Disney has ruined WDW. Every single thing that can be monetized has been monetized. It's no longer The Vacation Kingdom of the World, it's Mickey's A la carte, made to vacuum every last cent out of your pocket while providing less than ever before.
I'm a parent
We're not going to Disney it's a fuckin rip off. If you feel you're a bad parent because you didn't bring your kid to Disney seek therapy.
Ffs, I went to Taiwan earlier this year for a little over a week for like $2k total, plane tickets from the US and everything (granted we stayed in some pretty sketchy hotels but it isn't like the fancy ones were that bank-breaking). I don't understand why people are putting their livelihoods at risk for a corporate hellscape instead of hopping to another country for a bit and seeing all the world has for us
I have a friend who goes with their husband and kiddo who spends the entire year seeking out the cheapest ways to go and it literally takes months but saves them $8k off normal pricing. That still leaves them needing $7k for the week vacation. I couldn't even imagine caring that much about something. I wouldn't mind going but the absolute most I'd spend if $2k for the entire stay which will never happen since the flights alone would be that for me and my family.
I've been to Disney in Orlando dozens of times growing up. Haven't been there for 10 years or so....so took a few days and went to the park.
Wow, sooooo many people, like sooooo many people you can't walk down the paths without doing the New York shoulder to get through. I didn't know about the phone thing.... It's a new smartphone system where you reserve spots in rides at certain times, but all reservations are gone 5 min after opening time for the app. The entire park was filled with people staring at their phones trying to get in on a canceled reservation. Well I didn't know about this....so I was in the stand by lines. 1 to 2 hours per ride and a non stop stream of fast pass people kept walking right in. The New Tron ride was fast pass only.
All day there and I think we got on 4 rides. Peter Pan standby was 3 hours long.
For all the money paid to get in, the crowds, the stupid new smartphone thing.... I will never go back to Disney. Let the stupid international tourists have it.
Cape Canaveral visitor center was sooo much better.
The place is crowded and they'll keep charging more pushing out lower income people.
When we used to go they had a meal plan, a bus to bring you from the airport for free and the little NFC watch was free to make all you purchases. I think it cost twice as much now and you get less.
Jimmy! Just for you Jimmy!
Just for you were taking on a second mortgage!
You deserve the Walt Disnay experience Jimmy!
Were not good parents unless you see Mickey In person Jimmy.
Are you hearing us Jimmy it's important you know the Disnay experience!!
What's that you just want to play Minecraft Jimmy? You failed abortion of a kid! You are going to see Disney world if I have to sell my fucking Kidneys, I swear to god!
Jimmy it's gunna be rice and beans for a bit, You'll understand when you're our age.
Saw a kid puke in the pool once on a Disney cruise. You shoulda seen those cast members come running in full hazmat suits and shut down the entire deck! A finely tuned machine, like swappin tires at the Indy 500. If Disney ever got into the military-industrial complex they would take over the world. Worth every penny.
I feel bad for the parents because I bet so many of them are unaware of the totally greedy changes Disney has put in these last 5 years. Their parents took them to Disneyland so they just do the same for their own kids.
Anyway, they monetized their "fast pass" system in a way that they have an economic incentive to keep lines long. - despite everyone having smartphones, and despite Disney already having a park app for people to use. I won't be visiting while that's in effect, that's for sure.
The only reason I ever took my kid to Disneyland was because we lived in southern California and knew somebody who worked there that gave us free passes.
It was a great day that my now adult daughter doesn't remember at all.
I loved my own childhood trip to Disneyland in 1979 when it was a much, much simpler and cheaper affair.
If I had kids today, Disney would be completely off the table.
Been there twice - once in the 70's when I was in junior high and the other in the mid 90's when my son was somewhere around 5-7. I was not impressed either time. The rides are tame and oriented for little kids. I get a better experience at the local summer traveling carnival in a parking lot. And the first time, I wasted a D ticket (E being the "best" rides like Space Mountain) on "Its a Small World Afterall". They should be paying people to go on that stupid, worthless boat ride.