Is Walt Disney World Florida worth it anymore?

[csm93]

With increasing prices and fewer perks, has anybody been recently that could vouch for this being a holiday to look into and consider or would you suggest spending the money on going elsewhere?

[Username917778]

Pre covid it was brilliant. We last went in 2017 and were due to go back 2020. I've done Disney frequently through my life and was excited to finally book for this year after the pandemic but, no I'm not going too now. Too expensive, too much planning, not enough fun. Removing the fast pass, free parking for on site guests, having to book your park days months in advance has made it a no for me.

[TomAllenWife]

I've done it twice pre pandemic 2014 and 2016

Loved the fast passes and the booking of restaurants

First time we had a Villa, paid £5k all in with car, parks, flight, villa. One adult and 3 children

Second time we stayed in a shit hole on international drive but it was much cheaper £3k all in, and great to walk out in the night to eat in different places

I have looked for this year but the prices are crazy and I just can't justify it
Plus DP hates the idea of it so would have to go without him which isn't ideal

[My3cents1]

I have lived in both areas of Fl and Cali and visited both parks numerous times over the years. I would say Cali Disney is better overall.

[PurpleFlower1983]

We were booked for next month but have cancelled. It’s too expensive a holiday not to do fully and I don’t like the new booking systems etc. We will go when the kids are older. We were staying at Art of Animation.

[PurpleFlower1983]

Been numerous times to Orlando and California but didn’t want to be disappointed.

[Girlmumdogmumboymum]

Haven't been since January of 2020, honestly the hardest part of the pandemic for me was not having the trips to Dusney to look forward to (sounds over dramatic but the holidays to Disney were all that kept me going through poor MH)
By the time travel was back on, so much has changed in the Disney parks that next time I go to Orlando (which will be soon cos we love it there) that we will do universal.

When we went to Disney for the first time in 2017, I remember we paid the same for our tickets as PILS did in 1998. I was shocked that they weren't more expensive.

But since the prices have gone up, and up and up and up again. I believe they're now about double what we paid.

Fast pass doesn't exist anymore.
Free parking at hotels, doesn't exist anymore.
Genie+ is supposed to be a shambles.
Can't members are apparently not happy, and that's affecting customer service.
Annual passes have been messed around with so much.

I didn't think I'd get to this point, but I really am hoping that universal is as good as people say, cos I'd happily do universal twice as much for the same sort of price.

[Girlmumdogmumboymum]

@PurpleFlower1983

We were booked for next month but have cancelled. It’s too expensive a holiday not to do fully and I don’t like the new booking systems etc. We will go when the kids are older. We were staying at Art of Animation.

AofA is a fab resort!
We loved it when we stayed! Just a word of warning, the little mermaid area is quite far out!
The main pool is flipping amazing

[Florenz]

Total waste of money. I haven't been but my brother and SIL took my DNs and they didn't get much enjoyment, they enjoyed a day out at Alton Towers a lot more.

[TinaYouFatLard]

It genuinely pains me to say it as I have wonderful memories of WDW from my own childhood and from earlier years with my DC, but they have ruined themselves.

The sheer number of people, the creeping removal of the lovely extras (I remember when the minibar at the hotel was a thing of beauty in itself!) the complete inability to be spontaneous. It’s sad and there is no magic whatsoever. We have a home there so will always go for a day here and there but I feel bad for people who are expecting a dream family holiday and get hours of queuing instead.

[SurelynotCovidagain]

I've been looking for next year.

It's probably going to be 11 / 12k for flights, villa, car, tickets.

That's only Universal and Disney. The tickets themselves are nearly £4k.

I don't know what to do. I really want to take the kids and my eldest needs to go in the next couple of years I think (she is 10).

We have done Paris which they loved.

Might look at LA. I am not a fan of the city itself though but might see about a West Coast holiday if its cheaper.

Prices do seem ridiculous.

[NameChChChChanges1]

I would also recommend the LA park, which is wonderful, and there's also Universal Studios in LA too

[My3cents1]

I would also like to add if you are thinking O town I would recommend visiting Kennedy Space Center, Epcot.
Consider driving to the gulf coast and hitting Busch Gardens (Tampa) Siesta Keys (Sarasota). The beach sand is quartz and is like baby powder, it’s beautiful. You could also take a trip to the Keys, driving takes a long while but you can get a fast boat from Ft Myers which will get you there in a couple of hours. There’s Miami which is ok if you want to shop high and check out the Versace mansion but not a place I would visit with kids.
If you are going to base in the Orlando/Kissimmee area I wouldn’t stay around the I Drive OBT area, it’s rough. Try and check what the weather will be like during the time you want to stay, I have often felt bad for the tourists that have come over for a sunshine holiday to have been washed out with the rainy/hurricane season.

[Wexone]

I went many years ago when i was 16 ( though that's over 20 years ago now :)). We stayed in a villa, did the whole hog, Disney, Universal and Kennedy space center. Still to this day me and my brothers and sisters remember it as the best holiday we ever been on . I don't know what the system is like now, but if i was offered a holiday to Disney World Florida tomorrow would jump at it

[livingthegoodlife]

has anyone been since the new systems came in?

we've done Paris a couple of time pre-pandemic and loved it. We were planning the big florida trip for 2020/2021 but had to abandon it. I'm now looking at May 2023 but everything has changed.

Im just not sure now there is no dining plan, or fast passes etc.

My prices so far about £10K inc onsite hotel, passes and flights. No food. family of 3 adults, 2 children.

[FilthyforFirth]

I love Disney, have been to WDW 10 times. We are due to go in August. I am worried though for all the reasons mentioned. It may well be our last trip for a long time.

[nearlyspringyay]

I wouldn't go back. Just too many people, the queues, the planning. Take away the dining options etc it just sounds awful.

There seem to be two breeds of people - the lovers and the haters, and not much in the middle!

[Favourodds]

Went recently. It was really good, seemed pretty unchanged from the past? You just had to book parks which wasn't a huge bother, you always have a bit of a plan anyway, don't you. Magic Kingdom was ridiculously busy (but has been getting busier and busier for years), everywhere else was fine. Idk, I think people on WDW forums are too emotionally invested.

Didn't use genie+ or whatever. I can't be bothered with the hassle. Just wandered round and got on with it!

[BeHappy91818]

We are going in a few months time for just over 3 weeks. 2 weeks in Disney & just over a week in universal.
It will be our first time so to be honest I won’t know about any of the extras that are now not available.
Booking park days is easy and so is the places to eat.

I didn’t think it was very expensive either.. we are staying in Disney and in universal and it’s come to less the 8k including all estas, airport parking & hotel in London, flights, tickets, hotels, day at discovery cove with a dolphin swim, SeaWorld etc.

We have to take spending money on top of that but still don’t think it’s bad.

[gogohm]

For little ones California is definitely better or just go to Paris assuming you live in Europe, I loved Disney as did my kids but the military style planning required now puts me off. It's 5 years since I've been to Paris and far longer Orlando, having looked into Paris for this year I decided no way, charging for the passes, no complimentary breakfast etc and the prices have doubled.

If you have little ones who love Disney I do recommend Disney cruise lines, it's been a while since we went but mine preferred it to the parks as all they really wanted to do was meet Mickey and have stories read by Cinderella.

[gogohm]

By the way, if you fancy a theme park trip in Europe with school aged kids/teens, I highly recommend europa parc in Germany close to the French border. Kids loved it at 10&12. We had one day there but I think there's a water park too now, it's close to the Black Forest. There's(was) 3 onsite hotels

[3peassuit]

We’re going in a few weeks time. We’re staying at a resort in International drive. With car hire, accommodation, tickets and eating out I think it’ll be about 7500 - 8000 for 4 adults and a preschooler. DH and I are getting on a bit and it’ll probably be our last big family trip out there. I love Disney but it’s hard on the feet.

[ForeverLooking]

Just spoken to my friend who is an Orlando vlogger just returned from the latest trip. In their opinion, as someone who does trips as part of a job, honestly it's not the park it was. He saw a lot of frustration around GeniePlus, had to get a refund one day as the ride times were so unsuitable, and wasn't the only person doing so at customer services. You obviously can go without, but the removal of the free fast pass is a real kick in the pants. It's already a very expensive place to visit, adding on paying again for rides, paying for the coach from the airport that was part of the package, no more meal plan....
Still loves it, still magical, just go with the knowledge of what it is now and plan ahead.

[TomBradysLeftKneecap]

I genuinely don’t get it. Why would someone fly all that way, spend thousands of dollars, experience all that jet lag to stay in a really crappy part of Florida with 11 billion other people just to do some rides and eat at an overpriced Applebees? It’s honestly one of life’s great mysteries to me!

[ForeverLooking]

Different strokes for different folks. I wouldn't go to Dubai if you paid me, but millions flock there every year. I'd also have to be held at gunpoint to go camping. Doesn't mean I'm right.

[Koigarden]

@TomBradysLeftKneecap

I genuinely don’t get it. Why would someone fly all that way, spend thousands of dollars, experience all that jet lag to stay in a really crappy part of Florida with 11 billion other people just to do some rides and eat at an overpriced Applebees? It’s honestly one of life’s great mysteries to me!

Me too! Have never got the hype!