I've only read the first and last page (and the original article link, of course) and I do find myself sort of agreeing with the article. I've been to Disney multiple times, but this last time, I really did feel kind of pressured while booking things.
I'm a planner in "real life" - and not just "a" planner, a "plan, back-up plan, emergency plan" sort of planner...But the thing about that is: things almost always turn out to be a mish-mash of the original plan and the back-up plan and the emergency plan, and I feel like that flexibility is missing in the new system.
It used to be a case of deciding which park we'll
probably be in on which day, with a random unplanned day to rest or make up gaps or just play "bus roulette." We discovered some of our favorite restaurants by booking same-day at the window at the park, and sometimes we changed park plans based on the weather. But if you've made these ride reservations months in advance, you are so invested in them, you don't dare risk losing them.
I guess what I mean is that even though I used to do a lot of
research, my "plan" looked a lot more like a flow chart than an itinerary. It was a
break from exact schedules, from everyday life, and there were no consequences for stopping to enjoy the spontaneity that can still be found at Disney (and which we now remember to purposely allow for).
And don't get me started on midnight! I'm a zombie after 8:30.
I do think
some of the time worry is an illusion, though. We actually booked our last trip
inside the six months, so I just went on in the daytime, and I was still able to get things we liked. - That said, I have a 14-year-old boy, so I wasn't trying for BOG or A&E! I'm sure those were gone, but I think people are afraid
everything will be gone.
I'm certainly not going to stop going to Disney over this. We visit family in Florida, so we're nearby anyway, and we've been enough times to get past the fear of missing out on something if we change our minds.
But I definitely see how some people would be scared off.