First Time I Ever Felt That WDW Wasn't Worth The Time and Money

[StraightToDumbo]

Agreed! You can get a barebones rent a car for what $20 dollars a day at MCO airport when you come in? Totally worth it compared to the busses

We had a car. We didn't drive it to MK and braved the post-Fantasmic bus crowd once at DHS. That was enough for us. Driving worked out really well for us except I fail to understand why they keep filling the back rows in the afternoon instead of letting the trickle of cars find an empty spot at the front where people have left.

 

[dlavender]

I hear you on the buses.

I really don't understand how and why they would let a wait get to 40. Seems like that should be unacceptable to them. It just shouldn't happen at this price point.

 

[StraightToDumbo]

I hear you on the buses.

I really don't understand how and why they would let a wait get to 40. Seems like that should be unacceptable to them. It just shouldn't happen at this price point.

In their defense, they would send double busses or more than one. One time we even boarded a TOUR BUS back to the resort. It seemed like they were behind the 8-ball though like that kind of backup never happens.

 

[Jays2013]

We're not doing the Halloween party this year, but every time we did sold out parties in the past, the waits for most rides were short, walk on, or very reasonable. I don't know if they are overselling these events now, or more people are sneaking in without a ticket somehow?

I'm a little confused. I've been stalking the app every party to get a feel for what waits are like, and most still seem very short? Except for 7DMT, Haunted Mansion, and sometimes Peter Pan, and even those are much shorter than usual.

And its a bigger hassle in return. We usually split up as younger children need breaks, older kids want independence, and adults want adult time. With the car, everyone is sorta trapped together, leaving together, etc.

The bus drops you right off at the gate. People are free to separate, and leave whenever.

But...you're still free to separate and have some people take the buses, etc. back? That's what we do.

The WDW Halloween party had no candy alternatives and we walked away with half a bag due to stinginess of cast members. We decided that we won't do their Halloween or Christmas parties ever again, at least not at WDW.

Again, confused. I've read a lot about the candy/allergy alternatives and seen pictures. There were a ton of options?

We're going on a long-awaited trip in less than a month now, and every time I see one of these threads, I get depressed. We used planning for this to get us through some rough stuff. Now I'm starting to worry that everyone's going to be miserable.

 

[piccolopat]

We try to go when crowds are supposed to be lighter but even times that used to be very light are now more crowded. We try to avoid times when free dining is offered because the restaurants are extra crowded and we can't relax for a meal when there is so much chaos and noise. We avoid any ride where the posted wait time is more than 30 minutes (something we don't feel bad about doing since we've been there so often). We've resorted to taking taxis to avoid any bus drama. It's the cost/value that really has us rethinking if we want to continue to go every 1-2 years. We went to London for two weeks recently and the total cost was a little less than what we would have spent for the same amount of time at Disney. That's with an upgrade to premium economy on the plane and a luxury hotel in Westminster. We always thought travel to Europe was so much more than Disney but this was our third trip and each time the cost was comparable or a little less than the last Disney trip we made. One factor to keeping costs lower for our London and the earlier Paris trips is that we traveled independently rather than pay for a high priced, organized bus tour. We still stay in great hotels (at least equivalent to Disney Deluxe) but the cost of food is much less as we prefer more casual neighborhood bistros and pubs and usually stay where a hearty breakfast is included. At Disney, we do mostly TS since we aren't fans of the QS offerings or the crowds. You overpay for average food in general and where we used to have great experiences in Epcot, the food now is much less authentic to each country than it was in the beginning. In the end, we thought why pay for a fake Disney experience every year when we can get a real experience for less? Yes, we'll still go to Disney but it will be less often and we'll visit many other places in between.

 

[MHSweb79]

We were there 9/19-9/26 and the crowds were roughly what I expected. We are usually there a week earlier (for our anniversary) and while I was glad we booked the week we did, I do think there were more people. We chose our park days strategically and it worked out fine.

I would agree with you 100% on the F&W Festival. While the portions seem to be bigger, the pricing has gotten out of control. Plus my all-time favorite (Korean lettuce wrap) wasn't there, partially I think because the average park visitor doesn't know the difference between North Korea and South Korea. (Watch MASH, people! LOL) F&W has been one of our favorite things to visit, but this year may be our last for a while.

 

[amberpi]

I was there the 17th - 22nd and didn't have the same experience at all. I did pass on HEA because I have some balance issues and being "jostled" often ends with me on my butt. I did see Illuminations with no issues 4 times I made most of my FPs the day of, the only one I bothered with in advance was FOP. I easily got FEA day of, and when I finished my fps at Epcot that day, had no issue getting one for that evening for Soarin. Maybe you were zigging and zagging the wrong way? I've definitely had those trips were I just have no luck! Nothing you could do about that.

Food prices don't seem crazy to me, but I think that's probably an issue of what you encounter day to day. A side of the delicious mac and cheese at the Dolphin quick service is like $5 and huge. SRT is insanely cheap for the quality. I didn't think my meals at Bluezoo or FF were overpriced for what I got, it was just "date night" pricing. I did think the wine at F&W was grossly overpriced, so I went into the France, Italy, UK pavilions for adult beverages. Some of my F&W offerings were disappointing, but I figure I got them at very low crowd times and they just weren't fresh.

Th other guests DID seemed particularly grumpy, at least at MK. A stroller took me totally down, made both my knees bleed and they didn't even say "sorry." The butthold paused, and then just turned and kept going.

 

[dreiwhit]

I get why people love Disney. We love it too. But it's really getting to the point where the amount of effort, money, and time you have to put in just doesn't cut it for most people no matter how much you love the place.

OP, I understand. We are there now. We're going in 2018, but then its going to be a long time before we go back, probably 5 years at a minimum. We've had a great trip and a good trip, but we just can't afford everything that going to WDW entails.

 

[disneyvoice]

The WDW Halloween party had no candy alternatives and we walked away with half a bag due to stinginess of cast members

This surprises me. We don't get candy at MNSSHP but we always laugh about how many people are lugging ENORMOUS bags filled with candy around the parks and we consistently see CMS literally dumping huge hand full of candy into bags. I know they have candy alternatives this year, I have seen several people's alternate candy hauls. Since we don't get any of it I don't know if maybe you have to request it or if there are specific locations for the candy alternatives???

 

[Maggie'sMom]

This surprises me. We don't get candy at MNSSHP but we always laugh about how many people are lugging ENORMOUS bags filled with candy around the parks and we consistently see CMS literally dumping huge hand full of candy into bags. I know they have candy alternatives this year, I have seen several people's alternate candy hauls. Since we don't get any of it I don't know if maybe you have to request it or if there are specific locations for the candy alternatives???

We did our first MNSSHP this year and left with two bags packed to the top with candy, and we weren't even going out of our way to hit the candy trails. As for the allergy alternatives, my understanding is you ask for the teal bag and as you are going through the candy lines, they will give you tokens which can then be exchanged for the allergy friendly treats at a separate location.

 

[DisneyFive]

Bummer that this was one of those not so magical trips. I agree with previous posters that more park days could have provided for more flexibility and opportunity.

Hopefully your next trip (whenever that is) will be much better

Dan

 

[Togadadof2]

We try to go when crowds are supposed to be lighter but even times that used to be very light are now more crowded. We try to avoid times when free dining is offered because the restaurants are extra crowded and we can't relax for a meal when there is so much chaos and noise. We avoid any ride where the posted wait time is more than 30 minutes (something we don't feel bad about doing since we've been there so often). We've resorted to taking taxis to avoid any bus drama. It's the cost/value that really has us rethinking if we want to continue to go every 1-2 years. We went to London for two weeks recently and the total cost was a little less than what we would have spent for the same amount of time at Disney. That's with an upgrade to premium economy on the plane and a luxury hotel in Westminster. We always thought travel to Europe was so much more than Disney but this was our third trip and each time the cost was comparable or a little less than the last Disney trip we made. One factor to keeping costs lower for our London and the earlier Paris trips is that we traveled independently rather than pay for a high priced, organized bus tour. We still stay in great hotels (at least equivalent to Disney Deluxe) but the cost of food is much less as we prefer more casual neighborhood bistros and pubs and usually stay where a hearty breakfast is included. At Disney, we do mostly TS since we aren't fans of the QS offerings or the crowds. You overpay for average food in general and where we used to have great experiences in Epcot, the food now is much less authentic to each country than it was in the beginning. In the end, we thought why pay for a fake Disney experience every year when we can get a real experience for less? Yes, we'll still go to Disney but it will be less often and we'll visit many other places in between.

We've started going to Europe as well. Last year was a few days in Scotland & England followed by a week in Ireland. This year was 2 weeks in Italy. Both trips were two weeks and were comparable in price to our normal one week in Disney. We still love Disney and will always continue to go, it just won't be as frequent. It'll be every 2-3 years instead of every year. The kids enjoy seeing different countries, it doesn't cost us any more, and the absence builds the excitement for future Disney trips (next one is Feb 2018).

 

[PSUGuy]

We've started going to Europe as well. Last year was a few days in Scotland & England followed by a week in Ireland. This year was 2 weeks in Italy. Both trips were two weeks and were comparable in price to our normal one week in Disney. We still love Disney and will always continue to go, it just won't be as frequent. It'll be every 2-3 years instead of every year. The kids enjoy seeing different countries, it doesn't cost us any more, and the absence builds the excitement for future Disney trips (next one is Feb 2018).

Sorry to thread jack here but I'd like to know how your Scotland/England/Ireland trip went. Wifey is 3rd generation pure Irish, I'm of Welsh/English ancestry and we're considering just such a trip in a few years when i retire. Have a good time?

Bill From PA

 

[crazedprincess]

This happened to me when we went Sept. 2014. We were there for 10 days and when we left, I felt like it wasn't up to par with what we spent. And the main reason was... THE CROWDS! I think I went into thinking that it would be a low crowd time of year, and it wasn't. There was also FD during that time. The only time that I felt that there weren't high crowds was the MNSSHP that we attended. Otherwise, it was insane and rude people everywhere. I felt really down afterwards. BUT.... as someone previously said, your time spent could also be impacted by what's going on in your personal life at the time. And during that time, it was a rough time period for us and I thought a Disney trip would fix that.
Anyway... fast forward to last Dec. 2016... I went into that trip assuming that the crowds would be high and I was ok with that since it was Christmas season. They weren't that bad for us, but who knows, I think it's all perspective!!! They could have been high but my attitude was different from our previous Sept trip. I'm sorry that you had a bad experience this last trip.
Also, in regards to food pricing... I think food costs are high wherever you go. It's not just Disney.

 

[DisneyFive]

We're going on a long-awaited trip in less than a month now, and every time I see one of these threads, I get depressed. We used planning for this to get us through some rough stuff. Now I'm starting to worry that everyone's going to be miserable.

No worries. This persons response is far from the norm. Bummer trip for them, but your trip is your own and I wouldn't expect it to be anything less than fantastic.

Dan

 

[DebbieB]

we were there 9/20 to 9/25 and had the same problems. we waited over an hour for the bus twice. it was ridiculous.

Were the busses not coming or was the line so long you had to wait for multiple busses?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Value is subjective. Crowds are subjective.

 

[Togadadof2]

Sorry to thread jack here but I'd like to know how your Scotland/England/Ireland trip went. Wifey is 3rd generation pure Irish, I'm of Welsh/English ancestry and we're considering just such a trip in a few years when i retire. Have a good time?

Bill From PA

The trip was great! It was my wife and my 3rd time to Ireland, but 1st for the kids. My daughter is a HUGE Harry Potter fan, so we saw some items related to that in Scotland and England, including the WB studios outside of London where the movies were actually filmed. The people in Ireland are great, so friendly. Great scenery, great food, and great people. Plus the flights have been very cheap for us these last 2 trips - it's been cheaper to fly to Europe than a 3 hour flight from upstate NY to MCO.

Feel free to ask any questions!

 

[RangerPooh]

Again, confused. I've read a lot about the candy/allergy alternatives and seen pictures. There were a ton of options?

This surprises me. We don't get candy at MNSSHP but we always laugh about how many people are lugging ENORMOUS bags filled with candy around the parks and we consistently see CMS literally dumping huge hand full of candy into bags. I know they have candy alternatives this year, I have seen several people's alternate candy hauls. Since we don't get any of it I don't know if maybe you have to request it or if there are specific locations for the candy alternatives???

I was comparing DLR Halloween party to WDW. At the DLR Halloween party they offer multiple candy alternatives including Goldfish crackers, grapes, carrots, apple slices, pretzels or Pirates Booty, Craisins, and a few other things. Last year at WDW we only saw candy and one specific station had sugar free candy. I asked about this at City Hall and was told that they only had candy options at the stands and if I wanted a non-candy option that I'd have to visit the Opera House which was the designated teal pumpkin stop giving out sugar free candy . I found this to be frustrating as DLR for the previous 4 years had other items available as I don't eat much in the way of sweets. Things could have very well have changed this year or been a fluke, but that's how our party night was. Oh, and at DLR the non-candy items are at the same stations as the candy so you can get both or request the non-candy. It's a non issue, no special designated location needed.

 

[PSUGuy]

The trip was great! It was my wife and my 3rd time to Ireland, but 1st for the kids. My daughter is a HUGE Harry Potter fan, so we saw some items related to that in Scotland and England, including the WB studios outside of London where the movies were actually filmed. The people in Ireland are great, so friendly. Great scenery, great food, and great people. Plus the flights have been very cheap for us these last 2 trips - it's been cheaper to fly to Europe than a 3 hour flight from upstate NY to MCO.

Feel free to ask any questions!

Thanks, I really appreciate the reply and I'll only trouble you with one question, do you use a travel agent or do you plan these trips yourself and if self planned using what info?

Thanks,

Bill From PA