Goodbye WDW AP, Hello DCL

[suedon70]

We live 1 hour and 10 minutes from WDW and 2 hours from PC so we are fortunate to be able to do both pretty frequently as we have been Annual Pass holders off and on for 20+ years. We definitely enjoy our days in the parks but we have really, really enjoyed our DCL cruises more over the last few years, so I completely get where the OP is coming from

 

[mousefan73]

I don’t know, I think We are entering an exciting new time for WDW. I’m super excited about Star Wars and the gondolas and also the new resorts being built. Epcot will be going through some major changes the next few years. Granted things are not like they used to be in the past. I am also sick of all the up charges and the crowds etc. etc. Then having to pay for parking at the resorts really did get to me too. It just changes the way we do WDW now. We have adjusted. We are also relatively new to DCL, have now changed our trips to doing less parks and more cruising. But we are also branching out even more in this aspect. We are sailing the oasis of the seas in a few weeks and I’m excited to test that cruise line out. My gut feeling is that my teens would love that more than Disney. so that gives us another cheaper option when we go back to Orlando. We are sailing them on the med in June but I know that RCL have a lot of options out of port Canaveral. I will keep this option in the back of my head when looking at the DCL pricing. That in my opinion seems to be increasing at a faster rate than the parks. When it comes to cruising there are more options but when it comes to WDW yes there is universal but you can’t really replace Disney World. With cruising soo many great options

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

We are in a similar boat (ha!). I feel that you can compare theme park and cruising vacations - or at least I can. What I'm looking for in a Disney destination vacation is a good solid value, quality family time, and a high level of service. I feel all three of those elements have eroded for our family at Walt Disney World over the years, while Disney Cruise Line continues to offer all three.

Like the OP, all the extra charge events and amenities (Early Morning Magic and After Hours increasingly replacing the previously included EMH, resort parking charges, ticket price increases, the stress of planning in the era of My Magic+, and more) have left a bad taste in our mouth, and it means we are visiting WDW less often and visiting other Disney destinations more. So, DCL is currently getting more of our vacation dollars than WDW - we haven't done a family trip to WDW since 2016, but we have been on DCL once, to Aulani, and to Disneyland Resort twice during that time.

 

[shh]

Like the OP, all the extra charge events and amenities (Early Morning Magic and After Hours increasingly replacing the previously included EMH, resort parking charges, ticket price increases, the stress of planning in the era of My Magic+, and more) have left a bad taste in our mouth, and it means we are visiting WDW less often and visiting other Disney destinations more.

+1 My DH and I have been APHs for more than two decades...and always stayed onsite. Since resort parking fees and continued hikes, we've both agreed our last trip is this Dec for the holidays and then our passes expire and we're done for at least 3-5 years.

We don't have kids and feel Universal is the better value and experience for us: love their events like HHN, Mardi Gras...plus CitiWalk atmosphere. Also feel like they value their passholders more. We also discovered cruising past few years and LOVE it - so our dollars are shifting there as well. I'm way too cheap to pay DCL prices lol, so we enjoy other lines.

 

[ChrisnKim913]

We are in a similar boat (ha!). I feel that you can compare theme park and cruising vacations - or at least I can. What I'm looking for in a Disney destination vacation is a good solid value, quality family time, and a high level of service. I feel all three of those elements have eroded for our family at Walt Disney World over the years, while Disney Cruise Line continues to offer all three.

Like the OP, all the extra charge events and amenities (Early Morning Magic and After Hours increasingly replacing the previously included EMH, resort parking charges, ticket price increases, the stress of planning in the era of My Magic+, and more) have left a bad taste in our mouth, and it means we are visiting WDW less often and visiting other Disney destinations more. So, DCL is currently getting more of our vacation dollars than WDW - we haven't done a family trip to WDW since 2016, but we have been on DCL once, to Aulani, and to Disneyland Resort twice during that time.

You hit the nail on the head with what I was getting at when I started this thread. Yes DCL charges more but I am willing to pay if I get something good back in return. Where WDW is taking things away, DCL at this time isn’t (besides the paper navigators lol). I feel like the ships can get crowded but there is a maximum occupancy they reach that still feels nothing like walking through Fantasyland at 2pm. Unlike WDW, where they can manufacture crowds, they can’t quite do that on DCL.

 

[darnheather]

I feel like DCL is where the parks were in the 1980's or maybe the 1990's. The cast members were super friendly things were still expensive but not eye popping so. Everything was extremely clean and very kid friendly as the characters still strolled about and were the big deal instead of being another line to wait in.

 

[Masonmj84]

For me, the biggest pros of DCL over WDW are a more all-inclusive feel and better customer service. You just feel "taken care of" (if not pampered) from the moment you walk on the ship (that being said, I believe the cruise industry generally has much better overall customer service than the hospitality industry as a whole).

At WDW, about the only way to approach DCL's level of all-inclusivness and customer service is to stay concierge level at a deluxe resort with the deluxe dining plan. But that level of stay tends to be even more expensive than DCL.

Planning a cruise is also much easier but I somewhat enjoy the logistical challenge of planning a WDW vaction (and we tend to do split stays at WDW with lots of table service dining - so our WDW trips require significant planning).

 

[smmco]

I like both but I could never do 8 years of WDW. At least with cruising you have different itineraries a new places to go.

 

[John VN]

Apples to Oranges

Disney Dream Ship Details:
....Maiden Voyage: January 26, 2011
....Passenger Capacity: 4,000 | Gross Tonnage: 128,000 tons
....Length: 1,115 feet | Beam: 125 feet | Draft: 26 feet

How many people can fit in the Magic Kingdom?
100,000
Disney Parks are designed to handle massive crowds. The Magic Kingdom can allegedly hold more than 100,000 guests, but through phased closures Disney limits park attendance to levels more conducive to guest safety and enjoyment

No more at risk than an elementary school classroom. As a teacher, I know this firsthand. Illnesses spread in waves through childrens' schools................

Cruise ship -- leaves port and STUCK LIKE GLUE FOR LENGTH OF CRUISE with 4,000 + crew

School -- Go home every afternoon after interacting with students and faculty

WDW -- Back to Resort, Hotel, Home

IMO, cruising definitely has greater risks and that fact is addressed with cleanliness measures being taken. Don't see hand sanitizer dispensers at WDW, maybe school???, not at resorts, home???

BTW, DW and I enjoy cruising and WDW; however, cruising other lines than DCL because of greater value for our $$$$.

 

[pixiedustedme]

Cruise ship -- leaves port and STUCK LIKE GLUE FOR LENGTH OF CRUISE with 4,000 + crew

School -- Go home every afternoon after interacting with students and faculty

WDW -- Back to Resort, Hotel, Home

IMO, cruising definitely has greater risks and that fact is addressed with cleanliness measures being taken. Don't see hand sanitizer dispensers at WDW, maybe school???, not at resorts, home???

We absolutely use hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes to try to fight the waves of illness that occur regularly at school. That is routine at elementary schools. Last month, so much stomach virus was going around that the entire building was sprayed with a film of anti-microbial sanitizer. If you think elementary schools aren't major vectors of illness, it's because you know little about them.

 

[FastPasser.]

The cast members were super friendly

Were super friendly, I'm assuming you don't have that opinion anymore. How would you describe them today?

 

[lbus42]

We've started alternating every few years.

We do this as well. Every 2 years we take a 7 day DCL cruise and then go to WDW on the alternate year, except for last year when we did both. We are also DVC members so we like both kinds of vacations.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Cruise ship -- leaves port and STUCK LIKE GLUE FOR LENGTH OF CRUISE with 4,000 + crew

School -- Go home every afternoon after interacting with students and faculty

WDW -- Back to Resort, Hotel, Home

IMO, cruising definitely has greater risks and that fact is addressed with cleanliness measures being taken. Don't see hand sanitizer dispensers at WDW, maybe school???, not at resorts, home???

I've been on 7 cruises. Never gotten noro from cruising. But DD has gotten it at least twice at school and brought it home so I could join in the fun.

 

[crazylady]

I had been struggling inside for a while trying to make the argument as to why I keep paying year after year for a WDW Annual Pass. My wife and I have enjoyed taking our 4 year old daughter over the years, whether it’s just for a day, a weekend, or for a week. Since having our daughter we have taken a week long vacation at WDW the first week of February but that all changed this past February when we made the decision to take a Disney Cruise instead. My wife and I have both become annoyed with the state of the parks and the constant money grabbing (especially charging for parking at the resorts), so we decided to try DCL. After sailing on DCL it is hard for me to believe that DCL and WDW are actually part of the same company. They are both a ‘premium vacation’ when it comes to price point, but to me that’s where the comparisons stop. The customer service that comes from the cast members on DCL compared to WDW isn’t even close. The cleanliness on DCL is incredible. You never go anywhere without seeing a cast member cleaning and every public bathroom I stepped foot in on board looked like I was the first one to use it that day... a far cry from any of the rest rooms at WDW lately. DCL excels in making you feel appreciated and that you being there matters to them... I can’t say the same for WDW.

So three weeks ago it came time to renew our passes for WDW. For the first time in the 8 years we have had passes, we decided to not renew and to put our money towards another DCL Cruise. I love WDW, don’t get me wrong, but enough is enough. Until WDW can shift its focus back to the customer, I will be sailing on DCL where the customer is it’s top priority.

Us too! We're taking our first cruise in June. I hope we enjoy it as much as you do.

 

[mom2brooke76]

We’re in the same boat. I live in Orlando and we regularly do Disney cruises but also have AP’s that we never wind up using. I think when renewal comes up we’re keeping Epcot after 4 since we do enjoy the various festivals, but saving the rest for more cruises.

 

[tlprice]

We have been to WDW every year of my daughter's life (she is now 11). I have also been 5 other times. We just went in December. I didn't really want to go, but she did. We had fun, but I would have enjoyed DCL or Universal more. Once I took my first cruise and trip to Universal in 2015, I really haven't had much of a desire to go to WDW. All of the planning and upcharges have really taken most of the fun out of it. We have been on 6 DCL cruises since 2015 and have 2 more booked. I love that I can relax on the cruises, but still have a fun Disney experience and get to experience other places in the world.

 

[suedon70]

I've been on 7 cruises. Never gotten noro from cruising. But DD has gotten it at least twice at school and brought it home so I could join in the fun.

This^^ I've been on 11 cruises over 4 different lines and have never gotten the noro virus **knocks on wood**, but nearly every year there's an outbreak in the local schools, from mild to wide-spread.

 

[cakebaker]

I've been on 7 cruises. Never gotten noro from cruising. But DD has gotten it at least twice at school and brought it home so I could join in the fun.

As mom to a family of teachers, I’m pretty familiar with the petrie dish that is a public school. The difference is the level of sanitary standards. If a cruise ship operated like schools do, you can bet people would be getting sick, and a lot.

And that was my whole point. The reason so few people get ill on a cruise ship is because they have such high standards regarding sanitation. They are at a higher risk of disease breaking out, that’s just a fact. But they minimize those risks as much as possible. Schools don’t, it wouldn’t be feasible.

 

[ChrisnKim913]

I feel like DCL is where the parks were in the 1980's or maybe the 1990's. The cast members were super friendly things were still expensive but not eye popping so. Everything was extremely clean and very kid friendly as the characters still strolled about and were the big deal instead of being another line to wait in.

Couldn’t have said it better myself. It’s about the effort and desire to give your guests the best experience possible. Wdw used to be at this level but greed has gotten in the way. I have stayed concierge at the Boardwalk and I still feel like you get a better experience as a regular guest on DCL. WDW has been at that level before, but now if you want that you have to pay more money to get it.

 

[darnheather]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. It’s about the effort and desire to give your guests the best experience possible. Wdw used to be at this level but greed has gotten in the way. I have stayed concierge at the Boardwalk and I still feel like you get a better experience as a regular guest on DCL. WDW has been at that level before, but now if you want that you have to pay more money to get it.

Except for concierge guests on DCL none of the crew knows how much you paid for the cruise and that is part of it. The other part is the huge mass of people now in the parks. It's overwhelming to me and the cast members. People are far more on edge and it shows. People haven't become more rude but the natural rudeness in people comes out more easily when congregating en masse. If the parks backed down on the number of people allowed in per day or per hour it would once again be a happier place even though they wouldn't be making such a huge amount of money (which they don't even need!) As for me I'm very glad the number on the ships has a safety cap that simply can't be changed. You won't ever catch me on a mega ship even if DCL were to create one.