Disney fans are not happy. It's easy to see in the comments section on any Disney social media post. Many of the recent changes at Disney World and beyond have left a bitter taste in the mouths of Disney fans. But what is the core of their dissatisfaction? Let's take a look at the recent changes, and how Disney fans are currently reacting.
Disney Genie+
Disney is rolling out the new paid replacement for the FastPass+ system in Disney World and Disneyland called "Genie+". It caused quite an uproar with park go-ers everywhere. To clarify, Disney Genie is a complementary service that learns about your preferences to create an itinerary for you in real time. I don't think many people are upset by this feature alone. The controversary comes into play with Genie+; a pay-to-play add on service that grants you access to the new "Lightning Lane" to skip lines. At Disney World - it's $15 per ticket per day and $20 at Disneyland. For fans, this is one of the many examples of Disney coming at a higher and higher premium, with fewer complimentary offerings all around.
Star Wars Hotel Pricing Speaking of premium pricing, the Star Wars Hotel pricing was recently released and caused intense reactions. It seems this experience will not necessarily be one that the average family can afford.
In all honesty, calling this a "hotel" might not have been the most accurate way to describe it. It is more of an interactive, immersive land-cruise with a 2-night stay minimum. And for some - is a once in a lifetime experience. But this price tag is a bit on the extreme side.
Disappearing Complementary Offerings
And while prices rise in some areas, complimentary offerings disappear in others. Free MagicBands are already a thing of the past, and the free Magical Express transportation from and to the Orlando airport will be discontinued in 2022.
Oh, and remember the trams that took you to and from the park entrance and parking lot? During the closures, Disney furloughed thousands of their employees including transportation attendant cast members. Then, after re-opening under CDC guidelines, it was said to be a safety measure of keeping people distanced. Now, its clear that without parking lot trams, more guests are shoveling the $50 preferred parking fee into Disney's pockets. Why would they bring back the trams if people are paying to park closer? There's been no word on when the trams will return.
Fewer Hotel Perks There are fewer hotel perks too! Since the park closures in 2020, hotel perks have been a little lackluster. They boil down to free transportation and a few other minor amenities. Traditional Extra Magic Hours won’t be returning either. Instead, hotel guests will get Early Theme Park entry but Extra Evening hours are for deluxe guests only (AKA, the people who can pay more). This is another case where many Disney fans have noted the change to a model that focuses on those who pay more. For some, this feels like Disney is leaving average families in the dust.
Premium Prices for the Holidays
The holidays are getting more expensive too. This year, in lieu of the usual holiday parties, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney has introduced two new holiday After Hour Events — and they are expensive. For some of the higher-demand nights, you’re looking at around $200 for just a three-hour event. Disney has been very clear that these after hours events are not considered holiday parties because they don't offer the same level of entertainment that the parties of the past used to... but they still manage the price them out on a similar tier.
Disney Park Reservation System (Park passes) Folks also aren’t happy about Disney Park Passes. The theme park reservation system made sense when capacities were heavily limited for health reasons, but as time goes on more and more Disney fans are seeing them as a nuisance. Not only is it more difficult to be spontaneous on your trip, understanding Disney Park Passes and making the right ones takes a lot of research and planning!
Changes at Disney can often bring a negative reaction from fans, and this past year in particular we have seen one after another hit. There’s no denying that Disney World is constantly changing, but many of these new changes have led to frustration as people realize they will need to plan their trips entirely differently now. It’s important to note that several of these changes have yet to take affect, including Disney Genie, which will be launching later this fall, and Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser which will not be opening until spring 2022. We know that changes at Disney can be frustrating, and while we wait to see how each of the changes affects Disney World as a whole, Disney parks reporters and Travel Agents will be covering all the latest, and break down all the new changes to help you best plan your trip. And with all of that being said, it's important to remember one thing - your vacation is what you make of it. Expecting things to go 100% your way will always lead to disappointment. It's important to give grace to the cast members working hard every day, and find the magic in the little spaces of your trip. Disney can still be the whimsical slice of Heaven if we know where to look.
Comments