Friends went to Disney...... but didn't enjoy it

[Keith]

I guess I've read a few of these type of posts over the years.

Early last year a colleague announced he and his then fiancee were going to get married in UK and go to Orlando for honeymoon. We started talking about Disney, universal and all the usual things.

Of course I extolled the virtues of all the parks, especially EPCOT but in the end, after looking around and talking to people, they decided that they'd stay at a universal resort and only had one day to spare for Disney!

In itself that was interesting. They showed me the different marketing materials and Disney was all about the kids, universal was much more young couple friendly whilst also managing to appeal to families. Universal had citywalk for the evenings, Disney had nothing.

So in the end, it came down to one day at Disney. I said EPCOT but then they wanted to see the castle and the magic kingdom parade. Since park hopping has become expensive, they decided to do a whole day at the magic kingdom.

I told them to buy and wear the just married mouse ears and get the badges from city hall which they did.

Well by all accounts they had a very mediocre experience. Cost them just about $200 to get in for the day. It was totally packed out. The whole time, although other guests wished them well because of the ears/badges, not one of the cast members they met did and no one went out of their way to say hello to them.

They had a reservation at crystal palace but in the event didnt feel like it so tried to cancel it. They were told they couldnt without paying $20 so they tried to offer it to the many people waiting who didn't have a reservation and were told off for doing that! In the end after an argument about that, they left because they wanted to see the shows.

The light show was almost impossible to see because the crowds of people with kids on shoulders and it was hard to move around to get a better spot. Every time they moved someone would bump them or stand in their way or complain that they were moving (I think we've all been there!!!)

They went to a cast member to ask if there was somewhere quieter for a second show, she said you just have to move around and live with it, its busy.

They found everything really expensive and found the cast members bordering on rude or if not rude, very disinterested. There was certainly no fuss made of them there. They felt the rides and shows had seen better days when compared to the newer stuff at Universal.


So all in all, a pretty poor experience.

Now 15yrs ago, I never heard stories like this. If I recommended Disney people came back and thanked me for it! heck back when we were married there, we couldn't walk past a CM Without them saying congratulations and asking us all about it.

Do you feel it's changed that much? What is it, the CMs not as interested any more? the Company itself? a more cynical society and a harder to please audience? False expectations because of people like me saying how great it is?

Have you recommended Disney only to have people come back disappointed with it?

[Deafjeff]

I often recommend people to try WDW once in their life time. Normally I recommend to stay on site to get an extra magical experience.

Most of them came back saying that they understand why we go back often.

I always explain that you either go and visit Orlando or going to see WDW as both are quite different holiday experience me think.


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[Britchick]

I don't think so Keith, when it's busy it can be hell and if you haven't got the Disney bug then I can up understand how spending all that money would be a problem.

[Esmeralda]

Maybe it's the turnover of staff? I have seen a difference in attitudes too since I first went to now. There are still those staff that are what Disney is all about but they do seem to be getting fewer and fewer

[Tink]

Well, I didn't like my first visit. It was a day trip on December 27 to the MK. I had NO IDEA how very busy it would be. I was astonished by the long lines, confused by all the talk of Disney friendliness when all I saw were overworked CMs who frowned and actually snarled at people, expensive prices for anything, and brats, brats, brats!

So I do get what they were saying. I think it sometimes takes fresh eyes to point out the reality of things, instead of those of us who are so into Disney we don't see it clearly.

Now, obviously I went back and had a totally different experience, and kept going.

But, I will say from my perspective things have changed mightily. It's not as clean as it used to be, the CMs are not nearly as well trained, the prices are stupidly high for lower quality, the merchandise on offer is all generic and overpriced for it's quality, they've ruined dining, and I think it's completely asinine that a theme park charges people for changing their minds about meals!

I know the other night the weather was HORRIBLE, terrible downpour and deadly lightning strikes every few seconds for over 2 hours. Cape May had 13 no shows in the thick of the worst of the storm. Those people are still going to be charged!

I cling to my love of Disney, but cognitive dissonance is definitely a factor.

I don't want to face the reality that WDW has changed markedly over the past 15 years, and I for one do not find it for the better.

Sorry you asked now, aren't you?

[Kate]

I think crowds and money are the most off putting things!! Its just crazy expensive now to get into disney, once you get in there you find there are so many other people there that you spend so much time queuing - none of it seems worthwhile. The only time it doesnt seem so bad is if you have one of the 14/21 day tickets so that you dont have the pressure of doing things all in one day - we never buy one of those tickets and its only on our 4th visit that we didnt feel so pressured.
Everything seems to be about money too, all the merchandise is expensive (and the prices still get me, i still expect to pay what the tag says and i get to the checkout and its more cus of tax - when will i remember that?!) and they want to ensure they dont miss out on money so now charge you to cancel meals with them!

I can understand why your friend didnt stay onsite tbh, we never have and spend most of our time at US/IOA/SW etc - and we love it!

[Johnie]

I absolutely do not understand people spending a ton of money on vacation and not doing even a little bit of research. Now I fully admit that I go to Disney and usually play it by ear. But I didn't do that for the first several times!!

Anyway, either people get the magic and no explanation is necessary. Or they don't get it and you can talk until your blue in the face. But I do agree that you have to go all in to even get a feel for it.

I haven't noticed rude CM's but I have noticed that prices have gone up tremendously. When they first started offering the free dining plan, we could go for over a week, stay at Pop, have the dining plan for 4 adults, 1 day tix for each and it was less than $1000. Now it's over $2000 and true you now have to buy 2 day tix for everyone but really. It's doubled in price!

I also miss the fact that you could only get certain merchandise in certain places. I hate how the same stuff is everywhere. My biggest disappointment is probably the villains store in DHS. It really should be named The Nightmare Before Christmas Store :-(

[Wendy]

I also miss the fact that you could only get certain merchandise in certain places. I hate how the same stuff is everywhere. My biggest disappointment is probably the villains store in DHS. It really should be named The Nightmare Before Christmas Store :-(

That is my one big gripe I loved the exclusivity espcially when bringing back cuddlies for the children when the tag said Walt Disney World and not just plain old Disney Parks

[catrancher]

I also miss the fact that you could only get certain merchandise in certain places. I hate how the same stuff is everywhere. My biggest disappointment is probably the villains store in DHS. It really should be named The Nightmare Before Christmas Store :-(

Yep. Me too! I used to collect polo style shirts when we went. It used to be a great game to find ones with specific logos on them. Got them for "Port Orleans Resort" (both Riverside and French Quarter), had one from the "Adventurers Club", and many others. Now, with the exception of a few places, all of them either say "Walt Disney World" or some such generic thing. Obviously cheaper to manufacture but nowhere near as enticing for the guests and souvenir hunters.

Tom (... they're breaking up that old DisneyWorld of mine!)

[Kate]

As someone who doesnt visit all the parks though, i find that its perfect that you can get all merchandise in all shops