Come on, Disney! Step it up already.

[KapBoy77]

I totally disagree with this statement. I was in Epcot less than a month ago, and did not notice much that needed some love. Malestrom does need help, but that is the only thing I can think of. I don't think you will find many that disagree that Imagination needs to be changed, but that is not something needed because of neglect. But because the ride is just boring.

As far as updates go, Disney has to walk a fine line. They can't go too crazy changing things, or people will be picking up their pitchforks. Some of us come back time after time and don't want to see a ton of changes. Nostalgia is a huge part of the draw of WDW.

Remember too that they just had Test Track closed for a while. They can't close a bunch of rides in the same park without people becoming very upset. It is not as if they can shut a park down for days and fix everything all at once, as some parks can.

Yeah I always wonder what I missed when people say the park looks bad. Maybe I don't go often enough because as far as I was concerned the parked looked great to me!

 

[d-r]

I am just going to say that I think folks should try universal before knocking it. IMHO over the past 10 years or so Disney has been going down in quality and USF has been going up.

I love Disney World, went there in 1972 when I was four, went to grad night there, got engaged there, got married there, concieved a child there. Pushed my kids in strollers all over the place. We've been DVC members for about 11 years, and nothing could take me away from our points at vwl, bcv and kidani. I've had so many wonderful times there. I've stayed in every deluxe multiple times, every moderate, one of the all stars and the cars section at the animation suites. I love fort wilderness. Heck I've stayed at every disneyland hotel and tokyo disney for that matter.

But here's the truth. I would rather stay at one of my three dvcs than anywhere on this planet. Because I love the dvc style and these places are special to me. But if I was going to stay in a *hotel* I would rather stay at the hardrock hotel than any Disney World hotel. If I had a friend that was a casual vister that is what I would tell them.

Here is why, as of this moment in 2013:
1. HRH rooms feel more comfortable than Disney ones.
2. HRH comes with front of the line access. You can't touch that at disney world.
3. Disney transportation is a pain. The best resort, to me, for transportation is BCV because you can walk to epcot and boat/walk to studios. The car is easy to get to drive to DAK, because that is a lot better than waiting on a bus to DAK. I'd still bus to MK though. That's the best you can do at Disney. If you stayed at BCV and went to universal, you'd be able to walk/boat to 2 parks, drive to three, and bus to one. If you stay at HHR, you'd be able to walk/boat to 2 parks and drive to four. When you put in the front of the line access, it is no contest. Oh, and every where you have to drive to legoland and seaworld anyway. You can't compare busses to boats.
4, The best disney pool is hands down SAB. No question. HRH pool does not match SAB, but it is even with Kidani and superior to every other WDW pool. They have live music, lots of fun, better quailty beer and better service.
5. Food. There are a few restaurants I still love at WDW, but the quality has went so downhill that USF is better. USF counter service is better than WDW counter service. Our kids have had a lot of fun racing coconuts at 'Ohana, but they've also had a lot of fun making pizzas at the kitchen and playing in the kids rooms. Character meals are a LOT more laid back at the USF restaurants. You get a lot more QT there. There's also the Palm, Tchoup Tchoup etc., that can compete with Artist Point, etc. (actually, I think that since the chef from Coral Reef came to AP that the food has been too busy, but it I know it ebs and flows), anyway, my point is that food at Disney has been in decline and it has been getting better at USF.
6. I feel like the service is better at HRH. Wilderness Lodge and maybe the contemporary are really only the Disney hotels that feel as "intimate" as the HRH - I know they are all large. The polly and BCV also have good service, but mostly it feels like an assembly line at disney resorts. I've only stayed at GF once but it wasn't great and the three times I've stayed at HRH have all been superior.
7. Theming landscaping are at least equal and usually better at HRH.
8. City walk is superior to downtown disney. I still miss the adventurer's club but if you want to go to a tourist restaurant than city walk is the better pick.

In summation, if I had a friend that wasn't a central florida regular that wanted to go down and spend a week taking their kids to the parks I would hands down suggest to them to stay at HRH.

Also, FYI, this is what my five-year-old daughter said:

"Do you want to go do Belle's show again next time?"
"No."
"Do you want to go ride ET?"
"YES!"
"Do you want to go ride the Little Mermaid again?"
"yeah"
"Do you want to go ride the Cat in the Hat?"
"OH yeah!"

FWIW, she doesn't like to ride POTC and HM b/c they freak her out, and two weeks ago she was just one finger length two short to ride BTMR, but she made it on to star tours, so she's never riddent Space or Splash, BTMR. She has ridden all the rides in Seuss Landing, Pteranadon Flyers, Hagrid's Hippogriff, ET, curious george playground area which is awesome, etc., and she is hoping she will be tall enough in a couple of weeks (really, it was just a finger!) to ride spider man. So honestly for younger kids I don't think there is a great advantage to attractions really.

My heart likes disney world more, and my heart is growing to like USF more and more as I see my kids have fun there.

 

[Melodious]

I'd like to see Disney try!

Try almost 17 million visitors to MK compared to almost 6 million at Univeral studios (this is according to Travel and Leisure's most visited list from Oct 2011 which is after Harry Potter and before FLE). In fact, almost every single Disney park around the world (inlcuding Epcot, DHS, and AK) ranked above UNI so Disney must be doing something right.

As a millennial, I have to wonder about expanding Simpsons-section. Simpsons have been dead for a long time (pop-culture speaking, esp since Family Guy in 2009). I'm at the older millennial spectrum and anyone younger than me can barely remember the Simpsons.

But I mostly worry about who am I going to go to Uni with. I go to WDW with my parents who don't care about Marvel, Jurassic Park, Simpsons, HP, etc. I go with my sister, cousins, friends, who have kids too young they feel to go to Uni. And half of my best friends are tall and overweight/obese who probably can't ride most rides at Uni (even though they absolutely love HP and Marvel). I don't think I'm alone in the age group that has money and vacation time but aging parents, friends/family with young kids, and overweight/obese friends/family.

I guess also we don't go to theme parks. My parents go to WDW because it's easy for them, and they know and love the characters. My friends and I would rather go to Europe

I agree for people who love theme parks, it's win/win

 

[lynypixie]

I wonder if Universal has brown napkins...

 

[Doug7856]

We are Disney people. Sometimes I think Disney vs. Universal has the same intensity as political parties with little compromise -- especially as a read threads like this one.

We've been to Universal twice and not at all since we've had children (our oldest is 11 and really wants to go to IoA). On our last visit to Universal (pre IOA), my wife and I decided there was no reason for us to return. Since then we've purchased DVC and are fully committed to Disney vacations.

The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings will be a reason to return. If it's built, we will be there.

 

[damo]

For the amount of money the WDW brings in compared to Universal (even accounting for Universal just having to maintain two parks, the profit the WDW makes is way more than what Universal makes), it is a shame that more of this profit is not put back into the parks. We all know what they CAN do, and to see them resting on their laurels is disappointing.

 

[bcrook]

Try almost 17 million visitors to MK compared to almost 6 million at Univeral studios (this is according to Travel and Leisure's most visited list from Oct 2011 which is after Harry Potter and before FLE). In fact, almost every single Disney park around the world (inlcuding Epcot, DHS, and AK) ranked above UNI so Disney must be doing something right.

As a millennial, I have to wonder about expanding Simpsons-section. Simpsons have been dead for a long time (pop-culture speaking, esp since Family Guy in 2009). I'm at the older millennial spectrum and anyone younger than me can barely remember the Simpsons.

But I mostly worry about who am I going to go to Uni with. I go to WDW with my parents who don't care about Marvel, Jurassic Park, Simpsons, HP, etc. I go with my sister, cousins, friends, who have kids too young they feel to go to Uni. And half of my best friends are tall and overweight/obese who probably can't ride most rides at Uni (even though they absolutely love HP and Marvel). I don't think I'm alone in the age group that has money and vacation time but aging parents, friends/family with young kids, and overweight/obese friends/family.

I guess also we don't go to theme parks. My parents go to WDW because it's easy for them, and they know and love the characters. My friends and I would rather go to Europe

I agree for people who love theme parks, it's win/win

I am very curious about those attendance numbers at MK. For example, my family spent 12 days at wdw last summer. Our party of 12 entered MK 6 times. Based on what I see on here, most people spend 4-5 days and go to MK at least twice per trip. Some people leave and re-enter. I wonder what the number of unique guests would be per year? Do you think that 17 million should be cut in half or 1/3? 2/3? 8.5 mil unique visitors? 5.5 unique visitors? 11 mil?

I bet universal doesn't have the same percentage of repeat visits from the same customers as MK.

 

[Robbi]

I am very curious about those attendance numbers at MK. For example, my family spent 12 days at wdw last summer. Our party of 12 entered MK 6 times. Based on what I see on here, most people spend 4-5 days and go to MK at least twice per trip. Some people leave and re-enter. I wonder what the number of unique guests would be per year? Do you think that 17 million should be cut in half or 1/3? 2/3? 8.5 mil unique visitors? 5.5 unique visitors? 11 mil?

I bet universal doesn't have the same percentage of repeat visits from the same customers as MK.

Not to mention WDW has 4 parks and 2 water parks so there are 4 more places to count guests.
Numbers are like polls. They can be manipulated.

 

[Melodious]

Not to mention WDW has 4 parks and 2 water parks so there are 4 more places to count guests.
Numbers are like polls. They can be manipulated.

Each theme park is counted separately, ie MK, DHS, AK, Epcot, IOA, etc including each theme park in each country. As a biostatician, I love how everyone believes every research article is manipulated

 

[Doug7856]

I am very curious about those attendance numbers at MK. For example, my family spent 12 days at wdw last summer. Our party of 12 entered MK 6 times. Based on what I see on here, most people spend 4-5 days and go to MK at least twice per trip. Some people leave and re-enter. I wonder what the number of unique guests would be per year? Do you think that 17 million should be cut in half or 1/3? 2/3? 8.5 mil unique visitors? 5.5 unique visitors? 11 mil?

I bet universal doesn't have the same percentage of repeat visits from the same customers as MK.

On park hopper tickets, the first park visited that day is the one that is counted for the day's attendance record.

 

[Robbi]

Each theme park is counted separately, ie MK, DHS, AK, Epcot, IOA, etc including each theme park in each country. As a biostatician, I love how everyone believes every research article is manipulated

I'm sorry but where do you get that people believe every research article is manipulated. Are you saying that no poll or number based article is manipulated?

 

[Melodious]

I'm sorry but where do you get that people believe every research article is manipulated. Are you saying that no poll or number based article is manipulated?

Certainly not every research finding bears out under subsequent testing but I have to admit that it seems that no one believes any scientific article any more and generally it is assumed to be wrong on purpose. It's believed no matter what bias is stated, what the confidence interval is, sampling method, etc. Even if the person has no idea about any of those things, they simply assume that every number is completely manipulated. I doubt that such a large difference in attendance in every single Disney park around the globe is simply attributable to manipulation

I never should have mentioned numbers. As soon as I do, no one even looks at the rest of a post

 

[bcrook]

On park hopper tickets, the first park visited that day is the one that is counted for the day's attendance record.

That is a fun fact! So re-entry doesn't count in any attendance figures? That is a good thing. During my two weeks, I contributed three entries to MK attendance figures. I wonder if most people visit MK twice per visit?

 

[Peter Fan]

They are both great! We always have a great time at WDW and US!

 

[DaisyD]

Toy Story is very good but at least for me it will be the best ride for FP+ since I'm never at DHS early to get a FP for it and I'm not waiting 60-90 minutes to ride it.You are also forgetting Tower of Terror which in my opinion is the greatest ride at any of the 4 major parks.I will also say you should consider yourself lucky you didn't do the Narnia attraction that was in the location of the PotC attraction at DHS,if you thought the new PotC was bad,you're right it's pretty bad and nothing worth more than a 5 minute wait for,but believe me the Narnia thing (not worthy of being called an attraction) they had in there was 10 times worse,I remember it was a group of people standing by some big fake boulders and being shown a movie clip,BAD!!!I'm still not getting overly excited about the LotR rumor as it is still a rumor,if in 5 months we have leaks coming out giving better proof that it's happening then I'll be more excited,one thing we know is the money is there for it and they're willing to spend,unlike their neighbors 20 minutes away.

Ahhh I did forget ToT which also is my favorite ride. LOL I did do Narnia and honestly I don't see the new PotC attraction any better.

 

[bytheblood]

To some extent, I agree with the original post in this thread. I hope Disney has some GOOD surprises.

 

[DaisyD]

So Disney has done nothing? New Fantasyland (still under construction) new DVCs, new resorts, refurbing almost all of the current resorts, new test track, new star tours, new castle light show, wi-fi, rfid keys and passes, new buses,


yeah, they have done nothing at all.

New DVC resorts dont have anything to do with most guests. New rfd keys? Really? This is all we can come up with as comparing it to US? LOL Wi fi? Buses? I thought we were talking about theme park entertainment here. Not resorts or keys or wi fi or buses.
The new Fantasyland was only so so. The Ariel ride is lame. So much could be done with that ride. The castle light show, while neat looking, if far from thrilling. While I love WDW and will continue to go there, I have, over the years incorporated more and more days on our trips to US. Also while I love love love the Poly, it truly cannot touch the Hard Rock.

 

[MelissathePooh]

Whatever the numbers are - that is exactly what I think impacts the guest experience at the 2 resorts - Universal can do things Disney can't because they don't have to deal with the numbers Disney does (and goes after).

I understand Disney is a business and is about making money - I just think they have gotten greedy (nuts actually) and been willing to sacrifice so much of what used
to make them a more special - more personal experience. Little things like the buttons - hardly anyone wore them, now they leave baskets of them sitting out. Divers putting up messages in Coral Reef, personalized menus for special occasions... Of course I blame the internet for some of it - more people have access to more information. When everyone knows the "tip" its not much of a tip anymore. Those are the things that always made Disney special to me and my family. We still come across great CM's and pixie dust now an then, but it is the exception rather than the standard. Its the standard experience at Universal every time we've been.

Clearly this is all subjective, but basically yeah - Disney used to feel much more personal. Maneuvering WDW now is like a cross between Survivor and The Amazing Race.

 

[Fartknocker]

I'm always amused with the " fine go there and its less of you at my park" attitude that comes up a lot.

I love Disney, have spent all my days vacationing Disney, and used to work at Disney. That being said I can admit when they have been out done. Potter hit them in the jewels and they really need to respond. This is Disney for crying out loud, the group that gave us pirates, Indy in California, soarin, and mansion. We know what they can do if they try. Potter and IOA was Universal channeling Disney of old and it was awesome.

Mermaid in New FL was a clone of a cute dark ride that should be nothing more than a D ticket, yet they are trying to pass it off as the highlight of the land!

Come on Disney! As the OP said, step it up!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Fine go there and its less of you at my park. Seriously.

 

[d-r]

Sweetie thats not your park.