Do You think DISNEY has gone down hlll the last few years?

[disneyphilip]

While I do agree that some disappointing things have happened at WDW within the last few years (such as the reduction of holiday season offerings like the Country Bear Xmas Show and Lights of Winter, a decrease in the variety of characters walking around the parks, etc.), I don't think that things are going "downhill" necessarily. For one thing, they still continue to invest in new projects/endeavors (Summer Nightastic, the Fantasyland expansion, Star Tours II, etc.).


We certainly are living in the middle of a huge economic recession right now (the worst economic disaster to occur in our country since the Great Depression of the 1930's) and, hopefully, a lot of what's been cut back will eventually be restored or brought back when the economy REALLY starts to rebound.

As for anything that was cut-back in the few years prior to the fall of 2008 (when the economy officially went south), it's very possible that the folks in the finances departments were most likely worried that the economy was in trouble and decided to be more proactive, rather than reactive, to try to protect the company from running in to too much money trouble.

Remeber: Disney is not a non-profit or charity organization. They're still a business and always have been and concerns over money and profits need to be just as big a priority as concerns for guest satisfaction. They're doing the best they can to please both sides, but in this economy, it's only been getting more and more difficult.

Let's pray that the economy heals a lot quicker than it did during the 30's, so we can start getting certain things back.

 

[bicker]

We certainly are living in the middle of a huge economic recession right now (the worst economic disaster to occur in our country since the Great Depression of the 1930's) and, hopefully, a lot of what's been cut back will eventually be restored or brought back when the economy REALLY starts to rebound.

It's more than just a deep recession, because we're actually already in recovery. The issue is, though, that every recovery for the last thirty years or so has been a jobless recovery - economy activity resumes and we experience economic growth, but employment income doesn't recover. Essentially what is happening is that the economy is recovering by operating more efficiently, and in turn this means we're essentially pulling out of recession by trading-in some standard-of-living and superior quality and service. This isn't a Disney phenomenon; it's utterly generic, applicable to basically everything.

 

[TLSnell1981]

These changes aren't just due to the recession. They've been happening for quite a while. Quality isn't as important as quantity....

 

[jimmymac]

Boy, some serious Kool Aid drinkers here

 

[disneyphilip]

These changes aren't just due to the recession. They've been happening for quite a while.

As I said before, they were probably worried that the economy was on the verge of falling into a recession and had to take proactive action.

Quality isn't as important to quantity....

Yes, it is. Always has been and always will be.

 

[NYDisGuy]

I've learned something new on the Disboards - only poor people ride public busses/transportation.

Not to defend him/her but the quoted poster said in their area.

 

[Don Disney]

Can you say employees hoping to retire someday and live off of 401(k)s? Folks regularly forget how they themselves benefit from the economy as it is, and how that they would be personally adversely affected if the economy were to turn into what they suggest it should be like. However, the real question here is whether we really want this thread taken off onto this inflammatory tangent you've started us down? Personally, I'd rather we avoid that, and just say that it is a shame that not everyone gets what they want, all the time.

Have you seen MY "Golden Parachute"??

 

[flicx]

As for anything that was cut-back in the few years prior to the fall of 2008 (when the economy officially went south), it's very possible that the folks in the finances departments were most likely worried that the economy was in trouble and decided to be more proactive, rather than reactive, to try to protect the company from running in to too much money trouble.

The most disappointing things that have occuured in my opinion happened long before they knew the economy was in trouble.Ride closures that never reopened(20,00 leagues,body wars).A general slow down in attraction openings and currently over a decade with no new parks.In this same time frame we have seen major price increases,an emphasis on resort and dvc building etc.Now to go along with this less CM's and in some long time disney people's opinion less park maintenance.It seems to many on here disney has put alot more emphasis on a pure profit machine than what they did in the past.Now before anyone says that they are in the business of making money(like we don't know that)alot of us people who have been going from the begining don't like the direction they are currently heading. While I still love the place I just hope they soon make the some adjustments.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Yes, it is. Always has been and always will be.

It is important to me, but I don't think Disney cares anymore.

 

[Art 1]

I do not. Universal however seems to be run by a bunch of teenagers.

 

[Planogirl]

It's interesting how differently we all see things. I think that the changes are due to a combination of factors including the recession, budget cuts in general and people overall changing.

There is another factor and that is jobs as bicker mentioned. Some analysts say that jobs will never recover to what they once were and our society will become more and more service oriented. The trouble with that is that service jobs tend to pay less which of course will lead to less people able to spend the big bucks on things such as themepark vacations. It seems to be a vicious cycle.

 

[knewton64]

....I was a 1st time visitor into Disneyland / DCA late March to early April 2010 as part of an Adventures by Disney group tour.


My first impressions of DL & DCA:

1)Poor customer service from the CM's.....

2)"Soup Nazi" attitude from the CM's at the Grand California Hotel.


3) Being treated like cattle while out touring DL and DCA....

and to top it off, one of the ABD Guides had to read (while we were out on tour) from a clip board - her notes to the group!


When called out on this, Craig Hodges' (CEO of ABD) response was anthing less than professional.


All of this was even kicked up to Robert's office (CEO of Disney Corp)
with a ho hum response.

I even took down my trip report ("IF I WERE A FRAGGLE...") I was that upset over this.



**1st time visitor and last time visitor to Disneyland.**



P.S. Thank you all for allowing me to vent in a positive way. There is more to this but this is a quick subnosis of why I feel the Disney Corporation is not where it should be as this upcoming trip to WDW (OCt 2010) will be my last.

 

[rie'smom]

I do not. Universal however seems to be run by a bunch of teenagers.

If Universal is run by teenagers, they're very intelligent. You usually hear about teens only caring about themselves but I have to say they look out for me and m family! Their resorts put Disney's resorts in the toilet. Hey, maybe teenagers should start running Disney

 

[dburg30]

To the person that wants light rail.. Good God, could you imagine the cost for that? PLUS you still have a track that the trains cant really divert in case of an issue. I mean, look at the monorail line, if something happens it all stops.. The buses can make a left turn at the next light if something is happening at their 'normal' turn. Trains cant. Why in the heck would you want to tie your hands like that? No, sorry, buses make perfect sense for what they are trying to do. And the scheduling and the stops and the crossovers and the built in safety trying to criss cross the property.. No thanks. The chances that you could take a train right from one resort to a park doesnt seem to make sense to me. What a cluster that would be IMO...

 

[glassslippergirl]

I wouldn't use "downhill" either, but how about not as good as Disney has gotten us used to? ... We have also experience more less-than- Disney-like cast members on recent trips (but they are still far outnumbered by the magical Cast Members!).

Maybe Disney has spoiled us in the past and when they start making changes to adjust to the masses, we feel less spoiled, but that doesn't keep us from going back as we still believe in Disney Magic!

I am new to this forum but have been on some other Disney forums where is seems sacreligious to say anything negative about the Mouse. I am pleased to find that this is a serious discussion topic here.

My husband and I have been annual passholders for a little over a year, but as a Floridian, I have gone to Disney at least once a year since the late-seventies. With the passes, we now go about once a month and enjoy ourselves every time. But customer service is lacking. Not bad-- just not as good as it used to be, like Pooh said above. I recently spoke to a cast member who has been working at WDW since opening day. His position was that Disney is hiring more and more part-timers to save on benefits. It's detrimental because the investment in training is just not there. I could not agree more.

One example happened back in May. I was waiting in line for a Star Wars weekend show in Hollywood Studios. My grandmother, in a wheelchair, was with me. A cast member decided that she did not like the way the line was snaking, and, after mumbling a few incoherent instructions that no one around us understood, she made our section of the line move about five feet to the right. The only way for me to accomplish this in the crowd was to move my grandmother's wheelchair sideways. You try moving an adult sideways-- not forward or back-- in a wheelchair-- not an easy task. But the cast member did not seem to care. I even asked her, "Was this really necessary?" She just blinked and walked away. I could not imagine such lack of customer sevice a few years ago, but when I wrote to Disney about it, I just got a cursory "we're sorry" response.

Many have commented on the dining also. We've found it to be hit and miss. Unless there is some perk to dining in the resort-- like the priority seating in the Candlelight Processional package-- we usually just leave the property to eat. It saves us some money which we can use to add an extra day to our trip or to do something special.

Despite the occasional customer service problems, I still generally feel that Disney, the company and its employees, wants me to have a great, memorable time. Their attention to detail makes the trips enjoyable overall, and we still get excited about each, upcoming trip. That said, I would not be upset if Mickey took a look at the state of his house and decided to do a little "home improvement."

 

[DOOM1001]

I haven't read the whole thread so I don't know what most people's opinions are,but I have to agree with the OP that Disney is getting away with a lot of things because they've simply been able to,people simply keep coming and coming.This is why I seriously have been hoping Potter at Universal does somewhat bring them down to earth.$30 daily strollers(even if it's an outside vendor they can't allow these prices),yearly price increases,reducing the concerts to weekends only at the F&G festival,taking away the lights of winter,reducing the quality and quantity of foods in restaurants,lack of new attractions and old attractions that are old and stale and need to be removed,the list can go on and on.Prices keep rising but many things stay the same or don't improve and others simply get worse.

 

[bicker]

Have you seen MY "Golden Parachute"??

Non-sequitur.

It is very important to see the world from the standpoint that includes the fact that other people live within it. The focus solely on how things affects one own's self blinds us to the broader reality.

... Disney is getting away with a lot of things because they've simply been able to,people simply keep coming and coming.

The same is often said of practically every mass-market, consumer-facing product and service provider. This is a reflection of how consumer expectations have become completely detached from what is explicitly promised, and how consumer perceptions of the marketplace have become completely detached from realistic and comprehensive understanding of the business environment.

 

[Don Disney]

Non-sequitur.

It is very important to see the world from the standpoint that includes the fact that other people live within it. The focus solely on how things affects one own's self blinds us to the broader reality.

The same is often said of practically every mass-market, consumer-facing product and service provider. This is a reflection of how consumer expectations have become completely detached from what is explicitly promised, and how consumer perceptions of the marketplace have become completely detached from realistic and comprehensive understanding of the business environment.

Big,fancy words don't change the fact that greed is rampant in Corporate,and Private sector businesses-All I was saying was that Disney is not immune.Working in healthcare(direct patient care),makes me focus on a much broader reality than I personally would like to-life and death on a daily basis.Anyhoo,thank you for your never ending wealth of information.

 

[bicker]

Greed is much more common among consumers. Exploitation, abuse, violating terms and conditions, deceiving customer service agents to exact compensation or considerations, etc. The difference is that large companies generally don't engage in such greedy behavior, because they have a lot to lose from such conduct being exposed, while consumers don't have such concerns.

I do agree that Disney is not much different from any other large, multi-national service provider in their industry.

 

[Don Disney]

So how are we as consumers going to get Disney(short of a boycot)to realize(not that they don't)that more and more people are getting less satisfied with "The Magic"? I still think WDW is a great place for our family to vacation,but only because my children are still pretty young,and really love it there-me too for that matter.What can we do?