For quite a while, it seemed that there were a fair number of complaints about how WDW wasn't changing and keeping up with Universal, or how whenever they were planning to make updates, that the projects got slashed and became shells of what they were supposed to be in order to save money. All true.
My wife and I went to WDW at least once a year, every year, for almost 20 years. Often with family, but sometimes by ourselves. And it seemed that not much changed. In reality, WDW is always changing, but not necessarily in big ways. Little improvements/changes here and there. Like updating the queues to make them interactive. Or introducing a newly themed restaurant. Small stuff.
Our last trip was the Hurricane Irma trip in late 2017. It was a great trip, because most people cleared out, worried about the hurricane. No lines for a couple of days!
We still don't have anything concrete planned, but we're thinking about going back in April 2020 to celebrate our 25th Anniversary, and I was just looking at everything that will have changed between September 2017 and April 2020 (Yes, I know that not all of this will be open in April 2020):
Star Wars Land
Toy Story Land
Epcot entrance/Future World gutting and construction
Space-themed restaurant at Epcot
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway Ride
Japan pavilion signature restaurant
Riviera resort opened
NBA experience
Caribbean Beach resort new massive hotel building
Skyliner transportation
France pavilion Creperie restaurant
France Pavilion ride under construction
O Canada new movie (?)
Illuminations replaced
Tron Coaster well under construction
Guardians of the Galaxy coaster well under construction
That's a lot of changes. We won't recognize Hollywood Studios! Very excited for all of these changes.
2002 - 2022: 20+ visits (POR, BW, All Stars, VWL, CSR, BLT, BC, SSR, CB, Dolphin, OKW, Poly, offsite x8)
DL - 1996, 2019
Next up - January 2023 short trip! We just want to try that 50th Anniversary chocolate monstrosity at Mexico!
That's a lot of cash! I know you mentioned the NBA experience, but how about all the expansion at Disney Springs? Plus all of the overall infrastructure improvements at WDW? they may get some government subsidies, but my guess is that much of it is on their dime. I'm excited about the changes too. If only we could get them to fix FP+...
Beth & David
09/82 Treehouse Villas, 06/86 BVP, 10/95 CBR, 10/99 DI, 08/03 PORS, 10/05 POP, 11/06 AKL, 09/09 POLY, 10/10 Wonder, 05/11 Dream/PORS, 08/13 POLY, 11/13 GF, 04/15 POLY, 11/15 BLT, 11/16 Aulani, 03/17 BLT, 08/18 BLT, 07/19 AKL, 06/21 BLT
baldburke;2523613 wrote: That's a lot of cash! I know you mentioned the NBA experience, but how about all the expansion at Disney Springs? Plus all of the overall infrastructure improvements at WDW? they may get some government subsidies, but my guess is that much of it is on their dime. I'm excited about the changes too. If only we could get them to fix FP+...
They can completely rebuild WDW and I would still refuse to go there as long as FP+ is still in place. I think I am in the minority though as they keep packing them in with it.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha whoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
goofyskier;2523614 wrote: They can completely rebuild WDW and I would still refuse to go there as long as FP+ is still in place. I think I am in the minority though as they keep packing them in with it.
Yeah, I don't like FP+, but mainly because it changed the way I approached my planning. It's not enough to keep me away. Just had to change the mindset about how/when to hit parks and ride the rides. I am hoping that they fix it, though.
2002 - 2022: 20+ visits (POR, BW, All Stars, VWL, CSR, BLT, BC, SSR, CB, Dolphin, OKW, Poly, offsite x8)
DL - 1996, 2019
Next up - January 2023 short trip! We just want to try that 50th Anniversary chocolate monstrosity at Mexico!
goofyskier;2523614 wrote: They can completely rebuild WDW and I would still refuse to go there as long as FP+ is still in place. I think I am in the minority though as they keep packing them in with it.
I wouldn't not go to WDW because of FP+, just adapt and over come!
Beth & David
09/82 Treehouse Villas, 06/86 BVP, 10/95 CBR, 10/99 DI, 08/03 PORS, 10/05 POP, 11/06 AKL, 09/09 POLY, 10/10 Wonder, 05/11 Dream/PORS, 08/13 POLY, 11/13 GF, 04/15 POLY, 11/15 BLT, 11/16 Aulani, 03/17 BLT, 08/18 BLT, 07/19 AKL, 06/21 BLT
baldburke;2523642 wrote: I wouldn't not go to WDW because of FP+, just adapt and over come!
Agreed. There are many people who hate it and many who really like it. But in the end, it's a choice. You don't have to do FP+ to visit and enjoy the place.
That really is a long, interesting list of changes. One other one I hope might pop up by spring of 2020 is a new show at Disney Springs to replace La Nouba. That building has been dark for too long now.
ThanxForNoticin;2523643 wrote: Agreed. There are many people who hate it and many who really like it. But in the end, it's a choice. You don't have to do FP+ to visit and enjoy the place.
That really is a long, interesting list of changes. One other one I hope might pop up by spring of 2020 is a new show at Disney Springs to replace La Nouba. That building has been dark for too long now.
They have been working inside the building and a new show is in the works, but nothing concrete to report on as yet.
"The game never ends
When your whole world depends
On the Turn of a Friendly Card"
baldburke;2523642 wrote: I wouldn't not go to WDW because of FP+, just adapt and over come!
I have. I’ve adapted to not going and overcome it by going elsewhere and realizing I enjoy it more 
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha whoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
Not to nitpick, but the tower by Caribbean Beach is the Riviera resort... I think you may have meant Gran Destino, which is a part of Coronado Springs... Both resorts look fantastic...
PopPhan;2523645 wrote: They have been working inside the building and a new show is in the works, but nothing concrete to report on as yet.
The new show is rumored to be a show celebrating Disney animation, movies, and music... Nothing concrete though... I'm interested to see what is officially announced... No doubt the show will be awesome though... La Nouba usually hits it out of the park with their shows...
You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.
- Walt Disney
goofyskier;2523646 wrote: I have. I’ve adapted to not going and overcome it by going elsewhere and realizing I enjoy it more
I thoroughly enjoyed not staying onsite last year. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting other places. My trips now are mostly due to nostalgia reasons, and they are quickly getting rid of those reasons.I'll meet you at the Rainbow Bridge.
baldburke;2523642 wrote: I wouldn't not go to WDW because of FP+, just adapt and over come!
This only works if it is something worth adapting and over coming for. Disney World doesn't fall into that category for a lot of people any more.
I'll meet you at the Rainbow Bridge.
DizneyFreak2002;2523757 wrote: Not to nitpick, but the tower by Caribbean Beach is the Riviera resort... I think you may have meant Gran Destino, which is a part of Coronado Springs... Both resorts look fantastic...
Yeah, I realized that after I posted, but for the life of me I couldn't find the "Edit" button to go back and change it!
2002 - 2022: 20+ visits (POR, BW, All Stars, VWL, CSR, BLT, BC, SSR, CB, Dolphin, OKW, Poly, offsite x8)
DL - 1996, 2019
Next up - January 2023 short trip! We just want to try that 50th Anniversary chocolate monstrosity at Mexico!
Cinderelley;2523764 wrote: I thoroughly enjoyed not staying onsite last year. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting other places. My trips now are mostly due to nostalgia reasons, and they are quickly getting rid of those reasons.
You know, for almost 18 years, every vacation that wasn't specifically to visit family wound up being a trip to WDW. We've never even tried Universal. And we loved it. We made a lot of memories with our kids and other families who joined us from time-to-time. But then, in 2016 when the National Parks had a big anniversary, my wife decided to go and visit as many of those as we could. So now our vacations all revolve around visiting the National Parks and any NPS units that happen to be along the way.
In that time, we've seen many Civil War battlefields, taken tours of caves, gone snorkeling with sea turtles in the Virgin Islands, seen a sunrise from the top of a mountain in Hawai'i, seen lava in Hawai'i, visited the places where our Founding Fathers created this nation, hiked and camped in a river canyon in Utah, experienced the Grand Canyon, taken a two hour catamaran ride from Key West to a spit of land in the Gulf of Mexico, and just generally seen a lot of amazing and sacred places in our country. And I've only hit 1/4th of the total number of sites so far. It's been a lot of fun. There are certainly other places to enjoy.
But I still miss Disney. We have a Google Home Hub in our kitchen, and often when we're cooking or hanging out, we'll tell it to play the Today at Walt Disney World channel on YouTube, which is a recording of the channel you can find on your resort TV that lists the parks' schedules for that day with great Disney background music. The other day we were driving home from NYC (8 hour drive), and we listened to Disney Parks music from another website that I love. There is just something about Disney. Even with the changes they make. Even with the extra fees that are nickel & diming us to death. We still love going to Walt Disney World. We just aren't going as often.
We have a few more trips planned this year. In those trips, we're going to see Fredericksburg (Civil War sites), Baltimore (and a few places in DC), Bryan Adams and Billy Idol in concert, Great Basin National Park (Nevada), Aerosmith in Vegas, Death Valley Nat'l Park, Sequoia Nat'l Park, Kings Canyon Nat'l Park, and the Channel Islands Nat'l Park. But you know what our kids (22, 19, 14) are the most excited for? Three days at Disneyland in late October.
2002 - 2022: 20+ visits (POR, BW, All Stars, VWL, CSR, BLT, BC, SSR, CB, Dolphin, OKW, Poly, offsite x8)
DL - 1996, 2019
Next up - January 2023 short trip! We just want to try that 50th Anniversary chocolate monstrosity at Mexico!
azcavalier;2523948 wrote: You know, for almost 18 years, every vacation that wasn't specifically to visit family wound up being a trip to WDW. We've never even tried Universal. And we loved it. We made a lot of memories with our kids and other families who joined us from time-to-time. But then, in 2016 when the National Parks had a big anniversary, my wife decided to go and visit as many of those as we could. So now our vacations all revolve around visiting the National Parks and any NPS units that happen to be along the way.
In that time, we've seen many Civil War battlefields, taken tours of caves, gone snorkeling with sea turtles in the Virgin Islands, seen a sunrise from the top of a mountain in Hawai'i, seen lava in Hawai'i, visited the places where our Founding Fathers created this nation, hiked and camped in a river canyon in Utah, experienced the Grand Canyon, taken a two hour catamaran ride from Key West to a spit of land in the Gulf of Mexico, and just generally seen a lot of amazing and sacred places in our country. And I've only hit 1/4th of the total number of sites so far. It's been a lot of fun. There are certainly other places to enjoy.
But I still miss Disney. We have a Google Home Hub in our kitchen, and often when we're cooking or hanging out, we'll tell it to play the Today at Walt Disney World channel on YouTube, which is a recording of the channel you can find on your resort TV that lists the parks' schedules for that day with great Disney background music. The other day we were driving home from NYC (8 hour drive), and we listened to Disney Parks music from another website that I love. There is just something about Disney. Even with the changes they make. Even with the extra fees that are nickel & diming us to death. We still love going to Walt Disney World. We just aren't going as often.
We have a few more trips planned this year. In those trips, we're going to see Fredericksburg (Civil War sites), Baltimore (and a few places in DC), Bryan Adams and Billy Idol in concert, Great Basin National Park (Nevada), Aerosmith in Vegas, Death Valley Nat'l Park, Sequoia Nat'l Park, Kings Canyon Nat'l Park, and the Channel Islands Nat'l Park. But you know what our kids (22, 19, 14) are the most excited for? Three days at Disneyland in late October.
Sounds like you guys have had some amazing trips. I may have to add some of these to my wish list.
I'll meet you at the Rainbow Bridge.
azcavalier;2523947 wrote: Yeah, I realized that after I posted, but for the life of me I couldn't find the "Edit" button to go back and change it!
No worries, I think we all knew what you meant...
You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.
- Walt Disney
