Do any Disney long-timers think things are better?

[DisneyRegulars]

I'm only 30 so my history can only go so far back. I went for my first time in 1987 when I was 5. The characters still roamed freely back then, and finding one was awesome. But there were only 2 parks, and the world showcase side of epcot was dreadfully boring for a kid. I love the improvements they've made to world showcase with things like the phineas and ferb detective game. I think that really brings the area to life and I can't wait to play with my son. I have to echo the love of fast passes. I once stood in line for 2 hours to ride splash mountain the year it opened, never again will I have to wait that long for a headliner unless I foolishly choose to. I love that there are now 4 parks instead of the 2 I started with. The only thing I truly miss is that they got rid of alien encounter, I really loved that ride.

My husband and I spent weeks trying to come up with our next winter vacation destination, we considered costa rica, hawaii, california, gulf coast, florida keys, and other things, but in the end we decided to head back to disney again because we have a blast when we are there, and we know our 4 year old will have a great time.

 

[wvaspartan]

FYI... You can convert TIF to JPG (or GIF) in Paint on Windows... Can't wait to see them....

As for this thread....

I am one of those people who went there every couple years as a child. We were never really able to afford to go and grand parents hated to fly (or drive long distances). Will say though that the quality of Disney has gone down in recent years in my mind. I can not believe the constant reuse of ride systems that are starting to happen. From the Nemo ride system being reused for Little mermaid...to Test Track ride system type being repackaged for the West Coast (and potentially for DHS) in the Radiator Spring Racers.

As many have said the biggest difference I have seen over the years has been in the dining...it has REALLY taken a hit with DDP and the idea that Disney has gotten that they Will now try to pack a ton of people in a "deluxe restaurant" and charge ridiculous prices for lesser quality food because they have you trapped.

Many thing that I want Disney to wake up to include the fact that today's children are grown up on the exciting and thrill ride parks of Cedar Point, Six Flags, etc. I had the opportunity late last year to go to a Eat with Imagineer (I forget what it is called) and asked the question of why Disney doesn't even think of thrill rides. His answer was VERY telling... And he assumed what I meant as a thrill ride is a roller coaster...which is only one type of thrill ride. He said you can't tell a story on a thrill ride... I was dumbfounded. Disney is seeing flat attendance now for one major reason...they are losing some of today's children. I never thought I would see the day when I hear people I know tell me they are going to visit Orlando for Universal and have no intention of going to Disney...saying their children would be bored a the resort.

This is not to say I don't love Disney... I am an AP holder... But they need to adjust to the reality that the peoples age of when Disney was in their heyday are now the parents of children...they remember what it was and in some cases are now disenchanted as many things haven't changed from the late 80s and early 90s outside of a new park (which I helped build). I wish the catering was not exclusive to children in so many ways and that the only park that really caters more to adults (or older children) has been basically ignored for so long..Epcot.

Just my two cents

 

[chicagoshannon]

I've been going for 30 years.

The biggest stand out is Fastpass. Unfortunately this will be changing.

MK:
Miss the characters walking around
Miss the old unique stores (magic shop, penny arcade, movie theater)
Really miss the Horshoe Reveu

EPCOT:
Old imagination ride
Parade and bus ride around the countries
Lights of wonder
Really miss the actual boat narrators/drivers in Living With the Land
Miss the old interactive things in The Living Seas (diver and diver suits)

MGM:
When it first opened it was fantastic. The backstage tour was incredible!
Little Mermaid was better/longer
The shows in the sound stages were really great!

Improvements-TOT random drops, RnR, new Star Tours

Animal Kingdom:
The boat ride they used to have was fun/entertaining
Miss the storyline on the Safari

Positive: Everest!

I do like the addition of before park opening meals ect.

The lack of characters is really, really sad! Also the tickets never expired and hopping was included. That was so nice!

 

[BMWTeamLeader]

For the most part, I think Disney is much better now than when it first opened. There are things I wish were still there now such as the Mickey Mouse Revue us.

someone else on the DIS that remembers the Mickey Mouse Revue!!!...It was my favorite as a kid..The one attraction turnover I was heartbroken over.

Changes I like better from going ages ago with my family are one admission and unlimited rides as opposed to the individual ticket per ride system. Over the years disney trips are more flexible and cater to a wider variety of tastes. The customization of trips makes it easier to plan (and I'm a planner as my wife will attest I've gone as a couple, as a single dad, and coming up as part of a family of four (2 adults, 1 college age and one pre-teen). The possibilities are endless and that's a big plus in my book

 

[LarryNabisco]

FYI... You can convert TIF to JPG (or GIF) in Paint on Windows... Can't wait to see them....

As for this thread....

I am one of those people who went there every couple years as a child. We were never really able to afford to go and grand parents hated to fly (or drive long distances). Will say though that the quality of Disney has gone down in recent years in my mind. I can not believe the constant reuse of ride systems that are starting to happen. From the Nemo ride system being reused for Little mermaid...to Test Track ride system type being repackaged for the West Coast (and potentially for DHS) in the Radiator Spring Racers.

As many have said the biggest difference I have seen over the years has been in the dining...it has REALLY taken a hit with DDP and the idea that Disney has gotten that they Will now try to pack a ton of people in a "deluxe restaurant" and charge ridiculous prices for lesser quality food because they have you trapped.

Many thing that I want Disney to wake up to include the fact that today's children are grown up on the exciting and thrill ride parks of Cedar Point, Six Flags, etc. I had the opportunity late last year to go to a Eat with Imagineer (I forget what it is called) and asked the question of why Disney doesn't even think of thrill rides. His answer was VERY telling... And he assumed what I meant as a thrill ride is a roller coaster...which is only one type of thrill ride. He said you can't tell a story on a thrill ride... I was dumbfounded. Disney is seeing flat attendance now for one major reason...they are losing some of today's children. I never thought I would see the day when I hear people I know tell me they are going to visit Orlando for Universal and have no intention of going to Disney...saying their children would be bored a the resort.

This is not to say I don't love Disney... I am an AP holder... But they need to adjust to the reality that the peoples age of when Disney was in their heyday are now the parents of children...they remember what it was and in some cases are now disenchanted as many things haven't changed from the late 80s and early 90s outside of a new park (which I helped build). I wish the catering was not exclusive to children in so many ways and that the only park that really caters more to adults (or older children) has been basically ignored for so long..Epcot.

Just my two cents

Another great post.


The one thing everyone must keep in mind, they are going to utilize the Marvel and Star Wars Franchises for the 5th park. It's being denied a lot but its going to happen in the next decade. They have some paperwork issues with universal and the marvel theme park rights, but at a minimum there is going to be a thrill ride park geared towards boys, and its going to happen soon. Don't believe the nonsense that gets put out there that its not looming... because it is.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The dining plans and the "free' dining have both led to a severe dumbing down of the one wonderful dining experiences.

They raise the price on the OOP prices, people think the only way to beat the horrific prices is to get the DDP, Disney, with a prepaid dining group, lowers the quality of the food.

 

[bcrook]

i'll try to put a few tonight and link to them.

edit: May take longer than expected. My dad transferred them from slides to digital. They are huge file sizes and a format i've never heard of (tiff.) will have to convert and resize them after finding the proper software to do so.

Sorry for getting a bit ot. These photos are related to the changes at disney, though, and i would like to share them with those who would appreciate.

please share!

 

[Timandalicia]

I've been going since 1980, and yes, I believe that things are constantly improving. There are some problems here and there, but overall it's always improving. See the trouble is that Disney sells the sentimental and the nostalgic. Improving on that product is self- contradicting. We are all very lucky that there still is a Pirates of the Caribbean. I'm in California now, and can't wait to go on Mr. Toad's wild ride. A ride they replaced at wdw with Pooh. Sure I was sad to see it go, but Pooh is what my kids will grow up with.
When I first went MK was Disneyworld. There was no Epcot or anything else. So sure it's improved. But what they have done best is keep things sentimental and nostalgic. So when we old-timers complain about the changes, I think we might need to rethink how there is no where else that has changed so much but kept the important things just for us. Almost like a gift, almost for no other reason but to allow age to remember the past.

 

[bcrook]

I've been going since 1980, and yes, I believe that things are constantly improving. There are some problems here and there, but overall it's always improving. See the trouble is that Disney sells the sentimental and the nostalgic. Improving on that product is self- contradicting. We are all very lucky that there still is a Pirates of the Caribbean. I'm in California now, and can't wait to go on Mr. Toad's wild ride. A ride they replaced at wdw with Pooh. Sure I was sad to see it go, but Pooh is what my kids will grow up with.
When I first went MK was Disneyworld. There was no Epcot or anything else. So sure it's improved. But what they have done best is keep things sentimental and nostalgic. So when we old-timers complain about the changes, I think we might need to rethink how there is no where else that has changed so much but kept the important things just for us. Almost like a gift, almost for no other reason but to allow age to remember the past.

If you combine this post with Laketravis' post, I think I have found the perfect answer for me. My first trip was 40 years ago.

I too love the nostalgia and don't want to see the classics go at MK. But, here is the paradox... Part of the nostalgia was that in 1973 the rides in the Magic Kingdom were technological wonders, cutting edge-ness and the park immersed me in a magical world. I would love for Disney to continue being ahead of the curve and continue creating that feeling for my kids and grandkids. Right now, that cutting edge is at WWoHP.

As for Epcot? Well...I am a little sad about some of the worn out aspects of that park. There are really too many to mention. I would hope some of those huge profits Larryz refers to would be put into renovating.

 

[mouseman41]

As we are such a diverse nation, we are all going to have a difference of opinions. After many trips over the past 25 years I still can't wait to turn the corner and see Cinderella Castle or take the monorail over to Epcot and circle through the parks. My kids are all adults now and I treasure every moment we had with them at the Disney parks growing up. Sure there are thing I miss but the Magic is still there and I predict many more great things in the future, Sure it's an expensive vacation but the memories there are priceless. I am a Disney Addict and proud of it.

 

[FortForever]

FYI... You can convert TIF to JPG (or GIF) in Paint on Windows... Can't wait to see them....

Thanks. Put a few up. A zillion more to come whenever I get to my parents's house to get them.

Part of the nostalgia was that in 1973 the rides in the Magic Kingdom were technological wonders, cutting edge-ness and the park immersed me in a magical world. I would love for Disney to continue being ahead of the curve and continue creating that feeling for my kids and grandkids.

Yep. I have to agree. I was expecting Little Mermaid to be mind boggling. It's nothing compared to some of the 70's classics. Those old ones are still impressive by today's standards.

I would love to see Disney wow us again like they did back then. My grandkids are much harder to impress than I was, but Disney could do it if they wanted to.

 

[xipotec]

The parks have improved. The managment of the parks has not. Plus the attitude of the people visiting the parks is way down... But rudeness and self centered people are on the rise everywhere not just WDW,

 

[estherhead]

I would love to see Disney wow us again like they did back then. My grandkids are much harder to impress than I was, but Disney could do it if they wanted to.

This is interesting as they are trying with switching to RFID. But round these parts that's very suspicious and unacceptable. They also have supposedly linked up with James Cameron who is always on the cutting edge. That also is unpopular. As is asking people to be on iPhones in parks.

And technology is an ever changing target right now. Keeping up with it is exhausting. That's why kids are harder to impress. They have technology at their fingertips.

As for wanting more roller coasters, I love them. Go to cedar point every year. But I do NOT want wdw to be cedar point. Ugh. It's dirty. The food is expensive and dreadful. And little kids, grandparents, teens, parents can't all ride together. No thanks. I love a few thrill rides in each park and the rest fantastic family rides. That way my entire family of 13 can all go to AK together and only separate briefly while half ride EE. At Cedar Point we don't even invite the others. Of our 13, only 5 enjoy it.

 

[MrRomance]

So we've all grown used to threads where Disney long-timers complain that, "it just ain't like it used to be... the magic is fading."

Do any of you long-timers think the opposite? That things are getting better? That you prefer the parks now to what they were?

I have been going for about 25 years. There have been a lot of changes, some for the better, some not so much, but overall, I think Disney is just as magical as it was the first time I went. We go at least once a year and we still feel the same today as we always have.

I still enjoy my Disney vacations, but it is not better. There are some things they do that are better, but there is quite a bit they have done that has been quite disappointing.

The dining has progressively become more unenjoyable
Perks are removed every year
The new Fastpass changes are HORRIBLE
The way they they do the dining plan now is terrible
The number if cutbacks is too great for the price increases


But, I do still go to Disney (we are owners) and enjoy what they offer.

While I can agree with these things to a point, I think people often get sidetracked and don't consider the bigger picture.

The changes to FP while irritating, is still a MASSIVE step up on paying for the privilege, right? Would you rather the FP system as it is today (and is set to become) or would you rather double your ticket cost for an express pass like you do at Universal? We may or may not like the FP changes, but it's free, it's available to all, and it cuts wait times. We can't have it all ways, can we?

Dining is another area where I think people lose sight of things. Prices have gone up. Allowances under the DDP have reduced. Dining has changed with the introduction of the DDP. Those are all true. However, prices have gone up on food items EVERYWHERE. What you paid for bread and milk 2 years ago isn't the same as what you pay today, is it? With the economy, prices have gone up across the board and Disney have to pay more to their suppliers just as we have to pay more at the grocery store check out. It's not a Disney thing, it's just the way things are.

I don't understand why people think that you have to make ADRs or that you have to do that at 180 days. For a 14 night stay we might make 3 or 4 ADRs and the rest of the time, we just wing it. We have never had a problem getting into a restaurant we want to eat at and we've found a lot of good options we wouldn't have necessarily found if we had planned things out. We go to concierge and say "what buffets have availability at 7pm?" they look it up and off we go.

I think the things I miss is the characters walking around freely. I miss the days when there was truly a "low season" with low crowds, but overall, I love the changes and the improving guest experiences that we've seen over the years. I''m really looking forward to what Next Gen will bring to the guest experience and I only see things getting better (and naturally more expensive) over the coming years.

 

[Superspectral]

Resort themed refillable mugs. Then or now? 'Nuff said.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Resort themed refillable mugs. Then or now? 'Nuff said.

Then, liked the specific resort mugs better than generic.....

 

[Itinkso]

Then, liked the specific resort mugs better than generic.....

Agree! On our first trip we stayed at CBR and bought four mugs - each a different color so as not to mix them up. The CS also sold Valentine mugs so of course we bought one of those. That was refillable too!

 

[drinkme]

We've done Disney almost every year for the last 32. I love this question, because we do tend to focus on what we think has deteriorated over the years, and this made me shift my thinking.

Although my opinion may change with FP+, I think hands-down the introduction of the original FP is the single best HUGE improvement. Not having to wait in lines has greatly enhanced our enjoyment of the parks.

This is exactly my same thought. Adding FP was the best thing Disney did. Then, adding DME was the next best thing.

I do think that the prices have skyrocketed out of control. But I keep on thinking that if WDW was more affordable, the crowds would be twice as bad as they are now. It doesn't seem that long ago when you could count on certain weeks in the year as being slow. I don't think that exists any longer.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Some things are better now. ME has been great. Free wifi.

 

[FortForever]

This is interesting as they are trying with switching to RFID. But round these parts that's very suspicious and unacceptable. They also have supposedly linked up with James Cameron who is always on the cutting edge. That also is unpopular. As is asking people to be on iPhones in parks.

And technology is an ever changing target right now. Keeping up with it is exhausting. That's why kids are harder to impress. They have technology at their fingertips.

As for wanting more roller coasters, I love them. Go to cedar point every year. But I do NOT want wdw to be cedar point. Ugh. It's dirty. The food is expensive and dreadful. And little kids, grandparents, teens, parents can't all ride together. No thanks. I love a few thrill rides in each park and the rest fantastic family rides. That way my entire family of 13 can all go to AK together and only separate briefly while half ride EE. At Cedar Point we don't even invite the others. Of our 13, only 5 enjoy it.

RFID is not my idea of wowing us. I meant with making new rides more visually impressive.

I don't want roller coasters either. I enjoy the few thrill rides that they have, but never want Disney to be like Six Flags or one of the other parks. What I expected from Little Mermaid is more along the lines of Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Peter Pan. Something the entire family can enjoy together. Visually impressive, but done Disney style.

The new generation may never feel the awe that we kids in the 70's felt. With all the technology they're exposed to, they are growing up jaded. Even so, I'm glad they can still love Disney for what it is.