Al Lutz needs to lighten up

[disneyphilip]

If anyone has ever read Al Lutz's recent articles about WDW, you'll probably understand when I say that this guy really needs to lighten up.

Examples:

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al110306a.htm

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al112806a.htm (particularly the "Disney's Stale World, Continued" section of Page 5)

Lutz comes off as such an anti-Disney fan that it can be sickening! He only wants to talk about the negative and downplay the positive!

IMO, he's one guy he seriously needs to get a life and give Disney (including WDW) a break.

 

[Robo]

If anyone has ever read Al Lutz's recent articles about WDW, you'll probably understand when I say that this guy really needs to lighten up.

This is exactly what he "does"... its his niche.

Telling Mr. Lutz to "lighten up and be positive" is like telling Eeyore to be cheerful. It would be out of character.

 

[meeko_33785]

I definatly agree. I've never been a reader of his because all his articles read like "Debbie Downer Does Disney". The paint was pealing... the sound wasn't perfect... some floats are recycled... the animatronics were too jerky. Disney World is never going to be perfect, so why not just enjoy it for what it is? I've always had a good time even though it obviously isn't up to Al Lutz's standards.

 

[Cass]

Please don't give him any more attention by posting his views he doesn't deserve it.

 

[disneyphilip]

Please don't give him any more attention by posting his views he doesn't deserve it.

Sorry. That wasn't my intention at all.

Nonetheless, I totally agree that he does not deserve all that attention.

I just wanted to get something off my chest and only posted the links to give you folks a better idea of what I was talking about.

 

[disneyphilip]

I definatly agree. I've never been a reader of his because all his articles read like "Debbie Downer Does Disney".

Who's Debbie Downer?

 

[Colson39]

Strange, it seems the general public disagree with Mr. Al Lutz.

Walt Disney World's attendance was up about 5 percent for the three-month period ending Sept. 30, compared with the same period last year.

That helped Walt Disney Parks and Resorts come close to breaking even in attendance for the fourth quarter of Disney's fiscal year, because Disneyland attendance was down 7 percent, Disney Chief Financial Officer Thomas Staggs reported today.

He claims that Walt Disney World is now plagued with tons of problems and is not a satisying park (where as I find the exact opposite, in the last few years I think the WDW has made some rather nice improvements, and I enjoy it more than I did back in 2000-2001). And that Disneyland has all these great ideas and gadgets that makes them so succesful and blah blah blah why they do everything right and WDW does everything wrong. Yet Disneyland attendance is down 7%, and WDW attendance is up 5%. Strange, you think if what he said was true, the exact opposite would happen with attendance.

He seems to be a huge fan of Disneyland, and not so huge a fan of Walt Disney World. Maybe a little park jealousy?

It's obvious this is a guy that doesn't know how to enjoy life, only how to critique it. Don't worry, while he walks around spending his money thinking about how miserable a time he's having, we can walk around spending our money thinking about how great a time we're having. Which would you rather be?

 

[meeko_33785]

Who's Debbie Downer?

She's a character from a series of Saturday Night Live skits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToVTbGQyj2Y

 

[shaws2003]

He has some points, but I always refer to the age-old saying that "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything" If he doesn't like WDW, don't go. It's pretty simple. IF I don't like a show on tv, I don't write a blog about not liking it, I TURN THE CHANNEL. We still love WDW, and will continue to vacation there whenever possible.

 

[tawasdave]

Why does such a negative individual even go to Disney?

 

[dmk1021]

Oh my gosh, when I read that article it was so depressing.

Some of his points are valid, even if they sting a little bit. Having visited DL this past spring I can say I agree with him just a little bit.

Still, he is a lot like Debbie Downer (funny reference, BTW).

After reading his articles, it's always nice to come here and read some more uplifting and positive observations, that's for sure!

 

[lovethattink]

I read all 5 pages of his article. There are a few things where I agree with him, but for the most part I disagree. He only went for a short stay at WDW. I'm visiting at least once a week, if not more, and staying on property about once a month.

I see the constant upkeep and remodeling going on at the resorts, parks, etc. It amazes me how quickly they start and finish projects.

I do agree with him about the castle though. I was very suprised to see that crane up on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. I thought for sure it would be hidden since it was so full of people.

As for the quality of the films at Epcot, I have to agree that they are showing their age.

I also have to agree about the carousel of progress. While I'd be devasted if this attraction closed for good, I think the last scene is ready for an update. My son asked me what a car phone was the last time we saw it. I told him it was what my grandfather used for business back in the 70's, similar to a cell phone, but bigger.

As for the animatronics, there wasn't really anything to compare them to before. Now that there is the incredible fluid, lifelike movements of the Jack Sparrow one, it really points out how choppy the movements of the others are.

I think a big part of any of Disney's "problems" stems from so much "right sizing" since 9/11. With $$ being the number one driving force of Disney, I think they have gone too many years decreasing staff and putting too much of the burden on the "low man". They need to stop trying to do the most they can for the least they can.

 

[disneyphilip]

Why does such a negative individual even go to Disney?

Who knows?

And, yes, if he's gonna hate it so much, he shouldn't go.

Let those of us who still enjoy WDW continue to enjoy it, for Pete's sake.

 

[disneyphilip]

(bump)

 

[orljustin]

He has some points, but I always refer to the age-old saying that "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything" If he doesn't like WDW, don't go. It's pretty simple. IF I don't like a show on tv, I don't write a blog about not liking it, I TURN THE CHANNEL. We still love WDW, and will continue to vacation there whenever possible.

That's a pretty naive way of looking at things. If no one points out the issues, they don't get fixed or changed, and eventually they become overwhelming. Then you'll notice.

He is perfectly entitled to his opinion as is everyone here.

 

[First timer]

If I had read his article before stumbling upon this site and making our first trip this past June I truly believe that I never would have gone to WDW. He just made it all sound so depressing and cheesy.

 

[dbm20th]

I think there's 2 points here...

1. Articles like this only serve to benefit those of us who attend WDW often. If anyone at Disney is reading, and they are, bringing these types of issues to the surface may be a good thing.

2. Lutz is a DL die-hard. It is not unusual that he would take minor maintenance issues and blow them into something that has "my park is better than yours" written all over it.

 

[Kick Save]

I'd never read Mr. Lutz's column before, so I had no opinion one way or the other. Having said that, I'd like to thank disneyphillip for providing those links, it was a pretty good read. As a shareholder, it was rather eye-opening, especially the second link that provided the "spend-spend-spend to meet the budget," portion of the article. The only thing that irked me was the constant, "California is better," attitude towards everything...but that's Californians in general.

But, the "if he doesn't like it, why does he go," comments here are a bit shallow. First of all, he said he had a great time but was choosing to focus on the things he thought were problems for his article. And, believe it or not, Walt Disney World isn't a perfect place where everything is magic and pixie dust, some things people don't like. They're welcome to share those opinions.

Mainly, I think he's dead on with marketing ruling WDW. It comes out in various forms on these boards, usually in concerning what AP holders and/or DVC members get as perks. The returning visitor, which these two groups are CLEARLY a part of, rarely get the biggest perk which is the annual free dining. WDW markets to the new visitor most heavily to get the exposure, then once the visitor is there they get wowed by a couple of new attractions. Not until successive visits will they notice the dating of attractions that Al spoke of. (I give you: Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Kids who were born the year that attraction opened are now going on 13 years old and don't even know what it refers to...let alone the younger kids.)

Personally, I love WDW, but I still notice things I'd like to see improved. I'd love to see the attention to detail that Disney was known for come back to each and every attraction. I listen to a number of podcasts that rave about the HM updates in DL, but nothing is even remotely metioned for the HM in Orlando.

I think WDW is great and spend a lot of money and time there, but I'd still like to see a lot of the things Al mentioned improved.

 

[lucky1]

I use to read Al all the time when he had his own site that had Disneyland information and it was pretty informative and positive. I think he use to be a regular on the old list serve alt.rec.disney.parks (does that still exisit?) I even purchased a couple of his albums that he produced because they were Disney theme. But then he started doing very negative reviews towards Disneyland and each week would post the "eye sore" of the week and it just became to depressing. I stopped reading and then found the DIS and haven't gone back.

 

[declansdad]

Can anyone tell me who this guy is?