I went previously December 2020. Long lines, no fast pass. We spent much of the vacation in line (socially distanced lines, so long it makes you feel hopeless). The long lines went behind the attractions, so we were in cast member only territory. I told my husband that I didn’t get to savor the experience, you know just being there looking around. I have told Disney that I refuse to pay for Genie plus. I am going in the off season hoping that it will help the line situation. I hope to take the time to just enjoy my surroundings.
I can tell you I don’t think an off season exists anymore. The lines right now during the “ offseason” are horrible. Everything is about an hour. You might find a couple rides around 50 minutes but it’s rare. The parks feel really over crowded, you wait for everything, bathrooms and snack carts included.
I agree that “the magic is gone”. Part of the Disney magic is the gorgeous, detailed surroundings and you kiss them when having to constantly be on the app. Another part of the magic is the great interactions with cast members. Not much interaction anymore having to order & pay all on the app. Disney has pushed us into disconnecting with the exact reasons why we went to the Parks. So sad.
This is horrible! There’s no reason to go if you can’t feel the magic that Walt gave us!!!!
The people running Walt’s company have no concern of what he built.
They only know greed.
All the rides being over an hour or so? Depending on the time, park and attractions available, it may/may not be true.
I was just at MK and Epcot about a month(ish) ago, and I was able to get in rides with less than or up to 30-40min wait times for a grand majority of them (exceptions being, but not surprising, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). The only ride I waited over an hour for was for Ratatouille (70min), and it broke down just as I was about to get on the boarding station (fortunately got a free Lightning Lane to experience it later. I didn’t really use Genie+ or LL (outside of the comp), as I use my phone for wait times and got there early (though not rope drop early) enough to experience all the great rides before the crowds got crazy.
Sounds like the” Reservation System”turned out to be another disaster.These parks have always been National Treasures to many families. The crowds I’m reading about here were supposed to be thinned with reservations.It has become such a herd force of income for an empire that has lost the Magic, the reason.
As someone who has lived all my life in Florida and worked in the theme park industry for the past six years… there is an off season and it’s typically Second week of January to First week of March. All the parks are typically dead! To see crowds this time of year is unprecedented. It’s not common.
I agree! We don’t live there, but my sister is a Disney travel agent and goes frequently. She went in December, a couple weeks before Christmas, and then we went at the end of January. She said the lines and crowds were way less in December (usually the busy season) than we saw in January. This is not normal! We were so disappointed because we hardly got to ride much of anything. And that’s even after paying for Genie +, because often the rides would “sell out” before we got a chance to get any (and we were both on our phones at 7 am on the dot–refreshing like crazy). It’s really ridiculous.
My family was just at Magic Kingdom this past weekend, in my opinion there doesn’t seem to be any time period that is slower. Maybe a trip during the a week day if that is an option. We waited in line for the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train ride for at least 75 mins. It was close to 100 mins but the time we exited the attraction. I feel your frustration in paying for the Genie + pass. It’s crazy since people already pay 150.00 for a one day park entrance fee.
Honestly, it is what you make of it. Go in and expect to have a good time no matter what is thrown at you and guess what? You will, that doesn’t mean everything will be perfect, it just means your attitude has A LOT to do with how much you enjoy yourself.
Now, you can and should.let Disney know what is and isn’t working so they can improve, but don’t let the bad ruin the good.
I agree. Just go, enjoy your time out of the house and don’t stress so much over how long lines are or being on your phone the entire time. If a line for a ride is short, we go on it.
But we have never waited in long lines for 5 minute rides and we would never pay for the “privilege” of standing in line. We don’t think Genie+ is worth the money. There just isn’t any ride at Disney that’s worth paying extra for or standing in line for 75 minutes or more for.
I’ve had many, many Disney trips. For many years, I’d go nowhere else for vacation. Chris is right in that it’s what you make of it, and certainly, I have always enjoyed my trips no matter what has happened, because that’s just how I roll. However, I have to agree with it sounding like too much stress. I have several friends who’ve gone since the all the new changes were in place, and everything they said echoed what I just read. My husband and I will not be going back. Instead, we are going to–when we are ready to visit places–travel elsewhere and visit cities we’ve never been to. We never minded the expense of Disney, but it sounds like it’s just too expensive in exchange for a whole lot of stress we don’t need. In addition, Disney was really, really stupid. People are destabilized from COVID. Back in the early days of the pandemic, it was like, ‘when this is over, we’re going back to Disney’ because it was familiar, safe, and comfortable. Then they train-wrecked everything. So now it doesn’t feel like the safe, comfortable place I remember, but something new to learn and be navigated with a whole lot of stress and unknowns at a time when we all need stability. If they were going to do all of this, they really should’ve waited. As fans, we may not have loved all the changes, but we always rolled, and also, it was a change here, a change there. This was just too much and too many changes all at once at the worst possible time, and more proof that whoever’s in charge really doesn’t get it.
I share many of your sentiments. After 20 or so major trips to WDW, we learned how to plan well, “flex” when we had to (or WANTED to), & enjoy… I get the feeling that we will no longer be in control of our own trip; & will instead be spending time on our phones trying to manipulate a screen in bright sunlight… thanks but I can get stressed & disappointed somewhere else for a lot less money.
Disney Guests Say It Is “Just Too Stressful” and “Magic Is Gone” – How RIGHT they are, but Disney isn’t listening or care.
Remove Chapek and Iger bring in New Blood that can bring the magic back the sooner the better. Way to much penny pinching and ripping the customer off big time these days.
You have that absolutely 100% right. Chapek did the exact opposite of his predecessor, and most people hate everything he’s done. The era of cheaply done/high cost Disney attractions and experiences is upon us. It will only get worse.
I disagree, having a new strong leader CEO that takes into account its customer base as well as the investors and all the in between stuff can do this with a good strategy and the right people in place.
This lot we have now just take its customers for a ride and not in a good way. Many long time customers that were loyal have had enough and have stated and I am one of them, that we will not go anymore until things change and that’s a shame to see what Disney has become as our holidays had always been great expensive but great, but I will move over to Universal as Disney have resorted to ripping us all off.
The parks are only busy because its the 50th Anniversary and the public are taking their covid delayed holiday now, give it a few months and the parks will slow up, as will bookings, Disney are not untouchable as you may think, no Company is and Disney has their trouble you can believe that.
What Disney have done is short term gain but this has left a very bad taste in a large portion of the customer base and we are moving on. The mouse is caught in the mouse trap.
I feel exactly the same way and we were many years passholders until genie +. We were back at DW the first month they reopened. We worked through masks and ride capacities and line spacing. We were passholders through two recessions. I loved going to Disney World but now the magic is gone- I loved that it was a place that all were equal re rides when they entered and now it is the fastest and the richest and the most consumed with planning who get to ride. I can get that a lot cheaper at Universal so now we are passholders there.
Universal is no cheaper overall when you do a direct comparison.
The AP seems cheaper but you get only 2 parks instead of 4.
Their Express pass is way more expensive than Genie+.
Their resorts can be just as expensive and they don’t have the same kind of transportation systems.
You may pay more at this time, but UO happens to have a much better experience and premium resorts. Their Express passes are free if you stay at a premium, and no hassle with having to make reservations in the parks for anything.
We’re AP at WDW and Universal. I have a love/hate relationship with Universal, but overall, as an AP, I think Universal is the better deal because they offer a ticket that includes express for rides after 4 pm. At least when we go there, we know we’ll be able to enjoy a ride.
We just returned from a trip that was predicted to be a slow week. It was wall to wall people. Walkways were crowded, and we were even stopped leaving the parks in a crowded walkway exiting the park in Magic Kingdom (not up to fire code at all) as there was not an inch to move forward we were stuck for a while just waiting for people to exit.
If you don’t stay on Disney property and you want dining reservations most lose sleep and are constantly stressed about getting dining reservations as most are pre-booked before your window opens, so you have to pay for alarms and check an app that doesn’t always work for cancelations.
Forget calling Disney for help as it’s often over a 2hr wait.
Forget popular rides like Rise of the Resistance and Ratatouille, lightning lane passes as access is given to people who stay on the Disney property as a priority even if you are in the park and ready to reserve a spot, you have to wait until they let you book it and they disappear in seconds, even if you keep trying it’s like a rare lottery that you are likely not to get, even if you are willing to spend the money. Add that the app doesn’t work most of the time, and it makes it nearly impossible.
45 min listed wait time for ratatouille ended up being over 2 hrs with little kids due to the long Lighting lane line and guests getting priority (we even had to exit the line due to a ride break down, where were not given a return express pass), my littles waited over 3hrs, even though the line wait times were not predicted to be 1/2 that long (we would have never got in line in the first place if we knew it was so long for my poor 3 year old).
Disney really missed the mark on this one. Vacations with little kids should not be so intense, especially for the high costs.
Patrons around us were often grumpy, and exhausted. It feels like Disney is nickel and dimming it’s customers because you are now forced to pay a premium and join a skewed lottery based system if you want to not wait in crazy long lines.
Walt would likely be disgusted with the way it’s run now. His parks were not just for the wealthy, they were for everyone to enjoy.
Universal was a much better experience as far as enjoying the Magic. They incentives their guests with perks instead of forcing them to pay more to be able to have a more relaxed trip. Disney is stripping their Magic perks, raising prices and charging premiums. We are big Disney fans but my vote is with Universal.
I so agree. Going next month for the grandkids after a two year delay in our trip and I’m very nervous. Husband and I used to go every other year but that will be no more. I’m stressed over all the details, could not get any restaurant reservations whether online or waiting on hold for two hours and talking with someone. Nervous About trying to navigate the genie plus. Walt would not be happy!
I was a huge fan. Would go by myself from NY twice a year. I don’t like having to plan back in the 80s and 90s you didn’t have to. You could go where you wanted when you wanted. The last time I was there was 2099. They were just starting the fast pass. Didn’t like having to reserve a time. Bow with the pho e stuff, no thank you. The idea of worrying about ride times is nothing to hoping your phone stays charged and using up your gigs. No thank you. My last time was my last time.
I have been going to the WDW parks since they opened. Over time, prices do rise, but now it’s too much for a stressful vacation. Disney has priced me out of going to the parks. That and the rude entitled people that don’t follow rules. I don’t feel safe anymore.
I agree Cyndi with your comments completely, I would also add, that not only is it so costly and the value for money has gone down hill hugely, but it also is now so stressful to have to book everything in advance, mobile order everything and people walk around with their face attached to their phone, Its not a holiday I want anymore and I have loved coming and staying on Disney Property for over 20 years. My next holiday is moving over to Universal, where at least you can relax and go at your pace without the need to do all the above and enjoy a less expensive day compared to Disney.
Disney is a joke! We moved down here 4 years ago so the family could enjoy the annual passes of Disney whenever we had free time. Well thanks too so many restrictions with the new system and the awful crowds and horrible customer service we have done away with Disney altogether. Until things are fixed nobody in our family will be going back ever again.
Greg, you’re not alone. I’m not crazy about Florida in general, but the ability to go to WDW frequently with fast passes was a perk and a thing that kept me sane here. Now??? Not so much.
Yeah, the move was 20 years ago for me. Now DIsney isn’t what it used to be plus you find out Orlando is one of the worst cities in the country. Relocating soon..
I’m here now. It’s as magical as always. The Lightning lane has been a blessing as far as cutting down wait times. It’s not a hassle if you familiarize yourself with it before hand. Probably does suck for the unprepared, but that’s life no?
Robbie you must be on another planet, or were just very very lucky. The vast majority have stated its a rip off and does not work for you. Wait times are inflated on standby queues by nearly half the time again to fool you into thinking Genie + is a good idea, that’s fraud and foul play from Disney. What has this Company become – So Sad, remove Chapek for Gods Sake.
I have been going to Disney from NJ since the park opened in 1971. We have done it all. Always stay inside Disney and have tried most of the resorts including camping cabins. It was a slow relaxing day. Going in and out of parks when we wanted, get a fast pass for rides we wanted and when. Besides the amount of money we spend just on food and room (which I don’t mind) NOW we have to deal with all this stress and fast paced insanity! We were also annual pass members. We had and then covid so had to cancel. We had reservations for Jan 30 -Feb 1 0 this year. After reading all the Genie and LL dilemmas I decided to cancel and I am sooooo glad I did. I am a 68 year old woman, who doesn’t use apps., and texts etc. too well, and felt I would be so confused. This was our favorite time of year to go and also read it is so crowded and insane there. I don’t think it will ever go back to a slow paced, magical place unfortunaely.
I loved Disney so much all these years, but again, I could never deal with the craziness and stress that goes on now. I’m so sad about all this. No magic
I fully expect that there will be “preferred mobile ordering” for an upcharge. You pay to order when you want and everyone else will fight for limited windows to place their food orders.
We just came back from our annual trip a week ago and we are going to look elsewhere (take the kids to D.C., NY or try Universal). We spent an unnecessarily long time in lines while the lightning lane was ushered through. Our kids love Disney and they actually asked to do something different next year. I will miss the nostalgia but not the headache.
I agree 100% it’s way too stressful I was just there for the 50th and it just seemed like everybody was stressed out . Including the cast members and visitors alike. cast members were not as nice and helpful as they used to be it’s way too difficult to plan a trip there anymore . I used to go on the average of every other year and I’ve noticed a marked decline in service . I really do believe it is Bob Chapek
I have to agree. We went in fall 2020, and it was a totally different experience than the dozens of times I’ve been in the past. LL/Genie has created a very stressful experience where you are constantly on your phone. I missed so much time just soaking up the experience, and it didn’t feel like the family fun experience of the past.
That’s on top of rude cast members, high costs, crazy lines (even with Paid LL), and a lot of the luster gone.
It really is sad.
We are staying in Orlando for a month this summer, and will be purchasing Universal tickets instead of Disney. I just have no desire to return after our last trip.
Btw – I can deal with Covid restrictions, but it’s the LL that ruined the experience for me.
Just got back on Sunday 2/6 with my family/friends of 7 and while we had a great time it was extremely stressful!! And more expensive then ever! As a Disney Vacation Member for the last 18. yrs we have visited DW and DL many times and it’s always crowded whenever we have gone! We waited from 20 minutes to 2 hrs on rides we have been on many time and while that was our choice I refuse to pay extra for fast pass/ lightening pass!! How dare you ask us for more money to ride the rides we pd a park ticket for!! There’s got to be a better way!! And don’t get me started with the digital restaurant reservations ( which we couldn’t get) or the digital tickets which caused us frustration at every park. Whose didn’t work for whatever reason, go back to paper tickets please!! 😳 Just my 2 cents, or I should say ( with the price increase) 5 cents!! More headaches but we still love to go!! ❤️
we went over Thanksgiving….never, ever have we experienced such crowds. We’d been there before this same time, and it wasn’t nearly as bad. Because of Covid, and the 50th celebration…people were nuts to get back at it again. But it certainly wasn’t the experience we’ve know over the many years we’ve been going. Stressful!! That’s NOT magical! ON the phone!! Ridiculous! Went with the grandkids…they are phone savvy, which is fine, but who wants to have your face in a phone when you’ve paid big bucks for the parks! And the tickets on the phone is horrible. We had horrible issues until a cast member got us set up with cards. So much better! We won’t be back for a while, that’s for sure…plus we have 3 days left on no expiration tickets!
I have to agree. We just got back and I felt the same way during my trip. The kids had a blast but there were 14 people and a lot to keep up with with genie+. With what you spend to go and how exhausting it all is, genie+ just added to the stress.
Leaving today. Definitely did not enjoy the use of Genie + and LL. Most mornings I could not get a slot after purchasing. Last day did not even purchase. Too much time spent on the phone and not enjoying my time in Disney.
100% the magic is gone. The experience used to be magical because you were transported to the land of make believe. You became a kid again. Now every turn you are hit with a bill and stress. Schedules and you have to be there on time. Check the app. You are a slave to being an adult while there now. It’s not only no escape from reality they force you to face reality every 10 minutes. I blame Bob Chapek. I think its cut the magic and bring in more dollars.
We are die hard Disney fans who joined the Vacation Club in 2000 so we could maximize our love of the parks. We have routinely gone to WDW between 1 and 3 times every year since as the cleanliness, feeling of safety, beauty , attractions and the “Magical” feeling of Walt’s vision and legacy surrounded us every single time. Our kids became fans like us and their families also joined DVC.
It’s all changed …and to echo others, it’s not the same anymore. We went 3 times in 2021 and they were collectively the worst experiences we’ve ever had at WDW. Fast Pass is history as is Magical Express, discounted Annual Passes, and many other “perks” that being DVC members provided us. Chapek and the rest of the current management have a new strategy and it’s plain that it’s to price gouge every person who walks through the turnstiles and to make the system so tied to having our faces in our cell phones that we won’t notice. But we have noticed and we don’t like what we see. The “magic” has been replaced by greed and crowd volume. It’s no longer an enjoyable vacation as the unnecessary stress to plan every second is too much like work. It used to make us happy and refreshed. Not any more.
Amen. We were there with our entire family (13 of us) and we were so disappointed. My wife and I may go one last time in 2025, but other than that, we are finished. All Disney cares about is the almighty dollar. They used to care about family experiences but that is gone with the wind.
So much for Walt’s dream of a place for families where they could afford and enjoy a family style park. With the cost of housing and to park, at the resort, and ticket prices it is almost impossible for the average family of four to be able to afford the necessary days to enjoy all WDW has to offer. I’m sure Walt is rolling over in his grave and he would want the statue of him and mickey in the MK taken down as the phrase, It all began with a mouse, no longer has meaning.
Walt’s been spinning in his grave for decades now. The speed at which he spins increases exponentially with every douchey cash grab his once-beloved company implements.
I was at Disney beginning of Dec 2021. I usually go once a year. This last trip was horrible. You have to park miles away with no tram service, their ripoff “Genie” service is a POS! You can’t even order food unless you have a phone! I do agree with other folks. Disney just ASSUMES that everyone wants to walk around with a PHONE in their face all day! My elderly parents would not be able to do ANYTHING on their own because they just don’t use all the Apps and all that crap. For what Disney charges…. Should be a MUCH BETTER experience than what it is. I’ve gone my last time. I’ve lost interest because it’s JUST NOT FUN ANYMORE!! Sorry Mickey.
Our last trip in November’21 was so stressful and required D day level planning just to ride a handful of rides. It didn’t help that the normally slow time was super busy because of international travel had just been restarted after 600 days.
Universal has been our new favorite for awhile now due to cost and ease. It doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon.
Disney really missed the boat with Genie +. They could have incorporated a system like Universal’s Express Pass but they choose to nickel and dime guests and make a system that’s so stressful and complicated. Sad.
I agree with mcamuso78 and many of the commenters. The parks are overcrowded for the current number of rides and attractions offered, many of which break down often. It just leads to frustration vs. fun. When I attended a few days after Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, when it didn’t offer all that it does now, it wasn’t overly crowded by today’s standards. Gone are the days when you could ride your favorite ride multiple times in a row (unless there’s an unusual time) and when you could eat almost wherever you’d like. I couldn’t get the top restaurants, and actually had a hard time finding a Disney hotel over 5 months out.
Even though I will not give up going to Disneyland, but because of the stress, expense, no food reservations available my last 3 trips I am choosing not to go as often as I have in the pass. Planning a trip has been so easy and now I just cringe at the prospect. When I’m there I’m happy but the weeks prior are stressful, disappointing and just a pain . My next trip , my daughter and I decided to take my 17 yr old grandson who really a break from school, athletics etc. but to buy a ticket and get a reservation was impossible. How awful not to be able to add a person.
I don’t go on vacation to sit on my phone making plans and arrangements. I go to enjoy an experience and watch my kids experience the same amount of fun I had as a kid. Disney apps have just making it miserable for the planner. Then nobody has any fun. Sorry to see Disney go these routes and ruin the experience.
After over 30 trips to WDW, I’m done. The constantly nickle-and-diming of guests to squeeze every last penny out of my pocket while, at the same time, cheapening the experience has been the last straw for me. The magic that I experienced in past years has evaporated. I’ll spend my vacation money with people who appreciate their guests and treat them with respect. Dollywood comes to mind.
I totally agree, the magic is gone. I’ve gone for years and since Covid the magic is gone. No characters walking around or if they are the kids can’t hug them, some things still shut down, merchandise overly priced, employees are RUDE, food is limited and purchasing it is a 3 ring circus. And having to make reservations is not only a pain and often a hassle, sitting on hold for three hours waiting for help with passes is inconvenient. A friend who hasn’t been in years came with us and she said the magic is gone. Another friend flew into town after Christmas and said the same thing. If not for having teens who go for the roller coasters I would not go any more. It’s no longer family friendly with small children. On a good note it’s good to see fireworks are back and seeing tinker bell fly. That adds a touch of magic back into the day. Now all we need are characters walking around, a real parades, prices on merchandise to be affordable, open all restaurants and hire employees or train existing ones on how to be happy and address people with a good attitude. And please bring back the candy store! LOL
I have a trip to Disney World planned in October. I did purchase Genie+, but I too have concerns of this app as well. The thought of being on the phone all day is exhausting. I too feel it will take the magic out of the day in the parks. I only purchased the Genie+ in hopes to get on a few rides that have long lines because of the parks increase of guest. I did hear the app has issues which would be very frustrating on a busy day, not to mention getting up at 7 to make plans. My thoughts are…Is it worth the extra money for Genie+ pass? I just don’t see myself on the phone all day just to ride the long line rides. I have to say when I did purchase this app, I did not know of the details of how it works and stumbled on to this by chance. If you have any input to this, I would love to hear it.
Thank you for your time
It is worth it only for the purpose of being able to get on the most popular rides. But you can only make one at a time. And usually by the time you finish your first lightning lane ride the rest of the popular rides are sold out for the day.
We went for our 19th time to celebrate my 70th birthday. We have celebrated many times at WDW. This time was the biggest disappointment. It was depressing a lot of the time. The Yacht Club where we stayed was NOT good. I am okay with not changing sheets because I only do once a week. But they don’t even come in the room. I make my bed every day and for the money we spent, I expected them to make our bed, give us fresh towels, straighten things up so it looks nice. Coming back each evening to a sloppy looking room felt bad. Nothing felt magical about our experience and we don’t have plans to return.
I absolutely agree with this article. We went 1/23-1/29. We only went in the parks during a weekday. It was slammed busy. It was absolutely horrible. Waits were around 60-90 minutes. I can wait but I have small children and it’s just not possible. I didn’t get to ride half of the things I wanted to. I even paid for Genie+ and all the lightning lanes which added an additional $200 a day. I was constantly on my phone trying to get lightning lanes. They limit how many you can get and often the available return times would conflict with other plans or they were totally sold out. The buses from our Disney hotel were completely packed and one day the bus didn’t come for 2 hours. Eventually I had to break down and find other ways to get to the park. I’m thankful I had dining reservations for each day, because there are hardly any places to sit down and eat to relax. The merchandising was so limited as well, I guess because of the pandemic and supply issues which is understandable. My husband and I both agreed that we won’t be going back for at least 5-10 years. I hope Disney takes note and makes some changes. What’s the point if the magic is gone? I don’t mind paying more for a better experience. But I feel like things are getting worse and more expensive.
That’s not the point. The point is that G+, ILL, Park Reservations, Dining Reservation Hoarders, etc.are a total disaster. and have caused these problems. OBVIOUSLY everyone could stand in line, but that’s not what people have paid for. They pay for a smoothly flowing vacation, not this kind of ridiculous encounter.
That’s my plan. However, I appreciate American guests don’t always get paid holidays from work, so can be limited in how much time they have available for a trip when you factor in travel time etc. Being from the UK and able to visit for two weeks or more I have the luxury of time and only myself to please.
So this beggars the question, is Disney for families anymore? When there’s the parent(s) who want the kiddoes to have a great time, but, only have a day available for each park then do you want to spend it in lines and only get not even half the rides in? FastPass+ was a huge help to these families, now they are the ones who may have to consider LL and Genie+ and all the extra cost, which will stress the parents out if it’s not as they expected.
Disney is targetting one demographic and it’s not families or older couples, it’s the ‘Look At Me’ generation they are aiming at.
What was so wrong with the FastPass system? Other than Disney didn’t make any money from us. It was easy to choose rides from home and be all set when we entered the Parks. I appreciated that Disney was not charging for the FastPass system while other parks (Universal) were. The Magic is dimming under Disney’s greed.
Although the FastPass was free, the cost was hidden within your Holiday package staying on property, but it was a nice workable easy perk to have (certainly not free) however Genie + is on top of all the every increasing expense staying on property going to Disney. Not to mention so much has been taken away, but the costs go up continually, the perks keep being reduced and the hassle now to have a holiday is beyond me, I come to relax and have fun, sadly this is not what you get with Disney anymore.
Season pass holder here. There’s just too many people in the parks to create a magical experience. This Genie+ and other hacks they ve been trying is just that — a bandaid for crowd control and an inability to manage what is over capacity. There’s a need for a 5th park at Disney, it’s just far and away too much increase — numbers wise, not percent wise. It does look like we’re returning to the Ticketing schemes of the past ( E tickets ) and much of the loss of the magic is the inability to deal with the large numbers of people in the parks. But the overcapacity is their own fault and the lack of solutions is a result of their hiring — from the top down to the imagineers who are just told what to do. They don’t do anything else to either increase the magic or come up with solutions that improve things ( and otherwise ruffle feathers )
I took my kids to Disneyworld for years. Several of us went back to visit last week and we were all very disappointed and do not plan to return. Brand new rides broke down at our time two days in a row. Couldn’t book restaurants we wanted even though I went online at 5 am on the first day reservations were available. Many restaurants were closed. The stores didn’t have the van plethora of goods they had in the past. It cost way more for a much worse experience.
We went from 1/27 to 1/30. I felt that the whole park experience was haphazard. Very difficult to plan for what you really want to see, meal breaks, etc. The lines were longer than I have seen before – although the parks were by no means full. We won’t be going back any time soon.
I am going in November and after reading all of these comments plus others I have to say I am dreading it now. We go every year and have done for 24 years. We are from UK so not been since 2019. We don’t stay on property so no chance of LL even if I wanted to buy it. Universal I think will be the place we will be spending most of our time. Sad thing is it has taken my sister years to be able to get to a point where she can afford to come with us but now it seems it isn’t going to be the great experience I have been telling her about all these years
You can get LL even if you aren’t staying on site, Disney probably realise more people are going to do that now 90% of the perks have gone and they don’t want to miss out on that source of income. I’m also from the UK and if I had the confidence to drive in the US I would be staying off site.
We get a car and stay in a villa. After many many years renting the same spec of car they are clearly trying to make their money back now as what i normally pay £600 for is now £1300!! Probably should have just spent the money to stay on site lol
Count me out! Greed is not fun. I have Walt’s signature tattooed on my chest but I will not grace the parks again. Over 200 visits in the past and literally hundreds of thousands spent at the parks, with no regrets I might add. But the magic is gone. The discovery of what is around the corner, the beauty and magic, the smiles and happy families spending time together rather than drooling in their phones like they do when they are not in park, it’s all gone. I am done. Enjoyed it while it lasted.
May be coincidence, but, since Disney has become a Mecca for the vloggers, selfie junkies and all those people who would never have dreamed of doing a Disney trip until it became a source of getting attention for your narcissitic self on Instagram, where likes are like hard drugs to these addicts, that’s when it started going downhill.
I just watched a YouTube vlogger call Tomorrowland ‘Tomorrow World’ several times in his video, that says it all.
I’m not on any social media platform and my phone has cobwebs on it, if it wasn’t for the stuff you have no choice, but, to do on your phone then I could leave my phone in the room and not miss it.
Walt loved technology, but, I think he’d be disappointed that it’s no longer a place for magic and fun, but, for walking around staring at your phone.
YUP – Sadly, our September trip to the Food and Wine Festival will probably be our last. I have always felt the experience was worth the price and absolutely love the Yacht Club. However, all of the changes in this past year in the name of excessively lining investors pockets on the backs of ordinary people has crossed a line. It’s just not worth it any more.
We went in November of 2021, we have been going every November for almost 18 years. I am always the one to do all of the planning, making dining reservations, fast passes, etc. I felt that this trip was more stressful than any of the previous trips. We used to have everything planned out 30 days before the trip, including dining and fast passes. This past trip I had to set an alarm to make sure I was up and online at 7 AM getting one lightning pass for everyone and paying extra for lightning passes for the rides that arent included. You went from being able to make three fast passes a day, for FREE, 30 days in advance, to having to pay to make ONE lightning pass at a time the morning of. By the time you were done going on your one lightning pass ride and ready to book your next, any of the top rides were already booked for the rest of the day. This new system is awful and has taken all of the fun out of going to Disney, especially for the one who does all of the planning.
There’s something people could do to get the message to Disney, but, it isn’t going to happen and that is go old school Disney vacation, buy your entrance ticket and only your entrance ticket, don’t buy all the extras like Lightning Lanes, I’m heading to WDW soon for the first time in 2 and a half years and after doing lots of research into how it is now I’m not paying for any extras, I’m fortunate that I’m a solo guest, so I only have to please myself, but, I am not paying extra to get on a ride, I’d rather do a line, the only two rides that are new are in DHS, so I’m happy to do the lines.
This is about greed and not making the guest experience better, they had a system that was perfect called FastPass+, but, people still complained about it, but, you got your three FP and if you timed it right you could be getting the first of the extras by 11am, my record for a day was 15 and I know of people who got even more and it was all for free! But, if people are going to pay for the LL Disney are going to keep rubbing their greedy little paws and thinking of more ways to squeeze money out of guests. To be honest, I am considering trying Genie+ for one day at MK, but, what put me off was reports of the times not being accurate, some guests reporting the Genie+ was saying wait times were nearly an hour, but, at the acyual standby entrance it was considerably less.
I’ve prepared for my trip by deciding to go with the flow, if I’m in the mood for waiting then I’ll make sure I have a bathroom break and do the wait and enjoy all the theming while I wait, but, at least I know which rides will be an absolute ‘not worth the wait time’ and will only go on them if the lines are short.
But, if you are willing to pay for the extras then that’s up to you, but, please don’t whine and complain about having to get up before 7am to book LL, just suck it up and remember you are encouraging Disney to think up more ways to make $$$ from the mugs with more money than sense.
Well said. When we go in November i am going to try without Genie+. I will however pay for Pandora as that is the one ride i feel like i cant miss out on but not paying $15 per day per person just to get on a ride i have already paid for with my entrance ticket! Greedy Greedy Disney – just saw their profits today for the last quarter – Joke!! And people will carry on paying and the price will just keep increasing like the price of the tickets have
As long as the parks are full, then Disney has no incentive to change anything. In their eyes, these changes are successful because people keep going and spending their money.
Disney has gotten too expensive for the general family. My family and I used to go alot but it seems they are trying to make up for lost revenue due to the pandemic. There should be some perks to being a passholder but the passes keep going up and the charging for fast passes is a little ridiculous. I think they are going to lose a lot of families and the only ones that can afford to go will be the wealthy.
we do NOT like the new genie+ and Lightning Lane system; have been going to Disney for 25 + years on Multiple trips per year, so we are very experienced at DisneyWorld guests. Went in Dec the week before Christmas and it was awful. We had to add a day to our trip because we could not get into HS, then up at 7 am for LIghtining Lane only to have the Star Wars attraction go down 3 times while in line for it and so why did we buy that extra day? Genie+ not helpful to us on our trip; we didn’t do much like we had in the past. I like planning it all 6 months or 3 months ahead and then when I am there it is relaxing and fun. Now, I have to spend the days of my vacation stressing out, looking for attractions or riding the same ones i have ridden 100 times. No thanks. Plus everything is now more expensive. We are done for a while. No more DW for us.
My husband and I are in our 70’s we come fairly every other year with our grand kids. We have a trip scheduled this summer and are concerned about the new Genie+. We have added it to our package, but while our kids/grand kids are on their phones all the time, we seldom use our phones. I fear we will be lost when we’re in the parks on our own. This may be our last trip.
I miss the Magic of the characters just roaming around and having the surprise of running into them instead of standing in line to see them. Disney has made it hard to enjoy the expirence with the stressful fast pass system. They have removed all the magical benefits of staying on property. They are going to crumble to other theme park giants if they continue on the path they are headed.
I don’t understand why Disney doesn’t go 24 hours? Or expand hours to 2:00AM? Would really alleviate congestion and make it more enjoyable for everyone….. They could make it work. Not enjoyable at all to fight the crowds and wait hours in line for attractions.
I remember Magic Kingdom staying open until 1:00. They have shortened hours and reservations so that they can pay for less “cast members”. They’d rather shove us all in like sardines. I refuse to be on my phone all day to be able to hit the “good rides” so I may not return. The magic is gone.
All the rides being over an hour or so? Depending on the time, park and attractions available, it may/may not be true.
I was just at MK and Epcot about a month(ish) ago, and I was able to get in rides with less than or up to 30-40min wait times for a grand majority of them (exceptions being, but not surprising, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). The only ride I waited over an hour for was for Ratatouille (70min), and it broke down just as I was about to get on the boarding station (fortunately got a free Lightning Lane to experience it later. I didn’t really use Genie+ or LL (outside of the comp), as I use my phone for wait times and got there early (though not rope drop early) enough to experience all the great rides before the crowds got crazy.
A few comments mentioned things in the parks will slow down in a few months. I agree with this and think a slowdown down will happen after spring break.
Covid forced DVC to limit borrowed points to 50%. Owners had to figure out what to do with those points so they wouldn’t pay for them or let them go without use. Those points have most likely been used or rented out, and will not be a factor in the very near future.
The 50th anniversary novelty will be getting old and worn out after spring break. It will be 6 months old by then.
Spring break will bring the last push before the slowdown.
There will be the usual summer break vacationers that will give a little surge.
Disney’s rising prices for less will turn many of the die hard fans away as they will be discovering other venues offering more for less.
I agree! Went to Epcot this past weekend for the Festival of the Arts. The only festival was the festival of WAITING IN LONG LINES1. Rides, food, drinks, everything. Truely the “Magic” is gone. Sad:(
And I’m a Disney fanatic.
I was at Disney Jan 17-23, it being my 3rd visit
I was totally amazed at the differences happening. We stayed at Saratoga springs. The rooms were very nice. (Certainly not worth the price we had paid!!!!). Thankfully we brought our tech savvy daughter otherwise we were never had gotten to eat!! You had to have a reservation anywhere food was sold or else……too bad! Nobody, and I mean NOBODY! said have a magical day!! I understand these are stressful days, but HELLO!!! I have to save and plan for a vacation so one wants to be careful where she wants to go!! Saddest vacation I have ever have, and I go on vacation 2-3 times a year. Definitely not interested in going back to Disney!! And then last week I hear Disney is changing Minnie’s outfit!!! What???? Whatever she wears will never tell me “this is Minnie!!!” AND WHAT’S GOING ON WITH SNOW WHITE AND THE 7 DWARFS!! YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!
😫. I changes have to be made to make more money. But I never thought Disney was in “it” for the money……I always thought it was about magic and having fun. Bye. Bye Disney. Poor Walt Disney….God rest his soul!!! 😢
They said midgets kept coming in the park and hitting on the Snow White character because they saw the movie and thought she was into that sort of thing. It has something to do with that Peter Dinky guy..
Worst experience ever in Dec. As DVC member and AP holder, I totally regret buying passes again. Rude people, horrible lines, trying to use the app was nightmare and the lines for help were awful so it wasn’t just me.
I don’t go to Disney to be connected to my damn phone all day. The only thing I didn’t have to use the app for was taking a pee and leaving the park totally disgusted.
One of the reasons that it’s more crowded off-season than usual is because Florida is a “free” state that everyone is running to to escape the mandates and restrictions in their own states. However, they might be surprised to find that Disney doesn’t exactly abide by Florida’s freedom.
As for the fast pass, I prefer when they had the ticket machines. We had it all figured out so that we never waited in a line. Then again, we have pretty much washed our hands of Disney. It’s definitely not the same place anymore.
Disney jumped the shark ages ago. Wouldn’t go even if it was free. Grew up in Orlando and watched it go downhill over 40 years. Really sad, but that’s corporate America.
Mummy still paying for you is she Knot Poore, clearly you do not know the value of Money. Either that or you are a complete nasty snob, that needs to grow up.
Yes the stress is real at Disney anymore. I’m 72 and I just want to be able to go without all the hassle of figuring out what I have to do to get on a ride. For us older folks it’s ver stressful when your not computer or phone literate. It’s terrible that you would make us go thru all that red tape when we already pay enough just to be able to enjoy the parks. Please change things back and let people get on line if they don’t want to get a fast pass then let them wait or they will go to the next ride. I liked the idea of the original past passes. They were a decent way to get on rides. But only in the parks not on line or your phone !
The days of Hakuna Matata are gone…
It was wonderful to have our trips pre paid and softly planned. We left much room for spontaneity however our dining and favorite ride reservations were in place.
We would buy gift cards to cover souvenirs and extras and since we chose a dining plan we made allowances for tips but had the cost and planning behind us when we would embark on our magical vacation!
Well it seems that the no worries concept is far behind us. I find the new system overwhelming, stressful and expensive. It is stressful to have to plan on a daily basis taking so much time while there to plan and perhaps
finding disappointed as not being able to have the experience you wished for.
We have seen an escalation in confrontations in the parks perhaps the additional stress added to the usual expectations that go along with your trip in addition to heat , exhaustion etc… isn’t making Disney the magical experience we so enjoy and have kept coming back for ! Our trips to Disney have been cherished and traditional to our family and while understanding the need for growth and change. Disney has always been exceptional to their competitors an escape from the real world, magical.
I hope they do not lose sight of what has made them so special and are able to keep the magic …
I just returned from 6 days at WDW. I am a Disneyland Resort Magic Key Holder and had used Genie+ and ILL there and was pleased with the convenience. Since we were not staying at a WDW hotel, I was not able to book ILL rides at 7:00 am. I had to wait until the park opened. Although I would click on the App right at opening I was never able to book any of the most popular ILL rides as they were gone in seconds. We did use Genie+ but quickly realized that there were not very many rides in each park compared to Disneyland Resort. I was disappointed with my ILL and Genie+ experience at WDW but will continue to use it at Disneyland.
Totally agree with the comments about the awful experience of using the new Genie service. We experienced issues with the app where it was down multiple times and even though we logged in first thing in the morning we had issues with buying the extra lightning lane. The lines for the main rides are over 3 hours especially during the peak hours when we went during the holidays. At least the old system allowed people to make selections in advance. Now you literally have to be glued to your phone and it adds so much stress to the process especially with two young kids under 5. I hope they make changes.
Unfortunately I’m writing this on the last full day of my 7 day vacation and I can’t wait to go home. I also feel like I wasted too much money on one vacation. Between the huge crowds at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, rides that shut down early with no warning, rides that malfunction after standing in line for 60+ minutes, hypocritical mask policies followed by, “now move forward and get really tight to the family in front of you” commands, having to book times in advance for quick service food, and services that one added to the value disappearing every month, this has turned into a hot mess. But here’s an unpopular opinion. I don’t think this is all Disney’s fault. A lot of this falls on you Disney dorks that feel it’s necessary to go monthly, 6 times a year, or even yearly! It’s over populated at all parks and Disney can’t keep up like they once did. Many of you have tbe opinion that’s it’s all on the CEO and corporation, and it is; but I don’t see any of you Disney Dorks cancelling your trips. Keep going every single year. Keep buying the yearly passes and their time share ripoff. Keep standing in 2 hour lines for a popcorn bucket. Keep standing in 30 minutes lines for Starbucks coffee inside the parks. Keep buying $80 sweatshirts that would cost half that price anywhere else. If this hits home with any of you, you are to blame. I could go on with probably 20 more examples.
Now for Disney, you could remedy the some of the line issues by opening back up fully instead of using excuses like the one you’re giving for why The Little Mermaid show is down. When you have big rides down, where do you think guest are going? To flood the other rides. Why not show new movies in the parks before they’re released? That way if it’s crazy busy, at least a family that’s disappointed that the Rise of the Resistance is down once again, can feel they sort of got their money’s worth. Also, allow people to hop without a fee!
Comments for Disney Guests Say It Is “Just Too Stressful” and “Magic Is Gone”
beautiful gorgeous
I went previously December 2020. Long lines, no fast pass. We spent much of the vacation in line (socially distanced lines, so long it makes you feel hopeless). The long lines went behind the attractions, so we were in cast member only territory. I told my husband that I didn’t get to savor the experience, you know just being there looking around. I have told Disney that I refuse to pay for Genie plus. I am going in the off season hoping that it will help the line situation. I hope to take the time to just enjoy my surroundings.
Scott
I can tell you I don’t think an off season exists anymore. The lines right now during the “ offseason” are horrible. Everything is about an hour. You might find a couple rides around 50 minutes but it’s rare. The parks feel really over crowded, you wait for everything, bathrooms and snack carts included.
Tanya
I agree that “the magic is gone”. Part of the Disney magic is the gorgeous, detailed surroundings and you kiss them when having to constantly be on the app. Another part of the magic is the great interactions with cast members. Not much interaction anymore having to order & pay all on the app. Disney has pushed us into disconnecting with the exact reasons why we went to the Parks. So sad.
TanyaTanya
**miss
Danny C
Yes … too stressful these days. Even my teenage daughters opted out of going in 2022. We will just stick with Universal and Sea World.
Sandy
This is horrible! There’s no reason to go if you can’t feel the magic that Walt gave us!!!!
The people running Walt’s company have no concern of what he built.
They only know greed.
Tim
All the rides being over an hour or so? Depending on the time, park and attractions available, it may/may not be true.
I was just at MK and Epcot about a month(ish) ago, and I was able to get in rides with less than or up to 30-40min wait times for a grand majority of them (exceptions being, but not surprising, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). The only ride I waited over an hour for was for Ratatouille (70min), and it broke down just as I was about to get on the boarding station (fortunately got a free Lightning Lane to experience it later. I didn’t really use Genie+ or LL (outside of the comp), as I use my phone for wait times and got there early (though not rope drop early) enough to experience all the great rides before the crowds got crazy.
Tina
Sounds like the” Reservation System”turned out to be another disaster.These parks have always been National Treasures to many families. The crowds I’m reading about here were supposed to be thinned with reservations.It has become such a herd force of income for an empire that has lost the Magic, the reason.
Nick
No such thing as a predictable off season. You do your research (which can be nearly useless), pay your money and you take your chances.
Sky
As someone who has lived all my life in Florida and worked in the theme park industry for the past six years… there is an off season and it’s typically Second week of January to First week of March. All the parks are typically dead! To see crowds this time of year is unprecedented. It’s not common.
Kim T
I agree! We don’t live there, but my sister is a Disney travel agent and goes frequently. She went in December, a couple weeks before Christmas, and then we went at the end of January. She said the lines and crowds were way less in December (usually the busy season) than we saw in January. This is not normal! We were so disappointed because we hardly got to ride much of anything. And that’s even after paying for Genie +, because often the rides would “sell out” before we got a chance to get any (and we were both on our phones at 7 am on the dot–refreshing like crazy). It’s really ridiculous.
Jamie
My family was just at Magic Kingdom this past weekend, in my opinion there doesn’t seem to be any time period that is slower. Maybe a trip during the a week day if that is an option. We waited in line for the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train ride for at least 75 mins. It was close to 100 mins but the time we exited the attraction. I feel your frustration in paying for the Genie + pass. It’s crazy since people already pay 150.00 for a one day park entrance fee.
Chris
Honestly, it is what you make of it. Go in and expect to have a good time no matter what is thrown at you and guess what? You will, that doesn’t mean everything will be perfect, it just means your attitude has A LOT to do with how much you enjoy yourself.
Now, you can and should.let Disney know what is and isn’t working so they can improve, but don’t let the bad ruin the good.
Robert
Settle for less, pay more, ruin your day stuck in your phone and just make the best of it, right?
Wrong. Not a dime from us until this sheetshow improves. It’s garbage.
Sandy
I agree!
DK
Seriously? La De Da, Smiley Face kind of happy? Glad you like wasting your money.
Jaxx
I agree. Just go, enjoy your time out of the house and don’t stress so much over how long lines are or being on your phone the entire time. If a line for a ride is short, we go on it.
But we have never waited in long lines for 5 minute rides and we would never pay for the “privilege” of standing in line. We don’t think Genie+ is worth the money. There just isn’t any ride at Disney that’s worth paying extra for or standing in line for 75 minutes or more for.
Just our opinion….your mileage may vary.
Lisa
That’s all you’ll be doing is enjoying your time out of the house, because there aren’t any short lines.
Kristi Petersen Schoonover
I’ve had many, many Disney trips. For many years, I’d go nowhere else for vacation. Chris is right in that it’s what you make of it, and certainly, I have always enjoyed my trips no matter what has happened, because that’s just how I roll. However, I have to agree with it sounding like too much stress. I have several friends who’ve gone since the all the new changes were in place, and everything they said echoed what I just read. My husband and I will not be going back. Instead, we are going to–when we are ready to visit places–travel elsewhere and visit cities we’ve never been to. We never minded the expense of Disney, but it sounds like it’s just too expensive in exchange for a whole lot of stress we don’t need. In addition, Disney was really, really stupid. People are destabilized from COVID. Back in the early days of the pandemic, it was like, ‘when this is over, we’re going back to Disney’ because it was familiar, safe, and comfortable. Then they train-wrecked everything. So now it doesn’t feel like the safe, comfortable place I remember, but something new to learn and be navigated with a whole lot of stress and unknowns at a time when we all need stability. If they were going to do all of this, they really should’ve waited. As fans, we may not have loved all the changes, but we always rolled, and also, it was a change here, a change there. This was just too much and too many changes all at once at the worst possible time, and more proof that whoever’s in charge really doesn’t get it.
Robert Katz
I share many of your sentiments. After 20 or so major trips to WDW, we learned how to plan well, “flex” when we had to (or WANTED to), & enjoy… I get the feeling that we will no longer be in control of our own trip; & will instead be spending time on our phones trying to manipulate a screen in bright sunlight… thanks but I can get stressed & disappointed somewhere else for a lot less money.
Julian H
Disney Guests Say It Is “Just Too Stressful” and “Magic Is Gone” – How RIGHT they are, but Disney isn’t listening or care.
Remove Chapek and Iger bring in New Blood that can bring the magic back the sooner the better. Way to much penny pinching and ripping the customer off big time these days.
Vernon Rowlands
Where is Michael Eisner when you need him.
Michelle Valladolid
Who do you think skyrocketed admission costs in the first place? It was $24 per ticket when he came into power.
Charli D'Amilio
That’s crazy right.. the current guy is so bad people think Eisner was good LOL..
Robert
You have that absolutely 100% right. Chapek did the exact opposite of his predecessor, and most people hate everything he’s done. The era of cheaply done/high cost Disney attractions and experiences is upon us. It will only get worse.
Robert
You couldn’t be more wrong. Many powerful companies complacency and greed has led to their demise.
Julian H
I disagree, having a new strong leader CEO that takes into account its customer base as well as the investors and all the in between stuff can do this with a good strategy and the right people in place.
This lot we have now just take its customers for a ride and not in a good way. Many long time customers that were loyal have had enough and have stated and I am one of them, that we will not go anymore until things change and that’s a shame to see what Disney has become as our holidays had always been great expensive but great, but I will move over to Universal as Disney have resorted to ripping us all off.
The parks are only busy because its the 50th Anniversary and the public are taking their covid delayed holiday now, give it a few months and the parks will slow up, as will bookings, Disney are not untouchable as you may think, no Company is and Disney has their trouble you can believe that.
What Disney have done is short term gain but this has left a very bad taste in a large portion of the customer base and we are moving on. The mouse is caught in the mouse trap.
Sandy
I agree completely!
Try are ruining Walt’s dream!
LH
I feel exactly the same way and we were many years passholders until genie +. We were back at DW the first month they reopened. We worked through masks and ride capacities and line spacing. We were passholders through two recessions. I loved going to Disney World but now the magic is gone- I loved that it was a place that all were equal re rides when they entered and now it is the fastest and the richest and the most consumed with planning who get to ride. I can get that a lot cheaper at Universal so now we are passholders there.
Nick
Universal is no cheaper overall when you do a direct comparison.
The AP seems cheaper but you get only 2 parks instead of 4.
Their Express pass is way more expensive than Genie+.
Their resorts can be just as expensive and they don’t have the same kind of transportation systems.
DK
You may pay more at this time, but UO happens to have a much better experience and premium resorts. Their Express passes are free if you stay at a premium, and no hassle with having to make reservations in the parks for anything.
SueS
We’re AP at WDW and Universal. I have a love/hate relationship with Universal, but overall, as an AP, I think Universal is the better deal because they offer a ticket that includes express for rides after 4 pm. At least when we go there, we know we’ll be able to enjoy a ride.
Mike Mulaney
You’ve got to be kidding.. an AP is about half the price and it includes valet parking. 2 of the 4 Disney parks are garbage anyway.
Sarah
We just returned from a trip that was predicted to be a slow week. It was wall to wall people. Walkways were crowded, and we were even stopped leaving the parks in a crowded walkway exiting the park in Magic Kingdom (not up to fire code at all) as there was not an inch to move forward we were stuck for a while just waiting for people to exit.
If you don’t stay on Disney property and you want dining reservations most lose sleep and are constantly stressed about getting dining reservations as most are pre-booked before your window opens, so you have to pay for alarms and check an app that doesn’t always work for cancelations.
Forget calling Disney for help as it’s often over a 2hr wait.
Forget popular rides like Rise of the Resistance and Ratatouille, lightning lane passes as access is given to people who stay on the Disney property as a priority even if you are in the park and ready to reserve a spot, you have to wait until they let you book it and they disappear in seconds, even if you keep trying it’s like a rare lottery that you are likely not to get, even if you are willing to spend the money. Add that the app doesn’t work most of the time, and it makes it nearly impossible.
45 min listed wait time for ratatouille ended up being over 2 hrs with little kids due to the long Lighting lane line and guests getting priority (we even had to exit the line due to a ride break down, where were not given a return express pass), my littles waited over 3hrs, even though the line wait times were not predicted to be 1/2 that long (we would have never got in line in the first place if we knew it was so long for my poor 3 year old).
Disney really missed the mark on this one. Vacations with little kids should not be so intense, especially for the high costs.
Patrons around us were often grumpy, and exhausted. It feels like Disney is nickel and dimming it’s customers because you are now forced to pay a premium and join a skewed lottery based system if you want to not wait in crazy long lines.
Walt would likely be disgusted with the way it’s run now. His parks were not just for the wealthy, they were for everyone to enjoy.
Universal was a much better experience as far as enjoying the Magic. They incentives their guests with perks instead of forcing them to pay more to be able to have a more relaxed trip. Disney is stripping their Magic perks, raising prices and charging premiums. We are big Disney fans but my vote is with Universal.
Holly
I so agree. Going next month for the grandkids after a two year delay in our trip and I’m very nervous. Husband and I used to go every other year but that will be no more. I’m stressed over all the details, could not get any restaurant reservations whether online or waiting on hold for two hours and talking with someone. Nervous About trying to navigate the genie plus. Walt would not be happy!
Kathy
I was a huge fan. Would go by myself from NY twice a year. I don’t like having to plan back in the 80s and 90s you didn’t have to. You could go where you wanted when you wanted. The last time I was there was 2099. They were just starting the fast pass. Didn’t like having to reserve a time. Bow with the pho e stuff, no thank you. The idea of worrying about ride times is nothing to hoping your phone stays charged and using up your gigs. No thank you. My last time was my last time.
Cyndi
I have been going to the WDW parks since they opened. Over time, prices do rise, but now it’s too much for a stressful vacation. Disney has priced me out of going to the parks. That and the rude entitled people that don’t follow rules. I don’t feel safe anymore.
Julian H
I agree Cyndi with your comments completely, I would also add, that not only is it so costly and the value for money has gone down hill hugely, but it also is now so stressful to have to book everything in advance, mobile order everything and people walk around with their face attached to their phone, Its not a holiday I want anymore and I have loved coming and staying on Disney Property for over 20 years. My next holiday is moving over to Universal, where at least you can relax and go at your pace without the need to do all the above and enjoy a less expensive day compared to Disney.
Greg
Disney is a joke! We moved down here 4 years ago so the family could enjoy the annual passes of Disney whenever we had free time. Well thanks too so many restrictions with the new system and the awful crowds and horrible customer service we have done away with Disney altogether. Until things are fixed nobody in our family will be going back ever again.
Robert
Chapek is poison for Disney. Just poison.
SueS
Greg, you’re not alone. I’m not crazy about Florida in general, but the ability to go to WDW frequently with fast passes was a perk and a thing that kept me sane here. Now??? Not so much.
Bob bomhauer
Yeah, the move was 20 years ago for me. Now DIsney isn’t what it used to be plus you find out Orlando is one of the worst cities in the country. Relocating soon..
Robbie
I’m here now. It’s as magical as always. The Lightning lane has been a blessing as far as cutting down wait times. It’s not a hassle if you familiarize yourself with it before hand. Probably does suck for the unprepared, but that’s life no?
Robert
Most people’s experience and reality is not yours, no?
Julian H
Robbie you must be on another planet, or were just very very lucky. The vast majority have stated its a rip off and does not work for you. Wait times are inflated on standby queues by nearly half the time again to fool you into thinking Genie + is a good idea, that’s fraud and foul play from Disney. What has this Company become – So Sad, remove Chapek for Gods Sake.
Bob cheapric
Are you wearing a VR headset? You sound like you’re wearing a VR headset…
Debby Elliott Norris
I have been going to Disney from NJ since the park opened in 1971. We have done it all. Always stay inside Disney and have tried most of the resorts including camping cabins. It was a slow relaxing day. Going in and out of parks when we wanted, get a fast pass for rides we wanted and when. Besides the amount of money we spend just on food and room (which I don’t mind) NOW we have to deal with all this stress and fast paced insanity! We were also annual pass members. We had and then covid so had to cancel. We had reservations for Jan 30 -Feb 1 0 this year. After reading all the Genie and LL dilemmas I decided to cancel and I am sooooo glad I did. I am a 68 year old woman, who doesn’t use apps., and texts etc. too well, and felt I would be so confused. This was our favorite time of year to go and also read it is so crowded and insane there. I don’t think it will ever go back to a slow paced, magical place unfortunaely.
I loved Disney so much all these years, but again, I could never deal with the craziness and stress that goes on now. I’m so sad about all this. No magic
Boops
Wonder what the next free thing to become a price will be. Maybe the resort bus line?
Patrick
I fully expect that there will be “preferred mobile ordering” for an upcharge. You pay to order when you want and everyone else will fight for limited windows to place their food orders.
We just came back from our annual trip a week ago and we are going to look elsewhere (take the kids to D.C., NY or try Universal). We spent an unnecessarily long time in lines while the lightning lane was ushered through. Our kids love Disney and they actually asked to do something different next year. I will miss the nostalgia but not the headache.
Robert
Paid benches and seating.
Smartie pants
Oxygen… you will be paying for your oxygen next
Jennifer A Duncan
They got rid of it altogether.
Bob cheapric
Pay toilets like bus stations…
Jennifer
I agree 100% it’s way too stressful I was just there for the 50th and it just seemed like everybody was stressed out . Including the cast members and visitors alike. cast members were not as nice and helpful as they used to be it’s way too difficult to plan a trip there anymore . I used to go on the average of every other year and I’ve noticed a marked decline in service . I really do believe it is Bob Chapek
Emr91
I have to agree. We went in fall 2020, and it was a totally different experience than the dozens of times I’ve been in the past. LL/Genie has created a very stressful experience where you are constantly on your phone. I missed so much time just soaking up the experience, and it didn’t feel like the family fun experience of the past.
That’s on top of rude cast members, high costs, crazy lines (even with Paid LL), and a lot of the luster gone.
It really is sad.
We are staying in Orlando for a month this summer, and will be purchasing Universal tickets instead of Disney. I just have no desire to return after our last trip.
Btw – I can deal with Covid restrictions, but it’s the LL that ruined the experience for me.
Sue
Just got back on Sunday 2/6 with my family/friends of 7 and while we had a great time it was extremely stressful!! And more expensive then ever! As a Disney Vacation Member for the last 18. yrs we have visited DW and DL many times and it’s always crowded whenever we have gone! We waited from 20 minutes to 2 hrs on rides we have been on many time and while that was our choice I refuse to pay extra for fast pass/ lightening pass!! How dare you ask us for more money to ride the rides we pd a park ticket for!! There’s got to be a better way!! And don’t get me started with the digital restaurant reservations ( which we couldn’t get) or the digital tickets which caused us frustration at every park. Whose didn’t work for whatever reason, go back to paper tickets please!! 😳 Just my 2 cents, or I should say ( with the price increase) 5 cents!! More headaches but we still love to go!! ❤️
Robert
Send your complaints to Disney. All of us together must be the real-world rise of the resistance.
Carol
we went over Thanksgiving….never, ever have we experienced such crowds. We’d been there before this same time, and it wasn’t nearly as bad. Because of Covid, and the 50th celebration…people were nuts to get back at it again. But it certainly wasn’t the experience we’ve know over the many years we’ve been going. Stressful!! That’s NOT magical! ON the phone!! Ridiculous! Went with the grandkids…they are phone savvy, which is fine, but who wants to have your face in a phone when you’ve paid big bucks for the parks! And the tickets on the phone is horrible. We had horrible issues until a cast member got us set up with cards. So much better! We won’t be back for a while, that’s for sure…plus we have 3 days left on no expiration tickets!
Jessica
I have to agree. We just got back and I felt the same way during my trip. The kids had a blast but there were 14 people and a lot to keep up with with genie+. With what you spend to go and how exhausting it all is, genie+ just added to the stress.
Danna Garrett
Leaving today. Definitely did not enjoy the use of Genie + and LL. Most mornings I could not get a slot after purchasing. Last day did not even purchase. Too much time spent on the phone and not enjoying my time in Disney.
Bob Boogie
100% the magic is gone. The experience used to be magical because you were transported to the land of make believe. You became a kid again. Now every turn you are hit with a bill and stress. Schedules and you have to be there on time. Check the app. You are a slave to being an adult while there now. It’s not only no escape from reality they force you to face reality every 10 minutes. I blame Bob Chapek. I think its cut the magic and bring in more dollars.
DonB
We are die hard Disney fans who joined the Vacation Club in 2000 so we could maximize our love of the parks. We have routinely gone to WDW between 1 and 3 times every year since as the cleanliness, feeling of safety, beauty , attractions and the “Magical” feeling of Walt’s vision and legacy surrounded us every single time. Our kids became fans like us and their families also joined DVC.
It’s all changed …and to echo others, it’s not the same anymore. We went 3 times in 2021 and they were collectively the worst experiences we’ve ever had at WDW. Fast Pass is history as is Magical Express, discounted Annual Passes, and many other “perks” that being DVC members provided us. Chapek and the rest of the current management have a new strategy and it’s plain that it’s to price gouge every person who walks through the turnstiles and to make the system so tied to having our faces in our cell phones that we won’t notice. But we have noticed and we don’t like what we see. The “magic” has been replaced by greed and crowd volume. It’s no longer an enjoyable vacation as the unnecessary stress to plan every second is too much like work. It used to make us happy and refreshed. Not any more.
Ben L Millard
Amen. We were there with our entire family (13 of us) and we were so disappointed. My wife and I may go one last time in 2025, but other than that, we are finished. All Disney cares about is the almighty dollar. They used to care about family experiences but that is gone with the wind.
Paul Detrick
So much for Walt’s dream of a place for families where they could afford and enjoy a family style park. With the cost of housing and to park, at the resort, and ticket prices it is almost impossible for the average family of four to be able to afford the necessary days to enjoy all WDW has to offer. I’m sure Walt is rolling over in his grave and he would want the statue of him and mickey in the MK taken down as the phrase, It all began with a mouse, no longer has meaning.
Robert
Walt’s been spinning in his grave for decades now. The speed at which he spins increases exponentially with every douchey cash grab his once-beloved company implements.
Donna
I am stressed before I even get to the park. Why did they stop the magical bus to the park from the airport? Will that ever come back?
Former Disney Guest
I was at Disney beginning of Dec 2021. I usually go once a year. This last trip was horrible. You have to park miles away with no tram service, their ripoff “Genie” service is a POS! You can’t even order food unless you have a phone! I do agree with other folks. Disney just ASSUMES that everyone wants to walk around with a PHONE in their face all day! My elderly parents would not be able to do ANYTHING on their own because they just don’t use all the Apps and all that crap. For what Disney charges…. Should be a MUCH BETTER experience than what it is. I’ve gone my last time. I’ve lost interest because it’s JUST NOT FUN ANYMORE!! Sorry Mickey.
Corinne
Our last trip in November’21 was so stressful and required D day level planning just to ride a handful of rides. It didn’t help that the normally slow time was super busy because of international travel had just been restarted after 600 days.
Universal has been our new favorite for awhile now due to cost and ease. It doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon.
Disney really missed the boat with Genie +. They could have incorporated a system like Universal’s Express Pass but they choose to nickel and dime guests and make a system that’s so stressful and complicated. Sad.
Freedomrocksusa
I agree with mcamuso78 and many of the commenters. The parks are overcrowded for the current number of rides and attractions offered, many of which break down often. It just leads to frustration vs. fun. When I attended a few days after Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, when it didn’t offer all that it does now, it wasn’t overly crowded by today’s standards. Gone are the days when you could ride your favorite ride multiple times in a row (unless there’s an unusual time) and when you could eat almost wherever you’d like. I couldn’t get the top restaurants, and actually had a hard time finding a Disney hotel over 5 months out.
Barbara
Even though I will not give up going to Disneyland, but because of the stress, expense, no food reservations available my last 3 trips I am choosing not to go as often as I have in the pass. Planning a trip has been so easy and now I just cringe at the prospect. When I’m there I’m happy but the weeks prior are stressful, disappointing and just a pain . My next trip , my daughter and I decided to take my 17 yr old grandson who really a break from school, athletics etc. but to buy a ticket and get a reservation was impossible. How awful not to be able to add a person.
Megan
I don’t go on vacation to sit on my phone making plans and arrangements. I go to enjoy an experience and watch my kids experience the same amount of fun I had as a kid. Disney apps have just making it miserable for the planner. Then nobody has any fun. Sorry to see Disney go these routes and ruin the experience.
Ed Kelemen
After over 30 trips to WDW, I’m done. The constantly nickle-and-diming of guests to squeeze every last penny out of my pocket while, at the same time, cheapening the experience has been the last straw for me. The magic that I experienced in past years has evaporated. I’ll spend my vacation money with people who appreciate their guests and treat them with respect. Dollywood comes to mind.
Sarina
I totally agree, the magic is gone. I’ve gone for years and since Covid the magic is gone. No characters walking around or if they are the kids can’t hug them, some things still shut down, merchandise overly priced, employees are RUDE, food is limited and purchasing it is a 3 ring circus. And having to make reservations is not only a pain and often a hassle, sitting on hold for three hours waiting for help with passes is inconvenient. A friend who hasn’t been in years came with us and she said the magic is gone. Another friend flew into town after Christmas and said the same thing. If not for having teens who go for the roller coasters I would not go any more. It’s no longer family friendly with small children. On a good note it’s good to see fireworks are back and seeing tinker bell fly. That adds a touch of magic back into the day. Now all we need are characters walking around, a real parades, prices on merchandise to be affordable, open all restaurants and hire employees or train existing ones on how to be happy and address people with a good attitude. And please bring back the candy store! LOL
Mary
I have a trip to Disney World planned in October. I did purchase Genie+, but I too have concerns of this app as well. The thought of being on the phone all day is exhausting. I too feel it will take the magic out of the day in the parks. I only purchased the Genie+ in hopes to get on a few rides that have long lines because of the parks increase of guest. I did hear the app has issues which would be very frustrating on a busy day, not to mention getting up at 7 to make plans. My thoughts are…Is it worth the extra money for Genie+ pass? I just don’t see myself on the phone all day just to ride the long line rides. I have to say when I did purchase this app, I did not know of the details of how it works and stumbled on to this by chance. If you have any input to this, I would love to hear it.
Thank you for your time
Amy Fuccione
It is worth it only for the purpose of being able to get on the most popular rides. But you can only make one at a time. And usually by the time you finish your first lightning lane ride the rest of the popular rides are sold out for the day.
Tom and Nancy R
We went for our 19th time to celebrate my 70th birthday. We have celebrated many times at WDW. This time was the biggest disappointment. It was depressing a lot of the time. The Yacht Club where we stayed was NOT good. I am okay with not changing sheets because I only do once a week. But they don’t even come in the room. I make my bed every day and for the money we spent, I expected them to make our bed, give us fresh towels, straighten things up so it looks nice. Coming back each evening to a sloppy looking room felt bad. Nothing felt magical about our experience and we don’t have plans to return.
Angela
It is definitely stressful with that Genie pass . I do agree with less parades and meet and greats most of the magic is gone.
Megan Thornton
I absolutely agree with this article. We went 1/23-1/29. We only went in the parks during a weekday. It was slammed busy. It was absolutely horrible. Waits were around 60-90 minutes. I can wait but I have small children and it’s just not possible. I didn’t get to ride half of the things I wanted to. I even paid for Genie+ and all the lightning lanes which added an additional $200 a day. I was constantly on my phone trying to get lightning lanes. They limit how many you can get and often the available return times would conflict with other plans or they were totally sold out. The buses from our Disney hotel were completely packed and one day the bus didn’t come for 2 hours. Eventually I had to break down and find other ways to get to the park. I’m thankful I had dining reservations for each day, because there are hardly any places to sit down and eat to relax. The merchandising was so limited as well, I guess because of the pandemic and supply issues which is understandable. My husband and I both agreed that we won’t be going back for at least 5-10 years. I hope Disney takes note and makes some changes. What’s the point if the magic is gone? I don’t mind paying more for a better experience. But I feel like things are getting worse and more expensive.
Nancy
What merchandise did you find limiting? Every store I went to was well stocked
Kellie
Couldn’t find a mug ANYWHERE!
Julian H
They were there for sure, buying Genie +
GADucky
Yep. After 20 years, about half of them AP years, we’re done when this AP year is up. Disney, bring back Fastpass+!
Nancy
If people are stressed by the Genie then JUST DONT USE IT. Go back to the good old days before fast passes and just wait in line!
DK
That’s not the point. The point is that G+, ILL, Park Reservations, Dining Reservation Hoarders, etc.are a total disaster. and have caused these problems. OBVIOUSLY everyone could stand in line, but that’s not what people have paid for. They pay for a smoothly flowing vacation, not this kind of ridiculous encounter.
Carys
That’s my plan. However, I appreciate American guests don’t always get paid holidays from work, so can be limited in how much time they have available for a trip when you factor in travel time etc. Being from the UK and able to visit for two weeks or more I have the luxury of time and only myself to please.
So this beggars the question, is Disney for families anymore? When there’s the parent(s) who want the kiddoes to have a great time, but, only have a day available for each park then do you want to spend it in lines and only get not even half the rides in? FastPass+ was a huge help to these families, now they are the ones who may have to consider LL and Genie+ and all the extra cost, which will stress the parents out if it’s not as they expected.
Disney is targetting one demographic and it’s not families or older couples, it’s the ‘Look At Me’ generation they are aiming at.
Carol
What was so wrong with the FastPass system? Other than Disney didn’t make any money from us. It was easy to choose rides from home and be all set when we entered the Parks. I appreciated that Disney was not charging for the FastPass system while other parks (Universal) were. The Magic is dimming under Disney’s greed.
DK
It was free.
Julian H
Although the FastPass was free, the cost was hidden within your Holiday package staying on property, but it was a nice workable easy perk to have (certainly not free) however Genie + is on top of all the every increasing expense staying on property going to Disney. Not to mention so much has been taken away, but the costs go up continually, the perks keep being reduced and the hassle now to have a holiday is beyond me, I come to relax and have fun, sadly this is not what you get with Disney anymore.
Frank
Season pass holder here. There’s just too many people in the parks to create a magical experience. This Genie+ and other hacks they ve been trying is just that — a bandaid for crowd control and an inability to manage what is over capacity. There’s a need for a 5th park at Disney, it’s just far and away too much increase — numbers wise, not percent wise. It does look like we’re returning to the Ticketing schemes of the past ( E tickets ) and much of the loss of the magic is the inability to deal with the large numbers of people in the parks. But the overcapacity is their own fault and the lack of solutions is a result of their hiring — from the top down to the imagineers who are just told what to do. They don’t do anything else to either increase the magic or come up with solutions that improve things ( and otherwise ruffle feathers )
Deborah Boak
I took my kids to Disneyworld for years. Several of us went back to visit last week and we were all very disappointed and do not plan to return. Brand new rides broke down at our time two days in a row. Couldn’t book restaurants we wanted even though I went online at 5 am on the first day reservations were available. Many restaurants were closed. The stores didn’t have the van plethora of goods they had in the past. It cost way more for a much worse experience.
Ed
We went from 1/27 to 1/30. I felt that the whole park experience was haphazard. Very difficult to plan for what you really want to see, meal breaks, etc. The lines were longer than I have seen before – although the parks were by no means full. We won’t be going back any time soon.
Kelly
I am going in November and after reading all of these comments plus others I have to say I am dreading it now. We go every year and have done for 24 years. We are from UK so not been since 2019. We don’t stay on property so no chance of LL even if I wanted to buy it. Universal I think will be the place we will be spending most of our time. Sad thing is it has taken my sister years to be able to get to a point where she can afford to come with us but now it seems it isn’t going to be the great experience I have been telling her about all these years
Carys
You can get LL even if you aren’t staying on site, Disney probably realise more people are going to do that now 90% of the perks have gone and they don’t want to miss out on that source of income. I’m also from the UK and if I had the confidence to drive in the US I would be staying off site.
kelly
We get a car and stay in a villa. After many many years renting the same spec of car they are clearly trying to make their money back now as what i normally pay £600 for is now £1300!! Probably should have just spent the money to stay on site lol
Jennifer A Duncan
Except those staying on site can get them a few hours before those who aren’t, so there might not be any left.
Patti Arnold Rensel
getting LL off property is harder; they told us only about 30% of the LL goes to off property.
Derek
Count me out! Greed is not fun. I have Walt’s signature tattooed on my chest but I will not grace the parks again. Over 200 visits in the past and literally hundreds of thousands spent at the parks, with no regrets I might add. But the magic is gone. The discovery of what is around the corner, the beauty and magic, the smiles and happy families spending time together rather than drooling in their phones like they do when they are not in park, it’s all gone. I am done. Enjoyed it while it lasted.
Carys
May be coincidence, but, since Disney has become a Mecca for the vloggers, selfie junkies and all those people who would never have dreamed of doing a Disney trip until it became a source of getting attention for your narcissitic self on Instagram, where likes are like hard drugs to these addicts, that’s when it started going downhill.
I just watched a YouTube vlogger call Tomorrowland ‘Tomorrow World’ several times in his video, that says it all.
I’m not on any social media platform and my phone has cobwebs on it, if it wasn’t for the stuff you have no choice, but, to do on your phone then I could leave my phone in the room and not miss it.
Walt loved technology, but, I think he’d be disappointed that it’s no longer a place for magic and fun, but, for walking around staring at your phone.
D S
So we’ll said.
D S
Well ***
Melissa Mercon Smith
YUP – Sadly, our September trip to the Food and Wine Festival will probably be our last. I have always felt the experience was worth the price and absolutely love the Yacht Club. However, all of the changes in this past year in the name of excessively lining investors pockets on the backs of ordinary people has crossed a line. It’s just not worth it any more.
DK
It was free.
DK
Disregard above.
Amy Fuccione
We went in November of 2021, we have been going every November for almost 18 years. I am always the one to do all of the planning, making dining reservations, fast passes, etc. I felt that this trip was more stressful than any of the previous trips. We used to have everything planned out 30 days before the trip, including dining and fast passes. This past trip I had to set an alarm to make sure I was up and online at 7 AM getting one lightning pass for everyone and paying extra for lightning passes for the rides that arent included. You went from being able to make three fast passes a day, for FREE, 30 days in advance, to having to pay to make ONE lightning pass at a time the morning of. By the time you were done going on your one lightning pass ride and ready to book your next, any of the top rides were already booked for the rest of the day. This new system is awful and has taken all of the fun out of going to Disney, especially for the one who does all of the planning.
Carys
There’s something people could do to get the message to Disney, but, it isn’t going to happen and that is go old school Disney vacation, buy your entrance ticket and only your entrance ticket, don’t buy all the extras like Lightning Lanes, I’m heading to WDW soon for the first time in 2 and a half years and after doing lots of research into how it is now I’m not paying for any extras, I’m fortunate that I’m a solo guest, so I only have to please myself, but, I am not paying extra to get on a ride, I’d rather do a line, the only two rides that are new are in DHS, so I’m happy to do the lines.
This is about greed and not making the guest experience better, they had a system that was perfect called FastPass+, but, people still complained about it, but, you got your three FP and if you timed it right you could be getting the first of the extras by 11am, my record for a day was 15 and I know of people who got even more and it was all for free! But, if people are going to pay for the LL Disney are going to keep rubbing their greedy little paws and thinking of more ways to squeeze money out of guests. To be honest, I am considering trying Genie+ for one day at MK, but, what put me off was reports of the times not being accurate, some guests reporting the Genie+ was saying wait times were nearly an hour, but, at the acyual standby entrance it was considerably less.
I’ve prepared for my trip by deciding to go with the flow, if I’m in the mood for waiting then I’ll make sure I have a bathroom break and do the wait and enjoy all the theming while I wait, but, at least I know which rides will be an absolute ‘not worth the wait time’ and will only go on them if the lines are short.
But, if you are willing to pay for the extras then that’s up to you, but, please don’t whine and complain about having to get up before 7am to book LL, just suck it up and remember you are encouraging Disney to think up more ways to make $$$ from the mugs with more money than sense.
kelly
Well said. When we go in November i am going to try without Genie+. I will however pay for Pandora as that is the one ride i feel like i cant miss out on but not paying $15 per day per person just to get on a ride i have already paid for with my entrance ticket! Greedy Greedy Disney – just saw their profits today for the last quarter – Joke!! And people will carry on paying and the price will just keep increasing like the price of the tickets have
Bernard
As long as the parks are full, then Disney has no incentive to change anything. In their eyes, these changes are successful because people keep going and spending their money.
Brenda
Disney has gotten too expensive for the general family. My family and I used to go alot but it seems they are trying to make up for lost revenue due to the pandemic. There should be some perks to being a passholder but the passes keep going up and the charging for fast passes is a little ridiculous. I think they are going to lose a lot of families and the only ones that can afford to go will be the wealthy.
Patti Arnold Rensel
we do NOT like the new genie+ and Lightning Lane system; have been going to Disney for 25 + years on Multiple trips per year, so we are very experienced at DisneyWorld guests. Went in Dec the week before Christmas and it was awful. We had to add a day to our trip because we could not get into HS, then up at 7 am for LIghtining Lane only to have the Star Wars attraction go down 3 times while in line for it and so why did we buy that extra day? Genie+ not helpful to us on our trip; we didn’t do much like we had in the past. I like planning it all 6 months or 3 months ahead and then when I am there it is relaxing and fun. Now, I have to spend the days of my vacation stressing out, looking for attractions or riding the same ones i have ridden 100 times. No thanks. Plus everything is now more expensive. We are done for a while. No more DW for us.
Kathie Sucidlo
My husband and I are in our 70’s we come fairly every other year with our grand kids. We have a trip scheduled this summer and are concerned about the new Genie+. We have added it to our package, but while our kids/grand kids are on their phones all the time, we seldom use our phones. I fear we will be lost when we’re in the parks on our own. This may be our last trip.
Laura
I miss the Magic of the characters just roaming around and having the surprise of running into them instead of standing in line to see them. Disney has made it hard to enjoy the expirence with the stressful fast pass system. They have removed all the magical benefits of staying on property. They are going to crumble to other theme park giants if they continue on the path they are headed.
Tim
I don’t understand why Disney doesn’t go 24 hours? Or expand hours to 2:00AM? Would really alleviate congestion and make it more enjoyable for everyone….. They could make it work. Not enjoyable at all to fight the crowds and wait hours in line for attractions.
Jennifer A Duncan
I remember Magic Kingdom staying open until 1:00. They have shortened hours and reservations so that they can pay for less “cast members”. They’d rather shove us all in like sardines. I refuse to be on my phone all day to be able to hit the “good rides” so I may not return. The magic is gone.
Tim
All the rides being over an hour or so? Depending on the time, park and attractions available, it may/may not be true.
I was just at MK and Epcot about a month(ish) ago, and I was able to get in rides with less than or up to 30-40min wait times for a grand majority of them (exceptions being, but not surprising, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). The only ride I waited over an hour for was for Ratatouille (70min), and it broke down just as I was about to get on the boarding station (fortunately got a free Lightning Lane to experience it later. I didn’t really use Genie+ or LL (outside of the comp), as I use my phone for wait times and got there early (though not rope drop early) enough to experience all the great rides before the crowds got crazy.
mickeymouse3
A few comments mentioned things in the parks will slow down in a few months. I agree with this and think a slowdown down will happen after spring break.
Covid forced DVC to limit borrowed points to 50%. Owners had to figure out what to do with those points so they wouldn’t pay for them or let them go without use. Those points have most likely been used or rented out, and will not be a factor in the very near future.
The 50th anniversary novelty will be getting old and worn out after spring break. It will be 6 months old by then.
Spring break will bring the last push before the slowdown.
There will be the usual summer break vacationers that will give a little surge.
Disney’s rising prices for less will turn many of the die hard fans away as they will be discovering other venues offering more for less.
Terry Jonethis
I agree! Went to Epcot this past weekend for the Festival of the Arts. The only festival was the festival of WAITING IN LONG LINES1. Rides, food, drinks, everything. Truely the “Magic” is gone. Sad:(
And I’m a Disney fanatic.
Irene Boucher
I was at Disney Jan 17-23, it being my 3rd visit
I was totally amazed at the differences happening. We stayed at Saratoga springs. The rooms were very nice. (Certainly not worth the price we had paid!!!!). Thankfully we brought our tech savvy daughter otherwise we were never had gotten to eat!! You had to have a reservation anywhere food was sold or else……too bad! Nobody, and I mean NOBODY! said have a magical day!! I understand these are stressful days, but HELLO!!! I have to save and plan for a vacation so one wants to be careful where she wants to go!! Saddest vacation I have ever have, and I go on vacation 2-3 times a year. Definitely not interested in going back to Disney!! And then last week I hear Disney is changing Minnie’s outfit!!! What???? Whatever she wears will never tell me “this is Minnie!!!” AND WHAT’S GOING ON WITH SNOW WHITE AND THE 7 DWARFS!! YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!
😫. I changes have to be made to make more money. But I never thought Disney was in “it” for the money……I always thought it was about magic and having fun. Bye. Bye Disney. Poor Walt Disney….God rest his soul!!! 😢
Mike Mulaney
They said midgets kept coming in the park and hitting on the Snow White character because they saw the movie and thought she was into that sort of thing. It has something to do with that Peter Dinky guy..
Richard C
Worst experience ever in Dec. As DVC member and AP holder, I totally regret buying passes again. Rude people, horrible lines, trying to use the app was nightmare and the lines for help were awful so it wasn’t just me.
I don’t go to Disney to be connected to my damn phone all day. The only thing I didn’t have to use the app for was taking a pee and leaving the park totally disgusted.
Denise
One of the reasons that it’s more crowded off-season than usual is because Florida is a “free” state that everyone is running to to escape the mandates and restrictions in their own states. However, they might be surprised to find that Disney doesn’t exactly abide by Florida’s freedom.
As for the fast pass, I prefer when they had the ticket machines. We had it all figured out so that we never waited in a line. Then again, we have pretty much washed our hands of Disney. It’s definitely not the same place anymore.
Rick
Disney jumped the shark ages ago. Wouldn’t go even if it was free. Grew up in Orlando and watched it go downhill over 40 years. Really sad, but that’s corporate America.
Knot Poore
Lol parks are full. Magic isn’t gone, some are too poor afford it. Enjoy Dollywood!
Julian H
Mummy still paying for you is she Knot Poore, clearly you do not know the value of Money. Either that or you are a complete nasty snob, that needs to grow up.
Which is it?
Darlene souther
Yes the stress is real at Disney anymore. I’m 72 and I just want to be able to go without all the hassle of figuring out what I have to do to get on a ride. For us older folks it’s ver stressful when your not computer or phone literate. It’s terrible that you would make us go thru all that red tape when we already pay enough just to be able to enjoy the parks. Please change things back and let people get on line if they don’t want to get a fast pass then let them wait or they will go to the next ride. I liked the idea of the original past passes. They were a decent way to get on rides. But only in the parks not on line or your phone !
Julie
The days of Hakuna Matata are gone…
It was wonderful to have our trips pre paid and softly planned. We left much room for spontaneity however our dining and favorite ride reservations were in place.
We would buy gift cards to cover souvenirs and extras and since we chose a dining plan we made allowances for tips but had the cost and planning behind us when we would embark on our magical vacation!
Well it seems that the no worries concept is far behind us. I find the new system overwhelming, stressful and expensive. It is stressful to have to plan on a daily basis taking so much time while there to plan and perhaps
finding disappointed as not being able to have the experience you wished for.
We have seen an escalation in confrontations in the parks perhaps the additional stress added to the usual expectations that go along with your trip in addition to heat , exhaustion etc… isn’t making Disney the magical experience we so enjoy and have kept coming back for ! Our trips to Disney have been cherished and traditional to our family and while understanding the need for growth and change. Disney has always been exceptional to their competitors an escape from the real world, magical.
I hope they do not lose sight of what has made them so special and are able to keep the magic …
Sheryl M
I just returned from 6 days at WDW. I am a Disneyland Resort Magic Key Holder and had used Genie+ and ILL there and was pleased with the convenience. Since we were not staying at a WDW hotel, I was not able to book ILL rides at 7:00 am. I had to wait until the park opened. Although I would click on the App right at opening I was never able to book any of the most popular ILL rides as they were gone in seconds. We did use Genie+ but quickly realized that there were not very many rides in each park compared to Disneyland Resort. I was disappointed with my ILL and Genie+ experience at WDW but will continue to use it at Disneyland.
NK
Totally agree with the comments about the awful experience of using the new Genie service. We experienced issues with the app where it was down multiple times and even though we logged in first thing in the morning we had issues with buying the extra lightning lane. The lines for the main rides are over 3 hours especially during the peak hours when we went during the holidays. At least the old system allowed people to make selections in advance. Now you literally have to be glued to your phone and it adds so much stress to the process especially with two young kids under 5. I hope they make changes.
Wally Disney
Unfortunately I’m writing this on the last full day of my 7 day vacation and I can’t wait to go home. I also feel like I wasted too much money on one vacation. Between the huge crowds at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, rides that shut down early with no warning, rides that malfunction after standing in line for 60+ minutes, hypocritical mask policies followed by, “now move forward and get really tight to the family in front of you” commands, having to book times in advance for quick service food, and services that one added to the value disappearing every month, this has turned into a hot mess. But here’s an unpopular opinion. I don’t think this is all Disney’s fault. A lot of this falls on you Disney dorks that feel it’s necessary to go monthly, 6 times a year, or even yearly! It’s over populated at all parks and Disney can’t keep up like they once did. Many of you have tbe opinion that’s it’s all on the CEO and corporation, and it is; but I don’t see any of you Disney Dorks cancelling your trips. Keep going every single year. Keep buying the yearly passes and their time share ripoff. Keep standing in 2 hour lines for a popcorn bucket. Keep standing in 30 minutes lines for Starbucks coffee inside the parks. Keep buying $80 sweatshirts that would cost half that price anywhere else. If this hits home with any of you, you are to blame. I could go on with probably 20 more examples.
Now for Disney, you could remedy the some of the line issues by opening back up fully instead of using excuses like the one you’re giving for why The Little Mermaid show is down. When you have big rides down, where do you think guest are going? To flood the other rides. Why not show new movies in the parks before they’re released? That way if it’s crazy busy, at least a family that’s disappointed that the Rise of the Resistance is down once again, can feel they sort of got their money’s worth. Also, allow people to hop without a fee!
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