What are your deal breakers, prioritized?

[nostalgic]

I am curious as to what the average past customer is really going to demand from Disneyland. I assume this is going to be different for Magic Key holders vs occasional visitors.

I am an occasional visitor (every 2 years).

For me, the issues that HAVE to be fixed (the deal breakers) are (1 being the worst thing, has to be changed 100%, descending in priority)

1. The parking tram must be working. No bus. Uh-uh.
2. Regular cashiers/ordering have to be available, with less than a 15 min wait at off peak times, in at least 1 casual dining spot per land.
3. The park needs to be open at least 12 hours. (no hard ticket events in the evening) This requirement easily satisfied, I know, but I wanted to be clear about what I expect for $104-$125.
4. Rise of the Resistance boarding group needs to be a DISTINCT possibility. This is complicated since I don't like Smartphones but I technically own one (given one by a frustrated friend). Also complicated by the unknowns of Lightning Lane.

5. To be completely realistic, until kids have the option to be vaccinated, all of the above are moot points. Just to be fair to Disney, that's out of their control completely. Thank goodness it's out of their control! >Shudder< It's enough that other multinational corporations seem to have a say in it. This truly is #1 for me, but not really part of the theme of this discussion board.

As much as I don't like the genie+ (especially regarding the smartphone issue), it's not a deal breaker for me because it sounds like lines are manageable with the reservation system currently in place, and I like most of the lines anyway.

Given my personal concerns, it is a real possibility that I may not get back to Disneyland until ROTR is so old-hat, with broken down effects, etc, that it will be as easy to get on as Indy was circa 1999. Either the $20 Genie+ or a 2 hour wait. Depending on the queue and the Star Wars trivia questions my family can play in line, very do-able.

This forum is good at bringing up points that I never thought of, or helping me realize the impact certain things can have on my actual experience. I'm one of those annoying, not-currently-visiting-the-parks type of poster, but this really is helping my future vacation experience. I have MUCH more realistic expectations than the average out of towner, thanks to you all.

(As others have mentioned, the youtube videos are really not helpful. They all seem to be used-car salesmen in disguise)

[JLee1226]

They have "suspended" the boarding groups in Florida as of a few days ago. So there is a distinct possibility that they may not last through say, the end of 2022 (just a guess).

[Thumperrrrr]

No blockout dates for the top season pass. I don’t need to number code this since it’s my only priority at the moment. I don’t go to Disneyland unless I have a season pass; and I don’t get a season pass unless it’s the top tier. For me, it’s all right there. And Disney is losing me, fast.

[nostalgic]

They have "suspended" the boarding groups in Florida as of a few days ago. So there is a distinct possibility that they may not last through say, the end of 2022 (just a guess).

Woo-hoo!!! I had hoped it was just a matter of time... Does everything still work? No spoilers requested, just yes or no.

[nostalgic]

No blockout dates for the top season pass. I don’t need to number code this since it’s my only priority at the moment. I don’t go to Disneyland unless I have a season pass; and I don’t get a season pass unless it’s the top tier. For me, it’s all right there. And Disney is losing me, fast.

I don't blame you. If I paid that kind of money I would DEFINITELY expect it to be an annual pass, period. Anytime I wanted, baby...
How many top Dream Keys do think were sold? I know Disney keeps their cards close to their chest about this, but I feel like I have seen someone post some best guesses in the forums before...Even if they did sell a lot, my impression is the top pass holders are not really the type to spend every weekend at the parks. They have money to do other things, and not as much time (I am really showing a bias???right??? no idea)

So, Disney probably shouldn't have too much to fear about Dream Key holders overrunning the park. My guess is that Disney knows that if those people really wanted to go, they can afford to buy a day ticket to go on Christmas/New Years...or they would just pay for a hard ticketed event...I personally would NOT tolerate that, and would just buy tickets for the days I wanted to go. That sounds really judg-y. Just think of it as "how the other half thinks". I can't imagine spending that kind of money...guess that's why Disney doesn't care what I think.

[Tomorrowland67]

I live 400 miles north, so I always visit DL as a tourist. I had a Signature Plus AP, visited usually four different weeks per year, and always stayed at the Grand Californian. My vacation priorities would thus be different that those of many of the members here. I'm currently very hesitant to return to DL. The reasons might not be truly deal-breakers, but pretty close.

1. Disneyland seems to be charging full price for what seem to be lesser offerings.
2. There is no longer Early Entry for guests staying at a Disney hotel. Yet the hotels are charging full price, and the fine print says the maid service had been significantly curtailed. Early Entry/Magic Morning was a perfect way for me to start my vacation day. The GCH daily maid service used to include nice courtesies, such as chocolates on your pillow in the evening, or towels folded like holiday origami. Now it seems that they don't even take out the trash each day.
3. I don't think I'll ever like the reservation system for park entry. I don't want to purchase a Dream Key, then have to make a park reservation for each vacation day. As a tourist, I would need to make a hotel reservation, plus park reservations for each day, hoping that each consecutive day was available.
4. I'm disappointed with reports here that meal reservations are so hard to get. I didn't mind planning ahead and making reservations at Steakhouse 55 or Carnation Cafe, because walk-ups were often unavailable. For example, I once logged onto the website early (3 am?) 60 days out, to get a Christmas Day reservation at Napa Rose. But it would be frustrating to do it for each vacation day. And now Steakhouse 55 is closed, and Carnation Cafe is apparently only open six hours per day. When I went to Blue Bayou, I always asked for a table on the water, and was happy to wait if necessary. Now it seems that we can no longer make that request.
5. I have mixed feelings about the Genie Plus idea. It's only $20 per person per day, but the previous MaxPass/PhotoPass was included in my old AP. Are the Disney managers playing us for suckers?

I can't get over the feeling that the Disney executives have made profits the main priority, at the expense of guest satisfaction. Maybe the Disney brand is so strong that guests like me don't matter. I would feel like a chump today if I payed as much money as I used to on a Disneyland vacation.

[Thumperrrrr]

I don't blame you. If I paid that kind of money I would DEFINITELY expect it to be an annual pass, period. Anytime I wanted, baby...
How many top Dream Keys do think were sold? I know Disney keeps their cards close to their chest about this, but I feel like I have seen someone post some best guesses in the forums before...Even if they did sell a lot, my impression is the top pass holders are not really the type to spend every weekend at the parks. They have money to do other things, and not as much time (I am really showing a bias???right??? no idea)

So, Disney probably shouldn't have too much to fear about Dream Key holders overrunning the park. My guess is that Disney knows that if those people really wanted to go, they can afford to buy a day ticket to go on Christmas/New Years...or they would just pay for a hard ticketed event...I personally would NOT tolerate that, and would just buy tickets for the days I wanted to go. That sounds really judg-y. Just think of it as "how the other half thinks". I can't imagine spending that kind of money...guess that's why Disney doesn't care what I think.

Ya know, I wouldn’t even know where to start if trying to guess the number of Dreamer Keys sold. But I do know this — currently, this minute, there are less Dreamer Key holders than there will be during the next minute. You get what I’m saying. And if there’s already a blockout problem now, then what’s the solution, Disney? Bottom line is, something’s gotta be done.

I bet if ten million more people wanted to buy Dreamer Keys, Disney would sell it to every single one of them. And then what? The best Disney can do is play catch up, like (sadly) they should be doing now.

[nostalgic]

The GCH daily maid service used to include nice courtesies, such as chocolates on your pillow in the evening, or towels folded like holiday origami. Now it seems that they don't even take out the trash each day.
3. I don't think I'll ever like the reservation system for park entry. I don't want to purchase a Dream Key, then have to make a park reservation for each vacation day. As a tourist, I would need to make a hotel reservation, plus park reservations for each day, hoping that each consecutive day was available.

I completely agree that park reservations should be a given for anyone staying at the hotels.

It seems very odd that Disney wouldn't emphasize that any on-site hotel reservations would guarantee you an opportunity to make length-of-stay park reservations. I would be absolutely flabbergasted if they don't start offering that by the end of next year. Now, I don't put it past Disney to make that seem as the new "perk" instead of MaxPass or early admission or something. You know those lists they put in their brochures/ads listing ridiculously obvious things as "benefits" for staying on site...

[micromind]

1) It's way too crowded. They need to reduce crowd levels to the point that I can walk at my own pace and not be boxed in by a huge crowd. Further, they need to make it so the the 3rd longest line is not more than 15 minutes. The longest and 2nd longest can be whatever they are but the 3rd or maybe 4th longest needs to be fairly short.

2) It seems that all this new tech they have is not much more than taking cuts in just about everything. This will not be popular but they need to get rid of the reservations. Few things are worse than waiting in line then having some sort of techno-idjit walk to the front of the line, flash their phone or even say their name and they get in before everyone else. Taking cuts is taking cuts no matter how it's done.

For me, that's just about it. If they'd mitigate the above, I would visit more often.

[Eagleman]

I can't get over the feeling that the Disney executives have made profits the main priority, at the expense of guest satisfaction. Maybe the Disney brand is so strong that guests like me don't matter. I would feel like a chump today if I payed as much money as I used to on a Disneyland vacation.

Over all
I will feel like a chump.....if I pull out wallet for any thing of Disney...........
Disney executives have made profits, the main priority, at the expense of guest / Consumer satisfaction !
They using P. T. Barnum Play Book
"There's a sucker born every minute"
IMO

[MouseObsessed]

1) Trams have to be working and there have to be sufficient trams and busses to serve the parking areas without huge waits (it's acceptable to have longer waits during the busiest times to and from the parking lots/structures). Just bringing back the trams isn't enough -- I don't want to lose an hour to a bus or tram.
2) Staffing throughout the parks has to be increased, cast members need to be trained, and they also have to feel good about working at the parks. Twice in May we encountered cast members doing and saying things we never expected from Disney. And they need to be paid well -- there's no good reason for Disney to make money hand over fist and keep their employees underpaid.
3) Full entertainment needs to return.
4) I don't care about RotR or SW:GE at all. Saw them in May, don't care if I never ride them again. And honestly, MF:SR was more fun than RotR. I know we missed the preshow, but even so, I was bored. To even want to be in SW:GE they need to increase shade, staff properly so the cast members aren't visibly stressed, and they need far more characters and shows. But when we go again my young adults kids will want to ride RotR, so that had better be an option, and I don't want to pay extra for it. I'll pay for the replacement of MaxPass, but not the per ride bounty they plan to charge.
5) Food quality has to improve -- May was terrible! Food ordering has to improve as well. I don't mind ordering for a Dole Whip, but other than that I want to be able to stand in a line to order if I want to. And from what I've read, they need to staff the kitchens so people don't have to wait so long.
6) I will never buy an annual pass again unless they get rid of reservations for the top tier of pass. which should also include parking, good discounts, PhotoPass, and the Genie MaxPass replacement. I basically want the Sig+ pass back. If that doesn't happen, or something equivalent, I will only go to Disneyland once a year during the holidays and that's because my kids really want to -- I could sit it out until things improve.
7) I don't mind that Disney doesn't always stay open for 12 hours, but if I'm buying a single day ticket they had better be open at least 12 hours.

We're a family of 4, and we all had Sig+ passes. We live 60 miles out and we never showed up in the evening just to see the parade and have dessert. We usually went on Saturdays from opening until around 2 p.m., and we did that at least twice a month. We would go several times during the holiday blackout. We would go on Easter sometimes, Thanksgiving and/or the couple of days after, Christmas Eve sometimes, etc. We rarely stayed overnight, but when we did it was at the GCH.

We'll probably be there this year close to Christmas, when the young adults are back from university. I don't expect it to be perfect, but I'm not going to deny them our tradition just because I'm disgusted with Disney. I really hope we've all had boosters by then and I really really hope we don't have to mask indoors. But I don't expect the C19 pandemic to be over and I know that will impact our visit. Although honestly, at this point I think it's Disney messing things up more than C19.

[Eagleman]

1) Although honestly, at this point I think it's Disney messing things up more than C19.

Disney Leadership.......have gotten more CREEDY
at the expense of guest / Consumer!

They are the Main Issue........Agree

[Starcade]

We made DCA Reservations back in August for November around the Thanksgiving Holiday our original plan was to get Magic keys when they were released and return to the parks. We have stayed onsite every Holiday season right before Thansgiving for the past 8 years minus Covid, chapek changed that. I am now going to cancel my reservation. We did not get magic keys and will not until:

- The Trams Return
- They open more walk up food services.
- They stop overworking and under appreciating their cast members and hire the proper amount of CM's so the few that are there are no longer being exploited.
- I hear that MK's are not booked up months in advance so if we get a MK we know we can actually use it.
- Rise of the Resistance is an actual ride everyone willing to wait can go on. We went twice before Covid after it opened and we were never able to get a BP. at the time we were willing to try again next time well thanks to Covid that was 2 years ago and we are no longer willing to go if we can't be all but guaranteed we can ride ROTR.
- Monorail returns and the DLRR is running all trains and the waits are not more than 15 min. As I type this the wait times on a Tues. none peak season are at 30min. that is ridiculous even during the sardine packed 60th we rarely waited more than 15 min to board the DLRR.

These are all ( minus lack of CM's ) issues that are self inflicted by cheapsack they can try and blame Covid all they want but even the CM could have been solved had they truly worked to bring every9ine back instead of the selective return calls to only the lowest paid CM's

I just had a mitigation guys come by today to repair some damage from a small water leak we had and as we chit chatted he mentioned he had a brother that works on the landscaping team for Disneyland it was his dream job and now he wanting to quit because they are running on a third of the man power they did pre-cheapsack. Now he is overworked to exhaustion and the pay and benefits are barely worth it. These stories make it easy for us as a family to stay away and simply use our Knott's AP's when we need to escape to theme park.Yes Knott's is not DLR but even with it's smaller size and less theming etc. I do not feel like I am being pickpocketed all day long by a greedy executive and the workers (CM's) do not seem like they are in hell having to be there.

[Eagleman]

These stories make it easy for us as a family to stay away and simply use our Knott's AP's when we need to escape to theme park.Yes Knott's is not DLR but even with it's smaller size and less theming etc. I do not feel like I am being pickpocketed all day long by a greedy executive and the workers (CM's) do not seem like they are in hell having to be there.

Go ,Relax and HAVE FUN.......
I know many ,many people started to go Knott's more often , than Disney parks.......
To much Game playing with Today Disney Company.....and there GREED
again at the expense of Guest / Consumer!
IMO

[Thumperrrrr]

- Monorail returns and the DLRR is running all trains and the waits are not more than 15 min. As I type this the wait times on a Tues. none peak season are at 30min. that is ridiculous even during the sardine packed 60th we rarely waited more than 15 min to board the DLRR.

This part made me cringe. Last time we tried to board, few weeks ago, we waited 20 mins at Autopia stop and then just bailed. So bad

[JoFi]

1) Less Crowding
2) Lower hotel prices by a little (large-ish MK discounts?), and back to providing some Disney magic.)
3) More reservation days for highest pass tiers. I am ok with reservations (see #1), mostly because I am not a random park goer - I have to plan regardless since I don't live close enough to the parks to drop in. But I need that MK to have value. So - discount, special opportunities, hotel discounts, etc...