Disney is different now

[dwheaton]

You are probably right, and I am probably being too sensitive. My apologies. I just need to stop reading these threads.

It's cool. I wish that it wasn't such a concern for me and that there were other announcements to enjoy instead. It's just dominating my thinking about WDW right now.

 

[Love Tink]

I have never told anyone that they had to try this system when it is still in testing. That would be crazy since I didn't want to do it myself. As for "lightening up and stop complaining", well, does one really need to post the same thing 100 times?

I know, right! Imagine, for example if someone had made almost 500 posts in the last 37 days - mostly about the same topic. That would really be over the top....right?

 

[EMode]

Fantasyland was a revamp, not another park. And Avatarland?? Who knows...

I have high hopes for Avatarland. I'm not a fan of the movie at all but I would love to see something new and exciting that has never been seen before. I think the Avatarland theme has great potential for that. The revamps are just more of the same old same old and its getting kind of old.

Why shouldn't concerns be voiced on the DIS as well? They're just as relevant and informative as positive comments.

After all, if people should do their research and decide whether or not going at this time is right for them, shouldn't they have access to both positive and negative reports?

There are very real issues that a family can run into on a WDW vacation currently that go way past tiering and 3 FP+ per day. I think people, not just Disney, should be aware of what can (not will, but can) go wrong.

I came here to read real experiences people were having with FP+. Sure I could go to the Disney website but somehow I don't think I'll find the same info

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Why do you care if we have these long threads dissecting the MDE problems?

I don't, as long as they are discussing ways to improve the system (without going back to FP-, because that isn't going to happen). I like those threads. I learn from those threads. But they don't stay on topic very long.

What happens in a Dis thread:

Poster A asks: Is it sunny outside?
Poster B replies: Yes, it is sunny outside.
Poster C replies to user B, with quotes: What do you mean it is hot outside?
Poster B replies back: I didn't say it was hot - I said it was sunny.
Poster D replies: Well, it is hot here.
Poster F replies: Yeah, and the FP+ lines are horrible in MK right now.

And off we go...

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I know, right! Imagine, for example if someone had made almost 500 posts in the last 37 days - mostly about the same topic. That would really be over the top....right?

On second thought, you are right. I have been spending too much time talking about this since I came back from WDW. I am letting some people live rent free in my head. That is pretty stupid of me.

 

[JimmyV]

What happens in a Dis thread:

Poster A asks: Is it sunny outside?
Poster B replies: Yes, it is sunny outside.
Poster C replies to user B, with quotes: What do you mean it is hot outside?
Poster B replies back: I didn't say it was hot - I said it was sunny.
Poster D replies: Well, it is hot here.
Poster F replies: Yeah, and the FP+ lines are horrible in MK right now.

And off we go...

But you see.....because the FP+ lines are not confined to the usual queue areas and people are forced to stand out in the open (see Space Mountain line as it stretches back, unshaded, to the Astro Orbiter elevator), then the fact that it is sunny (and/or hot) has direct relevance to the length of FP+ return lines. So, it really all does come back to FP+!

 

[Mad Hattered]

Huh? Someone was talking about FP+ and didn't invite me? Thanks, surferdave....thanks a lot!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

But you see.....because the FP+ lines are not confined to the usual queue areas and people are forced to stand out in the open (see Space Mountain line as it stretches back, unshaded, to the Astro Orbiter elevator), then the fact that it is sunny (and/or hot) has a direct relevance to the length of FP+ return lines. So, it really all does come back to FP+!

 

[JanaDee]

I don't, as long as they are discussing ways to improve the system (without going back to FP-, because that isn't going to happen). I like those threads. I learn from those threads. But they don't stay on topic very long.

What happens in a Dis thread:

Poster A asks: Is it sunny outside?
Poster B replies: Yes, it is sunny outside.
Poster C replies to user B, with quotes: What do you mean it is hot outside?
Poster B replies back: I didn't say it was hot - I said it was sunny.
Poster D replies: Well, it is hot here.
Poster F replies: Yeah, and the FP+ lines are horrible in MK right now.

And off we go...

Every single message board has threads go off topic. If you don't want to participate in that particular thread, don't.

Easy enough.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Every single message board has threads go off topic. If you don't want to participate in that particular thread, don't.

Easy enough.

Is it sunny outside?

 

[morethananyonex]

Is it sunny outside?

If it's not, don't bother posting it here. Just tell Disney.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If it's not, don't bother posting it here. Just tell Disney.

Well, it is cold here.

 

[Ted C]

They control the weather now too, haven't you heard?

Here's what I think we all need to do. If we choose to go down there soon, and we are, we need to pat every CM having a hard time on the back and let them know we'll all get through this. We are Disney folks, the magic lies in us. We'll turn it around.

None of us want it to change... We're all passionate about this and that's a good thing.

I just need to shut up and let it be. They'll figure it out.

 

[DVCJones]

Yes, OP I agree things do feel different at WDW. Anyone who has been visiting regularly for years can see it. Some people are still ok with it because, for the most part, WDW is still a (mostly) positive experience. BUT the (mostly) positive experience is slipping at an alarming rate!! I have been going every year since I was 8 and I am now 44. I can honestly say that while things are not as they were when I was growing up, the rate for which value, cleanliness, friendliness, customer service, food quality, etc. is slipping at an alarming rate! In the past couple of trips we have seen many rude CMs. Even heard one use the F bomb when speaking to another CM while moving strollers at the AK. The bathrooms are not even close to being clean. We were lied to at BCV a few years ago. Despite calling the front desk many times about not having cable reception in our room, we spent all but the last night without a working TV on a 10 day trip. They told us the whole resort was out. Only to find out that that was not the case. I got talking to a lady at the pool who told me otherwise.... When I called CS out on it, they immediately switched out the TV for a new one. They lied to me for over a week!!!! I really love my WDW vacations and I really hope WDW can figure out the whole FP+ thing before I am driven away for good. As a DVC member, I have always felt very happy about my membership and planned to buy more points in the near future. BUT, I just can't under these conditions.

 

[Ted C]

I'll add that I just spoke with a very nice CM for about an hour on the phone. They are very aware of it. They have themselves in a mess and they're getting screamed at a lot by unhappy guests. Even though I vent and bring up valid points on this board I will never talk down to a CM. This place has brought me and my family to many memories. I need to go down there this time and make them feel good about themselves. Get me in a room with the execs/MBA's, well that's another story...

On the other hand, things like dirty rooms and stuff along those lines must be reported. That's not acceptable.

 

[Planogirl]

I'll add that I just spoke with a very nice CM for about an hour on the phone. They are very aware of it. They have themselves in a mess and they're getting screamed at a lot by unhappy guests. Even though I vent and bring up valid points on this board I will never talk down to a CM. This place has brought me and my family to many memories. I need to go down there this time and make them feel good about themselves. Get me in a room with the execs/MBA's, well that's another story...

On the other hand, things like dirty rooms and stuff along those lines must be reported. That's not acceptable.

I would NEVER scream at a CM. They aren't responsible for any of this and shouldn't be treated like that. I don't understand people at all.

 

[Ted C]

Now if they drop the F bomb or something like that we all need to get a supervisor right then and now. I've had to do that before and it is effective. These are things we can do something about.

 

[Ted C]

I agree. Its happening a lot right now though. The best thing we all can do is counter act it. A sincere, "You're doing a great job, or we appreciate you", goes a long ways to offsetting the bad.

 

[*disgal*]

Let me see if I have this right, the CMs (who have to deal with this every day of their lives) need to get over it, but folks on the Dis (who will only spend a few weeks in WDW this year, if any) don't?

Well, ......yeah.

Pete made the observation about the CMs on the DIS Unplugged podcast months ago.

Ok, I would tend to believe Pete and assume he knoweth what he talketh about.

I have to agree about the CMs. They don't seem to really police them as much as they used to. When I was a Cast Member, they had a strenuous process to hire, but then in 2005, they hired a friend of mine, who has NO business being a Cast Member (we worked together in customer service in NYC and she was lazy, uncaring, and cold towards guests). I asked her what the process was like. She applied and they just said "welcome aboard." No interview, no nothing....

Whoa. That could create problems, ya think?

We live in FL and have been going since 1988 and the experience has declined steadily over time while the cost has risen. Many people here will accept less than par performance from disney because of who they are, but folks-its your money and you are paying for it, it quite frankly is not the quests problem that they have new this or that or that the CM's are under paid are stressed or whatever, when you pay 100.day for a park and several hundred for a room you have expectations that should be met and in fact this is what Dsiney has built thier reputation on and lives on. I noticed the slide really began once Eisner left, say what you will about him but he knew the job and demanded standards that were high, not so much now...beleive me-it is all bottom line, lieterally nothing else matters and as long as the parks are full and the hotels have occupancy you will continue to see declines all over--did you know that when the mods fitst opened you could get real milk, chocolate milk and real juices from the food court....seems like a long time ago, we now go to Universal.

I'll never quite understand this admonition. Suppose you went to a resort and spa noted for its golf course, spa tratments, beauty salon and dining. You pay $1,000 per day for your stay and use of the facilities. During your stay, the golf course is cut back to 15 holes because they are rebuilding three of the holes. The spa is training new massueses and the massage you get is sub-par. You go to get your hair done and some incompetent stylist chops off a hunk of your hair. And the restaurant's food is served cold instead of hot, and is completely flavorless. Are you supposed to ultimately brush all of this off because "you are on vacation"? It is possible for a vacation destination to fail to live up to reasonable expectations and WDW is not immune from this phenomenon.

Thank you to both of you. I feel the same way. So sorry you guys(meaning Disney) are having problems. Must not be fun. But unless you are giving me a discount on my ticket, I expect good service just like I've had all my other trips when the CM's got paid the same amount of money.

Listen, I can sympathize with the CM's. I was in a job more than a few times when I was the bottom tier of employees, had to deal with the public and it wasn't fun. And I got paid squat! I've been there.

But hasn't this always been (historically speaking) Disney's forte? This is what they have been famous for. Their service. This is what has separated them from other parks FOR ME. The CM that somehow is able to go the extra mile and put a smile on their face in spite of dealing with pressures. I get it's not going to be perfect. They will have their bad days.

Now, that said, I will be at MK and EPCOT in about 5 weeks and I'm going to put a smile on my face and have a good attitude and try to give some CM's a break. And I fully expect (and hope) to not have any major problems. We shall see.

 

[Love Tink]

On second thought, you are right. I have been spending too much time talking about this since I came back from WDW. I am letting some people live rent free in my head. That is pretty stupid of me.

Yes...everyone else is the problem. You are just helplessly reacting (hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times).