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

[TheMaxRebo]

More to the point, I no longer expect exceptional service. I've drastically lowered my expectations. Now I realize the food will be mediocre, the service will be spotty at best and now when I run into an cm who goes out of their way, I'm surprised.

exactly what you want to feel before dropping a few thousand dollars on a vacation


I do think that society in general is different - I mean, just picture how it was when you got gas back in the 50's ... things change.

and Disney is still better than 99% of other places so I just try to enjoy it for what it is and not sweat the small stuff

 

[julieannboo]

i don't think that Disney is as popular as it was in the 1980's and 1990's.

 

[julieannboo]

You hit on a key point for me. I too remember when the service and overall experience was better. I still like it now but it isn't the same for me.

don't forget those poor CM's get paid peanuts - maybe if they were paid a bit more maybe they would be willing to go out of their way to help people a bit more.

disney are very shortsighted.

 

[Eventer98]

We go to WDW about every 9 mon. Our last trip was in Oct. I have to say I haven't noticed anything going downhill. I can't remember any CM's that weren't as friendly as in the past and I still love almost all the CS restaurants. Yes, the DDP did go up in price which didn't thrill me but I am still happy with the food and it's quality. Some place aren't my cup of tea, and you won't find me with 2 toddlers at most 2TS places, so I can't comment there! To me Disney is just magical, as others have said. I do go in with pretty high expectations and have yet to be let down. My in-laws were on our trip with us in oct and on day 2 a loved one died back here in NY. They had to leave ASAP. Disney turned their 8 day park hoppers into non-expiring ones and also trasnferred all their DDP credits to my acct to share with the rest of the family. (they weren't able to refund) I was also given back my DVC points for their remaining nights at VWL. My in-laws asked for none of this...they just approached the desk to change Magical Express times. Disney didn't have to volunteer these actions..they did them because they cared. Yeah, I know..it could have been a ploy to get the in-laws back again but that would have happened anyway. I spent a day at Universal in Jan...it was horrible. the CS food was more $$ then at Disney at it wasn't that great (not bad..just not great) The rides paled in comparision (except Forbidden Journey) if they weren't outdated. The grounds were messy and the the CM's were your typical college kids that could have cared less. So yes, some things in Disney have declined but I take it with a grain of salt. It's still our favorite place and we are happy when we are there

 

[Donut23]

I just got back from my 40th trip to WDW...
Sharing this anniversary with WDW was very important to me...being that I believe in the magic,,,,and have always thought NOTHING could be negative about WDW.....after this trip,,I guess I stopped looking at it through rose colored glasses....It IS what you make it.....In the past I closed my eyes and looked the other way to the Negatives....and just looked at the experience as a whole....the music, the gardens, the amazing buildings,and different lands,,,all creating a dream come true experience....Last week,,,,No matter how hard I tried,,,,there were too many ,,,,what I call....empty apologies......
"sorry, we didn't know, sorry we didn't expect,,,sorry I keyed it in wrong,and your passes are lost,,,sorry, we forgot, sorry, but we have a new system since "NOVEMBER" and are still getting use to it,,,sorry, sorry , sorry,,OH<<<and when I wanted to get in a FP lane ,,,a CM at the line said,,,"don't bother,,,the FP line is as long as stand by,,,,I would just skip this attraction completely"
I AM the most patient person that I know,,,,but with a week of apologies,,,it seemed that no one really cared anymore,,,one or two people still exuded the magic,,,and it was obvious that it was a lot of work for them to portray that feeling ,,,but a little of the luster has faded.....It is still beautiful,,it is still a dream vacation,,,but remember ,,,I experienced it when it was at its peak,,,,when we truly WERE THEIR GUEST,,,and they were happy to see us...
I heard from one CM that He was so tired of bad parents,,,,,another said he couldn't wait to get off his shift...another complained about the tips,,,,Oh well, I say,,,,maybe it will get better ,,,,,,like the old days,,,,
I still tipped 20% plus,,,and still thanked everyone for their service,,,whether it was just the bus driver who ignored me,,,or the park sweeper who stepped over every piece of food or napkin on the ground,,,Maybe it just wasn't their day.......

Wow, the thread which which will never die!!!!

Ok Goofy, I'm afraid we are with you.

The last few trips we have just looked the other way....more inward to make our own magic. Problem with going each year....you look at your photographs and see what is cutback.......fireworks are a shell of what they were, food-awful, decoratons....all I have to say is LOW...etc.

This trip (early December) was the final straw for a while. The cutbacks in Christmas - price increases - all of the "I'm sorrys" as you said.

Here is one example - the list is long but this is a good example.

As you all know, I travel with a scooter following an accident in 2008. Once again, I was scooter bound (decorated of course!!!). NOT ONCE did a valet at the Beach Club offer to help my DH put the scooter in or remove it from the car. They would have been tipped - he tips well....and it wasn't that they were busy. The young men just stood there watching my 55 year old adorable hubby struggle with the scooter. (Ok, they DID help at the Grand Floridian!!!) Until this year we were BWI guests and they were very good about this. I was absolutely shocked.

The second to last night I finally asked for the valet manager and quietly asked him to look at the three young/healthy men standing there---rolling back and forth on their feet as my husband was trying to remove the scooter from the car. I explained we often would get help from other GUESTS when the valet's did nothing.

Final straw......we came back the last night - about 11 pm - to a sign instructing us if we needed help to come into the lobby and LOOK FOR ASSISTANCE. Ok kids, this a resort which bills it'self as Delux and charges $300+ p/night for the cheap rooms......get a butt out there to help guests (not that they ever helped us actually).

We DID dine off property as much as possible and cut our food budget by 40%....and our salt intake budget by probably 75%.....and the food was so much better.


Want to know what happened when we got home? I googled.


We were at WDW/Beach Club for 8 days
* Castmember discounts for food on property
* GREAT Castmember discount for the room
* Free car rental
* Free airfare (Southwest Rapid Reward points)
* Free park passes
* 40% discount on food budget

We know JUST how lucky we are. I have no idea how you all manage to afford your trips - we talk about it often...how lucky we are.

It was a VERY affordable trip.


I got home.
I Googled.

Want to know what we are doing December of 2011?

2 Nights in New York City at the Times Square Crown Plaza to enjoy all the Christmas Spirit - Rockettes, of course

12 night Caribbean Cruise on a GREAT ship

Aft-facing junior suite cabin - double wide balcony - one of only 4 on the ship with balconies this large!!!!! (pays to do your research and book early)

Budgeted all tips, shore excursions, all my duty-free shopping, travel,drinks--basically all the woo-haas


We will visit NYC and then cruise to the beautiful Caribbean for 12 nights for LESS (comfortably less) than our 8 day Castmember Discounted trip to WDW. WOO HOO! The only big expense at WDW was a 50% discounted Dooney bag.


Downhill - no question. I'll send you our yearly scrapbooks and you can easily see then downward changes!

SOOO sad about fireworks. I played with my new IPhone and took videos of the fireworks. DH said there were less shells. When we returned we played my video against a YouTube video of the same fireworks a few years ago. There are REALLY far less shells than in the past. Did they think we wouldn't notice?

We will support DisneyLAND for a while. The Grand Californian is our favorite resort anyway.


Whoever said Disney is cheeper than other holidays......is sniffing something! It took no time at all to come up with LOTS of other choices....we just jumped because the cabin was too good to loose!

 

[disneynutz]

Disney, like a lot of companies these days is looking for increased profits at the expense of their Guests. Outsourcing is a cost saver but IMO you sacrifice quality.

The Valets, many of the food kiosks and restaurants, some of the Bell Service staff, RAC and DME, TV, phone, and IT network and some software programming have all been outsourced.

Disney has also increased the number of lower paid part time and collage program CM's while decreasing the full time dedicated CM's.

Their advertising keeps the Guests coming and lets face it, new Guests don't notice the changes that have occurred and most will only vacation at WDW every few years anyway.

Bill

 

[starlionblue]

I hate to admit it but I just got back from my fifth visit. As I was driving back to the airport, I thought carefully about my visit to EPCOT. Was it worth the hassle? I didn't know for sure. First time I felt that way. The crowds were unbearable. Also, it was the first time the FP system did nothing to help me. They were all out by 2 PM! I would have to wait five hours for Soaring, Mission Space or Test Track! World Showcase? Same old same old. They spent all that money on those other attractions but won't change anything about WS. I only visited four countries and left. When I left EPCOT, I felt deflated and tired. No sense of euphoria or joy registered in my head. The only thing I remember was the looong walks to and from each attraction or FP ticket dispenser. The food wasn't great either and severely overpriced. Would I spend $80 for a ticket next time? Will it even be $80 or will they hike up the price again? I admit that I had more fun visiting my grandparents and family in Miami than being stuck in Disney traffic in Orlando off the Beeline Expressway, watching the fuel gauge plunge like a rock. So my overall evaluation is that Disney in 1985 cannot possibly compare to how it is now. Not worth it. For the first time, I don't know if I'll ever want to go back in the future.

 

[goofy4prez]

don't forget those poor CM's get paid peanuts - maybe if they were paid a bit more maybe they would be willing to go out of their way to help people a bit more.

disney are very shortsighted.

Are you willing to pay more for your vacation so that they can earn more? I don't mean to sound like a snob or an elitist, but they are getting paid based off of their skill set. Same can be said for employee's at Walmart, Taco Bell, McDonald's and etc.... This is the very reason why I spent four years in college and the reason why I am saving money now to assure my daughter gets a good college education. That may sound mean, but in today's world an education is essential, and even then it don't guarantee a good paying job.

 

[goofy4prez]

*
Hi Goofy4Prez-

I just saw this thread again. We went in January for a January trip, everything was mostly good. Went to Flame tree and got the ribs, though, and they were disgusting! LOL!

Can't wait until the Fantasyland expansion.

Brunette

Good hearing from you again. Glad to hear the trip went well.

That's a shame, I use to love Flame Tree. We are possible planning on a last minute trip the first week of June to WDW.. Not sure though, I have to pay some capital gains taxes on a business venture I sold. I filed an extension (business is due 3/15) and waiting for my accountant to let me know the damage. This year we are going to Hawaii for 10 days and renting a cabin in Gatlinburg Tenn for a week, but did not plan on Disney; here's hoping that may change.

 

[TLSnell1981]

More to the point, I no longer expect exceptional service. I've drastically lowered my expectations. Now I realize the food will be mediocre, the service will be spotty at best and now when I run into an cm who goes out of their way, I'm surprised.

This is exactly the reason, we rarely dine in the parks.

exactly what you want to feel before dropping a few thousand dollars on a vacation

I do think that society in general is different - I mean, just picture how it was when you got gas back in the 50's ... things change.

and Disney is still better than 99% of other places so I just try to enjoy it for what it is and not sweat the small stuff

Disney no longer gets as many of my $$$$...

don't forget those poor CM's get paid peanuts - maybe if they were paid a bit more maybe they would be willing to go out of their way to help people a bit more.

disney are very shortsighted.

This is a poor reason for a lousy attitude or service. Not everyone chooses a career for the "big bucks". CM's know their pay level, BEFORE they accept the job.

I don't care, what job you have, strive to be the best. It will take you far.

 

[Tiger926]

Just got back from a great Flower and Garden Festival trip this past week. Loved Old Key West resort! Parks were pretty clean, but a few bathrooms were disgusting. CMs were pretty tired and overworked, and a few were rude to guests. Lots of rude guests to deal with though.

Parks were crowded, but not as insane as last year. Because we are DVC members, we are pretty casual, and so we hung out watching the topiaries at Epcot, going on a few rides/attractions and meeting a few characters.

We ate breakfast and dinner in our villa each night, and had a TS meal for lunch each day as we have TIW card. We loved this pattern of eating - we are used to 2-3 TS meals per day, so we weren't sure how it would work out, and it went fabulously.

Holiday prices for character buffets are absolutely outrageous, and by the time you add tax and tip, you are looking at close to $50.00/adult to dine with Mickey or Pooh Bear. No thanks!

Here is a link to a mini trip report thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2684298

Here is a link to an Old Key West trip report:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2684388

Enjoy, Tiger

 

[Planogirl]

Thanks Tiger.

I'm one who enjoys eating some meals in the room when we stay at a place with a kitchen. I don't cook while on vacation but I can work a mean microwave.

 

[k5thbeatle]

I'm not sure Downhill is the word I would use to describe it. One of the problems of being a return visitor, things change, some times for the best & some times for the not so good. right now we are in a not so good category.

I think Disney is no more of a money machine than any other company. I think the problem is we (general public) are a "Walmart" mentality nation.

Quality has taken a back seat to cost. For the most part we have sent the signal to companies that we want items as cheaply made as possible. regardless to quality. Now it's biting us in the backside. Products from China are being recalled left and right, toyota pretty much gave away its lead in the car sector due to quality issues and the way they handled it.

Now companies have to make a profit so they have to make up the difference some how.
We see it in the airline industry. people want the cheapest fares possible. Airlines cannot survive like that so we see the nickel and diming, going on although the airlines call in "unbundling" Now we are beginning to hear a cry for "just give me the cost of the flight,$%$ and stop nickeling and diming me to death"


we want cheap meals at disney, so in order to provide that Disney cuts quality and menu offerings. service has become inconsistent at best.

Spectromagic is expensive to put on so since they can only raise ticket prices so much, they cut the days they offer it.

Now we are in a vicious cycle. Would I go to Disney and pay regular rates. No way. Would I pay full price for the meals they offer, heck no. So in order to keep rooms and restaurants full they have to discount. which leads to more cut backs. Look how the ddp has changed in a short period of time.

Disney is simply giving us what we want and if you're a first timer, you don't know the difference.

This is an excellent analysis! Agree 100%


"I think the problem is we (general public) are a "Walmart" mentality nation"...BINGO!!!

 

[eliza61]

This is exactly the reason, we rarely dine in the parks.
Disney no longer gets as many of my $$$$...




This is a poor reason for a lousy attitude or service. Not everyone chooses a career for the "big bucks". CM's know their pay level, BEFORE they accept the job.I don't care, what job you have, strive to be the best. It will take you far.

Honestly, I think it's a combo of things. I've worked in customer service and generally you are right, we know our salary going in but let's look at the total picture (remember most people don't react in a vacuum). And sorry tsnell, just beacause you work for the public does not mean some one has the right to abuse you.

Number 1, as other posters have pointed out, John q public is getting meaner and meaner.

Case in point, I saw a mother call the hostess at TTT a "fat" ^&%tch and told her to go back to Mexico. Why? because the mom did not have an adr and couldn't get in to eat. The poor women was in tears, do you really think she is going to "strive to be her best"?
What's more if you are totally honest, people treat customer service workers much different than they would other public servants. Do you really think people would say some of the crap they say to cms to the police?

2nd case. My next door neighbors daughter is a mousekeeper in one of the deluxes, she is looking for other employment even though she likes her job but every day she says she is literally bullied by moms demanding towel animals for their kids. Really!! I mean she was literally told if the room did not have towel animals when the family got back, the mom was going to be "waiting" for her the next morning.

Next. no support from management. This was one of the reasons I left my customer service job many years ago. When they lay off 1/2 your staff and expect you to clean 2x as many rooms in the same amount of time... Is it realistic to believe that you will not be effected emotionally by this.

Humans don't work in an isolation booth, outside environments are bound to effect how they do their job.

 

[delaneyc52]

I've just jumped around this thread and tend to agree with Eliza61. It's not just Disney. It's the world and economy in whole -- my company (a huge international company) is international and therefore global . The US is not the only focus. Disney is also global. If, for example, Tokyo now needs funding, it can be taken from mature markets to fund the devastation or needs there. The US (and other countries) is in a sorry state with unemployment at a critical level. Disney will offer vacations at discount with free dining plans. Seriously folks...that's business. Is it different from my Disney? I'm 59 and been going there since '71. Yes. It's different. But it's adapt or die. Disney is adapting. Do I like it? Not always. But I understand. That being said.....there is one thing that bothers me ... the one thing that can change globally is work ethic and courtesy. Both lacking. From a few (although my experience is generally good) CMs to the "guests" (where my experience is horrid).

 

[brunette8706]

Wow, the thread which which will never die!!!!

Ok Goofy, I'm afraid we are with you.

The last few trips we have just looked the other way....more inward to make our own magic. Problem with going each year....you look at your photographs and see what is cutback.......fireworks are a shell of what they were, food-awful, decoratons....all I have to say is LOW...etc.

This trip (early December) was the final straw for a while. The cutbacks in Christmas - price increases - all of the "I'm sorrys" as you said.

Here is one example - the list is long but this is a good example.

As you all know, I travel with a scooter following an accident in 2008. Once again, I was scooter bound (decorated of course!!!). NOT ONCE did a valet at the Beach Club offer to help my DH put the scooter in or remove it from the car. They would have been tipped - he tips well....and it wasn't that they were busy. The young men just stood there watching my 55 year old adorable hubby struggle with the scooter. (Ok, they DID help at the Grand Floridian!!!) Until this year we were BWI guests and they were very good about this. I was absolutely shocked.

The second to last night I finally asked for the valet manager and quietly asked him to look at the three young/healthy men standing there---rolling back and forth on their feet as my husband was trying to remove the scooter from the car. I explained we often would get help from other GUESTS when the valet's did nothing.

Final straw......we came back the last night - about 11 pm - to a sign instructing us if we needed help to come into the lobby and LOOK FOR ASSISTANCE. Ok kids, this a resort which bills it'self as Delux and charges $300+ p/night for the cheap rooms......get a butt out there to help guests (not that they ever helped us actually).

We DID dine off property as much as possible and cut our food budget by 40%....and our salt intake budget by probably 75%.....and the food was so much better.


Want to know what happened when we got home? I googled.


We were at WDW/Beach Club for 8 days
* Castmember discounts for food on property
* GREAT Castmember discount for the room
* Free car rental
* Free airfare (Southwest Rapid Reward points)
* Free park passes
* 40% discount on food budget

We know JUST how lucky we are. I have no idea how you all manage to afford your trips - we talk about it often...how lucky we are.

It was a VERY affordable trip.


I got home.
I Googled.

Want to know what we are doing December of 2011?

2 Nights in New York City at the Times Square Crown Plaza to enjoy all the Christmas Spirit - Rockettes, of course

12 night Caribbean Cruise on a GREAT ship

Aft-facing junior suite cabin - double wide balcony - one of only 4 on the ship with balconies this large!!!!! (pays to do your research and book early)

Budgeted all tips, shore excursions, all my duty-free shopping, travel,drinks--basically all the woo-haas


We will visit NYC and then cruise to the beautiful Caribbean for 12 nights for LESS (comfortably less) than our 8 day Castmember Discounted trip to WDW. WOO HOO! The only big expense at WDW was a 50% discounted Dooney bag.


Downhill - no question. I'll send you our yearly scrapbooks and you can easily see then downward changes!

SOOO sad about fireworks. I played with my new IPhone and took videos of the fireworks. DH said there were less shells. When we returned we played my video against a YouTube video of the same fireworks a few years ago. There are REALLY far less shells than in the past. Did they think we wouldn't notice?

We will support DisneyLAND for a while. The Grand Californian is our favorite resort anyway.


Whoever said Disney is cheeper than other holidays......is sniffing something! It took no time at all to come up with LOTS of other choices....we just jumped because the cabin was too good to loose!

HI Donut!

WOW, I just can't believe the valet guys just standing around while your husband struggles with your scooter! Personally, I would have asked for help. I think it's ridiculous. Yes, manners, it is lacking

Good to see you again. Brunette

 

[Tamopher]

I by no means read all of the responses, but I've been sitting here reading for the past half hour or so, and all it did was depress me.

I LOVE my Disney World vacations. I look forward to them more than just about anything. I guess I choose to keep my rose colored glasses permanently fixed to my face. We have been 4 times in the past 2 1/2 years and there have been ups and downs on each trip, but I will never say that Disney is downhill.

The only rudeness I came across were some of the HORRIBLE parents that yelled at cast members or threw fits because they couldn't get whatever they wanted. If I was a cast member I'd have a hard time keeping a constant smile on my face. People are so demanding and THAT is what ruins my trips - nothing Disney has done.

My work is so stressful that Disney is my escape. Food may not be perfect and minor details may not be met, but it sure does beat the crap out of my everyday life. I consider myself lucky to be able to go and smile the whole time I'm there.

 

[starlionblue]

Some of you should check out websites that are message boards for employees who work in theme parks. I work in a customer service environment and am no stranger to abusive customers. And some of those horror stories are so mean and ugly that I wonder if I will be able to hold my tongue if I run into any of the people who abuse CMs because they can get away with it. Seriously, read those boards and consider what they go through before you hurl abuse at them. In one instance, a guest knocked a CM down because she told him his kid was too short to get on one of the rides. I hope, later in life, that his kid gives him a piece of his mind for putting his life in danger just to "push his weight around." Some of those guests should be spending time in a military school. Society has continued its sad downward spiral towards social anarchy.

 

[brunette8706]

Just got back from a great Flower and Garden Festival trip this past week. Loved Old Key West resort! Parks were pretty clean, but a few bathrooms were disgusting. CMs were pretty tired and overworked, and a few were rude to guests. Lots of rude guests to deal with though.

Parks were crowded, but not as insane as last year. Because we are DVC members, we are pretty casual, and so we hung out watching the topiaries at Epcot, going on a few rides/attractions and meeting a few characters.

We ate breakfast and dinner in our villa each night, and had a TS meal for lunch each day as we have TIW card. We loved this pattern of eating - we are used to 2-3 TS meals per day, so we weren't sure how it would work out, and it went fabulously.

Holiday prices for character buffets are absolutely outrageous, and by the time you add tax and tip, you are looking at close to $50.00/adult to dine with Mickey or Pooh Bear. No thanks!Here is a link to a mini trip report thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2684298

Here is a link to an Old Key West trip report:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2684388

Enjoy, Tiger

*
I always thought these Holiday pricing for buffets to be a "scam" or lack of a better word "gouging" people. I think it's ludicrous at best. This is one of my pet peeves. I can accept Holiday pricing on a particular Holiday or a Holiday weekend, but not weeks/months at a time.

Also, GREAT PICTURES!

Brunette

 

[Tiger926]

HI Donut!

WOW, I just can't believe the valet guys just standing around while your husband struggles with your scooter! Personally, I would have asked for help. I think it's ridiculous. Yes, manners, it is lacking

Good to see you again. Brunette

Hey, Brunette! Good to see you again! Just posted my updates above as we just returned from our March Break Flower and Garden Festival trip.

I can believe that no one helped her hubby - I see that all of the time in my own community, let alone at Disney. It speaks to the lack of citizenship and civility in our society. Sorry to hear that...

Can't believe this thread is still going! Tiger