I just had the same conversation with guest services Our experience at Disneyland May 23, 24, 25 was nothing short of horrible! Rude cast members. Constant break down and shut down of rides, lines two plus hours long not to mention cars land racer caught on fire that Monday. I no longer feel that it is the safe experience either experience-wise or ride-wise that it was. Plus forcing little ones to stand in two-plus-hour lines with no shade or misters makes it a really miserable experience.
Of course the cast members are getting cranky. According to some cast members themselves, Disney is trying to get cast members to quit, probably so they can fire the ones who have earned slightly more benefits from being there longer. They don’t pay them enough to live off of the one job, so they usually have at least two jobs. If scheduling knows they need to work around the schedule of the other job, they’ll schedule them for the same time. They try to get them to choose between any other job they may have and Disney. Of course, they don’t have enough cast members, and they don’t have people lining up to work at Disney anymore either. They don’t have enough maintenance workers, so rides break down and don’t get their routine maintenance like they used to. Cast members are overworked and underpaid, so they get frustrated and don’t have enough of them to work everything fully. Then guests get upset at the lowering quality but rising prices, so then they snap at the cast members. Heck, one cast member just returned from having surgery on their knee only for a guest to get mad that the CM said they couldn’t stand in a certain area for fireworks, so the guest shoved the cast member into a light post and smashed their knee. So it probably won’t heal right and their mobility may have been permanently damaged. So the cast members see that and deal with that, and then get scared of doing their job and then are even more frustrated! It’s a cycle.
I remember years and years ago the first time I went to Disney world there was the sense that Disney was aware that they weren’t competing against the universal they were competing against the rest of the world for vacation dollars.
After all what you spend to stay at Disney world can buy you a vacation.
It seems now Disney is content to get by on the reputation it used to have, so for me it’s a no until something radical changes.
Agree with you. Disney is too expensive and too political. For me the change began when they started charging $10.00 parking at their hotels for staying guest. Walt would be totally disappointed with his company leadership.
It’s only a cycle when you keep on returning! I just stopped taking my kids to Disney 20+ years ago. Been to many foreign places for far less than what it would cost to go to Disney, and we live only six miles away! But hey, just keep going there throwing away your money. Gotta laugh at your pathetic complaints. Best way to punish Disney is in their revenues.
Scott A. McDonald
We were down at the grand Californian Hotel last May 9-13
And this is our first visit to back to Disneyland since 2019.
We had a enjoyable time but with numerous breakdowns and malfunctions of numerous rides. Along with the overall cleanliness of the park with sadly lacking. Floating trash in the ponds and waterways. Items on the ground and a noticeable lack of the cleaning staff that used to be common place with their brooms and sweep up bins was noticeable too. It felt like there was a skeleton staff operating the park with a definite lack of personnel.
It’s like the QC manager and staff we’re no longer on the payroll anymore.🙁
Just spent a week with my fiancee 2 kids and my parents in April. We only went because we had been planning this trip since pre covid times and the kids really wanted to go. Let me tell you this will be the last time for a while unless something huge changes. I took my boys in 2017 for the same length of time. It was twice as much this time for tickets. Everyone that works there is miserable there are lines for everything and genie plus just ruins the amount u can experience without waiting in a 6 hour line. We will travel to an island or another country for our next big family vacation.
I was at DisneyWorld the first year they were open for my senior class trip and loved it! We have taken our children several times. I wanted to go for this special year. Our daughter surprised me with a Mother daughter trip in March! We had a ball and never experienced anything bad. The park was clean, the staff were great and the food was excellent! I can’t wait to go back!
unfortunately its not like that anymore, its way too crowded, prices ae ridiculous and the mode/fell is not the same. Walt would not want to run his parks this way, htey need to go back to they way the ran it before covid. Iv been going therefor 20 years and don’t think we will be going again for a while until they get it all straightened out.
That trash in the waterways didn’t get there by itself! Too many people are now entitled pigs who throw their trash anywhere and expect others to clean up after them! The first step to a cleaner park is to dispose of your garbage in the proper waste containers around the parks. Sad sign of the times now.
We just got back from Disney Florida this past weekend. Very EXPENSIVE. Our 5th time here and spent more than double than we normally do on gifts, snacks, food etc.
It was still crowded but not as bad as before. Genie+ really did help.
We love character dining but the food really isnt worth the price.
Disney will soon be for the upper class if prices stay as is.
Please remove season passes to offset the crowd or limit them to a certain amount of days per season.
monica
I have a season pass and pay a lot for it so I don’t have to be limited…and yet I am. I have to make reservations, just like you do….I still pay for everything, just like you do. limited us, isn’t going to solve the problem. the park is already limiting that amount of people going with the reservation system and non pass holder get more reservation then pass holders
How is that fair for the people that spent 1500 a year for annual passes and tell them when they can and can’t come but let us take your 1500 so if I have family come and they want to go to the parks and the days they want to go falls on the time they say oh you can’t but you can buy a single day or multiple day ticket at 300 all said and done so how is that right I do understand what you are about the crowds but 80 percent of the people there are not local but like you traveled to disney but they may come to disney multiple times so how is it fair to say for those people that say travel from NY to not let them use there passes . But I can tell you COVID to disney was a god send because with the new system has given them the power to make more money than they did before because now the can Taylor and control everything from like from park cap and many other things
All the Disney parks could hire double the CM’s they have now and it would be barely adequate service. As it is right now, all I see are they are stressing and overworking their poorly staffed current crews.
I just returned from Disneyland May-17-20. I had a wonderful time even though the parks were crowded with graduates. Both parks were clean, bathrooms were attended and stocked everywhere I went. I saw no loose trash or graffiti. My food experiences were delicious and mobile ordering worked fine for me. I experienced all the attractions I wanted to. I had a wonderful time and am returning for another five days in November.
We just came home from Disney World yesterday and had the best time! Everything was clean, the food was yummy, and we had so much fun! The CMs were wonderful and kept the crowds entertained when weather delayed the parade! I will be back in October! 🙂
Annual passes are only available for existing pass holders to renew. You can no longer just purchase. Levels have diminished as well, pass holders are extremely limited as to when they can reserve visits. And that’s the other think, park reservations are new and they stink. Genie+ compared to fast passes are a joke. It seems with all the limitations parks are even MORE crowded then they ever were. And you’re paying more for it. Could go to Europe or Hawaii for same price. Glad I went the 20 years prior to Covid. Difference now is night and day. Dining plans, magical express, complementary magic bands, coupon books, exemplàry service and cleanliness. Free parking. Little mickey bottle shampoos. I could go on and on. All gone. I would guess as their reputation sinks so will the crowds. Maybe that is their plan?
It seems like guests are getting less and less, but we’re paying more every year. We’re members of the Vacation Club, and those benefits have decreased as well.
Camped at ft wilderness May 9-13th. And all star sports May 23-27th. All star Sports room smelled like mildew – time to refurbish – designer cupcakes were dry and pizzas are pre-made crusts- remembered the real tossed crust from years past. Just ok. Boma buffet was still good but quality of meat was poor – steak and ribs were very chewy. Stopped going to whispering canyons – quality of meat became poor – had been going since 95. Have stopped going to the expensive dinners $50 plus – quality is just not there anymore. Gene worked well for us so cannot complain. Even though I have non-expiring tickets – the totals are just too much and can do some awesome trips with what I spent – it’s time to move on to new things.
Not interested in going anymore. Park tickets, food, etc., are extremely overpriced. Parks are filthy and not maintained. cast members are rude. Food is awful. Lines are way too long. If I have to buy multi-day ticket to see everything in ONE park, forget it. Disney will tell you they are operating at less than full capacity but that is complete BS. It’s a complete sh&t show and way overcrowded. They are doing everything possible to cut cost and increase revenue due to lost revenue the past two years. You can barely walk anywhere in the MK. The hotels are nasty, not just the value resorts even the high end hotels. Epcot needs a complete overhaul including adding multiple new countries. They have tried to make Epcot more kid friendly but they have succeeded in making it annoying as hell and thr Mexico ride is a f’n joke!! Magic Kingdom, I’d rather take a kick in the groin before going there. Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are half day parks at best. When my kids were younger, we would go two sometimes three times per year. My wife and I enjoyed going to Epcot wo kids, but not anymore. We will find better locations to visit for our $10kk. I’m out!!
We just returned from Disney world May 17th – 29th, it was so expensive and over crowded food was mediocre at best (except Via Napoli it was fantastic) Cast members seem to have lost their sparkle, they seem overwhelmed. We did a split stay between the Riviera and Boulder Ridge, house keeping at the Riviera was non existent, they did position a cart in the hall way that I would use to take trash out, Boulder Ridge was much better they did regular cleaning and called to schedule changing the sheets. It makes me sad, but this will be our last trip, we have been priced out.
The log ride broke down, had to sit while two ahead on slant up hill evacuated, then my turn, wait, ride attendants say wait until the people from back to front go, then they try to say leave my kid, they will get. Yeah right. Go back, it breaks again! Waste of time, money, patience, when rides break do something for guests. Go back to AB CDE ticket books! There is no long lines! Bring back ticket books for the rides!
I’m 65 and had been going since I was 6. As I got older, I took my family and then my grandchildren. But I stopped going 15 years ago because everything was starting to get too expensive from tickets to food to merchandise. Over the last 10 years, I’ve seen the greed of Disney Resorts, and how they’ve perverted and tarnished Walt’s vision, turning into a total money grab just because they could. Disneyland used to be a place where people all over the country could experience. Now, average Americans are being priced out to the point where it is becoming a place for the rich. The fun, joy and good times are no longer there. I’m happy I got to experience what used to be, and have ZERO desire to fork over my hard earned cash for what the Disney board has determined to be the future. Walt must be spinning in his grave.
We’ve spent in excess of $100k at Disney over the years. Since the pandemic we have found other wonderful places in this country to vacation. My kids and grandkids don’t want to go back to Disney under the current circumstances. Very sad 😢
I was lucky , I was there Oct 1st 1971 at WDW! My heart has belonged to Disney, I now am a grandmother and took my 3 grandchildren, we have had APs for over 6 yrs , but I didn’t renew this year. The real magic is gone.I feel like a cow being cattle in, my heart is broken. The 50th anniversary was and is a joke, it’s all about what they can sell you, it’s become a real mouse trap, something I never thought I’d say or think of Disney, this grandmas heart is broken.Iv been to WDW over 100 times, but now I can’t afford to go or do I want to see the horrible change Disney has become.what a shame
I went May 2021 and September 2021 and have booked for August 2022 Disney is and has always been on the expensive side of vacations but I did not see anything horrible about anything while there. Clean parks, I hardly need to use a CM, and we usually don’t dine in the parks so I have no input there but my experience has been the same as always, magical
Went to Disney may 2022 thought it still magical. Disney has always been a more expensive vacation, it’s as cheap or expensive as you .Ake it. You don’t need to eat all day long and buy everything in sight. We also managed to get on all rides with only buying some genie+. Going again in September and won’t bother to buy genie+ at all.
I was lucky to have gone to Disneyland in 1968 and 1980. Huge treat for a blue collar class Michigan kid in a family of 8. Experienced Disney World four times between 1978-1990. I adopted my girls late in life and hoped to take them after saving money for ten years and Covid hit, and now I’m afraid to take them from all I’ve heard, not only on social media and the news but from friends who have gone. Just can’t afford to spend so much for so little. Makes me sad as I loved the magic and wanted my girls to have it. Probably best that my last visit to Disney, I didn’t know would be my last visit to Disney. We will stick to the beaches of the Great Lakes.
I AGREE 💯!!!
It’s definitely NOT what it used to be, and it’s definitely NOT Walt’s Disney anymore. It’s being run by greedy people, and they keep chipping away at everything that made WDW special and magical. First off, Walt’s dream was for it to be a place that the every day family could go and enjoy, but it’s gotten WAY too expensive. There are additional charges for everything now – even for parking at a Disney resort where you are staying!! 🤬 The quality isn’t there anymore, nor is the maintenance/ cleanliness factor, guests are getting more rude & more attitudes of entitlement every year. Also, it was to be a place where the guests were treated like royalty- Cast Members are supposed to remain IN CHARACTER AT ALL TIMES, no matter what – but many act as if the guests should feel privileged that they showed up at all. I don’t like that you have to plan everything now- including the rides. Honestly, it’s more like work now than a vacation. (I dont know about you, but I go on vacation to get away from having every minute of my day dictated by the clock.) The fireworks shows aren’t even as good as they used to be. There’s very little left of the WDW Walt dreamed of and created. I’ll stick to my classic Disney and the good memories of the trips there when Disney magic was the focus…y’all can have this new crap.
The prices for tickets and food is crazy high which has always been but seems like way higher now
The food at pop century is ok, same thing day in and day out. We ordered a small Mickey head for my sons 4th bday and my husbands bday
It was gross it was dry and the gelato (frosting) was gross
Some of the rides we wanted to go on we’re closed that sucked
Some of the cast members were awesome others were kinda rude
Our main big issue was with frontier airlines
Got our flight canceled and dident say anything about it to anyone, we were at the airport at 3:30am to go home and we couldent leave until we made different flight setup
We got to go home at 3:30pm
We’re hoping for a refund
So many articles about the decline of the parks, hotels and Disney in general.
Two ways things will change.
One, everyone stops going to Disney, and we all know that will not happen.
Two, stop writing about your woes on blogs, and start writing to Disney direct. This is the only way they might consider a change. Disney does not read blogs.
Right on. But it’s no use writing to them. You have to hit them in the wallet. You think they really CARE what you think? There are just too many people willing to BORROW the money to visit Disney. They MIGHT change if thousands and thousands of people just stopped going. Only the woke crowd will remain loyal. Actually, I wouldn’t go if it was free and I live 6 miles from DW. Took my three young nephews to Europe last year and they loved it. Going again this year,bthe kids are so excited! Not a one of them wants to go to Disney ever again!
Our last experience was a bad one also. We were there in May 2022. Grumpy people at the resort, they did not have answers for simple questions, and we were told that there would be meet and greets, and character dining at Magic Kingdom. None of the above.
My husband’s and my last visit to Disney was at the end of February 2021 and it was not the happiest place on earth by any means. This was when Florida had no mask mandate anymore. DisneyWorld cast members were like mean security guards watching and commanding anyone whose mask fell below their nose, even outside with no one nearby. You couldn’t even drop your mask to take a quick photo without getting yelled at. They were militant in their attitude and stood watching people with stern faces everywhere. Food lines were extremely long and we were bossed around to stand here or there or step away from cashiers quickly behind plexiglass as if customers had leprosy. It was a very sad experience for us after enjoying Disney for 50 years. We decided to forgo using our 3rd day of passes and flew home early. Don’t know if we’ll ever go back. 🙁
Let’s face it, it’s not magical anymore. There are no perks to staying on property except Disney transportation (which you pay for because the resorts are over priced). Disney World without Genie+ is miserable. Disney did that on purpose to get us to open our wallets more. Walking on all that concrete, hurts the feet. I have to bring a drug store with me for me and my family. I’m taking my self-propelled scooter next time.
I visited the park with my family at age 14. Mind you, this was in 1984, but I didn’t feel the hype was worth it even back then. The park was too crowded, with too many lines, and sooo expensive. It is mind-boggling to me that people are just now voicing what I said all those years ago.
It’s about 5 years since we were in Walt Disney world,& I thought them that the magic was going, it was over priced, quality of the merchandise wasn’t has good has it used to be & some of the staff were unhelpful & miserable, I actually wrote an email to them, telling them my thoughts they did ring me back and the lady I spoke to said it would get passed on and would be looked at at their monthly meeting but it sounds like nothing has changed it’s just a money making machine,
I have read too many negative comments about WDW as of late. I’m really afraid to take my family back. We last stayed at the park around 2017 and was contemplating a return trip. I’m not sure anymore. I think it was Walt Disney’s niece who condemned the corporate greed and can only imagine that it is exacting a measure out of Walt’s dream. When is enough enough already?
It is completely different from 2017. The entire trip you are on your phone looking up wait times and trying to decide which lines are worth it. The one positive has been mobile ordering, but with that said you can’t go into a quick service restaurant unless it’s your time to pick up food.
We’ve gone to Disney every other year for the last 30 years. We recently went this past December and vowed to never return. It’s sad that such a magical experience that Disney once was is clouded with no reservations, additional fees for lighting lanes, ride que fees and more reservations, food quality down while prices increased, and so much more disappointment.
My wife and I had dinner at Epcot Nemo restaurant
We had prime rib and Salmon June 7
The meals were the worst we have ever had in Disney and over priced
However the staff were pleasant and attentive
We will never eat in this restaurant again
I have been a Disney Vacation Club member for over 15yrs. It was the best purchase I have ever made. We have enjoyed many years of vacations from being a member of the club. HOWEVER, this past year was the last time we will be visiting. The experience was very very expensive. Rude cast members the issue of having to reserve before entering the park was awful. I have sold many to become a DVC member but won’t anymore. I will save my points and take a Disney Cruise. No more parks for me and this is very very sad.
I’m with you! We are seriously considering selling our vacation club as we have zero desire to go on cruises. Even the points trading is almost impossible to use.
We just returned from a family reunion last weekend where we provided all the accommodations for our extended family and the parks were horrible. Genie+ is the worst idea ever! A company with billions of dollars has the worst, most user unfriendly app imaginable. We spent 3 days at Universal and had a blast!
I’m also a former Cast Member and it just breaks my heart to see how much it has declined. I will say that we great experiences with many Cast Members especially in guest services as we spent a lot of time there trying to fix issues. And I mean, every day of 5 days at WDW.
They definitely do not want to cater to families anymore. Middle income families will never be able to afford the costs to visit. Just sad.
I have been several times this year to all Florida Disney parks. We had a good time but I admit Disney needs to figure out some things. I’ve been pre pandemic and honestly it seems more crowded now then at full capacity then. The genie service sucks and so wait lines are insane. Food prices are up everywhere in America but we definitely are paying more. I think staff is trying to handle it the best way they can with the insane crowds.
It use to be nice staying on Disney property, you got little perks. First they took away your free parking if you were a hotel guest. Than you stopped getting your refillable cups for free as well as your magic bands. Than they took away the Magic Express which for me was the begining of my Disney vacation and yes the begining of the magic that use to be Disney World. This last trip in Feb was just like a regular vacation. Disney vacations were a gazillion times better than a regular vacation. Now it feels like there is little to no magic. Nothing to make you to feel special. No one to make you feel glad you came. I won’t even address the expense or the obvious changes in the food portions or the expense or the lack of smiles on cast members.
Again I say, Walt is rolling over in his grave!!!!!
I totally agree. The Magical Express was always the start of my magical vacation, and all the unexpected little perks were thrills. 1988 first trip with my 9 yr old. I went with my grown. step-daughter in October 2021. Without her,I would not have not figured out how to go on a ride!!
I’m conflicted. I continue to hear so many negative reviews, but the parks are over crowded. Why is that? Is it just everyone that hasn’t taken a vacation in two years because of the pandemic? I’ve visited both Disneyland and Disney World during this last year. The only negatives I did see, was trash throughout the park, and a lot of venues still not reopened. Totally understandable with the lack of staffing. I will be bringing my family from Australia when they come for vacation this fall. I’m really hoping a lot of the “issues” have been resolved.
You make a reservation for a park and it’s so full you can’t walk a step without running into someone else. The middle of EPCOT was under construction so that pushed all the crowd out to the one walkway on each side. It was just terrible. Getting food is a nightmare. You now use the App for everything from rides to food and it is so overbooked you can’t do either. Rides breakdown and you can’t change you ability to get another ride until you fastpass is canceled. We spent 4 frustrating days doing the parks and found d each one overbooked and overwhelmed. We got up at 6:30 to book the Avatar ride and their was a glitch on the app..at 7:02 the ride was full for the day. So we went straight to the park to walk in early and we still waited an hour to ride Avatar. Not coming back.
Disney needs to go back to their business plan of three years ago when it was magical. Right now its terrible for the guests. Walt Disney would not like what is going on. Lines are long, food and service not up to par and families are frustrated instead of happy.
Our family of 5 were there the week of April 24-30. To us it was the same Disney World as always. We didn’t experience any rude cast members, horrible food, or long long ride wait times. We did utilize genie+ and paid for a few of the pay rides. So we rode everything we wanted to and some. Out of the week we were there, 2 rides were down the day we were in the park, Frozen and Rockin Rollercoaster which was a bummer but didn’t ruin the trip. We go every 3 years. We usually eat at the same places and the food seemed of the same quality and service was great as always. Boma, Liberty Tree, Ohana, Chef Mickey, and Cosmic Ray’s to name a few. We always have the dining plan but food and
souvenirs seemed more expensive than years past. Our housekeeping was lacking at our resort. I’m pretty sure all they did was give us towels. I don’t think Disney doesn’t want my room cleaned everyday I think they can’t find people who want to work like every other business out there. I really dont hold that against them. To us its always been a very expensive vacation you need to save for. We will probably go again in 3 years if not sooner!
We just returned from Disney World last week. We have been going forever. The cost has gotten out of control. Getting reservations for restaurants even 60 days out is incredibly hard. We have a person with a disability that has DAS access but now that a das group is limited to 6 people we can’t do everything as a group of 11. That left us doing things in small groups and meeting for meals.
I say shame on Disney, all of them!!! It is definitely not worth the money you spend. Disney is extremely greedy-and prey’s on all the spoiled Millennial and Gen Z who are willing to pay what ever it takes just say they’ve been to Disneyland. I use to be an annual pass holder, the exact day they shut the park down at the start of the pandemic, Disney took my payment for the “pass”, and refused to refund.
Used to love Disney World. All the headaches and frustration began with changes when Chapek came along. Genie is frustrating, park reservations nonsense is absolute nonsense. Park is showing more wear and tear. No wonder guests are hot and bothered. Out of town guests are on a time crunch and already stressed. They fight publicly more, and cast members have to put up with this for no doubt low pay. Chapek needs to be gone, and the carefree vibe of how visiting a Disney theme park needs to return. One shouldn’t have to visit the parks with an itinerary to follow. It should return to what it once was: an unplanned, as I feel like it, no worries, impromptu kind of visit. Board members need to fire Chapek.
Absolutely agree with everything. In my 35+ trips pre-pandemic, while we did some pre-planning, a large part of our trip was spontaneous. That’s not possible anymore
We go a lot, been twice already this month, and never use the app. You can still go and be carefree, do what you want and when you want. Just don’t use the app….
Just returned from Florida vacation 6-11-22. I was so excited to go to Disney World at 44 since I had never been before. Did the whole breakfast thing never seen 1 character in the place. Got to Disney around 930am left park at 430pm. Very crowded and not enjoyable. Wasn’t able to get any pics with characters they did have out because lines were so long. And lines for rides ridiculous. Was going to purchase fast passes as it says 109.99 for all rides but when you click on it to choose day it went up to 279.99. Same as with islands of Adventure very disappointed. And also the fact they do not offer military discount to anyone not doing 1 park. Some ppl save along time to do these things with family and it sucks the life right out of you unless you are loaded with money and seems like that’s the only way to be able to get anything anymore. Very disappointed and won’t go back. Over rated.
We went for the first time as a family 5 years ago and planned to go again, then the pandemic hit. I watched quite a few YouTubers as well as DFB all through the 2020 pandemic and all of 2021 into 2022. We saved for 5 years and had decided to go in January of 2023. With my husband being in a wheelchair, it is better for us to stay in one of the villas because of the size of the bed. We were planning on Old Key West. The prices for 2023 finally just opened up. No more Magic Transport, so you have to pay for transportation from the airport to the resort and back to the airport, unless you rent a car. No more Dinning Plan, which took the headache out of the cost of meals. The additional cost of Genie Plus to skip long lines. And now the fights that are breaking out almost weekly. We decided not to go to WDW and go elsewhere for vacation, which will be a lot less hassle.
Looks like the board just fired the wrong person. Get rid of Chapek. He’s the problem. He has created the nightmare all in the name of profits. He has taken away all that makes Disney World magical. My family and I went three years ago and had a fantastic time. We are planning a trip in a couple of weeks. Sorry to read all the negative reviews. I will be able to see the difference for myself. I did not think anyone could ruin Disney for me but Chapek has been able to do just that. I feel sorry for the generations to follow. You will never know what you missed if you are even well off enough to go.
I was just there May 25th to the 29th, while it was great staying on property and the hotel was great, Disney is just not what it was when I was growing up. Why do they need to have several parades at the Magic Kingdom during the day, it is utterly ridiculous. It causes foot traffic when trying to walk around the park as certain areas are blocked off. Also, my sister and her family were told to move right as the Disney photographer was taking their picture on Main Street because once again the parade was coming through. When I was growing up, I remember one parade in the afternoon and then one at night. Also they need to add more water bottle fill stations, I literally saw one in Star Wars at Hollywood Studios, one in Epcot outside a restroom close to where the world showcase starts on the Canada side and I saw zero at Magic Kingdom. In a world where we are trying to reduce waste, Disney in my opinion is not environmentally friendly in this aspect. I would have thought in at least Epcot there would have been more refill stations as it represents the future.
You can use the fountains in restaurants to fill bottles, and most places that serve food have always given free cups of water. I know in the newer areas they are installing more fountains with the bottle fill stations, so I am certain that more will be coming. There have always been multiple parades too, they don’t only go one direction….they go one way and a while later the parade heads back through the park to be able to be ready for the next day. So each parade has 2 showings.
Disney World was always my favorite place to visit, as a kid and as an adult. Went numerous times with my parents and siblings in the 80’s and 90’s (which in my opinion was the peak of its glory—less about money, less chock full of their animated IP and more about the magic). As an adult, I went for a couple isolated days when I was in Florida for other reasons, scattered throughout the early 2010’s, just because I couldn’t be that close to Disney World without stopping by. Took my son for his 4th birthday in 2016, just before they got rid of all the wonderful perks. We got to experience the free magic bands, the Magical Express, the luggage delivery to our hotel rooms, FastPass, Main Street Electrical Parade, and some of the classic rides that have since been closed for extended periods, or completely replaced (ie. Great Movie Ride; the train in Magic Kingdom; PeopleMover). I am so glad we had that last trip, I just wish my son was old enough to have more memories of it. At this point, he is 10, and I wanted to take him back before he hit preteen years, but that is not going to be possible. I can’t afford it, and from everything I have heard, it sounds like most of the things that made the trip feel so special and magical no longer exist. The impeccable customer service, the sparkling clean parks, the worry-free transportation, the ability to minimize lines (the longest line we waited in during our April 2016 trip was 45 min, because of how well I planned, timed, and utilized our FastPass)…all gone. I’m thinking maybe I’ll take my son to see some National and State Parks and experience some of our natural wonders instead, before we ruin those too.
No more Magical Express for guest staying on property, Magic Hours only for guest staying at a Deluxe Resort are a couple of things thats i felt was unnecessary changes. Why would i stay at a value hotel on Disney property, overpriced without hardly any benefits for staying on property. Moderates are over $300 a night for rooms that feel like you are at a Motel 6, also no Magic Hours or free shurrle to or from the airport. Genie plus you pay for but everyone else does also so its not really much of a fast pass, you are still waiting in line. Disney has really went down hill since Chapek took over. No more pandemic excuses because you charge more and give less.
We’re a Disney family! We’ve been to WDW in ’15 and ’17, and to Disneyland in ’19. Our last trip to WDW in Nov. ’21 was completely disappointing. The cost has risen more than can be accounted for with inflation, in my opinion. But the two worst experiences were with the elimination of Fast Pass for Genie and Lightning Pass – both horribly conceived and run! They’re just another way the new management is trying to get more money from hard-working families, and I find it disgusting. The second major disappointment is the amount of times a ride broke down. We spent extra $$$ for Lightning Passes to Rise of the Resistance, only to have it go down literally 10 minutes before our first arrive time. It was down for a while, so instead of crediting families, they put ALL customers who had lightning lane passes in the LL queue once it reopened – thus making the LL a TWO HOUR WAIT!!! wtf?! Totally and completely ruined the experience of that attraction because we were waiting for over 45-60 minutes in between each segment. The park was closed by the time we were done, lights were off and not one cast member was around to direct us to the exit, or wish us a good evening. Slinky dog broke down numerous times the day were at HS, and we finally decided not to waste any more time in that line. We had a memory maker picture deleted from our account by DIsney because one of the girls in the party we were traveling with took her mask off for the Tower of Terror ride. (insert face palm). Thank God we have two previous vacations to WDW filled with amazing memories and pictures. Sadly, those days are gone, and unless DIsney wakes up and gets better management in place, and puts back things that were working like Fast Pass, WDW will drive itself into the ground within ten years. Walt must be rolling around in his grave.
Like many here, I have been a lifelong fan of the Disney experience. I first went to Disneyland as a young boy more than 50 years ago and have returned every 2-3 years since then. My wife and I went there as part of our honeymoon and we have made it a point to visit frequently on our anniversaries. I took my daughters as children and as adults and I looked forward to taking my grandson. Although I wanted to keep returning to the magic for the rest of my life, we have decided not to return. Disney seems unable or, more likely, unwilling to provide us with the magical experience we have come to treasure at a price we can accept. Disney’s current policy seems to be to sacrifice the quality of the guest experience for the sake of short-term profits. We’re heartbroken, but we can’t justify the expense for the diminished experience currently on offer.
Just got back from a visit to Disney World. You are definitely getting less and paying more.The new reservation system stinks and lightning lane is a lot of money for a lot of maybe. The problem is in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios you can’t really get on anything without waiting in absurdly long lines.
The last two CEO’S Disney has had were no good. The food quality declined, portions are smaller and so much more expensive.
The rides are getting old, how many times can you see It’ a Small World. Parking is outrageous and the parks are way too overcrowded.
My idea of a good time is not standing in line for a hour for a five minute ride.
I was an AP for years until Disneyland disrespected my family and I and stopped the annual pass program. I’m still angry and won’t go back until things change in a major way. You can start with the horrible management. Disneyland has become to expensive and way to political for me. We wants the red head back!
We would have to agree with the comments in this story , have been annual pass holders since living here in 2012, ready to call it quites.
Way to expensive, hate reservation system, the lightening pass purchasing is what has done it for me, price of pass so high and now to even ride you need to pay another price added to your trip to be able to ride any of the better rides.
Food has declined if you can even get a reservation 6 months out.
People get irritated over everything now days.
No crowd control, the list just goes on and on.
Just did a week a Universal with the family what a nice change, live the child swap option.
Nicer employees , food was good, services were just better.
Unfortunately, I agree with the guests posting here. We have been to Disney the last 6 years except 2020 and we have seen a steady decline of the Disney experience. Trash overflowing, in lines and on rides is unacceptable. Cast members not caring. Broken down rides and rides with keep pieces not working. We decided this year not to go back for the same reasons. It is no longer worth the price and weighing in on politics is not their role especially when it impacts children.
I have been going to Disney for 49 years most to WDW, but also Disneyland, and other Disney locations such as Vero Beach and Hilton Head, a couple of cruises, DVC Member, but that is a whole different mess. Just completed a 2+ week trip with some time spent at WDW and some at Vero Beach. Cast members in the guest areas were very friendly and helpful, but you can tell they are short staffed and paid as little as possible, I know several cast members and pay is usually less than $15 per hour and they try to keep as many cast members as possible on part time to avoid paying benefits. That is important so the CEO can make 30+ million. Unfortunately Disney Magic is being replaced by Disney Greed by the top Executives, who you never see in the parks, as they are way too busy high fiving themselves or patting each other on the back for their latest price increase, charging for something that had been included, or service reduction, or adding more rides to those you need to pay extra for to have any chance of experiencing, or getting involved in politics or other things they should stay out of. After buying passes I am sure our group had to pay at least another $700 or more during our stay for what was previously included as a FastPass. Hotels are short staffed and it takes too long for services like housekeeping, bell services, or even getting someone to answer the phone for information. Rides are not being maintained fully as breakdowns seem rampant even at park opening or portions of the ride do not work like they should , hopefully they are at least keeping the ride safety systems working correctly. The price of everything is being geared to the upper class (the rest of us jut go into debt). Other than prices the only negative experience we had was one day we had some family members join us for 1-day and they wanted to go to Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival and to see Harmonious, but about half way through the day were told the park closes at 6pm for a “private event” so they were told they were out of luck for dinner and Harmonious, and the cast member on the phone refused to say what the private event was or how much it costs to “rent out” Epcot for your own private event and fireworks. Must have been someone really important or at least thought of as being really important by the Disney Execs to kick everyone out that had paid for a full day. Do you think they would have refunded some $ or offered another time to see Harmonious? Of course not when they already have your $$.
I know it’s just piling on at this point, but it can’t be emphasized enough that Disney has lost the magic. It’s been probably 5 or 6 years since we’d been there with our son and the difference was unreal. As we walked through WDW & EPCOT, I was shocked at how run-down, faded, and worn-out everything is starting to look. I remember this being a problem in a few places a few years ago, as we walked through the parks, but it’s like they’ve decided that maintenance/upkeep isn’t needed, unless something absolutely breaks. It’s starting to look run down now, unless you’re in a new ride/attraction area. The CMs were ok, we try not to bother them too much, but the biggest difference we noticed is that the sparkle in their eyes when we approached them wasn’t there. I know everyone has been through alot over the last couple of years, but I hope that comes back. As far as the cost of the trip, we expect a gouging and minimize our spending to avoid that as much as possible. It’s a shame, since I remember going to WDW often growing up with friends/family and that’s a tradition that I know we’ve lost.
We just returned from DisneyWorld Florida. To say we were disappointed is an understatement. We visited Epcot and in my opinion we paid hundreds of dollars to ride 2 rides, pay a lot of $ for very mediocre (at best) food, and look at the flowers.
With 2 exceptions, every cast member was grumpy or overwhelmed or something. I can’t say I noticed anything that was dirty or run down, except for the rides that were broken.
I can’t see a situation where we will ever return. For what we paid for our family we could have spent a week at the beach and been happier.
I have been going to Disney several times a year since 1996. The last time I can remember a magical experience was probably about 2012. The cast members have lost their magic. I have seen CMs complain about their shifts while onstage, make fun of guests, and during COVID mask wearing, downright belligerent to guests and THEN making fun of the situation.
Part of me feels like they rely too heavily on the college program (cheaper pay and horrible hours) but those kids tend to not share in the magic. Not all.of them … however nowadays it is a quite surprise to meet a true Disney CM opposed to.how it use to be all.of the time.
This will be our last year to have Annual passes for Disney.
Disney sucks !! The feeling of greed is everywhere driven by Cheapak and his band of greedy board members. You pay a premium entry ticket price stand in line for 1 hour plus or pay extra for a genie ticket. A family of 4 would pay a entry ticket plus an extra $60 for genie + plus an extra $120 per person for popular rides. Ridiculous considering the same attractions would cost the price of a day ticket pre covid. The fast pass system would give you all of this at the price of a single day ticket price. This CEO has to go!! The staff and patrons deserve better than this CEO’s current vision!!
We just got back for Disneyland June 7 – 10. Before this trip Disney parks were my number one choice for a vacation spot. After this trip, they will be lucky to ever see us again. My last trip was in 2018, and comparing then to know, the parks feel so much different. Right before our trip, Radiator Springs had a dragging tire issue that shut the ride down for days. During the time we were there, it felt like they struggled to keep the ride going. A couple days after we leave, one car rear ends another. That’s so unlike Disney. In fact, Disney pre COVID and before Chapek was CEO, this stuff did not happen. Rides all over DL and DCA were constantly going down. I feel like the rides constantly going down plays a huge role in the flow of the park. Not to mention the question of safety. I also noticed that there seemed to be a lot of rides that just weren’t working optimally. Little features of the rides not working properly which takes away from the rides experience. The CM’s didn’t seem to be as happy and welcoming. Some CM’s were as amazing as always, but the majority of them seem unhappy to be there. I also feel like there were more kids/young adults working there. There’s nothing wrong with that but I feel like the young CM’s with a lack of passion remind me of my local whatever theme park. Not what you expect from Disney. Here’s the weird part, I feel like crowds are down, yet everything in the parks seems busier with horrendous wait times. A clear sign that Disney is running super thin right now. I could go on and on but I’ll bring up one last topic before I end this rant. From some of the research I’ve done, Disney allegedly had a deal with the city of Anaheim that they didn’t have to pay taxes on ticket sales for 45 years and they would also receive a large city grant for upgrades to the resort. What they had to do in return is promise to pay their staff a living wage. Disney apparently opted out of that deal. Now maybe there’s more to it, in fact I’m sure it’s not that easy, but why couldn’t Disney commit to paying their staff a living wage? That’s not right! No wonder CM’s aren’t happy and the magic in the parks are gone and stocks are down dramatically. I’m sure Walt would not approve of the current state of the parks. Best of luck Disney, you won’t be getting anymore of my money.
I am a lifelong Disney lover, sixty nine years young. I used to work in the Travelport at Disneyland for Continental Airlines and was fortunate enough to get all the privileges of being a cast member. Then when my office closed I worked for Disney in hotel reservations. I loved working for them, great benefits, medical, dental, and of course the parks. This is not the Disney of today. I can’t speak for the cast members, I hear stories but what I see is the parks and what has happened. It literally breaks my heart when I remember my childhood memories of growing up and visiting every year and beyond into my adult years. Been many times to Florida and loved it. Not any more. What I notice most is the cast members. Unhappy, rude, unfriendly. The parks are not as pristine as they once were, costs are insane. My family and I went to Disneyland in April and I told my husband this probably will be the last time I visit. He couldn’t believe what I was saying. Florida is still a possibility but with hotels so expensive not sure. Advice to Disney. You can go on for a while charging these ridiculous prices, not caring about your guests but eventually it WILL catch up to you. There are to many alternatives in the mix and people will stop coming. This is a diehard Disney fan saying this. Hope you listen.
Me and my wife have been to disneyworld anaheim yesterday. Overall it was okayish. Would rate 3/5.
Crowded. Long queues. Friendly actors. Stressed guards. Super expensive. And way too less benches. Visitors sitting on the ground after 2pm literally everywhere. No sitting on walls or fences allowed due to safety reason (cmon!).
General lack of communication between park guards and visitors. Park rules at certain times often unclear and stressful (esp. Lightshows at night). Guards waiving airportesque lightrods all the time.
Purchasable ‘Lightning lane- access’ is emphasizing a 2 class system more than “magic”. Lack of music in the park. Lot of noise due to overcrowded places.
Disney is great with musicals and movies, but disney parks wont be visited in the near future.
Other parks are more capable of catching magic and are way more family friendly.
The biggest issue is the same one everywhere… Absolutely every person has been affected by a pandemic AND division. The Cast for Walt Disney IS the magic. Until that part is played again things will not improve. And too many Guests have no idea how to BE “guests.” They feel entitled to be Asshats, making the jobs harder. Children deserve better.
Disney has always been overpriced and overcrowded. Long days standing in one line after another with no relief from the sun. Since covid its only gotten worse. Disney cut out almost every benefit for passholders, and figures a recession is a great time to raise prices. People who work for Disney can’t even afford to enjoy the park. That tells me that Disney is only interested in stockholders gaining profit & not the guests. Guests are only dollar signs to them. Where else can you get a $2.00 sandwich for $20.00? Happiest place on earth? Maybe if you’re a stockholder, but the rest of us? No, actually, Hell No. A typical trip to Disney for a family of 4, not staying at a Disney hotel still runs over $500.00 with admission, food & water ( not soda) and an ” inexpensive ” gift.
Sorry Disney, I won’t waste my time or money on a wretched experience in your parks again. Too much money for a less than happy day. I can take that money and have a far better time anywhere else on earth.
he easiest way to express myself is to try to tell you about my experience as a whole and try to break down my journey.
My son is the reason we went to Disney, He is 30. He is autistic mentally and physically disabled. I myself am a two time cancer survivor. We knew that with his issues we would not have a “normal” person’s vacation however we ended with a nightmare.
The problem started when we had reservations for dinner, as I mentioned our son is austic, The restaurants were not compassionate for his needs. We explained we need to let him come in and get acclimated after we sit and scope out the restaurant. they refused to seat us until we were all together this caused us to miss our first reservation at our own hotel!
This became the pattern at almost every restaurant. We are not blaming anyone for our struggles getting him accumulated however some leeway would have been highly appreciated.
Cinderella’s castle royal table
I will start by saying everything was fine however, our server was sick.!!! She claimed it was allergies, she had no voice and kept coughing. She was not wearing a mask! That was uncomfortable for me. Well low and behold, a few days later, my disabled son gets sick. The next day the rest of the family gets sick. Upon returning home from Disney we discover we all have Covid! I think (no I am 99% sure we got it from there!
NOW IS WHERE MY TRUE ANGER will show!
They have this wonderful DAS server however it is not infallible! Time and time again I had issues with it. Cast members at times were downright rude!
I understand if my son doesn’t want to ride the ride we can not use it
Well he only rode one ride so… we could not use this. That is fine I understand this however, we thought we could use the ride swap but we were turned down time and time again.
My husband and daughter waited over an hour for every ride ONE let me repeat ONE ride honored the rider swap and that was the little mermaid. Well we were going to do the DAS for this ride and when our turn came, our refused to ride. So… we exited the Lighting lane and my daughter and I waited 45 minutes already getting the permission to do the rider swap. we rode the ride and I signaled my husband over to the lighting lane so we could do the rider swap and this little girl said next time our son needed to ride the ride or we could not use the lane (I even explained to her and showed her the ride swap on my phone) she was very rude honestly.
I asked for help time after time again in both the park and on the app (chat) . I was not looking for anything extra but we were not and I repeat not treated fairly! We understand not being able to use the DAS if our son didn’t ride… however the park made no accommodations for a family with special needs to enjoy the park at all! I was only able to ride one ride. because I had to sit out on every ride my daughter and husband rode. they discriminated against us as a family! they need to offer ride swaps for our families! you advertised this feature however none of your parks honored it.
You punished the rest of my family because my son was afraid to ride the rides. Not being able to ride the rides as a family was hard enough and not being able to ride the rides at all was downright unfair
Between Giving us covid and treating us unfairly our dream vacation was a nightmare!
Comments for Guest Shares Frustrating Experience, Says Disney Is “Not Worth the Money Anymore”
Kristine Godinez
I just had the same conversation with guest services Our experience at Disneyland May 23, 24, 25 was nothing short of horrible! Rude cast members. Constant break down and shut down of rides, lines two plus hours long not to mention cars land racer caught on fire that Monday. I no longer feel that it is the safe experience either experience-wise or ride-wise that it was. Plus forcing little ones to stand in two-plus-hour lines with no shade or misters makes it a really miserable experience.
MCRFOBP!ATD
Of course the cast members are getting cranky. According to some cast members themselves, Disney is trying to get cast members to quit, probably so they can fire the ones who have earned slightly more benefits from being there longer. They don’t pay them enough to live off of the one job, so they usually have at least two jobs. If scheduling knows they need to work around the schedule of the other job, they’ll schedule them for the same time. They try to get them to choose between any other job they may have and Disney. Of course, they don’t have enough cast members, and they don’t have people lining up to work at Disney anymore either. They don’t have enough maintenance workers, so rides break down and don’t get their routine maintenance like they used to. Cast members are overworked and underpaid, so they get frustrated and don’t have enough of them to work everything fully. Then guests get upset at the lowering quality but rising prices, so then they snap at the cast members. Heck, one cast member just returned from having surgery on their knee only for a guest to get mad that the CM said they couldn’t stand in a certain area for fireworks, so the guest shoved the cast member into a light post and smashed their knee. So it probably won’t heal right and their mobility may have been permanently damaged. So the cast members see that and deal with that, and then get scared of doing their job and then are even more frustrated! It’s a cycle.
Zara
It’s your choice to wait 2 hrs….buy misting fans to take with you
Maddest Hatter
I remember years and years ago the first time I went to Disney world there was the sense that Disney was aware that they weren’t competing against the universal they were competing against the rest of the world for vacation dollars.
After all what you spend to stay at Disney world can buy you a vacation.
It seems now Disney is content to get by on the reputation it used to have, so for me it’s a no until something radical changes.
Jeanne
Agree with you. Disney is too expensive and too political. For me the change began when they started charging $10.00 parking at their hotels for staying guest. Walt would be totally disappointed with his company leadership.
Patti
Yes he would. I think it’s time for the parks to be renamed as something Star Wars or Marvel related. The “Disney” that Walt envisioned is long gone.
Brian S Wood
It’s only a cycle when you keep on returning! I just stopped taking my kids to Disney 20+ years ago. Been to many foreign places for far less than what it would cost to go to Disney, and we live only six miles away! But hey, just keep going there throwing away your money. Gotta laugh at your pathetic complaints. Best way to punish Disney is in their revenues.
Scott A. McDonald
Scott A. McDonald
We were down at the grand Californian Hotel last May 9-13
And this is our first visit to back to Disneyland since 2019.
We had a enjoyable time but with numerous breakdowns and malfunctions of numerous rides. Along with the overall cleanliness of the park with sadly lacking. Floating trash in the ponds and waterways. Items on the ground and a noticeable lack of the cleaning staff that used to be common place with their brooms and sweep up bins was noticeable too. It felt like there was a skeleton staff operating the park with a definite lack of personnel.
It’s like the QC manager and staff we’re no longer on the payroll anymore.🙁
attorneymom
Grand FLORIDIAN
Michelle Strother
They were at Disneyland not Disney World✌
Jeremy
Just spent a week with my fiancee 2 kids and my parents in April. We only went because we had been planning this trip since pre covid times and the kids really wanted to go. Let me tell you this will be the last time for a while unless something huge changes. I took my boys in 2017 for the same length of time. It was twice as much this time for tickets. Everyone that works there is miserable there are lines for everything and genie plus just ruins the amount u can experience without waiting in a 6 hour line. We will travel to an island or another country for our next big family vacation.
Lor
He is talking about Disneyland. Which has a hotel called the Grand Californian, because they are in California….
David
What does that mean ?? Be British I don’t understand your claim moment Kind Regards David
Lynne
I was at DisneyWorld the first year they were open for my senior class trip and loved it! We have taken our children several times. I wanted to go for this special year. Our daughter surprised me with a Mother daughter trip in March! We had a ball and never experienced anything bad. The park was clean, the staff were great and the food was excellent! I can’t wait to go back!
brue
unfortunately its not like that anymore, its way too crowded, prices ae ridiculous and the mode/fell is not the same. Walt would not want to run his parks this way, htey need to go back to they way the ran it before covid. Iv been going therefor 20 years and don’t think we will be going again for a while until they get it all straightened out.
Jim M
That trash in the waterways didn’t get there by itself! Too many people are now entitled pigs who throw their trash anywhere and expect others to clean up after them! The first step to a cleaner park is to dispose of your garbage in the proper waste containers around the parks. Sad sign of the times now.
Monica
We just got back from Disney Florida this past weekend. Very EXPENSIVE. Our 5th time here and spent more than double than we normally do on gifts, snacks, food etc.
It was still crowded but not as bad as before. Genie+ really did help.
We love character dining but the food really isnt worth the price.
Disney will soon be for the upper class if prices stay as is.
Please remove season passes to offset the crowd or limit them to a certain amount of days per season.
Dee
monica
I have a season pass and pay a lot for it so I don’t have to be limited…and yet I am. I have to make reservations, just like you do….I still pay for everything, just like you do. limited us, isn’t going to solve the problem. the park is already limiting that amount of people going with the reservation system and non pass holder get more reservation then pass holders
Marquita
I wonder if non pass holders get more reservations because they tend to be out of towners. Where as most locals are passholders.
Zara
It’s your choice to wait 2 hrs….buy misting fans to take with you
Rj
How is that fair for the people that spent 1500 a year for annual passes and tell them when they can and can’t come but let us take your 1500 so if I have family come and they want to go to the parks and the days they want to go falls on the time they say oh you can’t but you can buy a single day or multiple day ticket at 300 all said and done so how is that right I do understand what you are about the crowds but 80 percent of the people there are not local but like you traveled to disney but they may come to disney multiple times so how is it fair to say for those people that say travel from NY to not let them use there passes . But I can tell you COVID to disney was a god send because with the new system has given them the power to make more money than they did before because now the can Taylor and control everything from like from park cap and many other things
Jams
All the Disney parks could hire double the CM’s they have now and it would be barely adequate service. As it is right now, all I see are they are stressing and overworking their poorly staffed current crews.
Allison Ramirez
I just returned from Disneyland May-17-20. I had a wonderful time even though the parks were crowded with graduates. Both parks were clean, bathrooms were attended and stocked everywhere I went. I saw no loose trash or graffiti. My food experiences were delicious and mobile ordering worked fine for me. I experienced all the attractions I wanted to. I had a wonderful time and am returning for another five days in November.
Kali
We just came home from Disney World yesterday and had the best time! Everything was clean, the food was yummy, and we had so much fun! The CMs were wonderful and kept the crowds entertained when weather delayed the parade! I will be back in October! 🙂
Novak
Written in 2015
Janet
Annual passes are only available for existing pass holders to renew. You can no longer just purchase. Levels have diminished as well, pass holders are extremely limited as to when they can reserve visits. And that’s the other think, park reservations are new and they stink. Genie+ compared to fast passes are a joke. It seems with all the limitations parks are even MORE crowded then they ever were. And you’re paying more for it. Could go to Europe or Hawaii for same price. Glad I went the 20 years prior to Covid. Difference now is night and day. Dining plans, magical express, complementary magic bands, coupon books, exemplàry service and cleanliness. Free parking. Little mickey bottle shampoos. I could go on and on. All gone. I would guess as their reputation sinks so will the crowds. Maybe that is their plan?
Janet
Actually more than 20 years. Since 1976. AP 2012-2021. Probably 80 visits. Last 3 over 6 months experience has plummeted. So sad.
Pam
You summed up my thoughts exactly. Pre-covid Disneyworld
was so magical. Now I’m not even sure how to get on a ride!
Angie
It seems like guests are getting less and less, but we’re paying more every year. We’re members of the Vacation Club, and those benefits have decreased as well.
D
Camped at ft wilderness May 9-13th. And all star sports May 23-27th. All star Sports room smelled like mildew – time to refurbish – designer cupcakes were dry and pizzas are pre-made crusts- remembered the real tossed crust from years past. Just ok. Boma buffet was still good but quality of meat was poor – steak and ribs were very chewy. Stopped going to whispering canyons – quality of meat became poor – had been going since 95. Have stopped going to the expensive dinners $50 plus – quality is just not there anymore. Gene worked well for us so cannot complain. Even though I have non-expiring tickets – the totals are just too much and can do some awesome trips with what I spent – it’s time to move on to new things.
Robert
Not interested in going anymore. Park tickets, food, etc., are extremely overpriced. Parks are filthy and not maintained. cast members are rude. Food is awful. Lines are way too long. If I have to buy multi-day ticket to see everything in ONE park, forget it. Disney will tell you they are operating at less than full capacity but that is complete BS. It’s a complete sh&t show and way overcrowded. They are doing everything possible to cut cost and increase revenue due to lost revenue the past two years. You can barely walk anywhere in the MK. The hotels are nasty, not just the value resorts even the high end hotels. Epcot needs a complete overhaul including adding multiple new countries. They have tried to make Epcot more kid friendly but they have succeeded in making it annoying as hell and thr Mexico ride is a f’n joke!! Magic Kingdom, I’d rather take a kick in the groin before going there. Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are half day parks at best. When my kids were younger, we would go two sometimes three times per year. My wife and I enjoyed going to Epcot wo kids, but not anymore. We will find better locations to visit for our $10kk. I’m out!!
Dotti Dean
We just returned from Disney world May 17th – 29th, it was so expensive and over crowded food was mediocre at best (except Via Napoli it was fantastic) Cast members seem to have lost their sparkle, they seem overwhelmed. We did a split stay between the Riviera and Boulder Ridge, house keeping at the Riviera was non existent, they did position a cart in the hall way that I would use to take trash out, Boulder Ridge was much better they did regular cleaning and called to schedule changing the sheets. It makes me sad, but this will be our last trip, we have been priced out.
Kathy Bujold
The log ride broke down, had to sit while two ahead on slant up hill evacuated, then my turn, wait, ride attendants say wait until the people from back to front go, then they try to say leave my kid, they will get. Yeah right. Go back, it breaks again! Waste of time, money, patience, when rides break do something for guests. Go back to AB CDE ticket books! There is no long lines! Bring back ticket books for the rides!
LarryJ
I’m 65 and had been going since I was 6. As I got older, I took my family and then my grandchildren. But I stopped going 15 years ago because everything was starting to get too expensive from tickets to food to merchandise. Over the last 10 years, I’ve seen the greed of Disney Resorts, and how they’ve perverted and tarnished Walt’s vision, turning into a total money grab just because they could. Disneyland used to be a place where people all over the country could experience. Now, average Americans are being priced out to the point where it is becoming a place for the rich. The fun, joy and good times are no longer there. I’m happy I got to experience what used to be, and have ZERO desire to fork over my hard earned cash for what the Disney board has determined to be the future. Walt must be spinning in his grave.
Maddie
Disney is not the same, I been lifting accessories and the quality is down.
Darling
I spent close to $25,600 my last Disney world trip. I never felt so ripped off in my life.
Deb
We’ve spent in excess of $100k at Disney over the years. Since the pandemic we have found other wonderful places in this country to vacation. My kids and grandkids don’t want to go back to Disney under the current circumstances. Very sad 😢
Madeleine
I was lucky , I was there Oct 1st 1971 at WDW! My heart has belonged to Disney, I now am a grandmother and took my 3 grandchildren, we have had APs for over 6 yrs , but I didn’t renew this year. The real magic is gone.I feel like a cow being cattle in, my heart is broken. The 50th anniversary was and is a joke, it’s all about what they can sell you, it’s become a real mouse trap, something I never thought I’d say or think of Disney, this grandmas heart is broken.Iv been to WDW over 100 times, but now I can’t afford to go or do I want to see the horrible change Disney has become.what a shame
Marquita
Wow! Was this just in hotel and flight? Or did this also include food, genie plus etc.
Brian S Wood
You must have money to burn!
Laura
I went May 2021 and September 2021 and have booked for August 2022 Disney is and has always been on the expensive side of vacations but I did not see anything horrible about anything while there. Clean parks, I hardly need to use a CM, and we usually don’t dine in the parks so I have no input there but my experience has been the same as always, magical
Jomagic
Went to Disney may 2022 thought it still magical. Disney has always been a more expensive vacation, it’s as cheap or expensive as you .Ake it. You don’t need to eat all day long and buy everything in sight. We also managed to get on all rides with only buying some genie+. Going again in September and won’t bother to buy genie+ at all.
Fred
I agree with you 100%. Disney is gearing up for the families who make $100,000 a year or more. The middle class family is screwed.
Miles
Very poor leadership at the top. CM that don’t care are there because Disney can’t find employees. The good employees have left or are leaving.
Kathy Brutsche
I was lucky to have gone to Disneyland in 1968 and 1980. Huge treat for a blue collar class Michigan kid in a family of 8. Experienced Disney World four times between 1978-1990. I adopted my girls late in life and hoped to take them after saving money for ten years and Covid hit, and now I’m afraid to take them from all I’ve heard, not only on social media and the news but from friends who have gone. Just can’t afford to spend so much for so little. Makes me sad as I loved the magic and wanted my girls to have it. Probably best that my last visit to Disney, I didn’t know would be my last visit to Disney. We will stick to the beaches of the Great Lakes.
Mel
I AGREE 💯!!!
It’s definitely NOT what it used to be, and it’s definitely NOT Walt’s Disney anymore. It’s being run by greedy people, and they keep chipping away at everything that made WDW special and magical. First off, Walt’s dream was for it to be a place that the every day family could go and enjoy, but it’s gotten WAY too expensive. There are additional charges for everything now – even for parking at a Disney resort where you are staying!! 🤬 The quality isn’t there anymore, nor is the maintenance/ cleanliness factor, guests are getting more rude & more attitudes of entitlement every year. Also, it was to be a place where the guests were treated like royalty- Cast Members are supposed to remain IN CHARACTER AT ALL TIMES, no matter what – but many act as if the guests should feel privileged that they showed up at all. I don’t like that you have to plan everything now- including the rides. Honestly, it’s more like work now than a vacation. (I dont know about you, but I go on vacation to get away from having every minute of my day dictated by the clock.) The fireworks shows aren’t even as good as they used to be. There’s very little left of the WDW Walt dreamed of and created. I’ll stick to my classic Disney and the good memories of the trips there when Disney magic was the focus…y’all can have this new crap.
Amy
The prices for tickets and food is crazy high which has always been but seems like way higher now
The food at pop century is ok, same thing day in and day out. We ordered a small Mickey head for my sons 4th bday and my husbands bday
It was gross it was dry and the gelato (frosting) was gross
Some of the rides we wanted to go on we’re closed that sucked
Some of the cast members were awesome others were kinda rude
Our main big issue was with frontier airlines
Got our flight canceled and dident say anything about it to anyone, we were at the airport at 3:30am to go home and we couldent leave until we made different flight setup
We got to go home at 3:30pm
We’re hoping for a refund
Mickeymouse3
So many articles about the decline of the parks, hotels and Disney in general.
Two ways things will change.
One, everyone stops going to Disney, and we all know that will not happen.
Two, stop writing about your woes on blogs, and start writing to Disney direct. This is the only way they might consider a change. Disney does not read blogs.
Brian S Wood
Right on. But it’s no use writing to them. You have to hit them in the wallet. You think they really CARE what you think? There are just too many people willing to BORROW the money to visit Disney. They MIGHT change if thousands and thousands of people just stopped going. Only the woke crowd will remain loyal. Actually, I wouldn’t go if it was free and I live 6 miles from DW. Took my three young nephews to Europe last year and they loved it. Going again this year,bthe kids are so excited! Not a one of them wants to go to Disney ever again!
Carol
Our last experience was a bad one also. We were there in May 2022. Grumpy people at the resort, they did not have answers for simple questions, and we were told that there would be meet and greets, and character dining at Magic Kingdom. None of the above.
Susan Jensen
My husband’s and my last visit to Disney was at the end of February 2021 and it was not the happiest place on earth by any means. This was when Florida had no mask mandate anymore. DisneyWorld cast members were like mean security guards watching and commanding anyone whose mask fell below their nose, even outside with no one nearby. You couldn’t even drop your mask to take a quick photo without getting yelled at. They were militant in their attitude and stood watching people with stern faces everywhere. Food lines were extremely long and we were bossed around to stand here or there or step away from cashiers quickly behind plexiglass as if customers had leprosy. It was a very sad experience for us after enjoying Disney for 50 years. We decided to forgo using our 3rd day of passes and flew home early. Don’t know if we’ll ever go back. 🙁
beautiful gorgeous
Let’s face it, it’s not magical anymore. There are no perks to staying on property except Disney transportation (which you pay for because the resorts are over priced). Disney World without Genie+ is miserable. Disney did that on purpose to get us to open our wallets more. Walking on all that concrete, hurts the feet. I have to bring a drug store with me for me and my family. I’m taking my self-propelled scooter next time.
Tiffany Carr
I visited the park with my family at age 14. Mind you, this was in 1984, but I didn’t feel the hype was worth it even back then. The park was too crowded, with too many lines, and sooo expensive. It is mind-boggling to me that people are just now voicing what I said all those years ago.
Ally Rogerson
It’s about 5 years since we were in Walt Disney world,& I thought them that the magic was going, it was over priced, quality of the merchandise wasn’t has good has it used to be & some of the staff were unhelpful & miserable, I actually wrote an email to them, telling them my thoughts they did ring me back and the lady I spoke to said it would get passed on and would be looked at at their monthly meeting but it sounds like nothing has changed it’s just a money making machine,
Ron
I have read too many negative comments about WDW as of late. I’m really afraid to take my family back. We last stayed at the park around 2017 and was contemplating a return trip. I’m not sure anymore. I think it was Walt Disney’s niece who condemned the corporate greed and can only imagine that it is exacting a measure out of Walt’s dream. When is enough enough already?
Brittany Ammer
It is completely different from 2017. The entire trip you are on your phone looking up wait times and trying to decide which lines are worth it. The one positive has been mobile ordering, but with that said you can’t go into a quick service restaurant unless it’s your time to pick up food.
Jacque
We’ve gone to Disney every other year for the last 30 years. We recently went this past December and vowed to never return. It’s sad that such a magical experience that Disney once was is clouded with no reservations, additional fees for lighting lanes, ride que fees and more reservations, food quality down while prices increased, and so much more disappointment.
MJ
Prices are absolutely reeediculous! $300 for a 50th anniversary sweatsuit! Out of their ever lovin minds 🙄
Jerry
My wife and I had dinner at Epcot Nemo restaurant
We had prime rib and Salmon June 7
The meals were the worst we have ever had in Disney and over priced
However the staff were pleasant and attentive
We will never eat in this restaurant again
Marie Bernier
I have been a Disney Vacation Club member for over 15yrs. It was the best purchase I have ever made. We have enjoyed many years of vacations from being a member of the club. HOWEVER, this past year was the last time we will be visiting. The experience was very very expensive. Rude cast members the issue of having to reserve before entering the park was awful. I have sold many to become a DVC member but won’t anymore. I will save my points and take a Disney Cruise. No more parks for me and this is very very sad.
Shazam50
I’m with you! We are seriously considering selling our vacation club as we have zero desire to go on cruises. Even the points trading is almost impossible to use.
We just returned from a family reunion last weekend where we provided all the accommodations for our extended family and the parks were horrible. Genie+ is the worst idea ever! A company with billions of dollars has the worst, most user unfriendly app imaginable. We spent 3 days at Universal and had a blast!
I’m also a former Cast Member and it just breaks my heart to see how much it has declined. I will say that we great experiences with many Cast Members especially in guest services as we spent a lot of time there trying to fix issues. And I mean, every day of 5 days at WDW.
They definitely do not want to cater to families anymore. Middle income families will never be able to afford the costs to visit. Just sad.
Brian S Wood
So, you are willing to hand over MORE money for a DISNEY cruise? You need a mental intervention!
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Tee
I have been several times this year to all Florida Disney parks. We had a good time but I admit Disney needs to figure out some things. I’ve been pre pandemic and honestly it seems more crowded now then at full capacity then. The genie service sucks and so wait lines are insane. Food prices are up everywhere in America but we definitely are paying more. I think staff is trying to handle it the best way they can with the insane crowds.
Susie Wilson
It use to be nice staying on Disney property, you got little perks. First they took away your free parking if you were a hotel guest. Than you stopped getting your refillable cups for free as well as your magic bands. Than they took away the Magic Express which for me was the begining of my Disney vacation and yes the begining of the magic that use to be Disney World. This last trip in Feb was just like a regular vacation. Disney vacations were a gazillion times better than a regular vacation. Now it feels like there is little to no magic. Nothing to make you to feel special. No one to make you feel glad you came. I won’t even address the expense or the obvious changes in the food portions or the expense or the lack of smiles on cast members.
Again I say, Walt is rolling over in his grave!!!!!
Pam
I totally agree. The Magical Express was always the start of my magical vacation, and all the unexpected little perks were thrills. 1988 first trip with my 9 yr old. I went with my grown. step-daughter in October 2021. Without her,I would not have not figured out how to go on a ride!!
Lisa
I’m conflicted. I continue to hear so many negative reviews, but the parks are over crowded. Why is that? Is it just everyone that hasn’t taken a vacation in two years because of the pandemic? I’ve visited both Disneyland and Disney World during this last year. The only negatives I did see, was trash throughout the park, and a lot of venues still not reopened. Totally understandable with the lack of staffing. I will be bringing my family from Australia when they come for vacation this fall. I’m really hoping a lot of the “issues” have been resolved.
Monique Cunningham
You make a reservation for a park and it’s so full you can’t walk a step without running into someone else. The middle of EPCOT was under construction so that pushed all the crowd out to the one walkway on each side. It was just terrible. Getting food is a nightmare. You now use the App for everything from rides to food and it is so overbooked you can’t do either. Rides breakdown and you can’t change you ability to get another ride until you fastpass is canceled. We spent 4 frustrating days doing the parks and found d each one overbooked and overwhelmed. We got up at 6:30 to book the Avatar ride and their was a glitch on the app..at 7:02 the ride was full for the day. So we went straight to the park to walk in early and we still waited an hour to ride Avatar. Not coming back.
bruce
Disney needs to go back to their business plan of three years ago when it was magical. Right now its terrible for the guests. Walt Disney would not like what is going on. Lines are long, food and service not up to par and families are frustrated instead of happy.
Rob
Our family of 5 were there the week of April 24-30. To us it was the same Disney World as always. We didn’t experience any rude cast members, horrible food, or long long ride wait times. We did utilize genie+ and paid for a few of the pay rides. So we rode everything we wanted to and some. Out of the week we were there, 2 rides were down the day we were in the park, Frozen and Rockin Rollercoaster which was a bummer but didn’t ruin the trip. We go every 3 years. We usually eat at the same places and the food seemed of the same quality and service was great as always. Boma, Liberty Tree, Ohana, Chef Mickey, and Cosmic Ray’s to name a few. We always have the dining plan but food and
souvenirs seemed more expensive than years past. Our housekeeping was lacking at our resort. I’m pretty sure all they did was give us towels. I don’t think Disney doesn’t want my room cleaned everyday I think they can’t find people who want to work like every other business out there. I really dont hold that against them. To us its always been a very expensive vacation you need to save for. We will probably go again in 3 years if not sooner!
Debbie
We just returned from Disney World last week. We have been going forever. The cost has gotten out of control. Getting reservations for restaurants even 60 days out is incredibly hard. We have a person with a disability that has DAS access but now that a das group is limited to 6 people we can’t do everything as a group of 11. That left us doing things in small groups and meeting for meals.
Johnny maggiora
I say shame on Disney, all of them!!! It is definitely not worth the money you spend. Disney is extremely greedy-and prey’s on all the spoiled Millennial and Gen Z who are willing to pay what ever it takes just say they’ve been to Disneyland. I use to be an annual pass holder, the exact day they shut the park down at the start of the pandemic, Disney took my payment for the “pass”, and refused to refund.
Lisa
Used to love Disney World. All the headaches and frustration began with changes when Chapek came along. Genie is frustrating, park reservations nonsense is absolute nonsense. Park is showing more wear and tear. No wonder guests are hot and bothered. Out of town guests are on a time crunch and already stressed. They fight publicly more, and cast members have to put up with this for no doubt low pay. Chapek needs to be gone, and the carefree vibe of how visiting a Disney theme park needs to return. One shouldn’t have to visit the parks with an itinerary to follow. It should return to what it once was: an unplanned, as I feel like it, no worries, impromptu kind of visit. Board members need to fire Chapek.
Pam
Absolutely agree with everything. In my 35+ trips pre-pandemic, while we did some pre-planning, a large part of our trip was spontaneous. That’s not possible anymore
Dawn
We go a lot, been twice already this month, and never use the app. You can still go and be carefree, do what you want and when you want. Just don’t use the app….
Amber Agee
Just returned from Florida vacation 6-11-22. I was so excited to go to Disney World at 44 since I had never been before. Did the whole breakfast thing never seen 1 character in the place. Got to Disney around 930am left park at 430pm. Very crowded and not enjoyable. Wasn’t able to get any pics with characters they did have out because lines were so long. And lines for rides ridiculous. Was going to purchase fast passes as it says 109.99 for all rides but when you click on it to choose day it went up to 279.99. Same as with islands of Adventure very disappointed. And also the fact they do not offer military discount to anyone not doing 1 park. Some ppl save along time to do these things with family and it sucks the life right out of you unless you are loaded with money and seems like that’s the only way to be able to get anything anymore. Very disappointed and won’t go back. Over rated.
Cheryl Koblinsky
We went for the first time as a family 5 years ago and planned to go again, then the pandemic hit. I watched quite a few YouTubers as well as DFB all through the 2020 pandemic and all of 2021 into 2022. We saved for 5 years and had decided to go in January of 2023. With my husband being in a wheelchair, it is better for us to stay in one of the villas because of the size of the bed. We were planning on Old Key West. The prices for 2023 finally just opened up. No more Magic Transport, so you have to pay for transportation from the airport to the resort and back to the airport, unless you rent a car. No more Dinning Plan, which took the headache out of the cost of meals. The additional cost of Genie Plus to skip long lines. And now the fights that are breaking out almost weekly. We decided not to go to WDW and go elsewhere for vacation, which will be a lot less hassle.
Brenda
Looks like the board just fired the wrong person. Get rid of Chapek. He’s the problem. He has created the nightmare all in the name of profits. He has taken away all that makes Disney World magical. My family and I went three years ago and had a fantastic time. We are planning a trip in a couple of weeks. Sorry to read all the negative reviews. I will be able to see the difference for myself. I did not think anyone could ruin Disney for me but Chapek has been able to do just that. I feel sorry for the generations to follow. You will never know what you missed if you are even well off enough to go.
Nicole
I was just there May 25th to the 29th, while it was great staying on property and the hotel was great, Disney is just not what it was when I was growing up. Why do they need to have several parades at the Magic Kingdom during the day, it is utterly ridiculous. It causes foot traffic when trying to walk around the park as certain areas are blocked off. Also, my sister and her family were told to move right as the Disney photographer was taking their picture on Main Street because once again the parade was coming through. When I was growing up, I remember one parade in the afternoon and then one at night. Also they need to add more water bottle fill stations, I literally saw one in Star Wars at Hollywood Studios, one in Epcot outside a restroom close to where the world showcase starts on the Canada side and I saw zero at Magic Kingdom. In a world where we are trying to reduce waste, Disney in my opinion is not environmentally friendly in this aspect. I would have thought in at least Epcot there would have been more refill stations as it represents the future.
Dawn
You can use the fountains in restaurants to fill bottles, and most places that serve food have always given free cups of water. I know in the newer areas they are installing more fountains with the bottle fill stations, so I am certain that more will be coming. There have always been multiple parades too, they don’t only go one direction….they go one way and a while later the parade heads back through the park to be able to be ready for the next day. So each parade has 2 showings.
Beth
Disney World was always my favorite place to visit, as a kid and as an adult. Went numerous times with my parents and siblings in the 80’s and 90’s (which in my opinion was the peak of its glory—less about money, less chock full of their animated IP and more about the magic). As an adult, I went for a couple isolated days when I was in Florida for other reasons, scattered throughout the early 2010’s, just because I couldn’t be that close to Disney World without stopping by. Took my son for his 4th birthday in 2016, just before they got rid of all the wonderful perks. We got to experience the free magic bands, the Magical Express, the luggage delivery to our hotel rooms, FastPass, Main Street Electrical Parade, and some of the classic rides that have since been closed for extended periods, or completely replaced (ie. Great Movie Ride; the train in Magic Kingdom; PeopleMover). I am so glad we had that last trip, I just wish my son was old enough to have more memories of it. At this point, he is 10, and I wanted to take him back before he hit preteen years, but that is not going to be possible. I can’t afford it, and from everything I have heard, it sounds like most of the things that made the trip feel so special and magical no longer exist. The impeccable customer service, the sparkling clean parks, the worry-free transportation, the ability to minimize lines (the longest line we waited in during our April 2016 trip was 45 min, because of how well I planned, timed, and utilized our FastPass)…all gone. I’m thinking maybe I’ll take my son to see some National and State Parks and experience some of our natural wonders instead, before we ruin those too.
Charles
No more Magical Express for guest staying on property, Magic Hours only for guest staying at a Deluxe Resort are a couple of things thats i felt was unnecessary changes. Why would i stay at a value hotel on Disney property, overpriced without hardly any benefits for staying on property. Moderates are over $300 a night for rooms that feel like you are at a Motel 6, also no Magic Hours or free shurrle to or from the airport. Genie plus you pay for but everyone else does also so its not really much of a fast pass, you are still waiting in line. Disney has really went down hill since Chapek took over. No more pandemic excuses because you charge more and give less.
Kathleen Guarino
We’re a Disney family! We’ve been to WDW in ’15 and ’17, and to Disneyland in ’19. Our last trip to WDW in Nov. ’21 was completely disappointing. The cost has risen more than can be accounted for with inflation, in my opinion. But the two worst experiences were with the elimination of Fast Pass for Genie and Lightning Pass – both horribly conceived and run! They’re just another way the new management is trying to get more money from hard-working families, and I find it disgusting. The second major disappointment is the amount of times a ride broke down. We spent extra $$$ for Lightning Passes to Rise of the Resistance, only to have it go down literally 10 minutes before our first arrive time. It was down for a while, so instead of crediting families, they put ALL customers who had lightning lane passes in the LL queue once it reopened – thus making the LL a TWO HOUR WAIT!!! wtf?! Totally and completely ruined the experience of that attraction because we were waiting for over 45-60 minutes in between each segment. The park was closed by the time we were done, lights were off and not one cast member was around to direct us to the exit, or wish us a good evening. Slinky dog broke down numerous times the day were at HS, and we finally decided not to waste any more time in that line. We had a memory maker picture deleted from our account by DIsney because one of the girls in the party we were traveling with took her mask off for the Tower of Terror ride. (insert face palm). Thank God we have two previous vacations to WDW filled with amazing memories and pictures. Sadly, those days are gone, and unless DIsney wakes up and gets better management in place, and puts back things that were working like Fast Pass, WDW will drive itself into the ground within ten years. Walt must be rolling around in his grave.
Randall C Morris
Like many here, I have been a lifelong fan of the Disney experience. I first went to Disneyland as a young boy more than 50 years ago and have returned every 2-3 years since then. My wife and I went there as part of our honeymoon and we have made it a point to visit frequently on our anniversaries. I took my daughters as children and as adults and I looked forward to taking my grandson. Although I wanted to keep returning to the magic for the rest of my life, we have decided not to return. Disney seems unable or, more likely, unwilling to provide us with the magical experience we have come to treasure at a price we can accept. Disney’s current policy seems to be to sacrifice the quality of the guest experience for the sake of short-term profits. We’re heartbroken, but we can’t justify the expense for the diminished experience currently on offer.
Crystal
Just got back from a visit to Disney World. You are definitely getting less and paying more.The new reservation system stinks and lightning lane is a lot of money for a lot of maybe. The problem is in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios you can’t really get on anything without waiting in absurdly long lines.
Glen
Last time I went I felt the same way. I’ll never go back.
W. Price
The last two CEO’S Disney has had were no good. The food quality declined, portions are smaller and so much more expensive.
The rides are getting old, how many times can you see It’ a Small World. Parking is outrageous and the parks are way too overcrowded.
My idea of a good time is not standing in line for a hour for a five minute ride.
kathy atwood
I was an AP for years until Disneyland disrespected my family and I and stopped the annual pass program. I’m still angry and won’t go back until things change in a major way. You can start with the horrible management. Disneyland has become to expensive and way to political for me. We wants the red head back!
Patty Vermillion
We would have to agree with the comments in this story , have been annual pass holders since living here in 2012, ready to call it quites.
Way to expensive, hate reservation system, the lightening pass purchasing is what has done it for me, price of pass so high and now to even ride you need to pay another price added to your trip to be able to ride any of the better rides.
Food has declined if you can even get a reservation 6 months out.
People get irritated over everything now days.
No crowd control, the list just goes on and on.
Just did a week a Universal with the family what a nice change, live the child swap option.
Nicer employees , food was good, services were just better.
Jennifer G
Unfortunately, I agree with the guests posting here. We have been to Disney the last 6 years except 2020 and we have seen a steady decline of the Disney experience. Trash overflowing, in lines and on rides is unacceptable. Cast members not caring. Broken down rides and rides with keep pieces not working. We decided this year not to go back for the same reasons. It is no longer worth the price and weighing in on politics is not their role especially when it impacts children.
MRDUCKS
I have been going to Disney for 49 years most to WDW, but also Disneyland, and other Disney locations such as Vero Beach and Hilton Head, a couple of cruises, DVC Member, but that is a whole different mess. Just completed a 2+ week trip with some time spent at WDW and some at Vero Beach. Cast members in the guest areas were very friendly and helpful, but you can tell they are short staffed and paid as little as possible, I know several cast members and pay is usually less than $15 per hour and they try to keep as many cast members as possible on part time to avoid paying benefits. That is important so the CEO can make 30+ million. Unfortunately Disney Magic is being replaced by Disney Greed by the top Executives, who you never see in the parks, as they are way too busy high fiving themselves or patting each other on the back for their latest price increase, charging for something that had been included, or service reduction, or adding more rides to those you need to pay extra for to have any chance of experiencing, or getting involved in politics or other things they should stay out of. After buying passes I am sure our group had to pay at least another $700 or more during our stay for what was previously included as a FastPass. Hotels are short staffed and it takes too long for services like housekeeping, bell services, or even getting someone to answer the phone for information. Rides are not being maintained fully as breakdowns seem rampant even at park opening or portions of the ride do not work like they should , hopefully they are at least keeping the ride safety systems working correctly. The price of everything is being geared to the upper class (the rest of us jut go into debt). Other than prices the only negative experience we had was one day we had some family members join us for 1-day and they wanted to go to Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival and to see Harmonious, but about half way through the day were told the park closes at 6pm for a “private event” so they were told they were out of luck for dinner and Harmonious, and the cast member on the phone refused to say what the private event was or how much it costs to “rent out” Epcot for your own private event and fireworks. Must have been someone really important or at least thought of as being really important by the Disney Execs to kick everyone out that had paid for a full day. Do you think they would have refunded some $ or offered another time to see Harmonious? Of course not when they already have your $$.
Bob
I know it’s just piling on at this point, but it can’t be emphasized enough that Disney has lost the magic. It’s been probably 5 or 6 years since we’d been there with our son and the difference was unreal. As we walked through WDW & EPCOT, I was shocked at how run-down, faded, and worn-out everything is starting to look. I remember this being a problem in a few places a few years ago, as we walked through the parks, but it’s like they’ve decided that maintenance/upkeep isn’t needed, unless something absolutely breaks. It’s starting to look run down now, unless you’re in a new ride/attraction area. The CMs were ok, we try not to bother them too much, but the biggest difference we noticed is that the sparkle in their eyes when we approached them wasn’t there. I know everyone has been through alot over the last couple of years, but I hope that comes back. As far as the cost of the trip, we expect a gouging and minimize our spending to avoid that as much as possible. It’s a shame, since I remember going to WDW often growing up with friends/family and that’s a tradition that I know we’ve lost.
T King
We just returned from DisneyWorld Florida. To say we were disappointed is an understatement. We visited Epcot and in my opinion we paid hundreds of dollars to ride 2 rides, pay a lot of $ for very mediocre (at best) food, and look at the flowers.
With 2 exceptions, every cast member was grumpy or overwhelmed or something. I can’t say I noticed anything that was dirty or run down, except for the rides that were broken.
I can’t see a situation where we will ever return. For what we paid for our family we could have spent a week at the beach and been happier.
Amanda
I have been going to Disney several times a year since 1996. The last time I can remember a magical experience was probably about 2012. The cast members have lost their magic. I have seen CMs complain about their shifts while onstage, make fun of guests, and during COVID mask wearing, downright belligerent to guests and THEN making fun of the situation.
Part of me feels like they rely too heavily on the college program (cheaper pay and horrible hours) but those kids tend to not share in the magic. Not all.of them … however nowadays it is a quite surprise to meet a true Disney CM opposed to.how it use to be all.of the time.
This will be our last year to have Annual passes for Disney.
Gary
Disney sucks !! The feeling of greed is everywhere driven by Cheapak and his band of greedy board members. You pay a premium entry ticket price stand in line for 1 hour plus or pay extra for a genie ticket. A family of 4 would pay a entry ticket plus an extra $60 for genie + plus an extra $120 per person for popular rides. Ridiculous considering the same attractions would cost the price of a day ticket pre covid. The fast pass system would give you all of this at the price of a single day ticket price. This CEO has to go!! The staff and patrons deserve better than this CEO’s current vision!!
Big Al
Amen! The Magic is still there and real Disney fans know this!
Also we need to vote out that clown in November!
Tyler
We just got back for Disneyland June 7 – 10. Before this trip Disney parks were my number one choice for a vacation spot. After this trip, they will be lucky to ever see us again. My last trip was in 2018, and comparing then to know, the parks feel so much different. Right before our trip, Radiator Springs had a dragging tire issue that shut the ride down for days. During the time we were there, it felt like they struggled to keep the ride going. A couple days after we leave, one car rear ends another. That’s so unlike Disney. In fact, Disney pre COVID and before Chapek was CEO, this stuff did not happen. Rides all over DL and DCA were constantly going down. I feel like the rides constantly going down plays a huge role in the flow of the park. Not to mention the question of safety. I also noticed that there seemed to be a lot of rides that just weren’t working optimally. Little features of the rides not working properly which takes away from the rides experience. The CM’s didn’t seem to be as happy and welcoming. Some CM’s were as amazing as always, but the majority of them seem unhappy to be there. I also feel like there were more kids/young adults working there. There’s nothing wrong with that but I feel like the young CM’s with a lack of passion remind me of my local whatever theme park. Not what you expect from Disney. Here’s the weird part, I feel like crowds are down, yet everything in the parks seems busier with horrendous wait times. A clear sign that Disney is running super thin right now. I could go on and on but I’ll bring up one last topic before I end this rant. From some of the research I’ve done, Disney allegedly had a deal with the city of Anaheim that they didn’t have to pay taxes on ticket sales for 45 years and they would also receive a large city grant for upgrades to the resort. What they had to do in return is promise to pay their staff a living wage. Disney apparently opted out of that deal. Now maybe there’s more to it, in fact I’m sure it’s not that easy, but why couldn’t Disney commit to paying their staff a living wage? That’s not right! No wonder CM’s aren’t happy and the magic in the parks are gone and stocks are down dramatically. I’m sure Walt would not approve of the current state of the parks. Best of luck Disney, you won’t be getting anymore of my money.
Terry
I am a lifelong Disney lover, sixty nine years young. I used to work in the Travelport at Disneyland for Continental Airlines and was fortunate enough to get all the privileges of being a cast member. Then when my office closed I worked for Disney in hotel reservations. I loved working for them, great benefits, medical, dental, and of course the parks. This is not the Disney of today. I can’t speak for the cast members, I hear stories but what I see is the parks and what has happened. It literally breaks my heart when I remember my childhood memories of growing up and visiting every year and beyond into my adult years. Been many times to Florida and loved it. Not any more. What I notice most is the cast members. Unhappy, rude, unfriendly. The parks are not as pristine as they once were, costs are insane. My family and I went to Disneyland in April and I told my husband this probably will be the last time I visit. He couldn’t believe what I was saying. Florida is still a possibility but with hotels so expensive not sure. Advice to Disney. You can go on for a while charging these ridiculous prices, not caring about your guests but eventually it WILL catch up to you. There are to many alternatives in the mix and people will stop coming. This is a diehard Disney fan saying this. Hope you listen.
You cant sit here
Me and my wife have been to disneyworld anaheim yesterday. Overall it was okayish. Would rate 3/5.
Crowded. Long queues. Friendly actors. Stressed guards. Super expensive. And way too less benches. Visitors sitting on the ground after 2pm literally everywhere. No sitting on walls or fences allowed due to safety reason (cmon!).
General lack of communication between park guards and visitors. Park rules at certain times often unclear and stressful (esp. Lightshows at night). Guards waiving airportesque lightrods all the time.
Purchasable ‘Lightning lane- access’ is emphasizing a 2 class system more than “magic”. Lack of music in the park. Lot of noise due to overcrowded places.
Disney is great with musicals and movies, but disney parks wont be visited in the near future.
Other parks are more capable of catching magic and are way more family friendly.
CU
The biggest issue is the same one everywhere… Absolutely every person has been affected by a pandemic AND division. The Cast for Walt Disney IS the magic. Until that part is played again things will not improve. And too many Guests have no idea how to BE “guests.” They feel entitled to be Asshats, making the jobs harder. Children deserve better.
Meghan
Disney has always been overpriced and overcrowded. Long days standing in one line after another with no relief from the sun. Since covid its only gotten worse. Disney cut out almost every benefit for passholders, and figures a recession is a great time to raise prices. People who work for Disney can’t even afford to enjoy the park. That tells me that Disney is only interested in stockholders gaining profit & not the guests. Guests are only dollar signs to them. Where else can you get a $2.00 sandwich for $20.00? Happiest place on earth? Maybe if you’re a stockholder, but the rest of us? No, actually, Hell No. A typical trip to Disney for a family of 4, not staying at a Disney hotel still runs over $500.00 with admission, food & water ( not soda) and an ” inexpensive ” gift.
Sorry Disney, I won’t waste my time or money on a wretched experience in your parks again. Too much money for a less than happy day. I can take that money and have a far better time anywhere else on earth.
joey
get woke. go broke. addage as old as time.
lisa
he easiest way to express myself is to try to tell you about my experience as a whole and try to break down my journey.
My son is the reason we went to Disney, He is 30. He is autistic mentally and physically disabled. I myself am a two time cancer survivor. We knew that with his issues we would not have a “normal” person’s vacation however we ended with a nightmare.
The problem started when we had reservations for dinner, as I mentioned our son is austic, The restaurants were not compassionate for his needs. We explained we need to let him come in and get acclimated after we sit and scope out the restaurant. they refused to seat us until we were all together this caused us to miss our first reservation at our own hotel!
This became the pattern at almost every restaurant. We are not blaming anyone for our struggles getting him accumulated however some leeway would have been highly appreciated.
Cinderella’s castle royal table
I will start by saying everything was fine however, our server was sick.!!! She claimed it was allergies, she had no voice and kept coughing. She was not wearing a mask! That was uncomfortable for me. Well low and behold, a few days later, my disabled son gets sick. The next day the rest of the family gets sick. Upon returning home from Disney we discover we all have Covid! I think (no I am 99% sure we got it from there!
NOW IS WHERE MY TRUE ANGER will show!
They have this wonderful DAS server however it is not infallible! Time and time again I had issues with it. Cast members at times were downright rude!
I understand if my son doesn’t want to ride the ride we can not use it
Well he only rode one ride so… we could not use this. That is fine I understand this however, we thought we could use the ride swap but we were turned down time and time again.
My husband and daughter waited over an hour for every ride ONE let me repeat ONE ride honored the rider swap and that was the little mermaid. Well we were going to do the DAS for this ride and when our turn came, our refused to ride. So… we exited the Lighting lane and my daughter and I waited 45 minutes already getting the permission to do the rider swap. we rode the ride and I signaled my husband over to the lighting lane so we could do the rider swap and this little girl said next time our son needed to ride the ride or we could not use the lane (I even explained to her and showed her the ride swap on my phone) she was very rude honestly.
I asked for help time after time again in both the park and on the app (chat) . I was not looking for anything extra but we were not and I repeat not treated fairly! We understand not being able to use the DAS if our son didn’t ride… however the park made no accommodations for a family with special needs to enjoy the park at all! I was only able to ride one ride. because I had to sit out on every ride my daughter and husband rode. they discriminated against us as a family! they need to offer ride swaps for our families! you advertised this feature however none of your parks honored it.
You punished the rest of my family because my son was afraid to ride the rides. Not being able to ride the rides as a family was hard enough and not being able to ride the rides at all was downright unfair
Between Giving us covid and treating us unfairly our dream vacation was a nightmare!
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