Disney World is called the “Most Magical Place on Earth” for a reason. The resort has been a definitive experience for generations of guests. However, that doesn’t mean things are always perfect.
Cinderella Castle
You may have noticed certain trends develop over the past few years, arguably not for the better. We asked our readers on Facebook to share with us which trends they’d wish would go away for good, and you may find yourself emphatically agreeing, or shaking your head in disbelief.
Price Hikes
Now this is one almost everyone can agree with in our experience — every year for the past MANY years, Disney has had annual price hikes on their park tickets, hotel stays, food, merchandise, and practically everything in between. It can be REALLY hard to save for a Disney World trip when your saving plan has to change every year!
Storybook Treats
It also means that some people who would have been able to afford a Disney World trip 5-10 years ago aren’t able to anymore because it’s just moved FAR too much out of their budget. And the unfortunate part? It doesn’t seem like these price increases are stopping anytime soon.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
We keep an eye on all the prices each week to make sure we let you know as soon as possible if prices have fluctuated so you know how to plan accordingly for your trip. But in the meantime, we’ll groan and stomp our feet right along with you each time we see prices increase.
Being Rude. Period.
Another frequent comment we saw that we wholeheartedly agree with is that guests are tired of hearing other guests be rude to those around them. While we mention the importance of being kind and courteous to Cast Members constantly, it’s also important to remember that being kind to fellow guests around you is just as important.
Hollywood Studios
And listen, we don’t mean to tell you how you should and shouldn’t talk to your own family, but being rude to your travel party isn’t okay either. Yes, we know Disney World is a stressful place, and if you’ve missed your Virtual Queue window for TRON Lightcycle / Run a dining reservation lasted longer than expected, or your toddler had a bit of a meltdown because they’re overstimulated (it IS Disney World, it’s a lot to take in for all ages), getting angry with the Cast Member is never okay, but also keep in mind how you’re talking to your family and friends in public around tons of other people.
Haunted Mansion
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve overheard parents SCREAMING at their children who are tired, sunburnt, scared, and/or overstimulated in the wild land that is Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Often it’s because they don’t want to go on a ride or meet a character, or the child is getting upset because they’re too hot/tired and don’t feel well and just don’t know how to express it. We all know how that feels! Granted, as adults we can (usually) manage our emotions a little better and know what steps to take to turn it around, but a child doesn’t! It breaks out heart every time because we know that NO ONE is happy in the situation, and nothing is really being done to fix it.
Lightning Lane
Bottom line, if you find yourself getting testy, go inside, get a cup of water and a snack and sit in the AC for 15-20 minutes. Trust us, you’ll be amazed at how much it’ll help everyone!
Not Paying Attention to Those Around You
As much as we all dream of having a day in Disney World by ourselves or only with our closest friends and family and exploring an empty park, the closest we can get to that is Disney’s after hours events. That being said, paying attention to those around you, or just remembering that you and your party are far from the only people in the parks, is beyond important.
Animal Kingdom
So what do we mean by this? Well our readers said things like stopping in the middle of walkways and making people detour around you, not realizing your kids are running and climbing over tons of things they’re not supposed to because you’re busy doing something else, or stepping in front of ECVs and motorized scooters that can’t stop on a dime are just a few examples.
Main Street, U.S.A.
We know, you’re on a mission and trying to get where you’re going, BUT so is everyone around you! Pull off to the side when you need to do something on your phone or talk to your group, keep an eye on the younger members of your party to make sure no one is stirring up trouble (or the older members too, if they’re prone to troublemaking), and just remember that the people around you want to have a magical vacation as much as you do.
Star Tours in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
We’re always here to bring you all the latest news and updates to help you have the best trip possible, so stay tuned to DFB!
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Unfortunately, we came across screaming parents more than once on our last vacation. I hugged my 17 years old son every time.
Oversized strollers especially on the buses. Giant jogging strollers, even when folded are heavy and parents hit people with them on the buses. They simply are not necessary.
Stepping in front of people already set to see a show or parade, blocking their view is very rude. I use an ECV and a lot of times had my view blocked by a “butt” who came at the last minute.
Also kids on shoulders blocking everyone’s view.
The motorized scooter thing makes me crazy. I’ve literally had people trip over my mom’s scooter because they are so busy looking up or at something else that they don’t see it.
Totally agreed Disney World would be much better with a lot less people on top of each other. I understand getting hot and tired, if only Disney offered multiple indoor shows/experiences with AC. Oh wait they do and they normally don’t have a line, even if they do have a line the line is also indoors with AC.
It would be nice if people would face the direction that they’re walking. A quick glance to the side is one thing; facing to the side for a prolonged time while walking forward is how people get hurt. Also, people shouldn’t get in line for rides until their whole party is together. I would NEVER cut in front of other people just because somebody I knew was already in line ahead of me. It makes me sad that anyone thinks that’s okay.
Let’s not forget The people with strollers and the motorized wheelchairs that will run you down, or at least hit your legs and ankles without stoping or even excuse me. Was just there a week ago and this was actually dangerous.
Hi! Im the problem! It’s me! I have to admit I’ve been guilty of not paying attention to others around me and have stepped in front of scooters without even thinking about it, especially in my early park years. From the bottom of my heart I apologize!! I am so sorry
Strollers. Hate them. Most kids in strollers are more than old enough to walk, and the parents act like their the only ones in the park. I know this will never happen, but I long for “adults only” Disney weeks where we can enjoy the parks without parents or kids.
It’s nice for me a grandma seeing my grandkids big an small at Disney watching their face Telling me about the ride they were just on. I would rather see this than ride the rides. Disney is for kids big ones and small! A granny in Irwin PA
Also people who have their noses in their phones, etc and neglect to realize that there are other people around. This just doesn’t happen in DW, it happens everywhere.
Also the scooter drivers who drive like a bat of he**, honking like crazy and just being unsafe are super annoying.
I think Disney should limit the number of people in the park. We ended up leaving before the fire works because the crew was packing us into the area so tightly we didn’t feel safe. I think touching the person in front of you is very uncomfortable and dangerous. They just kept saying step forward until you can’t see any ground around you.
I have to use a scooter in the parks. When it’s crowded, I go the pace of everyone walking. I also leave a “safe stopping distance” in front of me so I’m not clipping anyone’s heels. But because of the gap I leave, people will step right in front of my scooter with their toddler in tow and then get ticked off that I “RAN OVER” their child! Umm… HELLO?!? That was all you, dad! I was doing my due diligence. YOU were the reckless one!
I am headed in 7 days and I am worried that needing to have my nose in the My Disney Experience app is going to cost me to be one of these people. I’m not usually a phone in my face kind of person in fact I get annoyed with people that are but is the need for timekeeping and lightning Lane things as well as using the app to find my next water refill station, going to keep me on my phone all the time?
Yep that about says it! It’s called Etiquette and The Golden Rule. I guess they’re not taught anymore at home, church or school. But they still belong at Wdw. Be aware. Be patient. Be kind. I hope those parents don’t scream at their kids at home, too! I understand why so many have their eyes glued to the My Disney App but Wdw created that problem and it sure takes away from a fun, relaxing time. As for price hikes, I’ve often felt that the Disney stockholders and decision makers were paid too much and should give back money or in the form of no price hikes, especially with all this relentless construction! But the better result would come from people just refusing to go and waste their money! Don’t complain when you’re enabling Disney and giving them what they want. They’ll continue as long as they know they can get away with it! Save your money. Go elsewhere. Just say No to Wdw. Sad but true and frankly, it’s not the Park from decades ago when Disney seemed to care and gave to us so we didn’t mind spending our money there. I’m not sure it will ever get back the magic and pixie dust…..
I’m glad to read that others have the problem of people “w/legs” stopping in front of your ECV. I own my ECV and it has a dial that is “Turtle and Rabbit” my dial doesn’t ever reach the line for Turtle and still I’m accursed of going to fast but the stroller next to me is passing at twice the speed. The biggest problem are the once in life time renter of scooter. No one teaches them how to use them. They get the scoot, control sitting on top speed and they leave it there. Even if you try to help them they look at you like you have know idea what their scooter is set for. I don’t like to put any more on Disney cast member,but in these instances, any one going through the ticket line that has a rental ECV should be ask to come over to the side and see if they know how to use it. What the courtesy rules are and then give them a Disney driver license they can show at the next park so they only need to do it once. As for stroller, there are so many “umbrella stroller” out there for the one that could walk but tire out quickly. They are so easy to collapse and hang on your arm. The only stroller that need to be special are the one that are converted car seat stroller with little, little one in them. But every time I go on a bus the double wide stroller parent think that putting their stroller in front of my scooter or alone side it except able. I am not talking about the special need stroller at any time. I saw a family waiting for a bus the Grandpa had a rental ECV and you could tell he didn’t know what to do and the father had a “big” stroller for one child. What I thought was polite , I ask if he had ever seen the newest umbrella stroller. He told me they were to small for all the things they need to take with for the 3 years. In my mind I said maybe she doesn’t need all that stuff. What look like toys and snacks and I don’t know what. I quietly got on the bus and hoped I didn’t meet them in the park. I took 2 boys 2 years old in an umbrella stroller all over Disneyland and then WDW so I’m not talking from fantasy it can be done and all trips enjoyed. Sorry this got longer than I meant.
Thanks Nicole…for fessing up. I was looking for someone to blame.
I read something recently, perhaps here or elsewhere, not sure. It was a list of Disney Park rules and since I use a scooter I realized I have been doing something “wrong.” I drive the scooter too fast! When we are meeting somewhere or sometimes at other times I will go full speed BUT according to WDW (and probably all Disney Parks) I’m not supposed to drive the scooter faster than walking speed.
When we go next (boy do I hope it’s soon!) I will be careful to drive at a safer speed and be more considerate of those around me too.
Since I used a scooter most of the time now at Disney World I am conscious about people standing in front of me. I apologize if I already posted this a while back…We were at California Grille for dinner, it was fireworks time, and NOBODY would move so I could see the fireworks. I watched them from inside the restaurant, to the right as you go out the doors to watch fireworks, amongst the highchairs. It wasn’t great. I said excuse me multiple times but frankly all the people standing there holding their drinks ignored me. I should have asked a Cast member wait staff person to intercede on my behalf or even better? A designated stroller/scooter area out there where I can go maybe 10 min before the fireworks start and if no one else is there? THEN people on their feet can stand next to me but not in front of me. It happens again? I will make sure not to be so wimpy and hurt.