You're Killing Me Disney...

[IrishNYC]

I would call what they do small adjustments. I don't see how adding hours is detrimental to guests. It gives them more time in the parks.

Disney is damned if they do, damned if they don't. People will complain there aren't enough hours...until it interferes with plans they already had.

 

[MermaidMommy]

I would call what they do small adjustments. I don't see how adding hours is detrimental to guests. It gives them more time in the parks.

I probably should have used the word "occasional" rather thsn "small." Disney is fully capable of releasing a calendar that is mostly accurate, and tweaking individual days would be the exception, not the rule. It's like when they released the hours for AK as closing at at its normal time this summer when they KNEW that they'd be extending them for several hours later with he new nighttime entertainment.

Of course extra hours in the parks are good for guests, but why do they suddenly have to wait until a month before to solidify the hours? It's gotten so bad that Josh had to quit making his crowd calendars -- Disney's information that they initially release at 6 months out is just too inaccurate anymore. It didn't used to be.

 

[Babs1975]

The happy place feeling surely gets taken away with people being so harsh to other posters. That is for sure and a fact.

OP, I feel your pain. Disney is doing this more and more and closer and closer to the dates. It CAN and certainly DOES make things more difficult. After all the previous planning, picking park days, ADR'S and FP's, yes it of course throws a wrench into your plans.

Good luck to you!

 

[Hikergirl]

I was so happy that I got Breakfast ressies at BOG on the morning of my daughter's 16th birthday at 8:05. Great!! Get into the park early, and you know the rest of the plan. Well, apparently, not to be. Since I made that reservation months ago, that day has become one with a morning EMH at Magic Kingdom. As such, the reservation is now a waste. Or is it? Does it even pay? We have been to BOG, and while my daughter truly wanted to be there on her birthday, I don't see the point anymore. Thoughts? Thank you!

Can you just try to get a BOG ADR for lunch or on another day? I get your frustration, its one of the reasons I'm not a planner when I go to WDW. Going with the flow equals way less stress for me.

 

[spinandmarty]

so sorry know what you were hoping for!!!! but it's her 16TH birthday,, plans don't always work the best....she can still have an awesome day....don't even know her but hope she has an awesome BDAY!!!!!!!

 

[andyman8]

Disney is damned if they do, damned if they don't. People will complain there aren't enough hours...until it interferes with plans they already had.

I would just add that Disney used to, for the most part, release EMH schedules along with park hours 180 days out. It is only recently that they've made a habit of waiting until well within that window to release or change dates. Disney doesn't just add EMH dates cause they anticipate crowds; they change around the dates within a week because of crowds, something they used to do much earlier on in that window. Disney now does this to minimize labor costs (it's a long, complicated story). This change, on top of now having to book rides 2 months out, certainly can be frustrating for some. I honestly don't get why people must fight about everything. It frustrates some but not others.

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

I have the same situation with our HS day. I scored an early Disney jr ADR so we could get into the Jedi training line. Now I am deliberating whether we should shell out for the Early Morning Magic that would have us in 35 minutes earlier.

Grinds my gears!

 

[ajh88]

Wow - never knew that this was such a hot button issue on the DIS, but I haven't frequented the boards for a little while. I had the same thing happen for our upcoming trip (single digit dance! ) only I have a party of 12 for whom I'm now re-arranging schedules. We had 2 PPO breakfasts planned at MK, partly for less crowds on Main Street, partly because my mom is in a motorized wheelchair so she wouldn't have to fight rope drop crowds, and partly for a chance to knock out a few rides right after breakfast. I feel your pain, OP. I almost started a thread at the time but then just never got around to doing it...kind of glad I didn't with some of the responses, but I'm right there with ya! We cancelled our PPO BOG and since there are absolutely no remaining ADR's for MK at a later time (at any restaurant), we will just get a quick breakfast on the fly - only disappointed because we also couldn't make a different ADR for BOG with our party size so my extended family won't get to dine there. Its a bummer. We kept our CRT (previously PPO) ADR because my mom loves dining in the castle and we were only going for breakfast that morning anyway - and I guess technically our ADR is still 5 minutes before park opening.

I guess my point is that people make PPO ADR's for a variety of reasons, even if its just part of their plan and has nothing to do with trying to get on a ride early or anything else. Many people plan according to the timeline that Disney has defined, and even if you know some changes (in hours, etc) are possible, it can still be a bit of a downer when you find out you are affected. Best wishes for a great trip OP - hope your daughter's birthday is fantastic!

 

[bryanb]

Seriously, this topic always get so heated! The day that Walt Disney World becomes as stressful as this thread is... that's the day I stop going.

That said, I can empathize in the disappointment that OP must feel when very special plans get messed up. It must have been very exciting to know that coveted BOG reservation would get the family into the park before everyone else. The fact that hours are "subject to change" is completely fair, but it is probably not much comfort to the OP.

In the end, the best we can all do is take a deep breath, relax, and focus on the things that make us happy.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I probably should have used the word "occasional" rather thsn "small." Disney is fully capable of releasing a calendar that is mostly accurate, and tweaking individual days would be the exception, not the rule. It's like when they released the hours for AK as closing at at its normal time this summer when they KNEW that they'd be extending them for several hours later with he new nighttime entertainment.

Of course extra hours in the parks are good for guests, but why do they suddenly have to wait until a month before to solidify the hours? It's gotten so bad that Josh had to quit making his crowd calendars -- Disney's information that they initially release at 6 months out is just too inaccurate anymore. It didn't used to be.

While overall I agree with you, I can say for a fact that attendance has not been following models from previous years. It is unpredictable and it is down, despite the image Iger is trying to project. My parents are both CMs. Their hours are down, and they have been sent home early a lot this year. There have been many days when MK has been dead when it should've been busy based on previous years. Dad was even sent home early on the 4th of July. The anticipated crowd just wasn't there. To the average guest coming in, the parks still seem busy, and they legitimately have been busy at times, but CMs have noticed the downturn. Heck, to boost attendance, all blackout dates were lifted on the maingates and CMs were recently given extra comp tickets above what they normally get. Those tickets expire soon. They were only good for a period when wdw is usually hopping. Even room discounts were increased. All this all of a sudden coming from a company that has continually stripped away employee perks over the last few years.

I don't think it's right to expect the amount of planning from guests so far in advance if park schedules can't also be set in stone as well. But I sympathize with the fact that they really can't anticipate demand right now as well as they used to.

 

[mom2rtk]

While overall I agree with you, I can say for a fact that attendance has not been following models from previous years. It is unpredictable and it is down, despite the image Iger is trying to project. My parents are both CMs. Their hours are down, and they have been sent home early a lot this year. There have been many days when MK has been dead when it should've been busy based on previous years. Dad was even sent home early on the 4th of July. The anticipated crowd just wasn't there. To the average guest coming in, the parks still seem busy, and they legitimately have been busy at times, but CMs have noticed the downturn. Heck, to boost attendance, all blackout dates were lifted on the maingates and CMs were recently given extra comp tickets above what they normally get. Those tickets expire soon. They were only good for a period when wdw is usually hopping. Even room discounts were increased. All this all of a sudden coming from a company that has continually stripped away employee perks over the last few years.

I don't think it's right to expect the amount of planning from guests so far in advance if park schedules can't also be set in stone as well. But I sympathize with the fact that they really can't anticipate demand right now as well as they used to.

On the contrary, I think with MM+ they can anticipate demand even more now than ever in the past. I think they are using that additional data to "right size" their staffing and hours after gathering as much info as possible from resort and FP+ advance reservations.

The irony is that Disney getting guests to schedule things further in advance has given them the information they need to make more last minute adjustments.

 

[cgattis]

Thank you to all who replied and understand what I was frustrated at. I'm sure the birthday as well as the entire trip will be awesome!! I told my daughter about the change this morning and she was fine. Will try to get lunch that day. If we don't, we go with the flow. It's not that she wanted breakfast at BOG. We were actually looking most forward to entering a somewhat empty park and getting some pics.

BOG was booked right now for lunch/dinner, but you never know Hope you all have a great day

Seriously, check 2-3 times a day--just make it routine. I'll bet something will pop up. I could not get one single ressie--lunch or dinner--for our HS day in November starting right at 180 (ridiculous) days out. But I started checking every day until I finally got Mama Melrose (my absolute least face at HS), and then kept checking until I got a Sci-Fi. The more you check, the better chance you have. I totally empathize with your frustration--make ADRs at 180 but Disney can change hours when it's too late to adjust. I know you're not going to "let it ruin your trip"--you'll still have a blast. I took DD for her 15th this summer and it was awesome

 

[Pacolovestacos]

OP this exact same thing happened to me late last year. I had a BOG ressie and when I showed up to the park, I was informed it was early morning hours that day so rope drop advantage was completely lost. I actually decided to cancel the ressie and demanded not to be charged a late cancel fee and I wasn't.

If that's going to make or break someone's day/trip, then personally I think priorities are wrong.

The OP never said it was going to break their day/trip. They are simply asking if the reservation is now a waste which is a very legitimate question.

I guess I just don't understand getting upset over these kinds of things. When we're at WDW, our priority is to have a good time with each other. Plans don't always go as they were laid out, regardless of if WDW changes hours, the weather changes, whatever.

That's you. The OP is asking a question and did so calmly. It actually seems you're more riled up about this than the OP.

Different things matter to different people. How is it even possible to have "wrong" priorities on a leisure trip? The OP already explained her title. She didn't say her day would be ruined. She's disappointed that she made her plans months ago and now she has to adjust on the fly. Hopefully she has learned to anticipate this next time (as many of us have). She was venting. Is it really that hard to understand and just sympathize?

100% Agree

 

[Klayfish]

OP this exact same thing happened to me late last year. I had a BOG ressie and when I showed up to the park, I was informed it was early morning hours that day so rope drop advantage was completely lost. I actually decided to cancel the ressie and demanded not to be charged a late cancel fee and I wasn't.



The OP never said it was going to break their day/trip. They are simply asking if the reservation is now a waste which is a very legitimate question.



That's you. The OP is asking a question and did so calmly. It actually seems you're more riled up about this than the OP.



100% Agree

Not sure how you are able to infer "calm" or "riled up" from a post, especially one without blatantly obvious clues such as typing in ALL CAPS or italics. NOW I'M RILED UP!!!

At the end of the day, I agree, it's my opinion. What OP does won't effect me one way or the other. But you stated OP is "asking" if the reservation is a waste. I encourage you to reread the post. The exact words posted were "As such, the reservation is now a waste. Or is it? Does it even pay? We have been to BOG, and while my daughter truly wanted to be there on her birthday, I don't see the point anymore. Thoughts? " So the way I read the post was the OP saying he/she personally thinks it's a waste and wanted to see if others agreed or not. I'm simply saying I don't agree.

I also don't agree with people getting upset because Disney changed park hours. People get frustrated with it because it interferes with their individual plans that they seem to have spent countless hours making. That's an individual thing, you chose to make your plans that way. Keep in mind that, what, 99%+ of WDW visitors don't use this forum, and probably don't do things the way many here do. WDW can't cater to the individual needs of one person, or even 100, when they have hundreds of thousands of guests on property every day. I freely admit I'm a Disney fan (which is why I'm on this board), so you can call me an apologist, but I don't think WDW makes these changes with the intent of upsetting their guests. They do it in what they think will be the best interest of not only their business, but their guests as a large group.

 

[GPC0321]

I was so happy that I got Breakfast ressies at BOG on the morning of my daughter's 16th birthday at 8:05. Great!! Get into the park early, and you know the rest of the plan. Well, apparently, not to be. Since I made that reservation months ago, that day has become one with a morning EMH at Magic Kingdom. As such, the reservation is now a waste. Or is it? Does it even pay? We have been to BOG, and while my daughter truly wanted to be there on her birthday, I don't see the point anymore. Thoughts? Thank you!

If your daughter wants to go to BOG on her birthday, then that's more important than anything else.
People who book BOG PPO breakfasts do so knowing that EMH could be added to a day at any time. It's not Disney's fault that people try to use a breakfast reservation to "work the system" and get a head start on rope drop crowds.
Maybe if people reserved breakfast to, you know, eat breakfast (!!!) instead of as a part of a plan to ride more rides, they wouldn't be disappointed when Disney "kills" them by doing something they've always done...adding EMH to days at last minute.
If your daughter wants to eat breakfast at BOG for her birthday, that IS the POINT of the reservation.

 

[Mike&AllisMom]

I can't believe how rude some of you are. Would you talk to anyone like this in person? Have none of you ever been disappointed before? And so many of you don't seem to get the reference to "You're killing me smalls".

 

[piccolopat]

We don't book reservations simply to beat the crowds. We book reservations for where and when we want to eat. Of course, there are people that book to get in the parks before others. Personally, I think that is a very high price to pay but to each his/her own. In this case, OP has decided the reservation was not worth keeping. Hopefully her daughter will have a great birthday celebrating at such a magical place!

 

[Mousetopia]

I was so happy that I got Breakfast ressies at BOG on the morning of my daughter's 16th birthday at 8:05. Great!! Get into the park early, and you know the rest of the plan. Well, apparently, not to be. Since I made that reservation months ago, that day has become one with a morning EMH at Magic Kingdom. As such, the reservation is now a waste. Or is it? Does it even pay? We have been to BOG, and while my daughter truly wanted to be there on her birthday, I don't see the point anymore. Thoughts? Thank you!

It all comes down to a matter of opinion and which components are of worth. BOG has its own magic for sure. I personally thought breakfast way overpriced and cold before the last price hike. ..but that early entry was like gold so worth it! Now with higher meal cost..not rushing for a repeat. Which meal food wise do you prefer?..go with that. If you daughter just wants to go there on her birthday and doesnt care which meal and early entry matters then yes switch to lunch, and get there early to take advantage of early magic!.

 

[snowybelle]

Are there any early morning magic days planned during your visit? They seem to be getting positive reviews and you would have a minimal people in the park plus its got the breakfast included.

This is what I was going to suggest. I think this is a much cooler experience than the BOG PPO, truly. I realize it may not fall exactly on your daughter's bday, but I do think it's an awesome way to celebrate!

 

[EmmyKay]

OP I feel your pain. The last trip I planned, I had to make my ADRs at 180 and Disney had not released Halloween party dates. And the times of the Star Wars Fireworks conflicted with Fantasmic. It does make planning difficult, but we worked everything out and had an amazing time as I'm sure you will too. Disney adjusts their dates whenever and we uber-planners have to scramble to fix our plans. I know it can be frustrating, but hopefully you will work it out for your family.
Excellent movie reference by the way...my family quotes it all the time.