disboards.com and Disney quality

[doconeill]

DW and I were listening to last weeks disboards.com show (me for the second time) in the car this morning, and the discussion about Disney quality popped something in my head...

Could the disboards themselves be affecting our perceptions? Are our expectations being raised somewhat because we hear about the magic other people receive and get disappointed when we don't receive the same? While at the same time, do we turn a more critical eye towards things because we read the "horror" stories?

I myself am certain that yes, some things have been cut back in areas - Disney as of late has been following the "maximize short term profits" mentality of a corporation, although the theme parks were getting dragged into that by other business units before the economy affected the parks directly.

But could we see it being at a greater degree because we read so much about it here? The disboards, as mentioned, is such a LARGE community. And forums such as these tend to have what I call "negative gravitation" or "negative affinity" - that is, a tendency for the negative aspects of something to come out because such a forum offers a "gripe platform". This has been true for many years - I coined that term long before web forums existed - now I'm starting to feel old as I can say that I've been on the Internet longer than probably most of the people who use FB and Twitter have been alive...

Sometimes I think that seeing such things experienced by someone else can make us reflect on those negative things we ourselves might have experienced, even magnify them, and draw attention away from those positive things that happened. Of course, we don't want ANY negative things to happen while at Disney, but they do - like anywhere else.

I'm not talking about Disney jacking the costs of the strollers, etc. etc. I'm just thinking of the more subjective things.

I'm also not saying I necessarily believe that...it was just something that came to me listening to it all again...

 

[WaltD4Me]

You know, it's a very interesting question. I've been thinking about it alot since they discussed it on the show.

I do think reading the DISBoards can and does raise expectations, however, for me, I think of all the things I learned on the boards that so greatly enhanced my Disney vacations, I don't focus at all on things that didn't happen. The good for me far outweighs the "bad."

 

[jillianml]

We took our 1st trip this past June.We received alot of pixie dust,however I would not have seen it that way had I not been on these boards!I think the boards for us helps us create our own personal pixie dust!I wouldnt have even realized that being upgraded to a woods view with a bunk bed from a standard room was an updgrade.(wilderness lodge)I am not sure we would have even utilized fast passes if I hadnt read about it on here!I am a person who has a positive outlook on life thus allowing me to find and recognise pixy dust!(My husband wouldnt be able to see the pixie dust!Thats why we dont take him!LOL!)

 

[Cherinva]

Interesting, indeed. I've been giving this a lot of thought also. For me, I think the internet in general has changed the way we all see things now...with the vast amount of information out there, you can research anything...including Disney.

I feel that the service that the DIS Boards provides is invaluable to me. For instance, in 2006 I won 2 airline tickets from my job, so I decided that my girls and I would go to Disney for Spring Break in 2007. I went through the TA that supplied the tickets, ordered another and she mentioned that she could book out trip for us. At that point, I didn't know about the Value Resorts, ME, or the dining plan..(sad to say, it had been 8 years since my last trip to WDW)...I learned so much on that trip and came saying that I would never stay off property again. Once home, I ran into a lady wearing a Disney jacket...we got to talking and she pointed me to the some internet sites....that's when I found the DIS...I like some of the other sites, but not one of them compair....

I have read many posts where people have negitive things to say about the Values (I'm a value type person...love them), or the restaurants or the bad experiences...while I feel for them, fortunatly, nothing bad has ever happened to me...CMs are wonderful, the rooms are ready and clean, buses ran great....I have had some not so good experiences in restaurants, but nothing major.

I don't let others bad experiences affect how I book my next trip, and I don't go by what they say...now, I do pay attention to Pete and the Team when they review something...I don't always agree with them, but I do keep an open mind.

Also, just because someone else got a little extra Pixie Dust, doesn't mean that I will, nor do I expect it. If it does happen, then that's just a bonus for me.

I do like knowing what is going on in WDW...like the construction that is going on at POP..since I'm going there in October, it's good to know. Without this site ( and others) we wouldn't have the information we need.

I think overall, this site is a win-win.

 

[jcb]

My take on it, for what it is worth, is that this is more of a value discussion than a quality discussion. Quality is part of value but it doesn't necessarily (for me at least) incorporate price. Value does.

With the exception of a seeming decrease in the quality of meals (but with notable exceptions as well) as Lisa pointed out in her blog, the issue about value is the increase in the cost of a Disney vacation while taking things away without a comparable replacement, the Lights of Winter being a primary example.

But then, when I start to think the value has declined, Disney (both parks) does something like the water thingy in Disneyland or the MK expansion.

And as to value, the disboards have greatly increased my expectations, not so much to expect pixie dust around every fountain but to expect that what I'm spending is worth what I'm getting.

 

[DisneyKevin]

but to expect that what I'm spending is worth what I'm getting.

I think that "value" is a far greater indicator than price, but I think it's harder to define.

 

[jcb]

I think that "value" is a far greater indicator than price, but I think it's harder to define.

I completely agree with both thoughts. At least it helps when you properly define it and I really botched the equation. I meant "what I'm getting is worth what I'm spending." I'm sorry. I was up until 3 with a cranky iPhone.

 

[BriarRosie]

And we all know that Disney monitors boards like these closely. It's golden feedback for them, probably better than focus groups and market research at times.

But Disney's monitoring also includes closing loopholes that Disney fans find and take advantage of. For instance, when FastPass was new back in 1998, some intrepid people noticed that any card with a magnetic stripe would spit out a FastPass. People were using room keys, park tickets, even credit cards to get multiple FastPasses. It didn't take long for Disney to suddenly shut down that loophole to give FastPasses only to passes activated at the turnstiles. It would have skewed the whole system if that loophole was left open.

And something similar happened at the counter service restaurants. People would post that they share a meal between two people. You could buy a double cheeseburger and pay for an extra bun. A really small amount. People would be able to split meals for less than the price of a single burger on the menu. Disney started to charge more for a "bun only" after that to adjust the price difference when splitting.

To me, those things make sense. But some decisions didn't make sense to me. Disney always gives lip service that it was "due to guest demand". Every time I hear that phrase, I think Disney's actually saying, "We made this decision to cut our bottom line, but to get you off our backs, we'll make it sound like the guests wanted these changes."

 

[WaltD4Me]

I think that "value" is a far greater indicator than price, but I think it's harder to define.

I agree. Value is in the eye of the beholder.

When Pete was talking about putting a poll up on the boards on last week's show, he said he was going to ask the question if people thought Disney was going downhill and you said to ask if they felt Disney was a value. I was thinking to post both questions. Going Downhill? and Is it a Value? It would be interesting to know how many people answer yes to both questions.

 

[MM32830]

I agree. Value is in the eye of the beholder.

When Pete was talking about putting a poll up on the boards on last week's show, he said he was going to ask the question if people thought Disney was going downhill and you said to ask if they felt Disney was a value. I was thinking to post both questions. Going Downhill? and Is it a Value? It would be interesting to know how many people answer yes to both questions.

You have to be careful when asking poll questions. Most good polls weight their answers.

For example, if you ask someone if they enjoy eating at Burger King, some may answer no. However, a follow up question in the same poll should be asked to determine if perhaps that person prefers not to eat at fast food restaurants.

In other words, those who don't like eating at fast food restaurants for whatever reason will have a different view of such and their answers should be weighted differently.

I conduct several surveys per year for my business. It's amazing what you can find if you ask the right questions.




______________
Armand

 

[PeterPan09]

The Disboards and other internet sites are a double edged sword. The good side is that people have found a community of friends and found strategies and deals to make their Disney vacations better. The bad side is the sense of entitlement and expectation that some derive from them. There are guests who read these types of boards for the sole purpose of finding ways to "get over" on Disney and get things for free. Because of those folks, Disney ends up cracking down and even taking away things that many enjoyed.

 

[Prose]

To me, those things make sense. But some decisions didn't make sense to me. Disney always gives lip service that it was "due to guest demand". Every time I hear that phrase, I think Disney's actually saying, "We made this decision to cut our bottom line, but to get you off our backs, we'll make it sound like the guests wanted these changes."

I always assumed that this phrase didn't mean "because the guests demanded it," but rather more along the lines of supply and demand...that is, because there is a huge demand for (this event, meal, tour, service, whatever) by guests, they can/have to increase the price.

JMHO......

 

[dansyr2514]

The Disboards and other internet sites are a double edged sword. The good side is that people have found a community of friends and found strategies and deals to make their Disney vacations better. The bad side is the sense of entitlement and expectation that some derive from them. There are guests who read these types of boards for the sole purpose of finding ways to "get over" on Disney and get things for free. Because of those folks, Disney ends up cracking down and even taking away things that many enjoyed.

I agree that the boards can be a double edged sword but wanted to add...
My first real trip to wdw I had no idea about the disboards ...I was amazed at everything I saw and did at wdw and I was hooked. On the other hand, I had no idea what Fantasmic was, and pretty much ate only counter service

so the trade off

Now....maybe there's not as much magic because I've read everyone's report about what happens and where so it's a little harder to be surprised....on the other hand I have learned the best restaurants at wdw...how to rent DVC pts so we can now stay at deluxe instead of value ( no offense to value resorts....I would still stay there but dbf is missing the disney gene and prefers a little more luxury than more Mickey)how to plan my day better so I'm not going in circles and events not to miss.

So I'm not sure if Disney service has declined or it's just my perception because the magic actually takes a little more magic to surprise me. But it does make you take a long hard look at what your expectations are.

 

[LoriABil]

I had never heard of the DIS on our first trip! (Living in the dark ages - or West Texas...)
Our second trip, I was I frequent lurker, soaking up the knowledge and advice. There is always something magical about the first trip, but I must say our second trip was Magical, too - in its own way.

I am curious to hear the Beach Club review...I want to hear about the "good old days" at the BC and how it's different now. I thought our last BC stay was pretty darn good! "Value is in the eye of the beholder..." True, but maybe it can also be said that Magic is in the eye of the beholder as well.

If I had been to WDW 20 times over the past 20 years, I would have tons of memories to compare, and might see a decline in the magic. As someone who is just building my magical memories, I have little to compare. And each trip has been magical. So maybe the DISboards aren't affecting perceptions. It may be that people who frequent the DISboards love Disney and have a bigger "arsenal" of pixie dust covered memories. Whereas newly forming addicts such as myself are just now learning what the fuss is about, so the minuscule amount of Pixie Dust we get is amazing us - and still addicting!

It would be fun to correlate number of visits to the people who say it has declined! You know, fun in a nerdy way...