@@KevenTalks Doesn't matter either way. You exposed the nonsense that Disney is now doing. I've been to Disney World eight times throughout my life since I was six (going on seven) in May of 1985, right up to January of 2023. It never used to be this complicated. My previous time there in 2012 it was still so much easier to do things. Now it's just ridiculous with reservations, more crowds, rising costs, etc... It was sooooo much harder to do anything this latest time in 2023. I'm glad you made this video exposing the nonsense. It's such a drag going now. Just please realize is never used to be like this. At least nowhere near as much.
100%! If it was cheap it would be a different conversation, but the fact that it's overpriced - you may as well experience actual culture for that cost
You may be pleasantly surprised at the cost of a European vacation. There are many really nice and reasonable places to stay. I recommend focusing on the lesser well-known things, which can be outstanding…without the crowds.
@@KevenTalks Disneyland is pretty crowded and expensive (obviously lol) but it's a really nice time. It also has California Adventure which is fun. Disneyland also has some cooler stuff such as the Marvel and Star Wars stuff. Disney World is fun but Disneyland is at least in my opinion less stressful than Disney world. Also Downtown Disney is cool.
To enjoy Disneyworld today you need to become an expert. If you are not familiar with terms like robe drope, park hopper+multipass, DDP, etc, it is better to skip it.
@@sebassebas1374 that’s a shame that you need a PhD in “Disneyana” now just to enjoy a day at one of their parks. I like Disney, but haven’t been there in about 20 years. As a kid I just remember rushing around trying to see everything and everyone ending up in a grouchy mood. As an adult I liked it much better - it was enjoyable just walking around and seeing the park decorated for Christmas and spending a nice afternoon/evening there with my mom and sister. I wouldn’t mind going again to the Christmas Halloween or some other “event” like the food events they have at Epcot or the garden show at Epcot sounds like it might be nice to see.
I have so many things to say, but the short version is you’re right. I spent my entire life in the Disney parks and spent almost 10 years working there and everything you said is true. My family was diehard Disney for years and now none of us can stand even the mention of it. You’re right for first time visitors it is a corporate nightmare and they make everything so difficult. Gone are the days when you could just walk in there and enjoy whatever you wanted to. I’m sorry you had such a bad time but if it makes you feel any better even us who have gone to the parks for over 30 years who have given up on it, be grateful that you did not invest decades of your money investing in a company like Disney be grateful. You only had to do it once and don’t ever do it again. I’m sorry you had a bad experience. My family is heartbroken about what it has become and like you we are Universal people now.
Oh you are so right. The parks have become a stressful nightmare. The worst part is that the company doesn’t seem to care one iota if you have a good time or not. It didn’t used to be this bad. Your admission to the park in the 70s included a simple ticket book that had A thru E tickets in it. You used them at your leisure and there was only ONE LINE for attractions. They self regulated themselves because if the line got too long, people would skip that attraction and seek something else of interest. If it was a crowded day, you would have left over tickets for the rides that were good FOREVER (supposedly). So, if you returned you could just buy the general admission and use up your old tickets. This was a real money saver. Of course I’m talking about a time when admission including 8 ride tickets was under 6 dollars! It was great fun back then, but a true dystopian nightmare now. Stay away at all costs!
Back when WDW opened, that long entrances process was supposed to make you feel like you stepped into another world. It wasn't supposed to be walk right into WDW from the parking lot, it was supposed to be an experience like you were being transported from the real world to a fantasy world. Now years later, there are so many people visiting that entrance model type is just a saturated mess at park entrance/exit times.
@@meganruchwatercolors7186 yep. Sadly, the magic was replaced by GREED. Double priced tickets to actually get on any of the good rides and endless gift shops. 💰💰💰
I think a lot of Disney fans have indoctrinated themselves into the whole experience for whatever reason. Maybe, they are huge Disney movie fans or just the memories from having gone to Disney parks in childhood. So, they carry that all in their heads and the whole experience is given a halo effect and they are less critical of the prices and inconveniences. It's a devotion. An addiction. No doubt, Disney milks this for all it is worth. Also, Disney fans have a big sense community going on, so, they all have something in common from what I've seen on Disney cruise bloggers sites. Also, they buy a lot of Disney stuff like clothing that Disney makes a ton of money on. IMO, it is a well orchestrated racket. But, so is a lot of stuff.
Disney is now a rich person's destination. There is no way my family could afford to go with "regular tickets," let alone have to pay unanticipated extras. Also, if I have to plan for a year to have one or two days in a park, forget it. Finally, the app thing alone is a deal breaker. I won't even go to a restaurant that requires me to use a kiosk. I work with apps in my job all day, and I'm not about to do more of that crap on my off hours, especially if I've had to take out a second mortgage to get into the park and then sell two of my children to stand in line for an hour for some "special" attraction.
Yeah I watched a news clip after that was saying for the price you're paying (hotels, park entrance, meals, etc), you could pay a little more and get a luxury trip elsewhere.
This guy is spot on with his observations. Our family went in May 2024 and have an amazing time! How did we do it? I skipped vacations for 2 summers and planned for over a year before we went. We did a private tour, lightning lanes, etc. Having an amazing time can be done but I had to save, sacrifice and plan plan plan. I knew going in it would be a one and done for us. Great time but moving on to other things. It amazes me that people want to go back every year.
I only go to Disney on a Minecraft server not going to cross promotes though I think you can find them if you want to find them just don't be surprised if you have to hold your tongue a little bit because on Minecraft servers the mods rule and I really wish it wasn't that way.
Disney hasn't expanded park footprint to match their resort expansions and room capacity increases, so now they are almost always crowded because the crowds also include locals and those staying off-site. The crowds have been growing year over year for decades and it's now how to manage them, and increasing price has been part of it, along with additional fees now to do what used to be "fast pass" that just meant you had to go to the ride and get your fast pass, then come back at your time to ride without much of a wait (it used to be free to do this with your entry ticket). You now need to plan well ahead of a visit for your rides, your meals, and how you'll get around the parks if you park hop.
As a local who goes to Disney all the time your video really highlights how Disney has changed in the last 5 years or so. The massive price increases, the virtual Queue for the newest rides(which I also don’t like), paid lighting lane (line skip) service which used to be included in the ticket price and the overall increase in crowd levels. Really enjoyed hearing your opinion of the experience. Come back on a random week day in January. 😅
As a local who goes all the time and knows all the tricks, I’m glad to get to see your perspective. You’re completely right from your POV it’s a chaotic mess, and a total money grab. I loved this video and thanks for sharing.
Just for info: Tiana's was originally Splash Mountain. It opened at Walt Disney World in 1992. The ride itself is not new, just the overlay of it. Anyway, yeah, it should just be a one ticket price, not adding a bunch of other fees on top of the Park ticket.
I agree completely. Any parent with brains knows that a visit to Disney is like a sheep being fleeced. It is like traveling by jet since 9/11; an exercise in self abuse. You become a victim of consumerism and over marketing. It’s an experience not to be repeated.
Disney needs to see this video! I have lived here in Orlando for over twenty years so I know about all these features. I agree it sucks! I remember living in nyc and visiting Disney with my small children and it being so magical even with the long lines. Not so much now. I’m sorry you had a bad experience.☹️☹️☹️
I worked at Disneyland in Anaheim for 4 years over 50 years ago. Then it was a place to relax and have fun. Now it’s all about spending as much as you can and bringing regimentation with you so you can navigate the park. I liked when you could spontaneously decide to go anytime. Now it’s reservations only. I liked to eat whenever I was hungry. Now it’s reservations only. I liked to go on rides when I pleased. Now it’s reservations only. If you are not good at scheduling you are lost. You have to plan for everything. From getting there to when you are going to eat to which ride you want to go on is mandatory. Otherwise you will spend the whole day just running around the park doing nothing. Disney is a $$$ making corporation and it’s never more evident than at Disney parks.
My wife and I as local passholders have always asked how someone just rolling into the park could have a good time. Your frustrations are exactly what we guessed people experienced if they didn’t know the parks. The cast member could have told you for Tiana’s that you could try to join the virtual queue at 1PM, I also can only guess you went to cosmic rays for lunch the worst cafe anywhere on Disney property. I feel for you since Disney takes a lot of studying and planning to get even halfway right, even then rides go down, weather interrupts etc. I feel for you. Note: pirates of the Caribbean is from the 1970s and basically a clone from the 1960s Disneyland version upon which the movie was based so it’s a nostalgia ride.
LOL yes it was Cosmic Ray's! That is hilarious because I literally thought to myself, the Tomorrowland area is least likely to have gimmicky eateries - so the fact that you're saying that's actually the worst spot - too funny! 😆
@@KevenTalkshaha they’re notoriously bad or basic but there are some great places in the magic kingdom. However, Epcot is generally the place to go for food.
@@KevenTalksI believe you shouldn’t have to have a PhD in Disneyparkology to be able to go to their theme parks and have a good time. Your response is super valid and the system is set up in such a way where an “amateur” is set up to fail.
Last went on a grad night in 2001. Guess that experience was a sign of things to come. Definitely a park for hardcore fans of the brand, and whatever IPs they take on. Casual visitors and General theme park fans aren't their target clientele.
Lol you had me laughing @11:25 when you talked about how the crowd was not well...its like disney is supposed to make people happy...not miserable...like it goes against their overall marketing 😂
@@KevenTalks Disney, like many things has become a 'bucket list item' to check-off. The guy at Disney who came up with that app won an award because it is ultimately designed to keep guests from becoming more enraged while maximizing profits for Disney. Disney should restrict guest counts per day to 1/3 the current population BUT that would mean your ticket costing approximately. $1,000 per day to have a decent experience. If you visit the U.K., Center Parcs Europe is a much more attractive vacation option. Disney is a waste of money IMHO.
@@chrispnw2547 Omg Center Park is amazing! Never been in the UK but it's infamous in France as well. Fantastic place, and you're actually among nature.
I lived in Orlando from about 94-08, and I am so glad I got parks out of my system, I can't imagine dealing with the crowds now. Every pic just looks like hell.
You're absolutely right. Walt would be horrified at what has happened to the parks. They were originally intended to be magical for everyone, and now they are only magical for those who can pay extra for a magical experience. We're planning to visit Epic Universe in the next couple of years (from New Zealand) and have reduced our planned time at Disney because we don't like how it has changed. We were there in 2017 before all of this Lightning Lane nonsense was monetised. Virtual queues didn't use to exist. Fast Passes were free and available to anyone who wanted to plan, but you could also just rock on up and wait in the standby queue for any ride. We will be spending more time at Universal and less time at Disney for this reason. We would have skipped Disney altogether this time, but we have a friend travelling with us who has never been.
Disney World opened in the Fall of 1971, and I went with my family in the summer of 1972 when I was 12 years old. Back then, there was no system of premium attractions, but the waiting time in line for every ride was between one hour and two hours. As a result, we only rode on a few rides and then attended a few animatronic shows. We were so tired and cranky by the early evening, that we decided to leave before the nightly fireworks show and go somewhere else to get a decent supper. It was a one time is more than enough experience for all of us. Fortunately, we were in Florida on a summer vacation trip to visit my paternal Grandfather, so it was just one disappointing (and overly expensive) day out of an otherwise good vacation.
This was me; we went twice during the 1970's! We were there when EPCOT opened & it blew me away as a kid! They never blocked rides back then unless they were being worked on! They have made it way to complicated! Skip the line is totally stupid & that wasn't a thing back then either! I would never go now! Walt Disney would be pissed at the state of the Parks nowadays! They need to close all of the Parks they are no longer worth the headaches they cause for people visiting them! I had friends that worked there & they said they treat their employees like crap!
We go twice a year, and I agree with a lot of your observations. We’ve definitely learned to be “strategic” when we go to the parks. Magic Kingdom is the worst of the parks if for no other reason it is so freaking crowded all of the time. If you go back again, you should go with someone who knows some of the “tricks”. Maybe that will improve your experience. I don’t think Disney World is all that much different from other theme parks. It just has a certain “nostalgia” that is difficult to experience if you don’t plan your trip well.
My family has been totally involved in the Disney ecosystem for DECADES. It's really interesting to see your experience with the parks because for someone who is not in the loop, the parks are pretty inaccessible. I don't recommend anyone just buy a ticket without understanding what is required to have a decent time. If you're not willing to pay extra for everything and plan a year in advance just don't do it. Or at least have very low expectations and be fine with waking around and not doing anything interesting. Even dining is a nightmare without a lot of planning. I also just want to say Disney was NOT always like this.
I agree with your comments. I’m pretty much a Disney aficionado as well, and understand the ins and outs of what is necessary to have a great time. It’s fascinating to hear the experience of someone who just walks into the park without a plan. Once you understand the ins and outs of Disney, it’s difficult to imagine how one can have a truly fulfilling time without that understanding and a corresponding plan. I shudder at the thought of it knowing what I know.
Not long enough - I could listen to you justifiably trash this shit hole for HOURS. I am from Australia and first visited the US in 2001. I was OBSESSED with Disney and did my pilgrimmage to both DL and WDW. I next visited WDW in 2022 and it was COMPLETELY different. I actually had a breakdown in Epcot one day, due to the stress of having to CONSTANTLY plan and be on my phone, checking the fucking app and trying to reserve my place in queues for rides and restaurants. The cost aside (which is now even worse), it was fucking WORK and I DO NOT go to a Disney park to fucking WORK. PLEASE post more rants about these terrible places. If I never go there again, it'll be too soon!!!!!
I've been to WDW hundreds of times, been there for vacation, even worked there for 3 years. Last time I was there was in 2014 and as much as I still love WDW, it seems to be an expensive shell of it's former self. A lot of the areas/rides that have been sentimental to me no longer exist. I miss WDW of mid 90's early 00's. At least then it didn't feel like such a cash grab. Even their perks in the past that were "cash grabs" to get you in the park and keep you there didn't feel like cash grabs. Magical Express was one of those perks that helped both the company and and guest. Got you to the park for "free" and for disney, you were "locked" into their ecosystem. Now that's gone and there's things like paid fastpasses
Totally agree. They also pared down little perks like early admission if you are staying on Disney grounds. At one time, if you stayed at a Disney park hotel, you could enter the parks one hour before the general public. Any park you wanted. Later on, when I stayed on the grounds, they still had this perk, but early admission was for a specific park for a specific day. So, if you wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom early, you had to go on the day that was designated for early admission for the Magic Kingdom. Otherwise, you could go to the park that had early admission on that day. Now, Disney lets you enter a designated park a mere 30 minutes in advance instead of one hour. At least, that was the last thing I heard in recent times.
I get what you’re saying and I kind of agree. But at the end of the day, people are paying those prices and it’s still very crowded. They can basically charge whatever they want people to pay it.
Been almost 20 years since I’ve been to a Disney park and this new policy of theirs where you need to purchase some kind of special pass in order to ride the most popular rides is a RIPOFF! I’d be furious if I spent all that money to visit the park and then be interrogated and told you cannot ride an atttaction because you don’t have the SUPER SUPREME park ticket - at twice the price??! Can you imagine a family saving to bring their kids to Disney on a dream vacation they’ve had planned for years only to get to the park and be told “yeh sorry but you can’t ride these rides”? That’s just disgusting. Plus the parks are primarily gift shops after gift shops now. You get off a ride only to be fed into some shop selling Disney merchandise. I honestly don’t know how people can afford to go there these days.
Our last Disney trip was 2014, my mom was a Disney nerd and had us planning a year out. However I did convince to not plan EVERY minute and we winged it a couple times for restaurants. Overall it was a good trip BUT the thought of having to plan another one has kept me from going back. (And it’s more complicated now!). We did Universal in 2021 on a whim/get me the heck out of here trip, zero planning, road trip from MA. We left as season pass holders and have been back 10x since (trip 11 booked for Feb). The hardest part of Universal is picking a hotel and flights (or drive). I don’t feel like I HAVE to be on my phone. I don’t like this new push for mobile ordering they have going on though, we use food gift cards to get around it at most spots since they aren’t in the app yet. I do want to take the kids to Disney before they get too old for it and before Disney ruins all the classics…thinking of pitching a tent at fort wilderness and cooking 1-2 meals on our own to make it a little more affordable (would definitely have to drive with all our gear though) 🤔
Disney has become a shakedown of the park visitors, or what they like to call guests. It was not like that before, but it has turned into a horrible experience. Who needs all these rules and constraints while on vacation?!
I think Disney needs to reinvent itself. It'll always be an iconic brand, like Vogue or Coke. $200 for a ticket is a rip off. You not being able to take that ride is a bigger rip off. The lamp is broken, the carpet doesn't fly, and the fairy tale was a lie. :D
I went to Disney in 2021. It was a miserable experience. My understanding is that anyone who went in 2021 or 2022 has vowed, “Never again.” I thought that maybe the problems that came with COVID would get fixed. Sounds like things have gotten worse. You were traveling as a single. Imagine if you were traveling with your wife who is pushing your 2 yr old in a stroller. The other 2 kids aged 5 and 7 are crying that they have to go to the bathroom. And you need to hurry to make your lunch reservation. Let’s add that your phones battery just died. I myself hate using my iPhone on vacation. With Disney your trip demands it.
Even when the fast passes were free and made of paper it was stressful trying to get there with the times lol. It was sooo much better and you could get as many as you want too.
I suggest Universal Studios. Better bang for your buck. Disney is all about taking your money, but they no longer care about customer experience or putting money into maintaining the parks.
Lets be honest, even the foreigners that don't speak English did their research, which you did not. I started planning 6 months in advance. First mistake, anywhere near the end of the year is bad. I went in the first week of September, after Labor Day. The slowest days in the year. If you stay at Disney Property, even one day, you get huge benefits, such as early entry and lightning lane reservations in advance (if you pay extra). They don't want people waiting two-three hours in line. But they are in it for profit. If too many people go, they raise the price. If an attraction is too popular, they charge extra to skip the line. That being said it isn't the same value of Disney as it was 20 years ago (when it was actually MORE crowded than today).
Disney fills up the parks with local annual pass holders who are unemployed, skill-less grown adults in mickey ears. Was never like that in the 80s and 90s. Your analysis is spot on!
They way overcharge for admission and then try to charge you per ride (for most good rides) AND they turn it into a stressful event that only Type A planners would love with a bad phone app. You used to be able to spend money to get away from the type A life/work and now Disney said = NOPE we can charge you so much money and convince you to stay stressed the whole time needing your phone in hand to plan out your every move.
Basically,you have to do your research before you even consider going to disney!Getting a regulare ticket gets you in the park-it doesn,t give you accsess to any of the rides,you have to pay more for fastlane or lightning or whatever it is,now!WOW!THAT,S HOW THEY MILK EVERYBODY!
Its good to see the opinion of an "outsider". Im a passholder and it still frustrating. You really do have to prepare for a Disney trip, its not a "show up and have fun" place unless you go alot.
As a lifelong Disney nerd these are some of the good reasons why so many of us are rooting against the company and are disgusted by Iger and his woke army of greed and incompetence, but you should have known that you need to do a little research before going to a resort that is twice the size of Manhattan.
Yeah Disney is not a place you can go to and wing it anymore. And then going to Magic Kingdom, that is the most iconic park probably also the most little kiddie park.
While I have never been to World, I have been to it's sister parks Disneyland and California Adventure and what you said pretty much hit land on the head more so than DCA. I went in 2022 in September on a week day with my mom since I was visiting and it was packed. I bought Genie + and could barely figure it out. All the rides we wanted had wait times of 30-60 minutes and just felt like hours of waiting for one ride. DCA for us was better and had lesser wait times, friendlier people and just pleasant all around with less crowding. I only paid up for 1 new ride because I wanted to go on it and I wanted my mom to experience it. I saw all the videos so I knew what I was getting into, but I didn't want to spoil it. Really the park has become a "plan in advance...advance". If you don't plan, you miss out and its ashamed. I had gone to Disneyland so many times in my younger years when it was affordable and when my grandpa worked for a dealership allowing us a pretty much "semi" free trip every holiday season. It was nice to be able to go on rides with few waits and have fun. Now it's just...not worth it for the price. Yet people will still pay up because it's the top of line theme park and the only other park to fairly compete is Universal.
Thanks for this! I see video's of the massive crowds at WDW along with the army of baby strollers and, dare I say, the older over weight people on motorize wheelchairs. Do they really have to be there blocking other peoples way, I mean I'm now 67, went to WDW in 74 + 86, there's no way I would ever go again. Not to mention the amount of walking! I see in video's people working the app's and I just couldn't figure all that out. Your video is the first really truthful account of WDW that I've seen!
I think the thing about Disney is nostalgia so people keep going back to capture that memory. I've been twice, at 2 (which I don't remember) then 12 & I wasn't impressed. From the videos I've seen I would not pay those prices now. When I go on vacation I do not want to be tied to my phone constantly. My friends & I have been to Universal many times & always had a great time just walking around & deciding what to do next. We only had to use our phones to take pictures. It's always been a very relaxing trip. One of my friends was in FL a couple of weeks ago & paid over $300 for two tickets for ONE day to one park & she was less then impressed & will not do it again.
I watched a news clip after which said that Universal actually relies on the Disney crowd to come through while they're in town. I found that ironic considering Universal seems to be such a better experience.
Torn here because on one hand, most of what you observed could have been easily prepared-for with just a little bit of research. But on the other hand, your experience of the complexity of the whole thing is a testament to just how ridiculously complicated and confusing it is. Even the old timer Disney fans are bothered by it. ...but you also make just outright incorrect comments like that Pirates was based on the movie when, in fact, the movie was inspired by the ride. And the ride is 50 years old so, yeah, it's gonna have some largely dated effects.
Yeah a friend told me that after the fact, that the Pirates ride has always been there (news to me!). Since Johnny Depp's character is in there (presumably added in after), I didn't even consider it could be a ride that predates the movie. Regarding research - I get your point, but at the same time for a 1-day trip to a theme park, I would assume that doesn't require extensive research. Regardless, not being able to ride a ride with a regular ticket (the bayou adventure ride) should be mentioned when you purchase the ticket vs. having to proactively do research to learn this.
As long as people are willing to pay up, it's always going to be super expensive. I blame the diehards who are willing to splurge more than Disney who's willing to accept their money. That's how Capitalism works. You supply to satisfy demand. And as unfair or ugly as that sounds, there's not a place or system in the world who would offer those kind of services "out of the kindness of their hearts". That's why Communist countries tend to be drab and dreary places to live with no fun. There's no incentive for luxury.
My friend sent me a news clip that showed that for just a little bit more money spent, you could secure a luxury trip to the Caribbean, Mexico, or other "hot spot" getaway destinations. So the conundrum of Disney is the pricing vs the experience you actually receive.
Funny though how Universal is just as capitalist yet can still provide a better experience for cheaper. Maybe it's not cause communism bad but Disney is too capitalist.
People act like consumerism is some evil, the world would look like Cuba if countries controlled the means of production, it’s a horribly stupid idea. (Vladimir Lenin famously said socialism is a road to communism, I think I’m gonna listen to him on that one 🤣). My guy just found out what supply and demand was. The world isn’t a charity bud, we get really cool roller coasters like velocicoaster because people spend money and companies want those dollars so they compete for them. We get really cool things because of supply and demand and because companies are fighting each other/competing for our money. That very competition creates amazing works of technology, art, etc etc
It’s awful! I am 57 and I have gone to Disney several times a year. We always waited in a regular line and it was all part of it. Disney used to be very magical and I pray we get that back.
Dude, the only difference between me and you is I didn't have to waste several hundred bucks and a day to find out all the expensive, Byzantine nonsense that's WDWR. Here are some less expensive, much more gratifying ways to spend time in Florida: 1. Take an Everglades tour. 2. Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Station. 3. Snorkel at John Pennekamp in Key Largo. 4. Visit pretty much any Florida state park. 5. Visit St. Augustine if you have time for an overnight or three-day weekend trip. (Since you're in Miami). 6. Busch Gardens in Tampa any day over WDWR. I didn't even like Magic Kingdom back in the glory days. EPCOT was more tolerable, but no real fan of it either.
I retired from Disney about two years ago. You're not alone, as this company has been going downhill for a long time now. The CEO, Bob Iger and his executive team, are all about maximizing profit and pushing a political agenda. A couple of years ago my cousin with her daughter and two young granddaughters came during the same time period you did. It was crowded. I had a feeling what would happen, so I paid out of my own pocket for the Christmas Party tickets to help their experience. The party has very limited guests and all the attractions are walk-on or near walk-on. If it hadn't been for that experience, I think their visit would have been a major letdown.
I first wet to Disney World in 1974,afting winning a trip, when I was 14 yrs. I just went to the Magic Kingdom then It was affordable, not as big, and very exciting and fun. I did go to Disneyland in California 2x in 1990,and 2003. It smaller, now has a separate Great Adventure park. I think the prices a bit high parking is extra, and the food not great and expensive. I have heard of these extra charges, adding on if you want not wait for certain attractions/rides, and also certain are not covered in the general admission, so you have pay extra and in advance. To me, that is a rip-off,as one admission price should cover everything like all the rides/attractions. They must be making lots and lots of money. I hear for a family of 4 it might cost $2000 or more plus the Hotel/Motel and food.
Even if you pay up for the skip the line service the day of your visit you're at a disadvantage.People staying at a Disney Hotel can pick their skip the line selections up to 7 DAYS IN ADVANCE. Regular tickets get up to 3 days in advance. And to make it even more confusing for the person who's not familiar- not all rides are included anyway. Yes I agree, it sucks.
I feel the same way you do and yes I think that park has ran it's course! I made the terrible mistake about 2 decades ago to go with a group of friends on December 25, the park was SUPER PACKED + Strollers everywhere. Got a question for you Keven since recently you've been to Europe. From what I've heard Europe in general embraced the whole App culture way before it became the norm in USA so maybe the European visitors are more adapt to the system you encounter at The Magic Kingdom, I just wonder?
Omg Christmas at Disney sounds like a nightmare - lol! I actually feel the U.S. is way more tech/app-based than Europe personally. When I went to Italy, so many places were still cash-only lol.
@@KevenTalks Oh okay Keven but I've heard that when it came to let's say going into a museum or some sort of attraction in Europe they embraced the booking online/smartphone earlier than we did here in The United States.
I drove to Disney for the day from Palm Beach a couple weeks ago. I went by myself and had the best time! and I don't even go on roller coasters. I did the carosel of progress, the race cars, the tea cups, the haunted house and pirates of the carribean and took myself out to lunch and dinner in the park. I think it's fun and make you feel like a kid again.
My first visit to Disney World was in 1992 and went there again in 1997. Back then, it was magical, and the things you saw were surreal and nothing was forced upon you. Nowadays, Disney World is just an overstimulated expensive mess. You have a billion different digital lights flashing on you at every corner of your sight. Back then, you enjoyed the show when it was raw. Their newer rides do not have much of an appeal to me. They are getting rid of Rivers of America and anything nostalgically classic which is a bad idea. They are overcharging visitors to the park and offer minimum in return. The wait times for rides get worse, and yet, they exclaim that park attendance is down. Their CEO Iger is a disaster, and the movies are not as good as the original classics whenever they add politics into their media. Their investors aren't too happy of what is happening. If I go there again, it will likely be one and done. I'll go there just to try to relive the magic I experienced as a kid in the 1990s, but I won't have the interest to go to their expensive parks again. Until their leadership changes to bring back more of Walt Disney's vision, Disney will continue to be eaten up by Epic Universe 2025 and Universal Studios.
It used to be so easy. Desperately need higher capacities on each ride so people don't have to sweat to get on an attraction. Over the years every visit was fun and unless the ride was down, we got to do everything. And it was a great value. Never again!
The problems you described are exactly why you must do your homework before visiting a Disney park. You can ride every ride with a regular ticket. It just takes planning.
From Google: "Tiana's Bayou Adventure" is currently not accessible because it operates solely through a virtual queue system, meaning you need to join a digital line within the My Disney Experience app to ride, and there is no traditional standby line available during regular park hours; you can only access the ride by joining the virtual queue or purchasing a Lightning Lane pass. If you think someone should do research to figure out if any rides are inaccessible without an app, you are bonkers.
@@KevenTalks 1. The virtual queue is free. 2. It is wise, not bonkers, to review the Disney website before visiting their parks so you can get a lay of the land, times, closures, dining options, descriptions of attractions, etc. At Disney, time is money. A bit of research and planning saves a lot of time in the parks.
I’m afraid you’re a victim of the boarding group system. I don’t blame you, it is extremely confusing, and I don’t understand why they’re still using it on Tiana’s ride because it’s been open for several months now AND is merely a reskin of a pre-existing 30+ year-old ride. I find it kinda insane that the greeter at the ride didn’t explain that you’d get another chance to join at 1pm and show you how to do it, that’s what I would’ve done.
We plan our days a week ahead and never wait on lines. You could have done the virtual queue for Tiana ride at 7 am and 1pm.. it’s free with general admission. You do it on the app
Unfortunately Disney World is not for newbies. I truly think to have a decent visit you have to do some research which as a “type A planner” I love. But definitely not for everyone unless you don’t mind waiting in lines. Also MK would never be my choice for a single day visit as it has the most kids and older rides.
Totally - one of my takeaways was that you have to be "strategic" in planning a Disney visit which was unexpected for me. You don't just show up to Rome or Paris or Tokyo without a plan of what to visit, but in my mind, a theme park was not complex or vast enough to require such planning - I was wrong, clearly!
I have completely lost my desire to go to WDW. I've been on pretty much all the "rides" there on my many, many visits, so I feel I've seen it all. Being turned away from a ride because you didn't have the right ticket is more than F'd up, especially given the exorbitant price of a regular admission ticket.
WDW is not like going to a state fair on a random day. Starting Thanksgiving the crowds start. I try to do research of any place I go, even a theme park, (you didn't even know there were 4 separate parks says it all...) I realize virtual queue is annoying for new attractions, but there is documentation about it. Did you not use the app? Even Epic Universe opening soon will probably have "rules", so I'll read up on it before going. Sorry, WDW, esp MK is one of the busiest destinations around and research needs to happen. Maybe you would have liked drinking around Epcot or going on the safari at AK better. Packing patience pants is needed for MK.
I've had many wonderful times at WDW...YEARS AGO! The last time we went (had to be at least 10 years ago) we had no preplanning and got on no rides. And this was before you are trapped on an iphone instead of actually looking around and enjoying being with your family. But if it's so bad now, why is everyone still going there, despite all the stress, expense, and hassle? I don't know.
Unfortunately Keven , you are not the only disillusioned person, with Disney’s theme parks. The prices are extremely inflated, there are too many tiers ($$$) in which you must pay even more, to experience all the attractions. The food prices ( lack of quality, and value) are extortionate. Sadly, they will eventually price themselves out of existence.
There's something mentally wrong with people that go to those parks every year. I agree its like people who can't stop going to vegas. They've been brainwashed.
Spot on. I loved Disney as a kid, but I haven't been there since they implemented any pay-to-ride system, nor will I go again. They have ruined the magic.
You have said it so well! You would have loved Disney some years back when we were able to Afford to go to Disney. It really was many years ago but you did not need a cell phone at all. You could just buy the ticket to get into Disney and you could go wherever you wanted. you just got in and it you wanted to wait in line you did and if you did not just leave and try again maybe later.. The ticket prices were reasonable, we even stayed at one of the medium priced hotels. Back then we took the but most of the time from one park back to our hotel. Things were so different and FUN! They have priced them out of range. We went several times from Ohio. First we flew A couple of times then after our son was born and old enough to walk and understand some of the rides we drove. Then they went to It Is all about the money and I do not understand all the apps and be on my cell phone all the time. Stick to Universal. I have never been but it has to be better right now than Disney
Bro. Pirates of the Caribbean is an original Disneyland ride when Walt Disney was alive. 1950s. Anyway, i feel your pain. I just got back from Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea. .........dont get me started.
Yeah my friend told me that after the fact! Had no idea. Since Johnny Depp's character is in there, I didn't even consider that ride could've pre-dated in the movie. Tell us everything about the Tokyo Disney!!!
Wow! Sounds to me like you didn't bother to do any research before you went. There are videos everywhere about everything Disney. You only have yourself to blame. Everybody knows its BUSY in December. Plan your vacations first!
Tiana's Bayou Adventure. I was told I could not ride it. When I checked the app throughout the day, all the options for it (including paying up to skip the line) were greyed out.
@@KevenTalks You have to stand in the "standby" line that moves very slowly. You might have accidently tried to enter the express line. There are no rides at Disney that require any upgrade tickets to ride, but they do have express lines that sell out. I'm actually on your side, but your experience is why I also agree that if you don't know how the system works, you are screwed. And you ran into that.
@@blaster-zy7xx From Google: "Tiana's Bayou Adventure" is currently not accessible because it operates solely through a virtual queue system, meaning you need to join a digital line within the My Disney Experience app to ride, and there is no traditional standby line available during regular park hours; you can only access the ride by joining the virtual queue or purchasing a Lightning Lane pass.
@@KevenTalks Wow, I stand corrected. We were Disney annual pass holders for years but left before that ride was rethemed. That is new. In any case, I'm still way on your side on this one. Disney just got to be unfun for us, too complicated, too expensive and too crowded, so we stopped going about two years ago. Thanks for the correction. Puts them in an even worse light.
The place is worhtless as a "one and done" vacation. About all it is good for is locals and people obsessed with the place that are okay visiting and not doing the majority of the main attractions unless you really want to cough up the big bucks now. Truthfully; They have less parks now than they did 25 years ago and about the same number of rides between them.
Lol. Yeah you are not a Disney guy
lol probably for the best
@@KevenTalks Definitely for the best.
@@KevenTalksyou’re not missing anything.
@@KT-sq2ml Agreed.
@@KevenTalks Doesn't matter either way. You exposed the nonsense that Disney is now doing. I've been to Disney World eight times throughout my life since I was six (going on seven) in May of 1985, right up to January of 2023. It never used to be this complicated. My previous time there in 2012 it was still so much easier to do things. Now it's just ridiculous with reservations, more crowds, rising costs, etc... It was sooooo much harder to do anything this latest time in 2023. I'm glad you made this video exposing the nonsense. It's such a drag going now. Just please realize is never used to be like this. At least nowhere near as much.
You identified sooo many of the exact problems that Walt Disney World has....perfectly.
Just here to report the news ;)
It's so absurdly expensive. Take a trip to Europe instead and have a real experience where the castles aren't made of plastic and fibreglass.
100%! If it was cheap it would be a different conversation, but the fact that it's overpriced - you may as well experience actual culture for that cost
You may be pleasantly surprised at the cost of a European vacation. There are many really nice and reasonable places to stay. I recommend focusing on the lesser well-known things, which can be outstanding…without the crowds.
Magic Kingdom sucks. Disneyland in Anaheim is vibey and nostalgic in a cool way. And they take really good care of it. More of a local crowd.
Oh interesting. Is it also more sprawled out, making it feel less crowded?
I feel like everything in California is always bigger lol
@@KevenTalks Disneyland is pretty crowded and expensive (obviously lol) but it's a really nice time. It also has California Adventure which is fun. Disneyland also has some cooler stuff such as the Marvel and Star Wars stuff. Disney
World is fun but Disneyland is at least in my opinion less stressful than Disney world. Also Downtown Disney is cool.
To enjoy Disneyworld today you need to become an expert. If you are not familiar with terms like robe drope, park hopper+multipass, DDP, etc, it is better to skip it.
Oh the accuracy and I’m a pass holder
@@sebassebas1374 that’s a shame that you need a PhD in “Disneyana” now just to enjoy a day at one of their parks. I like Disney, but haven’t been there in about 20 years. As a kid I just remember rushing around trying to see everything and everyone ending up in a grouchy mood. As an adult I liked it much better - it was enjoyable just walking around and seeing the park decorated for Christmas and spending a nice afternoon/evening there with my mom and sister. I wouldn’t mind going again to the Christmas Halloween or some other “event” like the food events they have at Epcot or the garden show at Epcot sounds like it might be nice to see.
I have so many things to say, but the short version is you’re right. I spent my entire life in the Disney parks and spent almost 10 years working there and everything you said is true. My family was diehard Disney for years and now none of us can stand even the mention of it. You’re right for first time visitors it is a corporate nightmare and they make everything so difficult. Gone are the days when you could just walk in there and enjoy whatever you wanted to. I’m sorry you had such a bad time but if it makes you feel any better even us who have gone to the parks for over 30 years who have given up on it, be grateful that you did not invest decades of your money investing in a company like Disney be grateful. You only had to do it once and don’t ever do it again. I’m sorry you had a bad experience. My family is heartbroken about what it has become and like you we are Universal people now.
Oh you are so right. The parks have become a stressful nightmare. The worst part is that the company doesn’t seem to care one iota if you have a good time or not. It didn’t used to be this bad. Your admission to the park in the 70s included a simple ticket book that had A thru E tickets in it. You used them at your leisure and there was only ONE LINE for attractions. They self regulated themselves because if the line got too long, people would skip that attraction and seek something else of interest. If it was a crowded day, you would have left over tickets for the rides that were good FOREVER (supposedly). So, if you returned you could just buy the general admission and use up your old tickets. This was a real money saver. Of course I’m talking about a time when admission including 8 ride tickets was under 6 dollars! It was great fun back then, but a true dystopian nightmare now. Stay away at all costs!
Ohh the idea of keeping tickets per ride that you can reuse at another time is sort of genius! That compels you to keep coming back. Love that!
Back when WDW opened, that long entrances process was supposed to make you feel like you stepped into another world. It wasn't supposed to be walk right into WDW from the parking lot, it was supposed to be an experience like you were being transported from the real world to a fantasy world. Now years later, there are so many people visiting that entrance model type is just a saturated mess at park entrance/exit times.
THE MAGIC IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@meganruchwatercolors7186 yep. Sadly, the magic was replaced by GREED. Double priced tickets to actually get on any of the good rides and endless gift shops. 💰💰💰
Disney wants your money. Not you. One day, they're going to teardown that iconic castle.
I think a lot of Disney fans have indoctrinated themselves into the whole experience for whatever reason. Maybe, they are huge Disney movie fans or just the memories from having gone to Disney parks in childhood. So, they carry that all in their heads and the whole experience is given a halo effect and they are less critical of the prices and inconveniences. It's a devotion. An addiction. No doubt, Disney milks this for all it is worth. Also, Disney fans have a big sense community going on, so, they all have something in common from what I've seen on Disney cruise bloggers sites. Also, they buy a lot of Disney stuff like clothing that Disney makes a ton of money on. IMO, it is a well orchestrated racket. But, so is a lot of stuff.
I think you hit the nail on the head about loyal attendees re-living something from childhood
Disney is now a rich person's destination. There is no way my family could afford to go with "regular tickets," let alone have to pay unanticipated extras. Also, if I have to plan for a year to have one or two days in a park, forget it. Finally, the app thing alone is a deal breaker. I won't even go to a restaurant that requires me to use a kiosk. I work with apps in my job all day, and I'm not about to do more of that crap on my off hours, especially if I've had to take out a second mortgage to get into the park and then sell two of my children to stand in line for an hour for some "special" attraction.
Yeah I watched a news clip after that was saying for the price you're paying (hotels, park entrance, meals, etc), you could pay a little more and get a luxury trip elsewhere.
@@poetry-k5g agree with you 100%. Who needs all that added stress and aggravation (and COST)?
This guy is spot on with his observations. Our family went in May 2024 and have an amazing time! How did we do it? I skipped vacations for 2 summers and planned for over a year before we went. We did a private tour, lightning lanes, etc. Having an amazing time can be done but I had to save, sacrifice and plan plan plan. I knew going in it would be a one and done for us. Great time but moving on to other things. It amazes me that people want to go back every year.
@@juliasells7566 it amazes me that families can afford to go at all - but every year? Either they are loaded or they’re maxing out credit cards.
DISNEY JUST SUCKS. WILL NEVER EVER GO AGAIN.
I only go to Disney on a Minecraft server not going to cross promotes though I think you can find them if you want to find them just don't be surprised if you have to hold your tongue a little bit because on Minecraft servers the mods rule and I really wish it wasn't that way.
It's ironic that the overseas parks, like Tokyo Disney, are better maintained and enjoyable than the originals in the US.
Disney hasn't expanded park footprint to match their resort expansions and room capacity increases, so now they are almost always crowded because the crowds also include locals and those staying off-site. The crowds have been growing year over year for decades and it's now how to manage them, and increasing price has been part of it, along with additional fees now to do what used to be "fast pass" that just meant you had to go to the ride and get your fast pass, then come back at your time to ride without much of a wait (it used to be free to do this with your entry ticket). You now need to plan well ahead of a visit for your rides, your meals, and how you'll get around the parks if you park hop.
You nailed it!
As a local who goes to Disney all the time your video really highlights how Disney has changed in the last 5 years or so. The massive price increases, the virtual Queue for the newest rides(which I also don’t like), paid lighting lane (line skip) service which used to be included in the ticket price and the overall increase in crowd levels. Really enjoyed hearing your opinion of the experience. Come back on a random week day in January. 😅
As a local who goes all the time and knows all the tricks, I’m glad to get to see your perspective. You’re completely right from your POV it’s a chaotic mess, and a total money grab. I loved this video and thanks for sharing.
Thank you for understanding! 😫
Absolutely. The Disney park experience is disgraceful.
And all the company cares about is charging you more for it.
Just for info: Tiana's was originally Splash Mountain. It opened at Walt Disney World in 1992. The ride itself is not new, just the overlay of it.
Anyway, yeah, it should just be a one ticket price, not adding a bunch of other fees on top of the Park ticket.
I agree completely. Any parent with brains knows that a visit to Disney is like a sheep being fleeced. It is like traveling by jet since 9/11; an exercise in self abuse. You become a victim of consumerism and over marketing. It’s an experience not to be repeated.
"an exercise in self-abuse" 😂
Disney needs to see this video! I have lived here in Orlando for over twenty years so I know about all these features. I agree it sucks! I remember living in nyc and visiting Disney with my small children and it being so magical even with the long lines. Not so much now. I’m sorry you had a bad experience.☹️☹️☹️
I worked at Disneyland in Anaheim for 4 years over 50 years ago. Then it was a place to relax and have fun. Now it’s all about spending as much as you can and bringing regimentation with you so you can navigate the park. I liked when you could spontaneously decide to go anytime. Now it’s reservations only. I liked to eat whenever I was hungry. Now it’s reservations only. I liked to go on rides when I pleased. Now it’s reservations only. If you are not good at scheduling you are lost. You have to plan for everything. From getting there to when you are going to eat to which ride you want to go on is mandatory. Otherwise you will spend the whole day just running around the park doing nothing. Disney is a $$$ making corporation and it’s never more evident than at Disney parks.
It’s just not the same anymore… Disney has become so lame.
My wife and I as local passholders have always asked how someone just rolling into the park could have a good time. Your frustrations are exactly what we guessed people experienced if they didn’t know the parks. The cast member could have told you for Tiana’s that you could try to join the virtual queue at 1PM, I also can only guess you went to cosmic rays for lunch the worst cafe anywhere on Disney property. I feel for you since Disney takes a lot of studying and planning to get even halfway right, even then rides go down, weather interrupts etc. I feel for you. Note: pirates of the Caribbean is from the 1970s and basically a clone from the 1960s Disneyland version upon which the movie was based so it’s a nostalgia ride.
LOL yes it was Cosmic Ray's! That is hilarious because I literally thought to myself, the Tomorrowland area is least likely to have gimmicky eateries - so the fact that you're saying that's actually the worst spot - too funny! 😆
@@KevenTalkshaha they’re notoriously bad or basic but there are some great places in the magic kingdom. However, Epcot is generally the place to go for food.
@@Gator-qb6gg I really screwed up this trip as much as possible, huh? 😆
@@KevenTalksI believe you shouldn’t have to have a PhD in Disneyparkology to be able to go to their theme parks and have a good time. Your response is super valid and the system is set up in such a way where an “amateur” is set up to fail.
@@Gator-qb6gg lol very good point!
Last went on a grad night in 2001. Guess that experience was a sign of things to come. Definitely a park for hardcore fans of the brand, and whatever IPs they take on. Casual visitors and General theme park fans aren't their target clientele.
Lol you had me laughing @11:25 when you talked about how the crowd was not well...its like disney is supposed to make people happy...not miserable...like it goes against their overall marketing 😂
I was trying to be as politically correct as possible! 🙈🙈🙈
@@KevenTalks Disney, like many things has become a 'bucket list item' to check-off. The guy at Disney who came up with that app won an award because it is ultimately designed to keep guests from becoming more enraged while maximizing profits for Disney. Disney should restrict guest counts per day to 1/3 the current population BUT that would mean your ticket costing approximately. $1,000 per day to have a decent experience.
If you visit the U.K., Center Parcs Europe is a much more attractive vacation option. Disney is a waste of money IMHO.
@@chrispnw2547 Omg Center Park is amazing! Never been in the UK but it's infamous in France as well. Fantastic place, and you're actually among nature.
I lived in Orlando from about 94-08, and I am so glad I got parks out of my system, I can't imagine dealing with the crowds now. Every pic just looks like hell.
You're absolutely right. Walt would be horrified at what has happened to the parks. They were originally intended to be magical for everyone, and now they are only magical for those who can pay extra for a magical experience. We're planning to visit Epic Universe in the next couple of years (from New Zealand) and have reduced our planned time at Disney because we don't like how it has changed. We were there in 2017 before all of this Lightning Lane nonsense was monetised. Virtual queues didn't use to exist. Fast Passes were free and available to anyone who wanted to plan, but you could also just rock on up and wait in the standby queue for any ride. We will be spending more time at Universal and less time at Disney for this reason. We would have skipped Disney altogether this time, but we have a friend travelling with us who has never been.
Disney World opened in the Fall of 1971, and I went with my family in the summer of 1972 when I was 12 years old.
Back then, there was no system of premium attractions, but the waiting time in line for every ride was between one hour and two hours. As a result, we only rode on a few rides and then attended a few animatronic shows. We were so tired and cranky by the early evening, that we decided to leave before the nightly fireworks show and go somewhere else to get a decent supper.
It was a one time is more than enough experience for all of us.
Fortunately, we were in Florida on a summer vacation trip to visit my paternal Grandfather, so it was just one disappointing (and overly expensive) day out of an otherwise good vacation.
1-2 hours waiting in line for every ride is INSANE! I could never.
This was me; we went twice during the 1970's! We were there when EPCOT opened & it blew me away as a kid! They never blocked rides back then unless they were being worked on! They have made it way to complicated! Skip the line is totally stupid & that wasn't a thing back then either! I would never go now! Walt Disney would be pissed at the state of the Parks nowadays! They need to close all of the Parks they are no longer worth the headaches they cause for people visiting them! I had friends that worked there & they said they treat their employees like crap!
Oh, hi! Interesting to hear a story from someone who attended in Disney's early years!
Refreshing - I'm so glad that a non-Disney person feels the same way as I do (and I'm an annual pass holder).
lol! Welcome to the dark side I suppose ;)
We go twice a year, and I agree with a lot of your observations. We’ve definitely learned to be “strategic” when we go to the parks. Magic Kingdom is the worst of the parks if for no other reason it is so freaking crowded all of the time. If you go back again, you should go with someone who knows some of the “tricks”. Maybe that will improve your experience. I don’t think Disney World is all that much different from other theme parks. It just has a certain “nostalgia” that is difficult to experience if you don’t plan your trip well.
My family has been totally involved in the Disney ecosystem for DECADES. It's really interesting to see your experience with the parks because for someone who is not in the loop, the parks are pretty inaccessible. I don't recommend anyone just buy a ticket without understanding what is required to have a decent time. If you're not willing to pay extra for everything and plan a year in advance just don't do it. Or at least have very low expectations and be fine with waking around and not doing anything interesting. Even dining is a nightmare without a lot of planning. I also just want to say Disney was NOT always like this.
I agree with your comments. I’m pretty much a Disney aficionado as well, and understand the ins and outs of what is necessary to have a great time. It’s fascinating to hear the experience of someone who just walks into the park without a plan. Once you understand the ins and outs of Disney, it’s difficult to imagine how one can have a truly fulfilling time without that understanding and a corresponding plan. I shudder at the thought of it knowing what I know.
Not long enough - I could listen to you justifiably trash this shit hole for HOURS. I am from Australia and first visited the US in 2001. I was OBSESSED with Disney and did my pilgrimmage to both DL and WDW. I next visited WDW in 2022 and it was COMPLETELY different. I actually had a breakdown in Epcot one day, due to the stress of having to CONSTANTLY plan and be on my phone, checking the fucking app and trying to reserve my place in queues for rides and restaurants. The cost aside (which is now even worse), it was fucking WORK and I DO NOT go to a Disney park to fucking WORK. PLEASE post more rants about these terrible places. If I never go there again, it'll be too soon!!!!!
LOL I feel seen and heard!! Thank you for sharing
I've been to WDW hundreds of times, been there for vacation, even worked there for 3 years. Last time I was there was in 2014 and as much as I still love WDW, it seems to be an expensive shell of it's former self. A lot of the areas/rides that have been sentimental to me no longer exist. I miss WDW of mid 90's early 00's.
At least then it didn't feel like such a cash grab. Even their perks in the past that were "cash grabs" to get you in the park and keep you there didn't feel like cash grabs. Magical Express was one of those perks that helped both the company and and guest. Got you to the park for "free" and for disney, you were "locked" into their ecosystem. Now that's gone and there's things like paid fastpasses
Totally agree. They also pared down little perks like early admission if you are staying on Disney grounds. At one time, if you stayed at a Disney park hotel, you could enter the parks one hour before the general public. Any park you wanted. Later on, when I stayed on the grounds, they still had this perk, but early admission was for a specific park for a specific day. So, if you wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom early, you had to go on the day that was designated for early admission for the Magic Kingdom. Otherwise, you could go to the park that had early admission on that day. Now, Disney lets you enter a designated park a mere 30 minutes in advance instead of one hour. At least, that was the last thing I heard in recent times.
A lot of changes at Disney in the past several years and not all of them are good.
I get what you’re saying and I kind of agree. But at the end of the day, people are paying those prices and it’s still very crowded. They can basically charge whatever they want people to pay it.
Been almost 20 years since I’ve been to a Disney park and this new policy of theirs where you need to purchase some kind of special pass in order to ride the most popular rides is a RIPOFF! I’d be furious if I spent all that money to visit the park and then be interrogated and told you cannot ride an atttaction because you don’t have the SUPER SUPREME park ticket - at twice the price??! Can you imagine a family saving to bring their kids to Disney on a dream vacation they’ve had planned for years only to get to the park and be told “yeh sorry but you can’t ride these rides”? That’s just disgusting. Plus the parks are primarily gift shops after gift shops now. You get off a ride only to be fed into some shop selling Disney merchandise. I honestly don’t know how people can afford to go there these days.
Say it louder for the people in the back! 👏
It's outrageous indeed.
Our last Disney trip was 2014, my mom was a Disney nerd and had us planning a year out. However I did convince to not plan EVERY minute and we winged it a couple times for restaurants. Overall it was a good trip BUT the thought of having to plan another one has kept me from going back. (And it’s more complicated now!). We did Universal in 2021 on a whim/get me the heck out of here trip, zero planning, road trip from MA. We left as season pass holders and have been back 10x since (trip 11 booked for Feb). The hardest part of Universal is picking a hotel and flights (or drive). I don’t feel like I HAVE to be on my phone. I don’t like this new push for mobile ordering they have going on though, we use food gift cards to get around it at most spots since they aren’t in the app yet. I do want to take the kids to Disney before they get too old for it and before Disney ruins all the classics…thinking of pitching a tent at fort wilderness and cooking 1-2 meals on our own to make it a little more affordable (would definitely have to drive with all our gear though) 🤔
Disney has become a shakedown of the park visitors, or what they like to call guests. It was not like that before, but it has turned into a horrible experience. Who needs all these rules and constraints while on vacation?!
100%! The complexity is a distraction, not engaging
Disney has become too complicated and overpopulated. Ps. Youre very handsome 😎👀
I think Disney needs to reinvent itself. It'll always be an iconic brand, like Vogue or Coke. $200 for a ticket is a rip off. You not being able to take that ride is a bigger rip off. The lamp is broken, the carpet doesn't fly, and the fairy tale was a lie. :D
And I caught Mickey on a smoke break! LOL
@@KevenTalks LOL!!!
I went to Disney in 2021. It was a miserable experience. My understanding is that anyone who went in 2021 or 2022 has vowed, “Never again.” I thought that maybe the problems that came with COVID would get fixed. Sounds like things have gotten worse.
You were traveling as a single. Imagine if you were traveling with your wife who is pushing your 2 yr old in a stroller. The other 2 kids aged 5 and 7 are crying that they have to go to the bathroom. And you need to hurry to make your lunch reservation. Let’s add that your phones battery just died.
I myself hate using my iPhone on vacation. With Disney your trip demands it.
Even when the fast passes were free and made of paper it was stressful trying to get there with the times lol. It was sooo much better and you could get as many as you want too.
I suggest Universal Studios. Better bang for your buck. Disney is all about taking your money, but they no longer care about customer experience or putting money into maintaining the parks.
Sounds like my first trip there!
Absolute same experience in 2017. And it was way better than compared to now.
Lets be honest, even the foreigners that don't speak English did their research, which you did not. I started planning 6 months in advance. First mistake, anywhere near the end of the year is bad. I went in the first week of September, after Labor Day. The slowest days in the year. If you stay at Disney Property, even one day, you get huge benefits, such as early entry and lightning lane reservations in advance (if you pay extra). They don't want people waiting two-three hours in line. But they are in it for profit. If too many people go, they raise the price. If an attraction is too popular, they charge extra to skip the line.
That being said it isn't the same value of Disney as it was 20 years ago (when it was actually MORE crowded than today).
Disney fills up the parks with local annual pass holders who are unemployed, skill-less grown adults in mickey ears. Was never like that in the 80s and 90s. Your analysis is spot on!
Oof - "unemployed, skill-less grown adults in mickey ears" is savage 😅🙈
They way overcharge for admission and then try to charge you per ride (for most good rides) AND they turn it into a stressful event that only Type A planners would love with a bad phone app. You used to be able to spend money to get away from the type A life/work and now Disney said = NOPE we can charge you so much money and convince you to stay stressed the whole time needing your phone in hand to plan out your every move.
100%! It turns into a type A stress mode experiment lol - spot on!
Basically,you have to do your research before you even consider going to disney!Getting a regulare ticket gets you in the park-it doesn,t give you accsess to any of the rides,you have to pay more for fastlane or lightning or whatever it is,now!WOW!THAT,S HOW THEY MILK EVERYBODY!
Its good to see the opinion of an "outsider". Im a passholder and it still frustrating. You really do have to prepare for a Disney trip, its not a "show up and have fun" place unless you go alot.
Don’t worry Buddy. You’re not gonna piss me off at all because I love hearing people complain about Disney😊👍
LOL
As a lifelong Disney nerd these are some of the good reasons why so many of us are rooting against the company and are disgusted by Iger and his woke army of greed and incompetence, but you should have known that you need to do a little research before going to a resort that is twice the size of Manhattan.
Yeah Disney is not a place you can go to and wing it anymore. And then going to Magic Kingdom, that is the most iconic park probably also the most little kiddie park.
While I have never been to World, I have been to it's sister parks Disneyland and California Adventure and what you said pretty much hit land on the head more so than DCA. I went in 2022 in September on a week day with my mom since I was visiting and it was packed. I bought Genie + and could barely figure it out. All the rides we wanted had wait times of 30-60 minutes and just felt like hours of waiting for one ride. DCA for us was better and had lesser wait times, friendlier people and just pleasant all around with less crowding. I only paid up for 1 new ride because I wanted to go on it and I wanted my mom to experience it. I saw all the videos so I knew what I was getting into, but I didn't want to spoil it. Really the park has become a "plan in advance...advance". If you don't plan, you miss out and its ashamed. I had gone to Disneyland so many times in my younger years when it was affordable and when my grandpa worked for a dealership allowing us a pretty much "semi" free trip every holiday season. It was nice to be able to go on rides with few waits and have fun. Now it's just...not worth it for the price. Yet people will still pay up because it's the top of line theme park and the only other park to fairly compete is Universal.
Yeah I personally think Universal is much more enjoyable!
U damn right it sucked go to Universal instead lol
Thanks for this! I see video's of the massive crowds at WDW along with the army of baby strollers and, dare I say, the older over weight people on motorize wheelchairs. Do they really have to be there blocking other peoples way, I mean I'm now 67, went to WDW in 74 + 86, there's no way I would ever go again. Not to mention the amount of walking! I see in video's people working the app's and I just couldn't figure all that out. Your video is the first really truthful account of WDW that I've seen!
I feel seen and heard 😂
You aren't the only one who didn't enjoy Disney. I've heard many Disney park horror stories over the last few years.
Disney is about to have their lunch eaten by Universal with Epic Universe opening--and it can't happen fast enough!
100% - Epic Universe is going to blow everything out of the water!
I think the thing about Disney is nostalgia so people keep going back to capture that memory. I've been twice, at 2 (which I don't remember) then 12 & I wasn't impressed. From the videos I've seen I would not pay those prices now. When I go on vacation I do not want to be tied to my phone constantly. My friends & I have been to Universal many times & always had a great time just walking around & deciding what to do next. We only had to use our phones to take pictures. It's always been a very relaxing trip. One of my friends was in FL a couple of weeks ago & paid over $300 for two tickets for ONE day to one park & she was less then impressed & will not do it again.
I watched a news clip after which said that Universal actually relies on the Disney crowd to come through while they're in town. I found that ironic considering Universal seems to be such a better experience.
Torn here because on one hand, most of what you observed could have been easily prepared-for with just a little bit of research. But on the other hand, your experience of the complexity of the whole thing is a testament to just how ridiculously complicated and confusing it is. Even the old timer Disney fans are bothered by it.
...but you also make just outright incorrect comments like that Pirates was based on the movie when, in fact, the movie was inspired by the ride. And the ride is 50 years old so, yeah, it's gonna have some largely dated effects.
Yeah a friend told me that after the fact, that the Pirates ride has always been there (news to me!). Since Johnny Depp's character is in there (presumably added in after), I didn't even consider it could be a ride that predates the movie.
Regarding research - I get your point, but at the same time for a 1-day trip to a theme park, I would assume that doesn't require extensive research. Regardless, not being able to ride a ride with a regular ticket (the bayou adventure ride) should be mentioned when you purchase the ticket vs. having to proactively do research to learn this.
As long as people are willing to pay up, it's always going to be super expensive. I blame the diehards who are willing to splurge more than Disney who's willing to accept their money. That's how Capitalism works. You supply to satisfy demand. And as unfair or ugly as that sounds, there's not a place or system in the world who would offer those kind of services "out of the kindness of their hearts". That's why Communist countries tend to be drab and dreary places to live with no fun. There's no incentive for luxury.
My friend sent me a news clip that showed that for just a little bit more money spent, you could secure a luxury trip to the Caribbean, Mexico, or other "hot spot" getaway destinations.
So the conundrum of Disney is the pricing vs the experience you actually receive.
Funny though how Universal is just as capitalist yet can still provide a better experience for cheaper. Maybe it's not cause communism bad but Disney is too capitalist.
@@LadyTL I love this comment lol
People act like consumerism is some evil, the world would look like Cuba if countries controlled the means of production, it’s a horribly stupid idea. (Vladimir Lenin famously said socialism is a road to communism, I think I’m gonna listen to him on that one 🤣). My guy just found out what supply and demand was. The world isn’t a charity bud, we get really cool roller coasters like velocicoaster because people spend money and companies want those dollars so they compete for them. We get really cool things because of supply and demand and because companies are fighting each other/competing for our money. That very competition creates amazing works of technology, art, etc etc
Tho I really enjoyed vacationing in Cuba lmao.
I miss what Disney parks use to be. I feel like in recent years, Disney parks have damaged their reputation
You can’t just go you must plan, stacking rides and the meta is a part of the Disney experience
You don't understand parts of the Caribbean opened in the 70s way before the movies came out
I think you mean to say "Pirates", and yes, the movies were based upon the ride, not vice versa.
It’s awful! I am 57 and I have gone to Disney several times a year. We always waited in a regular line and it was all part of it. Disney used to be very magical and I pray we get that back.
Dude, the only difference between me and you is I didn't have to waste several hundred bucks and a day to find out all the expensive, Byzantine nonsense that's WDWR. Here are some less expensive, much more gratifying ways to spend time in Florida:
1. Take an Everglades tour.
2. Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Station.
3. Snorkel at John Pennekamp in Key Largo.
4. Visit pretty much any Florida state park.
5. Visit St. Augustine if you have time for an overnight or three-day weekend trip. (Since you're in Miami).
6. Busch Gardens in Tampa any day over WDWR.
I didn't even like Magic Kingdom back in the glory days. EPCOT was more tolerable, but no real fan of it either.
I retired from Disney about two years ago. You're not alone, as this company has been going downhill for a long time now. The CEO, Bob Iger and his executive team, are all about maximizing profit and pushing a political agenda. A couple of years ago my cousin with her daughter and two young granddaughters came during the same time period you did. It was crowded. I had a feeling what would happen, so I paid out of my own pocket for the Christmas Party tickets to help their experience. The party has very limited guests and all the attractions are walk-on or near walk-on. If it hadn't been for that experience, I think their visit would have been a major letdown.
I first wet to Disney World in 1974,afting winning a trip, when I was 14 yrs. I just went to the Magic Kingdom then It was affordable, not as big, and very exciting and fun. I did go to Disneyland in California 2x in 1990,and 2003. It smaller, now has a separate Great Adventure park. I think the prices a bit high parking is extra, and the food not great and expensive. I have heard of these extra charges, adding on if you want not wait for certain attractions/rides, and also certain are not covered in the general admission, so you have pay extra and in advance. To me, that is a rip-off,as one admission price should cover everything like all the rides/attractions. They must be making lots and lots of money. I hear for a family of 4 it might cost $2000 or more plus the Hotel/Motel and food.
DISNEY SUCKS
Even if you pay up for the skip the line service the day of your visit you're at a disadvantage.People staying at a Disney Hotel can pick their skip the line selections up to 7 DAYS IN ADVANCE. Regular tickets get up to 3 days in advance. And to make it even more confusing for the person who's not familiar- not all rides are included anyway. Yes I agree, it sucks.
lol a nightmare!
I feel the same way you do and yes I think that park has ran it's course! I made the terrible mistake about 2 decades ago to go with a group of friends on December 25, the park was SUPER PACKED + Strollers everywhere. Got a question for you Keven since recently you've been to Europe. From what I've heard Europe in general embraced the whole App culture way before it became the norm in USA so maybe the European visitors are more adapt to the system you encounter at The Magic Kingdom, I just wonder?
Omg Christmas at Disney sounds like a nightmare - lol!
I actually feel the U.S. is way more tech/app-based than Europe personally.
When I went to Italy, so many places were still cash-only lol.
@@KevenTalks Oh okay Keven but I've heard that when it came to let's say going into a museum or some sort of attraction in Europe they embraced the booking online/smartphone earlier than we did here in The United States.
I drove to Disney for the day from Palm Beach a couple weeks ago. I went by myself and had the best time! and I don't even go on roller coasters. I did the carosel of progress, the race cars, the tea cups, the haunted house and pirates of the carribean and took myself out to lunch and dinner in the park. I think it's fun and make you feel like a kid again.
My first visit to Disney World was in 1992 and went there again in 1997. Back then, it was magical, and the things you saw were surreal and nothing was forced upon you. Nowadays, Disney World is just an overstimulated expensive mess. You have a billion different digital lights flashing on you at every corner of your sight. Back then, you enjoyed the show when it was raw. Their newer rides do not have much of an appeal to me. They are getting rid of Rivers of America and anything nostalgically classic which is a bad idea. They are overcharging visitors to the park and offer minimum in return. The wait times for rides get worse, and yet, they exclaim that park attendance is down. Their CEO Iger is a disaster, and the movies are not as good as the original classics whenever they add politics into their media. Their investors aren't too happy of what is happening.
If I go there again, it will likely be one and done. I'll go there just to try to relive the magic I experienced as a kid in the 1990s, but I won't have the interest to go to their expensive parks again. Until their leadership changes to bring back more of Walt Disney's vision, Disney will continue to be eaten up by Epic Universe 2025 and Universal Studios.
It used to be so easy. Desperately need higher capacities on each ride so people don't have to sweat to get on an attraction. Over the years every visit was fun and unless the ride was down, we got to do everything. And it was a great value. Never again!
The problems you described are exactly why you must do your homework before visiting a Disney park. You can ride every ride with a regular ticket. It just takes planning.
From Google:
"Tiana's Bayou Adventure" is currently not accessible because it operates solely through a virtual queue system, meaning you need to join a digital line within the My Disney Experience app to ride, and there is no traditional standby line available during regular park hours; you can only access the ride by joining the virtual queue or purchasing a Lightning Lane pass.
If you think someone should do research to figure out if any rides are inaccessible without an app, you are bonkers.
@@KevenTalks 1. The virtual queue is free.
2. It is wise, not bonkers, to review the Disney website before visiting their parks so you can get a lay of the land, times, closures, dining options, descriptions of attractions, etc. At Disney, time is money. A bit of research and planning saves a lot of time in the parks.
I’m afraid you’re a victim of the boarding group system. I don’t blame you, it is extremely confusing, and I don’t understand why they’re still using it on Tiana’s ride because it’s been open for several months now AND is merely a reskin of a pre-existing 30+ year-old ride. I find it kinda insane that the greeter at the ride didn’t explain that you’d get another chance to join at 1pm and show you how to do it, that’s what I would’ve done.
Yeah I googled after to discover it's been like 6 months lol, crazy that they're still restricting access to it
We plan our days a week ahead and never wait on lines. You could have done the virtual queue for Tiana ride at 7 am and 1pm.. it’s free with general admission. You do it on the app
Unfortunately Disney World is not for newbies. I truly think to have a decent visit you have to do some research which as a “type A planner” I love. But definitely not for everyone unless you don’t mind waiting in lines. Also MK would never be my choice for a single day visit as it has the most kids and older rides.
Totally - one of my takeaways was that you have to be "strategic" in planning a Disney visit which was unexpected for me.
You don't just show up to Rome or Paris or Tokyo without a plan of what to visit, but in my mind, a theme park was not complex or vast enough to require such planning - I was wrong, clearly!
I have completely lost my desire to go to WDW. I've been on pretty much all the "rides" there on my many, many visits, so I feel I've seen it all. Being turned away from a ride because you didn't have the right ticket is more than F'd up, especially given the exorbitant price of a regular admission ticket.
100%!!!
WDW is not like going to a state fair on a random day. Starting Thanksgiving the crowds start. I try to do research of any place I go, even a theme park, (you didn't even know there were 4 separate parks says it all...) I realize virtual queue is annoying for new attractions, but there is documentation about it. Did you not use the app? Even Epic Universe opening soon will probably have "rules", so I'll read up on it before going. Sorry, WDW, esp MK is one of the busiest destinations around and research needs to happen. Maybe you would have liked drinking around Epcot or going on the safari at AK better. Packing patience pants is needed for MK.
I've had many wonderful times at WDW...YEARS AGO! The last time we went (had to be at least 10 years ago) we had no preplanning and got on no rides. And this was before you are trapped on an iphone instead of actually looking around and enjoying being with your family. But if it's so bad now, why is everyone still going there, despite all the stress, expense, and hassle? I don't know.
What did you do if you didn't try any rides?
Unfortunately Keven , you are not the only disillusioned person, with Disney’s theme parks.
The prices are extremely inflated, there are too many tiers ($$$) in which you must pay even more, to experience all the attractions. The food prices ( lack of quality, and value) are extortionate.
Sadly, they will eventually price themselves out of existence.
There's something mentally wrong with people that go to those parks every year. I agree its like people who can't stop going to vegas. They've been brainwashed.
😂😂😂 maybe it's like trying to relive a childhood moment?
Spot on. I loved Disney as a kid, but I haven't been there since they implemented any pay-to-ride system, nor will I go again. They have ruined the magic.
I like your perspective! I'd love to try Universal.
Love Universal in Orlando! If nothing else, go for the Harry Potter area. It's so well-crafted.
@KevenTalks Thanks for the advice! I will try to make it there!
You have said it so well! You would have loved Disney some years back when we were able to Afford to go to Disney. It really was many years ago but you did not need a cell phone at all. You could just buy the ticket to get into Disney and you could go wherever you wanted. you just got in and it you wanted to wait in line you did and if you did not just leave and try again maybe later.. The ticket prices were reasonable, we even stayed at one of the medium priced hotels. Back then we took the but most of the time from one park back to our hotel. Things were so different and FUN! They have priced them out of range. We went several times from Ohio. First we flew A couple of times then after our son was born and old enough to walk and understand some of the rides we drove. Then they went to It Is all about the money and I do not understand all the apps and be on my cell phone all the time. Stick to Universal. I have never been but it has to be better right now than Disney
The last place you can have fun is WDW.
LOL
It's The Most Mercantile Place on Earth!
I read this with the "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" melody, whether that was your intention or not lol
1000% on point. The parks have gone to shit.
Bro. Pirates of the Caribbean is an original Disneyland ride when Walt Disney was alive. 1950s.
Anyway, i feel your pain. I just got back from Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea. .........dont get me started.
Yeah my friend told me that after the fact! Had no idea. Since Johnny Depp's character is in there, I didn't even consider that ride could've pre-dated in the movie.
Tell us everything about the Tokyo Disney!!!
I did that because my sister brought her kids! Her kids are still kids even if they are no longer in school!
You are 100% correct
I'm black and got looks like I don't belong here SMH
Disney is for type A peeps, or peeps who know type A peeps 😂
I'm type A but don't wanna be on my vaca days lol
So sorry you learned this the hard way.
Disney sucks. Never again.
haha 😆
Wow! Sounds to me like you didn't bother to do any research before you went. There are videos everywhere about everything Disney. You only have yourself to blame. Everybody knows its BUSY in December. Plan your vacations first!
There are no rides at Disney that the base entry does not allow you to ride.
Tiana's Bayou Adventure. I was told I could not ride it.
When I checked the app throughout the day, all the options for it (including paying up to skip the line) were greyed out.
@@KevenTalks You have to stand in the "standby" line that moves very slowly. You might have accidently tried to enter the express line. There are no rides at Disney that require any upgrade tickets to ride, but they do have express lines that sell out. I'm actually on your side, but your experience is why I also agree that if you don't know how the system works, you are screwed. And you ran into that.
@@blaster-zy7xx From Google:
"Tiana's Bayou Adventure" is currently not accessible because it operates solely through a virtual queue system, meaning you need to join a digital line within the My Disney Experience app to ride, and there is no traditional standby line available during regular park hours; you can only access the ride by joining the virtual queue or purchasing a Lightning Lane pass.
@@KevenTalks Wow, I stand corrected. We were Disney annual pass holders for years but left before that ride was rethemed. That is new. In any case, I'm still way on your side on this one. Disney just got to be unfun for us, too complicated, too expensive and too crowded, so we stopped going about two years ago. Thanks for the correction. Puts them in an even worse light.
Many kids have more fun with a big pool.
There's no waiting in a pool! lol
The only way to do Disney is to stay in Disney.
You are spot on.
The place is worhtless as a "one and done" vacation. About all it is good for is locals and people obsessed with the place that are okay visiting and not doing the majority of the main attractions unless you really want to cough up the big bucks now. Truthfully; They have less parks now than they did 25 years ago and about the same number of rides between them.