.

Best:

10. The Disney Dream. Okay, not exaclty a WDW park thing, but I have to thank Disney for putting out this brand new, beautiful, technologically amazing, high class ship right when I'm ready to start conceiving. Now there will be a place for me, my unborn children, and their hard-to-please, cruise-addict grandparents to vacation together.

9. Buzz Light Year Astroblasters. What genius Imagineer woke up one day and said, "Hey, you know what would make bumper cars ever more awesome? Cannons!" I want to give him/her a medal.

8. Disney Dining in general. It's not always the best, but even at its worst it beats other theme/amusement park slops any day. Plus, there's so many options! It's not like you're stuck eating at just one place. If you don't like it, you can go elsewhere.

7. Disney Transportation. Yeah, I complained about the busses, but as I said, I haven't had a problem with them personally. I've never had the monorail break down on me. I love riding the boats back and forth. Mainly, I love not having to worry about getting around on my own. Heck, I even like the MCO gate-terminal train.

6. Disney Dining Plan (free or otherwise). I know it's gotten a lot of flak, and I recognize the less than savory changes that have come to be as a result of its implementation, but what it has done is taken a serious problem about Disney vacations from previous decades and made it go away. Anyone remember parents grumbling ceaselessly about the price gouging of counter service food? Anyone remember being told, "No you can't have a Mickey bar, have you seen how much they cost?! You won't be able to finish it anyways." Anyone remember when maybe one nice sit down dinner was all you could expect to afford while you were at the parks? Well, I do. And I'm glad it's not something my kids will ever have to deal with.

5. Magical Express. Thank you Disney, for arranging (for free!) something I would otherwise have to arrange for myself anyways.

4. Fast Passes. Anyone who complains about standing in lines at Disney has clearly never waited 2+ hours for a ride in a mostly uncovered line at Cedar Point.

3. Best Lost and Found Ever. This is a personal preference from someone whose husband lost (and recovered) both his prescription glasses and his driver's license (same day, different parks) on their last trip.

2. Illuminations. Nuff said. Wishes gets an honorable mention.

1. Haunted Mansion. Also, 'nuff said.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

this could be fun....
these will be in no particular order:

10 Worst:

* The smell in Stitch's Great Escape (only plus is getting to see Skippy)
* Maelstrom (This thing really creeps me out, then you get held hostage at the end)
* The wait at Ohana (even when you have a ressie)
* The smell of the Cigars at Downtown Disney
* Food and Wine Crowds
* Eduarto the server at Jiko
* Not having Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
* Not having River Country
* Not having the Old Figment attraction
* The new version of Spaceship Earth--I remember when the last part was of a family talking via video telephone...funny how it can really be done now!! I remember thinking that could never happen!!

10 Best:

* Osborne Lights -- Takes my breath away... so pretty!!
* Basin White--I LOVE this store!!
* Toy Story Mania -- We're very competitive
* Cinderella's Castle with Icicle Lights
* Rock N Roller Coaster -- I've loved the rush it gives you since I was in HS!
* Typhoon Lagoon -- It's the closest love to River County that I have!
* Mains Street Electrical Parade -- Brings back memories of me and my Dad--I still sit in the same spot on the curb.
* Deluxe Dining Plan -- I love having most paid for before I get there!
* Oscar the Server at Yachtsman
* Wishes from the outside of the California Grill -- Just Stunning


((I have to throw this in here because my fiance said that I needed to add California Grill's Spicy Kazan Roll as the best thing ever.... but I don't like sushi so I didn't add it ))

((He also wants to add that he thinks people with flash photography in dark rides are the worst, lol))