2016 Walt Disney World Christmas Trip Recap — Part 3
I thought we might pick up from Part 2 of our 2016 Walt Disney World Christmas Trip Recap by addressing the decision to travel in mid-November as opposed to our normal (and recommended) “sweet spot” of the week after Thanksgiving. The latter we rank as the #1 week of the year in our Best & Worst Months to Visit Walt Disney World post, so it might surprise you that we chose to go earlier.
Our motivations for the earlier dates were being able to update Christmas posts on the blog earlier in the season, potentially lighter crowds, and not be playing catch-up with real world responsibilities during the heart of the Christmas season upon returning home. Barring a scheduling conflict, we wouldn’t do it again. As much as we like presenting fresh information to you all, I don’t think we learned/reported anything “essential” by going a couple weeks early.
The benefit was that crowds were probably lighter during our mid-November visit, but I’m not certain. Plus, with the way crowd levels have been so unpredictable in the last year, I wouldn’t bank on that not shifting again next year. The downside was that we missed out on Christmas decorations at many of the resort hotels, and the Holidays Around the World at Epcot.
These two things were a big deal for us. If this were last year and the Osborne Lights were still running, I don’t think it would’ve been as big of a deal. We would’ve soaked up the Christmas ambiance by heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios every night to gaze at those for hours. Alas, that was not an option. The only park that felt fully in the holiday spirit as of mid-November was Magic Kingdom.
We’ve undoubtedly bemoaned the loss of the Osborne Lights more than necessary on this blog. They’re gone. They’re not coming back. We get it. However, it keeps coming up because their absence has left a gaping hole in Walt Disney World’s Christmas lineup that Disney chose not to address this year. (I don’t think there’s any denying that you’re paying more and getting less at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year…especially at Christmas.)
Without the Osborne Lights, it is more difficult to obtain that same sense of immersion in the Christmas atmosphere. For us, this is a big part of Christmas at Walt Disney World. It’s why we like sitting by the fireplace in the Wilderness Lodge lobby, or wandering through World Showcase after the IllumiNations Peace on Earth tag. The snowfall on Hollywood Boulevard after Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! is in this same vein, but too fleeting.
This visit reaffirmed to us that first week of December really is the sweet spot for Christmas season at Walt Disney World. I can’t say I’m disappointed by the November visit. The big upside is that it has made for a slower-paced early December, with much more time for enjoying the Christmas season at a relaxed pace.
Anyway, that was our rationale for switching weeks, along with why we wouldn’t do it again. Hopefully that was helpful if you wondered why we went early this year or have contemplated doing the same.
Our next day started out late, once again, as we continued our more leisurely approach to this trip. This approach was one huge plus side to our trip. We’ve definitely taken a more lax approach with attractions in recent years as compared to when we first started visiting, but we still (mostly) aimed at being in the parks as much as possible.
This trip, we spent far more time at the resorts, and doing nothing. It actually felt like a vacation, which was a strange–but really nice–change of pace. My goal for next year is to score a couple of days at Wilderness Lodge and spend 4 hours per day in a rocking chair by the fire. I’m not even kidding.
On this particular day, I was still up by 7 a.m., which meant a solid 3 hours of watching Stacey host Must Do Disney. Not quite the same as gazing longingly into a fireplace, but still relaxing.
After reviewing receipts from Tangierine Cafe and the Grand Floridian pool bar, I suggested to Sarah that we try new-to-us table service restaurants instead of counter service for the remainder of the trip. It seemed like we could have a table service meal for only a couple dollars more.
I remember when we first started visiting Walt Disney World as adults, one of the “hacks” was dining at a handful of table service restaurants that had near counter service pricing. In the last two years, it seems that counter service price increases have far outpaced table service prices. I suspect you could now do a near counter service priced meal at half of all table service restaurants at Walt Disney World.
We opted for Captain’s Grille, mostly since we were hungry and it was the nearest option that had immediate availability. I’ll write a full review of the meal at some point soon, but we really enjoyed the meal.
Not only was the restaurant nearly-deserted, but the food was really good, and there were several reasonably-priced options. We ended up ordering the Yacht Club Burger with salt & vinegar fries and the Blackened Sustainable Catch BLT with truffle fries. We’d highly recommend either options–and both sets of fries! This was a new-to-us restaurant in a strict sense, but not totally new. Since Captain’s Grille shares a kitchen with Crew’s Cup Lounge, the menus are pretty much interchangeable. Still, it was nice to eat in a new environment, and we really enjoyed our meal.
This guest stratification and chasing money from the most well-heeled demographics is the same mindset that led to one of my favorite spots on the planet (Le Court des Anges) being destroyed to expand the exclusive Club 33 at Disneyland. My family were the same type of yearly visitors, only to the West Coast park, when I was growing up. We’ve been priced out and with the park less and less resembling the place I loved as a child and teen and yes as an adult as well our visits have become further and further apart. I still love Disneyland and still hope to one day visit Disney World, but I know now those who grew up going to DW are feeling very similarly to those of us for whom DL is our “home” resort.
Thank you so much for putting into words exactly how I feel about the state of Disney World, and my feelings as a passionate fan of the Disney Parks.
About the Carousel of Progress…I too would love a living room like the last scene! It is in many ways very on trend…or could be with a little refreshing. It strikes me not as a ground up “home of the future” place but a sensitively remodeled mid-century ranch home. It incorporates the “Open Concept” floor plan that is all the rage nowadays. Heck even VR headsets have made a comeback. If they would just redress it slightly(new flatscreen TV, VR headset, cabinet resurfacing(add granite/marble/quartz counters and new appliances) and drop the line about car phones it could easily be the 21st century. I’d say change their clothes and maybe loose the 90’s color palette (but maybe they are wearing “ugly sweaters” in an ironic way) It could easily be done without too much work.
Been going since 1973, have seen my share of price increases and disappointments, but have never gotten the feeling that I was being treated differently than VIP guests. Until now. I’m retired (with a less than savory income) and must be careful where the money goes, so my trips no longer include what I call luxuries.
In 1973, a five night stay at the Contemporary for two adults, including meals, Luau, Hoop Dee Doo Revue and other perks, was $248 each. For children under 9, the price was a meager $48. Even allowing for inflation, you could see what a deal that was. The package allowed us to experience shows, great meals (in restaurants long gone) and uncrowded days at MK (the only park in ’73). A bonus was my children were randomly selected to be honorary guests of the day, marched in the Liberty Square parade and in a beautiful ceremony, were presented with commemorative pins and scrolls.
From a comparative point of view, families today would have to spend many thousands of dollars to come near that 1973 trip. However, this is not a “in my day, bread was a nickel comment”. This is a comment on paying more, getting less, and the growing social and financial divide that has become apparent, even to me. Especially to me. Obviously, to you too Tom. I hope WDW picks up on and addresses this, as the average WDW guest is being priced out of a wonderful vacation. Unless they want to attract only the wealthy, they had better pay attention. Sad to say, I don’t think they will.
My wife and I just got back from our trip (during your #1 week of the year I might add!) and we were also struck by just how blatant a cash grab some of these upcharge events come off as. We always drive down and were particularly peeved at the new “Premium” parking spots that cost an extra $15/day. In the past if you were the dedicated rope-dropper who showed up 45/60 mins before park opening, you got a front spot. Now they reserve those spots for “Premium” guests willing to shell out the extra cash and you’re stuck parking WAY back in the lot and taking a tram or walking. It’s certainly not the end of the world, but little stuff like this (or those eye-sore tents next to Space Mountain!) seemed to keep adding up and taking away from our overall enjoyment. Glad to hear it’s not just us being grumpy as we get older. =)
Also – I thought I would share that we were borderline irritated at how nice the weather was for this week – highs of 80/85 every day! While that’s probably ideal for most people, when we went during November two years ago, it was 40’s/50’s every day and we were shocked at how much we enjoyed it! After you’ve experienced WDW in sweltering heat, there’s something very refreshing – and seasonally appropriate with all the holiday decorations – about needing a jacket and feeling a little chill in the air.
To end on a positive note, we really did have a great time. First trip with our 4 year old and it was amazing seeing everything through his eyes. And we, of course, enjoyed the heck out of all of our old favorite rides/experiences and there’s always some new ride or dining experience to try out. In spite of the ill-advised cash grabs, you can bet we’ll be back soon!
We just got back from our first Disney Christmas-time trip. It was a make-up for hurricane related cancellations, so we were a little limited on available dates and attractions. But we ended up with 4 days in the upper 70s and and only the first night got even remotely chilly, so I guess we got lucky!
I also hadn’t seen anything about the “Kingdom Cabanas” until reading this. We didn’t see them in Tomorrowland, but we weren’t looking for them and only ended up in that corner of the park one evening. And at about $700 a pop, I don’t think we will be looking for them any time soon…
Thanks again for all the info you have provided! Reading through your previous Disney Christmas/winter posts made planning for this one a breeze. Lots of fun was had by all!
I couldn’t hear anything you said over the sounds of my own jealousy over your Lego Cinderella Castle. I want one so much, but $350 is just hard to justify right now. Maybe if I tell my husband I won’t be able to live without one we can consider it a “grocery”?
Your rant was spot on. I am a long time Disney nerd, I consider it a hobby. Hubs and I got married at wilderness lodge 14 years ago. We still love Disney but on oiur last visit we finally hit our breaking point on food prices and started to cheat on the mouse and eat off site. It was much less stressful, mainly because there was less pressure on everything to be perfect. When you know you have to spend $250 for a buffet, it puts too much pressure on the kids. They are tires, they just want cheese fries at outback steakhouse and daddy wants a $3 beer. It is a slippery slope, now we are looking at renting a house or a condo and visiting harry potter for our annual trip….
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that was a GREAT essay!!! deserves wider publication. it really was about so much more than what it was ostensibly about. I am thinking about the ‘cult’ accusation an article or two ago. People still treat each other more decently within Disney’s worlds than they do in the ‘real’ world. There’s nothing weird about wishing this was true outside the gates. But it certainly is a cause for dismay when even these little oases begin to lose their glow,.. very moving heart-felt writing. thanks.
You made a wise choice leaving Big River Grill. We ate there once and it was all around bad. Poor service, no theme or Disney feel, mediocre food, and really dirty (especially the bathrooms-shudder).
Amen on your observations about the up-charges. It’s soul crushing to watch Disney parks place the priority on profits above show. Management definitely has lost the traditional Disney focus. Now it’s very obvious that all the energy is being directed on how to monetize the experience. I believe this is having a a highly visible negative impact on the rest of the parks. Blunders like Rivers of light the removal of the Osborne lights are noticed and not forgotten by the core group of Disney fans. I believe we are seeing the era of eroding and dismantling the Disney legacy. This new “profits first” direction is unsustainable and it will result in diminishing the brand.
I’ve cut down my trips from 4 per year to just 1 because I’m not happy with the price gouging, up-sells and entertainment cuts. Others are doing the same, whether it be because of international economic concerns or price increases that are making a family visit to the parks out of reach financially. So who is left to fill the parks?
Disney might be counting on Pandora to give them a badly needed attendance bump but if it’s half baked like the Fantasyland expansion was then their reputation will be further corroded. Disney is making too many misfires, which is deadly for a place that has the notoriety of being over priced for what you get.
We can only hope that management comes to their senses and decides to stick to the tried and true direction of Walt Disney’s vision. Nothing succeeds like success and nothing exceeds like excess… and these up-sells and park fails are more than many are willing to bear. The attendance numbers don’t lie…
Hi Tom,
Thanks, as always, for your lovely posts! I love hearing about your trips. I actually think that Disney’s lifelong-fan demographic – which you describe as a “stable” part of their business – is actually their most important one. This is a nice cash cow for Disney – after all, these are the people who are investing in DVC, who are buying merchandise year after year, and who take annual trips (or more) to Disney over decades. In contrast, those who splurge for once-in-a-lifetime large-family trips may bring in a lot of short-term gains, but is certainly nothing sustainable. Importantly, these longtime fans are also the ones who are building the most goodwill for the Company as they share the many aspects of their Disney life with their friends and family — they’re the ones posting pictures, writing blogs, eagerly awaiting the new Disney movies and getting everyone else around them excited about these things as well. The neglecting of this fanbase for newer, possibly more fickle guests is unwise!
(Although, on a separate note unrelated to anything you have posted about today, I find that the “longtime guest fanbase” can be hard to please, particularly with regard to park changes. I found the unhappiness over replacing previously iconic park attractions with new IP-licensing rather misguided, because a lot of the old attractions were also based, in part, on old intellectual property. I think it is natural for the parks to develop their attractions as the Company’s theatrical arm also progresses – after all, Splash Mountain is great, but how many people who sit on the ride today have seen Song of the South?)
Is it true that the Cinderella Castle Lego set is becoming hard to find? There were a ton at the LEGO Store when I stepped in not too long ago.
Thanks again for always sharing your trips, tips, and advice with us!
I agree with you regarding the upcharges. We went in mid-November and had hoped for much lighter crowds than what we experienced. It was our first trip in 4 years having gone to Disneyland twice in that time and I have to say, I’m in no rush to go back to WDW. The new to us FP+ and the large crowds meant we didn’t get to do as many rides as we wanted, we had forgotten how much time the buses add and the upcharges that made us feel like we were intruding on someone else’s vacation.
I for one appreciate your well-articulated ‘rant’ 🙂 it’s gotten to the point for our family where we aren’t finding as much value in a Disney World trip as we used to, and our last trip in May pretty much solidified the idea that we’re taking a good long break for awhile. Pricing for everything – but especially tickets and lodging – has skyrocketed quite high and whether people want to admit it or not, those special upcharges affect everybody. I don’t think people realize that a good chunk of their vacation dollars are going towards these things that seem extraneous and quite ridiculous to us sensible folk.
I have to wonder about the types of people who would spend that much on the Tomorrowland cabanas. It’s not just a question of disposable income since I can’t imagine any of the really wealthy people I know throwing money away on something that presents such a poor value. I mean, if you want to sit and relax in an enclosed space, why do it in the middle of a crowded theme park? I don’t hesitate to spend money for cool experiences. I love taking frequent trips, eating in awesome restaurants, and splurging on the resorts that I feel have something to offer for the prices they charge. I love the hard ticket parties such as MNSSHP and MVMCP. They offer something unique even though they are getting pricier by the year. But an ugly cabana rental for more than six times the price of a one-day ticket? I would not go for that even if I were rolling around in billions of dollars.
Hi Tom. Thanks for a great write up. I too have been lame ting the upcharge and stratification at my home park Disneyland. I have complained on a couple of chat boards about the trend over the last few years and I usually get responses of either “it doesn’t bother me since I won’t use it anyway” or “it’s a business” I strongly disagree and feel that Marketing’s focus on pitching Exclusivity has been going on for a few years and now has impacted guests. If Disney spends time on this they are not spending time enhancing everyone’s experience. Passholders have been the 4 letter word for quite a while because supposedly we don’t spend. Now that view is moving to the solid customer base as a whole.
Tom,
Great…and accurate IMO, perspective on the upcharges and their impact on all guests. I hadn’t heard of any of them.
For me, stuff like uncharges on top of all the advance planning that is required (as for FP+ reservations) make visiting WDW borderline not worth it during peak periods.
On a more positive note, agree 100% on fall and winter visits. Our last two have been in November and January in perfect weather.
Be glad you went when you did! We were there last week and it was A LOT busier than we expected! Pop Warner was there and it was so busy Friday and Saturday we scrapped our plans to go to the MK and went to HS instead! They had extra buses at TTC to transport people to MK on Saturday in the middle of the day bc the monorail and ferry were so backed up!!! Much busier than it was four years ago when we were there this same week!
Just getting home from WDW ourselves and you’re right, Pop Warner really impacted the early weekend. We must have been following the crowds because it was much busier than I expected as well, especially MVMCP
Good stuff Tom. I totally get the rant. It is distressing to see what appears to be a stratification of all things Disney – those who have the cash and are willing to spend it versus those that don’t have the cash or have the cash but refuse to spend it. Here is something that happened to me that made me even more suspicious of the motives of the Disney execs. My wife and I were there for 6 days last August (and the weather was not that bad for early August). When we returned home I had an email to conduct a survey about our trip. Great I thought, I am a valued customer and they appreciate my feedback. I think I answered the demographics questions (age, race, income) when the survey ended and basically told me thanks but we don’t need to know anything else about you or your visit. What The Hey? I just plopped down close to $3K to visit and you don’t care about my impressions? I suspect I didn’t meet the demographics they were interest in (read in between the lines – $$$) so they didn’t truly want my feedback. Disappointing no matter what the reason. My wife and I have the money to visit at least once a year but I’ll be sure to not spend anymore than absolutely possible while still having a good time if Disney continues down this path of ever increasing prices and blatant stratification of their customers.
Not to pour cold water on this, but I suspect that isn’t the reason. When surveys are conducted, the intention is to get a representative spread of demographics. Certain people are statistically more likely to fill out surveys than others, so the more eager ones (by demographic) have to be ‘held back’.
There are all sorts of methods of doing this, but requesting disclosure at the start and capping results is one way. The other way, which plenty more companies do, is take your results and then the demographics at the end, and throw away results thereby wasting your time! So in a sense you should be grateful that you were ‘cut out’ early.
I won’t bore you further with shop talk from my line of employment 😉