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

[Tiger926]

Haha Tiger! My mom, me and (unfortunately) DD5 saw it. DH was like "what? where?" LOL!

I'm trying to shush DD about "that woman's girl parts" and DH is like "where, which one?" I have to say.... we will NEVER again visit the Tiki room without thinking about this woman. Even DD5 remembered it both in July and in September was pleased as punch to tell my Dad about it while he was touring with us.

Oh, dear! In all of our trips, I can think back to some very questionable body part sightings as well. Yikes!!!

Tiger

 

[disney11fan]

Are you speaking about the Concierge CM? They are notoriously busy, so that doesn't surprise me at all. I always have quicker service by calling directly to Disney Dining from my room.

By the way, we never received anything for taking our DVC tour - when you are spending thousands of dollars, an ice cream cone really doesn't matter at that point.



I'm with Suellen - I don't really follow your logic at all. Why would you sell a Disney timeshare off-site, where there is no connection to Disney? Not following at all...





Tiger

trying to be funny. i don't like seeing something hawked when i'm on vacation.when i stay off property ok...but for what were paying ..give us a break. if its a great deal ...people will seek and find them. but everytime you turn around there is a timeshare booth.

 

[Tiger926]

trying to be funny. i don't like seeing something hawked when i'm on vacation.when i stay off property ok...but for what were paying ..give us a break. if its a great deal ...people will seek and find them. but everytime you turn around there is a timeshare booth.

Got it, but for those of us who own DVC, we wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe not as many booths, but they need to be on property so that it can be controlled and the value is there.

Tiger

 

[disney11fan]

Got it, but for those of us who own DVC, we wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe not as many booths, but they need to be on property so that it can be controlled and the value is there.

Tiger

like to see booths set up...regarding problem solving.

 

[flicx]

I really don't like the vacation club booth in the parks either.When I am paying primo dollars to go to the park I don't like to listen to sales pitches.

 

[KellyNY]

My opinion on DVC booths is different. I do not see anything wrong with them to be on property, even parks. They do not catch people on a street to talk to them about DVC, they do not bother anyone. They do not annoy you like sales people for offsite clubs by calling your room and luring you to presentations. They are just there in case if you want to talk to them. I stopped by one at MK, I was waiting for my DD to come back from SM. Sales person did not even try to grab my attention, he was just waiting to see if I have questions. Sales booths totally belong on property, think about all the stores who offer their charge cards, are they inside the store?

 

[eliza61]

I really don't like the vacation club booth in the parks either.When I am paying primo dollars to go to the park I don't like to listen to sales pitches.

Actually you shouldn't be hearing a sales pitch unless you begin one. The dvc policy is pretty much they don't start any thing unless you come over.
If you notice for the most part, they will just be sitting in the booth or milling about. they will not "lure" you in. at least that's what it use to be.

 

[Donut23]

Hi, from what I know I don't believe there were many layoffs, more like a hiring freeze. This time last year and into the earlier part of 2010 there was a hiring freeze that went on for quite some time. This may have something to do with a seemingly smaller staff.

Regarding Disney layoffs......

Beginning of 2009 Fellow Castmember Bob took his double digit million dollar bonus. The following week (early January 2009) they fired 10% of Disney staff worldwide in all cost centers. After that, they took 4 months and went division by division and made further cuts ending with the parks division the end of March-early April. 1900 castmembers in the second go-round for DL and WDW.

There have been smaller layoffs since - in more targeted areas but nothing compared to early 2009. For the most part, these jobs are gone ..... at least for now.

With park attendance now officially down for another quarter....I don't see too much big-hiring in the future ...... unless you are being considered for Harry Potter-land which had a robust quarter.

 

[Donut23]

My biggest complaint is that much of Disneyworld looks rather dirty and umkempt these days. That is so different from my childhood trips to Disneyland when my parents would remark that the place is so clean, we could eat off the ground.

I agree it is different than the World of our youth.

Last time we were there was late Spring and Parks and Resorts were better than I had seen it in a while. I stay away from the bigger bathrooms and try to use the out-of-the way ones....often more clean.

Now that our trip in 2 weeks is back on (my 90 year old Mom gave us a scare with a heart attack recently - but has finally taken a turn for the better and is spunky again).....we will be at the beach club for another try.

4 or 5 years ago we were saddened by the condition of the BC (our favorite) and have stayed away. We have decided it's time to go back to our favorite.....Nelson (manager at the BC during our last trip and a person who could not recognize Pixie Dust if he fell into it) is long gone!

Things change....sometimes they change by baby steps when we want leaps and bounds. We hope the BC has changed for the better.

 

[d1gitman]

I really don't like the vacation club booth in the parks either.When I am paying primo dollars to go to the park I don't like to listen to sales pitches.

and you don't have to...the DVC sales are very soft sale - low key. we have looked into it a few times and NEVER were pressured in the slightest bit. It is there for those who want to investigate it and for those who don't you are able to pass right by with no harrassment. Unlike the cell phone booth in your local mall

 

[Tiger926]

Glad there have been others around here who have chimed in regarding the DVC booths. They are so low key, that even with our DVC clothes on, they don't even acknowledge us at times!

They do not shout out or grab onto people to make sales - you must go up to them and inquire about the product.

Again, as a DVC member, I want them to be available on property and not at gas stations. Yikes!

In the serious scope of this discussion, and all of the good comments that have been made, seeing DVC booths while on vacation, is so very small, that it shouldn't even be an issue, IMHO.

Tiger

 

[Snape]

I really don't like the vacation club booth in the parks either.When I am paying primo dollars to go to the park I don't like to listen to sales pitches.

I'm not a fan of DVC, but we've walked by the booths many many times and have never once been bothered by the sales people. Even after saying hello, they didn't try to recruit us to their sales pitch meetings, so I'm guessing the DVC is very low pressure.

I, however, don't like the general idea of ads (Coke, etc...) in the parks at all but it's always been like that. The Harry Potter area of Universal is ad free.

 

[mickaholic4077]

I'm not a fan of DVC, but we've walked by the booths many many times and have never once been bothered by the sales people. Even after saying hello, they didn't try to recruit us to their sales pitch meetings, so I'm guessing the DVC is very low pressure.

I, however, don't like the general idea of ads (Coke, etc...) in the parks at all but it's always been like that. The Harry Potter area of Universal is ad free.

Are you fairly represented at HP land,Snape??

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Epcot has truly gone down hill during Christmas time over the years.

1. They removed the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony with the characters dancing, singing, & counting down the tree lighting show.
2. They removed the Holiday Lights of Wonder. LOVED this & the music that played along with it.
3. They had MUCH less Christmas lights in the trees around World Showcase last year, almost non-existent compared to other December visits.

They don't even have the presents any longer under the tree or the "EPCOT" tag, only the tree is there now, that is it, very sad !!!! It was truly spectacular years ago.

 

[Planogirl]

I miss those lights at Epcot! They were so beautiful and I wish that Disney would bring something similar back.

 

[rutgers1]

For every thing that has declined in recent years, there are things that have improved. And for as long as Disney World has been in business, there have been people saying that things were better in the past.

I grew up going to Disney, and literally since 1983 onward my father has said that Disney is going downhill. Yet, for some strange reason, a year after each trip he declares that Disney was fantastic and nearly perfect --- which sets him up for his next disappointment during the next trip. Yup, you guessed it -- Disney is going downhill compared to the perfection of the previous year. The cycle repeats and repeats and repeats.

Trash on the ground has always been there - and it has always been cleaned quickly thereafter. There has never been a time when garbage was picked up the minute it left someone's hands, but Disney comes pretty darn close.

I often read for people pining away for the Disney of the 70's. As for me, while that time period was great, I'd much rather have:
1) Animal Kingdom (though it needs to expand)
2) Hollywood Studios
3) Epcot
4) Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon
5) Downtown Disney (could be better, but it is something)
6) DVC (happy DVC owner here)
7) all of the rides that have been introduced over the past 30 years

If there is one area that I think has declined, it is Disney's eagerness to innovate. As of right now, it looks like Universal is taking the lead in that regard. I want Disney to define the standard, not follow in another company's footsteps.

 

[rutgers1]

One area of "decline" that is often mentioned on the Rumors/News board is items offered at the stores. There are a couple people over there who claim that every store in Disney World offers the same exact items. I don't know where they are shopping, but I don't find that to be the case at all. There is a lot of diversity within the stores, and I always find new items that I wouldn't mind picking up.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Epcot has truly gone down hill during Christmas time over the years.

1. They removed the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony with the characters dancing, singing, & counting down the tree lighting show.
2. They removed the Holiday Lights of Wonder. LOVED this & the music that played along with it.
3. They had MUCH less Christmas lights in the trees around World Showcase last year, almost non-existent compared to other December visits.

They don't even have the presents any longer under the tree or the "EPCOT" tag, only the tree is there now, that is it, very sad !!!! It was truly spectacular years ago.

I don't normally quote pictures, but people should see how beautiful these lights are. I can't believe they don't have them up anymore. It cannot cost that much to light; they already have them, why not use them?

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

I don't normally quote pictures, but people should see how beautiful these lights are. I can't believe they don't have them up anymore. It cannot cost that much to light; they already have them, why not use them?

I'm with you, Lulu! I can't imagine the holidays at Disney without them. Truly saddened by their removal.

 

[Albytaps]

I haven't read this thread in awhile but I remember there being complaints about the food so....

I really enjoyed the food on this trip (just got back this week.) It had some of the best eating memories I've had in WDW. I can't say that I had anything that was memorably bad, but there were foods that were memorably good. The pan seared sea bass (catch of the day) and mushroom risotto and the Coral Reef was outstanding as well as the mushroom filet and risotto and cream cheese mashed potatoes at Le Cellier (and the cheese soup.) Of course, this was my first time eating at many of these restaurants so I can't say they were just as good as last time BUT I do love food and know what's good.

Biergarten was awesome! My wife is a very picky eater (meat and potatoes type) and she loved the selection. I loaded up on Bratwurst with sauerkraut and mustard and I was in heaven. At Crystal Palace there was an amazingly good prime rib and marinated chicken that I could eat all night.

Of course there were many other choices but I don't want to write a novel.

Anyway, food was excellent! And don't get me started on the F&W festval! I want to go back so bad with a million snack coupons!

Oh... I do remember something that wasn't so good now... at Chef Mickey's breakfast the french toast was too dry, but everthing else was great!