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

[brunette8706]

Originally Posted by LuluLovesDisney

I don't mind the Fantasyland construction and I actually think they did a good job with the screens over the Main Street buildings so the construction doesn't "hit" you right away. This doesn't bother me because it holds hope and the promise of something great in the future, so I am not bothered by it.

The things that bother me are the lack of upkeep and basic cleanliness in areas that are not affected by construction and the shrinking portions and food quality. These things don't offer any hope for the future, they just seem like "cheaping out".

I will say some of this is because it costs more to deal with guests who just don't behave like they used to. I was thinking about the things that bother me- litter, dirty tables, overflowing trash cans and graffiti- most of it is caused by guests who just don't care like they used to. Years ago, I never saw trash crammed into gaps in the queue lines' decor! So, some guests are at fault for this. Some of it, I believe Disney is responsible for fixing, though.

Walt Disney said, "If you keep a place clean people will respect it; if you let if get dirty, they'll make it worse". This is why I believe it is so important that they do not cut back on custodial CMs and that they do not cut back on the trash cans and that when they see graffiti, they remove it asap.

I agree with your post about the litter situation. I've read a lot of reviews on the CL board and several members state that the people that use the lounge for food offerings just don't put their dirty dishes away. They just leave dirty dishes, cups, food etc. on tables. I have also seen this done many times at outdoor counter services. They'll just eat and leave all the loose paper wrappings, paper plates, cups, and trays outside on the table and have someone else clean it up! This really boils my blood, especially when seating is at a all time low or when people are trying to find a seat to eat.

Brunette

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

I think it has gone down in my minds eye, but that's only because for the first few trips you are so overwhelmed and absorbed in the magic that you don't notice imprefections as much. The more we go the more little things pop out at me that need sprucing up so the last trip I went out of my way to ignore the imperfections and for me the magic was back.

[tony67]

My only gripe is the quality of TS food has gone down so much I no longer eat at the TS locations. This is 100% due to the DDP IMO.
We have been over this a million times. Will they change it.
No, it suits the majority of guests and makes Disney money.

Would these same guests pay those prices out of pocket for the same food no IMO.
Would these restaurants survive in the real world at the prices they charge and quality they provide, no way for the most part.

As one person said to me on this site they don't care if all they had at Coral Reef was burgers and fries they would still love it. Another said good now I don't have to compete with you for an ADR.

As long as they can get a lot of food for a little money most people are happy.

Disney has done many things well. Magic Express for example.
Because Magic Express is so convenient it makes it hard to pick the Swan and Dolphin as a hotel even when I have 5 free nights there.

In the end even in this down Economy they are keeping the parks filled so even if they are going downhill they are doing OK as a business.

Part of it is blind loyalty to Disney. There are far too many Disney zealots who will defend Disney no matter what they do. But even they are a minority.

In the end Disney must be doing a lot of things right to be so busy year round.

[flicx]

Missed alot on here the last 4 or 5 days .Just got back from our vegas vacation and got caught up.We used a vegas trip to replace disney this year and had a goood time for alot less money.The food issue at disney is really sad compared to vegas.We generally don't eat TS and are fast food people.I think disney could learn alot from vegas in this department.Lots of different fast food at the same price as my home town.Soda for a dollar how refreshing,an $8.16(with tax) buffet at fremont street that was super,good food good service.Two of us ate for less than the cost of a single buffet at disney!Now if a vacation mecca like lasvegas can do this,why not disney? Just a thought!

[brunette8706]

Originally Posted by flicx

Missed alot on here the last 4 or 5 days .Just got back from our vegas vacation and got caught up.We used a vegas trip to replace disney this year and had a goood time for alot less money.The food issue at disney is really sad compared to vegas.We generally don't eat TS and are fast food people.I think disney could learn alot from vegas in this department.Lots of different fast food at the same price as my home town.Soda for a dollar how refreshing,an $8.16(with tax) buffet at fremont street that was super,good food good service.Two of us ate for less than the cost of a single buffet at disney!Now if a vacation mecca like lasvegas can do this,why not disney? Just a thought!

*
Hi Flicx! Where did you stay? Did you visit Wynn or Bellagio or Mandalay Bay? Those are my favorite hotels! I'm glad you had a great time!
Brunette

[Tiger926]

Originally Posted by flicx

Missed alot on here the last 4 or 5 days .Just got back from our vegas vacation and got caught up.We used a vegas trip to replace disney this year and had a goood time for alot less money.The food issue at disney is really sad compared to vegas.We generally don't eat TS and are fast food people.I think disney could learn alot from vegas in this department.Lots of different fast food at the same price as my home town.Soda for a dollar how refreshing,an $8.16(with tax) buffet at fremont street that was super,good food good service.Two of us ate for less than the cost of a single buffet at disney!Now if a vacation mecca like lasvegas can do this,why not disney? Just a thought!

Because it's a known fact that Vegas gives food away in order to get you into the casinos. They've been doing this for years - hotel rooms are pretty cheap too, and it's all done in order to get patrons spending lots of cash in the casinos. If you get cheap food and cheap rooms, you have more available cash to spend in the casinos, where most people then lose that money = major profits for the casinos!

Disney and Vegas are different in this respect, Tiger

[d1gitman]

Originally Posted by Tiger926

Because it's a known fact that Vegas gives food away in order to get you into the casinos. They've been doing this for years - hotel rooms are pretty cheap too, and it's all done in order to get patrons spending lots of cash in the casinos. If you get cheap food and cheap rooms, you have more available cash to spend in the casinos, where most people then lose that money = major profits for the casinos!

Disney and Vegas are different in this respect, Tiger

Some might argue with Free DDP, 40% Room Discounts, 4/7, Free Kids, Gift Cards are right in line with what Vegas does to get the customer through the front door.

[Tiger926]

Originally Posted by d1gitman

Some might argue with Free DDP, 40% Room Discounts, 4/7, Free Kids, Gift Cards are right in line with what Vegas does to get the customer through the front door.

Yup, it's close to it, with an entire year of Free Dining - I'll give you that. But you do have a whole different system in Vegas. Lots of short term visitors who come and go, and the big priority is gambling and drinking. You basically have one street of activities, and that's about it. They have no choice but to heavily discount, as how else would you get people over there?

Disney is different as they cater to families who stay for longer periods of time, and they offer lots of different activities as well. They don't have to heavily discount in order to secure patrons, like Vegas has had to do, except during lean economic times.

I just watched an interesting documentary about Vegas a few months ago, and it was interesting to see how it has changed, and how they have set it up to offer great deals as they pretty much have no other choice as there isn't much else to do in Vegas.

Tiger

[Suellen]

Besides.... the money that you spend in Vegas stays in Vegas. Sorry... couldn't help it.

The money you lose gambling is just that 'lost' money. You get nothing in return for it. I'd be willing to 'bet' that the profit margin of gambling is far higher than the profit margin at Disney. Of course I have nothing to back this up. I am just guessing that someone sitting at a slot machine dumping money into it has far less overhead costs than running an amusement park.

Someday I will get to visit Vegas ~ but not while my kids are little.

[Tiger926]

Originally Posted by Suellen

Besides.... the money that you spend in Vegas stays in Vegas. Sorry... couldn't help it.

The money you lose gambling is just that 'lost' money. You get nothing in return for it. I'd be willing to 'bet' that the profit margin of gambling is far higher than the profit margin at Disney. Of course I have nothing to back this up. I am just guessing that someone sitting at a slot machine dumping money into it has far less overhead costs than running an amusement park.

Someday I will get to visit Vegas ~ but not while my kids are little.

Yup, the profits are astronomical. The documentary had some projections as most of that info is confidential, according to the narrator, and the profit projections were staggering - way more than Disney makes! You've got way fewer staff members, and the guests who are there, just sit in chairs and keep throwing money at you. The casino business is much different than the amusement park business, I would imagine.

Tiger

[flicx]

Originally Posted by Tiger926

Because it's a known fact that Vegas gives food away in order to get you into the casinos. They've been doing this for years - hotel rooms are pretty cheap too, and it's all done in order to get patrons spending lots of cash in the casinos. If you get cheap food and cheap rooms, you have more available cash to spend in the casinos, where most people then lose that money = major profits for the casinos!

Disney and Vegas are different in this respect, Tiger

Actually tiger I was mostly referring to the fast food places that are reasonable and available up and down the strip.Some of which are on casino property others which are not.I know they make a profit and see no reason that they wouldn't work on disney property.Basically like subway,lots of good pizza places etc.I will say this the $1.00 soda for any size at Mcdonalds was great.Now I am really disappointed to see that downtown disney got rid of Mcdonalds,why is my question? I think I know the answer, to put in higher end restaurants so they make more moolah! I will say this for vegas, it isn't for everyone ,but it can be a real value if you know what to do. By the way suellen I would disagree about the money you spend gambling giving you nothing.If you gamble in moderation it is entertaining,just about like disney quest the way the slots are nowadays.

[d1gitman]

Originally Posted by Tiger926

... They don't have to heavily discount in order to secure patrons, like Vegas has had to do, except during lean economic times...

Bingo!

This is where i think the battle between those who know the Disney of pre-hard economic times vs. those who are jumping in with all the Discounts.

[flicx]

Originally Posted by brunette8706

*
Hi Flicx! Where did you stay? Did you visit Wynn or Bellagio or Mandalay Bay? Those are my favorite hotels! I'm glad you had a great time!
Brunette

Hi brunette, stayed at luxor (3 nights) and excaliber (1 night). We did visit all of those resorts/casinos as well and they all looked great. We couldn't beat the price for our stay though, all 4 nights free! Saw carrot top at luxor one night and I nearly cryed laughing, the guy is hilarious. They had a super deal on tickets 2 for 1 price.Less than 80 bucks for two of us and they weren't back row seats either. The whole trip came in hundreds less than the same stay at disney last year.We were never bored either.The next time you go try the paradise buffet at the fremont casino downtown. It was great food and service for 7.50 + tax(for lunch).

[Tiger926]

Originally Posted by flicx

Actually tiger I was mostly referring to the fast food places that are reasonable and available up and down the strip.Some of which are on casino property others which are not.I know they make a profit and see no reason that they wouldn't work on disney property.Basically like subway,lots of good pizza places etc.I will say this the $1.00 soda for any size at Mcdonalds was great.Now I am really disappointed to see that downtown disney got rid of Mcdonalds,why is my question? I think I know the answer, to put in higher end restaurants so they make more moolah! I will say this for vegas, it isn't for everyone ,but it can be a real value if you know what to do. By the way suellen I would disagree about the money you spend gambling giving you nothing.If you gamble in moderation it is entertaining,just about like disney quest the way the slots are nowadays.

McDonald's and Disney ended their multi-year contract within the whole company, so it wasn't just to get rid of the Downtown Disney restaurant. They had to get rid of all McDonald's foods on property (AK and Epcot also sold products), as well as no more merchandise/movie/food tie-ins at the restaurants such as: free glasses or toys with Happy Meals.

Tiger

[d1gitman]

Originally Posted by Tiger926

McDonald's and Disney ended their multi-year contract within the whole company, so it wasn't just to get rid of the Downtown Disney restaurant. They had to get rid of all McDonald's foods on property (AK and Epcot also sold products), as well as no more merchandise/movie/food tie-ins at the restaurants such as: free glasses or toys with Happy Meals.

Tiger

so this means the McD's FF Wagon in Frontierland is gone?!

That was one of our guilty pleasures as they always had the best cooked FF's!