People Are Having TERRIBLE Disney World Vacations (These are Their Mistakes)

[@andyinpa1]

It seems like planning a Disney vacation is like planning for college financial aid or filing your income taxes. It’s too crowded, too expensive and too complicated.

[@aftersexhighfives]

If you let it be. Some people need to embrace the moment more than the itinerary.

[@tleeg74]

Exactly....going to Orlando next month and don't care about the craziness of Disney. It's so complicated and frustrating....Hitting Universal instead.

[@Deamarie24]

I could not have said it better myself!

[@davidg984]

then dont go you brokie

[@tleeg74]

@@davidg984 you got it, blokie.

[@jennifersaar1611]

If I wanted to do all that work, I'd just stay home. Disney has sucked all the fun and spontaneity out of everything.

[@season2866]

Not my experience, but hey, please do stay home because I'm all for smaller crowds.

[@1anastudent]

Disney has successfully priced themselves out of my family budget. You get less and pay more. I can't justify going anymore

[@Jane-Doe.1126]

That's their plan they only want rich people to be able to go there.

[@1anastudent]

@@crassmonkey18 You misunderstood. Disney was originally expensive, but not ridiculously so. Now, I could probably save and go but for the return, it's just not worth it anymore. The quality, the value, and the service have all gotten worse. You get less and pay a lot more for it. It's not worth it. Also, shaming someone for having less money? What a horrible human being you are

[@etherealtb6021]

So sad. We used to go to Disneyland for my birthday every year when I was a kid. Not feasible for families now.

[@jtimko2196]

Depends how you do it. My family of 4 can spend a week in Disney (7 nights/6 park days) for well under $5000. You don't have to stay at the Grand Floridian and eat steak and lobster every night.

[@etherealtb6021]

@@jtimko2196 $5K is a lot of flipping money! We lived in SoCal so we could do day trips every year for my birthday, which even SoCal families can't afford any longer. It is like $500 for a family of 3, without food! 🤷‍♀️

[@brandond8197]

This sounds less of a vacation and more like being on your phone all day

[@Jplanetx]

THE FUTURE IS NOW OLD MAN!

[@JASMAD999]

I agree it's why I made a promise to myself I would never go back to Disney until.. They brought back the Disney Dining Plan and remove all those ridiculous Park entry restrictions.. And they supposedly are after the 10th of January2024..

[@Elite67ty]

@@JASMAD999 well aren’t you special

[@shawnbradford2243]

Not hardly, it actually makes things a lot easier and less waiting in lines

[@wolftitan]

@@Jplanetx That's not the "FUTURE" , that pure irritation. And if you think that's the "Future" screw it.

[@carbondragon]

I am in my mid 60s now and I'm old enough to remember Disneyland as a kid and Disneyworld as an adult in my 40s with an annual pass living in Orlando. There were crowds but not like there are today. There were no apps or lightning lane or genie to have to navigate. You didn't have to mortgage your house to go. We thought it was a bit pricey back then but by today's standards it was nothing. I could walk in with my pass and spend the day riding a few rides and eating in Epcot. Your excellent, entertaining videos drive home that today you need a masters degree in disney and a substantial amount of money to even think about going to Disney and even then you probably won't have a good time given how much work it's going to be. I don't begrudge Disney their profits but it would be nice if they considered guest experience like they did in the old days.

[@yvonnephinney8024]

I hate to say it, but Disney really isn’t for people who want spontaneity or if you’re bringing kids. The difference between two and three people traveling is staggering. Just this summer, my husband and I booked, a 5 night stay at the Swan and Dolphin with 4 park tickets and airfare for $2500. When we went with our son two years ago, it cost $8K, and that was staying at Pop Century. I like to tell people, wait til your kids are adults and go than. You’ll BOTH enjoy it more.

[@hangoutwithme346]

Disney isn’t for bringing your kids?

[@themananswer-lg2wt]

Prepare, prepare, prepare!!!! Before your child goes to Disney take him or her to Kings Dominion and see if they can handle that first. That was one of the tips after all!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cleo962]

I see parents learn this the hard way, the kid looks miserable because they’re over stimulated and exhausted , and the parents look even more miserable as they’ve spent 8k only to see their kids not enjoy it! Often it boils down to money, parents spending $$$ want to get their moneys worth, which is fair, only they forget the quantity of time you spend in the parks does not equal better quality experiences. A trip with a toddler not only looks different to one with a teen, it SHOULD look different.

[@davidmccann9811]

So they are making it expensive to bring kids, because erm.....people want to bring their kids. 🤔

[@blaster-zy7xx]

As wiered as this is, my wife and I went many times as annual pass holders and really enjoyed it. I said many times that the key to having a great time at Disney is not to bring any kids along.

[@charleswhite2795]

Took a trip to Universal and Disney in March. I felt like a valued customer at Universal with free water jug fillers, refillable drink cups and popcorn containers and three lines for rides fast lane, regular ticket holders and single rider. I was able to find alleys to sit on a stoop and eat lunch with no people around. Pop up concerts with the blues brothers and reasonable prices. At Disney there were none on these thing... I think they had the popcorn bucket. Disney sums up a customers worth just by the names of their lines Lightening lines and stand by. Disney has lost it.

[@kittykathy9532]

100%

[@GrumpyGolf4]

Well said. Chapek summed up the DIS upper management mind set about ALL of their customers when he said that annual passholders business is not as valuable to them as the day customer. They are classifying people by how much they spend and thus how much profit they can make from those classes of customer. On the one hand, that's capitalism and ultimately, we the consumer, have the final say. On the other hand, it speaks volumes about the cultural change happening within DIS...we are no longer "guests". We are potential dollar signs and if we aren't willing to accepot that DIS will give us less and less and charge us more and more for the priviledge, we are not their intended audience.

[@suewalton8822]

Disney has a higher demand and as the 3rd largest employer in Florida, they employ many more than Universal, so how can they be compared?

[@ThePrincessandtheDad]

Disney has those bottle saver fountains… popcorn buckets are refillable for like $2.50, there are plenty of places to sit

[@ThePrincessandtheDad]

@@suewalton8822 sue making sense !!

[@pichipurinsesu]

I wish they'd just roll it back to how it was in 2019. Fastpasses, DDP, Park hopping... it's getting more and more conplicated every year :( I hate having to wake up at the crack of dawn to book on the day. 60 days before was so much easier!

[@TribaL979]

I couldn’t agree with you more. Those were the good old days at Disney.

[@andreamckinney8808]

I want to go back to 2012-2016. Those were my Disney golden days.

[@Whatizzit]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@knobbynah]

We went in October. The amount of work that you have to do to just get on rides was ridiculous. Least relaxing vacation in a long time. You can't just be in the parks and have no cares because your constantly having to check your phone. Meanwhile we went to Universal in March and it was the easiest experience ever. Disney needs to make the experience substantially easier, not to mention the criminal pricing for every tiny little thing.

[@brooksfire9580]

No work at all. The only time I checked my phone while in the parks was just after I got in a lightning lane so I could make another selection.

[@lynntravels]

I was considering a vacation to WDW sometime next year, once I started to plan for it I became overwhelmed and started to feel anxious. Vacations should be exciting and something to look forward to and not stress you before you even set foot in the Magic Kingdom.

[@lynntravels]

@@omnicognatesnr5947 Thank you for the suggestion 😊

[@aftersexhighfives]

Imo, just go for 3 days instead of 1. 2 days for each other park. But for magic Kingdom, imo a 3 day park pass is the way to go. Contemporary resort is within walking distance and their garden rooms are reasonable. You can easily go to the pool at the hottest time of each day and go back to the park for the afternoon. Or have a nap and go back without much travel headache. The monorail also goes right into the main atrium of the hotel if walking is not your favorite. I've watched a few ppl go both methods simultaneously to see which is faster and walking is only about 5 minutes faster. Sometimes it's worth the 5 minutes to rest in the monorail.

[@amberficke8387]

Highly recommend going thru a disney travel agent, I felt the same way planning for my disney trip!

[@AviatorKaden05]

i agree. my family and i are going again for the 8th time. we absolutely love disney, unfortunately here in California, Disneyland is 220$ a person 😬. It does get annoying waking up at 6am to go wait in line for the park but i always try and make it positive.

[@lynntravels]

@@amberficke8387 Thank you for the tip 🙂

[@rgfisher21]

I solved all those problems by deciding that I am not going there anymore. After 40 years of almost yearly visits (48 trips). I went there to escape the world, however, this is more complicated then actually being at work. Don't need that much complexity and stress.

[@NoelleTakestheSky]

Same. We aren’t even using the tickets we already have. Not worth the headache.

[@user-xu5js1nl7l]

Same! My first visit was 1977. Last was May 2021. I went like 17 times over the years, one time was for 18 nights! No more. Complicated, stressful and I can’t take what they stand for anymore. My money will not support a company like that. But we got to that point just in the last couple years. In 2021 when 8 of us with our smart phones got up early for a 7am shot at riding a ride I thought, this isn’t vacation anymore. Next time let’s head to the beach or do a cruise. And the money!! We even stayed offsite! I was embarrassed to tell any of my friends what it cost us for a week. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@steveslocomb]

The last disney vacation we had included the following: not receiving luggage until 3 am, horrible customer service, after promised great room cleaning, our room was barely touched, having our children not allowed to wait inside a restaurant that we had a reservation for not allow them to wait inside during a thunderstorm, and with few awesome exceptions, most cast members were at best indifferent to the request. Disney provided us a credit for a new vacation which we haven't used yet. In general, the parks have zero spontaneity left. Everything must be booked in advance and now requires being on your phone the entire day.

[@kencarp57]

Genie Plus. Virtual Queues. Having to do everything on your phone. All of this is WAY too complicated for me. Going to Disney seems like a lot of work, expense, planning, and STRESS... the exact OPPOSITE of what I want on a vacation. I'll pass, and go somewhere where I can just relax and actually enjoy myself.

[@devinantonovich1]

Just went a couple weeks ago. It really was terrible. Monorail breakdowns, ride breakdowns galore, so much annoying construction, crowds are ridiculous, staff are rude, everything is outdate and overpriced. Really sad to see and experience. I am sadly done with Disney. There is no value left.

[@gamingwaffle1171]

I remember when you just bought a ticket and you rode the rides. This feels like too much work. Spending money is a given in WDW, but I don't like feeling nickled and dimed. I want to feel appreciated for spending my vacation dollars with them. Not like I have to scrounge around for the crumbs.

[@joannharrington2279]

Planning a Disney World vacation is like writing a college term paper. I want to go on vacation and relax. I actually have avoided going to Disney World the last two years because of all the rules and hoops you need to jump through before going. Planning a trip to Europe much easier and you don't have to worry about getting a que spot. Room for everyone.

[@brucejohnson1264]

Disney Orlando hasn’t improved much in the last 25 years, and they charge outrageous prices for everything. We spent a week there last year, and wouldn’t go back. If I had it to do over, I would spend a week at Universal, and just a few days at Disney. This year we went to Japan, and spent a day at Tokyo Disney and Disney Sea. It was less crowded, cleaner, and MUCH less expensive. The food and the service were both much better than Orlando. Even with the airfare, it could be a more affordable option for a lot of people.

[@stevezerio4803]

Your local zoo or park are both excellent options too

[@JosedeJezeus]

Tokyo Disney is less expensive!? What he f?!

[@kimisea]

I went to WDW for the first time this month (long achieved childhood dream, I'm from the UK and we didn't grow up rich) and even though I won't be able to go back for a long time, I love watching these videos and reminiscing about my trip ❤ It really was the perfect vacation I always wanted, I got engaged on it too so that was a plus!

[@justaguy2182]

What Disney truly needs if they want to continue to be a company that people enjoy, in my opinion, are people in executive positions that care about the product/experience that they’re putting out. Actual creatives in charge. But Disney cannot and will not do that because that would displease shareholders.

[@elainehill5931]

They are no different than any other business whose primary focus is making profit. People just are blinded by nostalgia and forget that fact.

[@stevezerio4803]

It is a fine line - like all strategies. If you have all creative with no logistics or operations - you have utter chaos. The leadership supports all three points of the triangle, so guests have reliable rides and satisfying food in addition to creative attractions. 150,000 guests per day are voting with their pocketbooks.

[@damnimloomin]

I think it goes further they need to gut the board that has been pushing for this greed as well as corporate and choose people who are actually grounded in reality. The people at the top of this company are so out of touch they have never nor would they ever be burdened with the stress of planning a vacation they would either have special treatment or would just pay someone to deal with this stress. We need people who have planned a Disney vacation in the last decade to run parks and resorts (and yes I think chairman Josh should have been fired with cheap-ek he is 100% part of the problem and cares more about the bottom line than quality or even the success of the only profitable part left of this monopoly) I truly believe Disney parks needs to be its own company entirely and let the idiots run the studio side into the ground not use parks to bail out their poor decisions. If parks was its own business not only do I think most of this greed would be tamped down (because their competitors are KILLING THEM not because they want to) but I think they would make way more money being less greedy and returning to quality and guest satisfaction (we’re not even guests anymore we are revenue generating customers)

[@nmccw3245]

We shareholders aren’t that thrilled with Disney management right now either.

[@jessiegcmu]

One time, we were at Disney in august. My 5 year old was bright red- overheated and tired. We went into a gift shop to enjoy some AC and we told him we couldn’t get a $75 item he wanted. He ended up having one of the biggest and worst meltdowns I’ve ever seen! Anything I tried to help him made it worse so I just sat near him and patiently waited for it to be over. Lots of parents walked by looking empathetic. It happens!

[@gray_f]

One of the best things you can do, just wait it out. Been there. 💓

[@KeithKill92]

Was there a few weeks ago for my birthday, first time in like 6 years. It was my gf’s first time there and we LOVED it. I watched a lot of y’all videos which helped a bunch. You cannot wait to go back!

[@MJ_Solo]

The more I research Disney, the less I want to go on vacation

[@thehotsixer1]

There are a thousand better places to go.

[@JosedeJezeus]

I feel like a need to be a millionaire to go on a Disney vacation!

[@largol33t12]

Then try Busch Gardens in Tampa. There's also their rival Universal and what about Sea World. I don't miss Disney because they have pushed their main customer base completely out the door.

[@MJ_Solo]

Never heard of Bush Gardens, thanks for the info!@@largol33t12

[@MariaRodriguez-dx6sm]

At this point, it is better, and probably cheaper, go to Europe

[@marilynm5024]

Don't over estimate adults either. Adults can have meltdowns too!

[@amybryant6668]

Sometimes worse than children!👀

[@GrannysCoop]

We went during the pandemic and it was awful! We stayed at Kidani village, Worst vacation ever. It was the first time for some in our group and they said they didn’t ever want to go back. You know it’s bad when the kids in your group were fed up with the atmosphere.😢

[@lulu73029]

the atrocious price increases and quality decrease is not the guests fault. disney is getting too ridiculous

[@penelopepitstop762]

A little research goes a long way (which is what most of us here are doing). People who think Disney is like a Six Flags and just show up are likely to end up a little disappointed.

[@ThePrincessandtheDad]

Where have you been all my life?

[@ThePrincessandtheDad]

@@omnicognatesnr5947 but those type of “complications” don’t bother myself, going to Walt Disney World is an experience, the property is on over 27,000 acres, Universal Orlando on around 854 acres, that’s why it helps to have a Disney Park fan to give you tips and how to plan the correct way, your talking about a place that hosts 250,000 people every 7 1/2 days, of course it’s going to be busy

[@penelopepitstop762]

@@omnicognatesnr5947 because Disney is 5 times the size of Six Flags and people come from all over the world… we don’t have any choice but to plan ahead.

[@ThePrincessandtheDad]

@@omnicognatesnr5947 lol none takin sir just back and forth that’s all, I get it,

[@robbie1977ful]

It just takes some planning and time getting everything together otherwise you will be miserable. My friend went around Thanksgiving no plan besides tickets and lodging. His family had a huge argument over something and left early and miserable. To me the planning is part of the fun.

[@CarissaHelmer88]

Planning is half the fun to me, gets me more and more excited with each planning part.

[@dandiehm8414]

To each his/her own. I don't want to do ANY planning. I want to show up at the park, go in, wander around, pick out an attraction, get in line, and enjoy it. All while leaving my phone at my hotel room. All the planning turns a vacation into work.

[@jtimko2196]

@@dandiehm8414 You can do that for everything in Disney, except for 2 rides.

[@ginomo80]

Me too, planning is half the fun!

[@carol2girls]

There’s never ever been a terrible day, even when it rains it’s a good day

[@suewalton8822]

💯😊

[@waynerobinson2236]

Went to Disney in the early 80s. Great memories. Going now "what a hassle ". Keep it!

[@statmagic]

Went during covid when park capacity was 30%. Best time ever. Cleaner, better food, better service, almost no wait on rides.

[@vansays2236]

Ditto!

[@paulkinder8440]

I've been to Disney quite a few times pre covid, to be honest it sounds like Disneys sucked the magic out of what was once a fantastic place to go. No longer can you be spontaneous and go wherever you want. It sounds too regimental where everything needs to be pre booked, it doesn't sound fun at all and it'd cost you thousands, if you were having a 14 night stay. I've never been on holiday where there's a recommendation to carry a phone battery power pack. Because of the amount of time you are going spend on your phone. Where's the fun in that.

[@gregorycerven3484]

It's how you set your expectations for Disney World. If you go in trying to get $1,000 worth of value every day, you will likely be disappointed. If you go in with the attitude to just enjoy yourself and get the most out of your time at the parks, you will have a much better experience. You may not get to do everything you want to do, things may not work to make it your ideal vacation, but you'll have a memorable trip with the people you are there spending your time with.

[@juliamontejo1520]

Ive gone at peak times and still had a fantastic, spontaneous time. You just need to be willing to walk and be flexible. I wasn’t glued to my phone, I glanced for best times, which is pretty easy to do imo

[@NoelleTakestheSky]

@@juliamontejo1520 You shouldn’t have to go with no expectations so that you aren’t disappointed in what you don’t get to do.

[@krisyeyezz]

I have never been to Disney World but I’m going for the first time next week, so I have been watching these videos a lot, and they have been really helpful! Thank you so much Disney Food Blog! 😊

[@iliketv9]

As a Disneyland local, I really feel for people who pay full price and have to do all this planning to vacation at Disney. Its why every trip I make to Orlando is to visit Universal Orlando and WDW is an afterthought.

[@OpinionVille]

Same here. I don't want to have to buy and download a daily app so that I can maybe get the rides I want. Constantly checking my phone does not sound like a vacation to me.

[@CreditR01]

@@OpinionVille It sounds like a nightmare.

[@thevanillaflourette]

My husband and I went to Disneyworld the second week of May and the heat is what plagued our trip. We are 35 and in fair condition but our bodies just couldn't take it. Partway through day one my body was completely covered (tmi) in Disney rash. Real thing, look it up. By day three, my left eye and right foot were noticeably swollen. By day five, everything hurt and we were both physically and emotionally exhausted. By the end we were almost miserable. We want to try again (I will say Universal was a far better experience) but it will only be in winter months. Pricing people out from even getting the chance to go is a close second though. Florida weather is no joke. Do not assume age or fitness will save you from it.

[@theresec6599]

oof yeah if you're not used to the heat (like live somewhere with a similar climate), summer is rough. I live in the South (and love the heat) and still prefer Disney in the winter :)

[@felvkitties8]

I also went around that time only thing that saved me was having dining reservations and going to show after show when it was really hot.

[@kevtimetv7542]

35??!?? Bro you guys are out of shape 💀💀

[@bmgalang7376]

Thank you for all the videos you make AJ. You are our go-to for all things food related at Disney. We really enjoy your content and have used your advice on numerous trips. We have been going to Disney World yearly with our 3 girls until 2019 pre-covid. We have gone with them at different ages, from babies to school age. We only came back in December of 2021. I really enjoyed the planning aspect of the trip since we are a family of 5 and can only go during school holidays when the crowds are in full force. I think the gradual taking away of things like magical express, free bag tags, free magic bands for resort guests with a vacation package, and even the old fast pass system really took a toll on the Disney experience. Those things really made you feel like a special guest and that the cost of your vacation was worth it. I do see the usefulness of the Genie+ and all the other services that come with it but it can feel like you are being nickel and dimed with everything plus the stress of having to wake up early and fight for a reservation seems a bit hunger games-ish which can be stressful. I think a Disney vacation now is more of an informed decision about timing, cost, and use of tech. You should go knowing that pre-planning will help with your family's overall satisfaction and well-being. We try to weigh how much we are willing to spend versus how much we want to accomplish and how much we are willing to work during our vacation. I must admit, it is no longer a no-brainer choice for us like it was in the past. If we want to have a somewhat carefree holiday, we opt for Universal. Thanks again AJ. We hope to see more of your content and hear your familiar voice on your next uploads :)

[@kirkcornelius1074]

I’ve been to Disney World countless times and have never had a bad vacation. Sometimes weather and sickness can play a factor but for the most part I think the way a vacation goes has more to do with the person taking it and not the place you go. I always scratch my head at people who hate crowds and waiting and go to Disney. Makes no sense.

[@kd4562]

If you’re someone who enjoys the park as it was 10 years ago, I highly recommend going during a weekday (if possible) and attending an event. (Ex: Not so Scary, Very Merry etc.) by solely attending an event, you have time to ride rides before the parades and you don’t need that genie pass bs or the park reservation on top of the ticket and the lines are below 20min because the people who are there aren’t generally there for the rides anymore since most of the events allow you to enter the park at 4PM and kick everyone else who doesn’t have tickets to it out. Most families are exhausted from an early day at the park and will likely leave between 5&6. Besides that hack, there’s no attending Disney anymore without all these bells and whistles sadly.

[@Nest-Stuff9]

I miss the days of Fast Pass and simple Park Hopper tickets!! It was a system that worked for everyone and didn’t break the bank!! And, why can’t I just enjoy “The Happiest Place on Earth” without being on my phone all the time!!🤨

[@sunsarastaninger1627]

Park pass reservations are ridiculous!! HATE also not being able to park hop until 2pm. HATE virtual queues! Bring back stand by queues! Over scheduling and not a vacation if you are always on your phone. Yuck!!

[@michaelegan7328]

It is Disney that has made the mistakes making it far too expensive and complicated not necessarily the customer. Disney needs to go back to tickets and simply limit the sales. I wonder would Walt would say?

[@JosedeJezeus]

Walt would be horrified with what Epcot turned out to be. When Walt died, so did the soul of the Experimental Prototype City Of Tomorrow.

[@sheldap]

I recently returned from a one week Disney vacation which was the first time I have visited since 2019. I think its terrible that Disney is requiring people to rely on their phones so much. In a world where we are continuously attached to our devices and go on vacation for a break, you are 100% required to use your phone constantly at Disney.

[@jenniferh1416]

Have read several comments about needing smartphones to visit Disney. Haven't been there since they had Fast Pass kiosks and when we could select a park day by reserving our Fast Passes at home days in advance which was fun and relaxing. Currently sounds like Black Friday shopping if you can quickly get. the ride you want with the virtual que and if you can even visit the park you wanted. No thanks!

[@joedavenport5293]

The problem with most Disney World vacations is that you literally have to plan out EVERYTHING! It's almost like you're still at work or school because have set schedules and itineraries. It basically a business trip with Disney characters. You can no longer down there, relax, and do what you want when you want to, which is the whole point of going on vacation.

[@lydiaorcales3254]

Fast pass was so much easier. We have passholder passes but never plan on getting more than one or two rides when we do go. I’ve had multiple delays in paid Disney+ lines to the point that a 10am reservation was pushed out to 4pm. Wasn’t even going to be in the park after 1 pm. It’s lost the magic. We go to eat breakfast or lunch then head home. I still like to see Disneyworld’s sights and sounds (being a Disneyland regular for years I miss only two Parks and fast pass!). But gone are the days when I go for rides only to be disappointed of wait times and Disney+. I’m likely to change over to Universal when our passes expire.

[@jerryrohr5096]

So glad for these videos. Every time I think I might try to relive memories from years ago and visit Disneyland or WDW, these videos tell me to spend my money elsewhere and stay happy on vacation rather than thinking I’m back at work.

[@richardmercer2337]

The thing about Disney Springs is that ANYONE can shop/eat there! You don't have to be on a Disney World vacation to go there! You just need to visit/live in Orlando.

[@kdbee6086]

The weather is for real. We went one Christmas and went through almost every symbol on the weather chart in one day.

[@DoctorBella]

Family wants to do another big Disney trip. I love WDW but the last few trips I was the one that had to wake up at the crack of dawn to get all the lightning lanes, had to stay on my phone all day to deal with G.P. And deal with finding a place to park a stroller, making sure we had places to eat that could fit our large family, etc. It wasn't relaxing at all! It made me frustrated and exhausted. I just can't do another one again.

[@peace-a]

Every now and then I watch a DFB video just to remind myself to never go to Disney again. It's ridiculous. You can't just show up, buy a ticket and go have fun. Nope. Never again. 👎🏼

[@MrWookie1981]

Why not? Other than not getting into the most popular restaurants and newest ride you can easily just show up and enjoy the day.

[@aftersexhighfives]

Only been one time in the last 5 years. You need to give it 2 more years and then go again. You didn't experience Disney. You experienced Disney with COVID. There's a vast difference. Can't make magic happen when you're suppressed by a freaking virus.

[@dandiehm8414]

@@MrWookie1981 Really - you can just show up, by a ticket, and walk in? So you don't need a park reservation?

[@MrWookie1981]

@@dandiehm8414 You will need a reservation after you buy the ticket but as of right now all parks are available for the next 4 months including today.

[@ccm290]

Dont see my family going to Disney until they get their prices under control. Spending over $8000 for a week vacation is not in my plans.

[@aftersexhighfives]

I paid 3100 for my family of 5; 4 night 5 day; 4 day magic kingdom tickets just under 2k for all 5. So, 5k. But I did it in two transactions. Saved for hotel for 3 months, booked it. Saved for park tickets for 2 months booked them on coordinating days. The real problem is being unprepared once there and paying a premium for it. Bring ponchos, metal water bottles, personal fans and a first aid kit. At least one of your pairs shoes should be wipe dry so you always have dry shoes no matter what. Pack double underwear and socks. Preparation can save you more than just the hotel and ticket deals can.

[@flmcrw]

@@omnicognatesnr5947 Holy cow, you would go for 13 days?! Why not go for just a few days instead of 2 weeks?

[@fifthward1983]

had a coworker go to disney, he brought the kids even the in -laws too lol. the kids just wanted to hang out by the pools and didnt/couldnt handle waking up early and walking around in the hot orlando humidity all day. the kids were miserable being dragged around all day and the parents were miserable because the kids just wanted to stay at the hotel and skip the parks.

[@JosedeJezeus]

Is global warming ruining DisneyWorld. Jesus take the wheel!

[@thewatchersofthewood3530]

I was very proud of my 10 year old pushing though 8 hour days of the trip, he has an inner toughtness but there was some serious whining at times! He still wanted to stay and only skipped one event as he was tired. what a trooper; I saw some seriously bad meltdowns there so it was not bad for us.

[@DarksidePride]

We had ours two weeks ago and it was incredible, best time of our lives.

[@jukio02]

It's just too expensive and too complicated now to plan for a Disney vacation. It's more stressful than fun.

[@robbie1977ful]

You can have a great time at Disney for sure having said that you have to do a lot of planning . We try to go about once a year and it takes a lot to insure we have the best time possible. You can still be spontaneous to a degree.

[@wasmadeinthe80s]

I'll be at DW from Oct. 25 - 29th, doing Not so Scary on the 28th. Also doing Universal on Oct. 30 - Nov 1 with Halloween Horror Nights VIP on Halloween Evening. Should be a good trip!

[@mirandacalderon9465]

I’m going at the same time. Super excited! Not going to lie I’m a little fearful of Horror Nights! 😳

[@wasmadeinthe80s]

@@mirandacalderon9465 We can be terrified together 😂

[@dianehunter7394]

Lots of planning. My daughter lives in Orlando and is the best guide to get us thru everything. We did the VQ for Tron and were able to ride it at night. So much fun. However while waiting in line people were trying to get in line with no VQ and lying that they were on someone elses VQ, their phone died, their group was ahead, etc. Don't lie and play by the rules. Your only going to get people upset around you, get the Disney employee to keep telling you no, tge next thing is your upset and vaca is ruined. But you do plan for other vacas. Be prepared.

[@NoelleTakestheSky]

After being in CONSTANT use all day, it’s feasible that phone batteries will die.

[@terrimisseldine8526]

We have been going there for 20 years and we know the do and don’t of the park. We went last year and it was the last time we are going! It was not fun to be on your phone all day long! Getting up at 7 to book stuff? Forget it!

[@felvkitties8]

They probably have unrealistic expectations and feel they spend too much. There are other places to go that are cheaper but depends what you like. Also you should just expect to pay a lot. It's a splurge vacation. At least for me. I think if you plan correctly you can have a great time. For families I'd do the parks which parks they like the most might like the most twice. Solo I was able to do everything I wanted and then some. And i had sit down meals every day too. For a family it will be expensive but make sure it's something everyone wants to do. Then save up the money! Look for deals and make kids put down top rides, foods tell them you might not do everything. If coming from overseas please do something other than just the parks discover Florida and natural areas like the everglades. Just have fun!

[@carol2girls]

That’s their own fault

[@NoelleTakestheSky]

“Planning correctly” shouldn’t be as in depth as it’s become.

[@thewatchersofthewood3530]

Just retuned form a 4 day DisneyWorld vacation yesterday and there were some seriously bad moments with excessively long lines due to Lightning Lane riders. My last Disney visit was right after the park came back after covid and had 5 days at Disneyland. During that time there was no lightning lane and with the Rise Of The resistance being the only ride with very long waits it was such a different experience. The lines were always moving forward and it did not seem to stall like it does now when they let so many skip the standby line. Of course there was also capacity limits to the park so that also made it better as the park was not as packed. I do lot of theme parks as I am a six flags Great adventure platinum member so crowds are just how it is especially during busy times but this was something else. The Avatar ride was 3 hour wait and it barely moved. You now MUST pay for each ride to have a low wait. I really just felt like a number on a spreadsheet to exact money from as the enjoyment was lost and that is just sad.

[@thewatchersofthewood3530]

Also I had lots of help and discounts for the trip as family member worked for Disney yet the costs were eye watering at times and did stay on property.

[@davesouza6079]

If you are having a bad time at Disney, then the fault is the host especially when you pay premium prices. Disney has made time at the parks too complicated. There is no real reason for that!

[@alistairmcelwee7467]

My goodness, Disney World sounds like an absolute nightmare.

[@brooksroth345]

I went to Disney in 2004 as an adult. I was there for my brothers wedding. I absulated hated it. Tried th ride a ride and was pissed people with special tickets got to cut in line. After 2hr waiting in line in the FL heat I was done. Lunch was 20$ for something that cost 5$ anywhere else. To make matters worse the food sucked. 50$ just to enter. Is this women listening to herself. Who the hell wants to go through this to have a bad time.

[@GeeEmm81]

Went to Tokyo Disneyland/Universal a few years ago. Had the time of my life. Atmosphere was amazing, people were incredibly respectful, guests and employees and it was so clean. Wouldnt even bother going to any other DL parks.

[@lowennalewis6916]

I love DFB!! I really miss your in-depth restaurant reviews. It seems like a longtime since I saw a full restaurant review. You’re (as a team) so great at reviewing the restaurants around Disney. You’ve helped me more than you’ll know by selecting the best restaurants Disney has to offer! But recently your content has been less food based and more attractions/park/lifestyle based. Please can you review the ‘best of the best’ in food!?!? You’re my fave KZbin channel but recently the content seems predictable/ not food related …. ♥️❤️♥️

[@LazyGoblinGold]

The phone running out isn’t the issue. The issue is if you are not American and do not have data roaming on. This means you have to rely on the Wi-Fi. Now your app can really have issues and if you need to rejoin your Disney app then you need a fresh password which you can only get through a secure email, this is only in the resorts not the parks. This is a known issue with Disney and they do nothing to correct it. Also non of the the large Disney vlogs say anything about it, either because they don’t know or they don’t want to upset Disney.

[@shawnbradford2243]

Spent four days there last week and it was wonderful, not super busy either

[@barbwirewebworks]

It’s all about expectations. Social media (yes you too DFB) have made expectations that can mot be fulfilled.

[@Singulitarian]

WDW used to be my happy place. Now it's ridiculously complex.

[@Xedgehog1]

I go to WDW every year. There's this thing I do to have plenty of $$$ for the trip. I get two paychecks a month, and each paycheck i get a Disney gift card, because you can use them for almost everything on the property. So $100.00 each paycheck puts me at $2400 for each trip. Even if i spend it on early booking the vacation itself, it still leaves a bunch of $$$ for food/merch at the parks.

[@felvkitties8]

Yes play around with genie before you get to the parks. Check wait times the week before and see what a good plan would be for your visit. Be realistic about what you can accomplish with kids. Also sit down dinners take up a lot of time. Crystal palace takes over an hour depending on when you get there. Just try to go with the flow and have fun.

[@TheOpenForum]

CAN NOT WAIT!! In 4 months we will finally be next door neighbors to disney world!!! So excited!!

[@larrytemen4789]

How can I assure that my children won’t be exposed to men dressed as Disney princesses? And if I come across any will I be fully refunded?

[@MrMecrob1]

On Disney's website they're offering a 4 day 4 park ticket pack that says it doesn't require theme park reservations. I might be misunderstanding, but it seems like you don't need park passes if you get that bundle?

[@CorVids1031]

I think the biggest thing for me that took me off guard was the park reservations. I understand why they exist, but if they called the tickets themselves "part 1" and the reservation "part 2" they'd probably have less people showing up with half and being confused about why they're not allowed in. Just the fact that there even is a small step you could miss that would prevent you from entering the parks is a bit worrisome. I enjoy vacation planning, but if I didn't, Disney would not be the place for me.

[@phil8702]

When I lived in Florida I drove to Disney World several times a year. Now I wouldn't waste my time or money. I wonder how many people did all of these steps and once the got there they were refused entry. Makes Universal sound like the park to go !!!

[@MK_1Ultra]

I'm literally going this Wednesday!! Thanks for this video!!🎉🎉

[@suewalton8822]

Yay! I hope you have a wonderful time!

[@Kayyouhu77]

OMG, I haven’t been to WDW in 8 years, and it sounds like it’s become a huge pain! I almost don’t want to go again and spend half the time on a screen. Ugh. The prime Disney years are long gone.

[@themeparkamusement2214]

It does not matter what time of the year it is, you can not drive your car onto a resort on the week end and Friday for the most part. However if you scream like a 5 year old and demand to see the manager, a manager has the authority to let you on, not the security guard. Rather than backing up the line of people who paid to stay at the resort and want to get to their room, show some class and just go to Disney Springs and catch a bus to any resort or theme park that you desire. Especially if you are a spoiled DVC member who thinks the world revolves around what you want. "but i paid a lot of money to be here!" Get in line. we all did.

[@denschipper9784]

For the record, just returned after 9 days at Boulder Ridge. Best vacation ever. Learn and adjust on the fly, love it. Great meals, incredible fireworks, rode all the rides and often gone by 3, relaxed in a Cabana, free tours of the Wilderness Lodge, etc

[@cyndiebirkner704]

Folks need to be ready to plan a lot, but be ready for when things go wonky. Learn to roll with the punches and preserve your sense of humor 😁

[@jeffaltier5582]

Expectations. Some people go expecting to have walk on lines for everything and get upset when they have to wait 30 or 40 minutes. They expect no crowds or at best totally underestimate how crowded it will be. Also-- rides break down and people have a hard time switching gears. You need to be able to pivot and change plans on the fly.

[@NoelleTakestheSky]

It’s not so easy to change plans when you have to plan for every step now.

[@frankcarney4882]

Correction: We just bought the 4 day one park per day special and we are not required to make a park reservation and we are there the 3rd week in September

[@benjaminpfister938]

Easy for me. I lost my temper three times with my family based on miscommunications. Also when you play on the Star Wars Datapad, they don't let you know how much power you have left on your phone. I once played with 40% battery. By the time I left, I swear it was only 4%, so I shut it down the rest of the day. COVID also threw off our Disneyland trip 3x.

[@ginomo80]

I’m one of those people who loves to research and plan my trips so none of this phases me. However, I don’t recommend Disney for anyone who wants a laid back, go with the flow vacation. Maybe universal, maybe a cruise or a beach vacation. But Disney will easily overwhelm of you aren’t willing to do all the things. Honestly, if I don’t know if I could do it if I didn’t have 25 years of Disney experience under my belt.

[@heatherkaye6362]

As soon as you started your intro I thought I should look at the topics. Yeah... I had a terrible time at Disney and there's no way I could have a good time. Why? Because outside of a few points which are just basic life advise, if you pay THAT MUCH money for a "dream vacation," the onus of effort should be on the company providing the product, not on the consumer. I did NOT get a quality product. Even my sister who was such a die hard fan that the rest of the family would roll our eyes when she'd get started has let her blog die and hasn't been in a few years after an absolutely nightmarish trip.

[@patricialefferts9523]

Spent time at WDW earlier this year with family and 6 yr old grandson. We had a grand time. I started watching your videos but it didn't take long to question if you even like WDW. It's a shame, I just think you in it to sell your food guides. First time I've watched you in awhile and still think you feel the same. We loved our time there. We had very little wait time and my grandson told me, "I always have the best times with you Gramma. And this was the BEST.

[@robertkelly1070]

Went twice in past 12 months. One long (9 days) and one short (4days) trip. Plan well and be informed and you will have a spectacular time.

[@landonp629]

Disney's virtual queue is the worst invention they ever came up with. You should be able to get in line for ANY ride you want. If you want to wait, that is up to you. This early morning lottery system is unfair - though unfair and Disney are really the same thing. After my last trip there in 2021, I won't be going back for at least another 10-years. Give me Universal any day of the week - more interesting rides, better park management, etc.

[@deborahwhite2872]

So we were at epcot in april and tried to get in the 6pm virtual queue. We were staying at Contemporary but we were not inside Epcot when we tried to join. The app said we were not eligible for the virtual queue. An hour later when we got to Epcot it the queue was still open and it allowed us to join. I think for the extended evening hours you do have to be in the park to join.

[@becz8820]

But why do I want to work so hard ? The parks look cool but not worth this hassle and crowds!

[@carolinacoto8534]

I miss those past times when go to Disney was easy.

[@chrisbronico3667]

There is no need for everything to be sooooo complicated. It should just be buy a ticket, go to the park, put your phone away in your pocket since it's vacation, get in line for lines you want to ride, ride it and move to next ride. That's how they did it years ago when Disney was actually magical. Now it's just stressful and frustrating.

[@scottgriffin2005]

Another person that he’d a bad time here May 2021. Adding to it Disneys attitude toward the traditional family. Disney can bite me.

[@DaizyCutt3r]

The worst part about WDW are the Guests. Ex, I witnessed a guy struggling to get his baby stroller on the curb bc an entitled group of Guests decided to take a selfie on the curb ramp.

[@MichelleAlexandria-EM]

I went for a Hollywood Studios after hours event and everything was closed or broken except for Star Wars. But I did get to do everything I set out to do that day so other than the After Hours event being a complete waste of time, I got my money back. So, eh. i did all the big things, Guardians, ate at Space 720 (wish I ate at food and garden instead), Test Trek, both Star Wars rides, Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror and saw Fantasmic. So solid day after some drama, have no desire to go back for awhile.

[@rksherman1]

Lightening lanes? Virtual queues? This sounds complicated.

[@robertoso8796]

i've always wanted to see disney world but i'm confident saying i have no interest in actually trying to do so anymore because i'm essentially guaranteed to regret the 75% of things i wanted to do but didn't . what a convoluted expensive hassle.

[@sandraalexander4690]

I really appreciate your great channel and the great information! I feel though that the general premise of this video is not completely accurate!. Yes customers make mistakes- but the complexity of planning a trip as sucked any joy out of going for me. In fact the complexity of the planning and execution of a Disney vacation actually contributes to the mistakes. I grew up in Southern California. They joy and magic of Disney is gone for me. We are just dollar signs for the corporation. It is sad. Also Disney is losing future generations of travelers as previous won't want to share the Disney tradition with their family.

[@TheLeraLush]

I don’t know how people don’t immediately make park pass reservations after buying their tickets. The parks don’t get booked that quickly anymore (I went during the pandemic when they were booked up months in advance)

[@penelopepitstop762]

@@omnicognatesnr5947 how do you buy the tickets a year in advance? I remember we used to be able to, but they aren’t selling tickets for 2024 until tomorrow. Or am I misunderstanding?

[@lauracallahan1813]

I don’t understand all the complaints…we had been to Disney several times since covid and have a great time always. It just takes a little planing and you can have a great time at Disney World. People need to lower their expectations and just enjoy all that you can in the time you have. And no Universal is not cheaper or more entertaining. They have long lines, expensive food, and their tickets cost the same as Disney except the fast pass is way more expensive than Genie plus.

[@MrWookie1981]

Universal has better rides but only if your family is old/tall enough to go on them. I do find their hotels to be cheaper.

[@MrWookie1981]

@@GreatfullyBlessedD25 Why would you be going to Disney for luxury? That makes no sense.

[@lizmillan1]

Frankly I can’t keep up with all these rules , exceptions , no’s no’s . Just listening to this video confuses me . Extra money to be able to visit. What a shame . Erasing Mickey from my travel plans .