For those that say "Disney doesn't spend money on the parks"

[Oglet]

first of all, we don't have to be disney haters to want to see collective changes. I actually think it's the opposite. I think alot of the complainers are like myself, people who go to disney a lot, who remember when disney was the epitome of service and quality and want a return to those days.
And i simply do not buy the argument "every one is cutting back" or any other excuses we give disney a free pass on.

Now i rarely read companies budget sheets so i can't comment on the dollar figure but i can comment on some issues that i see.

Let's see, how many times has that stupid yeti been inoperable? Sorry its a relatively new ride and it's never been fully functional.
Getting rid of live entertainers that made your trips more than just about the rides (4 for a dollar, the adventurers club)
the "generic-sizing" of every thing. Gifts shops now simply carry the same stuff park after park, resort after resort.

Common complaint of mediocre food. Sorry, once again i don't care if it's caused by free dining, the ddp, or a rise in food cost. Fix the problem. My family owned and operated a restaurant in nyc for 40 years until my uncle and grandfather died. Don't tell me quality food cannot be served to a large number of peple. Millions of places do it every day. Any time you go to a steak house and people rave about the bread (le celliar) that's a problem.

Sorry i love the world and i fully admit to suffering from "back in the dayitis" but for me i don't want the fastest, latest rollar coaster. I want the 1st class service (too many complaints about lousy or mediocre housekeeping) that disney was built on to return.

So i guess you're right, maybe they aren't spending it on the things i want but look at it this way, if you're seeing an increase in complaints here on the dis all these people aren't haters.

amen!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

First of all, we don't have to be disney haters to want to see collective changes. I actually think it's the opposite. I think alot of the complainers are like myself, people who go to Disney a lot, who remember when Disney was the epitome of service and quality and want a return to those days.
and I simply do not buy the argument "every one is cutting back" or any other excuses we give disney a free pass on.

Now I rarely read companies budget sheets so I can't comment on the dollar figure but I can comment on some issues that I see.

Let's see, how many times has that stupid Yeti been inoperable? Sorry its a relatively new ride and it's never been fully functional.
Getting rid of live entertainers that made your trips more than just about the rides (4 for a dollar, the adventurers club)
The "generic-sizing" of every thing. Gifts shops now simply carry the same stuff park after park, resort after resort.

Common complaint of mediocre food. Sorry, once again I don't care if it's caused by free dining, the ddp, or a rise in food cost. Fix the problem. My family owned and operated a restaurant in NYC for 40 years until my uncle and grandfather died. Don't tell me quality food cannot be served to a large number of peple. millions of places do it every day. Any time you go to a steak house and people rave about the bread (Le Celliar) that's a problem.

Sorry I love the world and I fully admit to suffering from "back in the dayitis" but for me I don't want the fastest, latest rollar coaster. I want the 1st class service (too many complaints about lousy or mediocre housekeeping) that Disney was built on to return.

So I guess you're right, maybe they aren't spending it on the things I want but look at it this way, if you're seeing an increase in complaints here on the DIS all these people aren't haters.

Double Amen.

These guys won't buy it though because they're thrilled reading financials and defending a multi national conglomerate because they know how to make money. Yeah, they still throw an imaginative nugget out once in awhile but it's all about the moolah with sponge bob.

Another live act gone is The Cristo's act at Epcot.

 

[skiingfast]

True that they are spending money to expand as well as renovate DCA. However, I highly doubt that CA was the "smallest component" of the entire original project. They are spending 1 billion just to renovate that smallest component and expand it by about 25%.

Renovate is a poor choice of words to describe what is happening there. Some of it is being renovated sure, but a lot of the cost is for what is being added.

WoC wasn't cheap to make. LM wasn't there before nor the red car trolley or TSMM. And then there is the new villa wing on the Grand Californian. The new Cars land is getting three new attractions, and Radiator Springs Racers does not appear to be very cheap, at the least it is two test tracks. They aquired some land to build other parking lots that may be in that budget and maybe a new garage.

I'll admit that the breakout for each cost of the DL expansion isn't known outside of Disney. But parking garages cost between 20k and 50k a spot, and the Mickey and Friends garage has 10,000 spaces. Maybe I worded it poorly calling DCA the smallest part, but it simply wasn't the majority of the cost.

 

[skiingfast]

First of all, we don't have to be disney haters to want to see collective changes. I actually think it's the opposite. I think alot of the complainers are like myself, people who go to Disney a lot, who remember when Disney was the epitome of service and quality and want a return to those days.

and I simply do not buy the argument "every one is cutting back" or any other excuses we give disney a free pass on.
Don't tell me quality food cannot be served to a large number of peple. millions of places do it every day. Any time you go to a steak house and people rave about the bread (Le Celliar) that's a problem.

Nothing personal to Eliza, but everyone should consider this.

Do you ever get tired of listening to football players wine about how much they make because their obsene salary isn't enough? I never complained about football when I was 13 and playing. But over time tastes change, perception too. I used to love McDonald's now if I go it's a reminder to stay away for another year.

If I ask my kid where he would like to go, it will be Disney, he liked the hotels just fine, the rides just fine, and the food just fine. He reminds me of this often. Honestly he liked the flight to and from just fine as well.

So has anything slipped since last year or your memory of a trip in 1984 when everything was perfect. Is it more likely Disney changed or you did?


I know this place with awesome breadsticks and another with great cheese biscuts, most people feel this same way, one is a pasta place called Olive Garden and the other is a seafood place called Red Lobster.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney will always have some update or redesign going on, but the bulk of money will be spent where they will make money. Updating a ride isn't going to really increase their bottom line, but DVC and DCL will and I suspect that most of the capital money was spent.

DVC is a huge money maker and is recently responsible for keeping Parks and Resorts in the black. DVC generates a returning customer for up to 50 years and the customer base will continue to increase. In addition to making money on the sale, many direct buyers are financing their purchase with Disney so there is another revenue stream.

Bill

 

[jimmytammy]

For those that feel like Disney doesnt spend enough at their parks, it could come from being spoiled by all that they do, and we tend to not see those things because we have become so accustomed to it. But I am speaking from a perspective of owning DVC, so I have a vested interest. Not saying that DVCers should be the final say, but we go twice a year at least, so we see the suttle differences over time. But WDW is still tops on my list for a superior vacation destination, overall.

We went to Carowinds in Charlotte last year for the 1st time in at least 20 yrs. We can tell a huge difference in quality. Rides that have been there since day one are rickety, to the point of feeling a little unsafe. Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is the only park I have been too that may muster just under WDW.

I will add though, and this is a complaint, the bathrooms arent as well taken care of as before. I compare before to 1999, when we made our 1st trip. Whether its outsourcing, or any other source, this is a problem that needs to be fixed. WDW always was a cut above all other theme parks IMO on this subject. Now, they fall right under the same as any other.

We are human, sometimes we miss the forest for the trees.

 

[eliza61]

Nothing personal to Eliza, but everyone should consider this.

Do you ever get tired of listening to football players wine about how much they make because their obsene salary isn't enough? I never complained about football when I was 13 and playing. But over time tastes change, perception too. I used to love McDonald's now if I go it's a reminder to stay away for another year.

If I ask my kid where he would like to go, it will be Disney, he liked the hotels just fine, the rides just fine, and the food just fine. He reminds me of this often. Honestly he liked the flight to and from just fine as well.

So has anything slipped since last year or your memory of a trip in 1984 when everything was perfect. Is it more likely Disney changed or you did?


I know this place with awesome breadsticks and another with great cheese biscuts, most people feel this same way, one is a pasta place called Olive Garden and the other is a seafood place called Red Lobster.

I don't think of it as the same. When you listen to players complain, the level of the game itself isn't effected. When T.O. gripes on whatever team he currently plays for, overall the game of football is not affected.

That's not so for Disney, primarily because it's more user interactive...

I equate it with the American auto industry. Back when I was a kid, ford & GM were king. Then over time, their reputation became one of poor quality, poor reliability and pretty much boring cars. Why do you think Toyota launched a massive marketing campaign when they had issues? Simply so they would not be known as a lousy car company.

I don't want to see Disney headed that route. A lot of people have issues with Disney restaurants being on the same level as Olive Garden and Red lobsters. Why would anyone plunk down the money it cost to eat onsite and be satisfied with chain restaurant food?

I actually like change, I'm a dvc member so I'm pretty much going to go at least every 16 months but change does not have to equate a drop in the level of business. We're not talking over 20 years. we're talking 2!
Mcdonald's hasn't changed since you were a kid. The level of the food is the same, how could they remain an absolute butt kicker if they did not. Those golden delicious french fries are just as good today as they were 5 years ago. Is Pleasure Island just as good as it was 5 years ago? Mainly empty venues, a few gift shops and a jumbo video screen (talk about unimaginative). Most people would give that a resounding NO.

Now we still love our vacations to the world and I am the absolute first to admit to remembering the "good ole days". I simply believe that some times criticism is a useful tool. I admit to holding Disney to a higher standard but that's because I know that they can reach that standard. but if we keep accepting any junk they send our way, why should they?

 

[Donut23]

I don't think of it as the same. When you listen to players complain, the level of the game itself isn't effected. When T.O. gripes on whatever team he currently plays for, overall the game of football is not affected.

That's not so for Disney, primarily because it's more user interactive...

I equate it with the American auto industry. Back when I was a kid, ford & GM were king. Then over time, their reputation became one of poor quality, poor reliability and pretty much boring cars. Why do you think Toyota launched a massive marketing campaign when they had issues? Simply so they would not be known as a lousy car company.

I don't want to see Disney headed that route. A lot of people have issues with Disney restaurants being on the same level as Olive Garden and Red lobsters. Why would anyone plunk down the money it cost to eat onsite and be satisfied with chain restaurant food?

I actually like change, I'm a dvc member so I'm pretty much going to go at least every 16 months but change does not have to equate a drop in the level of business. We're not talking over 20 years. we're talking 2!
Mcdonald's hasn't changed since you were a kid. The level of the food is the same, how could they remain an absolute butt kicker if they did not. Those golden delicious french fries are just as good today as they were 5 years ago. Is Pleasure Island just as good as it was 5 years ago? Mainly empty venues, a few gift shops and a jumbo video screen (talk about unimaginative). Most people would give that a resounding NO.

Now we still love our vacations to the world and I am the absolute first to admit to remembering the "good ole days". I simply believe that some times criticism is a useful tool. I admit to holding Disney to a higher standard but that's because I know that they can reach that standard. but if we keep accepting any junk they send our way, why should they?

Add my AMEN to a few others where.....from a NON Disney hater. We love disney - especially as DH faces retirement in a few years - we will move closer and enjoy those retirement castmember bennies!

We no longer expect them to keep their playgrounds in Disney standards....the "suits" gave that away a long time ago. We DO expect maybe Holiday Inn or Hilton Garden Inn standards. There are a few of my favorite Holiday Inns I visit on business travels which blow Disney hotels out of the water......how sad for Disney.

We comment because we care. If we didn't, we wouldn't bother.

So both DH and I say....Amen!

 

[TisBit]

DVC is a total waste in my view. It obviously hasn't contributed anything major to Disney's bottom line as well. All it has done is maybe shifted some of the crowd base from their deluxe hotels to their time shares. It didn't significantly attract new park goers and it didn't entice people to come more often. They may be getting a little more money on an individual basis but considering the capital investment it seems pretty irrelevant. If they spent the money on park upgrades instead they would have definitely increased park attendance.

I think you have a misconstrued sense of what DVC is. Yes, Disney put out capital, capital which they will receive back and more through the ownership interest. It actually is better than adding another hotel resort, because they don't have to pay upkeep, housekeeping and try to keep it full by offering discounts, etc. They merely have to attact owners.

Increasing attendance, sure it increases attendance and helps keep their most loyal customers there every year. Most DVC owners will say that they travel to Disney more often then before their ownership. It also keeps these people on site and they don't skip a year because money is tight, they have already paid for their room, so they won't be impacted as much by budget issues.

As for TSM actually increasing park attendance, yes, it increased attendance at DHS, but it did not increase overall park attendance, it merely distributed the ones already at WDW. I don't think there is any ride that will SIGNIFICANTLY increase overall attendance, especially over a long period of time. Even the Fantasyland expansion will have a short blip of increased attendance and some renewed interest, but in the end you will see attendance balance back out.

 

[skier_pete]

This is great discussion! Thanks to everyone so far for leaving personal comments at the door...as some of these threads devolve that way. The threads gone a little wayward from the original topic, but I had to add some comments to the posts.

DCA is more than a minor part to the expansion out in California. It was admittedly an initial botch big-time. The original plan as I understand it, was to spend $2 billion, and that spending was cut in half, and the result was a park that was both cheap and not wholly appealing. (Full disclosure is I have never been, so I can't comment.) Yes, the $1 billon they are spending is to correct a mistake, but to all reports it is both needed and seems to be being done right. The initial botch-up was under prior management, so the current management team at Disney could be

I love TisBit's comments on DVC - as this is spot on. DVC is a brilliant money-maker for a corporation. It is essentially convincing people to pre-pay their hotel accomodations for the next twenty years.Yes, it can make a degree of financial sense for those that do it, but I look at if from the point of view of...if this benefits the company more, it benefits me less. I did a cost benefit analysis on buying DVC points versus renting points from current owners, and determined that the breakeven point at which you are actually saving money by owning DVC is approxmately 22 years! Twenty-two years! I have no idea if I still will even want to be going to WDW in 22 years. No thanks!

Finally, my original intention was to talk about the lack of capital spending at WDW, and why people shouldn't complain about it. However, many PP have made the point that there issues are not with the capital spend but the operational spending...in other words, they feel that the level of service (cleanliness, quality of food, staff attitude) at WDW has dropped considerably over the last five years or less.

Again, as full disclosure, I have to say that our family has not seen this to be the case. We have been 5 times now in the last 5 years staying on-site, and in our experience we have yet to see any drop any of these things I listed above. Every trip has been a top notch experience, even though we only stay value or moderate.

Because of this I dare not respond to anyone else's feeling of having a guest experience. All I can say is that you can complain here all you want, and even send complaints to Disney, but if you continue to spend your money at Disney, and if everyone else that doesn't like it does, it's unlikely they will change back. Unless they see these choices start to affect their bottom dollar, why would they change it? (Unfortunate but true.) So, if you don't like the food, eat off-site. If you don't like the hotel service...stay off-site. And make sure to let someone at Disney know your doing it. If enough people do...THAT will make waves. Whether the changes that it makes are good or not...well, that I can't say.

 

[eliza61]

T

Because of this I dare not respond to anyone else's feeling of having a guest experience. All I can say is that you can complain here all you want, and even send complaints to Disney, but if you continue to spend your money at Disney, and if everyone else that doesn't like it does, it's unlikely they will change back. Unless they see these choices start to affect their bottom dollar, why would they change it? (Unfortunate but true.) So, if you don't like the food, eat off-site. If you don't like the hotel service...stay off-site. And make sure to let someone at Disney know your doing it. If enough people do...THAT will make waves. Whether the changes that it makes are good or not...well, that I can't say.

There in lies the dilemna (sp?). I will say, you are perhaps a lot nicer to "opposing" sides of an argument. some times I feel like Attilla the hun if I answer a question with less than stella reviews.

My family and I have always had great vacations at the world, which is why we return but we have altered the way we vacation. Last year we went for 10 days and we ate on site maybe 3 times at max. We use to literally love buying souvineers for ourselves and friends, now we rarely do. This year we banked our points and skipped the world altogether.

And lastly I also have to ask myself maybe it's "too much of a good thing".
Maybe going yearly makes some of the flaws a bit more glaring than they really are.

Who knows.

Happy vacations.

 

[skier_pete]

There in lies the dilemna (sp?). I will say, you are perhaps a lot nicer to "opposing" sides of an argument. some times I feel like Attilla the hun if I answer a question with less than stella reviews.

My family and I have always had great vacations at the world, which is why we return but we have altered the way we vacation. Last year we went for 10 days and we ate on site maybe 3 times at max. We use to literally love buying souvineers for ourselves and friends, now we rarely do. This year we banked our points and skipped the world altogether.

And lastly I also have to ask myself maybe it's "too much of a good thing".
Maybe going yearly makes some of the flaws a bit more glaring than they really are.

Who knows.

Happy vacations.

Well, I will say the DIS is one of the few web locations that don't ALWAYS devolve into nastiness when opposing views are aired, though sometimes they do. There's nothing wrong with having opinions against Disney's practices, as long as you are open to listening to dissenting arguments as well...then it CAN be fun.

I often wondered the same thing you mention...it seems that many of the people that think the worst of Disney's practices are the ones that go the most. Maybe it's because they are passionite, but I also wonder if frequency of visits can result in a ennui setting in. I frequently compare Disneyholics to heroin addicts. Those first few visits give you such great highs, so you start going more, spending more of your money trying to recapture those early highs.(Signature dining, deluxe hotels.) But those highs become harder and harder to acheive...and you start blaming others for why. (It the service, its the food, its gotten too crowded.) When it's in fact the high can just never be as good.

I feel very wary of this happening. So far, we have not yet reached the point where we don't love every moment and can't wait to go back. I was particularly wary this year with December / April / October trips, but so far it hasn't been a problem. But, I would say we are going to drop back to once a year at most after this. (We will likely not go at all in 2012 because of other commitments.)

I also feel bad for people that feel the way some here do...that a Disney vacation is no longer magical for them. I wish y'all could still find a way to recapture that...because there is still a lot of wonderful stuff there...even if the menu no longer has your favorite desert, or your favorite show has been cancelled.

As far as "putting money where your mouth is" I do that...my DW and I LOVED Adventurer's Club, and with it's closing, we were heartbroken. My "protest" is I try to avoid spending ANY money at DTD. I won't eat in the restaurants, and only occasionally shop there. (Didn't spend a dime there last trip - except to go to La Nouba. But we walked through and walked out without entering a shop or restaurant.) My wife doesn't do this, unfortunately...but again I feel very strongly that the ONLY possible way to get through is "show them with your wallet". If enough people do it, they'll notice. And if enough people don't, then apparently the change didn't affect enough people to care, and I am in the minority enough that I have to just deal with it.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Pete, I hate to tell you this but you're where I was 10 years ago. WDW was absolutely what my family needed at that point in time. It was great, I wouldn't change a thing but in retrospect I see that it was more about my family and the feelings we could get at WDW than it really was anything that WDW was actually doing.

I now see that people who went before me had it better than I did, but I loved it nonetheless. I had it better than you do but you'll love it nonetheless. 10 years from now you'll be disappointed but families will LOVE it nonetheless. My point? The quality is declining but WDW is still magical enough compared to the real world to develop real fanatics. The question is when will they hit the wall?

 

[skier_pete]

Pete, I hate to tell you this but you're where I was 10 years ago. WDW was absolutely what my family needed at that point in time. It was great, I wouldn't change a thing but in retrospect I see that it was more about my family and the feelings we could get at WDW than it really was anything that WDW was actually doing.

I now see that people who went before me had it better than I did, but I loved it nonetheless. I had it better than you do but you'll love it nonetheless. 10 years from now you'll be disappointed but families will LOVE it nonetheless. My point? The quality is declining but WDW is still magical enough compared to the real world to develop real fanatics. The question is when will they hit the wall?

Great post...fellow Pete. It's funny, I have never been the type to want to go to the same place on vacation every year, but lately, we look forward to our Disney trip more than any other. It helps our DD is the perfect age for this. Before our DD was born, we did our first Disney trip in 1997, mega-low budget stayed off-site, ate a few meals on-site, but more off-site. We went again 3 years later, and we were kind of like "Eh...three years is a little too often"...DD was born in 2003, and by 2006 we were thinking "we'd really like to go back"...we had the money to stay on-site, and it was SUCH a better experience than either of the late-nineties trips.

Perhaps we will become disenchanted with WDW, perhaps not. Only time will tell, but I hope that it doesn't happen anytime soon! Maybe it won't because I tend to look at the positive. Was our last trip diminished because AC wasn't there...definitely, but we did other things and had a wonderful time regardless...it makes it hard to stay away right now.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Great post...fellow Pete. It's funny, I have never been the type to want to go to the same place on vacation every year, but lately, we look forward to our Disney trip more than any other. It helps our DD is the perfect age for this. Before our DD was born, we did our first Disney trip in 1997, mega-low budget stayed off-site, ate a few meals on-site, but more off-site. We went again 3 years later, and we were kind of like "Eh...three years is a little too often"...DD was born in 2003, and by 2006 we were thinking "we'd really like to go back"...we had the money to stay on-site, and it was SUCH a better experience than either of the late-nineties trips.

Perhaps we will become disenchanted with WDW, perhaps not. Only time will tell, but I hope that it doesn't happen anytime soon! Maybe it won't because I tend to look at the positive. Was our last trip diminished because AC wasn't there...definitely, but we did other things and had a wonderful time regardless...it makes it hard to stay away right now.

You'll be fine as long as you're with your kids because at every stage you get to relive things, all the little details both old and new, through their eyes. The bonds you build, the family ties, you'll attribute much of it to Disney. In the future, I think you'll realize that attribution wasn't correct, it's far more YOU than it was THEM but all in all it doesn't really matter as long as you are getting what you need from it.

Enjoy, those years fly by!

 

[mom3sonstt]

I just read through all 3 pages of this - and some things that pop out at me are:

We are DVC members....about 12 years now. We without a doubt go more often because of it. Before we went on our honeymoon, then 2 1/2 years later we went for a couple days only because we were already going to be in Orlando for my stepsons boot camp graduation. Then it was another 3 years before we went again. Now we have gone 4 times in the last 12 months - with another trip planned in November.

As far as the break-even point for owning vs renting - maybe I've never looked at renting, either as an owner or as a potential renter. As an owner, well we use all our points (and keep purchasing more ) and as a renter - I wouldn't like the loss of control that seems to be the case with that. I would not like that I would have to rely on someone else to make the reservation for me (and not cancel it without telling me ) I think if we didn't own DVC we would continue staying in regular Disney resorts and wouldn't even consider renting. But thats just me.

The Fantasyland expansion? Well, I'm not doing cartwheels over it. But I have teenage (and older) boys - so princess-y things just don't "do it" for our family. But I am very interested to see how it turns out.

The quality? I know it is more excuse-making, but as large as the Florida resort has expanded (4 parks, 2 water parks, numerous hotels, etc) there has to come a point where the hiring standards have to be lowered a little. When I was a kid and there was one park and only a couple hotels (that were too expensive to stay in) they could hire the cream of the crop. But the more bodies they need they have to dig a little deeper. A few years ago I saw a gal at a kiosk that I would never have pictured as a Disney CM. I am thinking I saw a leg tattoo - from a company that specifies how long sideburns can be, I'm pretty sure a tattoo up the back of a leg probably didn't used to be allowed.

As for the money being spent on the Cruise lines and in DCA. We have never gone to/on either....yet. Now that my kids are getting older, I am hoping to someday go on a cruise. I have always wanted to go to California, but with having 4 parks in Orlando it seemed silly to go that far for 2 parks - especially when one of them seemed to get such bad reviews. Someday I still would like to get there. Maybe with the renovation and "repair" of DCA it will get better reviews and I can make a good enough argument to get us out there. So while I may not be benefiting from the expenditures they are making now - hopefully someday I will.

Do I see Disney with the same rose colored glasses I once used to? No, probably not, but there still is nothing that can top it.

 

[nytimez]

I think for some of us, the more we go the more we notice. And the more likely we are to notice more negative things. And, perhaps, the less patient we are when it comes to new rides, attractions and other forms of expansion.

That said, there's a good case to be made that there has been a real decline in quality and experience over the years, from the CM standards to the merchandise selection.

 

[skier_pete]

In the future, I think you'll realize that attribution wasn't correct, it's far more YOU than it was THEM but all in all it doesn't really matter as long as you are getting what you need from it.
Enjoy, those years fly by!

I already agree with that...Disney helps because it is fun...but DD has two favorite places to go...Disney and Myrtle Beach. She is just as happy playing in the pool / ocean for a week as tromping through central FL...

I think if we didn't own DVC we would continue staying in regular Disney resorts and wouldn't even consider renting. But thats just me.

Do I see Disney with the same rose colored glasses I once used to? No, probably not, but there still is nothing that can top it.

Not saying that DVC doesn't work for many people...many LOVE it, as it sounds like you do. For me, it doesn't make sense...and we've talked about it quite a bit. Part of the reason I think is many people like knowing where there going and what their going to pay, and the price for DVC is reasonable relative to Deluxe vacation...I enjoy looking for the bargain. Beyond Disney, I've gotten some fantastic hotel deals on vacations...I would hate to be locked into a timeshare anywhere else. Disney I might consider it, but the numbers just don't jive with me.

I think for some of us, the more we go the more we notice. And the more likely we are to notice more negative things. And, perhaps, the less patient we are when it comes to new rides, attractions and other forms of expansion.

That said, there's a good case to be made that there has been a real decline in quality and experience over the years, from the CM standards to the merchandise selection.

No argument on the merchandise selection...it's hard to believe that having all the stores sell the exact same stuff hasn't hit the bottom line...but obviously it hasn't, or they wouldn't keep doing it. It certainly has affected OUR shopping as we've gone more frequently. We actually bought quite a bit in December, with it being pre-Christmas and a 20 % AP discount. In April we bought practically nothing, and again this upcoming trip I won't be spending much either. But, even on my biggest year I might spend $200 in souvenirs...it's not MY souvenir $$ they are after.

 

[Tekneek]

The problems I have with the Disney company are entirely within their management. They don't run the place as if they have any vision or insight. So much of it now seems like it is right out of an MBA curriculum. Walt Disney didn't have one and MBA school doesn't teach you how to be a Walt Disney. They've been raising rates, sometimes at twice inflation, for a few years now. They continue to slash costs by reducing quality of merchandise and the variety of it. They've turned to more part-time CMs than ever before, just to save the overhead of fulltimers.

I am still very much a Disney fan, but it is becoming clear to me that it is much more of an appreciation of the history than what they are doing today.

 

[Tekneek]

...