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

[tony67]

One thing Main Street did have in earlier years was a side street on the left with flower carts, the barber shop and just old time looking facades. They had the penny arcade, magic shop, movie theatre and not as much of the stuff for sale. I actually took a picture of the side street (which at Chistmas was really beautiful) and painted a watercolor and I look at it everyday since it hangs in my living room. I miss that little street!

And the hotdog cart on Wednesdays and Saturdays!
They had the best hot dogs in Disney back in the days before they standardized everything.
(Real buns as well, not healthy sawdust buns)
There was also a hotdog cart in Epcot that had great dogs every day.
It was one of the little things we always looked forward too.

So many little things I don't like about Disney these days, yet I still go back.
Standardization of everything is a big issue for me.

Remember when they made their own pretzels in Germany in Epcot?
Fresh hot and buttery.
Now it is the same pretzel you get everywhere in the parks.

Remember when the Chefs had daily specials and could be creative?
I still remember having a whole flame roasted piranha at Coral Reef FOR LUNCH.
That is something you do not see on a menu every day.
This is something you will always remember, a truly unique experience.

What about different specialty drinks at each of the hotels.
Now it is a standard menu.

It seems like the only fish in most places is salmon, no variety anymore.

How about when we could eat whatever we wanted on vacation, now they want us to eat healthy on vacation.
It’s my vacation let me do what I want, don’t force your agenda on us.

 

[Donut23]

And the hotdog cart on Wednesdays and Saturdays!
They had the best hot dogs in Disney back in the days before they standardized everything.
(Real buns as well, not healthy sawdust buns)
There was also a hotdog cart in Epcot that had great dogs every day.
It was one of the little things we always looked forward too.

So many little things I don't like about Disney these days, yet I still go back.
Standardization of everything is a big issue for me.

Remember when they made their own pretzels in Germany in Epcot?
Fresh hot and buttery.
Now it is the same pretzel you get everywhere in the parks.

Remember when the Chefs had daily specials and could be creative?
I still remember having a whole flame roasted piranha at Coral Reef FOR LUNCH.
That is something you do not see on a menu every day.
This is something you will always remember, a truly unique experience.

What about different specialty drinks at each of the hotels.
Now it is a standard menu.

It seems like the only fish in most places is salmon, no variety anymore.

How about when we could eat whatever we wanted on vacation, now they want us to eat healthy on vacation.
It’s my vacation let me do what I want, don’t force your agenda on us.

Beancounters have taken control of the disney kitchens and supply. Chefs had budget cuts, hence the removal of more expensive cuts of beef and a variety of unusual foods......they simply are no longer "stocked" for the chef to request. Want to serve fish, mr. chef? You have a choice of...salmon and salmon from the company store.

Sure, having a central warehouse for food and one system to BUY for all their restaurant needs IS a great way to save $$$. But it eliminates their ability to be truly creative. Yes, standardized.

Next, watch your menus......more and more of the food is actually prepared AWAY from the individual restaurant. Example, Boatrights and CRT have nearly the same menu....but CRT is 40% more. Soups (and more) are made in central kitchens, and delivered for example.....CHEEP that way. You are right - standardized. Sure, CHEEP to make a soup in a 150 gallon vat.....is that the soup what we really want to eat vs. the personal creation of a talented chef.

Don't even TALK about "chicken slime-dogs" and "crumble buns". We call it "bird food"....cheep cheep cheep.

We are very good in our daily lives at home so we CAN be a little naughty and have an all beef hotdogs on holiday....not to mention they are at least edible. Now we have to walk past Casey's on our next trip. We tried them.....we threw them away. sigh.

 

[Planogirl]

I get a little tired of people complaining when anyone says anything negative. Just don't read here then! I've been to WDW many, many times and plan to go back. That doesn't mean that I'm going to run around with blinders on and not comment on the not so great along with the great.

Phew! Vent over.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

I know some of you think I am the ultimate Disney apologist, but I have to say that there are a few things that you all have talked about that I agree with. One of my biggest being the food! Disney getting rid of Trans Fats really messed with a lot of my favorite foods. I hate that Disney is trying to force me to eat healthier. If I wanted to on vacation, I'd order a salad for myself thank you!!!

My other BIGGEST problem is the closing of Pleasure Island! This is my true biggest "Disney screwed way up" problem. And I still haven't quite forgiven them for it.

More and more of the food is actually prepared AWAY from the individual restaurant. Example, Boatrights and CRT have nearly the same menu....but CRT is 40% more. Soups (and more) are made in central kitchens, and delivered for example.....CHEEP that way. You are right - standardized. Sure, CHEEP to make a soup in a 150 gallon vat.....is that the soup what we really want to eat vs. the personal creation of a talented chef.

Ehhh... you have to be careful with this. Having worked in food services and being close with a few of the chefs (Rock on chef "Bubba") this is not true in a lot of the cases. The main area it is true is in your counter services. But table service I know their own soup is generally made.

You may be surprised at what is made in personal kitchens. Like Turkey Legs, Churros and Egg Rolls. All of the hot food in Adventureland, Liberty Square and Frontierland is made in their own personal kitchen for example.

That's not to say that I don't agree with your assessment of the food going down here. Just thought you'd like some tales from the other side of the counter.

 

[Pjimmeyer]

I get a little tired of people complaining when anyone says anything negative. Just don't read here then! I've been to WDW many, many times and plan to go back. That doesn't mean that I'm going to run around with blinders on and not comment on the not so great along with the great.

Phew! Vent over.

I know what you mean. In a similar way I get a little tired of people complaining in some more positive threads about all of the "disney apologists" and "rainbows/rose colored glasses." Last December was about as close to perfect as you can get. My overall opinion from our experiences over many years and many visits is that Disney has held up remarkably well. We find the place to be consistently and truly magical visit to visit. Just our experience but it is honest and real. I understand there are problems and that they can and should be discussed but it doesn't mean I need anyone's help interpreting my own experiences. I don't think that Disney has gone hill. It's okay if your experiences have proven otherwise to you.

 

[Planogirl]

I know what you mean. In a similar way I get a little tired of people complaining in some more positive threads about all of the "disney apologists" and "rainbows/rose colored glasses." Last December was about as close to perfect as you can get. My overall opinion from our experiences over many years and many visits is that Disney has held up remarkably well. We find the place to be consistently and truly magical visit to visit. Just our experience but it is honest and real. I understand there are problems and that they can and should be discussed but it doesn't mean I need anyone's help interpreting my own experiences. I don't think that Disney has gone hill. It's okay if your experiences have proven otherwise to you.

I agree that it works both ways. There are apologists out there but they are few and far between. Most people who defend Disney just see things differently and that's really what makes these conversations so interesting.

 

[brunette8706]

I know some of you think I am the ultimate Disney apologist, but I have to say that there are a few things that you all have talked about that I agree with. One of my biggest being the food! Disney getting rid of Trans Fats really messed with a lot of my favorite foods. I hate that Disney is trying to force me to eat healthier. If I wanted to on vacation, I'd order a salad for myself thank you!!!

My other BIGGEST problem is the closing of Pleasure Island! This is my true biggest "Disney screwed way up" problem. And I still haven't quite forgiven them for it.


Ehhh... you have to be careful with this. Having worked in food services and being close with a few of the chefs (Rock on chef "Bubba") this is not true in a lot of the cases. The main area it is true is in your counter services. But table service I know their own soup is generally made.

You may be surprised at what is made in personal kitchens. Like Turkey Legs, Churros and Egg Rolls. All of the hot food in Adventureland, Liberty Square and Frontierland is made in their own personal kitchen for example.

That's not to say that I don*'t agree with your assessment of the food going down here. Just thought you'd like some tales from the other side of the counter.

*
Hey there! No worries, we're glad you posted. Feel free to mention anything positive and negative. We're not "bashing" or "trashing" Disney as one other poster mentioned, (which incidentally, really irked me), we're looking at Disney as a whole to talk about what problems/issues they are having. And, as I said earlier, we are talking about the positive side of Disney too! I think 99.99 percent of all participants on this threads are Disney loving people. Most people on this thread continue to go to WDW. Heck, we're going back in February and maybe sneak in a trip in December (we have a villa 8 miles from WDW). Anyway, I'm glad you posted.

Yes, to address your issue about Pleasure Island, I have no idea why they closed it. Maybe the big executives didn't think it was bringing in enough revenue??

Anyway, welcome aboard.

Brunette

 

[Donut23]

Below is a review I just read about the Beach Club Resort. On the front page of the DIS where they have a choice of reviews and reports. The review is long, thorough, includes good photographs. Here is the conclusion paragraph. More and more people are reporting the small changes that add up to an 89% vs. the 110% we all loved in the past...obviously a trend. There are some who say 89% is GREAT (??????) but I ask....when does the decline stop? 79%......62%. Trends downward are never a good thing.

Overall Impression:

The Beach Club is a perfectly nice resort – but it failed to leave me feeling as though I wanted to return. The cast at the Beach Club were professional and friendly, but not on the level I’ve come to expect from Disney – it was more on the level I’ve come to expect at Hilton or Sheraton. Perhaps I’m jaded because I fondly recall the days when Disney service was the envy of the industry. In some sections of WDW however, those days seem as though they are a bygone era. Gone are the days when cast members routinely tried to go ‘above and beyond’, replaced instead by perfectly nice, competent people merely doing their job. Even on the concierge floor, while the cast was very nice and very professional, I simply did not get the feeling that I was at a Disney resort – but rather at any upscale resort where the service is good. Some may say that my expectations are too high, and frankly – I think that’s why Disney’s service level has declined in recent years. People have stopped demanding that level of service from them. When you charge the premium that Disney charges for their resorts, you have to expect something beyond good proximity to the parks. This is not to say that I think people shouldn’t stay at the Beach Club – it’s just a personal observation. Will I go back to the Beach Club again? Probably. Will I be excited about it – probably not. This resort scores an 89 out of 100 .

 

[tony67]

There are apologists out there but they are few and far between. Most people who defend Disney just see things differently and that's really what makes these conversations so interesting.

I feel there are far too many apologist on this site IMO.

Every time you see someone with a really bad experience at a resort a bunch of people gang up and make every effort to punch holes in the story and blame the poster.

Yes the poster may be venting and overstating some things, but when someone shows up and says they a had a great stay I do not see a bunch of people show up and punch holes in their story. It’s all yeah I love the overprice resort too.
They want to justify what they spent for a resort that is not all that great compared to resorts in the real world.
You do see a few show up and say they did not have as good a time, but they do not attack the poster.

When I see someone show up and say how great the food was a Chef Mickey’s I do not attack them even though I think the food at Chef Mickey’s is comparable to Golden Coral.
If they ask I will say I did not like it, but I just don’t go in to attack them.
The problem is so many people are used to eating at Fridays they are happy with what Disney serves.
If I came from a place where Pizza Hut was fine dining I might think Disney was great as well.
And yes I have been to places where Pizza Hut is listed as fine dining in the local directory at the hotel.
If they are happy with it than fine, but do not attack me because I was not.

If I go and say I had an awful meal somewhere I get attacked.
Comments like:
"You expect too much from a theme park."
"The roles at Casey's are just fine, no problems at all."
"Don't go to Disney if you do not like it"
"Good then I don't have to compete with you for an ADR"
"The new hot dogs at Casey's are just fine."
"You should just be happy to be at Disney"
“Don’t blame free dinning (or the DDP) for the bad food”
"I would eat at coral reef even if all they served where burgers and chicken nuggets. It so nice”
“You just don’t understand real Mexican food like I do, you want TexMex”


EDIT: For those that want to say I am just a complainer. Not true.

I really like the CSR resort (It is the best value for a hotel in Disney).
The Magic Express is amazing, it keeps me from staying at the Dolphin.
The QSDP is a good value, if you know here to eat with the QSDP the quality of the food is very good.
My biggest concern is that the quality of the QS food is going to go downhill in the next year.

 

[Planogirl]

Tony67, you make some great points and you bring up a personal peeve of mine. I get tired of seeing people post their thoughts and experiences and then see so many show up to tell them that they're wrong. No, they are not wrong. This is what they think and this is what they experienced and that can't be wrong. One is their opinion, good as anyone else's, and the other is just what they personally experienced, also as valid as anyone else.

Now, if they are stating untruths, that's different. However, usually it's just someone telling what happened and the vultures immediately start circling. I still don't think it's THAT many though. You can describe your own trip as different as a counterpoint or explain why something is the way it is and I don't see those as attacks.

By the way, I agree with you about Chef Mickey's...

 

[DisGirl23]

*
Hey there! No worries, we're glad you posted. Feel free to mention anything positive and negative. We're not "bashing" or "trashing" Disney as one other poster mentioned, (which incidentally, really irked me), we're looking at Disney as a whole to talk about what problems/issues they are having. And, as I said earlier, we are talking about the positive side of Disney too! I think 99.99 percent of all participants on this threads are Disney loving people. Most people on this thread continue to go to WDW. Heck, we're going back in February and maybe sneak in a trip in December (we have a villa 8 miles from WDW). Anyway, I'm glad you posted.

Yes, to address your issue about Pleasure Island, I have no idea why they closed it. Maybe the big executives didn't think it was bringing in enough revenue??

Anyway, welcome aboard.

Brunette

So, I've kept from posting back on this thread because everytime I've stated my thoughts, I've felt like I've been bonked on the head. However, I just wanted to say that I've recent started reading a book called "Creating Magic" by Lee Cockerell. In it he talks about the business changes that have been made at WDW, and why, while he was in Park Operations. It was published in 2008 so, it's pretty recent. I can't help but think of this thread at many points during the book.
Sometimes changes, for whatever reason, take a while to get all the kinks worked out, or realize that they've made a mistake and need to find the smoothest route back. I am not defending either side here, just looking at things from both sides. I am not a Disney apologist, just someone who hasn't lost any of the magic yet.
Maybe I'll be bonked again for posting this but, I just think it's an interesting book and, at least to me, a lot of the changes come back to this recent discussions.

As for Pleasure Island, the 2 main reason I've heard was "families wanted more family things to do" and it turned into a local riff raff hotspot. No admission charge and lots of tourists may have made it a pickpocket, or worse, nightmare.

 

[Planogirl]

As for Pleasure Island, the 2 main reason I've heard was "families wanted more family things to do" and it turned into a local riff raff hotspot. No admission charge and lots of tourists may have made it a pickpocket, or worse, nightmare.

That's an interesting reason particularly since there's pretty much nothing there now. I can see the crime side of it though.

 

[DisGirl23]

That's an interesting reason particularly since there's pretty much nothing there now. I can see the crime side of it though.

Well, if there was a series of events it may have caused them to close immediately. In which case, there is probably a team somewhere trying to put together a concept to add there.
And in all honesty, if I was in Disney PR, I wouldn't come out and tell the public "we closed Pleasure Island because our guests were being robbed and harassed left and right...." I wouldn't want people to get worked up and think WDW, as a whole, was unsafe. I'd probably come up with the "family friendly" side too. Which isn't a lie, if you just have an extension of the Marketplace, it will definitely be more family than riff raff.

 

[rie'smom]

So, I've kept from posting back on this thread because everytime I've stated my thoughts, I've felt like I've been bonked on the head. However, I just wanted to say that I've recent started reading a book called "Creating Magic" by Lee Cockerell. In it he talks about the business changes that have been made at WDW, and why, while he was in Park Operations. It was published in 2008 so, it's pretty recent. I can't help but think of this thread at many points during the book.
Sometimes changes, for whatever reason, take a while to get all the kinks worked out, or realize that they've made a mistake and need to find the smoothest route back. I am not defending either side here, just looking at things from both sides. I am not a Disney apologist, just someone who hasn't lost any of the magic yet.
Maybe I'll be bonked again for posting this but, I just think it's an interesting book and, at least to me, a lot of the changes come back to this recent discussions.

As for Pleasure Island, the 2 main reason I've heard was "families wanted more family things to do" and it turned into a local riff raff hotspot. No admission charge and lots of tourists may have made it a pickpocket, or worse, nightmare.

Would you please share some of these with us? It might help us to understand what's happened.

 

[tony67]

Tony67, you make some great points and you bring up a personal peeve of mine. I get tired of seeing people post their thoughts and experiences and then see so many show up to tell them that they're wrong.

You're Wrong!!!


Anyway - I do feel that there is a core of 10-20 people who seem to have a mission in life to defend Disney till the end. So yeah it is only a few, but the issue is they get it going and the rest pile on.

 

[Donut23]

I feel there are far too many apologist on this site IMO.

Every time you see someone with a really bad experience at a resort a bunch of people gang up and make every effort to punch holes in the story and blame the poster.

Yes the poster may be venting and overstating some things, but when someone shows up and says they a had a great stay I do not see a bunch of people show up and punch holes in their story. It’s all yeah I love the overprice resort too.
They want to justify what they spent for a resort that is not all that great compared to resorts in the real world.
You do see a few show up and say they did not have as good a time, but they do not attack the poster.

When I see someone show up and say how great the food was a Chef Mickey’s I do not attack them even though I think the food at Chef Mickey’s is comparable to Golden Coral.
If they ask I will say I did not like it, but I just don’t go in to attack them.
The problem is so many people are used to eating at Fridays they are happy with what Disney serves.
If I came from a place where Pizza Hut was fine dining I might think Disney was great as well.
And yes I have been to places where Pizza Hut is listed as fine dining in the local directory at the hotel.
If they are happy with it than fine, but do not attack me because I was not.

If I go and say I had an awful meal somewhere I get attacked.
Comments like:
"You expect too much from a theme park."
"The roles at Casey's are just fine, no problems at all."
"Don't go to Disney if you do not like it"
"Good then I don't have to compete with you for an ADR"
"The new hot dogs at Casey's are just fine."
"You should just be happy to be at Disney"
“Don’t blame free dinning (or the DDP) for the bad food”
"I would eat at coral reef even if all they served where burgers and chicken nuggets. It so nice”
“You just don’t understand real Mexican food like I do, you want TexMex”


EDIT: For those that want to say I am just a complainer. Not true.

I really like the CSR resort (It is the best value for a hotel in Disney).
The Magic Express is amazing, it keeps me from staying at the Dolphin.
The QSDP is a good value, if you know here to eat with the QSDP the quality of the food is very good.
My biggest concern is that the quality of the QS food is going to go downhill in the next year.

AMEN

You are right. Perhaps they simply are not well traveled and don't really know any better.

One of our Disney travel buddies, probably bought the FIRST DVC contract sold....and just about every resort built since....has recently lost is rose-colored glasses in the last year.

He IS well traveled and IS a foodie. F&W is a favorite for him. Over the years he as made many friends with the chef's who return each year. The final straw for him was when his friends told him about the changes Disney made to F&W......."give 'em less.....charge 'em more" including the compensation for those visiting chefs. Does anyone else find it curious that Disney can't seem to fill the Candelight Processional narrators slots this year? It's September and they still have TBD dates. It's not tough to hire someone for this.....unless the compensation stinks.

We had not spoken much about the decline to him because, honestly, we were a little jealous of his rose-colored glasses and didn't want to be resonsible for knocking them off. I still remember his phone call when he got home. F&W cutbacks, resort desperatly in need of renovation, fewer castmembers, flower beds with dead flowers and weeds.

Everyone has their breaking point....for some it's a 25% decline...for some it may be a 50% decline. It does't matter, I'm always sorry when I hear someone else has reached it.

For me, 85% of what it once was would be ok if it wasn't so bloody expensive and increasing quickly each year. How can the average family afford it?

As I said in another thread...nobody works a travel deal better than I do. Couple that with castmember discounts for a 32 year employee, including the room to food and shopping, and Disney trips ARE very cheep for us. That doesn't mean I don't feel bad for those priced out and "declined out" of a disney trip.

...and Tony I agree.....the food is very disappointing for the prices they charge.

 

[ntsammy5]

...and Tony I agree.....the food is very disappointing for the prices they charge.

I disagree! The food would be disappointing even at 1985 prices!

 

[Donut23]

I disagree! The food would be disappointing even at 1985 prices!

Touche!

 

[Planogirl]

I disagree! The food would be disappointing even at 1985 prices!

I say let the people who still wear rose colored glasses enjoy themselves. I remember that feeling and it still irks me that mine were ripped off and crushed. If only they wouldn't be so ready to attack those who feel differently though.

 

[brunette8706]

So, I've kept from posting back on this thread because everytime I've stated my thoughts, I've felt like I've been bonked on the head. However, I just wanted to say that I've recent started reading a book called "Creating Magic" by Lee Cockerell. In it he talks about the business changes that have been made at WDW, and why, while he was in Park Operations. It was published in 2008 so, it's pretty recent. I can't help but think of this thread at many points during the book.
Sometimes changes, for whatever reason, take a while to get all the kinks worked out, or realize that they've made a mistake and need to find the smoothest route back. I am not defending either side here, just looking at things from both sides. I am not a Disney apologist, just someone who hasn't lost any of the magic yet.
Maybe I'll be bonked again for posting this but, I just think it's an interesting book and, at least to me, a lot of the changes come back to this recent discussions.

As for Pleasure Island, the 2 main reason I've heard was "families wanted more family things to do" and it turned into a local riff raff hotspot. No admission charge and lots of tourists may have made it a pickpocket, or worse, nightmare.

Hi DisGirl23!

First off I would like to say "welcome aboard". Second, I would like to say I believe in your first right admendment which his Freedom of Speech. As long as you play by the rules by the DIS board, I believe your speech should not be stiffled. You are certainly welcome to talk/discuss about your experience at WDW. If you believe all is fine that is your opinion and that's okay! LOL! AGain, I think WDW as a "whole" is great. There are just some things that have been in decline, that's all.

Now, I have heard about this book, your talking about, I've seen it I think at Amazon.com, but I have no idea what exactly it's about. Can you give us a little more details? This should be a good discussioin.

Thanks for posting, sorry you got "bonked", hopefully it wasn't me that "bonked" you, LOL!

Talk soon!
Brunette