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

[aristocatz]

I do not think Disney has gone downhill for the most part.

I have been saddened by some of the attractions they have closed down (World of Motion, Horizons, Wonders of Life), but aside from that.....

-I find the cast members as pleasant as can be. I have never had an issue with a CM being unprofessional or less than *Disney*

-I find the parks to be clean and well taken care of. I have never had an issue in this area.

-Prices have raised, but WDW is certainly not exclusive of this. Our economy is not good. Everyone is cutting costs. I still think, for what you are getting (rides, attractions, shows, fireworks, parades, level of service), the price is well worth it.

-I find the food just as wonderful. I'm not a "foodie," but I am a picky eater & I've never really had a complaint about their food. There have been changes, but I think Walt wanted his parks to always be evolving.

-I have noticed the portion sizes to decrease over the years, but to me this is a great thing! I found some of the portion sizes to be just disgusting-too big for the average person to eat! I like that they have scaled them down to a more normal size. I am also a fan of the healthy additions they have incorporated into their foods. I can't complain about fruit, yogurt, & raw veggie options to CS meals & I am delighted to see WDW up with the times and adding whole grain bread to their menus. Almost all major fast food chains are now offering no trans fats, grilled options, whole wheat, I feel it would be a disservice for WDW not to do that as well.

 

[brunette8706]

I do not think Disney has gone downhill for the most part.

I have been saddened by some of the attractions they have closed down (World of Motion, Horizons, Wonders of Life), but aside from that.....

-I find the cast members as pleasant as can be. I have never had an issue with a CM being unprofessional or less than *Disney*

-I find the parks to be clean and well taken care of. I have never had an issue in this area.

-Prices have raised, but WDW is certainly not exclusive of this. Our economy is not good. Everyone is cutting costs. I still think, for what you are getting (rides, attractions, shows, fireworks, parades, level of service), the price is well worth it.

-I find the food just as wonderful. I'm not a "foodie," but I am a picky eater & I've never really had a complaint about their food. There have been changes, but I think Walt wanted his parks to always be evolving.

-I have noticed the portion sizes to decrease over the years, but to me this is a great thing! I found some of the portion sizes to be just disgusting-too big for the average person to eat! I like that they have scaled them down to a more normal size. I am also a fan of the healthy additions they have incorporated into their foods. I can't complain about fruit, yogurt, & raw veggie options to CS meals & I am delighted to see WDW up with the times and adding whole grain bread to their menus. Almost all major fast food chains are now offering no trans fats, grilled options, whole wheat, I feel it would be a disservice for WDW not to do that as well.

**
Personally if I spend a substantial sum of money for a premium menu item, I want a "substantial" portion. Not a 1 ounce serving not fit for an appetizer. I want my money's worth period. If people are unable to control their eating habits that's their problem not mind,lol! A poster earlier mentioned that she ordered a milkshake 16 oz., last year at SCI FI for approximately $10 bucks. This year the same milkshake was in a juce glass for the SAME AMOUNT of money. Sorry, but that's just not right, in my opinion. If Disney is going to decrease the amount you get by over 50 percent, then they should also decrease the price too in my opinion.

Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

I think you are 100% right brunette,My question is if this isn't called gouging what creative name should we use for it,maybe taking advantage or an unmagical charge!

*
I like the "unmagical" charge! LOL!

 

[Donut23]

**
Personally if I spend a substantial sum of money for a premium menu item, I want a "substantial" portion. Not a 1 ounce serving not fit for an appetizer. I want my money's worth period. If people are unable to control their eating habits that's their problem not mind,lol! A poster earlier mentioned that she ordered a milkshake 16 oz., last year at SCI FI for approximately $10 bucks. This year the same milkshake was in a juce glass for the SAME AMOUNT of money. Sorry, but that's just not right, in my opinion. If Disney is going to decrease the amount you get by over 50 percent, then they should also decrease the price too in my opinion.

Brunette

I agree with this 1,000%!!!

The last two times we dined at Le Cellier I became ill...that aside, the very last time I returned food. What was worse was when my DH's onion soup (which he talked about ALL DAY) arrived at our table not in the traditional croc with the cheese covering perfectly toasty brown. Nope, the last time it arrived in a TEA CUP with a thin slice of bread with a sliver of cheese toasted on the bread stuck in the soup.

I could not believe his face when he saw that.

I had to return food which tasted......off.....and then about 30 minutes after we finished...as happened the year before.....I became intimately familiar with EVERY ladies room surrounding World Showcase.

I said it before......give 'em less, charge 'em more.

Le Cellier has been removed from our list and it broke our hearts.

 

[brunette8706]

I agree with this 1,000%!!!

The last two times we dined at Le Cellier I became ill...that aside, the very last time I returned food. What was worse was when my DH's onion soup (which he talked about ALL DAY) arrived at our table not in the traditional croc with the cheese covering perfectly toasty brown. Nope, the last time it arrived in a TEA CUP with a thin slice of bread with a sliver of cheese toasted on the bread stuck in the soup.

I could not believe his face when he saw that.

I had to return food which tasted......off.....and then about 30 minutes after we finished...as happened the year before.....I became intimately familiar with EVERY ladies room surrounding World Showcase.

I said it before......give 'em less, charge 'em more.

Le Cellier has been removed from our list and it broke our hearts.

*
WOW!!! And they're not cheap either! I'm sure that onion soup was over $6. Yes, this is the kind of thing that really bothers me. Onion soup is supposed to be served in a croc not a tea cup sized bowl! Sheesh!

 

[d1gitman]

Humor me a moment......

Remember when some here told others of us..."If we don't like it, go somewhere else"?

And remember when Fellow Castmember Bob announced to shareholders earlier this year that the Parks discounts were going to go away.


I have noticed something funny in the last couple of weeks. The following discounts have been announced.......


* Free Dining through September 2011

* Up to 45% discounts for AP holders....hoping one of our DVC friends can take advantage of this and join us on our next trip.....Thank you Fellow Castmember Bob

* 25% discounts for Canadians


Let me ask a question......do you think this is ALL the economy or does it have a touch of "Harry Potter" and a touch of "I can do better $$$$$$ elsewhere".


What does everyone else think?

I'm just trying to figure out if he "created or saved" any discounts
But on the bright side, things could be worse.
Besides, all things that aren't good about Disney are Eisner's fault, Iger just inherited it.

 

[aristocatz]

**
Personally if I spend a substantial sum of money for a premium menu item, I want a "substantial" portion. Not a 1 ounce serving not fit for an appetizer. I want my money's worth period. If people are unable to control their eating habits that's their problem not mind,lol! A poster earlier mentioned that she ordered a milkshake 16 oz., last year at SCI FI for approximately $10 bucks. This year the same milkshake was in a juce glass for the SAME AMOUNT of money. Sorry, but that's just not right, in my opinion. If Disney is going to decrease the amount you get by over 50 percent, then they should also decrease the price too in my opinion.

Brunette

I think you and I might have different opinions on what constitutes a sufficient portion size

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I think you and I might have different opinions on what constitutes a sufficient portion size

I would agree. I have never had a small serving there.

 

[flicx]

I don't know, if I pay 10 bucks for a shake I hope it is at least 16 oz. Seems like a small portion to me!

 

[Tiger926]

Good morning folks! Just to remind everyone that as of March, Le Cellier is now a Signature - 2 credit restaurant for dinner only.

We haven't gone to Le Cellier in years, as it's gone way downhill, in our opinion. The fact that it's now a Signature has to do with the fact that Disney is raising it because it's busy, IMHO. I am hoping they improve the dinner menu, because as it stands now, we had a hard time paying 1 credit for it a few years ago.

It's so interesting to see how Disney does business. Just spoke to my father who has been a businessman for 40 years. We were discussing some of this Disney dining stuff, and he mentioned that he is going through more sauce at his restaurants. He has been giving the same award winning sauce for 27 years, and he's going through more as it's so good. I said, well if you were Disney, you would just start charging for extra sauce (they give it for free), and he said he absolutely couldn't do that, as he's been giving it to customers for free forever! He said that would absolutely not be fair to loyal customers (they have some who have been dining there for 27 years!). What they will do, is not give the meat sauce with the smaller dishes like crazy bread (currently there is a choice). He would never stop providing it, as it's important to the business, and the customers. He said Disney wasn't living in the real world, as they have a guaranteed customer base, and deal with many first timers and only timers, whereas small businesses have to keep customers who have been with them for 20, 30 or 40 years happy. He wants his customers to be happy, so if it means money out of his pocket (within reason), so be it!

It's always interesting to me to see how much more customer focused most small businesses are, as opposed to huge corporations like Disney, who automatically go to slashing and cutting products or services, as their number 1 way of dealing with price hikes, etc.

Intersting to see how Disney does business, and how the real world does business, Tiger

 

[d1gitman]

I'm not a contractor so I don't know....but can they salvage the structures which have been in the open elements so long?

Perhaps they just take the shells down to the foundatons and start from there. Anyone who watches "Income Properties" on HGTV knows what horrors await the construction people if they are responsible for salvaging those buildings. euwwwwwwwwwww, stinky!

Major renovations can often times become more expensive than starting over new. However, my guess is this.

1. The existing buildings are likely constructed of concrete block walls and cast in place concrete decks (floors & roof). Given the FL climate, they should be structurally sound.

2. Demo is cheap, surface prep and reworking existing conditions is expensive. They likely are going to build values with family suites. It would be a reasonable assumption that the Pop II buildings did not have suites in their layout. This would require interior partition demo but not necessarily structural wall demo.

3. Electrical and plumbing. Underslab and rough work would have likely been layed out already. If this doesn't easily accomodate the new layouts, this would be very expensive to revamp.

4. As far as cleanliness, no worries. Everything can be stripped down to the structure and power washed with chemicals.

5. Schedule is usually a key factor in projects. Often times it can be quicker to tear down and start over.

Obviously the key lies into what changes would be required to the existing structures but my guess is that they will just go ahead and tear them down. Or at least most of them down.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I certainly think they have dumbed down the food, especially the TS meals. And raised the prices horrifically on same. They want to sell rack rate resort rooms, tack on 'free' dining to make those resort rates palatable to some, raise the TS meals way over the price they should be, which forces people to think they are getting a good deal with the ;free' dining, and with the popularity of same, lower both the quality and choices at TS since it is 'free'. A vicious circle.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I have been going to WDW since 1971 when it opened and have not seen a lot of difference. I do not think it has gone down hill. Yes, it is expensive in some areas but it's always been that way. The first time we took our family back in 1980 we had to save for months. We did not go for another few years because of having to save up. We are now DVC members who go at least twice a year. The great thing about WDW is they are always adding to there parks and resorts.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I don't know, if I pay 10 bucks for a shake I hope it is at least 16 oz. Seems like a small portion to me!

Eh, with alcohol? I've noticed drinks everywhere have gone up. I paid $5 for
a drink a couple of weeks ago and it was just a small boring bourbon and coke. And paid 9$ for
a beer at the last concert we went to.

I was thinking food servings, however. We always share because they are so big. I've never found the food there to be spectacular anyway.

 

[flicx]

If the size was truly reduced by 50% from a year ago and the same price then yes I think under these circumstances it is a small portion.

 

[TDC Nala]

The area that comes to mind (unless it has re-opened) is the big restaurant that used to be in Epcot on the left of the main bridge as you crossed into World Showcase.

The Odyssey restaurant is not closed or abandoned - it's just not open to the public. It is used for special occasions and for Grand Gathering dinners.

2. Demo is cheap, surface prep and reworking existing conditions is expensive. They likely are going to build values with family suites. It would be a reasonable assumption that the Pop II buildings did not have suites in their layout. This would require interior partition demo but not necessarily structural wall demo.

Word about the Art of Animation resort is that in structure it will resemble the other values, but half the buildings will be family suites, half regular hotel rooms.

 

[BigGreen73]

I am impressed by the responses in this thread...they are all well stated, and obviously well thought out... (Don't expect that out of mine )

For me, in short, the answer is no...and I carried this conversation over to our family dinner (family being my family of DH, and 4 kids, my brother, his wife and 2 kids, sister, and our parents). We have all been to Disney World every year for the past 30+ years. My parents started taking us when we each turned 2, and now we carry that tradition on with our own children. There has been very little we have missed in the growth and changes of Disney. Each one of us landed on no, and that the opposite is true- Each trip is better than the last. Each trip has a little more magic, in more unexpected places.

In terms of decorations...here is my thought- and I certainly don't mean it sarcastically- Just because it happens one year, doesn't mean we should expect it the next year, and the next. We need to just relish and enjoy what we see in that moment- not compare and contrast it. Small example- I work in non-profit... Last Christmas we had about $5000 we had to dump- so we bought medical supplies for our clients- they were elated. This year we don't have that money in the budget- but we will still carry the wonderful services that we always provide. I don't want my clients to think we shortchanged them... I want them to celebrate and enjoy the gift we could give the previous year. That's how I look at the "extra's" at Disney- the entertainment, the decoration, etc. Disney still provides an amazing product. Sometimes there are amazing, unexpected perks... but we aren't being shortchanged when Disney can't provide that- their product is still really really outstanding.

Food- Well.... I like food- all cheap food- Like- I go to my kids school and have lunch with them on Pizza day, because I like the school rectangle pizza so much Greasy Chineese food is heaven , so I am not picky, and will be the first to admit, I would make a terrible food critic. We choose where we eat based on the park we are in and which characters we will see, so I don't notice a decline (although I am a bit bummed the mayonaise isn't blue at the Tomorrowland Terrace anymore!)

CM's- are one of my favorite parts of the trip- I have yet to have a negative experience... ever. Seriously... But then again- we keep our expectations real. If my kids spill their drink everywhere- we clean it up. If the rule is stay on the sidewalk because the parade is coming- we stay on the sidewalk... We keep it real- just like we would at home.

Cleanliness- I don't know- I don't see a decline here- sure I have seen an overflowing trash can- but only when it is crazy busy and all CM's are busy.. I have not ever seen blatant disregard by CM's. However, as someone many posts ago said... I have seen a lot of people walk and just drop trash, spill things and just walk away...etc. That frustrates me.

OK- So do I sound like Pollyanna yet? I really feel like we have the best in Disney, and I feel so lucky that as a family we can continue to experience it each year-

Our next trip is in 40 days - the 6 of us are going (2 adults and a 13, 11, 9, and 7 year old) for 6 days. It will cost us $78 per person per day, including food and hotel, and MNSSHP. That is still a steal!!

Go Disney! ​

Nicely put...you post sounds just like me and my DW!!And we're off to WDW real soon too. Regardless, we'll keep going as long as we can. WDW can be as expensive or inexpensive as someone makes it...

 

[brerdawg]

Good morning folks! Just to remind everyone that as of March, Le Cellier is now a Signature - 2 credit restaurant for dinner only.

We haven't gone to Le Cellier in years, as it's gone way downhill, in our opinion. The fact that it's now a Signature has to do with the fact that Disney is raising it because it's busy, IMHO. I am hoping they improve the dinner menu, because as it stands now, we had a hard time paying 1 credit for it a few years ago.

It's so interesting to see how Disney does business. Just spoke to my father who has been a businessman for 40 years. We were discussing some of this Disney dining stuff, and he mentioned that he is going through more sauce at his restaurants. He has been giving the same award winning sauce for 27 years, and he's going through more as it's so good. I said, well if you were Disney, you would just start charging for extra sauce (they give it for free), and he said he absolutely couldn't do that, as he's been giving it to customers for free forever! He said that would absolutely not be fair to loyal customers (they have some who have been dining there for 27 years!). What they will do, is not give the meat sauce with the smaller dishes like crazy bread (currently there is a choice). He would never stop providing it, as it's important to the business, and the customers. He said Disney wasn't living in the real world, as they have a guaranteed customer base, and deal with many first timers and only timers, whereas small businesses have to keep customers who have been with them for 20, 30 or 40 years happy. He wants his customers to be happy, so if it means money out of his pocket (within reason), so be it!

It's always interesting to me to see how much more customer focused most small businesses are, as opposed to huge corporations like Disney, who automatically go to slashing and cutting products or services, as their number 1 way of dealing with price hikes, etc.

Intersting to see how Disney does business, and how the real world does business, Tiger

We enjoyed our meals at Le Cellier this past June but do not think that it should be upgraded to sig 2. I'm leaning to think that I will not be going there again.

 

[brunette8706]

Eh, with alcohol? I've noticed drinks everywhere have gone up. I paid $5 for
a drink a couple of weeks ago and it was just a small boring bourbon and coke. And paid 9$ for
a beer at the last concert we went to.

I was thinking food servings, however. We always share because they are so big. I've never found the food there to be spectacular anyway.

*
That's what we do is share. If they (Disney) made the portions smaller me thinks the price would stay the exact same. Another good thing to share is the icecream cookie sandwich on Main Street. They're pretty large, it's enough for 2 people, lol.

 

[GadgetRick]

Can read my latest trip report here. Things have DEFINATELY gone down hill lately...