How has technology changed the way you experience Disney Parks? Have you noticed you are spending too much time with your face buried in a phone? Let me know in the comments what you think.
Just got back from 3 days at DLand/DCA. We have 2 small children (3 and 5) and the security lines to get into the esplanade between DL and DCA were insane. In 3 days, I believe we went through security 7 or 8 times. At least 75% of the time it took over 20 minutes, with our morning security times taking almost 45 minutes. Here's my gripe/concern/confusion, if Disney has the technology to track me, anticipate my moves, manipulate my moves, basically, A.I. the heck out of my time in the park, how are we still using Hank and Rita and metal detectors as our technology for security? I'm not advocating Hank and Rita lose their jobs and I'm no security expert, but when you get to the security line at 8 AM and don't get into the park until almost 9, it just puts you in a bad mood, right off the bat for parents and kids.
Paper fastpasses helped spread the magic... it was so fun to surprise someone by giving them fastpasses you weren't going to use, and equally as fun to get some in the same way.
Absolutely. I said the exact same thing on someone else's comment below. Sometimes we would grab them on our way out just to make some one else's day. And you had to earn those fast passes running all around the park for them. But that also helped new people learn to navigate the parks better and learn all the shortcuts!!! :)
One of the best memories from Disneyland was when I was with my boyfriend at the time, we were walking around Tomorrowland as some man just picked us out and gave us his two paper Fastpasses for Space Mountain. We weren't expecting to ride Space Mountain but he was leaving the parks and we got great memories from riding it with the paper Fastpasses. I missed teaming up with a partner or mapping out the lands to get the paper Fastpass and coming back in the allotted time.
@@avarice.karmageddon Yes! This is exactly the magic I miss. Small little interactions like that. You remember that to this day. And yeah, part of the fun of planning a Disney vacation was talking it out with your park buddy to map out what you would rope drop, get FP's for etc!!! Thank you for sharing!
I remember that! Last time I went to a disney park it was a over 10 yrs ago and I remember nice people giving their fast passes to people just for whatever reason and it really made it feel magical how the park guests were also adding to the good vibes. It just felt like a happy place. I don't need to go in person to see things have changed and it's never going back close to how it was before.
Personally the one thing that devastates me is losing rivers of America. That big, beautiful majestic boat is such a staple to magic kingdom. I can't let it go.
When I was in my twenties, I used to go with my sister and her family with all my four nieces and nephews and my mom. I would run around and get fast passes while they hit smaller rides or shows. I totally maximized their fun and was fine with it, because I didn’t need to see Philharmagic more than once or twice. So, I had their whole day planned and would get the next fast pass right at the time I could. They almost never waited in a line and I got a lot of exercise. It was the perfect system for people like us. And, yes, it was great to give fast passes to people who were clearly sad as they got in a 60 minute line. With the app, once I figured out that lightning lanes would come open randomly on rides that had been “sold out” because somebody changed their plans…that was the end of me. I then would just sit and hit refresh every 5 seconds every time I wasn’t doing something in hope of a slot opening up. My wife and kids were basically on a vacation without me because I was lost in the app trying to get them on big rides.
The second part of your comment speaks volumes and is so very sad. But we get programmed to be like that. And yes, my wife and I realized that as well with dining reservations and Genie+ options. It's disappointing when you are ignoring the kids on vacay because you are trying to get them a "great experience" that you are essentially vacant from.
It is definitely hard to fall into a state of enchantment when you are constantly being asked for $$$ for upgrades. I think they must have a team of people these days that just scout ways to make more and more money off of experiences in the parks. "We notice a lot of people taking a picture here. Get a photopass photographer here" "The fireworks look nice from this angle. Let's make it an exclusive premium seating area" lol
@@InLikeFlynns I totally agree and I was one of those people who had no issue hunting out info for the extras and booking them with my stay or on arrival. I did Keys to the Kingdom and Mickeys Christmas Party back in the day and have great memories of both but I look at people going to the parties now and they look almost as busy as a day which just wouldn't cut it for me anymore. It really seems like the more they hype up the magic and the need to purchase it via 70 different upcharges, the more clear it becomes that it's all just a cash grab and the management do not care so much about their guests or maintaining the magic for everyone. Why would they though with 10,000 plus DCP participants and many vloggers who are a captive spending audience whom also stress the need to use upcharged services to not be let down during your stay. It is so sad that you can't just get a ticket and go with the flow any longer, that was part of the joy of going in the first place.
When I was a cast member, some of my favorite memories were just wandering through the parks, enjoying the food, watching streetmosphere and parades. Occasionally I would walk on a ride if there wasn't a long line...but it was magical.
Parks used to serve to immerse guests in experiences relating to Disney's animation and movie properties. Now the parks use the animation and movie experiences to promote the sale of merchandise. Today it's all about ancillary sales of merchandise, food, and services, moreso than in providing a satisfying guest experience.
“When I was a cast member in 2001, management told us everyday to go out of our way to provide a magical experience to our guests.” I doubt current cast members are being told that today. When Michael Eisner was CEO, executives actually cared about the Disney brand and understood how important guest experience and satisfaction was to their success. Today Disney is just obsessed with slapping Pixar characters on cheap pieces of plastic and charging you hundreds of dollars for it. The magic is gone and I don’t see it coming back anytime soon
Yeah I feel your frustration. I think there are employees like me that still exist, but it’s the exception, not the norm. Now they probably just want to make sure the people won’t strike over wages or something
Today, i want zero interactions with cast members as they all come off as angry, bitter, and generally unpleasant. The smiles from their faces have vanished
Everyone always complains about having their face in a device all the time but that’s a “you problem.” I just spent a week a Disney World (my first time and I went solo) and I simply checked the app to decide what I wanted to do next and then put my phone away until that activity was completed. Sometimes I just walked around and decided what to do on a whim. I mobile ordered a few times, but I also just walked up and ordered sometimes. I made a couple reservations for sit down restaurants as well. Yes, I used the app to check in to the resort (which I thought was fantastic just walking straight to my room) but the reservation desk was always packed full of people checking in with actual humans so I could have done that if I preferred. Pretty much everywhere I looked people had their face in their phone but that’s the case absolutely everywhere. I’m grateful to be old enough that I can remember a time without cellphones and I never got hooked on social media. I thought the app was a very useful and convenient tool and was not bothered by up charges at all. Sometimes I bought them and sometimes I didn’t. It’s really not that big of a deal.
That is awesome. I am glad you had an amazing trip. Sincerely. And I am glad you didn’t let the app consume most of your day. Like I said in the video, I do think the app is good for some things like evaluating wait times and occasionally mobile ordering. I wonder if they were more laid back about letting you in to order without a mobile order because it’s no longer summer.
I understand why Disney wanted to digitalize the “fast pass” system. However, they should have still required guests go to the ride queue to be able to reserve a place in line. No one should be reserving “lighting lane” the moment they enter the park.
Like 80% of ride “breakdowns” are the guest’s fault. It could be failing to meet the dispatch interval, it could be a fallen article that trips a sensor, it could be a guest that refuses to cooperate, etc
That is a very valid point. I do remember a handful of times someone would drop something from the tram, and their first thought was to jump out since we were a slow moving ride vehicle. But believe me, you would not have wanted to get run over by that tram lol.
11:10 there is a theme park enthusiast I watch who was recently talking about little details everywhere in older attractions that are left off the drawing board anymore ( an owl perched in the rafters on Tom Sawyer island for example.) the little details that told a story. And I simply said most guests these days just want to run run run and get the absolute most out of the trip like it is a flex or sporting event for clout. They aren’t taking time to slow down and take in the details. That’s why I like my solo trips. I just take my time and enjoy the story. ( but I’m an animator and illustrator so it is a part of who I am).
Remember 20 years ago when Hidden Mickeys were all the rage? Now it feels like people barely talk about them. There would literally be prolonged 30+ minute conversations by park enthusiasts whether something was a hidden Mickey or not. I miss that.
I'm 21 and should be the demographic that would be the LEAST confused with how to use the app, and without a shadow of a doubt, I would be insanely confused. As someone who hasn't been to Disneyworld since I was 12, I feel the app would have a learning curve that I must gain in order to successfully use it. It shouldn't be this hard to visit Disney😭 for the amount of money you pay, you should get a personal assistant that follows you around and checks wait times and makes reservations 🤣
Absolutely agree with that. Anyone who orders Genie Plus should get one of the plaid vests to follow them around all day with their own device using it for you. I am in IT full time and I find the app maddening lol
I do find myself wishing I could tweak certain aspects of the app while I am navigating it. Then I remember there are people much smarter than me doing it, and I would likely be simply overwhelmed by the code lol.
I definitely see how technology has become annoying, but perhaps not as many ways as you're experiencing. I'm at Walt Disney World 2-3x a year, but largely keep my phone in my pocket and the park app closed, with my battery still at 30%+ by park close. We just wander, attraction hop, park hop, and gave a good time. I'm still immersed, still engaging with castmembers and guests regularly, and having great days.
I agree with the idea that we need our phone to have a good day. For in the imagineering story they say that they don’t want us on our phones but yet they have an app and things like that.
My last couple visits to Disney parks, I spent the entire day staring at my phone to get on rides. The magic is gone. Disney doesn't understand the park experience sucks now. It's NOT fun!
Just got back from a family Disney World trip and I will say we spent a LOT of time with our heads down looking at our phones. It doesn’t help that as soon as you become an expert at whatever method Disney uses to experience the parks efficiently that they change the layout massively.
That’s the sad thing to me. Heads in phones. I always preach “stop and take a breath and look around”. It’s not all about the rides either. Just look and appreciate some of the nuances in the shops and restaurants. I don’t blame you at all for it. Disney is just grooming us for it being the new norm in the parks
Couldn't agree more with alllllll of this. I left a similar comment on another video of yours recently but my word......the Disney app detracts SO much more than it adds to the experience. You HAVE to mess with that thing constantly or else. Also couldn't agree more about the newer rides being down constantly. I moved to NE Florida about 2 1/2 years ago and it took us 3 visits to Hollywood Studios to finally get to ride Rise because it was down most of or all day during the first 2 tries. All I could think was "this was a 2 hour drive for us......what if this was a plane ride, a hotel and several kids worth of admission and then someone didn't get to ride this??"
3 visits?! That’s insane. I know it goes down a lot, but that is completely unacceptable. I could probably do a whole video on my dislike of Virtual Queues and Lightning Lane
Oh man....I guess that's a good thing. But I hate that I am sounding Preachy. HAHA. Sounds like we could be friends in real life with our similar beliefs. LOL
4:56 I totally agree about the “ technologically advanced” rides are a problem. I would expect such an advanced ride to have a lot more safeguards and redundancies built in so they worked somewhat smoothly and got guests through queues.
Right, and if they cant build reliable rides that incorporate all this fancy technology, scale the rides back to tech that you know works and is reliable. I dont see Peter Pans Flight breaking down for hours a day, but it is still one of Disney Parks all time favorite attractions.
I will say: in this day and age, it's extremely difficult to not do things with current technology in the park. In some strange, twisted way, it honestly does kind of fit in with the innovative spirit Walt Disney pioneered with the company. Honestly, we'll probably never get out of this app era, and as you mentioned, the app can be useful in certain situations. Ultimately, with this, I'd argue that Disney needs to find a balance between use of the app, and just... experiencing the parks. Some of this is just the growth and change in technology, and there's not much Disney can do about that, but Disney can encourage people to be on their devices less.
I could see it being useful and innovative while waiting in queue lines, which it has started to do, but encourage people to get out of the device. ie - Prompt someone to look somewhere in the queue that will show them a particular easter egg or hidden detail they may not have otherwise seen. Or tell them about a "Hidden Mickey" on the attraction. Stuff like that.
@@InLikeFlynns I will say I did find mobile ordering useful. Made getting my food a lot easier, although I do agree, more customization options there would really come in handy.
I don't think anyone remembers when the transportation was part of the magic. The bus drivers, the boat captains, everyone had their own personalities and would chat with you during the ride. They were all magical, they would get to know you and your family as you were riding to and from the parks daily. Now they just push a button and a spiel plays over the intercom. We haven't been back since 2018 and right now it just doesn't seem like a vacation anymore. Being in the Midwest, it's a long trip and I can go to smaller parks for a day with the same basic stuff anymore at a lot less money. It's a shame because I truly love legacy Disney.
I remember it. Doing transportation was going to be my dream job in retirement. You could talk and fill guests in on fun Disney knowledge. It was so great. Now it’s all pre recorded spiels. :(
Disney is way too technology heavy. I like Universal so much better for that alone (among other things). I hate going to Disney and having to stay on my phone constantly. I only want to use my phone for wait times, reservations, and your ticket. That’s it. I do not want to constantly look for fast passes and try to order food too. I used to love Disney but I hate it now. It’s a joke the value you get for the money you spend.
Yeah, I agree with all of your points. And yes, I do agree Universal is less reliant on the technology and apps and I enjoy the parks more because of that :)
My last trip to wdw was just after they reopened from covid. The parks were packed ( I don’t think they were limiting admission as they claimed). There was no fast pass of any kind. Andcthe quests went so smoothly and there was no sense of frustration from stand by people watching fast pass get ahead because they got the luck of the draw. The lines went as you’d expect them to. Posted wait rimes were accurate. It was so much more fun that way.
Just for anyone to know that DisneyNOW has taken out the ability to sit down and talk with anyone at the resorts because they want everyone to stand uncomfortably for 8 to 10 hours a day
LOL. I do not miss the occasional time I would get to checkin and it would be an hour wait. I’ll be honest, that sucked. But on more than one occasion we landed a free room upgrade just for being friendly and pleasant and talked to the cast member with respect. I miss that :)
You mention technology being needed to keep rides functional. I'd more like to see technology being inserted into line queues. When I was a child, I remember being fascinated with all kinds of stuff in line. Space Mountain had all the trippy windows. Peter Pan had Tinkerbell appearances. Imagination had Figment popping around. Now, everyone has their nose in their phones. I'd rather see more little things added into the queues. And I don't mean videos to watch. I am not a fan of just ushering crowds into room after room to watch the next video. I'd much prefer a line, where people aren't worried about running people over or keeping their groups together everytime a new room opens up. Just add little bits of magic to those lines as you wait.
Pre-shows add a little something to the queue, but I agree with ya, some of the attractions need the queue line improvements. Make people want to interact with their surroundings instead of their phones.
The way you describe the app reminds me of a mobile phone game, that constantly takes you out of the gameplay and into the menus, particularly to remind you of the monetization options.
In fairness, it's not the fault of technology, but the fault of how Disney forces people to use technology during their stay. Obviously the tech gives Disney non-stop monitoring and data so they can track who, what, when, where, how much, and how many at any given moment. Disney's choice to force guests to use this is what compromises the quality of the experience for those who would rather not have to stare at and use a phone for every decision they have to make during their visit. Hell, can't even just say, "Hey, let's go to Disney today" at the last moment like we used to. And even reservations and eating choices require device-planning instead of just being able to wing it throughout the stay. I get that people today are falling in line to just accept it but for those of us who want a casual immersive environment away from tech are out of luck. Disney parks used to be the place to go to escape the mundanity of daily life, but forcing the use of devices, keeps us mentally in that state many of us just want to get away from. Castmember from 1980-1995.
Do you want to be best friends? I feel like we could be best friends. I agree with you on just about every syllable. I could talk all day long on the subject.
@@InLikeFlynns Hah. Sure. :) - Ironically I worked in Information Services, (I.T. for the rest of the world) and had to implement and install a lot of the office tech during the 80s and 90s, but that was mostly PCs and LANs in the castmember areas, and occasionally would do phone support for registers at the merchandise locations, years before even Fast Pass. I knew from the beginning that the tech that was supposed to free up our time would only cause corporations to now fill up that time with other nonsense. You're right about the ride tech often breaking down (101), and a lot has to do with experimental, first-time home-grown systems. Not like there is a "Rise of the Resistance" in every theme park like there were shootouts in western-themed parks in the 50s and 60s. When Epcot opened, Spaceship Earth and Universe of Energy would go down constantly, and for a few years, there would be a DACS tech at the bottom of Spaceship Earth unload to manually rotate the cars so the guests could get out. People would be surprised to see how low-tech some of the still-standing dark rides are. Even the Haunted Mansion. They've added some high tech video, but most of the ride elements are decades old in design and rock-solid reliable.
I would love to get behind the scenes in Spaceship Earth and see some of the low-tech you speak of. In Haunted Mansion as well. Though, I did get to ride HM with the lights on at a cast night once.
Hello Sir....I wouldn't hold my breath for Disney to "scale back" on tech as it ultimately generates more money for them and although you didn't directly say so, I think you and I and many others are disappointed and perhaps even confused as to how many people in this world are essentially living thru their phones, missing so much that is going on around them. Take care.
Yes, this is one of my fundamental issues. People refuse to escape from their phones long enough to enjoy what’s around them. But Disney does not make it any easier for folks to disconnect, as you need to be able to successfully navigate an app to book food, ride times and get in the park. It’s sad
Yeah I would gladly go back to the days when I could show up at a Quick Service at 10:55, figure out what I wanted, go in and order and not have to worry about seeing 5 other people who werent there get their food in front of me. LOL
@@InLikeFlynns and that’s exactly what happened to us in star wars land. People were zooming in and out of that lane picking up LARGE orders, while the ones in the traditional wait line were waiting to order while watching and starving and looking at each other outraged.
@@InLikeFlynns my daughter grew up at Disneyland, her first trip there at 3 months old, and we went every month for a long time. We've been to WDW 8 times and I found, the Florida cast members to be less patient, easily riled, angry less trained. Case and point; we took our daughter on Buzz Lightyear at WDW when she was still an infant and I carried her to the line area (strollers left outside, as usual), there was no one in the switchback so my wife opened a rope so I wouldn't have to walk back and forth through the empty queue line with my increasingly heavier daughter. A cast member runs up to me and yells at me. When we got off the ride, they had opened the rope literally at the exact spot where I had opened it.
Walt and the Imagineers spent way too much time, effort, and money making the park look nice for us to stick our noses in our phones. The light up faces on Frozen Elsa After are so creepy.
OMG you arent lying. I so much prefer the classic dark ride audio animatronics. And I am not just being old school, I think that those faces look creepy as heck. HAHAHA
You are 100% correct about everything. We took our kids to Disney numerous times in the 90’s and early 2000’s. When our kids were grown my husband and I went ourselves at least 3 times and had the time of our lives. Our last visit was in 2015 with both our kids and out daughter in law and her brother. Awesome time! Then Covid. Then I got sick. But my point is that we could go again now. But I am so put off by Genie+ and Lightening Lane. I’m not of the generation that has their phones attached to them. The last thing I want to do at my beloved Disney is have my face in my phone constantly. So much has changed it has definitely lost the magic for me. However I don’t think Disney cares about their older guests. I think they care mostly about rich families and young people. So will we go again? I’m sad to say I don’t think so. And it kills me.
I'm sick of apps. I love my phone but if I'm at a theme park then my own device will not be a primary part of the experience I'm paying for. Paper Fastpass forever
Yes! Bring me back the good ole paper fastpasses. Or make it digital if you want...like I have to walk up to the ride and it will sense Im in the area and assign us a Fastpass return time (if you want to save money and paper). But get rid of Genie+ please!
Thank you for the kind words. I think a lot of people feel the same way. Some people just want a taste of some old school Disney Audio Animatronic magic.
Thank you for your video. I agree on some level with everything you pointed out. I live 1 hour away from Disney World Resort Orlando. I was just at 3 of the parks in this past September just weeks ago. My friend and I (Yes 2 adults) decided to use tech only when we absolutely had to, and because of that, we had a great time. See, the choice is really up to you if you make your mind up to do so. Yes, I know. "But look lady, you didn't have whiny, over heated small children with you that you just paid a small fortune to take them to this place! Try saying the same thing with kids screaming at you." I agree with that sentiment, but who is the parent in that scenario? "Be grateful for what you have, children, and stop whing/screaming and yelling." is always an option to tell your children and will not scar them for life to hear. To accomplish a mostly tech-free visit to Disney is possible. It takes some solid decision making PRIOR to arriving and not while you're actually there when there is far more stress to get everything that you want to do accomplished. Involve the kids in the pre-planning decision making. They will feel like an important part in the decision making, and they will learn a deeper appreciation for what you're trying to accomplish for them with this trip and be less inclined to whine about things. I would love to see a video from one of the many influencers out there who have Disney-centric content on how to do Disney without having your face in your phone the entire time you're there. HINT! I'm not that person - maybe in the future. I used my phone to look up a wait time AFTER I had already decided on what I wanted to go on. I made up my mind as to whether or not it was worth it. I strategically did one land at a time based on my desires not the wait times. I also chose a slower time of year to go. Yes, I know. "I don't have the luxury of living an hour away or not having to wait for summer to take my kids there, lady!" I get it, but honestly there are ways around everything concerning time constraints. Reservations for some restaurants can be made up to 3 months if not longer in advance... possibly most restaurants. Hotel/resort reservations can be made at any time. Take advantage of what you can do in advance, so you don't have to rely on tech while you're there. Magic Band+, yes tech, is also a time saver with check in/out and entry to the park and adds a tiny little extra to the experience with light/vibration haptics. I didn't waste any money on Lightning Lane Single/Multi and didn't wait in any line longer than 30 minutes. Yes, there are times when that wait may be longer or a waste of time when a technical shut down occurs. My point is that I didn't need it if I was strategic about what I wanted to do and stuck with it. What's worse? Face in phone when you're actually trying to experience something or sticking to a basic itinerary? And no, I don't mean plan every single moment. Do your homework prior to the trip and try as much as possible to stick to the plan. Choose what you absolutely must do and what you'd be "meh" about if you saved time by missing it. Preplanning = more fun while you're actually there. Mr. Flynn, I had some great cast interactions when I was there, and I know that it must've been fun for you when you were a cast member. Don't be disheartened, excellent cast interaction is still alive and kicking. BTW, I was on the Grand Opening Crew of Universal Studios Orlando in 1990. I do understand how wonderful it is to make a positive lifetime memory for someone on vacation. I know this comment was far too long for most people to read, but I hope it helps someone in the future. Keep up the good work. I wish you success with this channel.
Who wants to book a restaurant three months in advance?! That’s insanity! It’s a vacation. I shouldn’t have to plan for it like I’m about to take a test.
I appreciate your sentiment and comment. I get it, but some of these restaurants do book up months in advance. That’s reality. Who wants to waste time trying to get a reservation or settling for a restaurant that you didn’t really want to eat at during the trip when you could’ve done it in advance? In my opinion, the advantage of taking the extra time to book in advance far outweighs the insanity of wasting time during the trip. Keep in mind too that the Disney app does go down frequently with thousands of people using it at the same time and booking a reservation then becomes a frustrating exercise in futility. Who wants to deal with that when on vacation? In the end, whatever works for you is what you have to do. Thanks for your response.
Absolutely. I get what you are saying. It is for some people, and not for others. I remember my wife and I sitting down and planning our park days in advance so we would know what dining reservations to make at what dates and what times. It was fun. Now for whatever reason it just seems like more of a burden, and quite honestly we find ourselves eating outside of the parks more and more.
That is what I like about cruising. I know I have a table in my dining room for dinner every night, and I can order whatever I want. It's fantastic. No need for a reservation unless I want to try to get a fancy cruise restaurant.
Informative perspective. Your sets are very dark. CM have not been very friendly since the lockdown. New CM lack any desire to interact socially even with children. Many guests are stressed economically, CM as well and both show it on stage.
Sorry about my 'set' lol. It's just my basement. It's really one of the only spots in my house I can film in. I guess I could invest in lighting or something if the channel somehow takes off or something. But really all you are missing is a theater wall hanging on the side and a Raiders of the Lost Ark poster. LOL. I have shot with my DVD collection in the background before. Maybe that is more appealing? Im new to this lol
That would actually be pretty hysterical watching me removing cheese from my pizza, scraping sauce off and then putting the cheese back on. For the record, we have to do this for medical reasons since two of our family members suffer from acid reflux, but still love pizza.
Disney world/Magic Kingdom especially, are no longer magical. And I'd say that the magic died on the entire resort in 2008. I've been there since opening day in 1971 many times. I haven't been back since around 2005, but I could see in 2008 where the company was headed. COVID hit, and it made it blatantly apparent to everyone where the company was. There's no amount of money they could pay me to spend one second of my time to go there today. With current leadership and all executive officers and board of directors in place currently, the resort will slowly go into further decline. And I personally would rather not see the parks slip even further while paying more and more for the privilege to do so.
For me, I think the turn was closer to 10 years ago. That is when we really saw the value start going down and constantly being up charged for everything. We went from having to go on two trips a year to make our AP worth it to 3 trips. COVID was a huge nail as well though
all ur doing is giving Disney a negative reputation. i dont believe u even worked there and if u did, ur just mad they got rid of you. its a shame how many hate videos u have
That would actually be a great theory if I didn’t leave on my own. They have called me several times over the years asking if I would come back. Ask anyone that worked there before that if you are considered rehirable, they will tech out multiple times asking if you will come back. And I actually have a very deep love for the parks and that is why I get upset when I see how much they have fallen off from where they once were.
Disney is Dead to my family. Last visit was Feb. 2008. That timeframe coincided with South America, , and Asia's Holidays. But there was a marked change in the caliber of Park Goers from foreign Lands from our last two week stay on property in 2006. They were rowdy, running, and bumping into anyone in their way, like drunks, cutting in line, loud uncouth idiots. We moved to Florida in 2013, and that July 4th we went to Downtown Disney. It might as well be named Disney's Downtown Mexico City, and Walt Diaz World.
It’s so sad to hear people say Disney is dead then them. I don’t blame you, but as a former cast member with a deep love for the parks, it’s really saddening.
How has technology changed the way you experience Disney Parks? Have you noticed you are spending too much time with your face buried in a phone? Let me know in the comments what you think.
Just got back from 3 days at DLand/DCA. We have 2 small children (3 and 5) and the security lines to get into the esplanade between DL and DCA were insane. In 3 days, I believe we went through security 7 or 8 times. At least 75% of the time it took over 20 minutes, with our morning security times taking almost 45 minutes. Here's my gripe/concern/confusion, if Disney has the technology to track me, anticipate my moves, manipulate my moves, basically, A.I. the heck out of my time in the park, how are we still using Hank and Rita and metal detectors as our technology for security? I'm not advocating Hank and Rita lose their jobs and I'm no security expert, but when you get to the security line at 8 AM and don't get into the park until almost 9, it just puts you in a bad mood, right off the bat for parents and kids.
Even ruins rides….. look at Test Track, used to be special effects, props and physical scenes.
They re themed it with just “video walls” 😔🤷
@@lee.m.bennett2635 That is a great point actually. I do love seeing the old animatronics and physical effects over video wall over-usage
@@InLikeFlynns Paris was same, the old Rock n Rollercoaster is now crap with video screens as a "re-theme" :(
Paper fastpasses helped spread the magic... it was so fun to surprise someone by giving them fastpasses you weren't going to use, and equally as fun to get some in the same way.
Absolutely. I said the exact same thing on someone else's comment below. Sometimes we would grab them on our way out just to make some one else's day. And you had to earn those fast passes running all around the park for them. But that also helped new people learn to navigate the parks better and learn all the shortcuts!!! :)
One of the best memories from Disneyland was when I was with my boyfriend at the time, we were walking around Tomorrowland as some man just picked us out and gave us his two paper Fastpasses for Space Mountain. We weren't expecting to ride Space Mountain but he was leaving the parks and we got great memories from riding it with the paper Fastpasses. I missed teaming up with a partner or mapping out the lands to get the paper Fastpass and coming back in the allotted time.
@@avarice.karmageddon Yes! This is exactly the magic I miss. Small little interactions like that. You remember that to this day. And yeah, part of the fun of planning a Disney vacation was talking it out with your park buddy to map out what you would rope drop, get FP's for etc!!! Thank you for sharing!
I remember that! Last time I went to a disney park it was a over 10 yrs ago and I remember nice people giving their fast passes to people just for whatever reason and it really made it feel magical how the park guests were also adding to the good vibes. It just felt like a happy place. I don't need to go in person to see things have changed and it's never going back close to how it was before.
@@madambeluga I wish we could bring those times back. I really do.
Personally the one thing that devastates me is losing rivers of America. That big, beautiful majestic boat is such a staple to magic kingdom. I can't let it go.
I have a hard time with it as well. It ads so much ambiance to Magic Kingdom. Especially in the evening.
the only time I ever want to use my phone in a theme park is to take pictures, that's it.
Wow...that is saying something for sure!!! Very hard to do!
My head hurts from nodding in agreement. This was spot on for me. I love the days when we could escape into the Park.
HA. I love it. I hope you dont end up with medical bills because of me.
When I was in my twenties, I used to go with my sister and her family with all my four nieces and nephews and my mom. I would run around and get fast passes while they hit smaller rides or shows. I totally maximized their fun and was fine with it, because I didn’t need to see Philharmagic more than once or twice. So, I had their whole day planned and would get the next fast pass right at the time I could. They almost never waited in a line and I got a lot of exercise. It was the perfect system for people like us. And, yes, it was great to give fast passes to people who were clearly sad as they got in a 60 minute line.
With the app, once I figured out that lightning lanes would come open randomly on rides that had been “sold out” because somebody changed their plans…that was the end of me. I then would just sit and hit refresh every 5 seconds every time I wasn’t doing something in hope of a slot opening up. My wife and kids were basically on a vacation without me because I was lost in the app trying to get them on big rides.
The second part of your comment speaks volumes and is so very sad. But we get programmed to be like that. And yes, my wife and I realized that as well with dining reservations and Genie+ options. It's disappointing when you are ignoring the kids on vacay because you are trying to get them a "great experience" that you are essentially vacant from.
I doubt I'll ever go to any Disney park again. It's so app and upselling happy that for me the magic has been obliterated.
It is definitely hard to fall into a state of enchantment when you are constantly being asked for $$$ for upgrades. I think they must have a team of people these days that just scout ways to make more and more money off of experiences in the parks. "We notice a lot of people taking a picture here. Get a photopass photographer here" "The fireworks look nice from this angle. Let's make it an exclusive premium seating area" lol
@@InLikeFlynns I totally agree and I was one of those people who had no issue hunting out info for the extras and booking them with my stay or on arrival. I did Keys to the Kingdom and Mickeys Christmas Party back in the day and have great memories of both but I look at people going to the parties now and they look almost as busy as a day which just wouldn't cut it for me anymore. It really seems like the more they hype up the magic and the need to purchase it via 70 different upcharges, the more clear it becomes that it's all just a cash grab and the management do not care so much about their guests or maintaining the magic for everyone. Why would they though with 10,000 plus DCP participants and many vloggers who are a captive spending audience whom also stress the need to use upcharged services to not be let down during your stay. It is so sad that you can't just get a ticket and go with the flow any longer, that was part of the joy of going in the first place.
When I was a cast member, some of my favorite memories were just wandering through the parks, enjoying the food, watching streetmosphere and parades. Occasionally I would walk on a ride if there wasn't a long line...but it was magical.
It sounds like a trip to Disney is more like a timeshare presentation or like driving around with an insurance salesman in your vehicle.
Parks used to serve to immerse guests in experiences relating to Disney's animation and movie properties. Now the parks use the animation and movie experiences to promote the sale of merchandise. Today it's all about ancillary sales of merchandise, food, and services, moreso than in providing a satisfying guest experience.
I couldn't agree with you more.
HAHAHA. I never thought of it that way.
A lot of that technology is unnecessary. I'm old I remember the 90s and 80s when you were to the park and just went on rides. It was better back then.
I would be a happy camper if they did away with the app, brought back paper Fastpasses and started building some classic dark ride attractions. :)
“When I was a cast member in 2001, management told us everyday to go out of our way to provide a magical experience to our guests.” I doubt current cast members are being told that today. When Michael Eisner was CEO, executives actually cared about the Disney brand and understood how important guest experience and satisfaction was to their success. Today Disney is just obsessed with slapping Pixar characters on cheap pieces of plastic and charging you hundreds of dollars for it. The magic is gone and I don’t see it coming back anytime soon
Yeah I feel your frustration. I think there are employees like me that still exist, but it’s the exception, not the norm. Now they probably just want to make sure the people won’t strike over wages or something
Today, i want zero interactions with cast members as they all come off as angry, bitter, and generally unpleasant.
The smiles from their faces have vanished
That sincerely makes me sad on so many levels.
Everyone always complains about having their face in a device all the time but that’s a “you problem.” I just spent a week a Disney World (my first time and I went solo) and I simply checked the app to decide what I wanted to do next and then put my phone away until that activity was completed. Sometimes I just walked around and decided what to do on a whim. I mobile ordered a few times, but I also just walked up and ordered sometimes. I made a couple reservations for sit down restaurants as well.
Yes, I used the app to check in to the resort (which I thought was fantastic just walking straight to my room) but the reservation desk was always packed full of people checking in with actual humans so I could have done that if I preferred.
Pretty much everywhere I looked people had their face in their phone but that’s the case absolutely everywhere. I’m grateful to be old enough that I can remember a time without cellphones and I never got hooked on social media.
I thought the app was a very useful and convenient tool and was not bothered by up charges at all. Sometimes I bought them and sometimes I didn’t. It’s really not that big of a deal.
That is awesome. I am glad you had an amazing trip. Sincerely. And I am glad you didn’t let the app consume most of your day. Like I said in the video, I do think the app is good for some things like evaluating wait times and occasionally mobile ordering. I wonder if they were more laid back about letting you in to order without a mobile order because it’s no longer summer.
Yes it only controls you if you let it. I’m only on my phone there to mobile order food.
Well to be fair, Disney does have some darned good food, so I can't blame you there :)
I understand why Disney wanted to digitalize the “fast pass” system. However, they should have still required guests go to the ride queue to be able to reserve a place in line. No one should be reserving “lighting lane” the moment they enter the park.
Or waking up at your hotel by 0655 am to ensure you can get yourself a Virtual Queue.....
Like 80% of ride “breakdowns” are the guest’s fault. It could be failing to meet the dispatch interval, it could be a fallen article that trips a sensor, it could be a guest that refuses to cooperate, etc
That is a very valid point. I do remember a handful of times someone would drop something from the tram, and their first thought was to jump out since we were a slow moving ride vehicle. But believe me, you would not have wanted to get run over by that tram lol.
11:10 there is a theme park enthusiast I watch who was recently talking about little details everywhere in older attractions that are left off the drawing board anymore ( an owl perched in the rafters on Tom Sawyer island for example.) the little details that told a story. And I simply said most guests these days just want to run run run and get the absolute most out of the trip like it is a flex or sporting event for clout. They aren’t taking time to slow down and take in the details. That’s why I like my solo trips. I just take my time and enjoy the story. ( but I’m an animator and illustrator so it is a part of who I am).
Remember 20 years ago when Hidden Mickeys were all the rage? Now it feels like people barely talk about them. There would literally be prolonged 30+ minute conversations by park enthusiasts whether something was a hidden Mickey or not. I miss that.
I'm 21 and should be the demographic that would be the LEAST confused with how to use the app, and without a shadow of a doubt, I would be insanely confused. As someone who hasn't been to Disneyworld since I was 12, I feel the app would have a learning curve that I must gain in order to successfully use it. It shouldn't be this hard to visit Disney😭 for the amount of money you pay, you should get a personal assistant that follows you around and checks wait times and makes reservations 🤣
Absolutely agree with that. Anyone who orders Genie Plus should get one of the plaid vests to follow them around all day with their own device using it for you. I am in IT full time and I find the app maddening lol
@@InLikeFlynns Wow, being that you're an IT, that is telling.
I do find myself wishing I could tweak certain aspects of the app while I am navigating it. Then I remember there are people much smarter than me doing it, and I would likely be simply overwhelmed by the code lol.
I definitely see how technology has become annoying, but perhaps not as many ways as you're experiencing. I'm at Walt Disney World 2-3x a year, but largely keep my phone in my pocket and the park app closed, with my battery still at 30%+ by park close. We just wander, attraction hop, park hop, and gave a good time. I'm still immersed, still engaging with castmembers and guests regularly, and having great days.
Sounds like we need to be Disney Park pals. You are doing it right!!!
I agree with the idea that we need our phone to have a good day. For in the imagineering story they say that they don’t want us on our phones but yet they have an app and things like that.
My last couple visits to Disney parks, I spent the entire day staring at my phone to get on rides. The magic is gone. Disney doesn't understand the park experience sucks now. It's NOT fun!
I found myself in Disneyland constantly looking at the app to navigate ride wait times and food orders :(
Just got back from a family Disney World trip and I will say we spent a LOT of time with our heads down looking at our phones. It doesn’t help that as soon as you become an expert at whatever method Disney uses to experience the parks efficiently that they change the layout massively.
That’s the sad thing to me. Heads in phones. I always preach “stop and take a breath and look around”. It’s not all about the rides either. Just look and appreciate some of the nuances in the shops and restaurants. I don’t blame you at all for it. Disney is just grooming us for it being the new norm in the parks
Couldn't agree more with alllllll of this. I left a similar comment on another video of yours recently but my word......the Disney app detracts SO much more than it adds to the experience. You HAVE to mess with that thing constantly or else. Also couldn't agree more about the newer rides being down constantly. I moved to NE Florida about 2 1/2 years ago and it took us 3 visits to Hollywood Studios to finally get to ride Rise because it was down most of or all day during the first 2 tries. All I could think was "this was a 2 hour drive for us......what if this was a plane ride, a hotel and several kids worth of admission and then someone didn't get to ride this??"
3 visits?! That’s insane. I know it goes down a lot, but that is completely unacceptable. I could probably do a whole video on my dislike of Virtual Queues and Lightning Lane
7:08 wow I feel like I am in the choir and you are preaching directly at me.
Oh man....I guess that's a good thing. But I hate that I am sounding Preachy. HAHA. Sounds like we could be friends in real life with our similar beliefs. LOL
4:56 I totally agree about the “ technologically advanced” rides are a problem. I would expect such an advanced ride to have a lot more safeguards and redundancies built in so they worked somewhat smoothly and got guests through queues.
Right, and if they cant build reliable rides that incorporate all this fancy technology, scale the rides back to tech that you know works and is reliable. I dont see Peter Pans Flight breaking down for hours a day, but it is still one of Disney Parks all time favorite attractions.
I will say: in this day and age, it's extremely difficult to not do things with current technology in the park. In some strange, twisted way, it honestly does kind of fit in with the innovative spirit Walt Disney pioneered with the company. Honestly, we'll probably never get out of this app era, and as you mentioned, the app can be useful in certain situations. Ultimately, with this, I'd argue that Disney needs to find a balance between use of the app, and just... experiencing the parks. Some of this is just the growth and change in technology, and there's not much Disney can do about that, but Disney can encourage people to be on their devices less.
I could see it being useful and innovative while waiting in queue lines, which it has started to do, but encourage people to get out of the device. ie - Prompt someone to look somewhere in the queue that will show them a particular easter egg or hidden detail they may not have otherwise seen. Or tell them about a "Hidden Mickey" on the attraction. Stuff like that.
@@InLikeFlynns I will say I did find mobile ordering useful. Made getting my food a lot easier, although I do agree, more customization options there would really come in handy.
I don't think anyone remembers when the transportation was part of the magic. The bus drivers, the boat captains, everyone had their own personalities and would chat with you during the ride. They were all magical, they would get to know you and your family as you were riding to and from the parks daily. Now they just push a button and a spiel plays over the intercom. We haven't been back since 2018 and right now it just doesn't seem like a vacation anymore. Being in the Midwest, it's a long trip and I can go to smaller parks for a day with the same basic stuff anymore at a lot less money. It's a shame because I truly love legacy Disney.
I remember it. Doing transportation was going to be my dream job in retirement. You could talk and fill guests in on fun Disney knowledge. It was so great. Now it’s all pre recorded spiels. :(
Disney is way too technology heavy. I like Universal so much better for that alone (among other things). I hate going to Disney and having to stay on my phone constantly. I only want to use my phone for wait times, reservations, and your ticket. That’s it. I do not want to constantly look for fast passes and try to order food too.
I used to love Disney but I hate it now. It’s a joke the value you get for the money you spend.
Yeah, I agree with all of your points. And yes, I do agree Universal is less reliant on the technology and apps and I enjoy the parks more because of that :)
My last trip to wdw was just after they reopened from covid. The parks were packed ( I don’t think they were limiting admission as they claimed). There was no fast pass of any kind. Andcthe quests went so smoothly and there was no sense of frustration from stand by people watching fast pass get ahead because they got the luck of the draw. The lines went as you’d expect them to. Posted wait rimes were accurate. It was so much more fun that way.
And now it sounds like you are preaching directly to me and I love it lol.
Just for anyone to know that DisneyNOW has taken out the ability to sit down and talk with anyone at the resorts because they want everyone to stand uncomfortably for 8 to 10 hours a day
LOL. I do not miss the occasional time I would get to checkin and it would be an hour wait. I’ll be honest, that sucked. But on more than one occasion we landed a free room upgrade just for being friendly and pleasant and talked to the cast member with respect. I miss that :)
You mention technology being needed to keep rides functional. I'd more like to see technology being inserted into line queues. When I was a child, I remember being fascinated with all kinds of stuff in line. Space Mountain had all the trippy windows. Peter Pan had Tinkerbell appearances. Imagination had Figment popping around. Now, everyone has their nose in their phones. I'd rather see more little things added into the queues. And I don't mean videos to watch. I am not a fan of just ushering crowds into room after room to watch the next video. I'd much prefer a line, where people aren't worried about running people over or keeping their groups together everytime a new room opens up. Just add little bits of magic to those lines as you wait.
Pre-shows add a little something to the queue, but I agree with ya, some of the attractions need the queue line improvements. Make people want to interact with their surroundings instead of their phones.
The way you describe the app reminds me of a mobile phone game, that constantly takes you out of the gameplay and into the menus, particularly to remind you of the monetization options.
My son told me that Disney is like a lot of his “Pay to Play” mobile games lol
@@InLikeFlynns That makes me not want to go to the parks until things change.
Well lets hope things change sooner rather than later so you can go back! :)
In fairness, it's not the fault of technology, but the fault of how Disney forces people to use technology during their stay. Obviously the tech gives Disney non-stop monitoring and data so they can track who, what, when, where, how much, and how many at any given moment. Disney's choice to force guests to use this is what compromises the quality of the experience for those who would rather not have to stare at and use a phone for every decision they have to make during their visit. Hell, can't even just say, "Hey, let's go to Disney today" at the last moment like we used to. And even reservations and eating choices require device-planning instead of just being able to wing it throughout the stay. I get that people today are falling in line to just accept it but for those of us who want a casual immersive environment away from tech are out of luck. Disney parks used to be the place to go to escape the mundanity of daily life, but forcing the use of devices, keeps us mentally in that state many of us just want to get away from. Castmember from 1980-1995.
Do you want to be best friends? I feel like we could be best friends. I agree with you on just about every syllable. I could talk all day long on the subject.
@@InLikeFlynns Hah. Sure. :) - Ironically I worked in Information Services, (I.T. for the rest of the world) and had to implement and install a lot of the office tech during the 80s and 90s, but that was mostly PCs and LANs in the castmember areas, and occasionally would do phone support for registers at the merchandise locations, years before even Fast Pass. I knew from the beginning that the tech that was supposed to free up our time would only cause corporations to now fill up that time with other nonsense. You're right about the ride tech often breaking down (101), and a lot has to do with experimental, first-time home-grown systems. Not like there is a "Rise of the Resistance" in every theme park like there were shootouts in western-themed parks in the 50s and 60s.
When Epcot opened, Spaceship Earth and Universe of Energy would go down constantly, and for a few years, there would be a DACS tech at the bottom of Spaceship Earth unload to manually rotate the cars so the guests could get out. People would be surprised to see how low-tech some of the still-standing dark rides are. Even the Haunted Mansion. They've added some high tech video, but most of the ride elements are decades old in design and rock-solid reliable.
I would love to get behind the scenes in Spaceship Earth and see some of the low-tech you speak of. In Haunted Mansion as well. Though, I did get to ride HM with the lights on at a cast night once.
Hello Sir....I wouldn't hold my breath for Disney to "scale back" on tech as it ultimately generates more money for them and although you didn't directly say so, I think you and I and many others are disappointed and perhaps even confused as to how many people in this world are essentially living thru their phones, missing so much that is going on around them. Take care.
Yes, this is one of my fundamental issues. People refuse to escape from their phones long enough to enjoy what’s around them. But Disney does not make it any easier for folks to disconnect, as you need to be able to successfully navigate an app to book food, ride times and get in the park. It’s sad
Electronic food ordering ruins things for non-electronic ordering guests by placing them behind in priority.
Yeah I would gladly go back to the days when I could show up at a Quick Service at 10:55, figure out what I wanted, go in and order and not have to worry about seeing 5 other people who werent there get their food in front of me. LOL
@@InLikeFlynns and that’s exactly what happened to us in star wars land. People were zooming in and out of that lane picking up LARGE orders, while the ones in the traditional wait line were waiting to order while watching and starving and looking at each other outraged.
Paper Fastpass' days were the best.
Right?! I completely agree. Did you ever walk up to someone and give one away you weren't going to use on your way out and watch their face light up?
I've found Disney World cast members to be FAR LESS FRIENDLY than Disneyland.
I don’t go to Disneyland often enough to make an adequate comparison, but I must say that some on my last visit were fairly unprofessional.
@@InLikeFlynns my daughter grew up at Disneyland, her first trip there at 3 months old, and we went every month for a long time. We've been to WDW 8 times and I found, the Florida cast members to be less patient, easily riled, angry less trained.
Case and point; we took our daughter on Buzz Lightyear at WDW when she was still an infant and I carried her to the line area (strollers left outside, as usual), there was no one in the switchback so my wife opened a rope so I wouldn't have to walk back and forth through the empty queue line with my increasingly heavier daughter. A cast member runs up to me and yells at me. When we got off the ride, they had opened the rope literally at the exact spot where I had opened it.
If I had ever raised my voice to a guest like that I would have been handed my walking papers that day lol
Walt and the Imagineers spent way too much time, effort, and money making the park look nice for us to stick our noses in our phones. The light up faces on Frozen Elsa After are so creepy.
OMG you arent lying. I so much prefer the classic dark ride audio animatronics. And I am not just being old school, I think that those faces look creepy as heck. HAHAHA
@@InLikeFlynnsThey all look like someone wearing too much makeup and their face is a full shade lighter than the rest of their body.
So you are saying Elsa is the real slim shady? HAHAHA
You are 100% correct about everything. We took our kids to Disney numerous times in the 90’s and early 2000’s. When our kids were grown my husband and I went ourselves at least 3 times and had the time of our lives. Our last visit was in 2015 with both our kids and out daughter in law and her brother. Awesome time! Then Covid. Then I got sick. But my point is that we could go again now. But I am so put off by Genie+ and Lightening Lane. I’m not of the generation that has their phones attached to them. The last thing I want to do at my beloved Disney is have my face in my phone constantly. So much has changed it has definitely lost the magic for me. However I don’t think Disney cares about their older guests. I think they care mostly about rich families and young people. So will we go again? I’m sad to say I don’t think so. And it kills me.
I don't blame you for not wanting to attend with a phone in your face at all times. It really takes you out of the magic.
Sadly, Disney is to much work to enjoy it.
It is quickly starting to feel that way isnt it.
I'm sick of apps. I love my phone but if I'm at a theme park then my own device will not be a primary part of the experience I'm paying for. Paper Fastpass forever
Yes! Bring me back the good ole paper fastpasses. Or make it digital if you want...like I have to walk up to the ride and it will sense Im in the area and assign us a Fastpass return time (if you want to save money and paper). But get rid of Genie+ please!
Intriguing rant. The tech issue at the parks have gotten out of hand. It’s only a matter of time till AI takes over the parks
I think Disney is just killing Disney
That’s fair. They really are lol
All so true indeed
Thank you for the kind words. I think a lot of people feel the same way. Some people just want a taste of some old school Disney Audio Animatronic magic.
great video 🎉
Thank you so much. I sincerely appreciate the feedback. Really makes my day :)
Thank you for your video. I agree on some level with everything you pointed out. I live 1 hour away from Disney World Resort Orlando. I was just at 3 of the parks in this past September just weeks ago. My friend and I (Yes 2 adults) decided to use tech only when we absolutely had to, and because of that, we had a great time. See, the choice is really up to you if you make your mind up to do so. Yes, I know. "But look lady, you didn't have whiny, over heated small children with you that you just paid a small fortune to take them to this place! Try saying the same thing with kids screaming at you." I agree with that sentiment, but who is the parent in that scenario? "Be grateful for what you have, children, and stop whing/screaming and yelling." is always an option to tell your children and will not scar them for life to hear.
To accomplish a mostly tech-free visit to Disney is possible. It takes some solid decision making PRIOR to arriving and not while you're actually there when there is far more stress to get everything that you want to do accomplished. Involve the kids in the pre-planning decision making. They will feel like an important part in the decision making, and they will learn a deeper appreciation for what you're trying to accomplish for them with this trip and be less inclined to whine about things.
I would love to see a video from one of the many influencers out there who have Disney-centric content on how to do Disney without having your face in your phone the entire time you're there. HINT! I'm not that person - maybe in the future.
I used my phone to look up a wait time AFTER I had already decided on what I wanted to go on. I made up my mind as to whether or not it was worth it. I strategically did one land at a time based on my desires not the wait times. I also chose a slower time of year to go. Yes, I know. "I don't have the luxury of living an hour away or not having to wait for summer to take my kids there, lady!" I get it, but honestly there are ways around everything concerning time constraints.
Reservations for some restaurants can be made up to 3 months if not longer in advance... possibly most restaurants. Hotel/resort reservations can be made at any time. Take advantage of what you can do in advance, so you don't have to rely on tech while you're there. Magic Band+, yes tech, is also a time saver with check in/out and entry to the park and adds a tiny little extra to the experience with light/vibration haptics.
I didn't waste any money on Lightning Lane Single/Multi and didn't wait in any line longer than 30 minutes. Yes, there are times when that wait may be longer or a waste of time when a technical shut down occurs. My point is that I didn't need it if I was strategic about what I wanted to do and stuck with it. What's worse? Face in phone when you're actually trying to experience something or sticking to a basic itinerary? And no, I don't mean plan every single moment. Do your homework prior to the trip and try as much as possible to stick to the plan. Choose what you absolutely must do and what you'd be "meh" about if you saved time by missing it. Preplanning = more fun while you're actually there.
Mr. Flynn, I had some great cast interactions when I was there, and I know that it must've been fun for you when you were a cast member. Don't be disheartened, excellent cast interaction is still alive and kicking. BTW, I was on the Grand Opening Crew of Universal Studios Orlando in 1990. I do understand how wonderful it is to make a positive lifetime memory for someone on vacation.
I know this comment was far too long for most people to read, but I hope it helps someone in the future. Keep up the good work. I wish you success with this channel.
Who wants to book a restaurant three months in advance?! That’s insanity! It’s a vacation. I shouldn’t have to plan for it like I’m about to take a test.
I appreciate your sentiment and comment. I get it, but some of these restaurants do book up months in advance. That’s reality. Who wants to waste time trying to get a reservation or settling for a restaurant that you didn’t really want to eat at during the trip when you could’ve done it in advance? In my opinion, the advantage of taking the extra time to book in advance far outweighs the insanity of wasting time during the trip. Keep in mind too that the Disney app does go down frequently with thousands of people using it at the same time and booking a reservation then becomes a frustrating exercise in futility. Who wants to deal with that when on vacation?
In the end, whatever works for you is what you have to do. Thanks for your response.
Absolutely. I get what you are saying. It is for some people, and not for others. I remember my wife and I sitting down and planning our park days in advance so we would know what dining reservations to make at what dates and what times. It was fun. Now for whatever reason it just seems like more of a burden, and quite honestly we find ourselves eating outside of the parks more and more.
That is what I like about cruising. I know I have a table in my dining room for dinner every night, and I can order whatever I want. It's fantastic. No need for a reservation unless I want to try to get a fancy cruise restaurant.
When you don't do the upgrades your poor and just don't go.
I'm not real life poor though, I'm just Disney poor. lol
The world is in decline as a whole...this tech is causing life experience to decline...
In all seriousness, I wonder what the statistics are for divorces since mobile phones and social media erupted on the scene.
doing vidoe about adam the woo and other youtubers enter back stage area of the Disney parks
I guess the back stage areas are cool to see. Not sure if it is all its built up to be, but I guess it could be fun for any Disney Parks fan.
Informative perspective. Your sets are very dark. CM have not been very friendly since the lockdown. New CM lack any desire to interact socially even with children. Many guests are stressed economically, CM as well and both show it on stage.
Sorry about my 'set' lol. It's just my basement. It's really one of the only spots in my house I can film in. I guess I could invest in lighting or something if the channel somehow takes off or something. But really all you are missing is a theater wall hanging on the side and a Raiders of the Lost Ark poster. LOL. I have shot with my DVD collection in the background before. Maybe that is more appealing? Im new to this lol
Dude just scrape off your extra pizza sauce instead of making a fuss during ordering
That would actually be pretty hysterical watching me removing cheese from my pizza, scraping sauce off and then putting the cheese back on. For the record, we have to do this for medical reasons since two of our family members suffer from acid reflux, but still love pizza.
Disney world/Magic Kingdom especially, are no longer magical. And I'd say that the magic died on the entire resort in 2008. I've been there since opening day in 1971 many times. I haven't been back since around 2005, but I could see in 2008 where the company was headed. COVID hit, and it made it blatantly apparent to everyone where the company was. There's no amount of money they could pay me to spend one second of my time to go there today. With current leadership and all executive officers and board of directors in place currently, the resort will slowly go into further decline. And I personally would rather not see the parks slip even further while paying more and more for the privilege to do so.
For me, I think the turn was closer to 10 years ago. That is when we really saw the value start going down and constantly being up charged for everything. We went from having to go on two trips a year to make our AP worth it to 3 trips. COVID was a huge nail as well though
all ur doing is giving Disney a negative reputation. i dont believe u even worked there and if u did, ur just mad they got rid of you. its a shame how many hate videos u have
That would actually be a great theory if I didn’t leave on my own. They have called me several times over the years asking if I would come back. Ask anyone that worked there before that if you are considered rehirable, they will tech out multiple times asking if you will come back. And I actually have a very deep love for the parks and that is why I get upset when I see how much they have fallen off from where they once were.
Disney is Dead to my family. Last visit was Feb. 2008. That timeframe coincided with South America, , and Asia's Holidays. But there was a marked change in the caliber of Park Goers from foreign Lands from our last two week stay on property in 2006.
They were rowdy, running, and bumping into anyone in their way, like drunks, cutting in line, loud uncouth idiots. We moved to Florida in 2013, and that July 4th we went to Downtown Disney. It might as well be named Disney's Downtown Mexico City, and Walt Diaz World.
It’s so sad to hear people say Disney is dead then them. I don’t blame you, but as a former cast member with a deep love for the parks, it’s really saddening.
You’re right.
lol well thank you. Occasionally I get something right hahaha