tshaw_32uk
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2020
Just returned from a 17 day visit, 2 days in universal 14 days at coronado springs. Much has happened in the 4 years since we last went and after spending hours learning new systems, listening, reading and watching vlogs, podcasts and websites we werent too sure what to plan or expect in Disney. No matter what anyone tells you, the place has definitely changed. Is it still a place to visit and enjoy? Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Does is still have the famous 'disney magic'? In my opinion no, the pixiedust has gone.
Even saying that i would return every year (if I could afford it) but i feel my 3 children, aged 14, 8 and 6 didnt leave with the 'WOW' that i left with when i was their age. Im lucky to say this was my 8th visit to Disney World and this was the first time i didnt leave in floods or tears and not wanting to go. Instead i left this time with a chorus of boos in a soaking wet magic kingdom with the firework display being delayed every 10 minutes while hundreds if not thousands disney fans continued to get soaked in torential rain. Disney cant control the weather but i will get back to this.
One of the biggest changes was the Genie system and Lightening lanes, we had a 14 day park ticket and never purchased genie+ for any day, with their being 5 of us in the travelling party the costs would of soared by purchasing this. However i will say, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY THIS!! Wait times massively over estimated and makes you wonder in Disney want you to scare you into buying Genie+. Haunted mansion posted 45 mins was a walk on, Slinky Dog posted 75 minute wait, on twice in that time. Flight of Passage 70 minute posted time, 30 minute wait. The list goes on. Only time we waited the posted wait time or over was for genuine weather delays on 7 dwarves and splash mountain.
World Showcase, i was sitting looking over the lake on the bridge between UK and France. What was once an amazing view and were you could spend hours people watching and gazing across the lake they have turned it into an eyesore with the Harmonious display screens and for me not worth it. Whether my expectations for this show was too high, but felt it was half hearted in the presentation. Only the last couple minutes when fireworks were fired from the countries was it exciting. Going back to the view, pavilions are looking tired and general appearance poor. No longer does the Aztec pyramind sparkle sandy-gold, the Germany buildings scream of Bavarian beauty and the UK is just stuck in the 80s. Add to this, Cinderellas Castle over ib Magic Kingdom had paint chipping off on the door entry!
The biggest disappointment i had over my holiday was the amount of rubbish lying around. Couldnt believe it and never seen it as bad. Now fully aware this is not a Disney 'issue' as such but i feel guests see parks being ran to the ground and somehow feel its acceptable to drop rubbish. Maybe self entitlement with spending thousands makes people think they can. I found myself picking up rubbish on my last day at magic kingdom and putting it in the bin myself. However i did feel there was a lack of cleaning cast members around, bins were overflowing, popcorn on floor all over Fantasyland, normally someone would be all over this with a broom to clear it up. Littering is not acceptable and if you have done shame on you!
Even with the disappointments, we had a great holiday and created some new magical memories with my family. Think Disney have alot to answer for with the mess they have created for themselves post pandemic and blame lies with Bob Chapek and Josh D'Amaro for stripping to much back from the parks, which leads me back to the booing in the rain, they cant control that but can do so much more to get that 'pixiedust' back. However i feel this is the future of 'our' parks.
Even saying that i would return every year (if I could afford it) but i feel my 3 children, aged 14, 8 and 6 didnt leave with the 'WOW' that i left with when i was their age. Im lucky to say this was my 8th visit to Disney World and this was the first time i didnt leave in floods or tears and not wanting to go. Instead i left this time with a chorus of boos in a soaking wet magic kingdom with the firework display being delayed every 10 minutes while hundreds if not thousands disney fans continued to get soaked in torential rain. Disney cant control the weather but i will get back to this.
One of the biggest changes was the Genie system and Lightening lanes, we had a 14 day park ticket and never purchased genie+ for any day, with their being 5 of us in the travelling party the costs would of soared by purchasing this. However i will say, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY THIS!! Wait times massively over estimated and makes you wonder in Disney want you to scare you into buying Genie+. Haunted mansion posted 45 mins was a walk on, Slinky Dog posted 75 minute wait, on twice in that time. Flight of Passage 70 minute posted time, 30 minute wait. The list goes on. Only time we waited the posted wait time or over was for genuine weather delays on 7 dwarves and splash mountain.
World Showcase, i was sitting looking over the lake on the bridge between UK and France. What was once an amazing view and were you could spend hours people watching and gazing across the lake they have turned it into an eyesore with the Harmonious display screens and for me not worth it. Whether my expectations for this show was too high, but felt it was half hearted in the presentation. Only the last couple minutes when fireworks were fired from the countries was it exciting. Going back to the view, pavilions are looking tired and general appearance poor. No longer does the Aztec pyramind sparkle sandy-gold, the Germany buildings scream of Bavarian beauty and the UK is just stuck in the 80s. Add to this, Cinderellas Castle over ib Magic Kingdom had paint chipping off on the door entry!
The biggest disappointment i had over my holiday was the amount of rubbish lying around. Couldnt believe it and never seen it as bad. Now fully aware this is not a Disney 'issue' as such but i feel guests see parks being ran to the ground and somehow feel its acceptable to drop rubbish. Maybe self entitlement with spending thousands makes people think they can. I found myself picking up rubbish on my last day at magic kingdom and putting it in the bin myself. However i did feel there was a lack of cleaning cast members around, bins were overflowing, popcorn on floor all over Fantasyland, normally someone would be all over this with a broom to clear it up. Littering is not acceptable and if you have done shame on you!
Even with the disappointments, we had a great holiday and created some new magical memories with my family. Think Disney have alot to answer for with the mess they have created for themselves post pandemic and blame lies with Bob Chapek and Josh D'Amaro for stripping to much back from the parks, which leads me back to the booing in the rain, they cant control that but can do so much more to get that 'pixiedust' back. However i feel this is the future of 'our' parks.