Bring Back the Magic

[DisneyHolidayFan]

Have others noticed that Disney World is not as magical as it was before 9/11? We have been going the week after Thanksgiving since 1999 and each year, notice things (sometimes, something real trivial) that are eliminated, such as lit wreaths during the MVMCP, less garland across Main St. Business has increased but they do not bring back little details that were there before, all which added to the magic of Disney World.

 

[Robo]

You listed only two small details in decorations on Mais Street.

And those could have simply been design changes and had nothing to do with "post 911" cutbacks.

I'll all for the "Magic", but I think you need to be a bit more detailed in your critique that some of it is "missing."

 

[flortlebap]

I remember pre 9/11 when River Country was open, the parks opened earlier and closed later, and EVERY park had EMH every day.

So yes, I think it's lost a little magic, I was a bit disappointed by the park hours on our last trip. That said, summer stil seems pretty good

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

I only listed a few items that maybe others might not have noticed. Obvious changes such as no Christmas dinner/show at the Contemporary, Life building shut down, Timekeeper closed, Carousel of Progress running seasonally, less decorations in all resorts, less personnel, etc. have all been mentioned on posts before. Just wondered, without criticism, if anyone else has noticed little things that are missing. I love Disney and this was just an innocent question. Have a nice day!!!

 

[CTXRover]

I only listed a few items that maybe others might not have noticed. Obvious changes such as no Christmas dinner/show at the Contemporary, Life building shut down, Timekeeper closed, Carousel of Progress running seasonally, less decorations in all resorts, less personnel, etc. have all been mentioned on posts before. Just wondered, without criticism, if anyone else has noticed little things that are missing. I love Disney and this was just an innocent question. Have a nice day!!!

Its a matter of evolving and changing. I thought the christmas season in 2001 saw some big cuts in decorations resort-wide and last year the Disney decorators admitted that in an Orlando Sentinel article. Business was down and staffing was tight and the first thing to get a cut was unfortunately seasonal decorations among other things. If they hadn't made some of these changes, WDW would not have been able to keep its stable footing to prepare itself with new attractions when the crowds returned (all of which happened).

Since then, the budget for Christmas is admittingly bigger than pre-2001. Some resorts lost some garlands around lamp posts here and there and other smaller trees and wreaths were placed elsewhere, but the parks themselves are decorated as much as ever. In the case of AK, more than ever. New holiday fireworks for MK and Epcot have been added since 2001. New holiday parades at AK and MGM were added.

You will see changes, you should expect changes. Things are different. For me, it is still as magical as ever though.

And btw, COP has been running year-round for several years now despite being labeled "seasonal". Timekeeper is currently being replaced with a brand-new show utilizing Disney's latest technology of "live animation" with The Laugh Floor (hosted by Mike Wasowski from Monsters, Inc.). Staffing is tight in Orlando and WDW has been doing its best to try and find the 55,000+ CM's they need to keep everything up and running. Its not as easy anymore to find that many "perfect" CM's as it was when WDW was a smaller resort.

 

[cybrkitn]

I only listed a few items that maybe others might not have noticed. Obvious changes such as no Christmas dinner/show at the Contemporary, Life building shut down, Timekeeper closed, Carousel of Progress running seasonally, less decorations in all resorts, less personnel, etc. have all been mentioned on posts before. Just wondered, without criticism, if anyone else has noticed little things that are missing. I love Disney and this was just an innocent question. Have a nice day!!!

I have read on the Disney site somewhere the reason why the Life building is only seasonal is because it's used for conferences during the "closed" season. I was hoping it would be open so that my DS and DH could see Cranium Command and ride Body Wars. But no such luck

 

[Robo]

I have read on the Disney site somewhere the reason why the Life building is only seasonal is because it's used for conferences during the "closed" season. I was hoping it would be open so that my DS and DH could see Cranium Command and ride Body Wars. But no such luck

I copied the following (month-by-month) from the WDW Calendar Epcot site:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...alendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage&date=20061201

OPERATIONAL UPDATES

* Body Wars: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [September 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006]
* Cranium Command: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [September 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006]
* The Making of Me: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [September 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006]

* Body Wars: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [October 1, 2006 to October 31, 2006]
* Cranium Command: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [October 1, 2006 to October 31, 2006]
* The Making of Me: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [October 1, 2006 to October 31, 2006]

* Body Wars: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [November 1, 2006 to November 30, 2006]
* Cranium Command: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [November 1, 2006 to November 30, 2006]
* The Making of Me: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [November 1, 2006 to November 30, 2006]

* Body Wars: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [December 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006]
* Cranium Command: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [December 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006]
* The Making of Me: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [December 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006]

* Body Wars: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [January 1, 2007 to January 31, 2007]
* Body Wars: Operates Seasonally; Temporarily Closed [February 1, 2007 to February 28, 2007]
-----------------------------------------------------
Don't know why in Jan. Feb. & March 2007 that only Body Wars is listed... hummmmm.

But still, it looks like these attractions will NEVER re-open considering that they are not open at all during the Summer... not even around or on July 4th, one of THE busiest times at WDW... or over the BUSY Christmas holidays either.

Sad to say that, as I really loved these attractions, but at least the listings are no longer ambiguous.
I just wonder WHY they bother to specifically list them AT ALL??

Specifically to Body Wars, the rumor is that it is no longer even "in the building" as the ride system was supposedly shipped to another non-US Disney park for use as a "Star Tours" attraction at that park.

----------
As to any RUMORS about it re-opening (despite the closed listings).
I copied this post from about a month ago and post it below FWIW:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1180552

08-02-2006, 06:40 PM #11
Otimon
DIS Veteran

Otimon's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Mickey's backyard
Posts: 1,298

Plans are for the Wonders of Life to be open for 5 weeks this year - beginning Thanksgiving through the end of the year.

I have so many guests tell me how much they miss Wonders. Hope many of you will be down to enjoy it during the holidays.

Best wishes.
__________________
WDW Cast Member (Epcot)

 

[kimmikayb]

I'm not sure 9/11 has anything to do with it, unless you're just using that as a baseline date but yes I did notice some things between my visits (9/99~2/06). The maintenance of rides. The trash. The attitude of some cast members. Pre-'99 for me had rides in excellent condition (seems to me crews used to work nights to keep things ship shape and I thought I read that doesn't happen anymore??). Trash was automatically picked up. I don't fault Disney for all the trash problems. I think the guests have a lot to do with that too. How hard is it to throw your trash in a can? But Disney needs to start emptying those cans when they overflow. When I was a cast member, there was no excuse for bad attitude. If you couldn't have the "on stage" magical attitude....you went backstage until you could compose yourself. No excuses. However....I can't fault Disney for all of that either. They are the largest one state employer and when you have what? 56,000 employees? You can't always pick the cream of the crop, so to say. However, they might consider giving better pay and holding on to the great cast members.

Having said all of that...I still feel the magic everytime I'm there. I still meet some of the greatest cast members and I even pick up trash that other guests throw on the ground.

 

[Got Quattro?]

The Magic stopped in 1999-2000. That's when Disney cut back on thing. before then, you'd never see a dead leaf or piece of trash on the ground. While they still are quick to pick up trash, you will see piles of fallen leves on sidewalks, or dead patches of gras on the ground and in the parks.

They were building too many hotels and other things Y2k that made the budgets get cut. When you cut a budget, it's hard to get the money back.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I do not believe the magic has stopped. Late in the Eisner era things got neglected -things other than the bottom line, that it. That led to some short-sighted accounting decisions that WDW is still today playing catch up on. As for the trash, it is the most obvious sign. But as most will agree, it is has at least as much to do with the fact that many guests are pigs as it does staffing levels or performance.

The changes don't bother me like they do some. One thing I don't understand is why they closed the Wonders of Life Pavilion and just let it sit there . I am glad that CoP is open almost year round, and glad to see Timekeeper replaced. That show was dreadful IMO.

 

[flortlebap]

I do think 9/11 had something to do with it - as it had a HUGE impact on the tourism industry. It's a fact that Disney draws in less crowds now (albeit still large) and so it has had to adapt. It wouldn't be financially viable to keep a lot of things that they have gotten rid of - so I can't really blame them, even if it does make it slightly less fun at certain times of year

Seasonal maintenance on the other hand is unfortunately a necessity

 

[Syrreal]

Just wanted to note that no parks had "EMH" (before known as E-ticket) every night. They did have some early hours (i.e. fantasyland in MK opened early but even that wasn't every day)

 

[mking624]

Honestly, I think whether or not the magic is "disappearing" is simply based on one's perception of it. I do not notice a difference in things from when I went on my honeymoon in 2000 to my trip just last week. The park is still immaculately clean, we have always been treated wonderfully by CMs, etc.
Rides changing/closing has never been a big issue for me. I may not be a big fan of the change (i.e. the new POTC did not impress me or my DH at all), but I realize it's all a part of keeping up with the show. Walt Disney even talked about changing things when he created Disneyland:

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

 

[CarolA]

You know decorations etc aren't the "magic"

The "magic" is what happens to you at Disney and a LOT of that is your own making....

 

[Robo]

You know decorations etc aren't the "magic"

The "magic" is what happens to you at Disney and a LOT of that is your own making....

Chaw!

 

[mattsdragon]

I always heard that the life pavillion was usually closed was
a) they were looking for a new sponser
b) it was never particularly popular
c) it was never particularly good.

I wouldn't know because I've never had any interest in going into it.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

You have to remember Disney doesn't have an endless supply of money. You also need people to show up to your parks so that the investment your putting in, shows a return. Disney is offering Free Dining just to get people to come during slow seasons, so they must be hurting somewhat. Until the economy picks up and people have extra money to travel again ( and aren't afraid to fly ), I would expect cutbacks at Disneyworld. There's just alot of factors against them right now.

 

[ChrisFL]

I dont think 9/11 started it, it started WAY before then, like around 1995 when apparently Disney laid off a lot of imagineers. Then we had the Test Track debacle, the Rocket Rods debacle at DL, the removal of classic rides with cheap replacements, or no replacements, etc.

There's a LOT of things that Disney has failed improve upon since then, and many are listed at this site, with former imagineers giving their views on the status of things:

http://www.imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/

 

[mking624]

I dont think 9/11 started it, it started WAY before then, like around 1995 when apparently Disney laid off a lot of imagineers. Then we had the Test Track debacle, the Rocket Rods debacle at DL, the removal of classic rides with cheap replacements, or no replacements, etc.

There's a LOT of things that Disney has failed improve upon since then, and many are listed at this site, with former imagineers giving their views on the status of things:

http://www.imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/

Again, it's all in the individual's perception of it. Some people think that the change of rides and such has been a good thing for the parks and some don't. People could debate this forever, but the truth is that no matter what Disney does, there's always someone who will find fault and claim the company is losing its magic.

As the saying goes, you can't please everyone.

ETA: I just went to the link you provided...and good gosh they like to pick things apart, don't they? Many of the things they complained about where things I didn't even find problematic. This just goes to prove that you certainly can't please everyone.

 

[ChrisFL]

ETA: I just went to the link you provided...and good gosh they like to pick things apart, don't they? Many of the things they complained about where things I didn't even find problematic. This just goes to prove that you certainly can't please everyone.

So you could say they have a lot of attention to detail that seems to be lacking. I guess Walt would say the same as them, as he had a very keen eye for detail too.

A lot of little things add up until you dont recognize the place anymore. Now Im not saying that it's all bad and some of the blogs can be seen as good or bad but overall they've nailed a lot of things that need to be resolved to keep Disney being unique.