Top 10 Guest Complaints About Disney World
Walt Disney World fans have a lot of complaints, which we “celebrate” on this most glorious of holidays with a Festivus airing of grievances (followed by the final tradition, the feats of strength). There have been many guest unfriendly changes that are unsurprisingly unpopular, including cutbacks, price increases, delays, nickel & diming, and more.
It’s impossible not to notice this. Many complaints we hear from readers are prefaced with “I’m normally a fan no matter what who defends Disney, but…” or “I don’t normally complain, but…” There have been far fewer fans offering defenses of unpopular decisions with the rationalization that Walt Disney World is a business. There’s also less knocking of those who air their grievances as “so-called fans” and much more agreement and acknowledgement of Disney’s shortcomings.
So in honor of Festivus, we’re going to air the biggest grievances fans have with Walt Disney World. A lot of this list has actually changed, in large part because Walt Disney World has made several positive changes in the last two years that largely restored the guest experience and on-site hotel perks to its 2019 status. (We said largely, not completely.) Nevertheless, some ‘greatest hits’ still remain. Here’s a rundown of the “top” 10 complaints we hear from fans, including some of our own commentary about where we agree and disagree…
10. DAS Dehumanization
Disney overhauled Disability Access Service (DAS) at Walt Disney World last year to combat abuse, misuse, and proliferation of the program’s use–with issuances of DAS tripling from 2019 to last year. The changes almost immediately decreased DAS dramatically, due to a spike in denials.
The new system has has had direct impacts for disabled guests as well as indirect ones for all guests, resulting in lower wait times and faster-moving lines (see Is Lightning Lane Multi Pass Still “Worth It” at Disney World?). That has come at a cost to disabled guests, and many of those impacted by the changes have been vocal in sharing their stories.
We’ve heard from countless guests who have had incredibly negative, invasive, humiliating, and dehumanizing experiences with the new DAS application process. We continue to receive reader comments and messages with regularity, and see viral social media posts about DAS once every few weeks. None of these are glowing reviews. Some are heartbreaking.
Although the crackdown on DAS was necessary, the heartbreaking stories of DAS denials have made clear that a more flexible and humane approach is needed. The word that has been used repeatedly to describe the interview process is interrogation. While this process is stressful for Cast Members, there’s got to be a better way of handling the process that feels less adversarial. Even if the DAS reduction is needed, there’s absolutely no excuse for making the process this dehumanizing.
DAS making this list is nevertheless somewhat surprising. Unlike other entries that apply to everyone, DAS is used by a subset of guests. However, it’s a highly sensitive subject that is very personal since it is, quite literally, make or break for some guests trying to experience Walt Disney World.
This is far and away the most common complaint cited when people say they’ve stopped visiting Walt Disney World, period, in the last year-plus. That’s especially sad, as many of those families are the people who needed Disney in their lives the most.
9. Stuff Still Missing
Walt Disney World is largely back to normal ~5 years after the COVID closures. However, the list of what’s still missing is way longer than it should be. And there are some true headscratchers on that list, too.
For example, Jedi Training Academy was absolutely adored by guests, and was a ‘magical moment’ for so many kids and their families who had the chance to participate. The ‘citizens’ in both Magic Kingdom and DHS were the heart of entertainment in their respective parks, and great welcoming acts to both.
This was such a popular topic that we followed up with Big Little Missing Things Walt Disney World Needs to Bring Back with a lengthy list of how the guest experience has been eroded with these cuts. That garnered over 100 reader comments and guess what? It was NOT a bunch of fans saying: “Nah, I’m good. I hope Walt Disney World continues to offer me less while charging more!”
In a vacuum, it might be possible to rationalize or explain away so much of Disney’s lethargic pace in resuming normalcy. However, once you step back and look at the totality of the circumstances–especially as compared to their competitors and in light of the prices being charged–it’s all much less forgivable. For the purported leader of the theme park industry, they’ve sure been doing a lot of following.
8. Death of Spontaneity
We’ve extolled the virtues of spontaneity at Walt Disney World for years–cautioning against overplanning. Much to the consternation of many readers, this site is vehemently anti-spreadsheet. (I’ll admit, it’s an odd position for a planning blog to take.) But there’s a reason for that, beyond the simple fact that the best laid plans of mice and humans often go awry.
It’s that one of the biggest complaints we hear from Walt Disney World visitors is that the experience is too scripted, and there aren’t enough opportunities for spontaneity. No one likes to hear this (and obviously we wouldn’t say it directly in response to anyone airing post-trip grievances), but part of this is, frankly, their own fault. You absolutely do not need to plan down to the minute or hour; there are ample opportunities for spontaneity–but you have to allow for it.
However, part of this is Walt Disney World’s doing. They have crafted a massively complicated and complex vacation destination that lends itself to an inordinate amount of pre-planning and structure. The good news is that we’ve heard this much less lately. With park reservations gone, Park Hopping rules lifted, and pent-up demand continuing to exhaust itself, today’s Walt Disney World has more opportunities for spontaneity than the Walt Disney World of two years ago.
7. Boring, Bland & Basic
One of my biggest worries for the future of Walt Disney World is a lack of bold bets and creative risks. More decisions by analytics, fewer by real people. Less that’s interesting and unique, more that’s beholden to brand deposits and dictated by accountants.
It seems to be seeping into the parks. Just look at the World Celebration Gardens or CommuniCore Hall! Or listen to the music chosen for new entertainment. Design based on popular public park styles; decisions driven by Disney+ marketing targets or viewership data.
Walt Disney World is a business and always has been. It’s also innovative and imaginative, an ambitious endeavor built not by MBAs and accountants, but by creative visionaries–it should be treated as such by those who now lead it.
The good news is that things are trending in the right direction. Walt Disney World’s track record on recent resort reimaginings and room redesigns has been really good–much better than the dark days of 2017. Projects like Test Track 3.0, Beak & Barrel, and even Starlight Night Parade demonstrate that Disney’s still got it–and hopefully the tide is turning thanks to new leadership at Imagineering.
6. Cutbacks & Charges
Nickel & diming (or cutbacks and upcharges) is an unsurprising entry on this list. Want a MagicBand? That’ll cost you! Bread to start your table service meal? Prepare to pay extra! Evening Extra Magic Hours? Upgrade resorts! Want to see a parade or stage show? It’s behind a paywall.
Of course, the most obvious of all is the switch from free FastPass to paid Lightning Lanes. What was once available to everyone increased in price to $16 with Genie+ and has skyrocketed since. Multi-Pass can cost as much as $45, and if you want Lightning Lane Premier Pass on a peak season day, add another 0 to that price. Ouch.
I’m not a fan of nickel & diming. I don’t want to give this major grievance only cursory treatment, but there’s just not a ton I can add here that hasn’t already been said. There are arguably some scenarios–like cutting back on plastic waste with MagicBands or hiring enough housekeepers being nearly impossible–where some of this is understandable.
By and large, it’s just a way to improve margins. It’s an effective approach because each is minor in isolation, but there’s a reason why “death by a thousand cuts” is a saying. The totality of these cost-cutting measures has become very noticeable. I’m reminded of it just about every time I order a counter service entree, and the portion is smaller and lower quality.
5. End of Disney’s Magical Express
Speaking of cutbacks, we still hear from readers holding out hope that Disney’s Magical Express will return. We share this, and guess who else does? The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which runs Orlando International Airport (MCO). If you don’t believe me, check out Will Disney’s Magical Express Airport Shuttle Ever Return? That recent post covers the very real possibility of DME returning, as part of an initiative by MCO.
Although its spiritual successor is still operated by Mears, it’s just not the same for many fans that Walt Disney World does not offer airport transportation. (The luggage handling is also a very big deal to some people, which caught us by surprise.) It made Walt Disney World feel all-inclusive, like they “took care of you” from the moment you stepped off the plane until you left to return home.
Honestly, I still cannot make sense of Disney’s decision to kill off Magical Express. It’s gotta be one of those things that somehow makes sense on a spreadsheet, but is doing incalculable damage in the real ‘World. I firmly believe the beancounters got this one wrong, and its long-term consequences to the company will far exceed whatever money they saved.
Eliminating Disney’s Magical Express is short sighted and will cost the company hotel stays, visits to other theme parks, meals outside the resort complex, and more. One of Walt Disney World’s greatest strengths was its bubble, and the company has voluntarily punctured that. The captive audience that was viewed as advantageous for years is gone–and at a time when Walt Disney World’s #1 competitor keeps growing and getting stronger. Make it make sense.
4. Too Much Screen Time
Refreshing for better Lightning Lanes. Mobile Order for counter service restaurants and Merchandise Mobile Checkout to buy stuff. Checking Walk-up Waitlist for new table service availability. Looking at wait times and showtimes. Joining virtual queues. Reading restaurant menus. Playing the MagicBand+ mini games or the DuckTales World Showcase Adventure.
For years, we’ve said that Walt Disney World leans too heavily on technology (ironic, since it’s something the company is objectively awful at) and not enough on tactile experiences. To paraphrase my favorite Walt Disney quote, “it’s people that make the dream a reality.”
The best memories are formed as a result of interpersonal moments, and so much emotional resonance is derived from guests connecting with Cast Members. Even if people can’t put their finger on it, so much of what differentiates and defines the appeal of Walt Disney World is the ‘little things’ that connect them to other people and the environments around them. Big new rides get people to take the trip, but it’s the myriad little things and those connections that convince them (even subconsciously) to return.
While we don’t agree with all of the specifics that new technology is “bad” (it isn’t!), like many fans have done, we agree with the generalized sentiment that spending a day at Walt Disney World now nudges guests towards spending way too much time with their faces buried in their phones.
New features are great in isolation, and benefit the company by improving efficiency and cutting costs. However, the totality of all of this amounts to Walt Disney World effectively leaning into its weakness and away from its strengths. And that’s worthy of a pretty big ‘grievance,’ if you ask me.
The good news is that Walt Disney World recognizes that guests constanting looking down at their phones ‘breaks the spell’ of the communal theme park experience. Their solution to this is smart glasses that reduce screen time. Wait, what?!
3. Maintenance & Unexpected Downtime
This had been a growing complaint for the last few years, to the point that it was close to #1 on this list last year. It’s still far from perfect (hence the #3 ranking), but it’s improving! Attraction downtime is still higher than its historical average, but numbers are moving in the right direction. It’s still possible to get really unlucky–or lucky–as breakdowns are always a fact of life at theme parks.
Honestly, this is going to take time for Walt Disney World to fully address this issue. Remember how we warned of the loss of institutional knowledge with the furloughs and layoffs back in 2020? Well, look no further than this for the “fruits” of that short-sighted decision, as maintenance departments have been decimated and have far fewer years of tenure.
Sadly, there’s no easy fix. It’s not simply a matter of properly staffing those departments again. When you lose a bunch of old-timers with decades of experience in legacy systems and proprietary technology, you can’t just hire some fresh-faced kid off the street and expect the same results. This was always a risk when baby boomers started retiring en masse, but 2020 really accelerated it and caused a lot of damage all at once.
For its part, Walt Disney World disputes that there’s been increased downtime and maintenance issues in the last few years, but it is well-documented (and true). It’s also patently obvious to just about anyone who visits regularly now vs. back in 2019 and earlier.
2. Disney Turning Its Back on Middle Class
That Disney is turning its back on middle class Americans has been a common refrain for years, but it has skyrocketed to #1 or #2 in 2025. This is no surprise, as Walt Disney World is Worried About Its High Prices took the spotlight this spring and was an incredibly hot topic, spawning a whole series of posts.
We took that a step further in Is Walt Disney World Too Expensive for Middle Class Americans? by digging into data. That covered the average costs of a Disney vacation, typical consumer spending on travel at different income brackets, and more.
Then just last month, the topic turned to how the Rich Rescued Walt Disney World from a Spending Slump. That was again prompted by data showing that higher income consumers were continuing to spend big on travel and leisurely, whereas there’s already been a slowdown among the lower classes. That Disney continues to do well, according to its CFO, thanks to the company targeting guests in “higher income deciles.”
This is not a huge shocker to anyone who has been paying attention, but it’s still a bit of a gut-punch. There have been no shortages of examples of Walt Disney World aiming upmarket and pricing out the middle class. The most obvious of these is, quite simply, price increases. Those alone have put a Walt Disney World vacation out of reach for more and more Americans. But there’s also the proliferation of pricey upcharge offerings, VIP tours, After Hours events, Lightning Lane Premier Pass, and more.
Disney is arguably among the most distinctly American companies, and it’s something of a bellwether for middle class Americans as a result. At its heart, Walt Disney World is a middle class vacation destination. America’s middle class families from the middle of the country have, historically, been Walt Disney World’s bread and butter!
The current trajectory doesn’t change until that group says “enough is enough” and pulls back on spending and splurging. That tide is already turning, hence the first post indicating that Walt Disney World is worried about its high prices.
To end this on another positive note, “Cool Kid Summer” felt like a direct response to that, as did the flurry of aggressive discounts that made it possible to take a Walt Disney World vacation (at least with regard to resorts and park tickets) for 2019 prices. Judging by the deals already available for 2026, we’re going to see a return of 2019 prices once again!
1. It Didn’t Feel Like a Vacation
A common complaint from fans giving up on the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that “it feels like homework.” The Walt Disney World version of this isn’t quite as concise, but boils down to the trip not feeling like a vacation due to all of the above complaints about screen time, technology, and everything you need to know or do over the course of the trip.
This is one we’re hearing more and more, and it breaks our hearts. This is mostly for obvious reasons–hardworking people are saving for months, spending and splurging thousands of dollars on an expensive vacation to Walt Disney World. It should be one of the most memorable and magical experiences of their lives, and be better than they even could’ve dreamed of. They should come home feeling like Disney treated them like they and their vacation was important.
As a WDW training manual once put it: “Every Guest on our entire 42 square miles of property is a VIP whether they are visiting the Magic Kingdom for a day or vacationing in our resort-hotels for a week or more…Remember that 99% of our guests are great people with everything going their way and having the time of their life. They are the easy ones to serve. Your real challenge will be that tiny 1%…the guests who are hot, tired, hungry, confused, frustrated and perhaps missing their luggage, ticket books or cameras. Or perhaps all of the above. They may not be very understanding and it may be up to you to turn their day around into the positive kind they came here to experience.”
It was always the case that many visitors to Walt Disney World were fulfilling a contractual obligation as parents and taking their kids on rite-of-passage trips with zero intention of ever returning again. But one of the things we loved most about running this blog was hearing from ‘The Grinches’ who told us after those trips that they didn’t expect to even enjoy Walt Disney World, but unexpectedly fell in love with the place. It was like a Hallmark movie about Disney come to life.
Those messages are now few and far between. As much as this breaks my heart, it also worries me. A lot of people point to culture wars, politics, or Universal as being Disney’s downfall. Honestly, I don’t buy into any of that–I think it’s all massively overstated. What worries me much more is that current leadership is benefiting from inertia and a longstanding reputation that they are not doing enough to nurture. That they have lost sight of the Disney Difference.
There will always be a large percentage of visitors who are one-and-done, but current trips should forge future fans. These diehards are the lifeblood of Walt Disney World, unpaid brand ambassadors who spread the good word and convince skeptical friends and family to take trips. It doesn’t seem like that’s happening nearly as often as it was even in 2019. Let me ask: even if you’re continuing to visit, are you still as enthusiastically recommending Walt Disney World to family and friends? Or does your advice now come with asterisks?
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Have any grievances of your own to air about Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our airing of grievances? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
#2 on this list is my #1. The breakdowns were excessive on our last visit and really broke “rhe magic”. Whether you are standing in a long line and it breaks or when you are on it (even worse) it really messes up the visit.
If we’re airing our WDW grievances, I’ve got one from my trip a few weeks ago: There needs to be more signage and/or CM presence to explain exactly what single rider lines are. In just about every one I waited in that week, there was an entire family who did not understand the concept, refused to separate, and held up what’s supposed to be a quick moving line. Super frustrating.
(Interestingly, the reverse also happened once: when I joined a car on Rise of the Resistance as a single rider, the family already seated did NOT like that I was joining them and caused a huge scene, screaming and yelling at the CM. You could say the Resistance gave them a personal, private escort off the Star Destroyer for their trouble…)
The #2 issue of maintenance and downtime really resonates with me. “loss of institutional knowledge with the furloughs and layoffs” … “When you lose a bunch of old-timers with decades of experience in legacy systems and proprietary technology, you can’t just hire some fresh-faced kid off the street and expect the same results.” Sadly, this is a common experience in all industries. Often, companies are running on what is referred to as “tribal knowledge”. If you’ve been there a long time you know what it is, how stuff works, and how to fix it. No one (or very few) takes the time to document all of that. It’s not nearly as satisfying as inventing something new or getting that system back up and running. Or maybe you just don’t have time for that. You know someday a new generation will take your place and they will have to figure it out by absorbing it before you exit, or by making some of the same mistakes all over again.
But to a large degree this is a management issue. They may not have the insight to know what they don’t know. They may not appreciate the value of developing a knowledge base that can sustain the company for generations. But they should. And those who do the work can help them to appreciate the need for it. To a large degree the value of a company is the knowledge that they develop. In my engineering industry, it’s not the products I create, but it’s the documentation that is the key. Documentation is the end product of my activities. Knowledge capture that becomes the basis for future progress and value should be high on the list of management priorities.
I’m in Colorado where most people don’t visit WDW very often. The typical complaints I hear are from people who do no research and no planning. They are the people who have never visited any Disney park. When they come back from their first WDW trip they say, “Never again! It was so hot! It was so expensive! It was so crowded! It was all for the kids, but never again!”.
Again and again people assume Disney parks are no different than a Six Flags park or their local state fair. They schlep to the gates just before lunch, blindly walk around looking for things that might interest them and get mad that the lines are so long. They also miss a lot of great attractions simply because they don’t know such attractions exist. After all, at Six Flags and the state fair, you see everything out in the open. At Disney parks, not so much. This is why people miss Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion. “I didn’t know what those were and the lines were too long”.
One of my coworkers actually told me, “Magic Kingdom is more of a walk-around park. Not many rides”. Oh, the humanity…
I just returned from a trip to Disneyland. I had a medical crisis while there and I have to say every single staff member I interacted with both in the parks and at the Disney hotels were magnificent. They went above and beyond the call of duty to help me and my family so I have no complaints there. What I did find REALLY annoying was Mobile Order. I went into the holiday understanding and wanting to use this feature but every day I would forget that I had to use it because I was (and rightly so) caught up in the enjoyment of the moment and having a great time. Then it would come to 11:45 and we would need lunch and it was impossible to get any food without either a 40 minute wait in a standby line or a 1 or more hour wait for Mobile Order. I’m sorry but I have no idea when I am going to be hungry or where in the park I am going to be. I do not want to Mobile Order at Hungry Bears at 9:00am only to find myself in Toontown at my appointed time and having to trek all the way across the park to get where I need to be for lunch. The whole meals issue was soooo stressful. We could never find anywhere to eat. I realised that this may well be a Disneyland thing as when I go to WDW we always book and plan a sit down meal at a table service restaurant so that we can have a nice relaxing lunch or dinner and I plan our touring day around such reservations. I felt there weren’t enough table service places to eat in DL or DCA and this is what caused us the most problem on our latest trip. Just my experience anyway.
Hi Tom and Sarah,
Thank you so much for your entertaining and exceedingly helpful blog! My family visited Disney World over Thanksgiving and I spent much of the 9 months prior to our trip gleaning tips from your blog since I was the designated vacation planner for our group. It was my first time at a Disney resort ever and I definitely went into it as a “Disney Grinch” and came out a Disney fan. The entire stay exceeded my expectations and the whole family, from ages 7 to almost 70, had a great time. Yes, we did a ton of planning ahead of time, yes, I had daily schedules of which rides we should do in which order, and yes, we woke up at 6:00 am every day to rope drop. But, we also had moments of spontaneity and magic throughout our trip like the unexpectedly wonderful live ukelele player at the Polynesian’s Tiki Terrace one evening when my husband and I snuck out for a late adult only dinner. As you’ve said a million times, the imagineering and theming are the magic of Disney and it’s hard to convey in words just how mind blowing it is until you see it yourself. So, notch one more convert for Disney. I thought this would be a one and done vacation, but now I’m not so sure. Thanks again for sharing your Disney knowledge with the rest of us!
1. Not being able to schedule my Fast Passes 60 days in advance is the primary reason I have not returned to Disney World. Previously, I would spend 2 weeks there twice a year. It’s a very long and painful flight for me to go there and then have to “work” to get Fast Passes in the early morning each day while on vacation and then, potentially not be successful at getting any of the rides that I want after traveling all that way. I preferred getting up in the middle of the night 60 days prior and get all the planning/reserving done in advance.
2. Being charged extra for things that used to be free is a close second for not returning.
3. Free transportation from the airport was important. It was one less thing I didn’t have to plan. Now, if I ever go back, I will likely stay off site because I’m going to have to schedule that transportation anyway.
4. Disney World pushing their political and social agenda is a turn off.
5. There used to be high standards for cast members. Now, from what I’ve read, it seems those standards are a thing of the past.
This is a fantastic article. I returned from WDW just one week ago and feel very strongly about many things on this list, particularly the “squeeze” of the middle class. I do believe this is at least partially to blame for the way guests are treating one another(an I’m sure cast members as well), which is a major issue. Look, people are going to expect to get what they pay for. If they don’t feel like they are getting what they paid for, they will make sure they add value despite the personal cost of others. I saw this on our last few trips as many cast members seem to have lost their joy due to the same issue. People are quick to blame “people these days” instead of Disney as a company, and while part of that is fair, it is not entirely so. If there is an issue with overcrowding, lengthen the parade routes, create more space for fireworks viewing… not less… and certainly not paid, run more frequent buses, address logistical and flow problems. They have eyes and *ears* everywhere, and flow is being tracked. Fix the problems instead of allowing people to eat one another alive.
My biggest grievance is the people who put kids on their shoulders for the fireworks or shows. I don’t blame the kids. Not their fault. It’s the parents or whatever adult is lifting them. Look, if you want to hold your kid, keep them at your eye and head level. But putting them on your shoulders blocks likely hundreds of other people, including other kids, who also deserve to see.
Added to this list TOXIC INFLUENCERS. Influencers should be banned from the parks. I have seen thumb nail headlines such as>>> Are we safe at Disney? Is Disney lying to us? Not so Jolly jollywood nights. A toxic youtube tiktok ecosystem of people obssessed with the company that micro blog every news headline, create false expectations, and do in park stunts and challenges for clicks and views. Time for Disney to get tough and create a no entry list for toxic influencers. They are the ones destroying the magic
Disney is now disappointing for me. The deluxe hotels are extremely overpriced and there is no longer an incentive to stay in a Disney resort. I would rather stay at a Universal hotel and Uber to the Disney parks. They at least give you an express pass to the parks if you stay at a deluxe resort. Speaking of express passes, the Genie+/lightning lane system is crap. I go on vacation to get away from my phone-not to be on it constantly!!! Why Disney doesn’t just have a paid-for pass like Universal is beyond me! Disney has just become so greedy that it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. What a shame!
One thing I noticed when in various restaurants this week: the QR codes were gone and paper menus were back! Ours was a small sample size this time around (Sci Fi, Garden Grill, Boatwright’s) but I didn’t see a single QR code to get the menu, whereas on our previous trip in May QR codes replaced almost all the menus. Maybe Disney is listening?
Love this “change” – the last thing we need is to get our phones out at a meal. So happy to hear this. It has happened on DCL, too, which is great news!
That is a nice change! I like a real menu to look at.
From an earlier post: “To ask people to get up before seven on vacation is horrible”.
I agree! In fact, I think you all should boycott the 7:00AM VQ/ILL/Genie+ mess, and “Just Not Do It”(TM). Then Disney will get the message about this 7:00AM injustice. Additionally, you all should simply not show up in the parks until 11:00AM. — this will also teach Disney a message!
Meanwhile, in a plot twist, I am secretly one of those strange people who have no issues getting up early and catching a bus (or the Skyliner depending upon where I am staying) as soon as the transportation service is available. Being single digits deep in park entry lines. Early early early!! Crazy people!!
While you are sleeping in on vacation boycotting these Disney injustices, I am enjoying the relatively people-free parks, walking on headliners with a few tens to hundreds of other crazy people!
Sleep in and protest (the later the better)!! Yes!
This list is spot on, but in regard to the #1 grievance, I think that the social or political climate is definitely having a bigger effect on the company’s reputation, maybe not the parks as much as it is their movie business. For years I’ve dealt with colleagues and acquaintances who would question why we were going to Disney again or so often (even though I never questioned their multiple Carnival cruise or ski trip, etc), but there is a substantial uptick in people now making comments to me that they just don’t know about the direction of Disney with some telling me that they are no longer taking their kids or grandkids to their movies. I imagine that the right of passage trip may be, sadly, off the list too for them.
I would agree that culture wars/politics are having a more significant impact with both movies and streaming. I think they’re one of several variables even there, though, that also include retraining audiences to expect animated movies on Disney+, lower quality output, both MCU and Star Wars fatigue, and more that I’m probably forgetting. There’s no one single problem with those businesses. (I also wouldn’t classify all of those as complaints–I think people far prefer watching animated movies at home.)
Ditto Parks & Resorts.
They’re all true, but the Lack of Entertainment and Construction [Epcot] gall me mostly because it’s a result of poor planning that saved little money in the former and probably lost money in the latter. Spending lots of money for little benefit isn’t greedy, it’s stupidity!
“Animal Kingdom has trouble keeping people in the park later in the day, so the solution is to…stop even trying?”
Come on, Tom. Love it, hate it, or kind of both, but never forget Kite Tails.
KiteTails wasn’t a nighttime spectacular!
…and with that, I think we just solved the problem. Imagine KiteTails, but at night, and with the kites on fire (a la EPCOT Forever 1.0) crashing into the stands. It would’ve been quite the spectacle to behold, and no one would’ve complained about the lack of shade then!
Well – I do what brings me joy. Disneyland and Disneyworld bring me joy. Yes I feel the same as all the others with the complaints but still I will go back. We invite Disney into our homes and hearts – sharing old and new movies, pictures from long ago and recent trips, and many happy memories. We make new ones each and everytime. Do I wish it wasn’t quite so difficult and a bit more leisurely – YES for sure. But honestly it’s like a puzzle eating here, riding there, watching this. A bit of a challenge but also I find it entertaining. I am now the Grandmother enjoying it with my daughters and their children – I just sit back take it all in and find the joy!
“Well – I do what brings me joy. Disneyland and Disneyworld bring me joy.”
Absolutely agree–so do we!
I think a lot of what’s here isn’t people saying they no longer get joy from Disney, but rather, that they do love it but want it to be better. Simpler, what it once was, etc.
With few exceptions, I don’t think people would even be here to complain about Disney if they didn’t love it. They’d simply stop going and move on. Life’s too short to fixate on something no longer for you…so I don’t think that’s what’s happening.
Visiting Disney World has become much more stressful since my first visit in 1978. As years passed the big east stresses became getting from the airport to WDW and spending so much time in line that you could often not be sure that there would be enough time to do your family’s favorite attractions. Disney removed much of the stress with Magic Express , Fastpass, and magic bands. After the pandemic eased, they proceeded to remove those fundamental improvements and worsen the stress by forcing you to spend an inordinate amount looking at your phone. They would have done much better to keep fastpass and Magic express but to make them for pay options.
“They would have done much better to keep fastpass and Magic express but to make them for pay options.”
Well, I think you’ll get your wish in a few months with literal paid FastPass+ (albeit with different booking timeframes and a different name), and Mears Connect is kinda like Magical Express (but I agree–they should just give Mears a license on the Disney brand and in-vehicle content, even if they don’t charge Mears a penny for it).
What made Magical Express “Magical” for me was the luggage service. I mean really, a bus ride is pretty much a bus ride. But dropping of your bags at your home airport when you leave and then the next time you seem them is in your resort room? Add to that, dropping them of at the desk on the day that you leave and checking in for your flight and the next time you see your bags is at your home airport? Now that is truly what made it magical. My wife and I loved it. Can’t imagine the benefit of if for a couple with a few, or more, kids.
How about the cast members being rude. my son was down their and found many of them downright rude. not sure if this is due to cutbacks or what. but multiple experiences. losing dinner orders etc.
I was surprised this was not on the list, not that the cast members are rude necessarily, but we have noticed since the pandemic that there definitely seems to be a downturn in employee morale. I don’t know if it us due to reduced training or if the changes have been harder on them. We’re in our 60s and 70s, and the cast members have always been a big part of the magic for us. It’s so nice to feel pampered and taken care of once you step foot on property. We really miss that, and hope they can eventually find some way to boost morale.
Definitely noticeable change in cast member quality/training/morale. Whatever the root cause, the level of service is far worse at Disney than it was pre-pandemic. Even if they are not overtly rude, there is an apathy or disinterest that is there. Not knocking Costco, but cast members feel like Costco warehouse employees now, having personal conversations amongst themselves in front of guests, barely noticing you are there. Unheard of years ago. On our last trip in November, I found that the employees at the resorts were far better than in the parks, for whatever reason. I had a terrible experience with a Guest Relations cast member in HS after having Genie+ issues and being extremely frustrated. He could care less. He is a person who should not have a Guest-facing role at all, let alone one that is supposed to help Guests with issues they may be having. I don’t remember ever having such a terrible experience with a cast member in the last 30 years.
While I’m sure there are many contributing factors to why this is happening, it does not seem that Disney is in any hurry to fix the problem, which is such a disappointment.
Disney should start with paying employees more than Universal is (I heard Universal pays more currently), so they can attract the top talent and then retain only those who meet the Disney standard.
By far the most memorable interaction I had at the parks was with another guest whose kindness to me while I was in grief after the death of my spouse was wonderful. This is not to slight the cast members who can’t spend the time this woman did with any individual guest. My larger point is that interactions with others in the park are important to shaping our experience during a visit. If others are having a good time, your mood will probably improve, and vice versa.
A friend, her husband, and 20-something daughter visited WDW last spring for the first time. The husband was anti-Disney (friend’s term) or a Grinch (your term) so they never took their kids when they were younger. They only went now because the daughter requested it as her college graduation present! I wouldn’t say any of them fell in love with it, but they had a great time and even the Grinch admitted that the parks had something for everyone.
My friend commented in an email, “I’m a bit of a Disney critic, but I developed an appreciation for them I hadn’t felt before on this trip. Yes, they have “disneyfied” a lot of fairy tales and folk tales, but I realized that by taking all these stories from so many sources and turning them into tales for the masses, they’ve given us all a common mythology. Would I know the legend of Sleepy Hollow without Disney? Maybe not. Or would I have read the original Winnie the Pooh books when I was a kid if not for Disney? Probably not! I also enjoyed people watching the other guests in the park. Everyone is there to have fun. Seeing little girls in princess costumes brought back happy memories of when [daughter] and her bestie down the street used to dress up in princess dresses and play hopscotch on the sidewalk. I got such a kick out of seeing exhausted little kids in their strollers, on the brink of sleep, but still holding down the buttons on their bubble blowers. Bubbles everywhere! I broke down and bought a bubble blower to bring home.”
So maybe not a complete Hallmark movie about Disney come to life, but close.
I can clock the language used in that post and know a few people I went to college with who were the exact same way, two of whom are now Annual Passholders. The other has been back several times.
Glad to see this is still happening. Hopefully it’s happening just as often as pre-2019 and that complaint is wrong!