What they've taken away

[McSmooth]

As long as message boards, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram exist, there's no such thing as customer satisfaction.

Complaining is what we all do now. Any little issue gets a post, which then gets comments, which then gets likes suddenly it becomes the narrative. WDW could have an 95 percent customer satisfaction rate, but that would all get undone by one vlogger with a bunch of followers having a bad day.

As long as people keep coming, they are doing their jobs.

This is exactly it.

Everyone easily forgets that this company lost billions last year between the parks and movies divisions. They're going to get their money back, because the company answers to the shareholders first. So just like was said above, as long as people keep coming, they're doing their jobs.

 

[Marionnette]

This is exactly it.

Everyone easily forgets that this company lost billions last year between the parks and movies divisions. They're going to get their money back, because the company answers to the shareholders first. So just like was said above, as long as people keep coming, they're doing their jobs.

And once they "get their money back" do you think they will adjust their prices downward to reflect that? Don't pee on my leg and tell me that it's raining. I can recognize a money grab when I see one.

 

[McSmooth]

And once they "get their money back" do you think they will adjust their prices downward to reflect that? Don't pee on my leg and tell me that it's raining. I can recognize a money grab when I see one.

Of course they won't. It's going to take years for them to recover everything that was lost. It's not like there's a cheaper alternative, because Universal does the same sort of thing and doesn't take the heat that Disney does.

But who's fault is that? As long as they keep coming, they're doing their jobs.

Just like as long as people keep buying park merch on ebay, then those sellers will keep raiding the shelves.

Or just as long as you keep watching Youtube vloggers, then the parks will continue to be swarmed with them.

Customers have always had the power to change things, but they're just too selfish to follow through with it and maintain it for an effective length of time.

 

[overdisney]

This is exactly it.

Everyone easily forgets that this company lost billions last year between the parks and movies divisions. They're going to get their money back, because the company answers to the shareholders first. So just like was said above, as long as people keep coming, they're doing their jobs.

They lost billions but they still made billions just not as much. I would not call that a loss. Really in a pandemic and an economic down turn as a stock holder do you really expect a big dividend check. The stock market is a crap shot you make money --you loose money.

 

[McSmooth]

They lost billions but they still made billions just not as much. I would not call that a loss. Really in a pandemic and an economic down turn as a stock holder do you really expect a big dividend check. The stock market is a crap shot you make money --you loose money.

So I buy some shares and am told I'll get a check every year for some amount. Then last year I get a whole lot less than I was used to getting and I'm not happy about it.

Sound familiar?

 

[storey13]

Time to add no more Photopass and water parks to the annual pass program to the list on page 1. Those things will cost extra in your annual pass. Sigh...

 

[overdisney]

Yes th

So I buy some shares and am told I'll get a check every year for some amount. Then last year I get a whole lot less than I was used to getting and I'm not happy about it.

Sound familiar?

The stock market is a gamble-- didn't't realize going to WDW was gamble.

 

[SCDisneyfanatic]

First time at WDW was in August of 1976. It was only magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness, a few hotels (Contemporary, Polynesian, and Disney Hotel), Discovery Island, and River Country. It was incredible...but also not very crowded, yet. For many trips after that, the magic was there as we ventured into new parks...EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. And of course, Downtown Disney. Now there are a plethora of hotels and shops and restaurants. The more it has grown the harder it has been to find the magic. We are going back the last week of October with our 2 young granddaughters (4 and 2 yo), so I'm hoping the smiles on their faces and the wonder in their eyes will be enough to spark the magic in us as well. I'm pretty sure they only need to see WDW to get overly excited...so the few rides we do and the (hopefully) characters we see, they will be in heaven. I try not to worry about all the things currently missing and will concentrate on what is there. I'll report back for sure and let everyone know how it goes. Part of that Disney Magic has always been between the ears, so I'll do my best to rediscover it!!

 

[McSmooth]

Yes th

The stock market is a gamble-- didn't't realize going to WDW was gamble.

It's called getting what you expect for your investment. If you don't like it, you either sell or when it comes time to vote for the board members, you choose somebody else.

It's not all that different.

And holy crap, going to WDW IS a gamble. Do we get the ADRs we want, at the time we want? Can we get on ROTR? Is there going to be a Tropical Storm? Will my favorite ride be under refurb? Will they sell out of that spirit jersey that I want? Will the bus show up on time to get me to rope drop?

 

[gorkt]

While I loved the WDW vacations we were able to take, I'm glad they are making the choice to skip it VERY easy for us now. It's pretty much a no-brainer (for us) to skip WDW now. Our last trip was pretty epic - dessert parties, EMM, special tour, HDDR, and other great stuff. I hope some of the great stuff returns for future guests for a decent price, but from my view, it's not looking that promising at the moment.

Thanks for the memories, Walt!

This. My last trip was in 2019 and I pulled out all the stops. HDDR, dessert parties, morning at MK, the works. I was debating returning in early 2023 for the 50th anniversary stuff, but all of these changes are making it easy for me to say no and save my money. Maybe if Genie looks better than people think, or they open up more stuff that they closed I will consider it.

 

[blktauna]

My first WDW trip was 1972. It was magical. My last was 2018. The difference was marked.
I still love the cruises but we leave out of NYC now not Canaveral.
Unless things alter drastically, I don't forsee coming back to WDW.

 

[fbarker]

Package delivery from the parks and Downtown Disney to your resort...although this one has saved me money since I don't buy as much!

See #19 on original post

 

[Absolute Coaster]

Since we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, I imagine many of the things you listed will make a return to the parks. Such as the entertainment options, daily room cleanings, room service, in park entertainment, etc. Everyone seems to be forgetting last year, when the parks reopened, it wasn’t because they wanted to strip these things from the guest, it’s because they wanted to encourage a healthy environment.

 

[Marionnette]

Since we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, I imagine many of the things you listed will make a return to the parks. Such as the entertainment options, daily room cleanings, room service, in park entertainment, etc. Everyone seems to be forgetting last year, when the parks reopened, it wasn’t because they wanted to strip these things from the guest, it’s because they wanted to encourage a healthy environment.

And their excuse now is...? They've pretty much removed any remnants of social distancing, finding a hand sanitizer dispenser is difficult, they've reinstated the finger scan at park entrance. Fireworks are back but they can't bring back parades or streetmosphere.

 

[revdon64]

Since we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, I imagine many of the things you listed will make a return to the parks. Such as the entertainment options, daily room cleanings, room service, in park entertainment, etc. Everyone seems to be forgetting last year, when the parks reopened, it wasn’t because they wanted to strip these things from the guest, it’s because they wanted to encourage a healthy environment.

Daily room cleaning was optional before the pandemic, so can't really lat that on the pandemic.

 

[Duck143]

It is so sad to me that we have a thread with this subject, but everything mentioned is true. I was always on "Team Disney!" and gave a lot of credit to the company throughout the pandemic, almost to a fault! Even as I cried when we cancelled our AP's (the first time in my life I had been an Annual Passholder!), I understood.

We did actually visit this past May and had a fantastic trip. I actually enjoyed less planning with no fastpasses, parades and fireworks. However, these past few weeks with all these price increase announcements have really tarnished my opinion (al least for right now). When people ask me about planning a trip for next year, I respond saying it's a ton of work and even more money. Don't get me wrong, I will probably (definitely) still go there, but I'm beginning to think of other places for my family to visit. My trips to DW will be less frequent.

 

[TinkSassy]

We keep talking about the price increases and what they have taken away. The reality is most of us will still pay to go. However, will you change the way you book based on their choices?

Will I go? Yes - Will I pay to stay in their hotel? Absolutely not

With no included transport from the airport, no advantage in booking FPs or dining, paying to park the car I now have to rent, no baggage handling from the airport (I'm not including housekeeping and other items that are still a problem due to the pandemic - as hopefully those will return and resolve in time) - it is now much more advantageous for me to book an offsite hotel for half the price and free parking. My last trip I used Lyft from my hotel to/from the parks and my transport bill was $10 less per day than parking.

We forget than many of these items that are disappearing came to be during the Eisner reign when they were building lots of hotels and the goal was to get us on property and keep us there. It was very effective - and I chose WDW over other options sometimes because I had no worries from the time I got off the plane to leaving with lots of perks for the extra I paid for hotel.

While I don't see attendance as a whole dropping in large numbers - I do see an issue with filling hotel rooms in the very near future. They may also see dinner reservations drop as there are some great off site options nearby that I will take advantage of if I have a car and leave property everyday anyway. That is a lot of premium priced hotels with no benefits for using them as the bubble is burst. When the rooms are empty and staff is available (right now no one can get staff) they will start panicking and add back "perks" to get you back on site again.

 

[AllieKG]

Today is our last day and we’re forgoing our last theme park day to relax at the resort because none of us have any desire to visit the parks. In fact, the resort (GF) has been the highlight of the trip. I can find the same resort amenities and better accommodations for the same price outside of Disney/Florida. I can’t pinpoint why we’re just not feeling the Disney Magic this trip. We’re kind of bored just going from ride to ride because there’s no shows or parades. We did a BB day and we HATED taking a bus to AK to transfer to BB. Uber/Lyft was not an option for us. We did Boo Bash on our first night and it was meh. I wish I had saved that money because there wasn’t anything that stood out beyond what you get a normal park day with the exception of low crowds which was a moot point for us since the entire week has basically been walk-on/no lines. Much prefer the Halloween party to an after hours event. I just feel nickel and dimed by Disney and I’ve had enough. Disney has always been $$$ but the value just isn’t there for us anymore. Everyone has to choose what’s right for them and if Disney makes you happy, do it! For us, this is our last trip. We’re off to explore other vacation destinations.

 

[TwentyThingamabobs]

To me, they’ve essentially taken away everything that made Disney special and magical.

Seeing my magic bands in the mailbox a few weeks before my trip and the excitement starting then was magical.

Dropping my bag off at my home airport and not seeing it again until it was in my room was magical.

Sleeping in on vacation but knowing I had 3 fast passes ready to go once I got to the park was magical.

Stumbling upon the Citizens of Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard and laughing until my face hurt was magical.

I’m not upset over one particular thing. It’s everything together. I also travel elsewhere but I love Disney World because it’s the only place I can forget about the real world and feel like a kid again. And they’re taking all that magic away.

 

[bsjs0708]

Today is our last day and we’re forgoing our last theme park day to relax at the resort because none of us have any desire to visit the parks. In fact, the resort (GF) has been the highlight of the trip. I can find the same resort amenities and better accommodations for the same price outside of Disney/Florida. I can’t pinpoint why we’re just not feeling the Disney Magic this trip. We’re kind of bored just going from ride to ride because there’s no shows or parades. We did a BB day and we HATED taking a bus to AK to transfer to BB. Uber/Lyft was not an option for us. We did Boo Bash on our first night and it was meh. I wish I had saved that money because there wasn’t anything that stood out beyond what you get a normal park day with the exception of low crowds which was a moot point for us since the entire week has basically been walk-on/no lines. Much prefer the Halloween party to an after hours event. I just feel nickel and dimed by Disney and I’ve had enough. Disney has always been $$$ but the value just isn’t there for us anymore. Everyone has to choose what’s right for them and if Disney makes you happy, do it! For us, this is our last trip. We’re off to explore other vacation destinations.

Yep! We (my family) felt the exact same way during our last visit. We will be taking our fifth wheel and explore new and exciting places...bye Disney..at least for now..