Disney needs to get rid of free dining and their problems with people complaining about food decline will be solved.
Just wanted to sy Hi to another Snape fan.
Disney needs to get rid of free dining and their problems with people complaining about food decline will be solved.
I would say that some of the CM's don't seem as warm and inviting. Still friendly but not like they used to be.
Also it seems like the parks aren't as clean as they used to be. I am a people watcher and I was always amazed how a place with so many people could be so clean. It used to be if something was thrown on the ground someone out of nowhere would appear and pick it up.
CS restaurants aren't as clean as they used to be also.
House cleaning has declined as well.
I think we were writing about the same time. See my post below yours!
I've been planning trips for my own family since 2004, and visiting WDW since 1996. This comes up EVERY single time I'm planning a trip via the Disboards! People say the exact same things. This thread could match word for word with one that I read in 2004! (I used a different user name back then)
The thing to remember is that change isn't always bad. We are creatures of habit and if our first trip(s) are very magical, we want to replicate them. Trust me, we were so tempted to plan our second trip exactly the way we planned our first. Fortunately, we decided against it. It made for an even more magical trip the second time around, because the element of discovery was still there.
So a few tips for those who worry about this issue...Don't try to repeat your last trip! Have a few special traditions, but don't stay in the same place, eat at the same restaurants, etc.
Also, I have to say, Dining plan, dining, plan, dining plan. If I had to pay the bill for each individual meal, I would probably complain about food quality too. Chef Mickey's was not a great meal, but we had a blast. If I had actually paid three figures for that meal, I would have walked out angry. We use the dining plan and pretend we're on an all-inclusive vacation. Cali Grill costs the same as Chef Mickey's. It's a good way to take your mind off of what you're spending.
So maybe some things are in decline. I love the holiday lights at Epcot, but they may be replaced by something else this year. They were old. Perhaps they were at a point where they either needed to be repaired or retired. (I've read that the technology for the lights was old and plans are to replace/update.) Looking forward to seeing what there is this year.
As for prices going up, think about it this way. The last time I went to WDW in Dec. 2007, bananas were .33 a lb. Now they are .50 or more per lb. I still eat bananas, and until they get to be $2 a lb, I'll likely still eat bananas. It's inflation, and it is a miserable fact of our economy. But the cost of a stroller does not, in my view, indicate a decline in quality.
Pixie dust to all!
VP
So your saying as long as the food is cheap it's ok that it's crummy? Sorry, that's the one argument I hear alot that I'm not buying. bad food is bad food and even when I did the ddp I expect hot halfway decent food.
I've been planning trips for my own family since 2004, and visiting WDW since 1996. This comes up EVERY single time I'm planning a trip via the Disboards! People say the exact same things. This thread could match word for word with one that I read in 2004! (I used a different user name back then)
That said, I think that people who are repeat visitors have a special challenge in that they come to know the place so well, it does lose some of its shine. Personally, our family would NEVER notice the lack of prime rib at a restaurant. Someone who goes frequently is likely to notice changes more easily.
The thing to remember is that change isn't always bad. We are creatures of habit and if our first trip(s) are very magical, we want to replicate them. Trust me, we were so tempted to plan our second trip exactly the way we planned our first. Fortunately, we decided against it. It made for an even more magical trip the second time around, because the element of discovery was still there.
So a few tips for those who worry about this issue...Don't try to repeat your last trip! Have a few special traditions, but don't stay in the same place, eat at the same restaurants, etc.
This next trip, we are staying at AKV. We've stayed at VWL and FW. Last time we camped in tents at FW for 11 nights in December! A far cry from our comfy VWL stay. But it was wonderful and special and different and that made it great. We're excited about staying at a new place this time, trying out rides we have never tried, and eating at restaurants we haven't visited yet. While the quality of our trip remains to be seen, we have taken steps to be sure we won't suffer from Disney burn out.
Also, I have to say, Dining plan, dining, plan, dining plan. If I had to pay the bill for each individual meal, I would probably complain about food quality too. Chef Mickey's was not a great meal, but we had a blast. If I had actually paid three figures for that meal, I would have walked out angry. We use the dining plan and pretend we're on an all-inclusive vacation. Cali Grill costs the same as Chef Mickey's. It's a good way to take your mind off of what you're spending.
So maybe some things are in decline. I love the holiday lights at Epcot, but they may be replaced by something else this year. They were old. Perhaps they were at a point where they either needed to be repaired or retired. (I've read that the technology for the lights was old and plans are to replace/update.) Looking forward to seeing what there is this year.
As long as I can still imagine I'm flying in a pirate ship over London, or dodging a cannon in the Carribbean, or zipping through outerspace, or pretending I'm in Mexico in 1970...I'll have a magical time.
As for prices going up, think about it this way. The last time I went to WDW in Dec. 2007, bananas were .33 a lb. Now they are .50 or more per lb. I still eat bananas, and until they get to be $2 a lb, I'll likely still eat bananas. It's inflation, and it is a miserable fact of our economy. But the cost of a stroller does not, in my view, indicate a decline in quality.
Pixie dust to all!
VP
I've been planning trips for my own family since 2004, and visiting WDW since 1996. This comes up EVERY single time I'm planning a trip via the Disboards! People say the exact same things. This thread could match word for word with one that I read in 2004! (I used a different user name back then)
That said, I think that people who are repeat visitors have a special challenge in that they come to know the place so well, it does lose some of its shine. Personally, our family would NEVER notice the lack of prime rib at a restaurant. Someone who goes frequently is likely to notice changes more easily.
The thing to remember is that change isn't always bad. We are creatures of habit and if our first trip(s) are very magical, we want to replicate them. Trust me, we were so tempted to plan our second trip exactly the way we planned our first. Fortunately, we decided against it. It made for an even more magical trip the second time around, because the element of discovery was still there.
So a few tips for those who worry about this issue...Don't try to repeat your last trip! Have a few special traditions, but don't stay in the same place, eat at the same restaurants, etc.
This next trip, we are staying at AKV. We've stayed at VWL and FW. Last time we camped in tents at FW for 11 nights in December! A far cry from our comfy VWL stay. But it was wonderful and special and different and that made it great. We're excited about staying at a new place this time, trying out rides we have never tried, and eating at restaurants we haven't visited yet. While the quality of our trip remains to be seen, we have taken steps to be sure we won't suffer from Disney burn out.
Also, I have to say, Dining plan, dining, plan, dining plan. If I had to pay the bill for each individual meal, I would probably complain about food quality too. Chef Mickey's was not a great meal, but we had a blast. If I had actually paid three figures for that meal, I would have walked out angry. We use the dining plan and pretend we're on an all-inclusive vacation. Cali Grill costs the same as Chef Mickey's. It's a good way to take your mind off of what you're spending.
So maybe some things are in decline. I love the holiday lights at Epcot, but they may be replaced by something else this year. They were old. Perhaps they were at a point where they either needed to be repaired or retired. (I've read that the technology for the lights was old and plans are to replace/update.) Looking forward to seeing what there is this year.
As long as I can still imagine I'm flying in a pirate ship over London, or dodging a cannon in the Carribbean, or zipping through outerspace, or pretending I'm in Mexico in 1970...I'll have a magical time.
As for prices going up, think about it this way. The last time I went to WDW in Dec. 2007, bananas were .33 a lb. Now they are .50 or more per lb. I still eat bananas, and until they get to be $2 a lb, I'll likely still eat bananas. It's inflation, and it is a miserable fact of our economy. But the cost of a stroller does not, in my view, indicate a decline in quality.
Pixie dust to all!
VP
I have noticed a decline in the overall "magic". The CM's aren't as friendly or helpful ( which is pretty much true everywhere nowdays) and the park isn't as clean as it used to be. Also many of the refurbs and repairs which used to take place after park hours are now being done in broad daylight taking away the magic and mystery. Never did there used to be so many walls and tarps as there are now. I understand the economy is taking it's toll everywhere and I expect it costs much more to run the park but WDW is more than a theme park its supposed to be the most magical place on earth.