Between dining reservations, hotel re-openings, brand new ticket options, a new planning tool in the My Disney Experience app, and more, planning your Disney World vacation right now can seem a bit complicated. Is it just us or does it seem like some aspects of the planning process just keep getting harder?
Magic Kingdom
If you’re currently jumping through all the hoops necessary to plan your next Disney vacation and thinking “is this really necessary?” or “what am I forgetting about?” then you’ve come to the right place. Today we’re going over some harsh truths you’ll need to come to terms with and prepare for when planning your next Disney World trip.
You’ll Never Sleep in Late Again
If you’ve been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the past two years, then you’ve probably found yourself waking up a bit earlier than you’d like on vacation to try your chances at getting a spot in the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance at 7AM. You also probably did the same recently to try and grab a boarding group for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT.
Well, we’ve got good news and bad news. Disney recently paused the use of virtual queues at both Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Yaaaaay, right? Well…not really (we’ll explain in a bit). For now that means no more 7AM virtual queue wake-up times for these rides (though that’s always subject to change in the future). Instead, all guests can just hop in the standby line to wait for their chance to check these out. But, that doesn’t mean that early wake-up calls are a thing of the past in Disney World.
Rise of the Resistance
Disney’s new paid FastPass program (called Disney Genie+), is a big reason why you might never really get to sleep in again during a Disney World trip! (Cue dramatic music)
Genie+ allows you to skip the standby line at lots of attractions in the parks. If you pay for the service ($15 per ticket per day) you’ll get to make one Genie+ selection at a time. Guests get to see what the return times are for the available rides, pick the one they want, and then use the “Lightning Lane” for that ride when their return time comes. Then, they’ll get to make their next Genie+ selection, and so on.
But select rides are NOT available through the regular Genie+ service. For select popular rides you’ll need to use Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride) to essentially pay to use a single ride’s Lightning Lane once. Guests can only make 2 of these pay-per-ride purchases per person, per day.
Click here to see our FREE DFB printable to help you make sense of Disney Genie!
Where does an early morning wake up call factor into all of this? Well, all guests who opt to pay for the service can make their first Genie+ selection at 7AM.
And, if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, then you’ll also be able to make your first Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride selection) at 7AM. (Guests who aren’t staying at a Disney World Resort hotel can make that first pay-per-ride selection when the park opens).
©Disney
If you’re planning on using Genie+ or Pay-Per-Ride, prepare to set an alarm every day and wake up earlier than you might want to on vacation. And, if you’re traveling from the west coast, know that this means that you’ll be getting up at what feels like 4AM every morning. The early bird gets the worm. Or, in this case, the ability to pay more money to stand in a slightly shorter line. 🤣
Plus, don’t forget that while virtual queues are paused for now, there’s a possibility they’ll be used in the future (maybe for the openings of BIG new rides like TRON or the Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster?). So you’ll want to keep an eye out for any virtual queue updates in the future.
Click here to see our tips for using Genie+ on crowded days!
You’ll Need to Budget For Food Yourself
The Disney Dining Plan currently isn’t available, so if you’re used to using that as your budgeting tool, you’re going to need a different plan. Now Disney does plan to bring the Dining Plan back but they haven’t shared when just yet, so you’ll have to go back to the drawing board a bit to create your plan for food while in the parks. (It’s basically like we’re on the Oregon Trail again, isn’t it? 🤣)
Snacks from Pongu Pongu
But, not all hope is lost if you’re vacationing on a budget! You can still get your vacation savings through select hotel room and/or ticket discounts that Disney is offering right now. And, for food, you’ll just need to crunch the numbers. Disney publishes most of their menus and pricing online and you might even find that you can actually save more without the Dining Plan!
BBQ Brisket Melt from Woody’s Lunch Box
These prices can change though, so you’ll want to look for any updates. For example, at the start of January 2022 we saw HUNDREDS of price increases impact restaurants across Disney World. DOLE Whips, select popcorn refills, popcorn buckets, Mickey Ice Cream Bars, Mickey waffles, bottled sodas, and more are now MORE expensive than they used to be. You’ll have to adjust those budgets accordingly to account for those changes.
Snack prices are changing!
And, if you really want to stick to your budget, consider purchasing Disney gift cards from Disney, Target, Costco, or other places that sell them and use that as your dining card in a sense. It can help you stick to your budget knowing that you’ve only got that set amount dedicated to good, and it could help you stick to the plan. You might also be able to save a bit by using your Target REDcard to save 5% on the purchase of the gift cards.
Space 220 Lunch
Of course, we’re also big into number crunching and offer plenty of tools to help you nail down your budget in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. As part of the guide, you’ll receive budgeting worksheets and more to help you budget your meals with or without the Disney Dining Plan!
Click here to order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 Edition and get 25% off with promo code WDW2022!
You’ll Need to Be Tech-Savvy
Between Mobile Check-in at restaurants and hotels, Mobile Ordering at Quick Service locations, Park Pass Reservations, unlocking your room door with the My Disney Experience app, using your phone to scan into the parks with the MagicMobile service, Disney Genie, Mobile Merchandise Checkout, and MORE, you’ll need your phone for A LOT in Disney World.
Place those orders early in the morning!
The My Disney Experience app has expanded over the past few years to be a planning tool that you really can’t do Disney without, so you’re going to want to have at least a little bit of knowledge about it before you pack your bags. Whether that’s recruiting someone in your party who is a bit more tech-savvy to be in charge of the tech side of the trip or spending some time learning the ins and outs of the app, you’ll want to be prepared so that you can navigate your way through your stay seamlessly.
Mobile Merchandise Checkout
Speaking of how much you’ll be using your phone, you’ll probably need to plan to tow along a phone charger with you at the parks too. Gotta keep that trusty phone charged and ready to go so you don’t miss a beat! With all the phone use now (on top of pictures, social media checking, texting and maybe actually using your phone as a phone) that battery drains FAST.
Learn About Everything You Can Do with The My Disney Experience App by Clicking HERE!
You’ll Need to Prepare For Your Next Meal in Advance
Mobile Ordering has taken over Disney World as the way to secure your next meal from Quick Service restaurants both in the parks and resorts. In many cases, Mobile Order is essentially required to get your meal. But, if you’re traveling during a particularly busy time of the year, or just planning to eat at a popular spot or during a popular time, you might pull up the My Disney Experience app during your trip and find that the next Mobile Order pick-up window isn’t for another hour or more.
Mobile order your food early!
You CAN avoid this though! If you already know where you’re going to eat and what you’re going to order, you can place your order earlier in the day via Mobile Order and set your pick-up time to be whenever you’d like. If you plan ahead and place that order early, you’ll be able to make sure that your food is ready when you are and you’ll have a greater selection of pick-up times. This can help you avoid the danger of having to deal with a HANGRY family member. Wait too long and Mobile Order pick up windows could start booking up for the time you want to eat, leaving you in a bad spot.
Click HERE to See More About the Harsh Reality Behind Mobile Ordering in Disney World
Consider Whether Park Hopping is Really Worth It for You
Disney brought back Park Hopping on January 1st, 2021 but…it’s different. Currently, guests looking to hop from park to park must make a Park Pass Reservation for the first park that they want to visit. They must also visit that first park before hopping to any other parks, and they can only begin Park Hopping after 2PM. Much like the Park Hopping that we’ve known before, you can visit as many parks as you want after 2PM daily, but your ability to get into any park that you’re hopping to is subject to capacity limitations. So, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll get in.
Park Hopping Information
Now, we really haven’t experienced many issues getting into the parks that we’ve wanted to hop to due to capacity limits, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. Magic Kingdom did get full at the start of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary and hopping to that park wasn’t available on October 1st, 2021. It’s possible that could happen again on very busy days.
Under the new Park Hopping system you do lose a little bit of that hopping spontaneity and there is some risk involved. Plus, keep in mind that some parks may close a bit earlier than they used to pre-pandemic, so you may find yourself with a bit less time to do everything that you want.
EPCOT Entrance
Still, being able to hop to other parks does undoubtedly offer you more flexibility than not being able to hop at all. The key here is to see whether the Park Hopper option (which does make your ticket more expensive) is worth it to you. Sit down and take a look at the days you’ll be in the parks and the things you want to accomplish in each park. Will you essentially be spending 1 day in each park? Do you need to hop to accomplish everything you want? Do you simply want the flexibility that comes with having a Park Hopper? It all depends on your plans!
If you’re on the fence about getting the Park Hopper option, you might want to just buy standard 1-park per day tickets for now. You can always “upgrade” and add-on the Park Hopper option later. In fact, you can even add it on during your trip, once you’re in Disney World. Once you’ve purchased the Park Hopper tickets, you generally can’t get that Park Hopping removed and refunded, so sometimes waiting is best until you’re sure.
Get Ready to Hop!
BUT don’t wait too long to add on the option. The Park Hopper option will be charged for ALL of the days in your ticket package, regardless of when you add it on. So if you wait until day 3 of your trip, you’ll still get charged that upgrade for days 1 and 2. If you’re going to add it on, it’s best to do that early so you can take full advantage of what you’re paying for!
Should You Park Hop With Genie+ in Disney World? See our thoughts by clicking here!
“Going With The Flow” Might Not Be As Easy as You Think
Another big piece of planning your Disney World vacation nowadays is the Park Pass reservation system. Disney now requires that all guests make a reservation for the park that they’ll be visiting in advance. If you were the type of person that would wake up and decide on the spot where you were heading, things might be a little more challenging right now.
Tree of Life
You can get same-day reservations in some cases, but we’ve seen parks book up months in advance during busy times of the year. So if you head to Disney World without any Park Passes and your game plan is to “wing it,” you might find that you won’t be able to visit the parks of your choice (or even any of the parks) during your stay.
Our advice? Book those Park Pass reservations as soon as you can! If you change your mind later, you can cancel them and re-book for the parks you want to visit (assuming there is availability). But it’s better to have something in place than run the risk that all of the spots fill up for the park(s) you want, leaving you stuck in a tough position.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Plus, we’ve also been seeing hotels book up, and the dining reservations that you want can be hard to come by if you wait until too late. While “winging” a trip is still technically possible, that strategy could leave you with much more limited choices. If you’ve got certain parks you’ve got to visit, restaurants you simply must eat at, or other things you have to do — you’ll want to book reservations for all of it as far in advance as possible to give yourself the best chance of planning the trip you’ve been hoping for.
Click Here to See Our Picks for the Best Disney World Hotels for 2022!
Extra Time in the Parks Looks Different For Hotel Guests
Even how much extra time Disney World Resort hotel guests get in the parks has changed over the past year. Extra Magic Hours have been discontinued and now guests staying at any Disney World hotel (and a few other participating hotels) can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry.
This new perk gives guests an extra 30 minutes in any park of their choice (assuming they have a Park Pass for that park), each day. You might find this beneficial since you don’t have to check the calendar all the time and plan your park days based on which park has extra time anymore. That’s the big perk — they all have extra time now!
EPCOT in the morning
Plus, guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas get an extra perk called Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. These only occur on select dates at select parks, but if you qualify for these bonus hours, you could spend some extra time in those select parks at night.
Magic Kingdom at night
No matter what Disney hotel you choose to stay at, you’ll need to adjust to these new perks to maximize your park time.
Click HERE to Learn The Difference Between Extended Evening Hours and Extra Magic Hours
It’s Likely Going to Cost More
It’s no secret that Disney World can be pricey and between all of the recent price increases throughout the parks and resorts, your bill will likely end up being a bit more than it was for previous trips.
We’ve seen increases on Annual Passes, merchandise, food, and even holiday parties. Though the range of ticket prices didn’t increase for 2022, there are some days in 2022 that now fall into a higher ticket bracket, meaning a trip in 2022 for the same days you visited in 2021 might now cost more. In 2022 (and beyond) you’ll also need to plan to pay for transportation to and from the airport as Disney’s Magical Express service has officially been discontinued.
Magical Express
If you want to “skip the lines” on popular attractions, you’ll also need to invest in Disney Genie+ and/or Individual Attraction Selections. Genie+ costs $15 per person per day, and the cost of Individual Attraction Selections can vary depending on the park, day, and ride (yes, surge pricing for Individual Attraction Selection is a real thing).
Plus, those who want even more time in the parks (beyond the Early Theme Park Entry bonus time) will have to think about spending the extra money to book a room at a Disney Deluxe Resort or Deluxe Villa to get access to the new Extended Evening Hours perk.
Lightning Lane sign at Kilimanjaro Safaris
Of course, there are still ways to save on your vacation with select hotel savings from Disney and our Disney budgeting tips. And, you certainly don’t need to purchase access to Genie+ — you can opt to stick to those standby lines throughout your trip. Still, even just price increases on food could cause your trip to be more expensive. So you’ll want to take a close look at those budgets and see what (if any) changes need to be made to make your trip a reality.
Click Here to See Why Disney World Will Cost You THOUSANDS More in 2022!
You Might Need to Re-Learn How to Do Disney
Over the past year, the My Disney Experience app has gotten more features to enable a more contactless park experience, guests have adapted to new Park Hopping rules, and many have mastered the art of securing Park Pass Reservations. The past year or so has been FULL of change, and there’s more on the way.
There’s lots of things to scan in Disney World now!
Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections might dramatically change the way you plan your way around Disney World’s rides, especially when it comes to those really popular attractions (like Rise of the Resistance) that are available through Individual Attraction Selection. If you’re hoping to skip the standby lines, you’ll want to learn the ins and outs of making the Lightning Lane reservations through Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection BEFORE you arrive.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Lightning Lane
Even those who have been long-time Disney Annual Passholders need to learn something new! Last year Disney World rolled out a brand new Annual Pass program that created brand new tiers, altered some of the perks, and changed blockout dates. And, even Disneyland’s Annual Pass program has been overhauled. So, whether you’re on the west coast or the east coast, you’re navigating some brand new territory.
Note, however, that sales for most Annual Pass types in Disney World (and select Magic Key Passes in Disneyland) have been paused.
Annual Passholder sign
Add these changes into all of the other newer features in the My Disney Experience app that we’ve come to rely on in Disney World (like mobile check-in and mobile ordering), and you might be doing Disney like you’ve never done it before, even if your last trip was only 3 years ago.
And new changes are on the way with things like Amazon Alexa and Hey, Disney! being added to hotel rooms, new attractions opening, and more. Who knows what changes Disney will announce next!
Check Out Things You Only Learn After Visiting Disney World 100 Times!
Rules and Information Are Constantly Changing
While the parks have been reopened for over a year now, Disney is still slowly making its way toward more “normal” operating procedures, so things are changing by the day (and sometimes even the minute). We’ve seen restaurants and hotels reopening, new offerings announced for the 50th Anniversary, entertainment returning to the parks, and more. There’s almost always something new to keep up with.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Plus, even health and safety measures can be updated in the blink of an eye. Currently, face masks are required to be worn by all guests indoors and on most transportation, but even this policy has been updated since first being released and you never know when it might change again.
Those rules could change…even during your trip!
It can be hard to keep up with all these changes if it’s not your day-to-day job like it is ours. We’re always looking at the fine print when it comes to all the latest Disney announcements, so be sure that you’re subscribed to our newsletter and are following us on social media so you’re always up to date on all the latest!
Haven’t Been to Disney World in 5 Years? Here Are the BIG Things You Need to Know
You’ll Get to See Some New Things (But You’ll Have to Time it Right)
Speaking of things constantly changing, there have been a lot of NEW things arriving in Disney World recently! Many of the things that were supposed to open in 2020 are opening now (or set to open soon) after a delay in construction due to the closures around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Space 220
Right now you can experience a brand new ride (Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure), dine at new restaurants like La Creperie de Paris and Space 220 in EPCOT, watch new daytime AND nighttime shows including Disney KiteTails in Animal Kingdom, Harmonious in EPCOT, and Disney Enchantment in Magic Kingdom, and MUCH more!
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Plus more new (and returning old) things are on the way including the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster in EPCOT, Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the return of shows like Fantasmic!, the return of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, and more. But some of these things coming in 2022 don’t have a set arrival date. Some are coming in “early 2022,” “summer of 2022,” or just at some point in the year. Time your trip too early and you might MISS some of these big additions.
Guardians of the Galaxy Construction
Should you just postpone your trip then so you can make sure you see it all? That’s something you’ll have to think about.
Click HERE to See Everything Coming to Disney World in 2022!
Well, Disney World sure has squeezed a whole lot of updates and changes into the past year+ since reopening the parks. But, that’s why we’re always bringing you the most up-to-date information and translating them into the best ways to make the most of your trip! Check out our video below to see more information about how Disney World has gotten even harder.
Check out our latest video and then comment below: Are you planning a Disney World vacation right now?
Don’t Visit Disney World in 2022 without THIS — Click Here to Learn More!
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I have been a member of DVC since 2009. I have My Disney Experience on my LG phone which I have had for 3 1/2 years. I have been trying to download my virtual membership card for several weeks using the tips I have read here. Today I contacted the Digital Guest Experience Team for help. This is the message that I received: At this time the My Disney Experience app requires Android version 8.0 or higher be installed on the device. Please check your system settings or the Google Play store and update to the latest version of Android, if available. Unfortunately, we do not have an older version of the app available for download. We’re sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you, and have a Magical day! Guess what – my phone has version 7.2, and my son has checked on-line and my phone cannot be upgraded to a higher version. So, in addition to spending thousands of dollars on DVC and multiple trips to WDW and DCL vacations over the years, I will have to purchase a newer phone to be able to use their system. I am 73 years old and bought my phone in case of emergencies, not to live on while I am in DisneyWorld or on a cruise. I am sure I am not the only DVC owner that this is happening to.
I am local and visit weekly the statement Guests who aren’t staying at a Disney World Resort hotel can make that first pay-per-ride selection when the park opens). Sounds great however every time I’ve ever tried to purchase an individual lightning Lane it always says unavailable so I am assuming that they’re being bought out by the resort guest at 7am before a regular guest even has the opportunity to purchase them this is 💯 true for ROR
All the reasons to never go to Disney again. You nailed it.
Harsh truth #12 – Disney is no longer worth the hassle.
I just returned from Disney World and came home extremely disappointed. What a disaster if you don’t purchase the extra ride add on. We stood in line up to 2 hours for the majority of rides, we paid so much money to eat, merchandise was ugly and over priced, certain parts of the parks were messy or dirty, staff greetings were almost non-existent and sometimes rude, not sure I understand why a mask is required when you’re in a building when they could care less about jamming you all together for fireworks and that it literally costs you so much money for things that were included. I think Mr. Disney is rolling in his grave and the people in charge have ruined what he stood for. I am truly sad over the state of affairs and will not be going going back for a very long time.
My Covid and Post Covid problems kept us from Disney the last 2 years.My wife wants to return but her game plan won’t work according to most of this.Maybe we can return to Hawaii.
I’m so angry with myself now for buying stupid DVC in 2019 just before the stupid pandemic hit. If I had known that Bob Chapek and co, were going to makes all these changes I honestly would never have purchased. Now I’m in the hole as far as trying to sell and get out because DVC prices have tanked.
I have been going to WDW every year since 1996 and finally decided to buy into DVC ,so when I retire, (and hopefully had grandkids) I could take them there on an annual vacation. But no, sadly I’m done with Disney, period. As soon as the DVC prices get me in the black, I’m selling. There is no more spontaneity, no more fun, no more ability to go from park to park when you want to. No ability to change course during your vacation as you are locked in by the stupid Park Pass reservation. It’s not a vacation when you have to get up at the crack of dawn and be regimented to follow the dogma of Disney. They don’t want loyalty or repeat customers, they want guests from overseas coming for one time so they don’t complain about the lack of services or quality.
I will still sleep in because I REFUSE to pay for Genie + or their individual attraction BS. And I won’t have to budget for food either. I will simply use the several hundred dollars a night I will be saving by staying off property as there are no longer any perks to make the crazy Disney resort price tag worth it. We’ve been going to Disney regularly for decades but it’s getting harder and harder to swallow the blatant and disgusting cash grabs made by the executives that are making 8 figures a year while pricing a Disney trip out of reach for a majority of people. Cha-Ching Chapek is doing a great job at sucking the magic out of Disney. Walt must be rolling in his grave.
Libby, you hit the nail on the head!!! I, too, have been a DVC member since 2008 and it is increasingly more difficult to do things. With as much as I have and will be spending on my DVC membership you’d think it would mean something with the Disney corp. We are big foodies so having reservations at nice restaurants is a big deal but now we’re lucky to get in anywhere! I simply don’t understand the reasons for waiting until 60 days out. I used to have everything scheduled at the 280 day mark! And, YES, I CAN NOT get the DVC card to download either!!! Stupid!!!! So, I’ll keep my old one and if there’s a problem I’ll get a cast member to fix it!!
Correction. 180 day mark.
Went to Disney during Christmas break and all 5 of us came back with Covid Omicron virus. Crowds were just too much. They had to be beyond capacity. We even wore our masks outside because of the crowds. 90% of the hand sanitizer stations were empty. What happened to all the safety care that they were supposed to be providing to the guests. I saw none. I will never go at Christmas again because the lines were long, food was not good and extras like Genie+ were a waste of money. Genie provided us maybe one lightning lane ride per day. Most of the choices were not the popular rides that we didn’t care about. The old system of fast passes was much better. I would have rather paid an overall higher ticket price and kept the old system. At least with a fast pass you could book in advance and knew you would get to ride 3 preferred rides at that park.
I’m going to Disney World next month. I can’t wait. I plan ahead so I know where to eat and what rides to go on. I’ve been there enough that if a ride has a long ride, I’ll skip it and go next time. Personally, I’m tired of all the gripes. Yes, it’s busy. Yes, it’s expensive. Always has been and always will be. If you don’t want to go, don’t go. No one is twisting your arm. I’m a dvc member, an annual passholder and I have a few shares of stock. I’ve been going since 1972 and will continue to do so.
Instead of making Disney fun, they’ve now made it a stressful , expensive , technological rush. The VALUE for the price is not worth it anymore. Thank you DFB for your honesty.
Like Libby, I too am 73 and I can surely empathize with her concerns. Furthermore, I wholeheartedly agree with ALL the above statements. Unfortunately, I doubt the Disney machine has ever read any of the thousands of negative feedback comments or even care. Too bad they don’t give a tinkerbell about the folks who got them there today. Than includes paying guests, annual passholders and DVC members. And when the vacation price is considered as “going up a bit”, come on really? Put up your hand if you pull down a salary like Igor or Chapstik. They got our money so let’s focus on a fresh batch; after all they won’t notice the difference (I shake my head) Too bad so sad.
Carol – I truly hope you have a wonderful trip and all of your planning works out for you. Unfortunately, based on the comments here, it’s unlikely.
We were just there last month (Jan 2021). We have been DVC since 2008. We have been to Disney World over 25 times since 2004. We have never been more frustrated and disappointed with EVERYTHING!!! We are truly rethinking our trips. It may get to the point of just going midweek for the EPCOT festivals.
Wait times were horrendous! This Genie+ is absolutely absurd, if you’re not up and on the phone at exactly 7 AM, you get nothing…… AFTER paying the $15 a person first! The food prices are through the roof! They no longer do Tables In Wonderland, either!
VERY, VERY disappointed with Disney World! What would Mr. Disney think??
Great and truthful article, by the way!
Oh, I forgot to mention. We are from the Northeast, so our trips to WDW take more than just an afternoon drive. Mid week visits won’t be easy, but it seems like that’s going to be the best time to visit. And forget about any rides unless we get there for rope drop.
Libby- thanks for the good wishes. My husband and I were just there a few months ago. We had a great time as we always do. We didn’t do genie+. For me, it’s all about the planning. And, as I said, we’ve been there enough that if we miss a ride because of the lines, we do a different one. I do realize that for first-timers, the trip can be hard to negotiate through.
Yay, Carol! I 100 % agree with you. Are things different? Of course they are-where in the world can you go that they aren’t? We’ve been to Disney five times since August of 2020-we’re from NH, so it’s a flight for us. Things haven’t always run smoothly and the first couple of times we didn’t even have our annual passes so it was very expensive, but I was so happy to just BE BACK! As soon as we were able to purchase our AP we did-ours had expired in Feb of 2020 and we expected to renew during an April trip. Each visit has improved and we’ve been able to add experiences that have reopened since our last trip. We go again in April and I just booked our dining reservations today without issue. After an “unprecedented ” shutdown-along with everything else the pandemic brought us, I have never appreciated being at WDW more and I savor every moment.
Dear Mr Chapek – I will never get up at 7:00am to go on a ‘hot’ ride. I’m on vacation – not on the job. The Dining Plan has always been a waste of money or food, or both. The digital DVC card is a joke – 2 stores turned us down because it doesn’t have our name on it, and why did your step-by-step guide to downloading it assume I have an iPhone – I don’t. Nothing is easier than opening my door with a Magic Band or taking out my DVC CARD to get a discount. By the way, I mobile ordered a Dole Whip and still had to wait 25 minutes on line to pick up my order. I will no longer use my phone for anything in the parks. I’m on vacation. Park Hopping only after 2pm ? What’s the point? I have an Annual Pass (my last one) and use to enjoy staying at Beach Club knowing that I could stroll into EPCOT any night I felt like it – No More ! So if I have a Park Reservation for the Magic Kingdom for our grandkids to enjoy, and it rains in torrents that day, I guess they’ll just have to wait until next year because my other reservations have been chosen for other parks. My wife used to love the World of Disney for shopping. This is the first time she left the store without buying a thing. The prices are onerous, even with our 20% discount, if they accept our digital card. It’s so sad because you ruined something that was so good. We’ve been in DVC since 2002, and this year we’re taking a Disney Cruise to Norway, Scotland & Iceland and later in the year an Adv by Disney to Germany. We will never go to your parks again because you have made it a drudge, a job and an aggravation.
The people who are most likely to continue with Disney and accept the changes are probably young and don’t have memories of what Disney was really about. The original vision and principles of Walt, Van France, Tony Baxter, Jim Cora and others have been laid by the wayside. It was Magical at one time (and for about 45 years) but now, being run as a no-frills business, it is just another amusement park, expensive at that. People will continue to go because it is an addiction and some will break the habit. Disney has lost the lead and now anybody can build an amusement organization to equal Disney.
Don – for the record I’m 67 (young at heart). I’ve been going to Disney since 1972. My dad’s vacation was in August so we couldn’t go in 1971 since it wasn’t open yet. Now, my husband and I fly from wherever we live to go – at least once a year. March will be the fourth trip there since the pandemic. Vacations are what you make of them. Wherever you go you have to plan and then roll with the punches. As the expression goes – when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.
Don-I’ve been going to Disney since I was 3 years old-my first visit was in 1971. I have so many amazing childhood memories and then I brought my kids all thoroughout thier childhoods. I have literally hundreds of visits in the tank and every one of them was amazing in it’s own way. It kind of breaks my heart that people can be so harsh and base their opinions on the adjustments that have been made during a pandemic. Can anyone imagine what it was like to shut down the parks at a moments notice for over 2 months in WDW and over a year in Disneyland? How WOULD have Walt and his team have reacted? I’m a small business owner…I shut down my business for three months in March 2020 for three months and it was sickening. I’ll stick by Disney and give them the grace to recover however they need to. That’s actually what we do for each other during a pandemic.
Ricci – that was so well said. I’d like to add that restaurants and stores across the country have permanently closed. We need to support all businesses. If you don’t want to frequent a business (including Disney), don’t. I, too, am tired of all the harsh comments and complaints. Am I upset about many things Disney has done during the pandemic? Yes. Will I stop going? No. If someone is so upset about all the changes that they know they’ll have a miserable time, don’t go.
I can accept all the changes as everything changes all the time be it Disney or anything else in life. But the one main thing that I can’t accept is the “pay to play” Genie+ system. To me it seems like it has made things worse (and expensive) rather than better. Bring back FastPass, it made things so much easier.
Another issue is the reservations. I agree with crowd control, but the parks are now at full capacity so there is no need to make reservations (unless you book a vacation package). Go back to the first come first serve way. If they reach capacity and shut the gates, well that’s just too bad for the folks who rather sleep in and get there hours after they open. The parks open at 9:00 am, so maybe it’s best to get there at least by 8:30 am rather than 11:00 am or later. You snooze, you lose.
Disney World is no longer a magical place. “Vacationing” there is nothing like it used to be. I honestly don’t understand why anyone would want to do it anymore. No amount of planning will change the things that have been taken away. Magical express, extra magic hours, free fast passes, park hopping from opening until closing, and the list goes on and on. Paying thousands of dollars to be tied to my phone all day experiencing constant stress, anxiety and disappointment is not a vacation. Never again.
This whole post gives me an anxiety I can’t describe. I’m 35, been going to Disney since the age of 2 almost yearly. Been DVC with my family since 2000. The little touches that made the trip easier for us are gone. The minute-by-minute planning is insanely stressful. Yes Carol and Ricci, things always change and we all love Disney enough to try and roll with it ( and congrats to you both on your excitement about it all) but for the rest of us with new families and people who haven’t been there, these changes are brutal. We can’t “just skip” the big rides until “next time” because for some of our families, there’s no next time given what it costs for a family of 4 to go now. My friends with families don’t even want to go – if they didn’t come stay with us in DVC and would have to pay for their rooms, they could barely swing it. It’s super disappointing and this post just hits on all the reasons its too stressful. They traded the fun and magic for profit.
I feel the anxiety of Trish, as I am stunned by some of Disney’s business decisions. My parents could not afford to take us to Disney, but we started going when our youngest was 6 months old in 1980. What a free, open and carefree experience it was. We bought into DVC in 2002, adding on points every year so we could take my parents with us along with our grown children and now our grand-children (15 & 18). With the passing of my parents years ago we always opened our trips to friends and had great times. My friends and children can no longer afford to join us, which makes our visits less joyful. So, decision time. Not wanting to cash our points in, and still wanting to travel we are limiting our point use to Disney Cruises and our visits to WDW will not include visits to the parks. We will enjoy the rest of what Florida has to offer. I’m not in any way trying to hurt Disney, but rather I am trying to avoid what has become a chore. We are due to arrive at Beach Club on May 1, and like our last trip to WDW this past November, we will need a vacation to recover from our vacation.
great