Op-Ed: 7 Issues Walt Disney World Must Address Immediately - Inside the Magic

Comments for Op-Ed: 7 Issues Walt Disney World Must Address Immediately

Disney´s Monorail

Credit: Disney

61 Comments

  1. The Bryan

    There actually already is a way to pay more and get advance FastPasses in different parks: If you’re staying in Club Level at one of the WDW Deluxe Resorts and already have a Park Hopper ticket, you can purchase an additional 3 FastPasses, and the 6 total FPs can be at different parks. Plus your 6 FPs are not tier-restricted, and you can get them 90 days in advance (instead of the usual 60 days). It’s pricey, though, at an additional $150 per person for the minimum 3 days!

    1. billybel

      It’s $50 per day per person. All people in that Club Level room need to purchase it (Dining Plan style). They must already have at minimum a 3-day park ticket or APs. They’ll receive:
      90 day booking window.
      Ability to use the additional 3 FPs in another park (if they have hopper tickets) and are not restricted by tiers.
      Plus, a preferred view of a night show every day.

      One of the cheapest Club Level rooms is at the new Gran Destino in Coronado Springs. Check it out!

  2. Coral

    All “routine” maintenance for monorails happens during non operating hours.. any maintenance checks during the day are because something broke and they are making sure it’s safe for guests!

  3. Dave

    Totally agree on the parking costs. Charging at the resorts is a slap in the face to your guests.

    In terms of Passholders not being able to buy discounted tickets for guests- I can understand why Disney world not do that. It would lead to some enterprising people getting an annual pass and then – for a fee buying discount tickets. Disney would lose money and then “get it back” by raising prices for everyone else.

    Also, the Castle dining room is probably at max. I am sure if they could expand it they would.

    Great points overall

  4. Dave

    Totally agree on the parking costs. Charging at the resorts is a slap in the face to your guests.

    In terms of Passholders not being able to buy discounted tickets for guests- I can understand why Disney world not do that. It would lead to some enterprising people getting an annual pass and then – for a fee buying discount tickets. Disney would lose money and then “get it back” by raising prices for everyone else.

    Also, the Castle dining room is probably at max. I am sure if they could expand it they would.

    Great points overall

  5. Jennifer

    Absolutely agree with number 2. As a new annual
    Pass holder with hopper privileges it would be nice to fast pass in multiple parks each day. I think the fact that don’t let you is an attempt at crowd control, which probably does work well. It confines you to one park per day BUT then why the park hopper push ? As far as parking fees go, yes, a cash cow but I don’t think it’s so much about making money as trying to figure how to lessen traffic on Disney roadways. I think it’s their attempt to encourage visitors to use magic express & Disney free transportation. I think they are desperately trying to figure out how to lessen congestion. Notice the the newest form of transportation they added, the skyliner, gets visitors off the roadways.

  6. Paige

    Cast member here. we dont even get 20% for friends and family tickets. Why should passholders?

  7. Harley

    I have to add why are making resevations for sit down for months in advance for a certain time to now wait almost 45mins+??? I get restaurants get backed up but then do not make it my fault… i got here 15 mins ahead for fear you give my reservation away or now charge $40+ bc i missed the reservation. But you can not have me sit on time???
    Then you rush me out in that same 45 bracket and get annoyed i am still sitting its like i want to enjoy my lunch/dinner why i paid to sit down and not go to quick serve so sorry!

  8. FionaB

    I find it so strange that the US parks don’t allow passholders to get discounted tickets for friends and family! I have an annual pass for Disneyland Paris and I can get 10 1-day tickets per year at better than 50% off gate price! What’s the point of being a passholder if your friends can’t afford to go?

    As an autistic person I am happy with the 130 capacity of Cinderella’s Royal Table – it’s one of the places I know I can dine without being too crammed in. It adds to the exclusivity of the experience and while I know others may have issues getting reservations, I have personally not struggled as long as I’ve done it when reservations open.

    The Cinderella Suite will never be an option that people can buy for a price as that wasn’t the point of the suite. It was always supposed to be that no matter your income you should have equal opportunity to win a stay there. That was Walt’s idea for it, and while I agree there should definitely be a lot more opportunities to win, I don’t agree they should be able to charge for it.

    The Sleeping Beauty Suite in the Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris can cost £23k per night and I’ve never known of a competition to get to stay there. I’d hate for that to happen with the Cinderella Suite in Disney World.

  9. Bert Hooks

    I completely agree. My ‘favorite’ pet peeve is the monorail. I go out there at least once a month and more than a few times, the monorail is down at CLOSING TIME. Seriously? It shows me that they don’t really care about the whole guest experience. It’s like they are saying ‘we’ve got your money now getting home is for you to figure out’.

  10. Patrick Bare

    Disney sells their experiences broadly under the term “Dreams” but it’s a sham as no one dreams to stand in line (because they sell more than the park can handle), to eat on a trash can (because they don’t have enough tables), to sweat in the Florida sun (because they don’t have enough shade), etc. It’s just profit-hungry MBAs with their spreadsheets trying to eek out another quarter of growth. No magic or dreams there. It’s purely for profit and profit only. Heck, their own employees had to fight to get a living wage!

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