New Carpool Thread

[All Aboard]

Seems we've had alot of changes around here and some new folks join us. In looking at the descriptions of the cars, I think I missed one in the middle. I'd like to get a fresh look at the occupants of all the cars. Trouble is, if I add a car in the middle, some folks may find themselves in the new car#4 instead of the old car#3 (even though their opinion hasn't changed.) Since we've even given nicknames to car#3 occupants, our whole vernacular may change.

Even still, I'll throw it out there and see if we have any takers. If I dies, a moderator can go ahead and end it's suffering.

[DVC-Landbaron]

Well!! Since I was the first to answer the other thread thread, I'll do the same again (that means I get to drive!!) And just when I got used to the steering on Car #3 I find myself driving Car #4!! Hmmm. I have a feeling it'll get a little crowded though. ;)

ALL ABOARD!!!


AHHHHH!!! Scoop beat me to it!!!!! :(

[JeffJewell]

...I hope the thread sticks around for awhile. I'd like to wait until about December 10th to select a new car, if I may.

I think I like the addition of the extra car; although I suspect, should Eisner be ousted, many occupants of Car #4 may suddenly be trying to paint #3-A on the side...

Jeff

[YoHo]

To echo JeffJ's comments. I wonder if the threepers might split up now. since really what you've done is split them into to groups.

I'm still disatisfied with the choices and will continue on in the Harley.
Its just as well that Car 3 might be broken up. Last time I was in Chicago, the Gas Prices were pretty high. And Landbaron would have had to pay for the nose since it would take a suburban to fit all those threepers.

[HBK]

But I can't help but thinking I'm not being pessimistic....just realistic.

If they make the cuts, they're gone for good.

These cuts remind me of some ride closures. There's a lagoon who's ride was closed temporarily a few years ago....some refurb.

[JeffJewell]

some refurb ...I really don't think it's fair to judge it until you've seen it...

Jeff

[Eeyore2U]

I'm in car #1 based on my visit in the beginning of October. I go back the end of February and will re-evalute at that point.

[daannzzz]

I don't remember what car I actually voted for last time. My real pick was 2 1/2 but since you have more of my choice in your group I voted 3.

[Peter Pirate]

Verbatim. I am voting from a truly personal perspective. I am concerned by recent actions and inactions but I'm still having just as much fun at WDW as ever...So how could I, in good conscience, vote anything other that numero uno?
:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[BRERALEX]

Here in NJ I'm in car three mostly especially when im on the DIS

When I'm in Florida im in car #1 so i'll do the reasonable thing and take the average

[Bob O]

Im in car 4!!! And would agree with JeffJewel that the ouster of eisner would make people consider their car but as long as he is in charge i have little hope things will improve.

[Planogirl]

I don't think that anyone who would choose car #5 will be here to answer the poll. Just a thought. :)

Car #3 is getting crowded! Oh well, I am concerned but not quite pessimistic yet. Teetering on the edge though...

[All Aboard]

Well, I still haven't voted in my own poll. My thought process resembles that of Vizzini when challenged by the Dread Pirate Roberts to a battle of wits. "I clearly cannot choose the car before me."

So, I'll save my vote for a couple of weeks. I need one WDW trip post-recent cuts to decide.

[Buzz2001]

Still car #1 but as a few mentioned, I haven't been since 2000 and with many of the recent changes, I will decide in May.

[YoHo]

INConcievable!!!!!

You also Clearly cannot choose the car infront of hime (which him?)
But He must have known that..........:)

[airlarry!]

I'm being consistent ;) and sticking with Car #3. Not so much the company, per se, because I am a hopeless optimist when it comes to upgrading the parks -- for every DCA there is a DisneySeas just waiting to explore.

However, the news on animation and the direct expansion of WDW and the hotels makes me guarded about whether or not the "Disney Decade" (as disappointing as that turned out to be it was much better than what the gloomsters are predicting for the future, eh?) is over for good. Will there be another successful run of animated features? Will there be another dazzling expansion to the existing lands in each park? Will DisneySeas ever make it to Orlando?

I'm concerned .

[d-r]

for now...we are going again in Jan. and I hope to be in #1.

[Peter Pirate]

Seems the "chicken Little" mentality may not be so pervasive around here after all!;)
:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[JeffJewell]

Seems the "chicken Little" mentality may not be so pervasive around here after all ...not sure what you mean. In the new carpool thread, we've got ~33% of folks saying the Magic is as Magical as it ever was, and ~%67 saying it has faded to at least some degree. Those numbers are ~34% and ~65%, respectively in the old poll. Statistically, that's a wash: the new poll reads exactly like the old poll on that topic.

The real difference (so far, anyway) is with the number of folks who believe that the Magic has faded somewhat, but are optimistic about it's return (~24% in the new poll, ~41% in the old poll) versus those who are not optimistic (~42% in the new poll, ~24% in the old poll).

The data so far collected suggests that the biggest change in opinion between the two polls is that a statistically significant amount of respondents who used to be optimistic about the return of the Magic are no longer optimistic.

"Chicken Little" me if you must, but Disney's customers, even those fanatics that frequent this board, are becoming less and less optimistic that the faded Magic they see ain't gonna be back.

Jeff

[Peter Pirate]

Mostly Jeff, I was just kidding...

...But it seems to me the figures show about an even split between those generally satisfied or more vs. those generally disatisfied or less - Although far more of the posters lately seem to be of the more negative variety.
:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[JeffJewell]

it seems to me the figures show about an even split between those generally satisfied or more vs. those generally disatisfied or less Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing you're saying that based on the Car #1 + Car #2 data compared to Car #3 + Car #4, which in this poll does indeed show a 58% to 42% split.

But combining Cars 1 and 2 into a "generally satisfied or more" group is a new twist cooked up with the new poll; and Cars 1 and 2 in this poll are pretty much equivalent to Cars 1 and 2 in the old poll. The new poll really only broke up Car #3 into two cars. So to accurately measure the trend, we need to compare to the Car #1+ Car #2 data from the first poll.

If we go back and apply the "generally satisfied" rule to the old poll, they would outnumber "generally dissatisfied" 75% to 24%.

Even with the the new math, the "generally satisfied" group lost about 27%, while the generally dissatisfied grew 75%.

On a Disney-oriented board, and on this particularly pro-Disney board, I think those are numbers to be concerned about.

Jeff

[All Aboard]

Jeff, one thing you are missing. For the previous poll I skewed the results (I know, bad pollster) by posting a link on the Community Board and the Theme Parks board. There are so many Car #1 folks over there that are not part of the new poll.

Also, it's interesting to see how the Threemees have split themselves. Seems the majority of them find themselves concerned rather than doubtful.

[JeffJewell]

The worst problem in making a meaningful comparison between the two polls right now is the sample size of the new poll. There just aren't enough responses yet to make many accurate conclusions.it's interesting to see how the Threemees have split themselves That's the kind of conclusion we really can't draw quite yet; we need to get the sample sizes much closer (and within the same overall pool; you'd have to post a link to the poll on the same "other" boards as before) before we can assume that it's a split of Car #3 that led to the particular results we've gotten. With the relatively puny sample size, the theory that "the Car #1 population is the same, but some 2's have slipped to 3's and some 3's have slipped to 4's" explains the current results at least as well as the theory "the populations of Cars #1 and #2 are the same, but some 3's have slipped to 4's."the majority of them find themselves concerned rather than doubtful. I haven't voted in this poll yet for a couple of reasons, but one of them is the difficulty I'm having deciding that question for myself.

I'd wager that the main difference between the "concerned" and "doubtful" groups (and to a certain extent, at least some of the "optimistic" group on Car #2) is how they view Eisner's future with the company. Whatever anyone thinks of Eisner personally, I think it's clear that he represents, engenders, and promotes a business philosophy that is not conducive to many folks' idea of "Magic."

I believe that, to a large extent, Car #4 is filled with those people who believe Eisner (or at least the business philosophy he champions) is here for the long-term, whereas Car #3 contains more folks who believe Eisner's welcome is thoroughly worn out, and the only question remaining is whether the new Grand High Muck-A-Muck has the inclination and the ability to redirect some of the Company's goals.

As it stands, I'm trying to decide between Car #3 and Car #4, but if Eisner retired tomorrow, I'd very likely be deciding between Cars #2 and #3, based on my perception of how closely such an executive would mirror Eisner's mission (of course, it could still be Car #4, if the next Big Dog is Iger or Pressler).

Jeff

PS: I posted mainly because Peter's post sounded to me like "well, the poll shows that folks aren't as upset as some of us may have thought." I wanted to chime in mostly because I honestly think consumer confidence in Disney is slipping at a dangerous rate. Peter (and the others who know who they are), I still don't mean to try to convince you personally that Disney is anything less than what you perceive it to be. Even so, I think it's important to acknowledge (what I believe to be) the fact that, overall, Disney's brand loyalty is slipping.

[airlarry!]

This is exactly the reason I voted for Car#3...I think that there will be a change, so although I am concerned, I believe something in the next year or two is going to drastically change:

Jeff said:
I believe that, to a large extent, Car #4 is filled with those people who believe Eisner (or at least the business philosophy he champions) is here for the long-term, whereas Car #3 contains more folks who believe Eisner's welcome is thoroughly worn out, and the only question remaining is whether the new Grand High Muck-A-Muck has the inclination and the ability to redirect some of the Company's goals.

[Peter Pirate]

I made that comment totally off the cuff & meant no disrespect to you 3's & 4's...My humor is oft-misunderstood!

The primary reason for this post is to bump it back up!
:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[YoHo]

I suspect that gcurling and I could tell you who that voter is. :) (think about it) I could be wrong, it could be someone else, but I suspect not.

[JeffJewell]

I suspect that gcurling and I could tell you who that voter is. ...so I guess, just like Car #4 in the first poll, Car #5 will shortly end up with "two" passengers...

Jeff

[hopemax]

I think they're referring to FC Fan and the other identity...

[YoHo]

I'm sure it was his current Identity's Parting shot. And his next will be coming along soon enough.

[JeffJewell]

...everyone was having so much fun being all clever 'n' allusional 'n' stuff, then you come along, and now there's beans everywhere... :p

Jeff

[hedgehogcs]

Pardon the mid-highway switch - but I'm just back today from 9 wonderful days at WDW and I had to leave my previous seat in Car #2 to join you folks in Car #1!

Every CM we saw or spoke with was wonderful....there was tons of live entertainment at every turn...it seems everyone was happy and smiling. The parks were clean and well-cared for. Our room at CSR was ideal and my sister & I truly had a magical time, including being picked to ride in Mickey's float during the Jungle Jammin' Parade.

Even with no E-nights, no early entry, reduced park hours, etc...it was just excellent. Any concerns I had about the magic being in danger were just whisked away.

Sigh...

[DisDuck]

hedgehog seems to have hit it on the head. A WDW vacation is what you make of it. Disney blew it bigtime from a Public Relations point of view but still has the Magic.

I maintain that reduced hours are better than no hours.

[Peter Pirate]

Rose colored & partially rose colored glasses sales must be increasing!;)

As far as the bigtime blow-up PR wise, I'm not so sure. What kind of long term negative promises to come from their so-called blunders? I think kinks will be ironed, mistakes corrected and in short time the negatives all forgotton. I don't believe Disney had the time nor inclination to spend more money on PR to announce cuts that were going to be reviled by some no matter how well it was sugar coated. I think the prime criteria of the moment was to cut expenses at all costs and batten down the hatches in case things worsened...Which fortuenately has not happened...

:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[wdw4us2]

We're in car#3 after our Nov. 16-18th trip. I may need to repost after our Dec. 7-9th trip. Hopefully, it will be better!:smooth:

[raidermatt]

Car #1 here.

Every year I hear about how Disney is going downhill, and with each trip, I am pleasantly surprised to find the sky has not even begun to fall.