This video is EXACTLY how everyone that loves Disney, but continues to be priced out. Thank you for doing this, we're all frustrated with what once was Disney
Why don't they just limit guests? How hard is that? This idea of pricing out is greedy. If you limit guests it should accomplish similar goals, while also having a more even park distribution of the crowds (why I like a park pass system. Just like a reservation for a restaurant or a limit of tickets sold for a concert)
We are coming over from the uk in just over four weeks , sad to say this will be the last time we visit Disney, we will come back though and travel round , we love Florida and love travelling around this sunny 🌞 state xx
It already has by a lot this year. They’re already running specials like crazy for ‘24. This past week is the last week for a very long time that felt crowded.
Attendance dropping would be awesome. Fuck my wallet. I'll happily pay more and go less if it means that rides don't have hour+ waits and I can walk around without being stuck in one giant human traffic jam.
@@DallasMoorePlusThe crowds were not high in July. But the app was still showing massive wait times. I’m convinced they’re lying on slow days to still make people buy Genie +. There were a lot of rides we got on 20 minutes shorter then posted wait time.
I couldn’t agree more about Disney and how greedy they are getting. I’m a single mom who has been a passholder for 5 years because Disney has truly been my sons happy place. It’s all changed this year. We let our passes go because we can no longer afford to go and due to the price increases. Add the fact that they are taking away passholder benefits and it’s just not worth it. We will be looking into switching over to Universal next year. We will miss our friends at Disney, but we can no longer support a company who doesn’t care about their Passholder’s.
Walt NEVER "overcharged" their customers. He wanted the average family to experience the Character's interacting! You said it the way it is, good for you!
We’ve been cured of our Disney addiction. My wife and I have been married just about 53 years and we have never let a year go by without a WDW visit. For many winters, we’d park our RV at FW for no less than 8 weeks and some winters 12 weeks. We were there so much that we became seasonal CM’s. We were excited about everything there and boasted that we were CM’s. However, those days are gone. Besides price increases, Disney has changed way too much in the last few years. We’re still classic Disney fans but the new Disney has cured our addiction. There are many great CM’s but a lot of CM’s need a refresher course at Traditions. Also noticing that more and more guests are developing a very strong “me first” attitude. So, we’ve decided to make room for those still addicted and will curtail our visits to DS for the occasional Earl sandwich. PCDev, I know it’s sometimes difficult but you do a great job.
Don't apologize for speaking passionately! It breaks my heart to hear/see what has been done to the Disney brand. They used to be my children's escape into the magic that should be part of childhood.
Great video! Just subscribed. We are DVC members and I have been going to Disney since I was a little kid. I 100% agree with everything you are saying ... it's disgusting how they treat the people who pay the bills. I knew it was down hill once they took the magical express away .... who would decide to stop a service that picks families up from the airport and delivers them right at your front door. That service almost guaranteed that those families would not spend money anywhere else .... That truly just shows how out of touch these people are.
I admire your courage and honesty. It's sad that other UA-camrs lied for Disney just to stay on the media/VIP list. These people have no integrity and value. Thank you and fight on!
I completely agree with you. Disney is becoming only for the rich and that's heartbreaking. We should all be able to experience the magic of Disney. I realise it's a business, but it's just greedy. I don't think Walt would approve. Sad news. I appreciate you looking out for us Devin and speaking your truth.
We don’t think we’ve ever been prouder to call ourselves fans of your channel dude. You’ve ALWAYS kept it honest & today, I would say you’re now the ONLY Theme park content creator that is 100% authentic. That is appreciated a lot. Please keep doing what you’re doing & let us know if there’s anyway to support you further ❤
We took our 4 sons there every year, sometimes twice a year and now we have a grandchild. Disney has totally priced us out, can't stand the thought of trying to deal with Genie +, on and on. Thank you Dev for your words and to speak up for all of us feeling the same way!
As an ex cast member, this makes me sad. I remember when a one day ticket was 50.00 per park, per day. Those days are gone forever. I totally understand when you said you went to Disney to escape reality. I did too. Anytime I went through something traumatic in life, I booked a flight and ran back to Disney. Universal is the place to be now.
Same here! Now that I’m a Cast member I really feel soo bad for everyone else that comes to the park starting right now. Sadly to say that I am sacred to see what the future holds for Disney. But one thing is for sure if people would stop buying the tickets and not come to the park then Disney would have no choice to submit themselves to lower down their prices for the parks. Man, 2024 is about to get really interesting. 🤔
It costs $75+ just to walk out of the house these days 🤷🏽♀️😂 it’s unfortunate but a reality. Universal went up too. Disney is a for profit company. A storytelling magic making company but definitely FOR PROFIT. Just like this channel and most influencers do what they do for a profit.
@@squigglove Those were the best times ever and made people really want to go to Disney. If they bring that back they will have people flocking back to their parks in droves
It's not greed. It's desperation. Their woke turn destroyed their business. Nuked it. They're bleeding cash. The one thing that was a money-maker was the parks, and even that is starting to fail. This is panic fire. My family walked away 5 years ago, and will not be back. The prices are not only not justifiable, but they have destroyed what the experience once was. So, what the hell are these loons paying for?
You're 1000% right, Dev and thank you for being the type of vlogger that points out the outrageous price increases and loss of magic in the parks 😢 Have been loving the VALUE universal parks have been offering, but afraid of their price hikes once epic universe opens 😬
This past week, I went to both Disney (one night for the Not So Scary party) and Universal (for four full days) and the difference was night-and-day. A surprising discovery: there was a clear dividing line between older Disney cast members and younger ones. Older cast members were enthusiastic, engaging, and embodied the Disney Magic that made my wife and I bring my family dozens of times over the past 25 years. Younger cast members were polite, but we felt like our patronage was more of an inconvenience than appreciated. The exact opposite at Universal. We didn't have a single interaction at any of the three Universal parks that was less than exceptional. I actually filed formal appreciation letters for three different employees while we were there. (If you go to guest services and pass a "thank you" along to specific employees, it helps them significantly during their annual review.) The hotels are really nice and reasonably priced, and Universal parks are really good at delivering more immersive experiences now, too. It makes me sad to see how far Disney has fallen, but Universal is more than picking up the slack. Great video, as always, Dev. Thanks for sharing.
@@omnicognatesnr5947 ugh. Sorry to hear that. It is such a far cry from what it used to be. I can only hope new leadership will bring them back around.
This makes me respect busch gardens/seaworld more. The ticket prices are reasonable, they often have discounts, and the fun card is great value. Even fun card holders will randomly get a guest ticket.
I agree with you!!!!!! We had our wedding on the Disney Wish and then honeymooned at Disney World….the love, magic and outstanding customer service on the cruise was top tier!! When we got to Disney World, stayed at the Riviera and visited 3 parks……lack luster experience. We were so disappointed and we are APs. This visit just was missing the mark left and right.
I agree! I had a fantastic experience at universal studios and staff were all exceptional and seem to go out of their way to make our experiences exceptional. I am team universal all the way.❤
No need to apologize! I've said this before in your Comments but will say it again! I am under zero delusion that Disney Parks are in any way mine ... but having grown up with Parks and having seen how amazing they can be, I can't help but feel that something wonderful is being taken from me! Make sense to anyone else?
disney are pdfiles, if u attatch ur self to these immoral evil companies then enjoy the consequences. its best to just work, save and literally not give money to companies as much as possible and just watch stuff online free via the pirate way, anything less an your money goes to pdfile warmongering criminals
Funny thing is. The insane upcoming travel promotion coming up shows they are having issues. Then they go ahead and raise prices 1 week later. There is something seriously wrong with their thinking on this
You, Kevin Heimbach and Brayden from MV are by far the best Disney content creators right now for this very reason. You three keep it so real and speak for us “peasants”. Keep doing your thing, Dev!
Have you noticed Brayden also has changed his content to more Universal? And even he said he doesn’t go there, but he isn’t dumb. What they’re doing is taking up the Disney torch and running with it. Vloggers know their content isn’t getting watched or commented on as much if it’s Disney.
@@michelleberman8361 yup. Noticed that too. He seems far more excited talking about universal updates for EU than anything Disney 😅 Can’t blame him. Exciting times over there. Disney..hey we got a walk through attraction LOL.
Lmao if you think any universal content gets more views than Disney. Maybe once EU opens but it’s not even close. Universal social media are chatting in Disney blogger streams often, they know who’s king and try to attract those influencers
Universal is looking better and better and better all the time. I was thinking that today that this looks like it’s probably gonna be my last trip to the Disney parks.
I was thinking the same thing because it is getting harder & harder for me as a single parent to afford it anymore. What in the world is Disney thinking these days especially when prices for everything else has hit the roof sort to speak?😢
Been waiting all day for this video. Absolutely ridiculous, my wife and I are Magic key holders but live in WA State. We make a few trips a year there so it’s worth it. Seriously considering just moving on. The Magic is just gone at this point.
This is why we continue to support you. Because you’re brave enough to voice what we’re all feeling. Truthfully, we all should. The people who truly love Disney and wish everyone could afford to share in the magic that moves us to tears. Disney is our escape and place to be kids again. Many parents want their kids to also share in that nostalgia but it’s getting harder for them to do so. We agree with everything you said. We love Disney and the parks. Disneyland is very special to us but we just want some of the old Disney back🥺 Thank you for sharing this!👏
I worked as a cast member while in college through the WDWCP, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Then, when I had children, my wife and both could not WAIT until they were old enough to take to WDW - and we did, twice. But we are both teachers, and between the constant price hikes, the loss of features like Magical Express, and the decline of their cinematic quality, we just feel that the magic is gone. We can no longer afford, as teachers, to take our kids to Disney. Even worse, I feel like the corporate messaging is that middle class folks like us are no longer their target demographic, and it stings. I truly believe that all of this is going to hurt the Disney brand over the long run. Thank you, Dev, for being so honest about things with us.
I really respect you for speaking out on this and for being completely honest. It seems like a lot of other theme park influencers are afraid to say what they really feel because they are so worried about how the corporations perceive them. You are saying what a lot of us are thinking. This was so refreshing to watch and hear.
Thank you Dev for keeping it real and keeping us in the loop. This is absolutely ridiculous. Disney is definitely weeding out the average family and focusing more on the rich. I dont think that i will be able to come back to Disney after this year. It is not affordable at all anymore 😢
PS Forgot to say a heartfelt...THANK YOU DEV!! You are speaking for all of us! I get upset when I see some vloggers paying 20 or 30 bux for a snack (per person) and talking about how cute it is. For that price, the cupcake should dance around the table, sing our names and come with a Tshirt LOL Of course they keep it positive, so they can keep getting in free (when none of us can afford to even consider the trip we desperately want to take), or other perks. It warms my heart to hear you, and one other, just being honest. It's why I'll always turn to you first and trust you!!!
We did too, and we love it, especially the Volcano Bay waterpark. That was outstanding! I don’t miss the new Disney, but I do miss the old Disney. You know, before 2020.
My family and I are right there with you! We have always wanted to go to Epcot and we looked at tickets at the end of Feb 2024 where there are zero festivals going on and with taxes a one day adult ticket was $184! No thank you. We opted instead for a five day pass to Universal. The 5 day, 2 park (park to park) tickets averaged out to $86.50 per day OR $43.25 per park. A friend going with us has a season pass so we get free parking!
I so appreciate your vulnerability and honesty in sharing your thoughts on Disney. My love for Disney started when I was little after my family went in the early 90s. We grew up poor, so when we were able to go, it totally changed my life. As an adult, I lived in Florida for a little while, and we would get to go down to Disney for the day. My love for going to Disney was because it took us out of reality, out of hardship, out of exhaustion…it was a family-friendly magical escape. This year, I’m planning a vacation for my whole family-siblings, parents, children, nephews; and, it makes me sad to say it will be our last time unless Disney makes some major changes. Two years ago, we visited Universal Studios for the first time. We were impressed with the simplicity of it all…no hidden costs…friendly cast members…great food…awesome festivals. I hope that Universal will stay family-friendly and more affordable for families. We’re all in if they will! Thank you so much, again, for voicing what many of us are thinking and feeling!
You are absolutely right Disney is pricing themselves out of a lot of business. I have been going to Disney since the mid-70s but I’m getting ready to turn 70 years old and it’s not worth the price of the passes. I’ve been a passholder for many years but I’m not running from ride to ride anymore. There’s a lot of things that you can do in United States and pay a lot less money. I just hope they listen to somebody.
My family is right there with you Devin in feeling the anger, frustration, and sadness of what Disney is doing with all that Walt Disney built for all families & all ages to enjoy, not just the rich folks. It started with a mouse, but it looks like they've switched it to being about a duck... Scrooge McDuck. :( What a slap in the face to get everyone's hopes up with announcing all of those great Disney deals coming in Nov-March for them to then announce a couple days later "oh and by the way, we're also raising prices on everything too!" How much more villainous can you get?!!! This is no longer the company of Mickey Mouse... the villains have taken over! I too love Walt Disney, have read about him since I was a kid and remember watching him on World of Disney, and there's no way I'd ever believe that if he were still alive running things that he would be handling things in such a greedy way.
🔥 🔥 🔥 thanks for this Dev! 100% agree with everything you said. I just got back from taking my whole family to Disney and I had a horrible time. Constantly looking at my phone using their services and then having to get Genie + because it’s so busy and then buy individual lightning lanes to ride the good rides. It was all a joke. I spent over 7,000 dollars and that is staying off a Disney resort. No way I could add saying even at Pop Culture for $400 a night per room. I’m done with them. Maybe in 5 years I’ll come back if changes are made but hell I can go to Europe with my family for these prices.
I’m glad you brought up the parking. My husband and I were talking today how Disney or any park shouldn’t charge for parking because they make way more from park tickets, food, and merch. So it’s not necessary to charge for parking. There is nothing to apologize for being angry. We all are and are sick and tired of the people that are in charge not caring at all about how much they are charging for every little thing. They need to knock it off and concentrate on bringing the Magic back. Thank you for your video. We love you too!💕
Magic Kingdom alone has 12,000 parking spots but let's say only half is used during that is still $180,000 A DAY and $1.26M a week for 1 park! We've haven't been to Disney on our last three trips because of the cost. I joke that when you go through security and the detector, they aren't looking for weapons, they just want to know how much money you have they can fleece off you!
You're right about Universal also...they have kept their nose clean and stayed a family fun park for all and with Epic coming soon...Disney will be regretting many of their decisions. Keep up the good reporting. XOXO
Great video Dev. I agree 100% with you regarding the money grab by Disney. Five ($5) for a coke, geez. Thirty ($30) or more to park. Absolutely ridiculous. I agree Disney is for the rich anymore and not the average person. I always appreciate your honesty, you’re the only UA-camr who is honest about Disney. Keep being you Dev.
Absolutely agreed with you. Even the small practices like refillable cups make such a difference for universal. $17 for unlimited refills all day (with the purchase of the cup included too) while Disney charges upwards of $5 per drink. Universal has been my favourite for a long time with all the changes being made at Disney and it's great to see how well they're doing. I also personally think Universal merch has been far better in recent years than Disney's
Thank you, Dev, for speaking the truth!! It's so sad we won't be able to afford Disney, but we will be doing universal. Thanks, Dev and Bianca. We love you both!!
The only way prices go down is if WE stop paying . We enable price hikes by continuing to go . They use the parks to subsidize their film and streaming failures. Their media is TANKING .
Dev is 100% correct 👍 Even Genie Plus will increase, my biggest gripe with Disney. You’ve already took hundreds, if not thousands of dollars but now you want even more from guests? And even then, getting a virtual queue spot or lightning lane pass isn’t even guaranteed. After many years, we were finally able to purchase annual passes this week and now this. Thanks Bob. My advise, fill up your hydroflasks when you get to the park with water, bring some snacks from home. Don’t buy snacks or dine at the restaurants. Stop going into the gift shops. If everyone starts doing that, Disney will notice. Then when they ban water and snacks from home, stop going all together. Then they’ll really notice.
The problem with that is once people are in the parks they won't be able to resist spending.... disney is too good at selling their brand. And the people who don't spend on extras are the people disney doesn't care if they price out and yet they still got them to spend on the bare minimum. The masses need to be more proactive to make a difference. That means making a stand not to go to the parks at all BEFORE before being priced out... then and only then will disney notice and slow their role. I can only hope one day people will realize all it would take is a viral boycott on social media.
Wow!!! That was the best rant ever!!! You said what we all think and feel! I have grandchildren now and it breaks my heart how badly they want to go there on vacation and can't. So hard for families if you have a couple of kids. I hope Disney hears you loud and clear. Our families are looking for the something now better family oriented that stands by our morals and believes. Shame on Disney!!!
You speak truth 💯 I feel the same. I will always love Disney from all my magical memories of what it used to be. Heartbreaking that the majority of us can’t afford to enjoy like we used to any longer though. Definitely not Walt’s vision anymore. Thank you for what you do 🙏🏽👍🏽
Dude, I’ve said it before. This video is exactly why I respect and salute you in comparison to other Disney vloggers. I’m sorry that you were kicked off the media list, as it was likely to be expected. But, you remain true to the real world and the people who are not disillusioned by the Magical Mouse. All the love and power to you, Bro!
😢😢 I am a Disney fan but have not been to any of the Disney parks since February 2021. The magic is GONE….Not a fan of pricing, and genie is horrible! . They truly don’t care about the average consumer anymore and everything they do shows it. I am blessed but still won’t give them a dime. I am truly sad about the direction they are going. I have switched over to universal parks and have been extremely happy with my 4 park experiences . Thank you for your honesty Dev I appreciate your views and love your videos 😊😊
I used to go every 2-3 months. The last time I went was Feb.22, 2022. At that point, I felt no magic whatsoever. There was no point in returning. Walt has left the building.
I went the same time too!! That trip solidified that Disney world really has nothing for me anymore. Towards the end of the trip I was just wishing we were at Universal instead lol. We ended up going back to Orlando this April to stay at Universal and had the best trip ever!
I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart because I feel the same way you do which is sad because I love Disney but I just can’t afford it anymore and it’s not as magical as it used to be
Thank you for being REAL! We haven't been to Disney in years and would like to go, but pricing is ridiculous and planning a trip from out of state seems sooooo complicated. No regrets on being a Universal passholder. Never had an issue there. Always get to eat where/when we want. We get to ride what we choose and when. That's how a vacation should be. We always Uber there from the airport, so parking has never been a concern for us. Thank you for being REAL Dev! Can't wait to see more Cooking with Bianca!
i remember going to Disney with my family every year up until my mid 20's. Now it feels unreachable even though I'm a Florida resident! Tickets are so costly and so are the hotels it just feels like i can take a more immersive vacation somewhere else instead of spending so much money just for a weekend. It's insane because I LOVE Disney! It's full of fond memories and happy times. But I'm not going to take out loans to be able to go.
Yup, you nailed it. Disney isn't even a consideration for me or my family anymore and we are lucky enough to have a reasonable amount of money. Even then, it's still too expensive. Disney today is not the same Disney of the past. They are a money hungry organization that has lost the passion for providing experiences.
Dev… thank you for saying it. From the bottom of heart, thank you for using the platform you have to be this voice. My wife and I spent years going to the parks and now that we have kids of our own, we can’t go. We can’t take them to experience the magic and have the fun we used to have. It breaks my heart and angers me. So thank you for being my voice.
We just got back from Disney 3 weeks ago. Our 1st time as a family. Got the 3 day pass for FL res.($891) It was ludicrous. The amount of $$ we spent on little things, we even brought our lunch each day, still was too much. We now ow more because we used CC to be able to do this trip to make our 7/8 year olds dream come true. And we are suffering for it. This has just helped make it impossible for us to return. Disney has really let it’s fans down.
Thank you Dev! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 I 100% agree with you. This is ridiculous that they are increasing their prices again. I just took my kids this year for the first and it took me so long to save for it because it’s so much money. Universal is definitely cheaper especially their hotels. I love love love Disney but they better get it before Epic Universe opens or that’s a wrap for them. They need to focus on their films because they have been doing horrible. This just makes me sad and it’s unfortunate that they are doing this to their customers. Keep it 💯, Dev. Keep speaking for us. ❤
Thank you for your honesty! Not one theme park content creator says this. What you're saying is true, and we as a family of 5 will be going to universal next year. Disney has become out of reach for us.
Hmmm..interesting. We've let go of our old expectations of people and things and moved towards an open mind and acceptance. Nothing stays the same and we understand its a private business...for profit! We enjoy our family time at Disney. For us, its still magical, even with the price increases. Universal just doesnt have that "feel." Everything has definitely increased substantially!!!! We are more selective with what special events we attend. Its life, we roll with the punches. ❤️
I completely agree with your feelings. Took the words right out of my mouth. I grew up loving Disney, worked there for many years. But yes it does really suck at how everything is about the money now. I saw the price increases happening with the annual passes yesterday and I almost considered completely dropping my pass. It sucks because I have a daughter now who isn’t even one yet and she may not grow up loving Disney as much as I did because I don’t think I will be able to afford to continue to take her. Keep up the great work. I love watching your videos and appreciate how you keep it real with us
@@therealventures There’s an increasing number of hotels offsite charging up to £28 per night for parking, Orlando is inflicting some serious self harm if they think raising cash by fleecing tourists is an astute long term strategy.
I 100% agree with you! Disney is ridiculously expensive and it’s only going to keep going up in price! they are definitely raising the prices to attract the rich only! it’s so sad that so many people will never get to experience Disney! We are already a struggling country and all Disney cares about is money. I am so glad I got to experience Disney as a kid but it’s honestly sad that I as a single mother with a son have to struggle to try to give my son that same experience I had as a kid. Times are so hard already.
Dev I’ve watched almost every single one of your videos since 2019 and this one is my absolute favorite. Thank you for keeping it real and unfiltered. I hope Disney is listening and I hope Universal listens too because it seems like Disney is fumbling the bag in an unprecedented way. My wife and I will not be renewing our annual passes or Disney+ account because we’re priced out. We will be renewing our Universal passes with pleasure and to your point, once Epic Universe opens…it’s game over! We’re living in a historic time in the theme park space and can’t wait to see what Universal does next.
Completely agree with you. I appreciate the rant. The increase in prices is extremely maddening. We are DVC and have annual passes. The increase in the passes year on year is completely ridiculous. I have not heard and cannot find what the renewal prices will be. We waited for years to buy DVC, now we have seriously thought about selling. We do love the resorts and will probably drop the annual passes, try out Universal and do other things in Florida. It's very sad. Disney has always been my escape, my happy place and they have been slowly ruining that year upon year. ☹
Thank you so much for being our voice. I am a lifelong Disney fan and have been going to Disneyland once, twice, sometimes even three times a year since I was a kid (I live in Hawaii). I've only been to Disney World twice in my life (once as a kid and once back in 2015), and was really hoping to visit again next year. But, that hope is getting smaller and smaller with every price increase. It makes me so sad that this place - my FAVORITE place in the world - is now trying to cater only to the wealthy people who can afford it. I really feel your frustration and anger and I really appreciate your honesty because I know how much of a Disney fan you are/were too. Maybe I'll follow your advice and check out Universal Studios instead!!!
You are 100% correct !! I have been married since 1994, and we have been to Walt Disney World every year for our anniversary. We even years ago would average $2000 up to $7000 to really enjoy our 5 to 7 days there. Yes even splurged a Magic Kingdom View 11th floor at the Contemporary and paid for my in laws to go with us also. We have watched you for a little over a year now and we agree 100% Disney is way overpriced now. Parking at the Disney Hotels is where we really were pissed. You pay hundreds even thousands and now charge daily parking too, it was free before. We have not been back since 2020 and are not going back probably ever again. Sorry to say. Rant away, you are correct.
Preach! I’m a Disney fan but I’m hurting looking at these new prices. I cannot afford to go and eat at the same time. This video is powerful, thank you for making it- you said everything I’m thinking and more. Disney is not the same company anymore . I hope they listen to you.
Dev…I totally agree! I’ve been visiting Disney almost every year since 1983…still go to Orlando…no longer stay at Disney resorts or parks. They have become to expensive AND greedy ! They also no longer offer the great “Disney Experience”. Makes me sad…😥😥
Such a great video, Dev. Thank you for speaking your mind and voicing what so many others are thinking and have been thinking and feeling for a while. I’m with you in that my husband and I moved from one part of Fl to be living as locals in Orlando to be closer to the parks, especially Disney. However after everything and the price increases we stopped attending and switched to Universal. We have been UAP for a little over a year and love it. And even though I so badly want to go back to visit the Disney parks and share the experiences that I once got to have with my first daughter, with my second daughter who is 4 and who has never been, it’s just not worth the time, effort and money right now. And you’re right, Disney is catering to the wealthy class, and it sucks that they’re not making it an everybody park. I keep thinking to myself when can we finally return, but at this point it doesn’t likely for a longer time than I expected…
Glad someone speaks the truth about Disney's BS right now. My dad use to work at Disney so I grew up with Disney. But this is the last straw for me and I'm officially team universal. Thanks dev for all that you do and keep up the good work.
Dev thank you for speaking out for all of us. I miss Disney and have not been able to go back since I was 16, I am not almost 22, in the prime of my life yet my family nor myself can afford to go back to the place I always loved. It’s sad to see the way Disney not listening and caring about their prices affecting their fans.
I have been a HUGE Disney fan for so long. For the past year I have been in denial about where the future of the company is headed. But it’s clear that things are only going to get worse. I hope they wake up before those of us still remaining faithful are gone.
Hi Dev, It’s really sad, but true!!! My family has been going to Disney since my husband was a child and was going every year before the pandemic hit! No, we are not rich just a family that loves Disney and make sacrifices to go, but with the constant increase in prices the regular trips/visits have ceased. Disney previously catered to various financial backgrounds, but now you do have to be rich to plan a vacation. At one time Disney focused on making sure a family have a wonderful vacation during their stay their by offering such great packages and extra amenities and entertainment for the entire family but now its so commercial, which does take away from the fun, relaxation that one normally receive while there. Who needs to be stressing about the cost for this and that when you are on a vacation. One should be enjoying themselves to the fullest! It’s really depressing to hear of all the changes and that’s taking so much of the childhood out of the parks, which is the magic we all remember and love! It’s what we grew up loving about Disney and desire our kids and grandchildren to experience! Unfortunately, it just not there, so I’m taking my granddaughters before I can no longer be able too, and it will probably be my last visit. I rather know Disney World as the most wonderful place to be that makes so many dreams come and feel true, but also make you feel they are reachable!
Thank You Deb on your honesty. It’s a breath of fresh air, to see someone who tells it like it is. And speaking up for majority of people who are effect by the changes. You are right about Universal if they make those 2 changes, they will have people at their parks in a heart beat. TFS✨
dev, been a subscriber of yours since your DCP days. just had to say i appreciate how you have always been upfront with us and have always spoken your truth. i'm so frustrated with disney these days :(
We holiday fairly regularly to Florida. Used to split time 80/20 in favour of Disney vs Universal & other parks. Now it’s completely the opposite. I don’t think I’m alone.
You’re saying everythinggggg I have been thinking for a LONG TIME. Didn’t renew my Universal pass for the first time in 10+ years just to have a year at Disney with my nephew, but it is so sad and discouraging how expensive it is.
Love your honesty! I also agree, prices are way too high at Disney and not worth what they are charging! It just gets worse and worse. I also agree with you in regard to Universal. Such an amazing park. I went for the first time last year and going again this coming December. I am so excited!
You are so not alone in this feeling and have nothing to apologize for! The magic of Disney left the parks after the pandemic. Literally! So many included services were taken away like extra magic hours and the magical express for hotel guests, the free magic bands with your trip, and the free fast passes for every guest! Now you have to pay for transportation, pay for magic bands if you book a trip, pay for genie+, stay in a deluxe resort to get any extra time in the parks…it’s nuts!
As an OG "Disney Adult" we don't go any more. We sold most of our DVC points back to Disney. If you price it out, you can go to London for a week for what it costs to go to Disney with less lines and cheaper food. It's insane. You aren't the only one that feels the way you feel. It's sad and it sucks, but it is what it is.
That’s right. I’ve heard other people say that they can travel anywhere else in the world for less and have the experience of a lifetime. Someone said you could cruise around the world on a cruise ship for three weeks or longer for less money than a family of four or five at Disney for a week.
Multi generational family here. My parents went, I went, my kids went and finally this summer we were able to finally get there with my grand kids! (After being canceled multiple times due to covid) We were very excited and glad they got to experience it, even with all the hikes even from date we were supposed to go and when we went. It’s even harder for us because of the exchange rate on top of travel and cost of Disney so I can say with a heavy heart that I most likely won’t be able to ever go back. 💔 RIP Walt As for you apologizing for being angry, DON’T I think it stems back to the passion you once had for the magic of Disney. I can keep dreaming and believing it will some day resemble what I grew up with but it’s hard. Yes I know change is inevitable but this is crazy!! PC find your joy!
I’ve always loved your truthfulness and honesty Dev and there’s no need to apologize! It absolutely needs to be said ! I’ve always wanted to take my three grandchildren to Disney while their still young but unfortunately it’s just been a bucket list dream 😞! At this rate I’ll be fed be able to afford it and I live in NH . Thank you for being our voice ! The voice of the common man , it so needs to be said. So thank you for being our voice PCDev ❤️! I’ve been watching your channel for quite sone time now and I really enjoy it! Thank you!
Dev, you are the voice for the ones who are thinking about this. I feel your frustration! It's sad for those who cannot afford it. I have family members who normally use their tax refunds to spend a day at Disneyland. They can no longer afford it. As a Disneyland fan, it's sad kids may not get to experience the so-called Disney magic. Can't imagine what my December trip will cost! I guess my Knott's & Magic Mountain pass will be getting used more.
Well said, Dev. You are voicing the thoughts that so many of us have, including the observations about killing the golden goose of the Disney parks when Disney+ is underperforming. Universal has been silently outpacing Disney for the last few years, but you’re right that they are truly about to unseat Disney for good in terms of the standard for the theme park industry. Appreciate your honesty-I and so many agree with you and until Disney starts to course correct, it will be interesting to explore other parks and other attractions around Florida.
Good for you Devin! I am glad someone has the guts to call this company out. You have every right to be angry as do all the people who can no longer enjoy the parks. I went as a child through my late teens with my mother and sister and was lucky enough to enjoy the real Magic that Walt wanted.
I think you've always tried to be nice when you do these types of videos and finally your found the proper balance between frustration and summarizing the truth. Thank you so much for doing this please continue to do this please continue to be a voice for those of us who still love it but are frustrated and are priced out sometimes and I know for a fact if not for the specials they run a lot of us would never be able to even consider it, and you are giving us the voice by doing this
Literally same. You nailed it!!!! Disney played stupid games and will win stupid prizes. Universal is where the party is at now! All the original and best imagineers at Disney went to work on Epic Universe from what I heard. Disney is a sinking ship.
I can afford the prices all day, but I won't pay it. Still not worth the insane prices to just stand in line all day. The glory days of Disney are in the rear view mirror.
Dev you are 100% correct & I'm in total agreement with you as I'm sure millions of others feei the same too. I expect Walt is turning in his grave he didn't create Disney for the wealthy only. Far from it. Shame on those that are now responsible for Walts vision & destroying it. I hope Walt himself haunts each & every one of them! Dev you are a man of the people.... Well said... Bravo bravo.
You’re spot on, Dev! No apologies necessary. June 2021 was probably my last visit to Disney Theme Parks. There is so much more out there to see and spend our hard earned money on!
We just came back from a universal trip and I can say we paid a fraction of what I have paid for a Disneyland and Disney world vacation in the past . We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and yes Universal is doing something right . I watched your videos to plan our universal trip n stay thank you for all the good honest info ❤
Preach! My family alternates being pass holders between the different parks and we are firmly now on Team Universal. It’s a better experience there and Disney has priced us out. My kids, both teenagers, even prefer Busch Gardens to Disney these days.
That’s right, Dev!! Keep telling it like it is!! We’ve loved watching you from the beginning of your channel but we love that in these new Disney times, you keep it real for the majority of people who have a hard time processing this. I grew up in a time where Disney wanted families to visit the theme parks. It hardens my heart to see them doing everything they can to keep the average family out of its theme parks. That’s not what this park was meant to be about.
Thank you for your candor and honesty. If I didn't already follow you I would be following you after this video. The fact that you continue to speak your truth even after they removed you from the media list, speaks volumes to your integrity. You and Mickey Views are tops when it comes to truthful Disney reporting.
A few years ago, on Disboards, Disney did a round of price hikes which, as you’d expect, made a lot of people state that they were done with it all, which prompted responses of “Ah well, it means less people in the lines when I visit!”. I wonder how those who’ve tolerated price hikes back then, and for consecutive years since, feel about the stage it’s got to now.
Everything you said is true and what most of us are thinking. It is sad and disappointing to see how the Disney parks have declined. With youtube being over-saturated with Disney content anyway, I much prefer your other travel videos! I’ve been wanting to visit Tennessee and Seattle since watching your vlogs. Keep doing you Dev.👍🏽
I grew up in southern California and lived at Disneyland as a kid, my mom would take me and my sister several times a year, and we stayed home from school when we did. We also got to experience special nights when only certain local businesses and unions got to come for limited hours in the evening time(special cheap rates). I loved those nights, because even though you had very limited time, everything was a walk on, so only having 2 or 3 hours, you still got to ride everything. Once I started a family and starting going about 15 years ago, I saw the park for what it was at that point, nothing but a cash grab. My son is getting ready to graduate HS next year, and he was probably 6 or 7 the last time we went. And with all the smart phone required uses just to try and make a visit bearable, we probably won't be back, as I don't want to be on my phone to order food are pay more to cut lines. It just all seems like a nightmare hellscape currently, and nothing I recognized from my childhood.
I started watching your videos last year for HHN and loved your channel since! I support you no matter what, you need to make yourself happy! I’m in my mid 20s and my boyfriend and I have been going to Disney and Universal the last two years. Universal is definitely our favorite between the two but we still love Disney. This is so unfortunate and I hope they listen at some point..
I remember growing up and watching Disney college program vlogs, I remember dreaming about the day I could attend. The magic and atmosphere of the videos made me truly fall in love with the parks. When I finally became old enough, the pandemic hit, even so, I took myself and my niece right after they opened. I was determined to make it happen. And, even though It was empty, the magic was still there. Barley, but there. Now, it’s just so hard to afford. I dreamt so long and hard about being able to take my niece (who I started the adoption process when I was only 18). I dreamt we could live there, by the happiest place on earth. I dreamt and dreamt and dreamt. And this year I decided to try to take my brothers and dad. To share that happiness during a very difficult time. I paid the 200 deposit, and kept making payments. And now, the trip is only a few weeks away. And I have no idea how we’ll afford to eat at the parks. How we’ll afford to do the experiences. How we’ll afford anything. The hotel and Airbnb is paid for, the tickets are now paid for. But anything else? Seems impossible now and I’ve been working myself nonstop to try to make enough money just to afford to eat and pay for parking in the parks. How can anyone afford anything there now? It’s just so incredibly sad. The greed of the company has truly took Walt’s magic away. Not even tinker bells pixie dust can save it. I truly wish I would have just paid for universal instead.
This video is EXACTLY how everyone that loves Disney, but continues to be priced out. Thank you for doing this, we're all frustrated with what once was Disney
Too bad we cannot do a boycott for a week to drive home our dissatification with the nickel and diming.
Why don't they just limit guests? How hard is that? This idea of pricing out is greedy. If you limit guests it should accomplish similar goals, while also having a more even park distribution of the crowds (why I like a park pass system. Just like a reservation for a restaurant or a limit of tickets sold for a concert)
We are coming over from the uk in just over four weeks , sad to say this will be the last time we visit Disney, we will come back though and travel round , we love Florida and love travelling around this sunny 🌞 state xx
seriously!
moving to only a lúxary brand
Disney have absolutely lost the plot.
People are fed up with being ripped off and will vote with their feet. Watch the park attendances drop!
It already has by a lot this year. They’re already running specials like crazy for ‘24. This past week is the last week for a very long time that felt crowded.
Attendance dropping would be awesome. Fuck my wallet. I'll happily pay more and go less if it means that rides don't have hour+ waits and I can walk around without being stuck in one giant human traffic jam.
@@DallasMoorePlusThe crowds were not high in July. But the app was still showing massive wait times. I’m convinced they’re lying on slow days to still make people buy Genie +. There were a lot of rides we got on 20 minutes shorter then posted wait time.
Everyone should boycott. Save their money for epic universe .
@@DallasMoorePlus I'd pay twice as much if it meant less people.
I couldn’t agree more about Disney and how greedy they are getting. I’m a single mom who has been a passholder for 5 years because Disney has truly been my sons happy place. It’s all changed this year. We let our passes go because we can no longer afford to go and due to the price increases. Add the fact that they are taking away passholder benefits and it’s just not worth it. We will be looking into switching over to Universal next year. We will miss our friends at Disney, but we can no longer support a company who doesn’t care about their Passholder’s.
Walt NEVER "overcharged" their customers. He wanted the average family to experience the Character's interacting! You said it the way it is, good for you!
We’ve been cured of our Disney addiction. My wife and I have been married just about 53 years and we have never let a year go by without a WDW visit. For many winters, we’d park our RV at FW for no less than 8 weeks and some winters 12 weeks. We were there so much that we became seasonal CM’s. We were excited about everything there and boasted that we were CM’s. However, those days are gone. Besides price increases, Disney has changed way too much in the last few years. We’re still classic Disney fans but the new Disney has cured our addiction. There are many great CM’s but a lot of CM’s need a refresher course at Traditions. Also noticing that more and more guests are developing a very strong “me first” attitude. So, we’ve decided to make room for those still addicted and will curtail our visits to DS for the occasional Earl sandwich. PCDev, I know it’s sometimes difficult but you do a great job.
Don't apologize for speaking passionately! It breaks my heart to hear/see what has been done to the Disney brand. They used to be my children's escape into the magic that should be part of childhood.
Exactly, and it killed the magic for us as parents too!!
@@laurag7472 Absolutely!
Great video! Just subscribed. We are DVC members and I have been going to Disney since I was a little kid. I 100% agree with everything you are saying ... it's disgusting how they treat the people who pay the bills. I knew it was down hill once they took the magical express away .... who would decide to stop a service that picks families up from the airport and delivers them right at your front door. That service almost guaranteed that those families would not spend money anywhere else .... That truly just shows how out of touch these people are.
I admire your courage and honesty. It's sad that other UA-camrs lied for Disney just to stay on the media/VIP list. These people have no integrity and value. Thank you and fight on!
Yes best video by far
I agree
I completely agree with you. Disney is becoming only for the rich and that's heartbreaking. We should all be able to experience the magic of Disney. I realise it's a business, but it's just greedy. I don't think Walt would approve. Sad news. I appreciate you looking out for us Devin and speaking your truth.
But the thing is they can not sustain revenue, which is rich people. That’s not how they got to where they are now.
That is by design
It's absolutely ridiculous. I can't believe they're raising prices again!! Thank you Devin for keeping us updated
Ridiculous for sure!
We don’t think we’ve ever been prouder to call ourselves fans of your channel dude.
You’ve ALWAYS kept it honest & today, I would say you’re now the ONLY Theme park content creator that is 100% authentic.
That is appreciated a lot. Please keep doing what you’re doing & let us know if there’s anyway to support you further ❤
We took our 4 sons there every year, sometimes twice a year and now we have a grandchild. Disney has totally priced us out, can't stand the thought of trying to deal with Genie +, on and on. Thank you Dev for your words and to speak up for all of us feeling the same way!
As an ex cast member, this makes me sad. I remember when a one day ticket was 50.00 per park, per day. Those days are gone forever. I totally understand when you said you went to Disney to escape reality. I did too. Anytime I went through something traumatic in life, I booked a flight and ran back to Disney. Universal is the place to be now.
Same here! Now that I’m a Cast member I really feel soo bad for everyone else that comes to the park starting right now. Sadly to say that I am sacred to see what the future holds for Disney. But one thing is for sure if people would stop buying the tickets and not come to the park then Disney would have no choice to submit themselves to lower down their prices for the parks. Man, 2024 is about to get really interesting. 🤔
I remember when tickets had no expiration and no fingerprint.
It costs $75+ just to walk out of the house these days 🤷🏽♀️😂 it’s unfortunate but a reality. Universal went up too. Disney is a for profit company. A storytelling magic making company but definitely FOR PROFIT. Just like this channel and most influencers do what they do for a profit.
I remember going for $36.00!
@@squigglove Those were the best times ever and made people really want to go to Disney. If they bring that back they will have people flocking back to their parks in droves
I think you could argue at this point that fans of the parks are keeping the whole company afloat.
The greed of these corporations literally knows no bounds.
It's not greed. It's desperation. Their woke turn destroyed their business. Nuked it. They're bleeding cash. The one thing that was a money-maker was the parks, and even that is starting to fail. This is panic fire. My family walked away 5 years ago, and will not be back. The prices are not only not justifiable, but they have destroyed what the experience once was. So, what the hell are these loons paying for?
Their greed pays for the education that makes you hate their corporate greed.
You're 1000% right, Dev and thank you for being the type of vlogger that points out the outrageous price increases and loss of magic in the parks 😢
Have been loving the VALUE universal parks have been offering, but afraid of their price hikes once epic universe opens 😬
This past week, I went to both Disney (one night for the Not So Scary party) and Universal (for four full days) and the difference was night-and-day. A surprising discovery: there was a clear dividing line between older Disney cast members and younger ones. Older cast members were enthusiastic, engaging, and embodied the Disney Magic that made my wife and I bring my family dozens of times over the past 25 years. Younger cast members were polite, but we felt like our patronage was more of an inconvenience than appreciated. The exact opposite at Universal. We didn't have a single interaction at any of the three Universal parks that was less than exceptional. I actually filed formal appreciation letters for three different employees while we were there. (If you go to guest services and pass a "thank you" along to specific employees, it helps them significantly during their annual review.) The hotels are really nice and reasonably priced, and Universal parks are really good at delivering more immersive experiences now, too. It makes me sad to see how far Disney has fallen, but Universal is more than picking up the slack. Great video, as always, Dev. Thanks for sharing.
@@omnicognatesnr5947 ugh. Sorry to hear that. It is such a far cry from what it used to be. I can only hope new leadership will bring them back around.
100% agree. This has been our experience too.
This makes me respect busch gardens/seaworld more. The ticket prices are reasonable, they often have discounts, and the fun card is great value. Even fun card holders will randomly get a guest ticket.
I agree with you!!!!!! We had our wedding on the Disney Wish and then honeymooned at Disney World….the love, magic and outstanding customer service on the cruise was top tier!! When we got to Disney World, stayed at the Riviera and visited 3 parks……lack luster experience. We were so disappointed and we are APs. This visit just was missing the mark left and right.
I agree! I had a fantastic experience at universal studios and staff were all exceptional and seem to go out of their way to make our experiences exceptional. I am team universal all the way.❤
No need to apologize! I've said this before in your Comments but will say it again! I am under zero delusion that Disney Parks are in any way mine ... but having grown up with Parks and having seen how amazing they can be, I can't help but feel that something wonderful is being taken from me! Make sense to anyone else?
Disney will never be the same & they could care less about their customers!
disney are pdfiles, if u attatch ur self to these immoral evil companies then enjoy the consequences. its best to just work, save and literally not give money to companies as much as possible and just watch stuff online free via the pirate way, anything less an your money goes to pdfile warmongering criminals
1,000% YES!!
@@tracyhoneck9177 Somebody Gets It!! 😂 At least I'm not alone!
Funny thing is. The insane upcoming travel promotion coming up shows they are having issues. Then they go ahead and raise prices 1 week later. There is something seriously wrong with their thinking on this
Greed has killed the magic.
My kids will never get to have the experiences I did and I mourn that loss for them.
The greed has a name....IGER
You, Kevin Heimbach and Brayden from MV are by far the best Disney content creators right now for this very reason. You three keep it so real and speak for us “peasants”. Keep doing your thing, Dev!
They tell it how it is! Interested to see Braydon’s take on this too. He’s a savage lol.
Have you noticed Brayden also has changed his content to more Universal? And even he said he doesn’t go there, but he isn’t dumb. What they’re doing is taking up the Disney torch and running with it. Vloggers know their content isn’t getting watched or commented on as much if it’s Disney.
@@michelleberman8361 yup. Noticed that too. He seems far more excited talking about universal updates for EU than anything Disney 😅 Can’t blame him. Exciting times over there. Disney..hey we got a walk through attraction LOL.
Lmao if you think any universal content gets more views than Disney. Maybe once EU opens but it’s not even close. Universal social media are chatting in Disney blogger streams often, they know who’s king and try to attract those influencers
Universal is looking better and better and better all the time. I was thinking that today that this looks like it’s probably gonna be my last trip to the Disney parks.
They would be smart to not raise their prices. I’m sure if they kept it the same they would make hand over fist with guest coming over from Disney
There's much more to do at Universal anyway!
Universal is not exactly cheaper if you use the express passes.
Once Epic Universe opens their prices will be higher. My Universal AP goes up every year too. The highest UO AP is $905 for 2 parks.
I was thinking the same thing because it is getting harder & harder for me as a single parent to afford it anymore. What in the world is Disney thinking these days especially when prices for everything else has hit the roof sort to speak?😢
Been waiting all day for this video. Absolutely ridiculous, my wife and I are Magic key holders but live in WA State. We make a few trips a year there so it’s worth it. Seriously considering just moving on. The Magic is just gone at this point.
This is why we continue to support you. Because you’re brave enough to voice what we’re all feeling. Truthfully, we all should. The people who truly love Disney and wish everyone could afford to share in the magic that moves us to tears. Disney is our escape and place to be kids again. Many parents want their kids to also share in that nostalgia but it’s getting harder for them to do so. We agree with everything you said. We love Disney and the parks. Disneyland is very special to us but we just want some of the old Disney back🥺 Thank you for sharing this!👏
I worked as a cast member while in college through the WDWCP, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Then, when I had children, my wife and both could not WAIT until they were old enough to take to WDW - and we did, twice. But we are both teachers, and between the constant price hikes, the loss of features like Magical Express, and the decline of their cinematic quality, we just feel that the magic is gone. We can no longer afford, as teachers, to take our kids to Disney. Even worse, I feel like the corporate messaging is that middle class folks like us are no longer their target demographic, and it stings. I truly believe that all of this is going to hurt the Disney brand over the long run. Thank you, Dev, for being so honest about things with us.
I really respect you for speaking out on this and for being completely honest. It seems like a lot of other theme park influencers are afraid to say what they really feel because they are so worried about how the corporations perceive them.
You are saying what a lot of us are thinking.
This was so refreshing to watch and hear.
Thank you Dev for keeping it real and keeping us in the loop. This is absolutely ridiculous. Disney is definitely weeding out the average family and focusing more on the rich. I dont think that i will be able to come back to Disney after this year. It is not affordable at all anymore 😢
Thank you for saying how we all feel... it's such a tragedy 😢 magically feeling gone
PS Forgot to say a heartfelt...THANK YOU DEV!! You are speaking for all of us! I get upset when I see some vloggers paying 20 or 30 bux for a snack (per person) and talking about how cute it is. For that price, the cupcake should dance around the table, sing our names and come with a Tshirt LOL Of course they keep it positive, so they can keep getting in free (when none of us can afford to even consider the trip we desperately want to take), or other perks. It warms my heart to hear you, and one other, just being honest. It's why I'll always turn to you first and trust you!!!
We switched to Universal last year and having the UOAP has been amazing! Universal keeps giving and we dont miss Disney. Thanks for speaking out 😊
We did too, and we love it, especially the Volcano Bay waterpark. That was outstanding! I don’t miss the new Disney, but I do miss the old Disney. You know, before 2020.
We did the same thing. Can hardly wait for Epic to open up.
You do realise how much universal prices will rise to pay for the new park don't you😂
@@chriswhitworth770 This.
@@chriswhitworth770 EXACTLY LOL
My family and I are right there with you! We have always wanted to go to Epcot and we looked at tickets at the end of Feb 2024 where there are zero festivals going on and with taxes a one day adult ticket was $184! No thank you.
We opted instead for a five day pass to Universal. The 5 day, 2 park (park to park) tickets averaged out to $86.50 per day OR $43.25 per park. A friend going with us has a season pass so we get free parking!
I so appreciate your vulnerability and honesty in sharing your thoughts on Disney. My love for Disney started when I was little after my family went in the early 90s. We grew up poor, so when we were able to go, it totally changed my life. As an adult, I lived in Florida for a little while, and we would get to go down to Disney for the day. My love for going to Disney was because it took us out of reality, out of hardship, out of exhaustion…it was a family-friendly magical escape. This year, I’m planning a vacation for my whole family-siblings, parents, children, nephews; and, it makes me sad to say it will be our last time unless Disney makes some major changes.
Two years ago, we visited Universal Studios for the first time. We were impressed with the simplicity of it all…no hidden costs…friendly cast members…great food…awesome festivals. I hope that Universal will stay family-friendly and more affordable for families. We’re all in if they will!
Thank you so much, again, for voicing what many of us are thinking and feeling!
You are absolutely right Disney is pricing themselves out of a lot of business. I have been going to Disney since the mid-70s but I’m getting ready to turn 70 years old and it’s not worth the price of the passes. I’ve been a passholder for many years but I’m not running from ride to ride anymore. There’s a lot of things that you can do in United States and pay a lot less money. I just hope they listen to somebody.
My family is right there with you Devin in feeling the anger, frustration, and sadness of what Disney is doing with all that Walt Disney built for all families & all ages to enjoy, not just the rich folks. It started with a mouse, but it looks like they've switched it to being about a duck... Scrooge McDuck. :(
What a slap in the face to get everyone's hopes up with announcing all of those great Disney deals coming in Nov-March for them to then announce a couple days later "oh and by the way, we're also raising prices on everything too!" How much more villainous can you get?!!! This is no longer the company of Mickey Mouse... the villains have taken over! I too love Walt Disney, have read about him since I was a kid and remember watching him on World of Disney, and there's no way I'd ever believe that if he were still alive running things that he would be handling things in such a greedy way.
🔥 🔥 🔥 thanks for this Dev! 100% agree with everything you said. I just got back from taking my whole family to Disney and I had a horrible time. Constantly looking at my phone using their services and then having to get Genie + because it’s so busy and then buy individual lightning lanes to ride the good rides. It was all a joke. I spent over 7,000 dollars and that is staying off a Disney resort. No way I could add saying even at Pop Culture for $400 a night per room. I’m done with them. Maybe in 5 years I’ll come back if changes are made but hell I can go to Europe with my family for these prices.
2 weeks in Europe!!!
I’m glad you brought up the parking. My husband and I were talking today how Disney or any park shouldn’t charge for parking because they make way more from park tickets, food, and merch. So it’s not necessary to charge for parking. There is nothing to apologize for being angry. We all are and are sick and tired of the people that are in charge not caring at all about how much they are charging for every little thing. They need to knock it off and concentrate on bringing the Magic back. Thank you for your video. We love you too!💕
Magic Kingdom alone has 12,000 parking spots but let's say only half is used during that is still $180,000 A DAY and $1.26M a week for 1 park! We've haven't been to Disney on our last three trips because of the cost. I joke that when you go through security and the detector, they aren't looking for weapons, they just want to know how much money you have they can fleece off you!
You're right about Universal also...they have kept their nose clean and stayed a family fun park for all and with Epic coming soon...Disney will be regretting many of their decisions. Keep up the good reporting. XOXO
Great video Dev. I agree 100% with you regarding the money grab by Disney. Five ($5) for a coke, geez. Thirty ($30) or more to park. Absolutely ridiculous. I agree Disney is for the rich anymore and not the average person. I always appreciate your honesty, you’re the only UA-camr who is honest about Disney. Keep being you Dev.
Many vloggers sugar coat to keep the perks and invites coming.
Absolutely agreed with you. Even the small practices like refillable cups make such a difference for universal. $17 for unlimited refills all day (with the purchase of the cup included too) while Disney charges upwards of $5 per drink. Universal has been my favourite for a long time with all the changes being made at Disney and it's great to see how well they're doing. I also personally think Universal merch has been far better in recent years than Disney's
Thank you, Dev, for speaking the truth!! It's so sad we won't be able to afford Disney, but we will be doing universal. Thanks, Dev and Bianca. We love you both!!
The only way prices go down is if WE stop paying . We enable price hikes by continuing to go . They use the parks to subsidize their film and streaming failures. Their media is TANKING .
Dev is 100% correct 👍 Even Genie Plus will increase, my biggest gripe with Disney. You’ve already took hundreds, if not thousands of dollars but now you want even more from guests? And even then, getting a virtual queue spot or lightning lane pass isn’t even guaranteed. After many years, we were finally able to purchase annual passes this week and now this. Thanks Bob. My advise, fill up your hydroflasks when you get to the park with water, bring some snacks from home. Don’t buy snacks or dine at the restaurants. Stop going into the gift shops. If everyone starts doing that, Disney will notice. Then when they ban water and snacks from home, stop going all together. Then they’ll really notice.
The problem with that is once people are in the parks they won't be able to resist spending.... disney is too good at selling their brand. And the people who don't spend on extras are the people disney doesn't care if they price out and yet they still got them to spend on the bare minimum. The masses need to be more proactive to make a difference. That means making a stand not to go to the parks at all BEFORE before being priced out... then and only then will disney notice and slow their role. I can only hope one day people will realize all it would take is a viral boycott on social media.
Wow!!! That was the best rant ever!!! You said what we all think and feel! I have grandchildren now and it breaks my heart how badly they want to go there on vacation and can't. So hard for families if you have a couple of kids. I hope Disney hears you loud and clear. Our families are looking for the something now better family oriented that stands by our morals and believes. Shame on Disney!!!
Disney has heard plenty of feedback from families I'm sure & they couldn't care less!!
You speak truth 💯 I feel the same. I will always love Disney from all my magical memories of what it used to be. Heartbreaking that the majority of us can’t afford to enjoy like we used to any longer though. Definitely not Walt’s vision anymore. Thank you for what you do 🙏🏽👍🏽
Dude, I’ve said it before. This video is exactly why I respect and salute you in comparison to other Disney vloggers. I’m sorry that you were kicked off the media list, as it was likely to be expected. But, you remain true to the real world and the people who are not disillusioned by the Magical Mouse. All the love and power to you, Bro!
😢😢 I am a Disney fan but have not been to any of the Disney parks since February 2021. The magic is GONE….Not a fan of pricing, and genie is horrible! . They truly don’t care about the average consumer anymore and everything they do shows it. I am blessed but still won’t give them a dime. I am truly sad about the direction they are going. I have switched over to universal parks and have been extremely happy with my 4 park experiences . Thank you for your honesty Dev I appreciate your views and love your videos 😊😊
I used to go every 2-3 months.
The last time I went was Feb.22, 2022.
At that point, I felt no magic whatsoever.
There was no point in returning.
Walt has left the building.
I went the same time too!! That trip solidified that Disney world really has nothing for me anymore. Towards the end of the trip I was just wishing we were at Universal instead lol. We ended up going back to Orlando this April to stay at Universal and had the best trip ever!
I felt that too. The parks just done feel the same anymore at all.
I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart because I feel the same way you do which is sad because I love Disney but I just can’t afford it anymore and it’s not as magical as it used to be
Thank you for being REAL! We haven't been to Disney in years and would like to go, but pricing is ridiculous and planning a trip from out of state seems sooooo complicated. No regrets on being a Universal passholder. Never had an issue there. Always get to eat where/when we want. We get to ride what we choose and when. That's how a vacation should be. We always Uber there from the airport, so parking has never been a concern for us. Thank you for being REAL Dev! Can't wait to see more Cooking with Bianca!
i remember going to Disney with my family every year up until my mid 20's. Now it feels unreachable even though I'm a Florida resident! Tickets are so costly and so are the hotels it just feels like i can take a more immersive vacation somewhere else instead of spending so much money just for a weekend. It's insane because I LOVE Disney! It's full of fond memories and happy times. But I'm not going to take out loans to be able to go.
Yup, you nailed it. Disney isn't even a consideration for me or my family anymore and we are lucky enough to have a reasonable amount of money. Even then, it's still too expensive. Disney today is not the same Disney of the past. They are a money hungry organization that has lost the passion for providing experiences.
Dev… thank you for saying it. From the bottom of heart, thank you for using the platform you have to be this voice. My wife and I spent years going to the parks and now that we have kids of our own, we can’t go. We can’t take them to experience the magic and have the fun we used to have. It breaks my heart and angers me. So thank you for being my voice.
We just got back from Disney 3 weeks ago. Our 1st time as a family. Got the 3 day pass for FL res.($891) It was ludicrous. The amount of $$ we spent on little things, we even brought our lunch each day, still was too much. We now ow more because we used CC to be able to do this trip to make our 7/8 year olds dream come true. And we are suffering for it. This has just helped make it impossible for us to return. Disney has really let it’s fans down.
Thank you Dev! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 I 100% agree with you. This is ridiculous that they are increasing their prices again. I just took my kids this year for the first and it took me so long to save for it because it’s so much money. Universal is definitely cheaper especially their hotels. I love love love Disney but they better get it before Epic Universe opens or that’s a wrap for them. They need to focus on their films because they have been doing horrible. This just makes me sad and it’s unfortunate that they are doing this to their customers. Keep it 💯, Dev. Keep speaking for us. ❤
Thank you for your honesty! Not one theme park content creator says this. What you're saying is true, and we as a family of 5 will be going to universal next year. Disney has become out of reach for us.
Hmmm..interesting. We've let go of our old expectations of people and things and moved towards an open mind and acceptance. Nothing stays the same and we understand its a private business...for profit! We enjoy our family time at Disney. For us, its still magical, even with the price increases. Universal just doesnt have that "feel." Everything has definitely increased substantially!!!! We are more selective with what special events we attend. Its life, we roll with the punches. ❤️
I completely agree with your feelings. Took the words right out of my mouth. I grew up loving Disney, worked there for many years. But yes it does really suck at how everything is about the money now. I saw the price increases happening with the annual passes yesterday and I almost considered completely dropping my pass. It sucks because I have a daughter now who isn’t even one yet and she may not grow up loving Disney as much as I did because I don’t think I will be able to afford to continue to take her. Keep up the great work. I love watching your videos and appreciate how you keep it real with us
$30 is absolutely wild for parking!
I believe UO has the same price for parking too
Sea World and Aquatica are both $30 now as well. I remember when parking used to be like 7 bucks or something 😭
@@therealventures There’s an increasing number of hotels offsite charging up to £28 per night for parking, Orlando is inflicting some serious self harm if they think raising cash by fleecing tourists is an astute long term strategy.
I pay $50 at Universal Hollywood and a lot of stadiums and arena charge at least 50 or above for parking. Unfortunately sign of the times.
I believe it's $35 at Disneyland, so yeah, way to damn much!
I 100% agree with you! Disney is ridiculously expensive and it’s only going to keep going up in price! they are definitely raising the prices to attract the rich only! it’s so sad that so many people will never get to experience Disney! We are already a struggling country and all Disney cares about is money. I am so glad I got to experience Disney as a kid but it’s honestly sad that I as a single mother with a son have to struggle to try to give my son that same experience I had as a kid. Times are so hard already.
Dev I’ve watched almost every single one of your videos since 2019 and this one is my absolute favorite. Thank you for keeping it real and unfiltered. I hope Disney is listening and I hope Universal listens too because it seems like Disney is fumbling the bag in an unprecedented way. My wife and I will not be renewing our annual passes or Disney+ account because we’re priced out. We will be renewing our Universal passes with pleasure and to your point, once Epic Universe opens…it’s game over! We’re living in a historic time in the theme park space and can’t wait to see what Universal does next.
Completely agree with you. I appreciate the rant. The increase in prices is extremely maddening. We are DVC and have annual passes. The increase in the passes year on year is completely ridiculous. I have not heard and cannot find what the renewal prices will be. We waited for years to buy DVC, now we have seriously thought about selling. We do love the resorts and will probably drop the annual passes, try out Universal and do other things in Florida. It's very sad. Disney has always been my escape, my happy place and they have been slowly ruining that year upon year. ☹
Thank you so much for being our voice. I am a lifelong Disney fan and have been going to Disneyland once, twice, sometimes even three times a year since I was a kid (I live in Hawaii). I've only been to Disney World twice in my life (once as a kid and once back in 2015), and was really hoping to visit again next year. But, that hope is getting smaller and smaller with every price increase. It makes me so sad that this place - my FAVORITE place in the world - is now trying to cater only to the wealthy people who can afford it. I really feel your frustration and anger and I really appreciate your honesty because I know how much of a Disney fan you are/were too. Maybe I'll follow your advice and check out Universal Studios instead!!!
You are 100% correct !! I have been married since 1994, and we have been to Walt Disney World every year for our anniversary. We even years ago would average $2000 up to $7000 to really enjoy our 5 to 7 days there. Yes even splurged a Magic Kingdom View 11th floor at the Contemporary and paid for my in laws to go with us also. We have watched you for a little over a year now and we agree 100% Disney is way overpriced now. Parking at the Disney Hotels is where we really were pissed. You pay hundreds even thousands and now charge daily parking too, it was free before. We have not been back since 2020 and are not going back probably ever again. Sorry to say. Rant away, you are correct.
Preach! I’m a Disney fan but I’m hurting looking at these new prices. I cannot afford to go and eat at the same time. This video is powerful, thank you for making it- you said everything I’m thinking and more. Disney is not the same company anymore . I hope they listen to you.
Dev…I totally agree! I’ve been visiting Disney almost every year since 1983…still go to Orlando…no longer stay at Disney resorts or parks. They have become to expensive AND greedy ! They also no longer offer the great “Disney Experience”. Makes me sad…😥😥
Such a great video, Dev. Thank you for speaking your mind and voicing what so many others are thinking and have been thinking and feeling for a while. I’m with you in that my husband and I moved from one part of Fl to be living as locals in Orlando to be closer to the parks, especially Disney. However after everything and the price increases we stopped attending and switched to Universal. We have been UAP for a little over a year and love it. And even though I so badly want to go back to visit the Disney parks and share the experiences that I once got to have with my first daughter, with my second daughter who is 4 and who has never been, it’s just not worth the time, effort and money right now. And you’re right, Disney is catering to the wealthy class, and it sucks that they’re not making it an everybody park. I keep thinking to myself when can we finally return, but at this point it doesn’t likely for a longer time than I expected…
Glad someone speaks the truth about Disney's BS right now. My dad use to work at Disney so I grew up with Disney. But this is the last straw for me and I'm officially team universal. Thanks dev for all that you do and keep up the good work.
If the people running universal were smart they would keep the prices the same and not raise theirs.
Dev thank you for speaking out for all of us. I miss Disney and have not been able to go back since I was 16, I am not almost 22, in the prime of my life yet my family nor myself can afford to go back to the place I always loved. It’s sad to see the way Disney not listening and caring about their prices affecting their fans.
I have been a HUGE Disney fan for so long. For the past year I have been in denial about where the future of the company is headed. But it’s clear that things are only going to get worse. I hope they wake up before those of us still remaining faithful are gone.
Hi Dev,
It’s really sad, but true!!! My family has been going to Disney since my husband was a child and was going every year before the pandemic hit! No, we are not rich just a family that loves Disney and make sacrifices to go, but with the constant increase in prices the regular trips/visits have ceased. Disney previously catered to various financial backgrounds, but now you do have to be rich to plan a vacation. At one time Disney focused on making sure a family have a wonderful vacation during their stay their by offering such great packages and extra amenities and entertainment for the entire family but now its so commercial, which does take away from the fun, relaxation that one normally receive while there. Who needs to be stressing about the cost for this and that when you are on a vacation. One should be enjoying themselves to the fullest! It’s really depressing to hear of all the changes and that’s taking so much of the childhood out of the parks, which is the magic we all remember and love! It’s what we grew up loving about Disney and desire our kids and grandchildren to experience! Unfortunately, it just not there, so I’m taking my granddaughters before I can no longer be able too, and it will probably be my last visit. I rather know Disney World as the most wonderful place to be that makes so many dreams come and feel true, but also make you feel they are reachable!
Thank You Deb on your honesty. It’s a breath of fresh air, to see someone who tells it like it is. And speaking up for majority of people who are effect by the changes. You are right about Universal if they make those 2 changes, they will have people at their parks in a heart beat. TFS✨
dev, been a subscriber of yours since your DCP days. just had to say i appreciate how you have always been upfront with us and have always spoken your truth. i'm so frustrated with disney these days :(
We holiday fairly regularly to Florida. Used to split time 80/20 in favour of Disney vs Universal & other parks. Now it’s completely the opposite. I don’t think I’m alone.
Good for you, Dev. Because you're doing the right thing, you will definitely be rewarded. God bless you and Bianca 😊
You’re saying everythinggggg I have been thinking for a LONG TIME. Didn’t renew my Universal pass for the first time in 10+ years just to have a year at Disney with my nephew, but it is so sad and discouraging how expensive it is.
Love your honesty! I also agree, prices are way too high at Disney and not worth what they are charging! It just gets worse and worse. I also agree with you in regard to Universal. Such an amazing park. I went for the first time last year and going again this coming December. I am so excited!
You are so not alone in this feeling and have nothing to apologize for! The magic of Disney left the parks after the pandemic. Literally! So many included services were taken away like extra magic hours and the magical express for hotel guests, the free magic bands with your trip, and the free fast passes for every guest! Now you have to pay for transportation, pay for magic bands if you book a trip, pay for genie+, stay in a deluxe resort to get any extra time in the parks…it’s nuts!
As an OG "Disney Adult" we don't go any more. We sold most of our DVC points back to Disney. If you price it out, you can go to London for a week for what it costs to go to Disney with less lines and cheaper food. It's insane. You aren't the only one that feels the way you feel. It's sad and it sucks, but it is what it is.
That’s right. I’ve heard other people say that they can travel anywhere else in the world for less and have the experience of a lifetime. Someone said you could cruise around the world on a cruise ship for three weeks or longer for less money than a family of four or five at Disney for a week.
Multi generational family here. My parents went, I went, my kids went and finally this summer we were able to finally get there with my grand kids! (After being canceled multiple times due to covid)
We were very excited and glad they got to experience it, even with all the hikes even from date we were supposed to go and when we went. It’s even harder for us because of the exchange rate on top of travel and cost of Disney so I can say with a heavy heart that I most likely won’t be able to ever go back. 💔 RIP Walt
As for you apologizing for being angry, DON’T I think it stems back to the passion you once had for the magic of Disney. I can keep dreaming and believing it will some day resemble what I grew up with but it’s hard. Yes I know change is inevitable but this is crazy!!
PC find your joy!
I’ve always loved your truthfulness and honesty Dev and there’s no need to apologize! It absolutely needs to be said ! I’ve always wanted to take my three grandchildren to Disney while their still young but unfortunately it’s just been a bucket list dream 😞! At this rate I’ll be fed be able to afford it and I live in NH . Thank you for being our voice ! The voice of the common man , it so needs to be said. So thank you for being our voice PCDev ❤️! I’ve been watching your channel for quite sone time now and I really enjoy it! Thank you!
Dev, you are the voice for the ones who are thinking about this. I feel your frustration! It's sad for those who cannot afford it. I have family members who normally use their tax refunds to spend a day at Disneyland. They can no longer afford it. As a Disneyland fan, it's sad kids may not get to experience the so-called Disney magic. Can't imagine what my December trip will cost! I guess my Knott's & Magic Mountain pass will be getting used more.
Well said, Dev. You are voicing the thoughts that so many of us have, including the observations about killing the golden goose of the Disney parks when Disney+ is underperforming. Universal has been silently outpacing Disney for the last few years, but you’re right that they are truly about to unseat Disney for good in terms of the standard for the theme park industry. Appreciate your honesty-I and so many agree with you and until Disney starts to course correct, it will be interesting to explore other parks and other attractions around Florida.
Good for you Devin! I am glad someone has the guts to call this company out. You have every right to be angry as do all the people who can no longer enjoy the parks. I went as a child through my late teens with my mother and sister and was lucky enough to enjoy the real Magic that Walt wanted.
I think you've always tried to be nice when you do these types of videos and finally your found the proper balance between frustration and summarizing the truth. Thank you so much for doing this please continue to do this please continue to be a voice for those of us who still love it but are frustrated and are priced out sometimes and I know for a fact if not for the specials they run a lot of us would never be able to even consider it, and you are giving us the voice by doing this
Literally same. You nailed it!!!! Disney played stupid games and will win stupid prizes. Universal is where the party is at now! All the original and best imagineers at Disney went to work on Epic Universe from what I heard. Disney is a sinking ship.
I can afford the prices all day, but I won't pay it. Still not worth the insane prices to just stand in line all day. The glory days of Disney are in the rear view mirror.
That’s what genie plus is for
Dev you are 100% correct & I'm in total agreement with you as I'm sure millions of others feei the same too. I expect Walt is turning in his grave he didn't create Disney for the wealthy only. Far from it. Shame on those that are now responsible for Walts vision & destroying it. I hope Walt himself haunts each & every one of them!
Dev you are a man of the people.... Well said... Bravo bravo.
You said it perfectly! Disney just does not get it!!! They do not get Walt's vision! They have KILLED! KILLED! KILLED THE MAGIC!!!!
You’re spot on, Dev! No apologies necessary. June 2021 was probably my last visit to Disney Theme Parks. There is so much more out there to see and spend our hard earned money on!
Thank you for saying what we Disney lovers are all feeling!!👏🏼👏🏼
We just came back from a universal trip and I can say we paid a fraction of what I have paid for a Disneyland and Disney world vacation in the past . We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and yes Universal is doing something right . I watched your videos to plan our universal trip n stay thank you for all the good honest info ❤
Preach! My family alternates being pass holders between the different parks and we are firmly now on Team Universal. It’s a better experience there and Disney has priced us out. My kids, both teenagers, even prefer Busch Gardens to Disney these days.
That’s right, Dev!! Keep telling it like it is!! We’ve loved watching you from the beginning of your channel but we love that in these new Disney times, you keep it real for the majority of people who have a hard time processing this. I grew up in a time where Disney wanted families to visit the theme parks. It hardens my heart to see them doing everything they can to keep the average family out of its theme parks. That’s not what this park was meant to be about.
Thank you for your candor and honesty. If I didn't already follow you I would be following you after this video. The fact that you continue to speak your truth even after they removed you from the media list, speaks volumes to your integrity. You and Mickey Views are tops when it comes to truthful Disney reporting.
Dev this is insane!! With these price increases I will never be able to take my family back🤬
Thanks a lot Disney!!!
A few years ago, on Disboards, Disney did a round of price hikes which, as you’d expect, made a lot of people state that they were done with it all, which prompted responses of “Ah well, it means less people in the lines when I visit!”. I wonder how those who’ve tolerated price hikes back then, and for consecutive years since, feel about the stage it’s got to now.
Thank you for always being real and sticking to your true self, it is much appreciated.
Everything you said is true and what most of us are thinking. It is sad and disappointing to see how the Disney parks have declined. With youtube being over-saturated with Disney content anyway, I much prefer your other travel videos! I’ve been wanting to visit Tennessee and Seattle since watching your vlogs. Keep doing you Dev.👍🏽
I grew up in southern California and lived at Disneyland as a kid, my mom would take me and my sister several times a year, and we stayed home from school when we did. We also got to experience special nights when only certain local businesses and unions got to come for limited hours in the evening time(special cheap rates). I loved those nights, because even though you had very limited time, everything was a walk on, so only having 2 or 3 hours, you still got to ride everything. Once I started a family and starting going about 15 years ago, I saw the park for what it was at that point, nothing but a cash grab. My son is getting ready to graduate HS next year, and he was probably 6 or 7 the last time we went. And with all the smart phone required uses just to try and make a visit bearable, we probably won't be back, as I don't want to be on my phone to order food are pay more to cut lines. It just all seems like a nightmare hellscape currently, and nothing I recognized from my childhood.
I WILL be getiing my Annual Passes at Universal in a month or so! Thank you for being passionate, Devon. Keep it up!
I started watching your videos last year for HHN and loved your channel since! I support you no matter what, you need to make yourself happy! I’m in my mid 20s and my boyfriend and I have been going to Disney and Universal the last two years. Universal is definitely our favorite between the two but we still love Disney. This is so unfortunate and I hope they listen at some point..
I remember growing up and watching Disney college program vlogs, I remember dreaming about the day I could attend. The magic and atmosphere of the videos made me truly fall in love with the parks. When I finally became old enough, the pandemic hit, even so, I took myself and my niece right after they opened. I was determined to make it happen.
And, even though It was empty, the magic was still there. Barley, but there.
Now, it’s just so hard to afford. I dreamt so long and hard about being able to take my niece (who I started the adoption process when I was only 18). I dreamt we could live there, by the happiest place on earth. I dreamt and dreamt and dreamt.
And this year I decided to try to take my brothers and dad. To share that happiness during a very difficult time.
I paid the 200 deposit, and kept making payments. And now, the trip is only a few weeks away. And I have no idea how we’ll afford to eat at the parks. How we’ll afford to do the experiences. How we’ll afford anything.
The hotel and Airbnb is paid for, the tickets are now paid for. But anything else? Seems impossible now and I’ve been working myself nonstop to try to make enough money just to afford to eat and pay for parking in the parks. How can anyone afford anything there now?
It’s just so incredibly sad. The greed of the company has truly took Walt’s magic away. Not even tinker bells pixie dust can save it.
I truly wish I would have just paid for universal instead.