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

[Tiger926]

Well, I guess that in fairness we are in a way still getting what we pay for or we wouldn't go any more. I wonder if the casual visitor who goes on that once in a lifetime trip feels satisfied? It would be interesting to know.

Most first or only timers I talk to, say it was fabulous! And, if they got Free Dining, they can't believe the deal they got.

Tiger

 

[Planogirl]

I've had friends and relatives go and they always say that they had fun. However, none of them want to go again and some planned it out well. They say it's too crowded, too expensive or that they want to see other things when I ask why. It just made me wonder.

 

[Donut23]

I've had friends and relatives go and they always say that they had fun. However, none of them want to go again and some planned it out well. They say it's too crowded, too expensive or that they want to see other things when I ask why. It just made me wonder.

Very good friends of mine went last year. I helped a little with planning....found a great rate, helped them with dining, little park planning. They wanted a schedule similar to my DH's and mine......maybe one meal planned a day....

They had a good time......not a great time. Their lasting comment....

"Disney sure does know how to separate you from your money".

Not interested in going back when we are there so we can help castmember room rates or free park entrance. They too "want to do other things".

 

[brunette8706]

IMHO the DDP and "Free" dining is what caused Disney to lower the quality of food in the restaurants, standardize the menus, and increase the number of Guests served per hour.

The different departments subsidize each other even though they all have their own budgets. The huge profits made from the DVC is reported as Parks and Resorts and all Disney companies end up on the same balance sheet.

Bill

*
Totally agree! My DH loved the prime rib at Boma, but now they replaced it with a much cheaper cut of meat, sirlion I think while RAISING THE PRICE. It's just not the same. These are just one of the many cuts Disney is doing.

 

[mickeymom629]

Once again, I haven't read each and every post, but I have another comment about the bathroom situation which relates to the one other post I put on this thread:
On one of our trips, we were in Tomorrowland one evening. I went into the bathroom and a cm was in there and the stall she was cleaning was disgusting! It was a crowded bathroom that night and there were more stalls that were going to need her attention.
How do bathrooms get so gross?! Not from the castmembers, but from the guests! Custodians can't be everywhere at once (in Disney World and elsewhere). I don't understand how there are people who can leave such filth.

I was in there for a bit and listening to the "guests". I went to the young cm and gave her $10 or $20 (can't remember now). I just felt that this situation went above and beyond what she signed up for.

 

[bookgirl2632]

I can't really comment with any validity here. See, I usually only get to go to WDW every four or five years. I'd love to go more often, but life happens and I simply can't afford it. Maybe it's a good thing I don't go every year. Because when I do go, I appreciate in a way that I think some people on this thread can't. Please, I hope no one takes that as a slam. It's just that I'm supremely grateful for my infrequent trips to WDW, so I just don't see any of the negatives that others see.

 

[Tiger926]

I can't really comment with any validity here. See, I usually only get to go to WDW every four or five years. I'd love to go more often, but life happens and I simply can't afford it. Maybe it's a good thing I don't go every year. Because when I do go, I appreciate in a way that I think some people on this thread can't. Please, I hope no one takes that as a slam. It's just that I'm supremely grateful for my infrequent trips to WDW, so I just don't see any of the negatives that others see.

You didn't mean for it to be a slam, but of course it is.

You seem to imply because you don't go as often, that you appreciate it more, and that you don't notice any "negatives."

Believe me, as a DVC member, I am beyond grateful for my trips - perhaps I am as equally or even more supremely grateful than you to be able to go more often?

I know I am not suggesting that because I go more often, I appreciate it more. I am suggesting that as a frequent guest, over the years, I have seen it all, and have much basis to compare WDW to itself over time. There was a time where you didn't see any overflowing trash cans and disgusting bathrooms, but this can be attributed to several things:

1. More guests
2. More disgusting and ill mannered guests
3. Less staff
4. Overworked staff
5. Longer park hours

All of these factors together, will combine to cause dirty bathrooms and filled trash cans. Just because we notice, does not mean that we are "negative." On the contrary, when I report this, I am doing so for myself, and for you. When we discuss it on here, we are doing so in the hopes that things will improve. Just because you, nor others don't see it, doesn't mean it hasn't happened. It just means you didn't see it, or you didn't care to see it.

I am glad you are grateful for your trips to WDW, and I hope you continue to have wonderful trips.

Tiger

 

[brunette8706]

You didn't mean for it to be a slam, but of course it is.

You seem to imply because you don't go as often, that you appreciate it more, and that you don't notice any "negatives."

Believe me, as a DVC member, I am beyond grateful for my trips - perhaps I am as equally or even more supremely grateful than you to be able to go more often?

I know I am not suggesting that because I go more often, I appreciate it more. I am suggesting that as a frequent guest, over the years, I have seen it all, and have much basis to compare WDW to itself over time. There was a time where you didn't see any overflowing trash cans and disgusting bathrooms, but this can be attributed to several things:

1. More guests
2. More disgusting and ill mannered guests
3. Less staff
4. Overworked staff
5. Longer park hours

All of these factors together, will combine to cause dirty bathrooms and filled trash cans. Just because we notice, does not mean that we are "negative." On the contrary, when I report this, I am doing so for myself, and for you. When we discuss it on here, we are doing so in the hopes that things will improve. Just because you, nor others don't see it, doesn't mean it hasn't happened. It just means you didn't see it, or you didn't care to see it.

I am glad you are grateful for your trips to WDW, and I hope you continue to have wonderful trips.

Tiger

*
Great post, and worded eloguently (as always)! Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with you on that! I guess that's what you get when Disney cut 1500 employees.

 

[Rudy6]

WDW has not gone downhill.

What happens is that during ou first few trips there is a tremendous amount of magic. Everything is new to us.

I still remember my first time in the Magic Kingdom. It was a rainy July afternoon. I was in awe stepping into Main Street, USA. We just walked around the park. When I left that trip, I remember crying on the Mears bus back to MCO.

I never had emotions to this extent again.

What has happened is that we became excellent at touring. We are able to make it on many attractions in the course of one day. I think that my crowing touring achievement was when my son and I did the Four Parks in One Day Challenge. We did it

So it is not that WDW has gone downhill, it just become comfortable. If not, then we would not be going back every chance that we can.

PS - I nearly fell over, when WDW doubled the price of strollers. Luckily for us, just before that shocking increase, our children grew out of strollers.

 

[bookgirl2632]

You didn't mean for it to be a slam, but of course it is.

You seem to imply because you don't go as often, that you appreciate it more, and that you don't notice any "negatives."

Believe me, as a DVC member, I am beyond grateful for my trips - perhaps I am as equally or even more supremely grateful than you to be able to go more often?

I know I am not suggesting that because I go more often, I appreciate it more. I am suggesting that as a frequent guest, over the years, I have seen it all, and have much basis to compare WDW to itself over time. There was a time where you didn't see any overflowing trash cans and disgusting bathrooms, but this can be attributed to several things:

1. More guests
2. More disgusting and ill mannered guests
3. Less staff
4. Overworked staff
5. Longer park hours

All of these factors together, will combine to cause dirty bathrooms and filled trash cans. Just because we notice, does not mean that we are "negative." On the contrary, when I report this, I am doing so for myself, and for you. When we discuss it on here, we are doing so in the hopes that things will improve. Just because you, nor others don't see it, doesn't mean it hasn't happened. It just means you didn't see it, or you didn't care to see it.

I am glad you are grateful for your trips to WDW, and I hope you continue to have wonderful trips.

Tiger

No, I don't imply that I appreciate it more. I said that I appreciate it in a different way. Because I don't go frequently, I don't see the deterioration that you and others have observed. I guess, for me, that is the good side of going every few years or so. Since I don't have a basis of comparison, everything is lollipops and rainbows.

And of course, it was not a slam, just an opinion from a infrequent visitor.

 

[d1gitman]

WDW has not gone downhill.

What happens is that during ou first few trips there is a tremendous amount of magic. Everything is new to us...

get ready for the flames...you dare to disagree with some posters on this thread

 

[eliza61]

WDW has not gone downhill.

What happens is that during ou first few trips there is a tremendous amount of magic. Everything is new to us.

I still remember my first time in the Magic Kingdom. It was a rainy July afternoon. I was in awe stepping into Main Street, USA. We just walked around the park. When I left that trip, I remember crying on the Mears bus back to MCO.

I never had emotions to this extent again.

What has happened is that we became excellent at touring. We are able to make it on many attractions in the course of one day. I think that my crowing touring achievement was when my son and I did the Four Parks in One Day Challenge. We did it

So it is not that WDW has gone downhill, it just become comfortable. If not, then we would not be going back every chance that we can.

PS - I nearly fell over, when WDW doubled the price of strollers. Luckily for us, just before that shocking increase, our children grew out of strollers.

No flames from me, I tried to look at it from his point.

Unfortuantely I think it's the opposite reason. When some thing is comfortable, you generally count on it for being "the same". So when I ask myself "is food quality the same or as comfortable" as my first two trips? No.

Are the shops teh same, with the same quality merchandise, the same variety of merchandise? No way!!

"Comfort" denotes a degree of satisfaction. A comfortable vacation usually means there is a Level of "sameness" that we are used to. If you have a comfortable sofa, you "expect" it to feel good.

So for me, the problem is the quality I expected from Disney is no longer being met. You're right there was a very good feeling of comfort knowing that when I made ADR's I would get a good meal. Now, a lot of folks are simply happy if their meal is OK. how sad is that.

When people booked Mickey;s holloween party, there was an "expectation" of certain things. we were comfortable knowing that the extra money spent would give us certain things. That was based on our comfort level. Many of us pretty much banked on it.

I think that's why we're probably upset more than the 1X visitor.

 

[KellyNY]

No flames from me, I tried to look at it from his point.

Unfortuantely I think it's the opposite reason. When some thing is comfortable, you generally count on it for being "the same". So when I ask myself "is food quality the same or as comfortable" as my first two trips? No.

Are the shops teh same, with the same quality merchandise, the same variety of merchandise? No way!!

"Comfort" denotes a degree of satisfaction. A comfortable vacation usually means there is a Level of "sameness" that we are used to. If you have a comfortable sofa, you "expect" it to feel good.

So for me, the problem is the quality I expected from Disney is no longer being met. You're right there was a very good feeling of comfort knowing that when I made ADR's I would get a good meal. Now, a lot of folks are simply happy if their meal is OK. how sad is that.

When people booked Mickey;s holloween party, there was an "expectation" of certain things. we were comfortable knowing that the extra money spent would give us certain things. That was based on our comfort level. Many of us pretty much banked on it.

I think that's why we're probably upset more than the 1X visitor.

Agree with you. I also want to add that when you go more often you finally see some things you do not see in a beginning. It is like falling in love, first comes passion, then when it is over, you finally start to see flaws. You still in love but you are more observant.

 

[Tiger926]

No, I don't imply that I appreciate it more. I said that I appreciate it in a different way. Because I don't go frequently, I don't see the deterioration that you and others have observed. I guess, for me, that is the good side of going every few years or so. Since I don't have a basis of comparison, everything is lollipops and rainbows.

And of course, it was not a slam, just an opinion from a infrequent visitor.

Hmmm....? What does this statement mean then:

"Because when I do go, I appreciate in a way that I think some people on this thread can't."

You started off by saying that you can't go as often, as some of us do, then you made a connection to other people's experiences on this thread, and stated that you appreciate Disney in a way that others cannot?

What exactly does that mean, if not that you appreciate it more, because you don't go as often as some of the rest of us do? Tiger

 

[patsal]

Yes, I think it has. I go frequently so I notice the little things. I noticed this year most of all there was a shortage of CMs to keep the traffic flowing, no one guiding people into fantasmic, many things that were never utter choas were. Over the years I have seen more trash on the ground, less food choice and way less merchandise that is "special". Paint is chipping and peeling, railings are tipsy--from people using them to sit and climb, names are carved in doors, walls etc. where people are waiting in line, garbage is in the rides...IASM, POC, Splash. Such a shame as when people don't see things in a pristine way it is often hard for them to care about taking care of it.

 

[Planogirl]

Hmmm....? What does this statement mean then:

"Because when I do go, I appreciate in a way that I think some people on this thread can't."

You started off by saying that you can't go as often, as some of us do, then you made a connection to other people's experiences on this thread, and stated that you appreciate Disney in a way that others cannot?

What exactly does that mean, if not that you appreciate it more, because you don't go as often as some of the rest of us do? Tiger

I read it as her saying that she doesn't see the changes because she goes far less frequently so it's all new to her in a way every time she goes. The memories aren't as fresh so she can't really compare in as much detail as we can.

I can understand that. WDW is about as familiar as the back of my hand now so I tend to notice little changes or disruptions. For example, I see that overflowing trash can. Someone who goes less often might not realize that the overflowing trash can is anything different because they likely don't even remember what the trash cans look like to begin with.

 

[bookgirl2632]

I read it as her saying that she doesn't see the changes because she goes far less frequently so it's all new to her in a way every time she goes. The memories aren't as fresh so she can't really compare in as much detail as we can.

I can understand that. WDW is about as familiar as the back of my hand now so I tend to notice little changes or disruptions. For example, I see that overflowing trash can. Someone who goes less often might not realize that the overflowing trash can is anything different because they likely don't even remember what the trash cans look like to begin with.

Thank you, Planogirl. That's exactly what I'm trying to say. I'm glad someone got it.

 

[brunette8706]

Once again, I haven't read each and every post, but I have another comment about the bathroom situation which relates to the one other post I put on this thread:
On one of our trips, we were in Tomorrowland one evening. I went into the bathroom and a cm was in there and the stall she was cleaning was disgusting! It was a crowded bathroom that night and there were more stalls that were going to need her attention.
How do bathrooms get so gross?! Not from the castmembers, but from the guests! Custodians can't be everywhere at once (in Disney World and elsewhere). I don't understand how there are people who can leave such filth.

I was in there for a bit and listening to the "guests". I went to the young cm and gave her $10 or $20 (can't remember now). I just felt that this situation went above and beyond what she signed up for.

First, that was awfully nice of you to tip that girl $20 dollars! WOW! But, I guess that's what you get when Disney makes cuts. They let go 1500 employees recently. Why, I don't know! Stupid move on their part. I guess they are looking for ways to SAVE MONEY, but on the other hand it just backfires, hense the dirty bathrooms and other mishaps.

Brunette

 

[GadgetRick]

What happens is that during ou first few trips there is a tremendous amount of magic. Everything is new to us.

Although I understand what you're saying, I don't agree. If this were true, I would have felt this way many years ago. Quite frankly, I didn't start these kinds of things until about 2 or 3 years ago. I've been going for about 20. By the time I started noticing these kinds of things I'd already been there 40 (or so) times.

So I don't think it's the, "comfortable," thing for many of us.

 

[Tiger926]

Thank you, Planogirl. That's exactly what I'm trying to say. I'm glad someone got it.

Got it.

Tiger