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Post by baymaxfan on Jan 31, 2024 10:38:50 GMT -5
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Post by brp on Jan 31, 2024 10:44:55 GMT -5
The good thing is- they have lots of options. The bad thing is.....they have lots of options.
It was never easy between FP, FP+, ADR. For as long as we've been going there has been planning and logistics. Not sure it's any worse now. It's just that the timing has changed.
But, yeah, it was never easy for the non-veteran.
Cheers.
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Post by baymaxfan on Jan 31, 2024 10:50:55 GMT -5
The good thing is- they have lots of options. The bad thing is.....they have lots of options. It was never easy between FP, FP+, ADR. For as long as we've been going there has been planning and logistics. Not sure it's any worse now. It's just that the timing has changed. But, yeah, it was never easy for the non-veteran. Cheers. The first time I went to WDW in 2001, I had read a book and had a basic strategy. FP was still paper and ADRs were easy to get. Since I go frequently, changes are fairly easy to implement. For the non-veteran, changes means starting all over again. And don't get me started on changing the name of something (annual pass to Magic Key, fastpass to lightning lane) when it is really the same thing. To this day, I still can't understand why they would have Genie+, LL, and ILL. Newbies look at me with blank stares when I just try to explain these three terms. |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jan 31, 2024 11:20:23 GMT -5
The article starts with this sentence: "Rob Kayris and his family of six were 'dumping a boatload of money' into a Disney trip last year and wanted to make the most of it." This mentality is what causes, in my non-professional opinion, all the fights we read about at Disney. People who maybe can't (or shouldn't) afford going to Disney are taught by the internet that they need to go, and they spend more money than they can (should) and then there's that huge pressure to make it worth it. And when the whole thing doesn't go perfectly, the brain says "I spent xx-thousand on this." Which, of course, for most people in this country could easily mean paying off credit card debt, paying off car loan debt, etc. So that only adds to the stress they are already feeling, and you get those fights and yelling at the kids and stuff like that.
From the first time I went when I was a kid continuing through to an upcoming trip, the planning process has always been the same:
1) buy ticket
2) enter park
3) enjoy yourself.
Sometimes we make a dining reservation or two, but if they aren't available, they aren't available, and we eat somewhere else. We go to HS and say "How long is Slinky?" and we either stand in line or we don't. Alot of times you hear this: "How long is Slinky?......let's go get a Jack Jack's Num Num and think about it." We sleep until we wake up in the morning, and we leave the park when we get tired. It's vacation.
I believe there is a subreddit called "unpopular opinion" and I'm sure I would do well there.
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Post by fuzzylogic on Jan 31, 2024 11:35:18 GMT -5
This is not from non-disney experts. This is an advertiser seeking impressions and propping several other paids. If it was pleasant and said something nice about Disney World no one would click it. Instead, I watched 10 ads flip by as I scrolled on and -- the winner here? The publisher now has his ads linked on MO for us to fill his or her pockets with dough. Common marketing technique where you show something that pushes the truth, or is sure to capture the ire of someone who knows what's up.. only to show them ads and create controversy and more interest because of just how off it is.
"I feel like if you don’t know how it works, you’re going to waste probably two to three days before you have a grip on what’s what" 3 days? I went to a foreign country and had a grip of what's what w/in the first couple hours. Who takes three days to get the hang of a hotel, a bus and park?
Writer frames a $900 tour as a regular-guest cost. Uses exacerbating language like "upheaval", "befuddled", "Disney-industrial complex", "decipher". LOL
Changes in the last few years completely alleviated the need to plan. No more Dining at 180, FP+ at 60 or 30, etc. You just pick your hotel, buy your tickets and go. Booking on the Disney site is super easy. An ADR is easier than using OpenTable to book around home. I've got like 8 trips thought of for the upcoming year and I've got literally nothing planned. There just isn't anything to plan any more. I booked my hotels and some flights, which you'd do anywhere. That's it! A couple months out from each trip I'll reserve some restaurants, and I can't think of anything else there is to do. Booking a non-Disney trip on Expedia, Booking, or any of those is way more difficult and -- harder to change.
It's interesting how Disney cut all the planning out and made it so easy, but ppl are still able to monetize the need to plan. Good for them!
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Post by johnb on Jan 31, 2024 11:46:55 GMT -5
Social media has increased FOMO. So many of those "did you know this WDW secret..." "When you're in WDW, you MUST DO THIS!!!" "YOU MUST EAT ALL OF THESE SNACKS OR YOUR WDW VACATION IS RUINED!!!"
The inexperienced WDW vacationer doesn't know that you can't cram all of this extra stuff into a day and have the day be enjoyable.
I learned very early that things go wrong in WDW. Not all plans will work, so it's important to roll with whatever comes up and have a plan B, or C, or D.
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Post by helenabear on Jan 31, 2024 11:52:29 GMT -5
I just saw this pop up on Reddit earlier this morning. This exact same article too! The general feeling that people had was that Disney is really extremely complicated now. Truthfully a lot of the YouTubes and websites and places like Reddit actually make it even harder to try and figure out what you really need to do and what you don't. I found that interesting in that there seems to be no really good consistent info for newbies out there. I even get frustrated sometimes with Disney and more than ever I'm really glad I have not plunged down tons of money in places that I could have until I figure out if this is all still worth more than one trip a year or not. Even though we have eliminated FP+ and advanced dining is now only 60 days out, it's still requires a lot more knowledge and planning than it did years ago. And I mean more than just a few years ago too. Anyone who thinks this is easier than it has been in the past, is probably just so used to Disney that it feels easy. I have been working with my travel coordinator for marching band as they plan to do yet another trip, and let me tell you what we did a year ago with a marching band was a huge hot mess because our travel agent really did not plan this well for students or families. I am dreading the headache of trying to help people get through all of this in the future for next year. It's really not as easy as people think. Dining is much harder to do on the fly. Certain groups still have to do Park reservations and I fear our school will have to as well. The whole G+ and ILL really add complicated things not to mention the VQ as well. I can tell you last year only a handful of people even understood how to do that right. My child was very glad to have me there and he ditched his friends so he could get a ride on GotG  I really wish we actually had picked somewhere else to go next year, but it's too late. The band director really wanted Disney again. I really don't want to do this again! We will probably be one of the groups who will have to do Park reservations again. Granted I am one of the ones who has to do it because of the AP, but doing it for a huge group of like 150 kids plus families is not my idea of fun having to explain how it all works. |
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Post by captjacksfamily on Jan 31, 2024 12:11:23 GMT -5
I have not read the article and won't read the article because I refuse to give the (especially negative) click bait sites the the click. I can however guess at what is being said as I will give you a 99% chance it is just repackages old news. I will say that I agree with what most have said and it is really not that big of deal and I think there are a lot of people you look at the way it was with rose color glasses. Anybody else remember when you had to line up at Epcot for rope drop then run to Guest services to wait in line and hope to heck that there would still be a reservation open for any of the better restaurants? Frankly I would never want to go back to that.
There use to be a guidebook (I forget the author) that was the Bible for newbies going to Disney World, These days I would suggest if someone is overwhelmed by the process they should be going through the travel agent that specializes in Disney World. I would also say that Disney is not any worse than any other big ticket vacation such as a person first cruise or their first trip to Europe.
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Post by helenabear on Jan 31, 2024 12:23:02 GMT -5
I have not read the article and won't read the article because I refuse to give the (especially negative) click bait sites the the click. I can however guess at what is being said as I will give you a 99% chance it is just repackages old news. I will say that I agree with what most have said and it is really not that big of deal and I think there are a lot of people you look at the way it was with rose color glasses. Anybody else remember when you had to line up at Epcot for rope drop then run to Guest services to wait in line and hope to heck that there would still be a reservation open for any of the better restaurants? Frankly I would never want to go back to that. There use to be a guidebook (I forget the author) that was the Bible for newbies going to Disney World, These days I would suggest if someone is overwhelmed by the process they should be going through the travel agent that specializes in Disney World. I would also say that Disney is not any worse than any other big ticket vacation such as a person first cruise or their first trip to Europe. And there was both the unofficial guide later on but the earlier years we Birnbaum and Fodors I remember being able to book dining reservations and even through those screens at Epcot. I don't ever seriously ever remember a huge mad dash that you are describing. You could walk up too more easily. I actually keep saying I wish we could go back to the way it was in the 80s and the 90s to book reservations for dining! None of it was crazy none of it was stressful. So it might be how we remember things that make us feel like something is better or worse than it used to be. I will say for first time visitors how easy this feels would be totally different than for people like us. Way back in the '80s and '90s you could easily just go off the cuff and do whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. That's fairly impossible now. Unless you're cool with Quick Service all the time |
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Post by fuzzylogic on Jan 31, 2024 12:36:03 GMT -5
Curious what you find stressful or impossible about booking these days, or why one would need to be cool with quick service?
I looked right now, for dinner for 4 and it has same-day availability for over 80 restaurants. And this includes Ohana, Akershus, Be our Guest, Beaches & Cream, Hoop De Doo, Le Celier, etc. Things you used to have to book at 180.
Almost everything -- is just a click away. I'm not sure why any visitor would find this difficult. I literally...
Click the big center + to add plans. The biggest button you can't miss.
The next menu says Check Dining right at the top. Easy.
Then I pick 4 people, today, and my times.
And it shows me the world. One or two more clicks and I'd be booked -- with full cancelation options.
I really don't see how this could be easier or more friendly.
ETA: I might have thought "how do I find something in just my park" to be harder before... but even the filter button is cleaned up. It used to be a button you had to know what it was, but now right on the results list I can click "Filters", click a park, and see optimal results.
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Post by helenabear on Jan 31, 2024 13:28:19 GMT -5
Curious what you find stressful or impossible about booking these days, or why one would need to be cool with quick service? I looked right now, for dinner for 4 and it has same-day availability for over 80 restaurants. And this includes Ohana, Akershus, Be our Guest, Beaches & Cream, Hoop De Doo, Le Celier, etc. Things you used to have to book at 180. Almost everything -- is just a click away. I'm not sure why any visitor would find this difficult. I literally... Click the big center + to add plans. The biggest button you can't miss. The next menu says Check Dining right at the top. Easy. Then I pick 4 people, today, and my times. And it shows me the world. One or two more clicks and I'd be booked -- with full cancelation options. I really don't see how this could be easier or more friendly. ETA: I might have thought "how do I find something in just my park" to be harder before... but even the filter button is cleaned up. It used to be a button you had to know what it was, but now right on the results list I can click "Filters", click a park, and see optimal results. And you literally do this so often that this is easy. Even my spouse who goes with me on the vast majority of these trips, would struggle way more than what you are trying to imply. Just because you find it easy does not mean a newbie would not. Never mind that the app may crash or cause issues. I am talking it is not easy to get certain reservations unless you do it exactly at the right time at 6:00 when your window opens. How many times have people missed out on Topolino's? Or Space 220? Or Artist Point? Or CRT? If I tried to book for spring break today which is now 53 days away, I would not be able to get two of the three reservations I wanted. If it were easy the paid dining finders wouldn't exist. When I have very knowledgeable Disney friends message me asking me questions about how to do something at Disney and what is the best idea to do something, then you know this is not simple all the time. I spent an hour or two talking with a friend helping their friend out with a first time day trip. I will emphasize one day took us 2 hours. And nothing was booked. |
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Post by baymaxfan on Jan 31, 2024 13:37:01 GMT -5
Let's just compare WDW to almost any other theme park. For almost any non-Disney park, you buy tickets, show up, and go on rides. Almost no advance planning is needed and most everything can be accessed/purchased the day of. Even front-of-the-line passes are most other parks are easy - buy the pass and enter on a different line.
Just try to do that at WDW. You will be blocked out of most sit-down restaurants. You won't get a VQ (because you didn't know about it). Genie+ and some of the ILLs will be sold out because you figured you could buy it when you get to the park. Some might not even know they can or need to access information through the app.
While I'm not a big fan of FOMO, it is real. And yes, for many families, the money they are spending might be their once a year, once every few years, once a decade, or once a lifetime budget. If you are unable to travel much, you generally want to see as much as possible.
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Post by baymaxfan on Jan 31, 2024 13:45:38 GMT -5
Curious what you find stressful or impossible about booking these days, or why one would need to be cool with quick service? I looked right now, for dinner for 4 and it has same-day availability for over 80 restaurants. And this includes Ohana, Akershus, Be our Guest, Beaches & Cream, Hoop De Doo, Le Celier, etc. Things you used to have to book at 180. Almost everything -- is just a click away. I'm not sure why any visitor would find this difficult. I literally... Click the big center + to add plans. The biggest button you can't miss. The next menu says Check Dining right at the top. Easy. Then I pick 4 people, today, and my times. And it shows me the world. One or two more clicks and I'd be booked -- with full cancelation options. I really don't see how this could be easier or more friendly. ETA: I might have thought "how do I find something in just my park" to be harder before... but even the filter button is cleaned up. It used to be a button you had to know what it was, but now right on the results list I can click "Filters", click a park, and see optimal results. And you literally do this so often that this is easy. Even my spouse who goes with me on the vast majority of these trips, would struggle way more than what you are trying to imply. Just because you find it easy does not mean a newbie would not. Never mind that the app may crash or cause issues. I am talking it is not easy to get certain reservations unless you do it exactly at the right time at 6:00 when your window opens. How many times have people missed out on Topolino's? Or Space 220? Or Artist Point? Or CRT? If I tried to book for spring break today which is now 53 days away, I would not be able to get two of the three reservations I wanted. If it were easy the paid dining finders wouldn't exist. When I have very knowledgeable Disney friends message me asking me questions about how to do something at Disney and what is the best idea to do something, then you know this is not simple all the time. I spent an hour or two talking with a friend helping their friend out with a first time day trip. I will emphasize one day took us 2 hours. And nothing was booked. Agree 100%. My spouse has been as many times as I have and she would have great difficulty in planning and executing a WDW trip without me. I have friends who want to go to WDW, but are "too scared" to tackle the planning or perceived planning. |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jan 31, 2024 13:58:15 GMT -5
For almost any non-Disney park, you buy tickets, show up, and go on rides. We were there in December and this is how we did it. We were standing in front of Pecos Bill's watching the noon parade go by (picked our spots five minutes before it started) and we said "Hey you know what sounds good for lunch, Liberty Tree" so I got on my phone and did a reservation for right after the parade was done. The entire trip, everywhere you look it says "get the Disney app!" I was in the park and the screen on my phone pretty much said, "Want to ride Tron? Try getting a VQ at 1pm" so at like 1:05 I shrugged my shoulders, thought I might as well, and it worked. I'm not saying it always goes like this, but we didn't plan anything, and I don't feel like I got screwed out of anything. If I went and I was dead-set on eating at a certain place on a certain day right after leaving a certain park and doing certain things, well that would be a different story. |
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Post by dlwdwdvc on Jan 31, 2024 15:47:55 GMT -5
I just noticed the Taco Bell Logo under your name .
But I do not think it is a link .
Just wondering But okay if it isn’t any of my business .
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