Do any Disney long-timers think things are better?

[Safari Queen]

I've made over 40 trips over 20+ years and I think it's better in most ways. ME, FP, value resorts, resort airline check-in, EMHs are all wonderful. AK is my favorite park and the well themed resorts like AKL, WL, CSR, AoA, etc are welcome additions.

I miss the old "slow" times of year, but we can be smarter about our vacation plans, using EMH and FP, and we no longer do "Commando" touring anyway. I appreciate that there are healthy choices for food and we still find good restaurants and CS. My only real complaint is the generic merchandise in the stores. I loved it when they each had specific merchandise and it was worth looking in the stores in every park. We also loved Pleasure Island and really miss adult entertainment like Adventurers' Club and the Comedy Warehouse. I'd like to see more entertainment for adults. Otherwise, I think it's definitely better.

 

[WDW1979]

Stitch: I don't think Mr. Walt Disney would have approved of a toilet paper throwing brat as a Disney character, even if Stitch does look good in an Elvis costume.

 

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

I can only guess that the next step in this trend will be screaming all through the queue.
.

I just snorted on my phone! Lol.

 

[WDW1979]

I've made over 40 trips over 20+ years and I think it's better in most ways. ME, FP, value resorts, resort airline check-in, EMHs are all wonderful. AK is my favorite park and the well themed resorts like AKL, WL, CSR, AoA, etc are welcome additions.

I miss the old "slow" times of year, but we can be smarter about our vacation plans, using EMH and FP, and we no longer do "Commando" touring anyway. I appreciate that there are healthy choices for food and we still find good restaurants and CS. My only real complaint is the generic merchandise in the stores. I loved it when they each had specific merchandise and it was worth looking in the stores in every park. We also loved Pleasure Island and really miss adult entertainment like Adventurers' Club and the Comedy Warehouse. I'd like to see more entertainment for adults. Otherwise, I think it's definitely better.

I agree that Disney World is mostly better. There are a few things I miss, like River Country and a dog-free Fort Wilderness Campground, but Disney World is as wonderful as ever.

 

[newdeal]

Disney is always changing and generally most of it is for the better. Sure they have some misses along the way, and unfortunately they can't adapt to that as quickly as we hope they would, but in general I think people have rose coloured glasses for the old Disney, but I really don't think it was because it was better, they were just younger and happier in general than they are now lol

 

[SweetMissy]

I'm not a long timer but I think the minute Starbucks goes in, Disney may go downhill from there.....opening up ideas for other chain companies to go in. Disney has their own, why they decided to let an outsider to come in is beyond me. I'm really not looking forward to beginning my trip down Main St and seeing a Starbucks on the corner.

 

[texasteacher35]

I loved to see how Disney would communicate that to guests from the quarter of the world where it is the left side is the correct side instead.

Yeah, but this is America...when I go to Europe, I must drive on the left side of the road...that's just the way it goes...LOL

 

[davedmaine]

I'm not a long timer but I think the minute Starbucks goes in, Disney may go downhill from there.....opening up ideas for other chain companies to go in. Disney has their own, why they decided to let an outsider to come in is beyond me. I'm really not looking forward to beginning my trip down Main St and seeing a Starbucks on the corner.

You realize that there are several 'outsiders' already set up in the MK, right? "Dole" whips? Edy's? etc..

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm not a long timer but I think the minute Starbucks goes in, Disney may go downhill from there.....opening up ideas for other chain companies to go in. Disney has their own, why they decided to let an outsider to come in is beyond me. I'm really not looking forward to beginning my trip down Main St and seeing a Starbucks on the corner.

Disney's had Coca-Cola as far back as I can remember. They also had Mc Donald's up until pretty recently. Rides have had sponsers for ages too. I think they go all the way back to the original Disneyland (or thereabouts).
The coffee swill they currently serve is clearly Nescafe. My guess is they let in Starbucks because guests were asking for it, and the two companies came to a mutually beneficial agreement.

***********

Someone mentioned resort airline check-in...one way trips to WDW have changed is security. Not just actually inside WDW, but everything we have to do now in order to fly. I can't really say it's better to have more security, or even worse. It sure is different.

I remember how dramaticallly WDW changed due to 9/11. In one sense, 9/11 destroyed part of the magic forever. In another sense though, going to WDW in the years after 9/11 has been a welcome respite. I don't mean WDW is free from risk, I just mean we're so busy at WDW, that we don't get much exposure to the news while on vacation. Sometimes it's nice to forget about all the garbage, and just have fun with your family.

 

[DisneyMagick2008]

You realize that there are several 'outsiders' already set up in the MK, right? "Dole" whips? Edy's? etc..

McDonalds fries in that cart that sits in the path heading from Adventureland to Frontierland...

 

[Jennasis]

Stitch: I don't think Mr. Walt Disney would have approved of a toilet paper throwing brat as a Disney character, even if Stitch does look good in an Elvis costume.

I dunno...he didn't have a problem with Tinkerbelle. She was a jealous, murderous snot-rag in that movie. A truly heinous brat. So I reject your line of thinking...however I agree that Stitch is an obnoxious little punk, and I HATE him.

 

[Granny square]

I dunno...he didn't have a problem with Tinkerbelle. She was a jealous, murderous snot-rag in that movie. A truly heinous brat. So I reject your line of thinking...however I agree that Stitch is an obnoxious little punk, and I HATE him.

Lol, so true. Now tink is a star. I'd love to see disney address this disjoint, lol!

 

[North of Mouse]

I also dont want Disney to become like Six Flags or Cedar Point it adding a couple roller coasters is not a bad thing and something that can be themed in The Disney way.

I don't want to seem mean here but I think todays children who have even ever set foot in a park not called Disney before going to Disney will only see Disney as what it has become...outdated. Unfortunately, I am of the mind set that you have to adapt to the now...Disney has not done this. They think that what worked before with only some subtle changes will work today. This is far from a fact. You can make a family park while also meeting the needs of teenagers. The people who didn't grow up on Disney but the Six Flags and Cedar Point's of the world right now will not be interested in Disney in the years to come as they are not catering whatsoever to the teenager and even the pre-teen crowd but rather the 5-10 crowd. It is fine but they will really start to lose market share unless they start waking up to the reality of today.

people one here who say that Universal is a mess are right... But the issue is the park was fully built (for the most part) before Comcast bought them out. ok cast is now tearing things down and replacing with new rides or even spending money to theme the popular areas like Simpsons. I am not saying Universal will trump Disney overnight but they seem to be more mindful of what people want as a whole than Disney does at this point.

I disagree on Disney *needing to adapt to the now*. If they weren't doing things right, they would have a *falling away* of attendance. Instead, it seems they are able to have *year round* crowds instead of some *slow* times.

They are smart enough to keep things that draw people back year after year. *None* of the other parks will ever compare, no matter what Universal or some others do. It will mostly be a side trip to most people (though I realize, not all). We have never been to Universal, and have no plans to ever go.

Universal can be as mindful as they want in doing what they think people want, Disney will still be the majority of people's *go to* place. When I start seeing less crowds when we go, then maybe I'll start wondering. IMO, I won't see it.