Walt Disney World has made steps in the suitable path to this point in 2024, enhancing the visitor expertise in measurable methods with the return of all-day Park Hopping, Eating Plans, and finish of park reservations for many vacationers. There’s nonetheless stuff to repair, and this record covers little-but-big methods to perform that.
What we imply by ‘large little’ issues to repair is the very minor perks or choices that usually go unnoticed or are neglected by themselves, however make a significant or significant distinction in mixture. These should not excessive stage and we don’t get many questions on any of them at this level, however they do matter as a result of all of it provides up.
Frankly, this what Walt Disney World is all about. It’s not simply the little particulars in themed design or placemaking, it’s additionally that consideration to element within the visitor expertise. Going above and past in methods large and small. Enhancements company could not discover in isolation or principally wouldn’t mourn if lacking, however that collectively make Walt Disney World really feel like a well-oiled machine and a world-class trip vacation spot the place each visitor is a VIP. Giving company issues they by no means knew they wanted.
Therefore ‘large little’ issues. That’s why you received’t discover Disney’s Magical Specific, free FastPass, or Additional Magic Hours on this record. And even complaints about shorter park hours, lacking nighttime spectaculars, or subpar upkeep and experience downtime. These are all ‘big-big’ issues about which we nonetheless do hear common complaints and are very noticeable cuts or points. That’s the stuff everyone seems to be speaking about–and for good cause, because it’s both drastically missed or core competencies.
This record is extra under-the-radar issues and magical moments that completely may transfer the needle on visitor satisfaction, intent to revisit or suggest metrics, particularly in mixture. However individually, nearly nothing on this record is on the stage that even lifelong Walt Disney World followers should not reserving journeys or returning because of. The absence issues, however most of this doesn’t actively stand out as being a problem.
Hopefully all of this is sensible. On condition that common readers are sometimes longtime Walt Disney World followers who “get” what makes the place particular, I think it’ll resonate. And if not, we will return to grousing concerning the Disney’s Magical Specific elimination and whether or not Epic Universe will “drive” Disney’s hand to carry again a few of these extinct visitor perks in 2025 or past. However for now, right here’s my record of huge little issues that Walt Disney World must carry again…
Resort Supply – It boggles my thoughts that this has not returned. Again in my day, Walt Disney World would magically transfer merchandise you purchased within the theme parks to your resort for pick-up so that you didn’t have to hold souvenirs and stuff round all day. This free service was a pleasant on-site perk, and an effective way to not want a pack mule by the top of the day.
Like different issues, reminiscent of Disney’s Magical Specific, this “perk” was mutually advantageous. Walt Disney World’s calculation was that company would spend extra money on merchandise within the parks in the event that they didn’t have to hold their purchases round all day lengthy. They usually have been appropriate. I’m not even a giant merchandise individual, and I’ve misplaced depend of what number of occasions we’ve opted in opposition to shopping for one thing in the previous couple of years as a result of we didn’t wish to lug it round all day. “We’ll simply seize it on the finish of the evening on the Emporium.” (Well-known final phrases that just about by no means come true–a minimum of for us.)
I perceive why Walt Disney World didn’t really feel the necessity to carry this again in late 2021 (when just about every part else was going again to regular), as provide chain disruptions resulted in empty cabinets and merchandise shortages. So there was actually no incentive to supply the perk–the restricted number of objects was promoting out, regardless.
Nevertheless, as soon as 2022 rolled round and the bullwhip impact resulted in a ton of overstock…effectively, that appeared just like the opportune time to carry again Resort Supply to ‘incentivize’ the acquisition of that merchandise. Perhaps somebody forgot about it? Maybe it was a ploy to extend rental of makeshift procuring carts (e.g. strollers)? Suppose somebody at Simon, proprietor of the Orlando Premium Shops, is paying a kickback to not carry it again to maintain these lengthy traces at Character Warehouse?!
Joking (however are we?) apart, the continuing absence of issues like Resort Supply suggests to me that both staffing shortages should not absolutely addressed or Walt Disney World is in any other case not firing on all cylinders. Although it’s pitched as a perk, I strongly suspect Walt Disney World is leaving cash on the desk by not providing Resort Supply. As such, I’m considerably sympathetic to the absence of this–however then once more, I believed the identical factor about Disney’s Magical Specific…and but!
Lunch & Breakfast at Be Our Visitor – There was some extent when shifting to the identical prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner was the suitable transfer for Be Our Visitor Restaurant. Desk service eating was in high-demand, company have been spending freely as pent-up demand performed out, and there have been staffing shortages that diminished capability.
That point is over. Be Our Visitor Restaurant is now not as in style because it as soon as was. It’s in all probability not even among the many prime 25 most troublesome Advance Eating Reservations regardless of an inherent benefit of being an in-castle restaurant at Magic Kingdom themed to Magnificence and the Beast. ADR availability is plentiful, as are spots on the Stroll-Up Waitlist. The final time I dined at Be Our Visitor, the restaurant was lower than half full and the server to visitor ratio was surprisingly excessive.
Suffice to say, it now not is sensible to deal with Be Our Visitor Restaurant the identical means in 2024 because it did in 2021-2022. That is doubly true because the counter service restaurant and breakfast ‘scene’ at Magic Kingdom is pretty bleak. Not solely is it dangerous, but it surely’s busy. I don’t find out about you, however nothing makes a mediocre meal at Cosmic Ray’s or Pinocchio Village Haus extra gratifying than ready in a protracted line or having to hunt for a desk.
Not solely that, however bringing again the counter service lunch and breakfast at Be Our Visitor can be enjoyable–memorable meals that might enable extra company to step inside Beast’s Citadel. Be Our Visitor Restaurant remains to be a winner from a thematic perspective, and experiencing that go away an enduring impression on loads of children and their households. (And whereas we’re at it, carry again the devoted Beast meet & greet for dinner. This smile and wave from a distance stopped making sense 2 years in the past.)
Pandora Rangers – Since its opening, Pandora – World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom has been residence to a few of Walt Disney World’s weirdest leisure. And I adore it for that. It began with these hippie kinda folks that have been like tour guides that might showcase the natural world. Unsurprisingly, these have been very quick lived–I don’t suppose these performers made it various months in 2017. (May very well be fallacious, however I don’t recall seeing them after that.)
One 12 months later, Disney found out the proper resolution with the the Pandora Rangers. Particularly, when the Pandora Utility Swimsuit walk-around character made its debut within the land. That is just like the army AMP Swimsuit counterpart in entrance of Pongu Pongu, however not evil. As an alternative, the pleasant pilot of this engages in tacky and enjoyable banter with company, explaining what he’s realized on Pandora.
Maybe I’m a sucker for mechs (I’m an enormous Metallic Gear Strong fan), however I all the time cherished the Pandora Utility Swimsuit and thought it added rather a lot to the land. Crowds all the time gathered to see this towering performer, which is kind of the sight to behold. This particularly makes the record as a result of, for all of its magnificence and recognition, Pandora can really feel (paradoxically) lifeless in the course of the center of the day.
At the same time as each rides submit hour-plus waits and Satuli Canteen is busy, the land itself is quiet and uncrowded…as a result of everyone seems to be in line or consuming. Bringing again the Pandora Rangers would assist give the land extra of a lived-in high quality and assist company respect the fantastic thing about the land itself that they may in any other case overlook whereas racing round doing the rides and consuming the meals.
Brunch at California Grill – I’ll be sincere, I don’t suppose this issues to 99.99% of company. Brunch on the High was a really restricted expertise, and I’m fairly assured that it was principally in style with repeat company. Which means it was superb, but in addition that fewer new company have been having fun with it.
Regardless, Brunch on the High at California Grill was our favourite eating expertise at Walt Disney World and we’re amongst this small however vocal minority who would like to see it introduced again. In fact, if it does return, it’d in all probability go the way in which of Takumi-Tei or Monsieur Paul and have an exorbitant worth enhance that might seemingly make it a non-starter for us. (Even when not, having a brand new child in all probability accomplishes the identical.) However we’d wish to a minimum of have the choice and comprehend it’s there.
To make this extra broadly interesting, I’d additionally add eradicating the prix fixe menu at California Grill. That is one other meal service that has outlived its usefulness, and there must be a greater resolution to the issue of company wanting ‘free fireworks’ viewing than this. It was enjoyable for the fiftieth, but it surely’s gotten previous–and grow to be unambitious.
Residents – It appeared like an inevitability given the cuts over time, however dropping the Residents of Hollywood at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Residents of Principal Avenue at Magic Kingdom is such a colossal blow now that we’ve felt their absence for thus lengthy. In each parks, these ‘residents’ are roaming “Streetmosphere” performers who inhabit the doorway space boulevards, giving these streets a way of life.
It’s all the time a pleasure to encounter one of many characters or their random reveals, and the ‘residents’ potential to single out particular company and make them really feel particular or like a star was one thing particular. That is the kind of factor that doesn’t present up on visitor satisfaction surveys and is an “simple” lower for administration obsessive about spreadsheets or no matter, but it surely makes a world of distinction for the folks impacted. These private connections and little moments are an enormous deal.
We all the time cherished doing lunch at Plaza Restaurant in Magic Kingdom, hoping that one of many residents would drop in for hilarity or hijinks. Likewise, we made some extent of watching the end-of-day Funniest Citizen “comedy-off” on Sundown Boulevard. These performers is probably not a synergistic IP addition just like the Mirabel meet & greet, however you higher imagine they have been a “model deposit” that embodied the guts and soul of Principal Avenue at Magic Kingdom and Outdated Hollywood at DHS.
EPCOT Pageant Seminars – Most likely an unpopular opinion, however EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant has been coasting for the final 4 years. It has rested on the laurels of its longstanding fame, whereas serving up simplified menus and principally crowd-pleasing delicacies–however not a lot else. Final 12 months did get higher due to the Disney100 cubicles, however Meals & Wine was nonetheless the weakest occasion of the 12 months at EPCOT. It’s in style at this level as a result of hype machine and inertia. Which isn’t to say there aren’t incredible dishes (there are!), but it surely’s been a shadow of its former self.
That is partly comprehensible because the occasion has grow to be a sufferer of its personal reputation, with longer traces and better demand necessitating easier dishes that may attraction to extra palates. A fair greater cause why it’s the worst occasion of the 12 months at EPCOT is as a result of it now not gives one thing further.
Give it some thought–each different pageant has meals and. Meals and artwork. Meals and flowers. Meals and holidays. A few of them even have higher meals. However Meals & Wine simply has the meals (effectively, and the wine–however that’s a part of the meals). By dropping the seminars & demonstrations, celeb chef appearances, particular meals, merchandise & ebook signings, culinary panels, and different low-cost or free occasions, Meals & Wine has gone from the largest-scale occasion of the 12 months at EPCOT to the smallest.
That is clearly criticism–every part on this record is–however that is one other entry the place I’m prepared to provide Walt Disney World the good thing about the doubt. Lots of the EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant choices with upcharges with astronomical worth tags. Disney is leaving a ton of cash on the desk by not doing them, and if there’s something we all know concerning the firm, it’s that they’re large followers of cash. So their absence suggests to me lingering staffing points or a scarcity of house. Right here’s hoping that CommuniCore Corridor will treatment this (and in addition, that its development tempo is accelerated and the venue is definitely accomplished by this fall).
Aunt Polly’s & Tomorrowland Terrace – One other comparatively area of interest one on condition that the primary of those eating places was solely open a couple of weeks per 12 months (I’m guessing a few of you have got by no means even heard of it). The opposite had a perpetual id disaster and obtained a brand new menu like each different quarter.
Nonetheless, Magic Kingdom wants extra selection on the counter service entrance and in addition extra capability. These two issues would assist enhance the visitor expertise, and lower-traffic places like Aunt Polly’s and Tomorrowland Terrace may have the latitude to serve ingenious and enjoyable meals, whereas additionally serving to relieve the stress whereas additionally enhancing the park’s delicacies. Two small however significant web positives.
Oh, and if Pecos Invoice truly goes to be redone as Tiana’s Palace (I’m skeptical at this level), Magic Kingdom will completely want extra counter service capability. That’s non-negotiable, until the ‘resolution’ is consuming on prime of trash cans.
Jedi Coaching Academy – Even pre-closure, it appeared like there was some want inside Walt Disney World to consolidate Star Wars choices in Galaxy’s Edge and reduce the off-planet choices. I by no means fairly understood this, particularly with Imagineering and the Lucasfilm Story Group being so steadfast concerning the guidelines and character integrity (one other rant for an additional day) which means that the land was restricted in who and what it may showcase. Star Excursions was the one large exception, since they discovered a solution to make The Sacred Story™️ work with the brand new land.
In any case, it’s completely loopy to me that Jedi Coaching Academy has not returned. The Trials of the Temple interactive stage present was completely adored by company, and was a ‘magical second’ for thus many children and their households who had the prospect to take part. It was the form of trip-defining expertise for a subset of company that simply justified its existence. A kind of issues that, for those who had the fortune to do, you knew simply how particular it was.
At the same time as somebody who by no means obtained to expertise it firsthand or by way of the eyes of my youngster, it was simple for me to see that Jedi Coaching Academy was one thing particular. A kind of little ways in which Walt Disney World captured lightning in a bottle and turned a easy factor right into a “Core Reminiscence.” Stuff like this that has a propensity to forge a brand new era of followers is what ought to truly be sacred for Walt Disney World. Whereas we’re at it, carry again the paintbrush scavenger hunt on Tom Sawyer Island!
Toppings Bars – You may be pondering at this level that Magic Kingdom counter service eating is a sore topic for me. Gee, I don’t know why you’d draw that conclusion, that is solely the third entry on the record that pertains to the topic. I may simply rant for a couple of thousand extra phrases concerning the sorry state of the flagship fortress park’s quick meals scene.
Toppings bars made Cosmic Ray’s and Pecos Invoice palatable. It additionally helped that they’d higher and extra formidable menus again in 2019, earlier than reducing corners and switching to meat suppliers that promote regardless of the grade is correct above pet food. This can be a level we already belabored in The Loss of life of Pecos Invoice, so I’m not going to beat a lifeless horse (hopefully the meat provider follows my lead).
I’ll simply add that I’m skeptical that is even saving Walt Disney World all that a lot cash. Certain, it reduces visitor abuse of the toppings bar–however the present method is rather more labor-intensive, and labor isn’t low cost anymore! There’s gotta be a center floor compromise (staffed toppings bar?), as a result of the present consequence is that two of Magic Kingdom’s greatest eating places are serving solely marginally-edible delicacies.
Cinderella Citadel Dream Lights – I’d argue that this isn’t a ‘large little’ factor–it did and would trigger followers to ebook journeys–however I believe Walt Disney World may disagree. Regardless, I’ll by no means cross up the chance to sing the praises of the Cinderella Citadel Dream Lights. These icicle lights have been one in all our favourite issues about Christmas at Walt Disney World for the decade-plus previous to them being cancelled in 2020. We spent many a late evening on Principal Avenue, merely gazing down at these resplendent lights, savoring the scene. I misplaced depend of what number of occasions we did this over time–in all probability over 100.
For many who have by no means had an opportunity to see the Cinderella Citadel Dream Lights, they’re nothing wanting spectacular. A few of you cynics may suppose such a bodily gentle show is quaint or antiquated, surpassed by the convenience and adaptability of projections. That these of us who miss the Dream Lights are merely clouded by nostalgia and sentimentality, ignoring the daytime visible blight, set up, and ease of the bodily icicle lights.
I wholeheartedly disagree. No projections can match the greater than 200,000 tiny white lights that illuminate Cinderella Citadel and rework it right into a veritable ice palace. The Dream Lights would cease you in your tracks, with the resplendent bodily show being an absolute jaw-dropper. Phrases, images, and video completely can’t do it justice. I’m not usually one for the flowery language in Disney’s press releases, however even the corporate’s advertising groups undersold the Cinderella Citadel Dream Lights. No matter reward you’ve heard concerning the Dream Lights, it’s true. All of it.
And after seeing the underwhelming ‘Frozen Vacation Shock’ (I don’t suppose we ever coated this, however how did Disney spend a lot effort and vitality and find yourself with unanimated projections that have been worse than the non permanent ones they did in 2020?!), I’m much more satisfied of this. I’m not a lot for conspiracy theories, however I’d like to imagine that somebody purposefully made ‘Frozen Vacation Shock’ dangerous in order that it’d be simpler to justify reducing it and bringing again the Cinderella Citadel Dream Lights. Right here’s hoping!
The Kiss Goodnight – I’m a agency believer that first and remaining impressions matter rather a lot for Walt Disney World, which is why I’m such a fan of the improved arrival expertise and streamlining of bagcheck with these Evolv entire physique scanners. It’s an evening and day distinction for the previous course of–or present one at Disneyland. (Significantly, it’s. We complain concerning the dangerous–but it surely’s additionally essential to reward the great!)
Whereas this isn’t as impactful (figuratively) for as lots of company, the Kiss Goodnight is a type of ‘large little’ issues that left such an indelible impression on the company who noticed it that it may assist flip them into lifelong followers. As soon as once more, phrases, images, and even video can’t do it justice. We however tried, singing its praises in “The Kiss Goodnight: The Best Factor Most Visitors Don’t See” and “The Kiss Goodnight, Revisited.” (Two articles about one thing that lasts solely a few minutes–that ought to say every part that must be mentioned!)
The Kiss Goodnight was a type of if you recognize, you recognize magical moments. It was an emotional powerhouse for thus many individuals as a result of it’s the fruits of a fun-filled go to to Magic Kingdom. Throughout this second of pause, you let your guard down and Disney’s cautious tugging at your heartstrings “will get you” as you’re already concurrently drained and glad on the finish of a protracted day within the park. That is Walt Disney World at its finest, and the form of ‘large little’ magical second that the corporate ought to acknowledge is rather more essential than it may appear. Particularly if there’s no intention of bringing again Disney’s Magical Specific, free FastPass, Additional Magic Hours, and so on!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part it’s essential to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What ‘large little’ issues would you wish to see Walt Disney World carry again? Assume it’s these magical moments and different smaller-scale issues which have a means of creating each visitor really feel particular or going above and past which might be the guts and soul of Walt Disney World? Which of the entries on this record would you wish to see return? Do you agree or disagree with our decisions? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
