Do You think DISNEY has gone down hlll the last few years?

[TDC Nala]

It used to be you could go to Cinderellas Castle and order from a menu a la carte. Last time we tried to make a standby reservation we were told all we could have was a prix fixe of something around $53/person for lunch. No idea what it was, we couldn't get in. Is that something to do with the DDP?

Nothing to do with DDP. CRT is now a fixed price restaurant for all three meals.

 

[Tiger926]

**

Hi! Okay I just called Disney Dining. Boma is $37.29 for dinner. Nope sorry, we're cancelling. Back in 2007 Boma dinner was $25.99. There is no way I'm paying this for a dinner, especiallhy without the prime rib. Is there no end to the lunacy? This is the thing that really gets on my nerves. Oh, well like someone else said on this thread that they talk with their dollars. I think that's what we are going to do. We made a reservation for Shula's and I did get a coupon for $25.00 off 2 entrees. Restaurant.com has excellent deals on restaurants surrounding DTD. My dollars will be going there. Thanks again Tiger, I just thought the buffet surcharges were May through July4, boy was I wrong.

Brunette

I'm glad you called - that's a crazy price for Boma! Yikes!

We used the restaurant.com cert for character meal at Garden Grove. It was pretty good, and we got the characters all to ourselves! Kids loved it!

I hope you have a fab trip, Tiger

 

[Figment&Piglet]

It occurs to me that your "Perspective" (have Anton Ego's voice in my head, for Ratatouille fans) matters in this discussion.

Are you a first timer or relatively new fan? I'm not surprised that Disney still dazzles you, because look at what you have to compare it to...filthy, dirty, unkempt, and even more expensive experiences and parks, the likes of Six Flags? Disney still leads the pack by a mile. It still has incredible magic.

Are you a long, long-time visitor? Then you may remember when the place was spotless, smaller, unique (thinking small touches here...yes, even the butter pats, but probably hundreds of little things), better maintained, well staffed (I remember like 3 CMs helping you on every ride), cheaper (although never cheap, but less so). In short, even MORE incredibly magical than it is now.

Now all that may or may not bother you, or bother you to a lesser degree, or maybe you just don't let it. And that's OK. Still doesn't mean it's not there.

Big business, even Disney, just doesn't have the high standards (or ethical compass, but that's another topic altogether) it once did.

So while most products and services have slid, so has Disney. But in MY perspective, just not as far...

That's why I keep going back--because in a world where magic is more and more in short supply, I need to get my fill at Disney!

 

[brunette8706]

I'm glad you called - that's a crazy price for Boma! Yikes!

We used the restaurant.com cert for character meal at Garden Grove. It was pretty good, and we got the characters all to ourselves! Kids loved it!

I hope you have a fab trip, Tiger

*
Thank you! You seem so gracious and nice. We will have a fab time I know it! LOL! We will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge for the first time.

Brunette

 

[a1tinkfans]

Brunette here. Okay, I'm a Disney freak, nut, etc. I'm obsessed with Walt Disney World. I love it there, so much that we go about 6 - 8 times a year. We are annual pass holders. But I'm getting alot of bad vibes as to what is really going on in the world and it's really starting to get me to wonder. Is Disney turning into a money machine, that is only interested in making a buck and forgetting about all it's fine customers/guests? Here is my reasoning, if you will:

Disney dining - They have increased all buffets services and lowered the quality of food, i.e. took off prime rib at Boma and a few other restaurants.
[COLOR="Purple"] I did not notice a significant change at all actually.[/COLOR]

Disney CL Service - I've been reading that the food isn't what it used to be. Yet people pay a large premium for this. Food runs out and is not replenished etc.
Poly Club replenished plenty and it was amazing just a few weeks ago


Christmas attractions - Took away the lights at Epcot. It was just beautiful. It totally ruined the whole effect last Christmas season.
No comment, did not go last Xmas, but isn't everywhere cutting back?

Nickel and Diming the guest - Holiday surcharges for buffets. Okay, I can understand Thanksgiving and Christmas. But Memorial Day through 4th of July too! It's just plain wrong.
Doubling the price of a stroller- Double stroller 1 1/2 years ago was $18.00 now it is over $30.00. If you multiply that by 7 days it's the price of a rent a car!
Ticket increases - Every August there is a ticket increase!
I think that the SINKING economy effects everyone, Disney is a Business after all....so no surprises that there would be cutbacks.....

Brazilian groups- Extremely disruptive, rude, crass, and down right hazardous (blocking pathways), making loud noises outside of value hotel rooms in the early morning hours. There are 2-3 threads about this outrageous behavior, with hundreds of complaints from our DIS friends. Yet, Disney refuses to do anything about this.
Why would Disney do anything unless there was violence or disruptions where people actually complained,,,wrote letters, called...etc...I mean talking on the DIS will not help.though we'd all like to think we have some "clout" cause we know so much about disney: ..and our recent experience with a HUGE group was actually bland at best.....I agree, the fastpass situation is not acceptable, but Disney makes a Mint off these groups so Just like convention hotels...my suggestion would be to "house" all groups at certain resorts only......... Though that does not help at parks, I understand that.......

With the economy in the tank, people out of jobs, it would seem that Disney shouldn't be this greedy, for a lack of a better word. I'm just starting to notice some of these ill effects taking place. This is just my observation.

Any thoughts?
I guess as a Small Business Owner I may be biased...but Business is Business NOT Greed, just good business...and making those decisions is not easy, whether its cutting costs, losing employees etc....the Economy effects everyone..........
Just my take
Thanks all!
Brunette[/QUOTE]

 

[DisGirl23]

Nope, and either way they are still getting a good % of our income every year. I read thread like this alot before our trips and keep a watchful eye out for bad CM behaviour, trash lying about, poor service, etc and I just don't see it. Maybe its all the magic that makes me miss it, but I'm ok with that.

This is exactly my feelings.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I can't imagine what Disney should do about tour groups. That is bread and butter

 

[drew64]

Disney is still great, but I have seen a decline in the quality of guests over the years.

 

[DisGirl23]

but I have seen a decline in the quality of guests over the years.

I kinda have to agree here too... Remember when guests used to respect Disney? They'd clean up after themselves and were nice and courteous to CMs and other guests?

 

[DisneyDude_82]

I don't think I've ever seen a decline in service...the DW and I are planning on our 5th WDW trip in Nov and the great thing is, we are always finding something new to do when we go. It will be our first time for the Food and Wine festival and first time doing MVMCP.We did our first tour in Feb. We've never complained about disney, other than crowds and heat in summer lol

 

[KellyNY]

I kinda have to agree here too... Remember when guests used to respect Disney? They'd clean up after themselves and were nice and courteous to CMs and other guests?

I think it is an urban legend.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

Disney needs to get rid of free dining and their problems with people complaining about food decline will be solved.

I agree.....free dining can go take a hike! It's like you get punished for being a DVC member!

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

I'm glad you called - that's a crazy price for Boma! Yikes!

We used the restaurant.com cert for character meal at Garden Grove. It was pretty good, and we got the characters all to ourselves! Kids loved it!

I hope you have a fab trip, Tiger

Looks like i'll be eating at The Mara.........I can get most things there i'd go to Boma for (soup, zebra domes) for under ten bucks. The last time I was there I couldn't see paying the adult price for my ultra picky daughter so I ate at Boma and sent her off with $15, she ate a full meal at The Mara, and played in the arcade.

 

[Lintasare]

I don't get why everyone is always so quick to blame the dining plan for Disney food going downhill. Disney has always had some form of a dining plan going back as far as I can remember. And I can remember back to 1985. Of course back then you were given actual coupons to present at the restaurant. And they stated which restaurants they were good in and what they were good for. When I was a CP back in 2002 we had what was basically the dining plan there is now. It just had different names.

So why blame the dining plan?

 

[rie'smom]

Just curious...

Those of you who have had cleanliness issues, what time of year do you generally go?

VP

April, May, June, November, February

Disney is still great, but I have seen a decline in the quality of guests over the years.

I kinda have to agree here too... Remember when guests used to respect Disney? They'd clean up after themselves and were nice and courteous to CMs and other guests?

I'll address both of these. Lots of people seem not to think manners are important anymore and yes i do remember when guests were more polite. That said, the rude CMs discussed here are not doing their jobs properly. On some threads, people compare WDW to Six Flags with WDW being lots better. I agree but I also see more Six Flags type attitudes from CMs becoming the rule. It's unfortunate but most of the more polite and considerate CMs are the older people. Disney needs to begin stressing to the younger people that their attitudes can make a difference.

 

[AndyFL]

We don't go to a ton of different theme parks but we go to our fair share and I'll just say this in Disney's defense.....they seem to at least try to make sure you are get your money's worth. When it comes to most parks, all I can think about when I leave is how ripped off I feel. When it comes to WDW all I can think about is how long it will be till I can bring the family back.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

We don't go to a ton of different theme parks but we go to our fair share and I'll just say this in Disney's defense.....they seem to at least try to make sure you are get your money's worth. When it comes to most parks, all I can think about when I leave is how ripped off I feel. When it comes to WDW all I can think about is how long it will be till I can bring the family back.

I wonder if this also contributes to the raised prices. I have seen (IRL and on the boards) people complain/lie to a CM to get something for free. It adds up.

I have noticed a lot of the same things others notice. I miss the pre-DDP days and I miss the lights at Epcot, but most of all I miss the attention to detail. I NEVER used to see so much graffiti and litter, but now it is invading my beloved parks! (esp. Soarin FP lane!) I still love Disney but it does take some of the magic away. Honestly, I'd rather them raise prices and bring the park back to its cleaner heyday.

 

[smidgy]

I miss the lights at epcot. I miss the appetizer and tip on the DDp. I miss the frozen coke at pop. I miss the great, flat french fries at the maya pool at coronado.
and I do notcie the parks aren't as clean. and often the CMS aren't knowledgable .
there is still So much I love about WDW. just responding to the thread topic.
I agree that, in this economy, I can't believe they raised the ticket prices again, when parks like 6 flags, indiana beach, cedar point, are lowering their prices. (of course, we keep paying them)
last few times we saw spectro, there were fewer dancers, etc. between the floats. (butnow, of course, I miss spectro at all! please bring it back!)

 

[MsDisney23]

Bring back the all beef hot dogs at Casey's.

 

[rotlex]

Personally, I don't think anything has slipped. I think you get used to things, and start to remember the past, as different, or perhaps "better" than it actually was.

We have been going for years, and frankly, I enjoy our trips, the service we get, the food, and the experience, as much, if not more, than ever! It's the reason we keep going back year after year. A Walt Disney World vacation is a BARGAIN compared to just about anything out there, especially considering what it is you are getting for your money.

For instance. We are heading down in a few weeks, , and doing an 11 day\10 night stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. For myself, wife, and two kids, with food included, it's running me just over 3K. Heck, I can't go to the Jersey shore for 11 days and spend less than that!

Sorry, can't agree at all with the OP. Disney has always been the best vacation spot on the planet, and always will be!