Universal was charging money to skip the lines for a long time. Disney wanted a piece of the pie. I think what makes people upset is that the Disney experience is more expensive overall than Universal before genie plus. Food quality is either decreasing or the portion is getting smaller. In February 2023 when we visited, we did not have time to enjoy just being there. We spent our time going from one line to the next. Wish I was a blogger going to the parks everyday. Those people really enjoy the parks.
Disney is slowly getting away from Walt’s ideas for it and Disney needs to get back to where Walt wanted it. Get rid of anything & anyone that would keep from being a family friendly place. You do not want the very young seeing things in Disney that are not up to Walt’s standards !!
The magic od Disney is alive and thriving. Do not listen to the complainers. They are the same ones who complain about EVERYTHING. Being a resident of Florida and a pass holder. It is a dream to experience what Disney has done for visitors to escape their reality and enter into the magic which is Disney.
Our family truly loves Disney! Icons leave and new things come. I went a couple of times as a kid and remember some of the older things too. We love it all, from the parades to the rides to the shows. All that matters to me is that I look over and see my family smiling. I really can’t say things have gotten “worse”, only different.
We have been fortunate enough to take our 6 kids twice and that may be all we can do. So, while I can say our Disney trips have been some of our favorite memories, the cost is simply becoming a bit too much. I hate that, but I will be appreciative for the times we could go.
Yes. Innocence and fantasy dreams of little children are important for great childhood memories. As we age , we all look back on our cherished experiences. Disney was one of mine with my family. I am a vacation club member watching the “MAGIC “ diminish. I think Walt Disney never anticipated what has happened to his dream.
I have experienced Disney many times since teen years. Was able to take kids & grands for memories. While change is necessary, they have priced us right out. We use to be able to enjoy by budgeting & knowing what was too expensive for our family to experience. Now that is not an option because even riding the rides comes with an extra cost. So very sad for us who are no wealthy.
We went to Disneyland in La. It was our first time , we are from Australia so I understand expensive!!! But to be honest , the souvenirs wasn’t that expensive, it was more the food and drinks that I found expensive. The genie pass was pricey , but it’s a blessing to be able to jump the queue when ur on a time limit ( we had 3 days pass only ) I’m definitely planning to go to Disneyworld but this time I know what to expect price wise .
I have been going to Disney World as an adult for many years. The price increases are making it much more difficult for us to travel there anymore. I told my daughters I no longer wish to visit there since they are pricing me out, with increased prices and additional fees for Genie+ and whatever else. The free Fastpasses were great and you at least felt appreciated for your visit.
10 comments before mine . . . all basically saying the same thing. What is going on at WDW. Walt would be disgusted as this is not what it was all about back in his day. All his dreams, planning, hard work and developing going down a very slippery slope. It makes me feel really sad reading these comments as it never used to be like this in the parks. Come on Disney . . . give everyone the MAGIC back not just the wealthiest wage packets.
I have been to Disney world 9 times between 1979 to 2024 with friends and later with family. Usually late January . Many happy memories. That changed in 2018, you had no chance to to even get through a park in a day. It felt more like you where being shook down. Went to Epcot this year… with the prices , it felt the same. Not to mention the the drifting of the Epcot park from being educational, (which I loved)
too being a marketing tool for for the movie studio.
I’m a true Disney lover! I go to the parks once a year. Admittedly, my trips have gotten shorter due to rising costs. Simply cannot afford what I used to. I also do not look forward to having to be on my phone my entire vacation just to be able to get onto rides. Fast passes used to provide relief knowing I’d get on a few of my favorite rides before arriving to the parks. The not knowing creates too much anxiety on what is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. I do miss the good old days@
YES, the Magic is Gone. Our family of 5 has been to WDW many many times starting in 1998 & boy have things changed…AND NOT FOR THE BETTER! Those in charge have completely forgotten Walt’s dream & why he built Disneyland. He wanted a place where families could go and have fun together and not be nickel-and-dimed to death like a carnival, but that is exactly what Disney now feels like, a carnival where you pay for every little thing. Walt also wanted a place that was clean & employees are friendly but that has changed also as the employees are not as happy & the facility is not well kept. Gone are the days of the FASTPASS, Disney Magical Express, Packages sent back to your room, good food, smaller crowds (& less rude). I do miss the “old Disney” & that’s why we have not been back since 2019. Typical new way of doing things, pay more to get less, It’s all corporate greed at it’s finest!! HOW VERY SAD TO HAVE A GOOD THING RUINED
Unfortunately, some of the best magic is now gone because of greed. If ( and this is a big IF) I ever go back to Disney I will not be buying the Genie+ or a dining plan. While there are not really slow times at Disney anymore I will probably go in Sept or Feb and go back to my hotel room to eat instead of buying $9.00 hot dogs!
It’s getting better again. Fix Genie+ to the pint gust can pre plan and get reservations for meals with out that 7 am wake up on vacation . I still love Disney but Universal is less stress to plan and go.
Been going to WDW since 1990 and it’s been a death by thousand cuts that has killed the “magic” for me. It’s not even cost related as a Florida resident an annual pass is a pretty affordable way to go. But I let my annual pass expire in 2022 and found other things to do with my time.
Up to the COVID changes I thought I would be a pass holder for life. But crowds are ridiculous even during what used to be slow times (25 years since adding AK despite population increases), food and restaurant experience has slid backwards to the point that the Food and Wine festival is disappointing, not much magic when everyone has to stare at a cellphone to navigate the day, parks not nearly as clean, and the last straw was the cultural we became “friends” instead “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” in order to appease.
I always knew “magic” even in the good days was hiding Disney parks is all about maximizing return on investment for their shareholders, but today it’s so much more transparent than it ever has been.
Will $60 billion fix the experience? – I am hoping but given the current leadership I am doubtful unless Epic Universe forces D Parks to raise the bar.
Comments for “The Magic Is Gone” After Changes Pop the Disney World Bubble
beautiful gorgeous
Universal was charging money to skip the lines for a long time. Disney wanted a piece of the pie. I think what makes people upset is that the Disney experience is more expensive overall than Universal before genie plus. Food quality is either decreasing or the portion is getting smaller. In February 2023 when we visited, we did not have time to enjoy just being there. We spent our time going from one line to the next. Wish I was a blogger going to the parks everyday. Those people really enjoy the parks.
Gary
Disney is slowly getting away from Walt’s ideas for it and Disney needs to get back to where Walt wanted it. Get rid of anything & anyone that would keep from being a family friendly place. You do not want the very young seeing things in Disney that are not up to Walt’s standards !!
Mary
I soo agree with you 💯%. Disney was once a park of fun fantasy dreams for children and their cherished families .
Gary
Thank you Mary I am a cousin to Walt & his brothers & sister and I want things back the way they were and not the way it is going !!
Brian
The magic od Disney is alive and thriving. Do not listen to the complainers. They are the same ones who complain about EVERYTHING. Being a resident of Florida and a pass holder. It is a dream to experience what Disney has done for visitors to escape their reality and enter into the magic which is Disney.
Cristy
Our family truly loves Disney! Icons leave and new things come. I went a couple of times as a kid and remember some of the older things too. We love it all, from the parades to the rides to the shows. All that matters to me is that I look over and see my family smiling. I really can’t say things have gotten “worse”, only different.
We have been fortunate enough to take our 6 kids twice and that may be all we can do. So, while I can say our Disney trips have been some of our favorite memories, the cost is simply becoming a bit too much. I hate that, but I will be appreciative for the times we could go.
Kris
Yes , the magic is gone. They killed with $$$$ and woke ideals the majority of people didn’t want.
Mary
Yes. Innocence and fantasy dreams of little children are important for great childhood memories. As we age , we all look back on our cherished experiences. Disney was one of mine with my family. I am a vacation club member watching the “MAGIC “ diminish. I think Walt Disney never anticipated what has happened to his dream.
Jennie
I have experienced Disney many times since teen years. Was able to take kids & grands for memories. While change is necessary, they have priced us right out. We use to be able to enjoy by budgeting & knowing what was too expensive for our family to experience. Now that is not an option because even riding the rides comes with an extra cost. So very sad for us who are no wealthy.
Rach
We went to Disneyland in La. It was our first time , we are from Australia so I understand expensive!!! But to be honest , the souvenirs wasn’t that expensive, it was more the food and drinks that I found expensive. The genie pass was pricey , but it’s a blessing to be able to jump the queue when ur on a time limit ( we had 3 days pass only ) I’m definitely planning to go to Disneyworld but this time I know what to expect price wise .
Maureen B.
I have been going to Disney World as an adult for many years. The price increases are making it much more difficult for us to travel there anymore. I told my daughters I no longer wish to visit there since they are pricing me out, with increased prices and additional fees for Genie+ and whatever else. The free Fastpasses were great and you at least felt appreciated for your visit.
Mark Booth
10 comments before mine . . . all basically saying the same thing. What is going on at WDW. Walt would be disgusted as this is not what it was all about back in his day. All his dreams, planning, hard work and developing going down a very slippery slope. It makes me feel really sad reading these comments as it never used to be like this in the parks. Come on Disney . . . give everyone the MAGIC back not just the wealthiest wage packets.
Jim
I have been to Disney world 9 times between 1979 to 2024 with friends and later with family. Usually late January . Many happy memories. That changed in 2018, you had no chance to to even get through a park in a day. It felt more like you where being shook down. Went to Epcot this year… with the prices , it felt the same. Not to mention the the drifting of the Epcot park from being educational, (which I loved)
too being a marketing tool for for the movie studio.
Krista Miller
I’m a true Disney lover! I go to the parks once a year. Admittedly, my trips have gotten shorter due to rising costs. Simply cannot afford what I used to. I also do not look forward to having to be on my phone my entire vacation just to be able to get onto rides. Fast passes used to provide relief knowing I’d get on a few of my favorite rides before arriving to the parks. The not knowing creates too much anxiety on what is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. I do miss the good old days@
Wisconsin
YES, the Magic is Gone. Our family of 5 has been to WDW many many times starting in 1998 & boy have things changed…AND NOT FOR THE BETTER! Those in charge have completely forgotten Walt’s dream & why he built Disneyland. He wanted a place where families could go and have fun together and not be nickel-and-dimed to death like a carnival, but that is exactly what Disney now feels like, a carnival where you pay for every little thing. Walt also wanted a place that was clean & employees are friendly but that has changed also as the employees are not as happy & the facility is not well kept. Gone are the days of the FASTPASS, Disney Magical Express, Packages sent back to your room, good food, smaller crowds (& less rude). I do miss the “old Disney” & that’s why we have not been back since 2019. Typical new way of doing things, pay more to get less, It’s all corporate greed at it’s finest!! HOW VERY SAD TO HAVE A GOOD THING RUINED
Amanda
Unfortunately, some of the best magic is now gone because of greed. If ( and this is a big IF) I ever go back to Disney I will not be buying the Genie+ or a dining plan. While there are not really slow times at Disney anymore I will probably go in Sept or Feb and go back to my hotel room to eat instead of buying $9.00 hot dogs!
Barbara
It’s getting better again. Fix Genie+ to the pint gust can pre plan and get reservations for meals with out that 7 am wake up on vacation . I still love Disney but Universal is less stress to plan and go.
Tony
Been going to WDW since 1990 and it’s been a death by thousand cuts that has killed the “magic” for me. It’s not even cost related as a Florida resident an annual pass is a pretty affordable way to go. But I let my annual pass expire in 2022 and found other things to do with my time.
Up to the COVID changes I thought I would be a pass holder for life. But crowds are ridiculous even during what used to be slow times (25 years since adding AK despite population increases), food and restaurant experience has slid backwards to the point that the Food and Wine festival is disappointing, not much magic when everyone has to stare at a cellphone to navigate the day, parks not nearly as clean, and the last straw was the cultural we became “friends” instead “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” in order to appease.
I always knew “magic” even in the good days was hiding Disney parks is all about maximizing return on investment for their shareholders, but today it’s so much more transparent than it ever has been.
Will $60 billion fix the experience? – I am hoping but given the current leadership I am doubtful unless Epic Universe forces D Parks to raise the bar.
Comments are closed.