Disney has the uncanny ability to continuously go backward...yet charge more. Oh, how my family misses the Magical Express. Complimentary transportation from Orlando International to your resort. Also, a sweet bonus was that you got to check your luggage in at your home airport with those cool tags they sent you before your flight. Then they show up in your room. Also, on the day out, being able to check into your flight at the resort made the last day almost like a bonus day, depending on when your flight, including transportation back to the airport without having to worry about luggage. While I am at it, we also miss the custom parchment-style maps that Disney printed and mailed to you before your trip. While we still go annually, Disney 2005-2015 seemed to be our favorite. Lights of Wonder, Fast passes, Osborn Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Dining Plan that included appetizers, entrees, and snacks...and tips, etc. It's not so bad, though; now everyone likes to visit Universal/Harry Potter more often on our trips instead of just staying on a Disney property the whole time. Maybe an undercover Universal agent got a seat on Disney's board. lol
I agree with you about Disney. I really miss the old days. We let go of our AP's in 2020 living in New England. We went to WDW right before shut down. We knew EVERYTHING like the back of our hand. Planning, FP, EMH, ME, DP work-arounds. Best places to stand to watch fireworks BEFORE they roped off for upcharged dessert parties. Getting a MB for free at Resort if you "wanted it". Entertainment that has been cut. I really miss the Street performers in Hollywood Studios. They were really good! Basically, how to utilize and make the magic better. Now, it's all gone..Hubby and I are going in the fall and I'm excited and sad at the same time. Now, I have to re-familiarize myself with the entire process. Well, I've got plenty of time to get "educated" again!! Thanks AJ! PS... I forgot, no more packages delivered to resorts..
Going next week and Disney's changed soooo much since just 2 yrs ago! I miss 80s and 90s when you'd just show up, grab a park ticket, and be on the same level playing field as every visitor (i.e. no lightning lanes, etc.).
Chill rides are my go to! COP, SSE, the Land, 3 caballeros, People Mover, Country Bears , American Adv, boats between resorts and the Skyliner! These are my fave things to do.
One more bathroom to add to your list... In Hollywood studios, in the back corner between The Little mermaid building and Star wars launch bay. I've never seen more than one person in that bathroom no matter how busy it is. And its super clean.
The hydration is no joke! As a Florida resident, who goes several times a year, even I have had to have them shuttle me to my vehicle once in Animal Kingdom. I am an avid water drinker, but sometimes that sun sneaks up on you. Water is not enough, you need the electrolyte packets.
Thanks for the shoutout Aj! I hope other viewers will get an opportunity to take advantage of a recovery pass if the situation occurs for them. It was definitely a pleasant surprise for us.
Bring back fast passes!! We feel like lowly peasants as we wait in long lines! If Disney truly wants “equity” give everyone one lightning lane pass included with the park ticket price!
Severe weather when it comes to named storms are usually covered. As far as other weather, there will always be unexpected weather in Florida. Just prepare for it just like to North in snow.
Can you take rolling luggage on to the boats to Port Orleans French Quarter from Disney Springs? If it's say the size of a carry on luggage roller and a back pack? Just wondering
I'm just here thinking "what sick, twisted mind would even go into a pool when they're sick - much less with THAT problem??". Gah, people these days...Though I can see a child wanting to still swim, despite being ill.
My tip for anyone who might not want to use money for bottled water in the park, forgets to bring it in, but can’t handle the taste of the water either bring electrolyte packs or use to last ounce or so of your soda for lunch and put it in your water. It will flavor it up some help cancel some of the swampy taste.
Remember you can modify the date on a hotel reservation to a later date even within those eight days. Don't forget you may need more deposit paid if it is a pricier first night on those new dates if it is a room-only reservation.
We just left Disney. We have gone every year for the past 3 years. This year felt so much different. The new lightening lane pass is awful. Last year, with the old lightening lanes, we got on every single ride. This year, we got on 5. It just seems like it made the standby lines even longer than before. We love Disney, but this year kinda made us not want to come back next year.
Believe it or not, the absolute best was when there was no kind of fastpass at all. Lines could get long at headliners, but they moved much more quickly because there was no stopping to let the other line in. If the posted wait time was longer than you were willing to wait, you went and did something else and came back later. Now that there's an easy way to check wait times from across the park, it would work even better.
Ride the People Mover! Amen! We always ride the people mover.. often multiple times in a single day! (I mean you have to at least ride it in the daytime and when it gets dark outside right?) It turns in to our "something to do" when we're trying to figure out where we're going next, or if we have time before/after a meal or if we have time before a show or parade, or if we have time before/after a lightning lane time etc... what we gonna do? let's ride the people mover
Been here for a week. Never seen it this crowded in 35 years. Every park: summer crowds. Today at HS, for example, nearly every ride has been at least 60min all day since opening. All you hear throughout the day is snippets of people talking about how they've never seen wdw this busy.
I LOVE WDW but I think they're going to get cleaned by Epic Universe this year. They are so money hungry...Always love a DFB video to bring some magic home though :)
@@angelface925 Well much like I've been telling people for years, Disney does not care about you, all they care about is if they get guests to fill in the spot that "you" had. So if you get priced out or anything, as long as someone else is willing to pay that price, they're happy. Plus it seems Disney has transitioned to not caring about less guests as long as those guests do in fact pay more for the purposes of dealing with crowds in the park.
@@Mike__B They absolutely want fewer people in the parks. They just want them spending more money. They want them to stay at their Deluxe hotels on their property and get that premiere lightning lane and eat at signature dining and buy lots of ears, spirit jerseys and backpacks. It's much more cost effective for them if people do this.
@ Ah yup, exactly that. Even "free dining" really isn't a deal anymore. Did a little bit of math on it, and because you need to pay non-discounted room rates plus have park hopping on your tickets you might as well buy the dining plan and get the discounted room rates. They simply do not want any "cheap skates" going to Disney parks any more.
More issues of the dining plan. When I used it prior to 2020 you could get anything at any restaurant....now some restaurants do not let you get some meals. For us it was tbe 2 most expensive steaks at T-Rex and the Dr. Falls steak at Skipper Canteen. Also less snak credits and you can no longer swap desert for an appetizer.
AJ, I’m so sorry you had a bad experience on your first Guardians ride. I also had a VERY bad reaction to it. My doctor kinda recommended me not ride it again, but I wish I could. (I know that sounds crazy. 😊) Do you still ride it?
That "no luggage on busses" rule makes absolutely no freakin' sense!!! I don't get why they let you go from the airport to Disney Springs and THAT'S IT!!! Who is that supposed to benefit? As far as I can see, nobody, not even Disney. I 100% don't get it. Regarding staying hydrated in the parks, I am an expert! I have a real problem with dehydration. I have to keep drinking water all day. That's at home, too. I use a Cirkul water bottle at home and at work. It keeps my kidneys wet and make the water taste better. But I don't bring my expensive reusable bottle to Disney. It's rather large and cumbersome. At WDW, I buy one of those super expensive single use (throw away) water bottles, but I refill it wherever I need to. At the end of the trip, I throw the thing out, and I don't have to drag it home. It sems to work for me. We really wanted to take advantage of the free day at the water park on our last trip. But Blizzard Beach was closed because the temperatures were in the high 30s and it was pouring rain. We did not get any kind of compensation in the form of a voucher or anything else. It may have been because the temps never really got much warmer while we were there (January 18-25 2025) and the rain stopped only occasionally. We had ONE day that was rain free with temps warm enough to lay on a chaise without two hoodies on. I made sure my daughter took a picture of my wife and I lying in the sun to prove it happened. This was the afternoon of the day before the end of our trip, of course. We got a Lyft to the airport at 3:00 AM the next day.
Im going august 2026 the first time coming as a dad im dreading the changes, the last time i went was 2019 and it was incredible, just hoping its not losing its magic
I still booked a trip, but I definitely modified my spending habits. To offset the increased prices, we'll be spending less on food and merch and extra charge experiences.
@@Roon3808 right on! my family of 4 usually share meals at counter service just cause we are constantly eating. but i agree. so easy to bring snacks and esp soda. i know its hard for ppl who fly, but we drive to wdw and we always bring cans of soda. the resort mugs we can't justify esp since we only drink sodas with most meals. edit- the constantly eating is usually just me :) my wife and kids are light eaters heh.
GOOD MORNING, FROM BUCKEYE, ARIZONA, AJ!!!! 🤗😘😁👋☀️🇺🇸 ALSO, I GOT YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL GIFTS, IN THE MAIL, FOR MY PROM NIGHT! THANKS, AJ !!!! 🤗🤩😁👍❤ YOU'RE THE BEST TH-camR, IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!! 🤩😍💪🥇🏆⭐️❤❤❤
Getting ready to leave for WDW in a few days. As a consistent Disney lover who has been going at least a few times every decade or so I’m sad to say this will be my last time going due to Disney reversing its ethics and morals and on the high rise of not carrying about regular folks.
We LOVE your channel. We appreciate your knowledge and the FOOD. We’ve been followers since before you even had a you tube channel. Having another team member help you narrate the program just seems to diminish the quality of your program. No offense to any team member, but AJ’s voice makes the snacks and videos and videos so much more appealing.
I feel like Disney should not have cancelations fee's Because it is a very expensive place and A happy magical place For parents and the kids I think that they should work with people Have a understanding... Without people Disney world would not stand up.
Disney has the uncanny ability to continuously go backward...yet charge more. Oh, how my family misses the Magical Express. Complimentary transportation from Orlando International to your resort. Also, a sweet bonus was that you got to check your luggage in at your home airport with those cool tags they sent you before your flight. Then they show up in your room. Also, on the day out, being able to check into your flight at the resort made the last day almost like a bonus day, depending on when your flight, including transportation back to the airport without having to worry about luggage. While I am at it, we also miss the custom parchment-style maps that Disney printed and mailed to you before your trip. While we still go annually, Disney 2005-2015 seemed to be our favorite. Lights of Wonder, Fast passes, Osborn Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Dining Plan that included appetizers, entrees, and snacks...and tips, etc. It's not so bad, though; now everyone likes to visit Universal/Harry Potter more often on our trips instead of just staying on a Disney property the whole time. Maybe an undercover Universal agent got a seat on Disney's board. lol
It was the main reason we stayed at Disney resorts. Nowadays, we save so much staying off-site that it pays for rideshares to the parks.
We miss the Magical Express, too!
The magic does seem gone😢
I agree with you about Disney. I really miss the old days. We let go of our AP's in 2020 living in New England. We went to WDW right before shut down. We knew EVERYTHING like the back of our hand. Planning, FP, EMH, ME, DP work-arounds. Best places to stand to watch fireworks BEFORE they roped off for upcharged dessert parties. Getting a MB for free at Resort if you "wanted it". Entertainment that has been cut. I really miss the Street performers in Hollywood Studios. They were really good! Basically, how to utilize and make the magic better. Now, it's all gone..Hubby and I are going in the fall and I'm excited and sad at the same time. Now, I have to re-familiarize myself with the entire process. Well, I've got plenty of time to get "educated" again!! Thanks AJ! PS... I forgot, no more packages delivered to resorts..
Going next week and Disney's changed soooo much since just 2 yrs ago! I miss 80s and 90s when you'd just show up, grab a park ticket, and be on the same level playing field as every visitor (i.e. no lightning lanes, etc.).
I am going going in 12 days 🎉!!!!
Same, will be hopping on the Auto Train this Sunday. Gonna be a warm week.
@@Roon3808 Mhm I am excited
I'm going next week too!
I agree
I go twice a year and there is always somethings changing, so stopping off to see AJ and her team before you go is always something I do!
Chill rides are my go to! COP, SSE, the Land, 3 caballeros, People Mover, Country Bears , American Adv, boats between resorts and the Skyliner! These are my fave things to do.
One more bathroom to add to your list... In Hollywood studios, in the back corner between The Little mermaid building and Star wars launch bay. I've never seen more than one person in that bathroom no matter how busy it is. And its super clean.
The hydration is no joke! As a Florida resident, who goes several times a year, even I have had to have them shuttle me to my vehicle once in Animal Kingdom. I am an avid water drinker, but sometimes that sun sneaks up on you. Water is not enough, you need the electrolyte packets.
Thanks for the shoutout Aj! I hope other viewers will get an opportunity to take advantage of a recovery pass if the situation occurs for them. It was definitely a pleasant surprise for us.
Bring back fast passes!! We feel like lowly peasants as we wait in long lines! If Disney truly wants “equity” give everyone one lightning lane pass included with the park ticket price!
They don't want equity. They want money.
And how would that work exactly? If everyone got a lightning lane there would be longer lighting lane lines 😂
Virtual queue is the alternative
Lightning Lane is often longer than standby.
Severe weather when it comes to named storms are usually covered. As far as other weather, there will always be unexpected weather in Florida. Just prepare for it just like to North in snow.
Can you take rolling luggage on to the boats to Port Orleans French Quarter from Disney Springs? If it's say the size of a carry on luggage roller and a back pack? Just wondering
Also wondering! I feel like no, but that would be slick.
I'm just here thinking "what sick, twisted mind would even go into a pool when they're sick - much less with THAT problem??". Gah, people these days...Though I can see a child wanting to still swim, despite being ill.
My tip for anyone who might not want to use money for bottled water in the park, forgets to bring it in, but can’t handle the taste of the water either bring electrolyte packs or use to last ounce or so of your soda for lunch and put it in your water. It will flavor it up some help cancel some of the swampy taste.
Remember you can modify the date on a hotel reservation to a later date even within those eight days. Don't forget you may need more deposit paid if it is a pricier first night on those new dates if it is a room-only reservation.
I need a top 10 episode "Times Aunt Susan Was Right." It's time she got her flowers.
🌺 🌹 🌼
Heading down tomorrow for the week. So pumped to be back :D
We just left Disney. We have gone every year for the past 3 years. This year felt so much different. The new lightening lane pass is awful. Last year, with the old lightening lanes, we got on every single ride. This year, we got on 5. It just seems like it made the standby lines even longer than before. We love Disney, but this year kinda made us not want to come back next year.
Believe it or not, the absolute best was when there was no kind of fastpass at all. Lines could get long at headliners, but they moved much more quickly because there was no stopping to let the other line in. If the posted wait time was longer than you were willing to wait, you went and did something else and came back later. Now that there's an easy way to check wait times from across the park, it would work even better.
Exactly! Don't go! Save the money or use it towards something better. Disney is such a gross company to throw that much money at.
@ I was shocked when I was in the hotel restaurant and they were charging over $5 for a tiny packet of Cereal. It was awful.
Ride the People Mover! Amen! We always ride the people mover.. often multiple times in a single day! (I mean you have to at least ride it in the daytime and when it gets dark outside right?) It turns in to our "something to do" when we're trying to figure out where we're going next, or if we have time before/after a meal or if we have time before a show or parade, or if we have time before/after a lightning lane time etc... what we gonna do? let's ride the people mover
Been here for a week. Never seen it this crowded in 35 years. Every park: summer crowds. Today at HS, for example, nearly every ride has been at least 60min all day since opening. All you hear throughout the day is snippets of people talking about how they've never seen wdw this busy.
I LOVE WDW but I think they're going to get cleaned by Epic Universe this year. They are so money hungry...Always love a DFB video to bring some magic home though :)
Hopefully the competition will keep prices down. Probably not, but 🤷 I can have hope 😅
@angelface925 that would greatly be appreciated lol
@@angelface925 Well much like I've been telling people for years, Disney does not care about you, all they care about is if they get guests to fill in the spot that "you" had. So if you get priced out or anything, as long as someone else is willing to pay that price, they're happy. Plus it seems Disney has transitioned to not caring about less guests as long as those guests do in fact pay more for the purposes of dealing with crowds in the park.
@@Mike__B They absolutely want fewer people in the parks. They just want them spending more money. They want them to stay at their Deluxe hotels on their property and get that premiere lightning lane and eat at signature dining and buy lots of ears, spirit jerseys and backpacks. It's much more cost effective for them if people do this.
@ Ah yup, exactly that. Even "free dining" really isn't a deal anymore. Did a little bit of math on it, and because you need to pay non-discounted room rates plus have park hopping on your tickets you might as well buy the dining plan and get the discounted room rates. They simply do not want any "cheap skates" going to Disney parks any more.
My wife said we are already already out of money out of luck and out of time
Oh AJ you said "escape" and I immediately thought "pina colada"....😊
“And getting caught in the raaaain…”
More issues of the dining plan. When I used it prior to 2020 you could get anything at any restaurant....now some restaurants do not let you get some meals. For us it was tbe 2 most expensive steaks at T-Rex and the Dr. Falls steak at Skipper Canteen.
Also less snak credits and you can no longer swap desert for an appetizer.
Transportation from airport to hotel is Ridiculous! They keep changing things that make it Nuts to keep up!
Thats not disneys problem... and $15 a person isnt bad at all. Meyers direct i believe it's called.
@@jaredboudreaux4311 Mears Direct.😀 It's my understanding that Mears was, "Magical Express" same company but Disney just doesn't subsidize anymore.
Hello! Any trik for park reservation and Queou Thank you
this is awesome info!
Grand Floridian and Polynesian are especially stringent with their parking.
Well, they have to be. Otherwise, everybody and their cousin Fred would park there and walk to the Magic Kingdom.
@ right. Just saying
Question: if you get the premier pass, does that work for the virtual queue rides? ...or do you still need to try and get in a queue?
I love your videos
We love you being here!
@ yay
Wow this is soo us full iam going in April I will us these rules
Thank you for another amazing video.
Thank YOU for being here
Bring back fast pass...
what about a hurricane coming in
disney should bring back the 4 plan ddp.
Disney is stressful now. Aaaahhhhh!
The 8 day hotel cancellation burned me already
I love what you do
The tangled bathrooms are the best 😊😊 heh mostly because I love the movie 😊
Please, Disney influencers, STOP telling people about the people mover!! It used to be such a clutch, chill, walk-on…now there are LINES!!
10:35
Went last October before they shut down. Yes, their finances are that bad.
Your voice is so my WDW voice enjoying this so much 🥰 Best tips as always getting my note pad and pencil ❤
I just got in from feeding my cats and kittens
Oh no!! I missed this morning’s notification, hope you lovelies had a grand rising ❤❤
Disney is past its golden age, and on the decline
Does disney hire someone just to micro manage rules and annoy us?
No. They're going broke and need to pinch every penny they can from it's customers so they can pay what little employees that still work there.
Hopefully Disney will change the formulations that way they won't have to get rid of these treats 🤞🤞🙏
🧡🧡
And to think Disney has raised their prices for everything several times and yet they removed the Disney Express.
AJ, I’m so sorry you had a bad experience on your first Guardians ride. I also had a VERY bad reaction to it. My doctor kinda recommended me not ride it again, but I wish I could. (I know that sounds crazy. 😊)
Do you still ride it?
What is it, motion sickness?
Do you have to pre book the link 311?
nope, it's just local public transit!
Can you please do a “best food allergy friendly snacks guide”?? ❤️
Yes please! Quick service and sit down dining for each park.
@ Yes!! And snacks🥰
Yes please! ❤
Also bring back both waterparks in the summer charging more and having one park open takes thr royal mickey.
So if you buy a luggage bag at Disney Springs you have to uber. Lol 😆
That "no luggage on busses" rule makes absolutely no freakin' sense!!! I don't get why they let you go from the airport to Disney Springs and THAT'S IT!!! Who is that supposed to benefit? As far as I can see, nobody, not even Disney. I 100% don't get it.
Regarding staying hydrated in the parks, I am an expert! I have a real problem with dehydration. I have to keep drinking water all day. That's at home, too. I use a Cirkul water bottle at home and at work. It keeps my kidneys wet and make the water taste better. But I don't bring my expensive reusable bottle to Disney. It's rather large and cumbersome. At WDW, I buy one of those super expensive single use (throw away) water bottles, but I refill it wherever I need to. At the end of the trip, I throw the thing out, and I don't have to drag it home. It sems to work for me.
We really wanted to take advantage of the free day at the water park on our last trip. But Blizzard Beach was closed because the temperatures were in the high 30s and it was pouring rain. We did not get any kind of compensation in the form of a voucher or anything else. It may have been because the temps never really got much warmer while we were there (January 18-25 2025) and the rain stopped only occasionally. We had ONE day that was rain free with temps warm enough to lay on a chaise without two hoodies on. I made sure my daughter took a picture of my wife and I lying in the sun to prove it happened. This was the afternoon of the day before the end of our trip, of course. We got a Lyft to the airport at 3:00 AM the next day.
Hotel Hack: if within the canceling window. Just call and change reservation to a few weeks beyond the 8 days THEN call and cancel. Voila!
For the no luggage on Disney busses rule. Could and can you take luggage on the ferry boat to New Orleans riverside hotel??
Good question
According to the Disney website, “No luggage is permitted on a Disney watercraft.”
That’s too bad! Thank you for the answer 😊
Im going august 2026 the first time coming as a dad im dreading the changes, the last time i went was 2019 and it was incredible, just hoping its not losing its magic
Regardless of what yall think of these changes, most of you complaining will still book trips so it doesn't matter. All talk.
I still booked a trip, but I definitely modified my spending habits. To offset the increased prices, we'll be spending less on food and merch and extra charge experiences.
@@Roon3808 right on! my family of 4 usually share meals at counter service just cause we are constantly eating. but i agree. so easy to bring snacks and esp soda. i know its hard for ppl who fly, but we drive to wdw and we always bring cans of soda. the resort mugs we can't justify esp since we only drink sodas with most meals. edit- the constantly eating is usually just me :) my wife and kids are light eaters heh.
GOOD MORNING, FROM BUCKEYE, ARIZONA, AJ!!!! 🤗😘😁👋☀️🇺🇸
ALSO, I GOT YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL GIFTS, IN THE MAIL, FOR MY PROM NIGHT!
THANKS, AJ !!!! 🤗🤩😁👍❤
YOU'RE THE BEST TH-camR, IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!! 🤩😍💪🥇🏆⭐️❤❤❤
Getting ready to leave for WDW in a few days. As a consistent Disney lover who has been going at least a few times every decade or so I’m sad to say this will be my last time going due to Disney reversing its ethics and morals and on the high rise of not carrying about regular folks.
We LOVE your channel. We appreciate your knowledge and the FOOD. We’ve been followers since before you even had a you tube channel. Having another team member help you narrate the program just seems to diminish the quality of your program. No offense to any team member, but AJ’s voice makes the snacks and videos and videos so much more appealing.
I like how you say thanks to Disney's suitcase rules springs. Why would anybody thank them for that
Bring back the fast pass, glutenous behaviour, favouring and taking advantage of thr rich
Lowkey wanna see you and Offhand Disney go head to head to see who is the real top people mover fan
If you order plastic cheese at the counter, will the cast member know what you mean?
I feel like Disney should not have cancelations fee's Because it is a very expensive place and A happy magical place For parents and the kids I think that they should work with people Have a understanding... Without people Disney world would not stand up.
I don’t care about the rules
Minnie van also excludes luggage?
Nope! Minnie Vans can accommodate up to eight medium-sized pieces of luggage!
@ so $2 bus to springs, then Minnie van from springs- with a 2yr old? Have ya’ll done a toddler/grandparent video?
If you order plastic cheese at the counter, will the cast member know what you mean?