Some things I agree, some I don't.
I don't know about characters because I don't care much about them.
About cost, the AP have just increased while removing benefits. Also, for Orlando a 14 days tickets is around £30 a day (I cannot recall the exact price, but about that) and there are 4 parks and 2 water parks included.
Genie+ is a scourge, the workings of the devil, it's evil and should be avoided. But the Premier Pass is the same, or even worst in my opinion, because it allows to buy each attraction individually.
Hoops: just not buy Genie+ and you'll have to look at tour phone only for wait times, like in Paris. People complaint how Genie+ ruins their day but they buy it anyway instead of just going without it and use a touring plan.
Is WDW stuck in the 90s? The newest ride in the Disneyland Park is Buzz, opened in 2006, it'll be 20 yo soon. The next attraction in the studios will be Frozen, a ride that opened in Epcot 8 years ago. Meanwhile, in WDW in the last 4 years they opened Rise of the Resistance, Guardian of the galaxy, Tron, Mickey Mouse Runaway Railway, which are among the best attractions worldwide. The studios got a cute (not much more) shooting ride and a reskin of the RRC.
I love Disneyland Paris, it'll always be a special place for me because stepping in a Disney park was a dream come true, 30 years ago. But I'm now a bit soured by the AP price increase.