Originally Posted By sun-n-fun Maybe I keep going to the wrong places but I feel that the quality for the price at WDW is excellent. I seem to have missed the "best" WDW years. My first time was on 93 and then it was 10 more years before I went again. Since then it has been annually. While there are things that I miss, there are also new things to try - obviously these new things are part of the repeatability factor of the parks. Maybe I'm a rose colored glasses WDWer. I guess I haven't noticed any huge decline in services or quality. Mine have actual increased because the older I get, the more I am able to spend on a vacation So I am up to able to stay at moderates which sure beat value or staying off proprty. Through this, I have seen a huge increases in what I get for my money. I haven't stayed at a deluxe before, partly because I don't think the increase in price is worth it. I think there are a lot of ways to do Disney on a very tight budget, we did it for years. But it does take some planning. It helps to already be familiar with the parks and hotel locations.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well I certainly had a much better experience in a moderate in 2000 (Dixie Landings) than a deluxe (Animal Kingdom Lodge) in 2006. Also, I have had far better experiences at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, with far better value than WDW offers. Compared to other theme parks in the Eastern USA, yes, it offers better value. Compared to other Disney resorts around the globe, some other vacation destinations and compared to itself, it is diminishing in experience (stay at a Marriott Resort and see the difference).
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Also, I have had far better experiences at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, with far better value than WDW offers.>> This is why we go to DLR instead of WDW (only been there once). It genuinely costs a King's Ransom to visit WDW. Everything is cheaper at DLR: passes, walking distance, off property hotels, walking distance off property meals, etc. Plus it helps that for us its withing driving distance, which WDW is not (unless I want to burn 6+ days driving).
Originally Posted By nbodyhome The rates at the Pop have really gone up for passholders. I do think offsite is looking better and better - for the nearly $100.00 at the Pop (for passholders!), you can have a villa off property. Denise
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: My sisters and I can attest to the cold, hard fact that the quality of food--and other things at the Disney parks--have gone down over the many years we've been guests at the parks. If it weren't for the nostalgia aspect of trying to re-capture the magic from the past, we wouldn't still be going. ORWEN: Not that there aren't still some wonderful things to see and do, but there really is a lack of quality. This year's Flower and Garden show at Epcot is the latest example. The flowers were already wilting within the first week of the event. What ever happened to replacing dead and dying flowers over night before they let guests into the park to see such a drab show?
Originally Posted By Elderp ^ Well if I was you three I would use my magic and pop into the park. Then use the money I saved on admission to pay for good meal options.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: We ain't allowed ta use no magic in YER world, ducklin'. It's in the contract they forced us ta sign.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome There were flowers that were replaced at the F&G Festival (I have photos of that happening in Canada). There were more dead flowers than I remember previously, though. Denise
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie >>>ORGOCH: We ain't allowed ta use no magic in YER world, ducklin'. It's in the contract they forced us ta sign.<<< That's too bad. I have someone I need turned into a frog.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: Well, just haul the jerk over ta our place in Morva-where there ain't no rules agin' magic--an' we'll do the rest!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Maybe I keep going to the wrong places but I feel that the quality for the price at WDW is excellent.>> In some ways it still is. It depends on when you're going, where you're staying, how much you're paying etc ... WDW can be a value (really!) ... it also can be a lesson in the evils of abject capitalism gone amuck too. <<I seem to have missed the "best" WDW years. My first time was on 93 and then it was 10 more years before I went again. >> Without a doubt if you only visited once prior to 2003, you absolutely missed the best WDW years. As a matter of fact, I believe 2003 was a nadir for WDW, things have been getting better in many areas since then. <<Maybe I'm a rose colored glasses WDWer. I guess I haven't noticed any huge decline in services or quality.>> Again. It's persepctive. If you didn't become a WDW regular until 2003, I can easily see why you wouldn't see a huge decline in services or quality. I don't think there has been one in the past five years. Indeed in some areas (rehabs on deluxe resorts, new attractions like Everest, hours slowly being added back to the operating schedule), I see improvements since then. But if I'm to look at WDW's big picture, beyond the past five years, the trend is strongly downward in many areas from cleanliness to show quality to CMs to keeping the parks fresh etc ... <<Mine have actual increased because the older I get, the more I am able to spend on a vacation So I am up to able to stay at moderates which sure beat value or staying off proprty. Through this, I have seen a huge increases in what I get for my money. I haven't stayed at a deluxe before, partly because I don't think the increase in price is worth it.>> Well, my perspective comes from someone who ha stayed at EVERY WDW resort, most many times as well as numerous DD and off-site lodgings as well. Every time Disney either cuts back on quality or does the opposite and improves something, I notice.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Well I certainly had a much better experience in a moderate in 2000 (Dixie Landings) than a deluxe (Animal Kingdom Lodge) in 2006.>> I find that a tad shocking since DAK Lodge is (or was pre-DVC) one of my favorite places to stay. You sure it wasn't the transportation nightmare as well as the cost that soured your last visit Dave? I have never had anything but great experiences at DAK Lodge over about 10-12 stays totalling probably 40 nights since it opened in 2001. <<Also, I have had far better experiences at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, with far better value than WDW offers.>> Me too ... but that's not too tough! <<Compared to other theme parks in the Eastern USA, yes, it offers better value. Compared to other Disney resorts around the globe, some other vacation destinations and compared to itself, it is diminishing in experience (stay at a Marriott Resort and see the difference).>> Agreed. And Dave we are getting a new Marriott Vacation Club right in my backyard!
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 OK Dave, I thought about you while I was on vacation. We just got on the ME bus at 11:05 AM today. This trip we stayed at WL: the hotel, grounds, and CMs we all super. But the transportation bleeps!! I guess we got really spoiled staying at the Poly most of the time. This trip sometimes we shared a bus with GF, other times it took a roundabout to the campgrounds. I always thought the shortest distance between 2 points was a straight line. It seemed to take 10-15 minutes to get from the lodge to the campgrounds.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>><<Well I certainly had a much better experience in a moderate in 2000 (Dixie Landings) than a deluxe (Animal Kingdom Lodge) in 2006.>> I find that a tad shocking since DAK Lodge is (or was pre-DVC) one of my favorite places to stay. You sure it wasn't the transportation nightmare as well as the cost that soured your last visit Dave?<<< Well it's true. Ok, to be fare, 2000 was my honeymoon and the 1st time to WDW since Epcot, MGM and Dak had opened. But, our room was clean, all the cast members were fab, and we had a great stay. Buses were not bad either. Fastforward to DAK, only 2 cast members stood out as above average (for staff, not cast members). Sarah ripped her pants on a broken chair at the Mara (they did manage the situation afterwords very well). Check in was a nightmare (3 rooms - 2 were smoking, when we had paid for a deluxe savannah view and requested Non Smoking on 5 occassions), bell services lost our luggage for a bit, maid service was hit and miss, and the transport, well needless to say it was legendarily bad. And the shop/room service hours are way too short for being stuck in the middle of nowhere without a car (Grand Californian offers 24 room service in DL, the AKL does not). So although the atmosphere, decor and animals were amazing, and the food at Boma and Mara were good, the overall experience in terms of staffing were 3 star at best. The funny thing is almost all of my moans about WDW could be fixed very easily. Shameful thing is the Orlando market is saturated which leads to a decrease in labour quality. So Spirit, we wanted to love AKL, and we did like it. But next time, I think we will stay Marriott and rent a car.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo bobbelee9 - thank you for your thoughts. Please do not think of me as a grumpy old man, I am not. But what frustrates me as someone who has been a management advisor for 12 years is most of WDW's problems are fixable. Also, the other Disney resorts do it better IMHO (although they are smaller, so this is understandable to a very small degree). But when they market WDW as the ultimate, well it is upsetting. I am sorry to hear your bus experience was not good. We were considering WL if we ever go back as I love the decor (my fav, just edging out AKL), cast and restaurants. with it being fairly central, we thought it would be better. Obviously that is not the case. So instead if we do ever stay there, we will add to the pollution and congestion by renting a car. I wish Disney would upgrade their transport!
Originally Posted By u k fan I've only ever stayed at WDW once without a car. Never again! With what we spent on taxis we could have hired a car for the week anyway! I don't know the current costs of a trip to WDW, but as an international traveller I suppose I have a different perspective. For me a trip to WDW is not a regular occurance so I'm happy to spend a bit more on certain things. I'll gladly buy tickets for an after hours event or pay for the Fantasmic dinner package. The costs of these things are insignificant compared to the cost of the total vacation. I will add to this that the value of what's on offer at something like MVMXP is falling, but it's a nice treat to ourselves to go and if you eat enough cookies you can get your money back! That's not to say I won't do my best to find a bargain. I have only ever stayed at a value resort as they have everything I'll need. Most days at WDW I'm out from dawn til dusk anyway. I can't really justify the cost of spending more on what is ultimately a bed and perhaps a pool. My local park (DLP) is an absolute steal with an AP. I'm constantly surprising myself with how cheap it can be!!!
Originally Posted By X-san ***Please do not think of me as a grumpy old man, I am not.*** Certainly not! Dave, you're not old at all.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun u k fan, we were the same way with values too. Only in the room to sleep, we usually stayed at a value. If you don't go too often, that is all that is needed. But now that we go yearly we do spend more time relaxing at the resort. A few times DH and I were able to get a quick weekend trip and we did stay at value because we spent 2 full days in parks.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun And spirit, I see what you're saying. If I had more early years experience, I'm sure I'd probably see things differently. There are many things I read about that I'm sure I would have loved.
