Discuss what Disney is doing wrong part II

[rt2dz]

Yep. Better to use the figures that were recently released... "Segment profit at the theme parks and resorts in the third quarter fell 19% to $521 million" (ETA: note that is *quarterly* profits, not annual). Disney isn't teetering on the brink of going under by any means, and the parks remain one of their most profitable ventures, which is why some people (and I'm increasingly finding myself among them with the changes of the past few months) think they could afford treat guests a little more like they did in the past. You know, the sort of treatment that built those billion-dollar profits in the first place.

Bingo. They are actually bilking the theme parks to make up for the other divisions, i.e., DVD sales, that aren't doing well.

 

[KellyNY]

I had no idea there are so many complains even so we are all Disney addicted.

 

[Colleen27]

I had no idea there are so many complains even so we are all Disney addicted.

Call it constructive criticism.

 

[wdwgirl100]

This isn't the first thread to go down this path and most of the complaints are very valid. But does anyone think Disney will do anything about it? As most of us have stated we are still going to go to Disney, so what incentive do they have?

 

[KellyNY]

Call it constructive criticism.

More like a Pandora box.

 

[marcbelt]

I realize price increases are here to stay (strollers, parking, tickets, etc.) but why cant Disney have something simple like refills at the parks? It would cut down on the number of drinks I bring in my backpack....

 

[flminivanmama]

I would love for the Disney resorts to provide a television channel for classic Disney cartoon shorts..... Donald Duck, Goofy, Chip & Dale, Mickey. There are so many that we haven't seen since childhood.

Obviously the goal of any vacation is not to spend all your time in your room. But whether it's during bad weather or at the end of a long day in the parks, it would be great to be able to kick back in your room and watch the classics.

I clicked on this to quote & then saw someone else already posted - we had this on channel 96 on our last trip...

I would also like to see character dining geared towards boys. I have a DD and DS, so I do enjoy the princesses but would love to see a 'Hero's Dining Adventure' - Buzz, Hercules, Peter Pan, Robin Hood, Aladdin, etc. .

agreed

We really enjoy the special ticket parties at MK. It gives you a chance to pay for smaller crowds, if thats what you want. If not, you still get a full day at the park. Obviously, more people like it than dislike it or they wouldnt continue doing it.

we like the hard ticket events too for the same reason. BUT we only live a few hours away and paying for just that night feels like a "savings" to us.... I'm sure if we had to buy it on top of a big package we paid for, we'd never do it....

I'll take some cuts now, but when things get better I sure hope to see more things return.

agreed

My complaint: the kids meals. WTH. Would it be so hard to add a few mini versions of the adult menu items? Chicken nuggest and hot dogs are fine on occassion, but just because they are kids, doens't mean they don't like food. I checked out the kids menu at Kat Cora's new restauraunt and couldn't believe it, the same old stuff.

same here. I have 3 kids - 2 are vegetarians & so the choices are already ridiculously limited... and one who much prefers "real food"

I think Disney is doing EVERYTHING wrong.

It is awful. Disney is a terrible terrible terrible place to visit. Do not waste your vacation $$ there. It is a complete rip off. Customer service is terrible, everything is overpriced, the place is filthy and disgusting, and the rides are crap. The place is falling apart, on one trip I watched an entire Country Bear show, with one of the bears missing an arm! The food is disgusting and there are huge waits for all of the restaurants. The hotel rooms are tiny for the price. Magic schmagic, there is no magic.

Universal is a much better deal, their parks are just as nice as Disney and the rides are better. Next year they are opening up Harry Potter! If you stay at a Universal resort you get front of the line privileges.

I think everyone planning a trip to Disney should go to Universal.

Stay away from Disney parks......esp in Sept from the 13th to the 19th, I hear Disney will be esp. terrible then, trust me, stay away.

Disney = Bad

 

[WDSearcher]

This isn't the first thread to go down this path and most of the complaints are very valid. But does anyone think Disney will do anything about it? As most of us have stated we are still going to go to Disney, so what incentive do they have?

The thing is ... people on the DIS forget how small of a group we really are. Yes, there are a lot of people here, but in the big scheme of things, the DIS is a small percentage of all guests. And there's really no way to know if the thousand or so people here truly do speak for all guests in general or not.

I think it's safe to say that Disney is interested and will read what's here, but they will also put it up against all the other information they get. Guest letters, focus groups, in-park surveys, on-line surveys, Mom's Panel, On-Line Community, etc. And then they'll form an action plan based on that. But the DIS will only be a small part of that. There are hundreds of thousands of other guests and potential guests who have totally different opinions, likes, dislikes and experiences. Kind of like in Aladdin: "Huge phenomenal guest base, itty bitty sample group!"

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that we are just a small group of diehards. If you consider the other sites out there devoted to Disney, I still think that the group of devoted fans such as those here will still be very small in the overall picture of things.

I bet that most people don't really know much about what to expect or what WDW was once like. Going to WDW seems to be like a rite of passage for many people and while they might gripe about lines and costs, they still go. Maybe the question would be how many return visits WDW can expect if they keep on cutting things?

 

[dawgsgirl]

Many cuts were made after 9-11 and some of them never came back. Some did. One that comes to mind is the character breakfast at WL. I'm sure there are others, but that is the one my feeble brain remembers. My F! theory is that eventually the crowds will fall off because it is such a nightmare. Then Disney will use the excuse that the guest demand did not justify continuing the show.

 

[Planogirl]

Many cuts were made after 9-11 and some of them never came back. Some did. One that comes to mind is the character breakfast at WL. I'm sure there are others, but that is the one my feeble brain remembers. My F! theory is that eventually the crowds will fall off because it is such a nightmare. Then Disney will use the excuse that the guest demand did not justify continuing the show.

Kind of like letting an attraction like Horizons become extremely ragged and rundown so that people avoid it and then justifying tearing it down because no one rides it any more?

I noticed a sharp decline in musical entertainment and the like after 9-11.

 

[KellyNY]

I bet that most people don't really know much about what to expect or what WDW was once like. Going to WDW seems to be like a rite of passage for many people and while they might gripe about lines and costs, they still go. Maybe the question would be how many return visits WDW can expect if they keep on cutting things?

True, newbies know no difference. It is all about coming back.

I do not think Disney even reads this thread so how it suppose to make any difference at all. On the other hand, they do send a postcards asking to answer few questions about your vacation. I spent 2 hours answering in details all that I liked and all that I did not like. Sure this is what they read.

 

[Doug7856]

Ignoring loyal repeat customers in favor of the quick buck. Saw a lot of that this year.

I agree 100% with this statement. This year more than ever. We are planning our 23rd trip. We plan to do the Candlelight Processional on Nov 27th and getting information about the event is nearly impossible. In fact, we could get more information about the latest CIA secret operations than this program. I find it totally disrespectful to Disney's loyal customers to withhold information. That's just one example.

 

[Mallow]

I think Disney is doing EVERYTHING wrong.

It is awful. Disney is a terrible terrible terrible place to visit. Do not waste your vacation $$ there. It is a complete rip off. Customer service is terrible, everything is overpriced, the place is filthy and disgusting, and the rides are crap. The place is falling apart, on one trip I watched an entire Country Bear show, with one of the bears missing an arm! The food is disgusting and there are huge waits for all of the restaurants. The hotel rooms are tiny for the price. Magic schmagic, there is no magic.

Universal is a much better deal, their parks are just as nice as Disney and the rides are better. Next year they are opening up Harry Potter! If you stay at a Universal resort you get front of the line privileges.

I think everyone planning a trip to Disney should go to Universal.

Stay away from Disney parks......esp in Sept from the 13th to the 19th, I hear Disney will be esp. terrible then, trust me, stay away.

Disney = Bad

 

[Mallow]

I had no idea there are so many complains even so we are all Disney addicted.

I think that's why we complain. We love Disney so much that we hate to see any of the magic diminish.

 

[Doug7856]

The thing is ... people on the DIS forget how small of a group we really are. Yes, there are a lot of people here, but in the big scheme of things, the DIS is a small percentage of all guests. And there's really no way to know if the thousand or so people here truly do speak for all guests in general or not.

True, but I suspect we are an influential group. I work in an organization of about 300 people and at least 3 or 4 times per week someone asks me for advice on their upcoming Disney trip.

 

[Dawgie]

I really appreciate all of your postings here....I am new to this and can't stop reading!!!!

 

[Planogirl]

I really appreciate all of your postings here....I am new to this and can't stop reading!!!!

Just don't let it worry you if you're new to WDW. We are mostly old pros here and we can afford to be critical. WDW is still great, it's just that some of the luster is gone for some of us.

 

[PirateFrank]

Just don't let it worry you if you're new to WDW. We are mostly old pros here and we can afford to be critical. WDW is still great, it's just that some of the luster is gone for some of us.

This is the what I've been trying to put my finger on...with respect to this thread and the death-grip-on-lunacy that it's predecessor thread was maintained with....

There's more than a few posts in this thread and the last one, that are filled with a near vitriolic WDW hate....I keep reading and saying to myself "if this person hates WDW so much, what the hell is the person doing on these boards?"

What people don't seem to get is that it's a business. If disney's really doing it wrong....this economy will flush it out.....have faith in that. There isn't a business that is insulated from this!


There are people here that feel Disney's doing it right...or at the very least, feel they're doing it better than others. I, for one, scratch my heads at some of the posts here.

The alternative is what? Six Flags? Prices are up there as well...attendants there are grumpy and nasty. The bathrooms smell like the bronx zoo. Universal? Well, you complain to the wrong people over there and you might find you and your family banned for a year!


I understand the luster has worn a little for some....and ALOT for others. But at the end of the day, a great deal of Disney fans still feel there's some magic there.....

 

[Planogirl]

I understand the luster has worn a little for some....and ALOT for others. But at the end of the day, a great deal of Disney fans still feel there's some magic there.....

If we didn't care we wouldn't even be here to discuss it.

It's OK to criticize and discuss. I know that this might shock some people but Disney isn't perfect and has become even less so over time IMO. Talking about WDW is what these boards are all about and that includes the wrinkles and flaws.

I personally haven't seen the hatred you describe.