Bad show disney!!!

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

Disney has never really been "as close to perfection as realistically possible." I can remember trips in the late 1970s where we had bad CS food, had to stand in line forever for popular rides (with no FP available), encountered indifferent CMs, and saw > gasp! < painters at work on Main Street. However, because "the good old days" are always better than the "now", the bad moments kind of fade into the collective fuzziness of the memory. (Because back in the 70s, digital cameras didn't exist, nor did the Internet, and so people didn't exhaustively document every bit of chipped paint or burned-out lightbulb and share that information in chat rooms, so that everyone else can go visit WDW and specifically look for stuff that's wrong so that they can come back and be indignant too.)

Disney has, at some level, always sacrificed it's standards for profits. Look at all the really bad movies that came out during the Card Walker years when everything was one big formula, and the catchphrase was "put the Disney name on it and people will buy it." But again ... no Facebook pages or DIS boards to discuss things on. If people were indignant, they just kind of kept it to themselves. And then Little Mermaid came along and fixed the problem.

I don't think that the company has changed near as much as the reporting system has changed. Someone sees a bit of backstage construction and so they report on how horrible it is to see that, causing more and more people to go and look at it when otherwise they'd have never noticed. Someone gets to wake up Tinkerbell and they talk about it and then other people get mad because they didn't get to wake up Tinkerbell on their trips and that's then somehow Disney's fault.

I think if people looked at Disney history without the benefit of nostalgia, they'd see that Disney has always been a very "human" place. Even the opening day of Disneyland was fraught with problems, including not enough food, asphalt that literally melted under peoples' feet, and shows that were under-rehearsed disasters. But no one remembers that part. Just like ten years from now, no one is going to remember that moment on the train when they saw Mickey's house being demo'd or the time they met a grumpy CM. And if they DO remember it, it will be as kind of a funny anecdote about their trip "back in 2010".

Those are three fantastic points, and I completely agree!

He did. But it took years for Disney to figure out how to handle crowds and keep everything running. Thankfully, Disneyland used to be closed for several months of the year so that everything could be refreshed and refurbished without inconveniencing anyone. I think maybe people forget that Disneyland wasn't always a year-round, open every day park. It was a lot easier for Walt's gang to maintain things -- they had actual closed days when work could be done and maintenance performed without having to worry about running the park too. That's much more difficult now. When the park is closed, Guests aren't complaining because a ride is down for rehab.


Of course we want to continue to expect the best. But to expect that nothing will ever go wrong is not the same thing. My point was that Walt wasn't perfect. Everyone just remembers that he was.

That is something I never knew, i.e. that the park used to close for several months a year. Imagine if they did that today! Twelve months worth of guests crammed into ten months a year!

 

[maxiesmom]

That is something I never knew, i.e. that the park used to close for several months a year. Imagine if they did that today! Twelve months worth of guests crammed into ten months a year!

Can you imagine the hostile posts we would see then????? Look how mad people are when rides are down for refurb, I can just imagine the uproar if the whole park was down!

 

[mcever4]

Keep up the good work Disney![/QUOTE]



Robin

 

[SparkyTheGiraffe]

I don't get what the big deal is. It's not like they bulldozed the house with Mickey still in it. Tell your kids that he moved and they are tearing down the old house.

Problem solved.

Hahahahahah!!!!!!!!1

 

[WDSearcher]

Those are three fantastic points, and I completely agree!

That is something I never knew, i.e. that the park used to close for several months a year. Imagine if they did that today! Twelve months worth of guests crammed into ten months a year!

Actually, Disneyland didn't go to year-round seven-day-a-week schedules until 1987! Even in the early 80s, they had times of the year that they closed during the week and were only open Thur-Sun.

When WDW opened, it was year-round from the start, although "normal" hours at MK were 9am-6pm. "Extended hours" were anything more than that. It was pretty rare in those early years to see the parks open past 7pm. Now, people complain if the parks aren't open until 9.

Fireworks happened on weekends and holidays. Even Spring Break didn't warrant nightly fireworks in the early years. Laserphonic Fantasy at Epcot was a huge deal because they did it EVERY NIGHT. Unheard of!

Christmas decorations went up the day after Thanksgiving and not a second before. And they came down on New Year's Day. The first MVMCP was held in 1983 as a one-night-only event. It almost didn't get done in 1984 because it lost money that first year.

Ah ... memories!

 

[spacemountainmom]

you can make fun of pixie dust all you want...and I do sort of detest the term...but it is precisely that "intangible" that separates WDW from just about every other vacation destination in the world.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE WDW. I love how I arrive there and am completely disconnected from the real world. I can totally forget the cold and snow back home and act like a kid and totally enjoy myself.

I am not going to get my undies in a big knot because of some construction and find it hard to believe that people get worked up over something so trivial. I am all for "pixie dust" but get tired of those who expect it blown where the sun don't shine 24/7.

Things change, people......most change in life cannot be stopped. If the changes at Disney bother someone that much, it's rather simple....just dont go.

I have to agree with the pp who said that a huge part of the problem is the internet.....disboards, allears and the like. Daily, there are threads speaking to how X got this and that on his/her trip and how do I get that too???? The best part of the magic is when it is unexpected. Some people expect way too much and set themselves up for huge disppointment.

There are far bigger problems in the world than a glimse behind the curtain at Disney. If this bothers you that much, you might want to try counseling.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

There are far bigger problems in the world than a glimse behind the curtain at Disney. If this bothers you that much, you might want to try counseling.

spare me your sanctimonious drivel and smart aleck snipes about getting counseling.

I never said it bothered me beyond a small comment that I liked the parks better without construction.

sheesh....get a clue!

 

[KellyNY]

I like how some people say Disney could do a better job covering construction, but if you ask me, they do a great job and I can not possibly imagine anything better. They have all those walls with pictures of what is comming where all people walk. It is not like some orange walls with permits on it and dirt everywhere, like all construction sites. Disney is always open so what they suppose to do? I was there in September and saw all this and some walls on Main Street. While Main Street construction was in a wrong time IMO, covering was the best possible. I know that some people postone their trips because of construction and it is fine with me, while some people like me, do not feel any less magic then usual. Anyway, construction is not a secret and anyone can make decision based on this info.

I know some people think everything gone bad. Even I, someone who wears rose glasses most of the time, notice some not so good changes. However,
I do not like dramatization and "crying wolve" every time someone doesnot like something. It is getting old.

 

[goofyernmost]

spare me your sanctimonious drivel and smart aleck snipes about getting counseling.

I never said it bothered me beyond a small comment that I liked the parks better without construction.

sheesh....get a clue!

Just a thought here, but, perhaps it wasn't you that she was referring too! I don't think it was.

I like how some people say Disney could do a better job covering construction, but if you ask me, they do a great job and I can not possibly imagine anything better. They have all those walls with pictures of what is comming where all people walk. It is not like some orange walls with permits on it and dirt everywhere, like all construction sites. Disney is always open so what they suppose to do? I was there in September and saw all this and some walls on Main Street. While Main Street construction was in a wrong time IMO, covering was the best possible. I know that some people postone their trips because of construction and it is fine with me, while some people like me, do not feel any less magic then usual. Anyway, construction is not a secret and anyone can make decision based on this info.

I know some people think everything gone bad. Even I, someone who wears rose glasses most of the time, notice some not so good changes. However,
I do not like dramatization and "crying wolve" every time someone does not like something. It is getting old.

Very old, in fact. It is the classic wanting something but not wanting to go through the process of getting it. Apparently, the construction of new and better stuff to do is all put there by that famous "Magic" we all constantly hear about. Well, unfortunately, in order to get all that magic some very real unmagical things have to happen.

Instead of thinking and insisting that Disney is somehow able to just wave a wand and pixie dust just settles and out of the dust rises wonderful magical things for them to do, maybe we should cut them a little slack and for just a moment be a child that is mature enough to understand how things happen. Then we wait patiently and with much anticipation, for the new, magical stuff to show itself to us.

 

[mazdabug]

"It's something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing...and adding to."

"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."

"Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland...the blessing of size. There's enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine."

"We've got to study the land.. . . . .We've got to put Disneyland, which everybody will know, at the very upper end of the property because that will be the weenie."

"I've always said that there will never be another Disneyland, and I think it's going to work out that way. But it will be the equivalent of Disneyland. We know the basic things that have family appeal. There are many ways that you can use those certain basic things and give them a new decor, a new treatment. This concept here will have to be something that is unique, so there is a distinction between Disneyland in California and whatever Disney does in Florida."

I'm doing this because I want to do it better"

"Believe me, it's the most exciting and challenging assignment we have ever tackled at Walt Disney Productions."

Quotes by Walt Disney

 

[maxiesmom]

It is the classic wanting something but not wanting to go through the process of getting it. Apparently, the construction of new and better stuff to do is all put there by that famous "Magic" we all constantly hear about. Well, unfortunately, in order to get all that magic some very real unmagical things have to happen.

Instead of thinking and insisting that Disney is somehow able to just wave a wand and pixie dust just settles and out of the dust rises wonderful magical things for them to do, maybe we should cut them a little slack and for just a moment be a child that is mature enough to understand how things happen. Then we wait patiently and with much anticipation, for the new, magical stuff to show itself to us.

Instead of Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) you have Not While I'm Visiting(NWIV). Or maybe NWICS Not Where I Could See.

Everyone wants the parks improved and looking nice, but no one wants the work done while they are there.

 

[spacemountainmom]

spare me your sanctimonious drivel and smart aleck snipes about getting counseling.

I never said it bothered me beyond a small comment that I liked the parks better without construction.

sheesh....get a clue!

wow - drama queen!

maybe you need to lay on the floor and tantrum for 30 minutes or so?

I know I do after reading this thread.

 

[dzorn]

I would have prefered a see through fence.

Denise in MI

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

"It's something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing...and adding to."

"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."

"Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland...the blessing of size. There's enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine."

"We've got to study the land.. . . . .We've got to put Disneyland, which everybody will know, at the very upper end of the property because that will be the weenie."

"I've always said that there will never be another Disneyland, and I think it's going to work out that way. But it will be the equivalent of Disneyland. We know the basic things that have family appeal. There are many ways that you can use those certain basic things and give them a new decor, a new treatment. This concept here will have to be something that is unique, so there is a distinction between Disneyland in California and whatever Disney does in Florida."

I'm doing this because I want to do it better"

"Believe me, it's the most exciting and challenging assignment we have ever tackled at Walt Disney Productions."

Quotes by Walt Disney

Love those quotes! Thanks!

Instead of Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) you have Not While I'm Visiting(NWIV). Or maybe NWICS Not Where I Could See.

Everyone wants the parks improved and looking nice, but no one wants the work done while they are there.

Sometimes we've thought "that stinks" about one thing or another that changed/left on our trips, but honestly, we're just happy to be there and enjoy the rest!

I'm sure Walt would be doing flips in grave if he knew what was happening.

I think Walt is resting just fine in his grave.

My DS (4 on our first trip, 6 for our 2nd trip, now 18) expressed his first HUGE sign of excitement about our 2nd trip to WDW as we drove through the gates of Disney, when he announced that he COULD NOT WAIT to see the cake castle again! However, the cake castle was gone...forever. We told him it was now "just" a castle, he was fine, end of story. I guess we're just lucky we have easy going kids.

I think it's really cool to see construction at WDW. I'd be straining to see through the cracks.

 

[DreamSweetsLove]

Things change, people......most change in life cannot be stopped. If the changes at Disney bother someone that much, it's rather simple....just dont go.

I have to agree with the pp who said that a huge part of the problem is the internet.....disboards, allears and the like. Daily, there are threads speaking to how X got this and that on his/her trip and how do I get that too???? The best part of the magic is when it is unexpected. Some people expect way too much and set themselves up for huge disppointment.

The thing is that this is not true though. WDW's quality has changed but that's not an inevitability. The original complaint was about WDW maintaining the standards that Disney set for themselves and that the other parks are still able to maintain. Someone argued earlier that if it gave them the budget to do something else they were ok with that and yes maybe something is better then nothing, I get that point. But please don't pretend that change towards lower quality is inevitable because it's not.

It's not about blowing things out of proportion either, these things are basic. It's also not about the internet, we have construction at our parks and regular ride closures for maintenance and it's understood that it's necessary and to be honest I'm quite happy for the inconvenience because the parks are being improved during these times. The whole original argument was that it was bad show and it was. To be honest it doesn't look like discussion is possible because people don't understand the original point.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

wow - drama queen!

maybe you need to lay on the floor and tantrum for 30 minutes or so?

I know I do after reading this thread.

I feel better now that you have apologized.

What I DO need counseling for is my addition to WDW and the DIS.

 

[Wadecool]

Love those quotes! Thanks!Sometimes we've thought "that stinks" about one thing or another that changed/left on our trips, but honestly, we're just happy to be there and enjoy the rest!I think Walt is resting just fine in his grave.

My DS (4 on our first trip, 6 for our 2nd trip, now 18) expressed his first HUGE sign of excitement about our 2nd trip to WDW as we drove through the gates of Disney, when he announced that he COULD NOT WAIT to see the cake castle again! However, the cake castle was gone...forever. We told him it was now "just" a castle, he was fine, end of story. I guess we're just lucky we have easy going kids.

I think it's really cool to see construction at WDW. I'd be straining to see through the cracks.

I thought Walt was frozen in a cryogenic chamber under POTC, is that not true?

 

[Oglet]

I thought Walt was frozen in a cryogenic chamber under POTC, is that not true?

Nope, sorry just a rumor.

He is touring around the country, I believe its called Disney On Ice

 

[goofyernmost]

Nope, sorry just a rumor.

He is touring around the country, I believe its called Disney On Ice

I always wondered what that show title meant. Now I feel foolish for not figuring it out.

 

[Planogirl]

Nope, sorry just a rumor.

He is touring around the country, I believe its called Disney On Ice

Oh no you didn't!