People Are Having TERRIBLE Disney World Vacations
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- Опубліковано 27 тра 2024
- Disney World can be MAGICAL, but there are definitely mistakes that can turn your happily ever after into a TERRIBLE trip. (Today, we’re gonna make sure YOUR upcoming Disney World vacation will KEEP a hold of the magic and avoid the tragic.)
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I fondly remember the "good old days" when everyone paid the same admission, stood in the same lines, and had the same experience.
translation - "I can't afford or don't want to pay for a 'better' experience." I'm ALWAYS willing to pay NOT to have to stand in a line for 4 hrs for a 3 minute ride. If YOU don't want to, that's YOUR decision.
They’ve had extra perk options for decades. There’s just more of them.
@@MichelleAlexandria-EMThe old fastpass system is still leagues better than being on the genie+ app right at 7am, choosing 2-3 rides I want to go on that day, and then paying $15-$30 per ride, per person, for a CHANCE to bypass most of the standby line. You’re right, I don’t want to pay “for a better experience” when everything in the parks also costs an arm and a leg.
Just went in March. Incredibly expensive. Had to use the Genie App, just a terrible experience trying to pick what rides you want and then hoping you can make a reservation. Went on right at 7am and 1 pm the times you can reserve Tron. Both-times the app said all slots were reserved. There is no stand by line for Tron. So all the extra money on top of the crazy expensive tickets we still were not able to ride a few of the big rides. It was a disappointing trip. We could have toured Europe with the $8000.00 we spent.
@@MichelleAlexandria-EM lol
It definitely used to be easier to plan a Disney World vacation. They used to provide transportation to your resort and Fast Pass made it easier to plan your daily activities.
I agree I also think fast passes cut down on over crowding. If you get people moving through the rides they don't wait in giant groups around ride cues. I also think people who just come for rides were able to have those experiences and leave without feeling guilty for wasting money since it was built into admission.
Nicely said. I would always say that the 2 things that WDW added to greatly improve our vacations were 1)Fast Pass & 2) Magic Express. They've done away with both.
We already are basically paying $30+ for each attraction we get to, so these extra charges to actually get onto an attraction are ridiculous.
Idk. I was just there in December. The “fast lines” aren’t fast most of the time. Faster than the other line only because they pull more from fast than they do normal per cart. By like 75% 25%. And most of the time - fast is longer in length. Just not timewise. It’s counter productive in my opinion. We spent 6 days down there - 4 days for parks. Spent a whole day in each park and STILL couldn’t see everything, however park hopper is good if a park you wanted is super crowded you can go to a different park that’s less crowded and ride rides. Which is what most park hoppers wanna do anyway.
I would argue against park hopping. Just enjoy where you are that whole day, takes pressure off trying to jam in as much as possible before leaving for another arbitrary park.
Opposite …. I use park hopper everytime I go. But I stay at least 8 days. So I am in slow mode. I put in a lot that way. Yes if you are there for three days, don’t park hop. I go to an initial park early. Do everything by 11. Park hop to whatever festival is at Epcot. Go to the hotel to nap. Then park hop to another park.
I use park hopping when I know I can’t make it to all the parks during my trip (usually fri-mon trips) so that way I can do my favorites still but when I have longer trips I never park hop
The only hopping worth doing is Epcot-HStudios. MK and Animal Kingdom are too far away.. Time becomes an issue getting to/leaving those parks.
I have gone every year for over twenty-five years now. I park hop and buy tickets for fewer and fewer days. This year, we bought a 3-day hopper and spent one full day doing non-Disney things. Next year, we’re gonna do a two-day hopper and spend two days doing non-Disney or, at least non-park things. When you’ve ridden everything in a given park multiple times, it gets old after a while. We ride our favorites and leave.
We absolutely learned that the hard way on our first trip to Disney World last February.
We really thought we could do Epcot and Animal Kingdom in the same day..haha..hahaha…AHAHAHAHAHAHA-
I will say we enjoyed catching the Magic Kingdom firework show three times thanks to being able to park hop. We had firework view rooms at The Dolphin too, it was just better in person.
I regret only the Epcot/animal kingdom debacle.
I have been an AP for years. Went to Tokyo Disney. What a difference! Food, attractions, cleanliness, theming of rooms, all amazing and top notch!
Disney has gotten insanely expensive. That’s why I’m so glad you have this channel. I can relive my Disney world vacations through you guys. I have so many wonderful memories and if I never get to go again, at least I can watch your videos.
Yep, I love AJ's videos. We last went to WDW in 2017 and we had the worst trip ever. We'll never go back, too expensive, to complicated as I don't want to spend every day staring at my phone for wait times, ordering food, fast pass, parade times, and everything else
@@abbuhlcharles4006 I agree, that all sounds way too complicated to me.
@@The-Blind-Bard - It is too complicated. Vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing. They shouldn't have to be mapped out and planned hour by hour day by day but for a Disney World vacation that's exactly what you have to do.
@@abbuhlcharles4006 I agree, last time I went they didn’t have virtual cues or mobile food ordering. They’ve taken away too many of the perks and they nickel and dime you everywhere they can. I love Disney, but I’m not willing to pay an arm and a leg to go.
@@The-Blind-Bard- I agree, we'd really like to go back but it's become way too complicated and expensive.
Disney has made it so stressful and complicated and EXPENSIVE that it’s just no longer worth it. A family can go on a cruise (even a Disney cruise) complete with a private island and water parks on the ship for less than it costs to go to Disney.
That is sort of true. going 7 nights on the magic next year w a balcony for $3500. BUT if i stay off property or use marriott points or rent dvc points I can go to WDW for about the same with 4 parks days.
Oh wow. I figured the cruise was more. I almost got a heart attack when trying to price it out for 4 ppl 😂. Is it possible to fit kids (12 and 14) and 2 adults in one room? Or just bite the bullet and get 2 rooms for cruise?
@@lou4057 It depends! Some cabins on Disney cruises have pull-out beds in their couches, while some of them do not. Not too sure about other cruise lines! I’d recommend checking each cabin within your budget to see which room fits your family best. Depending on the time of year, you can get a decent deal on a decent room.
Thanks so much. I definitely have to do more research@@katie_borgia1370
Ive only been on 3 cruises, but id definitely suggest getting 2 rooms, unless youre getting a deluxe room with a pullout @lou4057
Major props to housekeeping at AK Lodge. I could not find a pair of glasses after our trip. I thought they were lost at home. A few weeks later a box arrived from Disney and the housekeeper had turned them in after we had left. What a nice surprise. And I was glad I had left a nice tip :). Her actions saved me $300+.
That’s really sweet to hear! No wonder that’s my favorite resort, cuz their theming and staff is awesome.
This warms my HEART!
My fav as well. Last
time I stayed there, oct 2022, I had a savannah view room for $300 inc taxes. rack rate was $842.
It’s almost like Disney hasn’t actually cared about their fans or their parks for 5+ years now…. 🤔
Because they don’t
All they care about is the $$$$$$$$
More like 25+ years. Our last trip was 2002. I will never be back.
Just wrapping the most expensive week we’ve ever had at Disney. The first time back since pre covid 2020.
Genie plus is a nightmare and should be free. Virtual queues are great but paying for a ride that should be free is bs.
Food was mediocre in some of the most expensive restaurants (be our guest and space 220 I’m looking at you)
Resorts are in need of more ease of use amenities.
Transportation is unreliable. Monorail broke each day we rode it.
DAS was denied pre trip. Went to guest services and they approved it. Why the hassle when there was an obvious need?
Staff was great outside of a few that need to be not infront of guests. (I’m a former cast member, I know policies and decorum)
Photopass Memory Maker only showed 2/3 of our photos for our family of 16…
App is wildly busy and offensive to look at and navigate.
Overall. There is a much needed facelift other than tossing $$ at new lands.
It all sucks
Our last visit was so expensive and frustrating and Underwhelming that we will never be returning. Hope everyone else has a better time than we did. Good Bye WDW....
My niece lost her left air pod in the room and we switched to the Boardwalk. I thought there’s no way but we filled out the form and she got a response the next day. They not only found it, they took it to the Boardwalk for us!
Hooray for happy endings!
Thank the housekeeping person who saw it in the room. The employee did above and beyond, deserves appreciation and recognition from the hotel’s manager.
we lost a silver Mickey pendant, filled out the form and never saw it again same thing with some Rayban glasses. I filled out the form and never saw the glasses again. Although when I left my phone in the bathroom, I went back to get it and the person behind me who went into the stall, I was in took my new iPhone to the manager of the restaurant. He just had me use my fingerprint to get into the phone so it’s been one out of three so far I wish I could stop losing things, but loud noises make me forget things.
Late Arrivals: If you find you will arrive after 11:00 PM or Midnight, call your resort hotel to let them know you will be late. I arrived at 2:00 AM after being caught in traffic caused by a collision…and they had cancelled my reservation as a no-show. The Cast Members were wonderful to get me a space, but there was a bit of heartache trying to get into the resort at the security gate since I no longer had a reservation. Call. Call. Call. (Learn from my mistake, please).
I’m a brit and it was about 10pm or 11pm at night I think when me and my friend arrived when we came over to Disney in 2022? The flights were always going to get up in late at night. There was still a person at the desk. Don’t know how we would have been able to call if we had needed to as British SIM cards in our phones.
@@EmilyCheetham , they still took care of me…more of an “if you can….” i should have been more specific.
Another fun game to play is imagining all the other things you could a spent 10k on other than Disney.
Like buying your kid there first car instead of a week standing in 2 hour long lines and average restaurant food at 3x the markup
Same. We have families in our church that blow all the money on this one trip and do nothing the rest of the year except watch TV.
I’d be happy if the food was “average” every thing we ate recently was flavorless and ungodly expensive
My mom and I got in and out of Disney for less than $1,000 each and that’s staying at art of animation 5 days, 4 nights, meal plan and parks. You have to know how to plan for special dates/use a free planner, etc.
A good thing about being British, is that we always expect to be let down or have things go wrong so to us all this is just normal 😂
The more people spend on a vacation the higher the expectation and pressure that everything must go perfectly, and the greater the chance that things will fall short of that expectation. Plus the more expensive the vacation is the more likely it is that people will only go once in a lifetime, also upping the pressure and expectation. If I know that I can return to a place again I don't worry if things are closed, or I don't get to everything, but if I know I'm not going to be back it's harder to miss out on things.
Been traveling to Disney now for 6 years with our family and never really had an issue. on our recent trip we had a little trouble with our Disney Genie app and when we discussed our problem with a cast member at a "blue Disney team experience location" we were met with disgruntled surly cast members that had would not help us out no matter what. We have NEVER experienced this type of service in Disney.. makes me not want to go back
Best way to avoid terrible WDW vacations; DON"T GO on weekends, 3day weekends, spring & summer, spring/fall school breaks, and all holidays! Simple!
Just made the mistake of going on spring break
@@monke306 Lesson learned! ;)
@@mike9147 bad part is, we were supposed to be there during the slow week
It got mixed up with the busy week
Sounds simple but unfortunately that’s when some can only go! Work, school, etc.. often dictate
Can't plan your overpriced vacation anymore, it's that simple. It's cheaper to go to Disney Paris now....insane.
I can confirm this, it is cheaper if you go for more than 5 days
better weather too
@@minimalistvlogger3467 better? bit subjective
Paris is a shell of a disney park. I live in Europe and wont bother going back, as for weather? Outside summer its raining or freezing cold.
@@minimalistvlogger3467better weather?? LOL. You know it gets crazy cold in Paris, right? 😂
So many problems would be removed if Disney just sold fewer tickets and let fewer people in the parks. But they won't, because they want to maximize revnue rather than guest experience.
I had a coworker that purchased tickets from a military base that required reservations for each park. I advised her against it. She couldn’t get reservations for any of the parks. I paid the extra $30 per ticket on the Disney app. She can’t get a refund. Not sure if she enjoyed the parks or not. I got to and I’m very grateful.
We have been going to WDW since 1974. So glad we were able to experience WDW in its heydays! What WDW was and has turned into makes me cry. R.I.P. Disney.
All by marxist design.
Amen!!to that
We are done with Disney...they have managed to make a vacation into a royal pain. You end up spending your entire days on your phone looking for ways to get on a ride at a reasonable time. It's just gotten ridiculous. Over it!
Litterally everyone is on there phones, taking picutres, calling on face time, texting, on facebook, tik tok, Insta.... I had a party of 11 and didn't spend much time on my phone at all and got LL without issue and just put my phone back in my pocket. Honestly this is just a BS line about Genie Plus.... How many people actually look at WAIT times, and have done for years.
That was my experience last week. I spent so much time setting timers to book rides. When I go to book the ride we want is broken or the lightning lane is no longer available. A 3-hour wait for rides that are less than 1 minute is not my idea of fun anymore. Something has to give to Disney.
@@thebestme9708 That's the problem... from Disney's perspective, nothing has to give unless it affects their bottom line. They keep hiking prices and diluting the experience, but the parks fill up anyway. They make far more money (per trip) off people taking their "once-in-a-lifetime" trip than people who come multiple times a year, so if you don't come back, well, that's just more room for families who haven't been before and aren't jaded about the experience.
The root of all these problems is that Disney World is too popular. There are too many people who are willing to stay in the bubble, wait in the lines, and overpay for everything. If people vote with their feet/wallets, Disney will feel compelled to make changes in response to lagging attendance, and we're back to overcrowding. A new gate might help, but it might also just make things worse by generating new hype. They could build a new resort, but there are already six - a seventh doesn't exactly seem like a silver bullet. So... where do they go from here?
I doubt that you are. Once I get to work at Disney, everything will be way different than they were before. You will be coming back to Disney once some positive changes are made there, and that's no jest!
I’ve had a couple of frustrating trips in recent years but they are already making positive changes such as removing park reservations which was a pleasant surprise during this year’s booking. I do miss the original fast pass system. In some ways it was harder to secure a fast pass because the big rides would be booked an hour after opening but I just don’t like the nickel and diming of genie+. Also really missing Magical Express. I got a rental last year and booked the mears shuttles this year so we’ll see how that goes. Still not a fan that they removed one of the best perks of staying on property…
I saw a TikTok of a family who planned a birthday Disney trip for their 3ish year old daughter. Flew down and even had grandma fly out. They showed up to the park and just walked up to the ticket booth and they were at capacity and didn’t get in. How do you plan a vacation, book a hotel, fly out there and not pre buy tickets?? And it wasn’t even like they forgot, they just figured they definitely be able to get same day tickets. Wild
Yeah , when I started to investigate all about Disney I found that apart of paying your ticket, then U had to reserve your days qhen ur gonna go. That's insane.
I absolutely HATE that you have to reserve dining in advance now. I don't know what time I'll want to eat and what food on what day. I dont want to mess with my phone all day trying to get on a wait list for dining. You can't just go with the flow and relax anymore. Not everyone enjoys rigid whole day itineraries on vacation. All these reservations cause me so much anxiety lol
When in 2010 and had to book reservations? this is confusing things to say. If you want to eat where you want to eat you plan ahead.
Why is that confusing? I don't want to plan where I eat ahead of time. I want to eat what I feel like eating in the moment like literally anywhere else I go.
This is not a relaxing vacation destination.
True
@jtrmmulhein. How are you supposed to plan ahead when you will be hungry?
Having just returned from my first trip there in roughly 25 years my main issue came down to how the genie+ and lightning lanes are implemented. Having been in line for a ride with a predicted 2.5hr wait time (kids really wanted to go on it *sigh*), when we got to the point where the two lines would be merged, the cast member was sending through 60 lightning lane people and 2 standard lane. I get it that if disney allows you the opportunity to buy into genie+ and get access to the those lanes that it should be faster, but this was ridiculous.
Been on both sides of that and it is incredibly frustrating to watch them wave on a million people while you have been waiting for hours. When I'm in the fast lane, I don't want to make eye contact with those that have been waiting. I disagree with the concept and the implementation of what they do now. It is already incredibly expensive so you should have an even chance of getting on the rides you really want. But Disney is chasing the money and they want to attract those with more disposable income, period.
Sadly, Disney and nickel and dime in areas, yet prices continue to rise, the feeling of value has diminished significantly.
The biggest mistake people make is not planning properly. I started going back in 2005 and i researched back then before i went. For example, what rides are available, food choices, showtimes, how Fastpass worked, etc...Basically proper planning, and maybe most importantly when you go!! Dont expect to go during spring break or early summer and expect cheaper hotel prices and low crowds. You need to go during less busy weeks and scout out what each park has to offer. Honestly all theme parks are crazy during popular times and flights etc will be higher. Staying on property at places like Pop Century makes a lot of sense since you get the advantage of the skyliner to 2 parks and free transportation all around to every one of their parks. Also small things like drinking FREE iced water throughout your time in the parks and hotels really cuts down on cost. We also order things like bottled water, snacks, peanut butter and jelly, bread, etc to our resort from food delivery apps to cut down food costs. Yes park tickets are expensive but it is worth it staying on longer trips, cuts down on daily cost per day.
Yea I went in 2022. Spent 2 years planning. Watching rides on UA-cam, looking through all the allergy menus or all the menus online and putting down all that men and my friend could eat at as we both had separate food allergies, doing research on all the parks, going through everything we would need etc etc. The only thing that went wrong was nothing to do with Disney and just us disagreeing on things as friends sometimes do. So ye plan, plan, plan and plan some more. But don’t be disappointed if things don’t go to plan- instead always have a back up.
@@EmilyCheetham perfectly stated
We stayed at Art of Animation and used a travel planner. It was our first time ever going to Disneyworld. Stayed seven days and had a blast. Didn't ride everything we wanted but enjoyed our time there anyways.
I lost the phone out of my pocket on Space Mountain, and I absolutely panicked. I tracked it using another phone and watched it go around and around on Space Mountain all day. At park close I rang and rang and rang it so cast members would find it. They did, and took it to guest relations. The next day they took it to a warehouse to Disney Springs. Getting there on foot wlfrom Hollywoodbl Studios was a challenge, hopping bussing and walking and taking a boat from a resort that wasn't mine... but so thankful I got my phone back
Why didn’t you tell guest relations in the first place so that the crew would know it was there ?
I did, as soon as I noticed it was gone. Also a form or two to fill out before they find it
@@TheBamazon That's weird, I dropped my phone in the ride vehicle on Rock n' Rollercoaster, told the staff at the end of the ride, and got it back within 5 minutes
I like that you don't simply bash Disney, like a lot of channels, but also provide possible alternatives to make your time better. Great job. The hatebait titles are still annoying, but you guys do a great job.
This one’s actually a pretty accurate description for me even when I went in February because there were some people who were angry because of some of the stuff she listed and said they were having a “terrible time“ when really it was just simple things.
My mom even when she accidentally left her phone charger in the backpack and had to have the bag searched, was a little disappointed she missed out on the rope drop ceremony but then realized hey it wasn’t a big deal we were still here and they were very nice about it and gave her ways to prevent another search when we went to Epcot the next day
Just went to Epcot and Animal Kingdom and stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Followed most of this channels advice and had the best time!
Also was able to set up 3 restaurants reservations ahead of time at 3 different days. One at the hotel and 2 at the parks.
Wow. Going on vacation is like a full time job now.
"Knowing about" the virtual queues isnt enough. Last week Guardians filled up by 7:05am and immediately at 1:00p. Same with Tron. Also important to note: if you are park hopping and not staying at the resorts then Genie+ is pointless for your AM park. The Lightning Lanes fill up immediately with resort guests and your only options are late in the afternoon. You cannot choose your Lightning Lane times, you are always only offered what is left after the early access.
Do you mean Individual lightning lane? Because non resort guests who bought Genie + can start booking regular Lightning lane at 7, but not individual lightning lane.
@@claveauannie Yes, the individual lightning lanes (virtual queue) last week filled up within five minutes. The regular lanes for the first half of the day filled up prior to 7am for most rides.
if you go during high crowds you need to adjust your expectations or plan even better.
They say at 7:00 a.m. exactly everyone is online spamming the reserve button, but I heard you can start around 6:00 a.m. too!
@@SuperbStar1955 sometimes, reservations for restaurant starts earlier, but I never saw that for genie + and virtual queue
We went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas. We went before the holiday school break (in November). We were at the park only on that Tuesday night and we did a Hopper rental, not a hotel. We got to the park for the 4 pm entry and they kicked non ticketed folks out at 6. It was busy, but not crowded. We rode everything we wanted to, some rides multiple times. The park closed at 1 am so we had 7 to 8 hours to enjoy ourselves. The only issues I had were the lines and some confusion to get in and the lack of lighting in the park. It was very very dark and that made finding our way around difficult. Most of the rides were open, and the decorations were beautiful. We lucked out with the weather. It was warm enough for shorts and tees until right before we left. Then a sweat shirt was enough. We are disabled, on scooters and that was no problem. Disney does accessable very well. Overall it was wonderful. The tickets are cheap enough and it was more than enough time to see and do what we wanted to. Going after dark is a must because my granddaughter has a sun allergy. Buying a full priced ticket and only getting there late afternoon just doesn't make sense. The party tickets were specially priced and that made more sense as we would have spent the same or fewer hours on a non party ticket. I would definitely do it again.
28:13 The best part of Animal Kingdom lodge was the ability to walk down to the always clean, always empty lobby area bathrooms when you needed it!
Seems like for a family to have a Disney vacation one person is not going to have any fun. The poor planner having to keep everyone on schedule.
That’s why it’s good to have a lot of hands on deck! Back in the day, my family and I would delegate certain roles for everyone. Someone would be in charge of booking the hotel, someone would be in charge of getting dining reservations, someone would be the keeper of Lightning Lanes, etc. That way, not ONE person has to take on the burden of the WHOLE trip!
That was me and it wasn’t even appreciated
Ugh
@@dfbbreeaI’ve tried that but it doesn’t work
The other people either say they don’t know how or they try to and make major mistakes that end up hurting us all
So I had to do everything
@@ninifire4282 Sorry you went through that. Weaponized incompetence is the worst. Hopefully you can vacation with a better group in the future instead of people who act like toddlers if they're asked to pitch in.
Went last week for spring break. Did a bunch of research and planning and we got into every restaurant, got on every ride, and even got the coveted 1:30 bibbity reservation. It’s not hard, it’s just amazing;out of planning and understanding how to use the app.
Can you tell me about the bibbity reservation and what it means? Why is that time important as well? Thanks
@@only_son5040 it’s the makeover for little kids to dress up like a princess. It’s incredibly hard to book and early afternoon is coveted because the outfits are a little uncomfortable after a few hours so the early morning appointments usually look pretty worn out by the time the parade rolls around.
@jpsy422 oh ok. I think my wife mentioned that to me. Thanks I appreciate the kind response
Those makeovers can be pricey,….watched these Parents walked out of the place the little girl looked absolutely beautiful; then she went and jumped into a Big Muddy Puddle!!😂😂😂
@@vmbay2212 yea. It's not the kind of thing we're gonna do there. My daughter is more excited to get her face painted, ride stuff and get some good food
Honestly the things that are terrible on our trip is other guests during fireworks (and castle show in MK). We get a decent spot a decent amount of time ahead and EVERY SINGLE time!! We get adults that stand directly in front of my kids, and are extremely rude when we say “Excuse me can you not go in front of us and leave space for our kids to see.” They get so mean and go “NO!” Legit every time, every park without fail. One guy even fought with me because he was nudging so close to our stroller it was pushing it and he was so close to our kids and it was getting so uncomfortable as in it felt super unsafe. That was actually during the ticket event Mickeys Not So Scary where we paid even more to be there. Please people don’t do that!! We all want to see the shows, parades and fireworks, please be respectful of others. I’m hoping that doing the Extra magic hours event in June, they have there own fireworks for the after hours event, I’m hoping this time it won’t happen because I get so much anxiety lately about watching the shows, parades and fireworks because we have yet to have a good experience 😢
And some people put kids on their shoulders, and cast members no longer enforce their rules!
@@TanyaOsterman-hw9wv I personally think that unsafe anyway. Last time we went I seen a Dad almost drop a 2-3yr old right on their face when they were on his shoulders. That’s a big fall for a small child.
If you are going in June and you do not mind not seeing all the animations in front of the castle, there is a quieter spot near Dumbo’s circus where the actual Dumbo elephant ride is that is not crowded you can still see most of the castle and the fireworks on the other side of the display.
When we went back in February mom and I were not bothered by anyone - Either guests or cast members -we got to see everything it was quiet, we could walk around if needed and I personally had an easier time walking through tomorrow land to Adventureland so I could get in one more ride of pirates of the Caribbean.
This personally was perfect for me Because I have a little bit of sensory overload at times even now as an adult. I enjoyed that show far more than watching it off of Main Street
“How can I spend an enormous amount of money, be uncomfortable, and listen to my children complain and whine? - _Disney!_ Oh, good!”
-Jim Gaffigan
I haven’t been to DW in EEEOOOONNNS but the inside shots of MCO brought me back to 2003 in an instant.
Still looks the same. I think the only thing that’s changed since I went to that airport from the first time is the Disney store looks different.
You think the average guest does all this homework before they go to the parks haha?? They get a rude awakening when they get there.
Gives us the advantage tho 😊
ABW always bring water.
The average guest may not, but some people do.
I did
I totally agree- in the past I was able to afford going to Disney almost every year when my kids were young- staying at a deluxe or moderate hotel with sit down meal plan. Now we do non Disney cruises (Royal Caribbean). We did do a 7 night Disney cruise on the Fantasy several years ago and it was nice and not too badly priced compared to what it now would cost us to do a Disney cruise.
Wow! You touched on some sensitive topics! But in all honesty, we ALL talk about those topics alot!
I was able to get a last minute reservation for Space 220 last year! It was my second to last day at the parks and I decided to check out of sheer curiosity. Someone had canceled for the next day! I literally said “NO WAY” right there in the middle of the park lol. Immediately reserved before someone else could. So yes, check! Since I also couldn’t get a reservation for it ahead of time this year, I’ll be checking each day in case I can score again. Here’s hoping!
🤞🤞🤞
I will never go back to Disneyland again. The reliance on the app has ruined the experience.
Thank you for a fantastic video really enjoyed watching it .
We have not been to WDW for 2 years and we are really missing the magic .It is expensive but once you are there it's fantastic.
We are planning our next trip in Autum 25 .
Great work on your channel
Rich from UK
How exciting!!
In Orlando.. Bring 10.00 in quarters for all the ridiculous toll roads. Be prepared to lose 45 min turning around if you miss one turn. Orlando highways suck
If you flying a ULCC (Spirit, Frontier etc.) buy your airline seats together even if your in the same reservation you maybe seated separately. Orlando Airport you need 3 hrs yes 3hrs prior to departure due to TSA many many families miss their flight during peak travel times i.e. holidays!
I vacation, where you don't need App's😊
do you post to Face book or Insta? Then you use apps
I can't justify paying what they want for tickets, magic pass, Genies etc; just to be disappointed. Not worth it anymore.
Just got back on Monday from a 5 day trip! Stayed at the Polynesian, which was absolutely AMAZING. Well worth the $ IMO. Unless you plan on spending zero time at the resort, it’s well worth it. The convenience of being able to take monorail, boat, bus, and being within walking distance to the Transpo center cannot be overstated. Being able to have a perfect view of the fireworks was amazing, and the hotel pumps in the audio from the fireworks show. Amazing! And lastly staying there you truly feel like you’re on vacation. The pools are great, the beach, the food, all of it was A+.
As far as Genie +…get it and utilize Lightning Lanes as much as humanly possible. We did 2 days in Magic Kingdom, 1 day in Animal Kingdom, and 1 day in Epcot (with a 5 and a 6 year old). We literally only did lightning lanes, didn’t wait in any regular standby lines… And the longest wait we had for a ride the entire trip was maybe 15 minutes.
We had an absolutely amazing time, and are already starting to think about planning our next trip.
Wow can you help me?
@@kichvalentine7064 happy to answer any questions you might have!
I heard nothing but “cha-ching” sounds reading your comment. 😂 I love that for you
@@beewil3694 it wasn’t a cheap trip by any means 😆 but it was worth it!
Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but I really wish Disney would get rid of the virtual queues. It's a bummer for most guests who don't get to get on, and honestly just annoying. All it does is put a paywall between most guests and the ride- because you can get on if you're willing to buy lightning lane 🙄
That’s the point. Disney wants the paywall. They desire to only cater to the wealthy. Don’t have money? Wait behind the line and back with the riff raff
I'm with you. Virtual queues need to go. Maybe they could use them for the first couple weeks of a new ride to avoid the 8-hour lines, but within a month, standby lines of a new ride will stablize. It might still be the longest in the park, but nothing unreasonably higher than other big ticket rides. Disney is only keeping virtual queues because it causes more people to buy Lightning Lanes.
Just finished the 3 day package at peak time. Great time but a couple tips. Genie plus is a must but it’s not a cure all. In Epcot we missed frozen because we booked Ratatouille first 7am but it reserved for 11:30 and by the next book window at 11 Frozen was already booked for the day. So pick your top choice first, you may only get to choose one then just have to wait the hour or two in line. Make sure your phone is fully charged and maybe alternate phone use to extend the battery. There’s no free Wi-Fi and hunting for an outlet is like finding a needle in a haystack. Not fun for those with relying on their phone for maps, tickets, and genie plus. Leave the sandals and wear good support sneakers or you may not be walking well by the third day. Especially if your reservations bounce you across the park. Plays are actually better than rides and you may not need to book a fast pass for it, especially the first one of the day. Pack water but not too much, you can always refill at fountains. Vending may go as high as $5.50 per bottle.
Two questions about After Hours tickets: (1) Do you have to have regular park admission for the day? (2) Are ALL rides simply standby for the event or are there Genie+/Lightning Lanes to deal with during the event?
I wonder if some sort of reservation system could fix this?
Option 1: Reserve with a 2 year cooldown on busy times of the year. Business as usual on slow times of the year.
Option 2: Reduced rate of entry which includes everything BUT rides.
Option 3: Find a CEO that isn't a mess for Disney.
It is amazing seeing so many people complaining how crowded and miserable it is during peak times...
Road Trips. Flights. Me: Amtrak. I would take Brightline to Orlando if it ever expands up to Northern Florida.
I’d like to point out the issue with line jumping on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I visit the park every two to three weeks and that ride in specific is overran with people leaving and returning with trays of food. People holding places for 3-5 more guests. It’s insane.
I keep seeing these videos on how no one likes to go on Disney vacation. They’re having a terrible time and that it cost too much… and yet in every video there are 100s of people in view of the camera… in every direction.
Yes book Slinky Dog right at 7am and also Remy if you are going to Epcot. We were just at Disney World. One morning we were going to Hollywood studios and then park hop to Epcot in the evening. I purchased Genie+ for our group so we could stack lightning lanes for later at Epcot. Right at 7am I purchased individual lightning lane for Rise of the Resistance. Then I switched parks to Epcot to try and get a Remy Genie + lightning lane for later. Within the minute it took me to do this all of the Genie+ lightning lanes were gone for Remy for the day. The helpful cast member at the front desk at the Beach Club refunded Genie+ for me.
One big change I wish Disney would make is to let you choose the times of your Genie+ lightning lanes.
If you are able to get a Slinky Dog or Remy lightning lane at 7am the times are often already into the late afternoon or evening. Most of the other rides fill up slower.
One day we went to the Magic Kingdom and I purchased the multiple park Genie+.
At 7am I booked a ride at Magic Kingdom and at the next window I switched to trying to stack lightning lanes at Hollywood studios. Luckily I managed to get a Slinky Dog for later to park hop to Hollywood studios but it was for around 8:30pm. When the next window opened for us none of the other rides times were even close to our Slinky Dog time. It took around two hours for rides to get close to that time. I think I booked a Runaway Railway at 6:20pm. So I missed out on a booking one lightning lane while waiting for times to get out far enough. I think the window opened at 11am it took until 1pm until times were out far enough then it told me I had to wait until 3pm to book another. So at 11, 1 and 3 I should have had three lightning lanes plus Slinky Dog but only had two plus Slinky Dog.
Another example is if you make a dinner reservation at the parks and want to go in the evening you have to wait until times fill up and get out that far.
Because Disney now allows you to modify your lightening lane selections, you should always try to have one booked as soon as you’re eligible, even if it’s not the preferred return time that you’re looking for. If you book M&MRR at 11, and start your 2 hour cooling off period, you can then keep an eye on return times as they move later into the day and modify that M&MRR LL to a later time. Modifying won’t reset the clock. You’ll still be able to select another lightening lane at 1pm. So always book a new LL when eligible, and modify as needed. I just got back from a week in the parks and found myself using the new modify feature quite a bit. I agree with you that it would be nice to have the option to select a preferred return window for the regular LL’s, similar to the way they do it for the paid individual LL’s. The Genie+ rules can be confusing to learn, and just when you think you have them down, Disney decides to tweak them a little just to drive us crazy🤪
You should not have waited for the times to get later. Always book something to restart that 120 minute clock and modify until you get the time you want. Don’t waste 2 hours without getting a lightening lane.
@@disneygirl276 Great advice thank you.
We vacation to Disney a couple of times a year and I have a pretty good system for maximizing rides while minimizing wait times but I never thought to do this. The main thing for me is to get up early. We usually stay at the Epcot resorts so we can walk to Epcot and Hollywood studios. We usually try and get there about an hour and a half before early entry which almost always puts us at the front of the line at the turnstiles for opening. We have been the 1st people of the day riding Remy on a previous trip and the same for Slinky Dog.
When we go to Hollywood studios we are often among the first few people riding Slinky Dog than we do Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Runaway Railway, Star Tours all with minimal wait times. We usually buy an individual lightning lane for Rise late morning and then sometimes do single rider for Millennium Falcon. We are done with all of the rides by late morning before it gets hot and crowded then go back to the hotel to the pool, lunch or relax for the evening before back at the parks when it cools a little.
For Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom the key is catching the 1st bus of the morning.
Early entry for these was 7:30. We got to the bus stop around 6am. The bus for AK showed up at 6:08 and MK around 6:20. We were at the front of turnstiles at AK and a few people back at MK. Basically walked into to Flight of Passage. Actually they let us in early and we were on the ride past the two videos at 7:30.
At MK we were almost at the front of the line by the teacups for rope drop and could have got on 7 dwarfs with minimal wait but we already purchased an individual lightning lane so we did Peter Pan instead.
Anyway thanks again for the advice.😀
@@sarahcoleman9912 Thanks for the advice. Great idea.
@@sarahcoleman9912 We were eating lunch at Be Our Guest and I spent the whole time refreshing the app watching the times. I definitely wasted two hours doing this. I was hoping once I finally booked the Runway Railway I would immediately be able to book another since another two hours had went by but obviously that wasn't the case.
Thanks again for the advice.
I just got back from Disney World. My ONLY issue is the over-population of Authoritarian Minded Disney Employees yelling and screaming instructions at us like we are in boot camp. There are so many things to do in the Orlando area other than Disney. Icon Park, Wonder Works, The Celebration Fair in Kissimmee, World of Food Trucks, etc. And Disney Springs is a fun place to shop and eat and its free to walk through and free parking.
Ha! Traffic in Atlanta! I live north of Atlanta. Except traffic everywhere, everyday for no reason! Also, south of Atlanta, there’s ALWAYS traffic, no matter what!
Might be a good idea for you and your group to read Everyone Poops before your next trip......I know it's not fun to talk about, but it's something that we all do naturally, and that book can be a good segue into a brief discussion about how these problems can happen, especially when you're eating different foods that might not be prepared in the way you're used to; you're around so many people and exposed to their germs, and you're under so much stress with all the planning and travel. Hopefully you won't have any issues, but if they do happen to you remember: it's okay. And if you have poop problems that are really bad or won't clear up on their own, it's okay to ask for help. Just stay in your room and reach out to Advent Health, and remember that hotels can be very accommodating if you're not feeling well during your stay (i.e. extra blankets and linens, extra tissues/TP, helping you arrange to get prescriptions, helping you get an Uber/Lyft, and telling you where the nearest hospitals/clinics are located). Like AJ, I am not trying to be gross, I just wanted to put it out there that I know firsthand that these problems can happen when you travel, and while they are a nuisance, it is nothing to be ashamed of; it is completely okay. Do not let shame or embarrassment stop you from asking for help when you need it. There are plenty of resources and people to help you. Stay well!
I was harassed at Disney by cast members. My daughter was 2 but because she was tall and I carried my baby everywhere they thought she was older. I was told at the gate I needed to buy a ticket I had to show her birth certificate. We purchased Disney genie and I was stopped and told I needed to buy a ticket for daughter even though she under the age needed to purchase. I was stopped 4 times throughout my day. On a different note my baby needed to be held constantly or she would cry we were stopped and told she needed to walk on to the ride. A cast member screamed at us telling me she needed to remain on the floor all while my baby was crying for her mom. A terrible experience. I complained using the mobile site and they told me I should’ve discussed this at the park. We had visited Disneyland CA just the month before and my experience was different. I won’t go back. Universal has my money and loyalty.
Great info. Never been to DW so I can’t say anything much about the price increases. Thankful for my husbands military discounts though. The genie and lightening lanes sounds so stressful to me. I am a Disneyland alum and it’s much easier to get on rides without all that hassle even at Christmas time! Maybe I’ll just skip those popular rides when we go. Thanks again for this video!
The Buffalo mac and cheese in the small cast iron skillet at 29:47, where is that from? It looks delicious!
House of Blues in Disney Springs!
@@DFBGuide thanks!
Well now days there is no magical trip to Disney!!!!
Can’t underestimate the “just check” factor. Figured I’d just check for the “heck” of it. Got a reservation for breakfast at Chef Mickey’s 4 days in advance. Could not believe it.
I was just there for spring break and the crowds were bad and genie plus was worthless even at the $39 price tag we paid per person. Still enjoyed it we just paced our selves spent most of our time at the resort hotel visited all parks and did a total of 11 attractions for that week.
I did 7 rides at magic kingdom and we only had 2 hours. 11 rides in a week? Ouch.
Just got back 2 weeks ago, it was great. Already booked our next trip.
Long time DVC owner just returning from WDW this past Friday with my family of 5. We made the mistake of trying to go during Easter week because work and school allow for it. Crowds were awful. All I kept hearing including on this channel is how the crowds are so much lower. Never again! But I was blown away at how Disney continues to be so expensive. Gene+ and individual lightning lanes can cost you hundreds even close to an additional $1k on top of your original ticket cost. If you did not purchase Gene+ you'd be waiting in line all day as the stand by lines were ridiculous. Sit down dinners continue to be over priced as well. Disney is just pricing me out for a family of 5.
Thanks to these videos from DFB, our last trip was awesome!
I'm glad we could help!
Our last Disney World vacation I watched several cast members(CM) act like absolute Karens, a boy was running to catch up to his group, he got yelled at like he was a criminal. It was raining at Epcot, LeCellier in Canada, a CM yelled at everyone trying to wait under a small canopy to stay dry. The group argued the elderly couple should be allowed to stay, No was her response. I witnessed other things as well, but this post is long enough.
I start planning a Disney Trip a year in advance. Planning a Disney Trip is very strategic.
52 days and we can’t wait to be back!!!
Disney vacation is now a planning and logistics nightmare. I might be showing my age, but I remember just buying (well the adults…lol) the day ticket and go in without a plan! Kids don’t plan…lol
I spent a week at Disneyland and it was magic! I hugged Mickey. Space Mtn rollercoaster, Big bear jamboree, haunted mansion boat ride, mairachi, the peolpe mover, Thunder Mtn coaster mine ride. I saw Buddy Rich and the beach Boys. It was 1,00X more exciting than Knotsberry Farm, which if it were up to me, we wouldnèt have spent a week at too. I was 13, the perfect age.
1 Million Subs, wow gratulations
Getting in late. You can tell them in your reservation when you
Plan to arrive, and you can update your check in too! Running late? Update your check in info right in MDE!
I remember when Disney used to put a calendar out with the best time of year with the least amount of crowds
We are staying off property for a fraction of the price and we have an entire condo to ourselves. The Disney tickets costs thousands!! And that doesn't include food, extras, parking, it's insanity. This will probably be our one and only trip there. Canada is in a recession, the cost of living here is getting higher and higher. , and I'm shocked how busy Disney is actually.
We are very privileged to be able to go to Disney and other theme parks. It really isn't inclusive for all families... at all.
Fellow Canadian here. Also, it doesn't help that our dollar is horrible compared to the US dollar. It adds up but the memories will last forever
Canadian here as well. I've been to Disney World twice, once for my 16th birthday and once for my honeymoon. It makes me incredibly sad to think that my husband and I may never be able to afford to take our future children to Disney World given how ludicrously expensive it has become :(
@_GhostTea Dealing with that now. I went many times growing up and my husband proposed at Disney. Had our honeymoon moon in 2017 before everything changed. Now my daughter is 4 and we can't take her. It breaks my heart but she did like Universal.
@@vanillabean1215 That's so sad 😔 I hope things turn around at some point and you'll be able to take her.
13:30 me wondering why is there a random dress hanging there?? Oh it’s a closed umbrella!! 😂
I live 45 minutes from Disney World and quit going when Disney got rid of the free paper fast pass and replaced it with their shameless money grab (aka Genie +). My next vacation will be a road trip to Savannah, Georgia. I will be replacing visiting a pretend place with visiting real places for far less money.
I’m nervous about having my period there, as it’s quite heavy as I have endometriosis and need access to a bathroom every 30-40 minutes which does not bode well for queuing plus ride time plus walking to bathroom 😅
Talk to guest services and get a DAS pass. They’ll ask why you can’t wait in lines and if you give them a brief explanation of this they’ll be more than happy to help
@@braydensmith3945 o that would be so helpful! I’ve spent a lot of money on this trip. Thank you 🙏
Have you tried a menstrual cup? I was in a similar situation because of cysts and the menstrual cup legit changed my life. (I'm a park ranger and spent hours and hours in the wilderness with no real restroom.)
@savannah115 @savannah115 Hi. I have tried a couple of brands, and I couldn't insert them properly, it was too painful and they'd pop open before I got them in far enough so it's scared me off lol
I’m travelling over from uk when I go to Disney world so I don’t plan to be I. The parks usually till the day after Iv arrived in Florida so if my flight doesn’t land till 11pm when it was supposed to arrive at 7pm I’ll just go to my hotel as I was going to anyway and just go straight to bed rather than say watching a movie under the stars or going for a meal in the hotel quick service. And I’ll go to the park in the morning as planned.
We were in Hawaii at Oahu airport, the plane had not left and a family came a few minutes late and were not allowed to board. They were really sad because they got stuck in traffic.
I have a question does Disney Transportation stay open for after hour events? Such as the Minnie Vans to get us back to our resort?
It was open for us at HS. Buses were running after the event.
@@jtrmmulherin that is so good to know, thank you.
Pshhhh I went in December for a week, all four parks (Magic Kingdom twice) then just last week we went to Epcot then cruised on the Wish. Had nothing but a phenomenal time.
I have a handicapped granddaughter who has Cereabal Palsey who is confined to a wheelchair. We have been taking her to Disney World every year since 2010. She has her own personal wheelchair. Ever since Disney changed their policy to this DAS system, we have had a difficult time getting her a DAS pass. Disney claims her disability DOESN'T qualify for one and I had to argue with Disney to get it for her while witnessing a grown man with a broken ankle in a rented wheelchair from the park get a DAS pass. Disney needs to change their DAS policy to better accommodate children with a disability. Disney also needs to change how many people can be on the DAS pass, to a maximum of five people. Disney also needs to change how many attractions you can put on the DAS pass at one time, you can only make one reservation at a time. Disney also needs to train their cast members on how to better deal with and work with children with disabilities.
Does anyone else despise having to constantly be on your phone checking this and that or book this or that? I haven’t been since 2019 because this new system is a big turnoff for me. I have been renting out my points because of it. 😢I loved the old fastpass system where I only had to get up at 4am once (West Coast) and book 3 rides per day for my stay. Then I could have a little spontaneity for the rest of my time. Much more relaxing.
Lost my magic band last trip. It was my favorite one, a really unique map of magic kingdom. Unfortunately it was never turned in
Hello, my friends daughters grandparents are taking her to Disney world in a couple of weeks. **Do you have any recommendations for this type of occasion to accommodate (not old, but in 50’s) to make for an easier experience?
I’m 71 and went last week. Pace yourself. There is a lot of walking so try riding rides or seeing characters/shows in one area of a park before moving to the next. For example Magic Kingdom…Do what you can in Adventureland before moving to Frontierland….and use the train to get from one side to another to save steps if you get tired. One big lesson I learned, don’t take a backpack if you can help it. I took a fanny pack and when I got thirsty I got free water or bought a bottle of water. Lugging around a backpack with heavy bottles inside and a bunch of stuff you don’t need can really wear you down. My fanny pack was large enough for a small sunscreen tube, IDs and a little money. No need for anything else. 😊
There’s nothing special about seeing people in costumes playing roles from movies. Nothing. There’s nothing special about seeing movie sets from movies you like. You go to parks like this for the rides. Save your money and go to a theme park where you can actually ride a ride multiple times without waiting in line for hours. Forget the theming and find a park loaded with great coasters you can ride many times.
We're going to Disney World in a few weeks (first timers). I'm completely overwhelmed with the logistics of everything. How does Genie Plus work, when do I buy it, do I need to be on my app all day long to use it, how do I get to the parks from my hotel, should I purchase lightning lanes, do I need to get a boarding group for rides that I want to ride (I've only failed at Disneyland), do I need reservations for the parks or dinning, am I too late for reservations, the list goes on and on. I remember in the past when I just bought a ticket, and went, and enjoyed myself. Those days are gone at Disney. Add up the cost of everything and it's getting to be more of a hassle than it's worth. Next time we're just going to go to a mountain resort or something. Relax in nature, maybe go for some hikes, or some snowboarding (for a fraction of the cost) lol.
WDW is becoming a nightmare! You need a degree in Disney! You have to buy lightning lanes, but only get 1 or 2 rides for the price. The cast members no longer are pleasant. You used to be able to “forget your cares” now you are greeted by a tatted up Ms. Snarky. And OMG what is up with that huge hunk of broccoli where splash mountain used to be!
March Spring break at Magic Kingdom picked up dropped gift card at car loading gate of Big Thunder Railroad. Gave card to cast member at entrance to ride. Wondered what happened to that gift card and how much was on it. Felt sorry for who lost it as probably was kid on spring break and it was their money for food.
Last December my party got Roto virus, it cost me an extra $1800 to stay for two days at the Polynesian because I was too sick to leave. The year before that when we were Disney World, we got Covid.
Caution - the airlines will not always be able to help you when you call from the plane. Our plane was marked as “departed” even though we were simply stuck on the tarmac for 1.5hrs and missing our connection. Because it showed we were in the air, there was nothing the help desk could do.
Just went after 10 years. Had excellent time. Same great it always was. Polynesian was just as beautiful and calming. Cast members still wonderful. So relieved. Universal first visit hated it. Never again. Was so happy to see wdw after that.
I’ve lost a couple items in WDW that weren’t returned to me, unfortunately. One was a wet bathing suit! Ugh.
"Vulture Circling" hysterical
So my son lost his phone on our most recent trip last week. opened a case and they just closed it. Is it possible it can still be located/returned?
You may try submitting a second time, but there's a chance it was never found or turned in
thanks for the tip. i'll try that out. one thing you may wan to add to this article regarding transportation during these crazy crowds; skyliner at art of animation. my god did that line get long and start early. Just a heads up for those that are using it for early access in MK or Hollywood Studios. @@DFBGuide
I also wanted to say Thanks for all the Tips/VLOGS. It really helped our vacation run smoothly and saved our sanity from not hearing our kids complain about waiting in long lines. So, thank you. @@DFBGuide