In my experience (in recent days), the parks have changed. I think locals enjoy the parks more than the vacationers that have 5-7 days to do everything. At times, I wish I was a blogger sitting at the castle hub sipping my morning coffee only sent to the Magic Kingdom to photograph the new merchandise at the Emporium. Tourists basically don’t have time to just enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
I have been going since I was a kid in the seventies. Loved bringing my child. Walt would be appalled today. CEOs have outpriced the avg family, sold the park out as it now financially supports their failed ESPN and streaming failures. Tickets and other services tailor the experience to ensure wealthy individuals are ensured and experience at the expense of average family. Disney understood that he needed average families to bring their children and ensure a good experience for all. By doing so he ensured that the children of these families would grow to share the experience with their families, creating a multigenerational fan base. Sadly, that multigenerational Disney culture will end with me.
I’m a local and the parks have drastically changed for the worse since they reopened after they shut down for the pandemic. I was there earlier today and lines were all over an hour long and the virtual que definitely is a sham malfunctioning and no availability within 5 seconds. They need a major expansion to deal with overcrowding issues in the parks. Even $29 Genie + Lightening Lane had a long wait line. It is a rip off. Rides are constantly breaking down and sometimes several times in a day. Sorry, but Josh D’Amaro and Jeff Vahle need to get the boot.
I agree the food was horrible in January this year. But has been that way long before pandemic when Disney curtailed their menu to 4-5 choices.
We found the franchises like rain forest cafe still offer full menu and better food.
As for cost it has driven us out. Our girls downs people live Disney. Pre pandemic we went 2-3 times a year as DVC members. No more perks for DVC either
Now we went from 570 points to 100 and are waiting to see how the change in reedy creek will affect taxes.
Like my husband says just enjoy the memories. We have decided to vacation other places. Don’t need all the stress of planning every minute!
Been going since 1975. So sad to see the decline in experience & raising costs so fast. Extended family planned, then pandemic hit & we had to cancel. Haven’t been able to re-plan due to costs jumping so much. Not a fan anymore 😕 😒 😪
I haven’t visited since before the pandemic when they still had fast pass. We were basically able to just do anything we wanted on the fly. We are afraid to go back because all the spontaneity is gone and on top of that all the posts are saying how crowded it is and everything has changed for the worse. I am still holding on to the hope that they will get rid of park reservations and have Genie work like fast pass and just charge for it.
We gave up on it after 39 years and raising four kids visiting the WDW Resort and spending many weekends at Fort Wilderness camping and visiting the parks. I noticed prices climbing and the guest experience declining more each time we visited. We had seasonal passes early on but switched to annual passes and renewed every year until I believe 2018 when they hiked annual pass prices $400.00 because they built the Star Wars area. Not everyone is an at all cost Star Wars fan. The big finale was when they announced nightly parking fees for hotel guests with a car. We had a ceremonial pass burning in our grill and have not returned. We watch Disney+ but that’s at a tipping point… if we get another price increase notice on it that’s gone too.
I have been going to Disney since the 80’s. The change is so unbelievable. It use to be my favorite place to go. Now I go for my grand babies. And my great grand baby. I had so much love to go there. Now it’s terrible. My one granddaughter is multiple disabled. Since they added the genie and lighting lane. She waits even longer. This is the one thing that upsets me the most it use to that disabled waited a short time. Now it terrible. Get with it Disney. Help those who. Can’t wait in line. But love Disney
Have you looked into the DAS pass, it is for disabled who can’t wait on the long lines, it is hard to get, you have to call & set up a video call or go to Guest Services when you enter the park.
I took my family of 5 in June of 2013, 2015 ,2019. In 2019 we stayed at Port Orleans riverside, had 8 days of park hopper tickets, memory maker, and quick service dining plan. We ate at be our guest twice for breakfast, had three fast pass selections for each day and it was all under 7,000.00 dollars. Took same family in 2022, same time of year, no meal plan, 4 basic one park one day tickets, no park hopper, we did get the memory maker, paid for genie plus, stayed at the campground and spent over 8,000. Genie plus was biggest mistake, always on your phone, never just enjoying yourself. We will not be back until things change.
Sorry, we just went last summer, and enjoyed every minute. Yeah, things are overpriced, but the experience is still like no other place. We are anxiously waiting our next trip!
Just got back from a 6-day trip, while I agree costs are out of control and some other things have changed for the worse, we still had the best vacation. Disney does need to step up their game though. Many are fed up.
We love Disney,the last time we went was ‘19 right before Covid, had a great time. Now my kids are older, we are planning on something else. My guess is that we have out grow disn
Absolutely unacceptable that disney now let’s grown up privileged adults cut in front of hard working families and poor underprivileged children!!
This new paid fast pass system is the modern version of race/cast discrimination!
Literally waiting in different lines and separate “white-only-entrances” for restaurants, water fountains, bathrooms and rides.
When it came time for me to plan a trip to Southern California this year, I decided on Knotts Berry Farm, which I’d never considered before. Our whole family loved it.
Great food, great rides, great shows, souvenirs made from all over the world, not just one country that DIS sold out to. Same kind of experience at Legoland in Florida and New York.
I spend about 1/3 of the money I used to spend at Disney and get more than double the enjoyment.
It’s sad, because like most of you on this board, I was a huge Disney fan since my first trip to WDW at age 3. But when Disney decided to throw away the principles and values that Walt build his company on, they threw away me too. I hope Iger can turn things around, but I don’t think it’s possible. The rot runs too deep now.
Comments for Disney World Guest Giving Up After 30 Years, Laments Costs, Cast Members, Money Grabs
beautiful gorgeous
In my experience (in recent days), the parks have changed. I think locals enjoy the parks more than the vacationers that have 5-7 days to do everything. At times, I wish I was a blogger sitting at the castle hub sipping my morning coffee only sent to the Magic Kingdom to photograph the new merchandise at the Emporium. Tourists basically don’t have time to just enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Scott Behrens
I have been going since I was a kid in the seventies. Loved bringing my child. Walt would be appalled today. CEOs have outpriced the avg family, sold the park out as it now financially supports their failed ESPN and streaming failures. Tickets and other services tailor the experience to ensure wealthy individuals are ensured and experience at the expense of average family. Disney understood that he needed average families to bring their children and ensure a good experience for all. By doing so he ensured that the children of these families would grow to share the experience with their families, creating a multigenerational fan base. Sadly, that multigenerational Disney culture will end with me.
Bob
I’m a local and the parks have drastically changed for the worse since they reopened after they shut down for the pandemic. I was there earlier today and lines were all over an hour long and the virtual que definitely is a sham malfunctioning and no availability within 5 seconds. They need a major expansion to deal with overcrowding issues in the parks. Even $29 Genie + Lightening Lane had a long wait line. It is a rip off. Rides are constantly breaking down and sometimes several times in a day. Sorry, but Josh D’Amaro and Jeff Vahle need to get the boot.
Peggy
I agree the food was horrible in January this year. But has been that way long before pandemic when Disney curtailed their menu to 4-5 choices.
We found the franchises like rain forest cafe still offer full menu and better food.
As for cost it has driven us out. Our girls downs people live Disney. Pre pandemic we went 2-3 times a year as DVC members. No more perks for DVC either
Now we went from 570 points to 100 and are waiting to see how the change in reedy creek will affect taxes.
Like my husband says just enjoy the memories. We have decided to vacation other places. Don’t need all the stress of planning every minute!
Jennie
Been going since 1975. So sad to see the decline in experience & raising costs so fast. Extended family planned, then pandemic hit & we had to cancel. Haven’t been able to re-plan due to costs jumping so much. Not a fan anymore 😕 😒 😪
Joanne
Amazingly, I said those exact words to my daughter after our last trip. After 50 yearly visits I’m now ok to …”just enjoy the memories.”
Gary
I can’t blame her! But maybe sometime down the road Disney will get back to where Walt envisioned it!
Lisa
I haven’t visited since before the pandemic when they still had fast pass. We were basically able to just do anything we wanted on the fly. We are afraid to go back because all the spontaneity is gone and on top of that all the posts are saying how crowded it is and everything has changed for the worse. I am still holding on to the hope that they will get rid of park reservations and have Genie work like fast pass and just charge for it.
Tim
We gave up on it after 39 years and raising four kids visiting the WDW Resort and spending many weekends at Fort Wilderness camping and visiting the parks. I noticed prices climbing and the guest experience declining more each time we visited. We had seasonal passes early on but switched to annual passes and renewed every year until I believe 2018 when they hiked annual pass prices $400.00 because they built the Star Wars area. Not everyone is an at all cost Star Wars fan. The big finale was when they announced nightly parking fees for hotel guests with a car. We had a ceremonial pass burning in our grill and have not returned. We watch Disney+ but that’s at a tipping point… if we get another price increase notice on it that’s gone too.
Diana
I have been going to Disney since the 80’s. The change is so unbelievable. It use to be my favorite place to go. Now I go for my grand babies. And my great grand baby. I had so much love to go there. Now it’s terrible. My one granddaughter is multiple disabled. Since they added the genie and lighting lane. She waits even longer. This is the one thing that upsets me the most it use to that disabled waited a short time. Now it terrible. Get with it Disney. Help those who. Can’t wait in line. But love Disney
Colleen
Have you looked into the DAS pass, it is for disabled who can’t wait on the long lines, it is hard to get, you have to call & set up a video call or go to Guest Services when you enter the park.
jason
I took my family of 5 in June of 2013, 2015 ,2019. In 2019 we stayed at Port Orleans riverside, had 8 days of park hopper tickets, memory maker, and quick service dining plan. We ate at be our guest twice for breakfast, had three fast pass selections for each day and it was all under 7,000.00 dollars. Took same family in 2022, same time of year, no meal plan, 4 basic one park one day tickets, no park hopper, we did get the memory maker, paid for genie plus, stayed at the campground and spent over 8,000. Genie plus was biggest mistake, always on your phone, never just enjoying yourself. We will not be back until things change.
James Alfieri
Sorry, we just went last summer, and enjoyed every minute. Yeah, things are overpriced, but the experience is still like no other place. We are anxiously waiting our next trip!
Andra B
Just got back from a 6-day trip, while I agree costs are out of control and some other things have changed for the worse, we still had the best vacation. Disney does need to step up their game though. Many are fed up.
John
We love Disney,the last time we went was ‘19 right before Covid, had a great time. Now my kids are older, we are planning on something else. My guess is that we have out grow disn
Bon
Too many hotels, too few parks, and low paid employees
J
Absolutely unacceptable that disney now let’s grown up privileged adults cut in front of hard working families and poor underprivileged children!!
This new paid fast pass system is the modern version of race/cast discrimination!
Literally waiting in different lines and separate “white-only-entrances” for restaurants, water fountains, bathrooms and rides.
HCL
When it came time for me to plan a trip to Southern California this year, I decided on Knotts Berry Farm, which I’d never considered before. Our whole family loved it.
Great food, great rides, great shows, souvenirs made from all over the world, not just one country that DIS sold out to. Same kind of experience at Legoland in Florida and New York.
I spend about 1/3 of the money I used to spend at Disney and get more than double the enjoyment.
It’s sad, because like most of you on this board, I was a huge Disney fan since my first trip to WDW at age 3. But when Disney decided to throw away the principles and values that Walt build his company on, they threw away me too. I hope Iger can turn things around, but I don’t think it’s possible. The rot runs too deep now.
Alonso
I am done with Disney. Hopefully in the future they go back to what they were, but seems unlikely. Too sad as me and my kids love the parks.
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