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

[Planogirl]

I'm so glad someone gave me this link.

I just posted something on the boards about our past visit, yesterday actually.

I think Disney has definitely gone DOWN... DECLINED.. whatever the heck you want to call it.

I hate it!! I don't want it to go that way.

What happened to being happy to be there? What happened to decent CS food? (We got a see-through bun .... no joke)

No detail is really being paid attention to... not that I can see. I saw weeds, paint chipped... dust on everything....

I got yelled at in my car by the CM when I was parking b/c it was my understanding if you were staying on property that you could park for free... wow. Can you say embarrassing?

I understand quality comes at a price, and thats cool... but when things are declining .. and prices are raising... I wanna know where that money is going.

You can park for free if you are staying onsite. I don't get it.

 

[larryz]

NVM -- this thread is just not worth the effort to read it.

 

[AKraft]

first, and most importantly... where do you get a carrot cake cookie?!?

second, we do the free dining, just the 2 of us, cause it's about the only way we get to eat these nice meals,and I don't have to say "honey, can I get the (fill in the blank), it's only $2 more?"

If you like carrot cake then a Carrot Cake Cookie is only the most delicious cookie you could think of. Imagine, if you will, creamcheese icing sandwiched between 2 huge, moist carrot cake cookies. I only recently found out about this treasure myself and it can only be found in the Writer's Workshop next to the Sci-Fi Dine-In @ Hollywood Studios. I got 2 of these on my way out of the park, but didn't get to eat them until the next morning (They're not just for dessert). Had I tasted how awesome they were before leaving, I would have used half my snack credits on them - the other half would still need to go to the Dole Whip.


I do see your point about the DDP. I'm the kind of person that likes to have as much planned ahead of time as possible. The DDP allows you to have your meal budget set aside. You know exactly what you're getting and you don't feel guilty about ordering something more expensive or that snack you might not have gotten because of the extra cost. To each there own.

 

[smidgy]

I know the Writer's stop!!! you just decided one of my snack credits!!! yummy

 

[smidgy]

NVM -- this thread is just not worth the effort to read it.

oh come on larry!!! you always add a lot to a discussion!

it got a little dicey for a while, but now it's real friendly!

 

[Planogirl]

I know the Writer's stop!!! you just decided one of my snack credits!!! yummy

I always stop at the Writer's Stop for tea and that yummy sounding treat would be perfect too I think.

 

[smidgy]

another tea drinker!!!!

I always tell hubby "tea drinkers are discriminated against"
he says "as well they should be".
out to breakfast: he gets: "more coffee, sir?" I MIGHT get more water for my old tea bag!
hotels on the way down: coffee, no tea. gas stations: coffee, no tea. church meetings; coffee, no tea. school meetings: coffee, no tea. socer meetings: coffee, no tea. bars: coffee, no tea.


but.. I digress....

 

[rugman1969]

Things change because the market will bear it. Disney has always been out to make a buck. They're a business - the first goal is to turn a profit. I don't understand why people are so surprised when they figure that out.

Disney has not always been out to make a buck. If you remember, Walt, of course, wanted to make money, but he did it for the sheer pleasure he got out of making people happy. I think Walt's way of thinking has diminished to the point that it is remembered, but not practiced. It wasn't always JUST about the money.

 

[rugman1969]

I, too, have noticed a decline at WDW. In WDW's defense, there is not another theme park in the US who can compare to them. I started going in 79, and in 79 there was Magic Mountain, Main Street, Polynesian, Contemporary Resort, River Country, Disney Village, Golf Resort, monorails, and golf courses. Everything was based on customer service, cleanliness, and making the trip MAGICAL! Also, in 79, people respected police, were more polite, and handled things with class. Now, there are 4 parks, 2 water parks, monorails, bus service, and too many to list resorts. So much more going on than back then, and the attitude people are brought up with nowadays, just adds to less magic overall. The food and shows were one of a kind, the parks were ahead of their time, and the masses of people were much less. I can understand how WDW is sliding downhill, but that can be prevented. I understand they need to make money, but they also need to keep guests happy to keep them coming back. I have also started seeing decline in maintenance, trash, dirty rooms, employees coming and going to and from work, and a lack of food quality and choices. Maybe they just expanded too much too fast. They obviously haven't kept up with their own additions. It was about 2000 when I started noticing the downward slope of the things going on at WDW. Maybe they just need to step back, take a breath, and remember what it's all about. Hardcore WDW'ers love it when new attractions are added, but myself personally, I wouldn't mind if every original attraction was still there. They could have never added anything else, and I would be fine with that. I would continue to go. Many would not, but then, many new guests would continue to come. I hoestly wish WDW would be just as it was in 1979, with the exception of Epcot, because I looovvvveee Epcot, and I would still be going. But WDW does need to do sonething about the slide. They need to start taking a stand against the rowdies and careless, and stop worrying who's feeling they are going to hurt. It needs to change before it's too late. They need to stop growing for a while, and grab control of the reins agains and start making the magic happen before the people who made them(the loyals) people stop coming. Walt started this park because yes, he did want to make money, but he wanted to bring people something different, special, MAGICAL. He did just that back in the 70's. If he saw the way things were going now, he would turn in his grave. I don't think this is what he had in mind. I think he, also, would be disgusted. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone everything addition WDW has made, just that they do not keep up with the core values the park was built on. Mediocre customer service overall, boring and repetitive food, and unkept parks are becoming the norm at WDW. Maybe it's time to start going to Disneyland more. I will always love WDW, but I will always miss what I had on my first visit.

 

[cjb71870]

"I also have not read the 100+ pages of this threat, but I have read some of the posts and do tend to agree that some things have declined over the years. We just got back from Disney last week and it's funny that the previous post mentions burnt out lightbulbs because my son noted the ones that were out at the Grand Floridian and as we took the boat over to the Magic Kingdom, I noticed that there were numerous one out over there too. Now that seems like a small thing, but not something I expected of Disney. Six Flags - Yes, but Disney - No." AKraft..... This made me smile and laugh for knowing exactly what I said on my weekend last week taking my nephew for his BDay, being a regular since 1989, I also noticed and pointed out to my Mom, Grandma, how many lights were out everywhere we went!!!!!!!!! This is what made me laugh when I read the same complaint about lights everywhere on Disney property!!!

 

[BigGreen73]

To rugman1969, great post. It's true that the more and more you try to do, the more and more other things can suffer. And to many, at least by this thread, it is starting to show at WDW.

WDW has been great to us and has given my DW and I 6 wonderful vacations with tons of great memories. WDW is still above the norm and provides an excellent experience and even though expensive, it's worth the $$$. At least right now. But....

Unlike most, WDW or not, if we ever had a bad WDW vacation or a vacation that seemed less than "magical" I doubt we would go back. It would only take one. No second chances. For the amount of money a WDW vacation takes, it needs to be great. Not average, not above average, but GREAT, EXCELLENT, & MAGICAL every time. Period.

There are many who are WDW & Disney fans would will stick by and defend WDW no matter what. My DW and I are fans, big fans of everything Disney, but if WDW went the way of normal theme parks, we would start going. We would rather remember what was, magical vacations, than try to force the magic and make excuses and keep going back.

Will weeds or chipped paint or a burnt out light or a piece of trash on the ground affect what I think about WDW. Nope. I don't look for this stuff, and most of these kind of things are barely noticable unless you're looking for it. Would numerous rude CM's, poor food quality, consistantly poor service, poorly cleaned rooms, or attractions breaking down consistantly change my views about going to WDW again? Definitely!!

 

[awilliams4]

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

No.

BLT, Kandani, Space Mountain Refurb, HH Refurb, PC Refurb, TSM, AIE, EE, Nemo Musical, Nemo Ride, Kim Possible, Sum of all Thrills, Via Napoli, FLE.

We just invested $50k in DVC (490 points at BLT and BCV) over the past two years and LOVE it!

 

[SeeJackRunn]

I have debated for a long time whether or not to post this because I didn't want it to be true...I love Disney so much and don't want them to seem like they are going downhill. When we were there in May, there was a little line for POTC (about 20 minutes), and a dad let his about 2 or 3 year old son just pee right on the attraction floor in front of everyone. It was revolting, I guess not really Disney's fault, but never in a million years would I expect to see that there.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Hasn't this exact same thread been posted since the advent of message boards on the net? Yet every time I go I just don't really see it.

 

[onnawufei]

I can't say I've noticed a decline, but I've also never had a "perfect" WDW vacation in the first place. I've had snags here and there, the occasional less than stellar service or the less than chipper CM. But everything can't be perfect all the time, no matter how much we wish it could. Not even Disney can make that happen.

 

[Planogirl]

another tea drinker!!!!

I always tell hubby "tea drinkers are discriminated against"
he says "as well they should be".
out to breakfast: he gets: "more coffee, sir?" I MIGHT get more water for my old tea bag!
hotels on the way down: coffee, no tea. gas stations: coffee, no tea. church meetings; coffee, no tea. school meetings: coffee, no tea. socer meetings: coffee, no tea. bars: coffee, no tea.


but.. I digress....

I know the feeling. I carry my own tea bags everywhere with me now and end up paying for hot water in most cases. I have to have my tea though!

 

[Planogirl]

I keep seeing people say that they expect to see burnt out light bulbs and chipped paint at places like Six Flags. Believe it or not, there was a time when even Six Flags was far nicer than they are now. Their decline has been rapid and dramatic but it wasn't always so.

However, I still feel that how other companies perform should have no bearing on the Disney corporation. They are their own entity and are supposed to set the standard. I personally feel like that standard is slipping a bit and has been doing so for some time.

 

[Donut23]

I know the feeling. I carry my own tea bags everywhere with me now and end up paying for hot water in most cases. I have to have my tea though!

SO DO I !!!!!

.....in little snack ziplock bags.

I also carry DH's caffeine free tea he has first thing in the morning!

I am a purest......only a full load of caffeine for me. Anyone surprised? HAHA





Equal Rights for Tea Drinkers !!

Perhaps we should lead a march on Washington!!! Naaaa....how about a march TO Hall of Presidents instead.

 

[Planogirl]

SO DO I !!!!!

.....in little snack ziplock bags.

I also carry DH's caffeine free tea he has first thing in the morning!

I am a purest......only a full load of caffeine for me. Anyone surprised? HAHA





Equal Rights for Tea Drinkers !!

Perhaps we should lead a march on Washington!!! Naaaa....how about a march TO Hall of Presidents instead.

Another tea party of sorts?

 

[disneyfan55]

SO DO I !!!!!

.....in little snack ziplock bags.

I also carry DH's caffeine free tea he has first thing in the morning!

I am a purest......only a full load of caffeine for me. Anyone surprised? HAHA





Equal Rights for Tea Drinkers !!

Perhaps we should lead a march on Washington!!! Naaaa....how about a march TO Hall of Presidents instead.

Off topic but when I saw mention of the snack zip bags I had to write. I love them not only for snacks, but wipes, floss etc and especially Money. Paper money fits perfectly in them. I never take my wallet on vacation. I use one zip bad for cash and another for my ID, CC etc. They work great!