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Disney World (Orlando, Fl) Complaint - Disney World Biggest Let Down Off All Time
Complaint
FLORIDA -- My family and I just returned home from our week long trip to Disney and I am sorry to say that it was one of the most miserable weeks of our lives. I used to be one of the biggest Disney fans ever-my house,yard,ect all decorated with Disney-however I am now so disenchanted it is all coming down. First of all Disney is so so money hungry that they over pack every resort,park,and dining area so that it is not possible to even breathe let alone enjoy yourself!Most of the cast members try to help people but they are so over worked by to many guests that they are just miserable. After booking 6 months in advance we were told our room was not ready and we would just have to walk around with all of our carry on and children in 100 degree heat and when we tried to ask how long this would take we were told no one knew and the looks and tones told us no one cared. It was like we were rude to even ask.
We paid 7000.00 To stay in a Disney resort and for us that is a lot of money but once you get there you are treated like cattle and packed in so tight you can not even take a breath. They tell you that if you stay in the resort you do not need a car because they provide all transportation however you often have to sit in the heat for an hour to wait for a bus that is so jam packed with people that you can not get on and the drivers are so overwhelmed that all they say is oh well just wait for the next one-they say you can use fast pass to get on rides but they do not let you know that all fast pass booths are closed most of the time and even if u find one to use u have to wait for hours and you can not use it on any other rides in the meantime.
They tell you if you stay in a Disney resort that you get extra park hours but they do not tell you that the transportation system is so booked that you can not get a bus to or from the park without being in misery for what seems like hours-they have you pay extra to get tickets to the water parks but they do not let you know that the good water park(blizzard beach)is closed by 11:00 almost every day because it is filled to capacity-they show you pictures of the wonderful pools at the resorts but they do not tell you that the pools are so packed that you can not move if you dare to get in-they tell you about all the extra services they offer like internet access but they do not tell you that you have to pay 10.00 Every 24 hours if you want to use it(are you kidding me.
Doesn't Disney have enough money)even the Ramada offers free internet-one night we actually got in mgm for extra magic hours and waited forever to get on a ride only to be told at the front that we could not get on cause we did not have a special wristband???. Everywhere you go at Disney you see families fighting because they are just miserable-how do you tell a 7 year old that he can not get on the rides or do the things he has been dreaming about because everything is so packed you can not even get close to it.I am not stupid I knew that there would be lots of people and waits but this was so insane you can not imagine-i think even chicken houses have more space than we had.It hurts me to say these things cause I have loved and dreamed about Disney forever and I know that they are in business to make money but I have never been anyplace in my life that shows as little concern about people and as much concern about making a buck as Disney-if I ever hear of anyone planning a trip to Disney I will do everything I can to talk them out of it and save the money because my family would have been better off to take the 7000.00 And flush it down the toilet.
I could go on and on giving more examples but you get the picture-my family has a new saying-Disney where misery comes true!
We paid 7000.00 To stay in a Disney resort and for us that is a lot of money but once you get there you are treated like cattle and packed in so tight you can not even take a breath. They tell you that if you stay in the resort you do not need a car because they provide all transportation however you often have to sit in the heat for an hour to wait for a bus that is so jam packed with people that you can not get on and the drivers are so overwhelmed that all they say is oh well just wait for the next one-they say you can use fast pass to get on rides but they do not let you know that all fast pass booths are closed most of the time and even if u find one to use u have to wait for hours and you can not use it on any other rides in the meantime.
They tell you if you stay in a Disney resort that you get extra park hours but they do not tell you that the transportation system is so booked that you can not get a bus to or from the park without being in misery for what seems like hours-they have you pay extra to get tickets to the water parks but they do not let you know that the good water park(blizzard beach)is closed by 11:00 almost every day because it is filled to capacity-they show you pictures of the wonderful pools at the resorts but they do not tell you that the pools are so packed that you can not move if you dare to get in-they tell you about all the extra services they offer like internet access but they do not tell you that you have to pay 10.00 Every 24 hours if you want to use it(are you kidding me.
Doesn't Disney have enough money)even the Ramada offers free internet-one night we actually got in mgm for extra magic hours and waited forever to get on a ride only to be told at the front that we could not get on cause we did not have a special wristband???. Everywhere you go at Disney you see families fighting because they are just miserable-how do you tell a 7 year old that he can not get on the rides or do the things he has been dreaming about because everything is so packed you can not even get close to it.I am not stupid I knew that there would be lots of people and waits but this was so insane you can not imagine-i think even chicken houses have more space than we had.It hurts me to say these things cause I have loved and dreamed about Disney forever and I know that they are in business to make money but I have never been anyplace in my life that shows as little concern about people and as much concern about making a buck as Disney-if I ever hear of anyone planning a trip to Disney I will do everything I can to talk them out of it and save the money because my family would have been better off to take the 7000.00 And flush it down the toilet.
I could go on and on giving more examples but you get the picture-my family has a new saying-Disney where misery comes true!
Comments:
Posted by MRM on 2007-08-20:
$7000 for the Disney trip... GOOD GOOGLY MOOGLY!
Posted by Leela on 2007-08-20:
Unfortunately, you traveled to Disney World during their busiest and hottest time of the year.
Posted by WaxRash on 2007-08-20:
That is a bit much
Posted by WaxRash on 2007-08-20:
Emt has a point,try going when its not so crowded.
We go to Disneyland every year,and we go mid September-ish,and it is not so crowded,and pleasant.
We go to Disneyland every year,and we go mid September-ish,and it is not so crowded,and pleasant.
Posted by Hugh_Jorgen on 2007-08-20:
Emt is right (again). There are plenty of resources on the web full of Disney "secrets" as far as the times of year to go, where to stay, how to avoid the crowds, etc.
Interestingly enough I spoke to a co-worker just this AM that is just back from WDW - he was there last week. He said they had a blast - visited every park during the week. But they picked last week because many kids are back in school already and the rates at the Disney properties dropped considerably starting last week. He had no problems with long lines or crowds.
It's all about the timing......
Interestingly enough I spoke to a co-worker just this AM that is just back from WDW - he was there last week. He said they had a blast - visited every park during the week. But they picked last week because many kids are back in school already and the rates at the Disney properties dropped considerably starting last week. He had no problems with long lines or crowds.
It's all about the timing......
Posted by DarkProwler on 2007-08-20:
I'd give them another chance, but definitely try for the "value" season, which is generally Mid-February to March, or Mid-August to mid-October. Alot less crowded and cooler.
Also, if your room is not yet ready, they will take whatever bags you have and hold them, and then take them to your room when it's ready. Just have to ask.
Also, if your room is not yet ready, they will take whatever bags you have and hold them, and then take them to your room when it's ready. Just have to ask.
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-20:
Instead of posting a comment here, I posted my review of Disney World/ Orlando.
I just got back from Disney/Universal Studios on Saturday.
I just got back from Disney/Universal Studios on Saturday.
Posted by steve101 on 2007-08-20:
Posted by HappyJoyBear on 2007-08-21:
I posted responds to your add. comments and part2 review.
Posted by Ryan84 on 2007-10-22:
If you really want to enjoy Disney, go during the 3rd week in January.My fiance and I go every year during this week, the crowds are down, the temps are tolerable, and the price of water drops to $2 from $4 during the summer! as for the money situation, i dont feel bad for you. You want to go to a world known attraction, your going to pay for it. Of course if you go to Disney during the summer you are going to deal with the heat, packed parks, packed pools and packed buses! thats the chance you take going during the summer, EVERYONE IS ON VACATION!! Did you think Disney is going to cap off the parks at 20,000? Magic Kingdom holds 100,000 people at once!
Posted by DJMD2 on 2008-05-05:
Amen. We went through the same. If you have small children that need strollers, Disney will rent them to you for $15 a day for a single or $31 for a double. They get you every way they can. They also hide their characters in out of the way places so you can't find them to have your childs picture with them. I have always been a fan of Disney but it has changed. Old Walt is spinning in his grave. I know it would make him cry to see what they have done to his dream, all in the name of money.
Posted by yoke on 2008-05-06:
DJ, you went at one of the busiest weeks of the year, what did you expect? Why did you pick the week that many familes with kids in school have vacation?
Posted by AGentlRose on 2008-08-30:
I worked for two Disney resorts, both front desk and guests services and they ALWAYS offer to store your luggage, whether it is your checked luggage or carry-on bags until your room is ready. Never would you be forced to drag your bags around unless you wanted to.
Posted by Jaybee68 on 2008-09-12:
I have to laugh at DJMD2. They hide their characters in out of the way places? In the summer, in particular, the characters have specific areas to be because they need to be near an exit. You think you and your kids get hot? Try being in a 50 lb. fur suit for an hour. Everyone wants to see the characters, yet no one has any empathy for the fact that - newsflash! - it's not really a giant mouse and dog, it's a HUMAN being.
If you spend $7000 without doing your research, I have ZERO empathy for you.
If you spend $7000 without doing your research, I have ZERO empathy for you.
Posted by Jaybee68 on 2008-09-12:
Posted by notlkn on 2009-01-29:
Just got back from WDW (Jan 09)and everything this lady said is true! Felt like cattle in huge crowds, Fast pass gone by 12:00 for rides, employees not up to par, riding around in carts through crowds of guest and trash staying at base of trash cans and ashtrays for 2 days. Most any regular visitor would find that alone shocking. The level of service except at the character dining, was that of any other amusement park. And I did go in the supposed off time. This was not my first trip but my last. First trip years ago we got to the airport and walked directly to a shuttle. This time we went to a check in line and then another line for a bus. Flight arrived at 9:20 and got to hotel at a little after 11. Food areas at the resort were so packed you had to stand in line to get a drink if the machine was even filled. Until the last day the bus drivers just said hello and you listen to that recording. Finally got one that was like we remembered, who gave disney facts and answered questions and actually seemed happy to do it. We all felt that Disney has become more impersonal and greedy. We were told a few times that they had allot of new employees. Well Tinker bell must have been one of them as she refused to speak to a deaf child because "she wouldn't understand her anyway" even after being told the child reads lips she would not bend down to speak to her but moved in for a picture and moved on. We found ourselves desperately grateful every time we were treated well. That is not as it should be. Scoff at that lady for spending what she did but she may be like us. We take small vacations for a few years and then one like this. We paid to have a worry free wk with the dining, park hopper disney resort package. And please don't bash me just because I no longer enjoy Disney. I was once a true believer but I too think this was NOT Walt Disney's dream. After all that we are now trying to figure out where to spend our next big vacation that will accommodate a wide age range who like to keep busy and we can go in the winter and escape to good weather, within the US. Open to suggestions!!!!
Posted by aimmelou on 2009-05-12:
Which resort did you stay at? My family (about 8-10 of us) go together at least once per year, usually during the peak season (we go towards the end of June) and have never had some of the problems you describe.
While it is busy at the pools, it has never been so busy that we couldn't have a good time. We typically stay at the Beach Club (but have stayed elsewhere also) and have enjoyed the pools at varying hours of the day.
We plan our park days around which ones we can get extra magic hours at and have never had a problem finding a bus to get to our park early in the 10+ years we have been going.
During the busiest times of the day we have had to skip one full bus to wait for the next because we have such a large group, but have NEVER waited for an hour for a Disney bus.
You complain about how to tell your child that everything is too packed for him to ride, but then complain about how they cut off entrance at the water parks after a certain number of people. You have effectively covered both sides of an argument in your complaint. If you are worried about getting into a park at certain hours because of the number of people, ask! The Disney employees I have spoken with are always happy to share some insider information with you if they have it.
DJMD2 - We started going again (we used to go when I was a child) when my son was two and I always took with me what he would need. If it would cost too much to fly your stroller, you should expect to have to pay for a stroller if you need one. Also, I have always been able to find out at the parks where the characters will be and at what times without too much trouble.
I'd like to also point out that children are easily influenced by the mood of their parents. Surely your child’s memories are going to be bad if he is constantly reminded of how horrible the trip was and if he hears your family motto of "Disney where misery comes true!"
While it is busy at the pools, it has never been so busy that we couldn't have a good time. We typically stay at the Beach Club (but have stayed elsewhere also) and have enjoyed the pools at varying hours of the day.
We plan our park days around which ones we can get extra magic hours at and have never had a problem finding a bus to get to our park early in the 10+ years we have been going.
During the busiest times of the day we have had to skip one full bus to wait for the next because we have such a large group, but have NEVER waited for an hour for a Disney bus.
You complain about how to tell your child that everything is too packed for him to ride, but then complain about how they cut off entrance at the water parks after a certain number of people. You have effectively covered both sides of an argument in your complaint. If you are worried about getting into a park at certain hours because of the number of people, ask! The Disney employees I have spoken with are always happy to share some insider information with you if they have it.
DJMD2 - We started going again (we used to go when I was a child) when my son was two and I always took with me what he would need. If it would cost too much to fly your stroller, you should expect to have to pay for a stroller if you need one. Also, I have always been able to find out at the parks where the characters will be and at what times without too much trouble.
I'd like to also point out that children are easily influenced by the mood of their parents. Surely your child’s memories are going to be bad if he is constantly reminded of how horrible the trip was and if he hears your family motto of "Disney where misery comes true!"
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