Getting Bummed by reports

[dburg30]

I agree 100% on that, but the topic at hand is not the odd candy wrapper on Main St. or a CM who didn't smile as broadly as expected. There's no denying that major cutbacks have, and are,taking place, and they started before the spit hit the fan for the economy. The closing of PI, with the CW and AC included, was announce in what, June?

Well, I never went to PI, and really wasnt a big draw for me, I'm sure there were many people that enjoyed it, but in the overall number of people at WDW I bet it was small, or maybe it drew a lot of locals or off-siters. I wont miss it, didnt seem to really be very disney to me in the first place.

Anywho, so WDW's making cutbacks for the last 6 months at least, and maybe longer, well, guess what, last time I looked they FINALLY announced what lot of people already felt, that the US was in a recession since DEC 07! So IMO it appears Disney was more on the ball then people give them credit. I would say they saw the change happening, and started doing things months ago, as opposed to waiting til it was too late and they had to make really massive cuts.

I dunno, I was there a few weeks ago, and the only thing I really noticed that was different was the buses were running a lot more at the 20 minute mark then they were in Dec 07, when it seemed like you saw them more often, but that just means they were actually running at the rate disney advertises. And I looked and timed them quite often. I would ask people how long they had been waiting then go from there. As far as some of the acts that have been cut, while it's a bummer, I have to admit, I'd rather have food service people, CM's in the park and at the resort etc, then an 'opening act' for Beauty and the Beast.

Just my .02

 

[CarolA]

I went to Disney quite often right after 9/11. And to be honest if you were Disney that was WORSE then what is happening right now.

I was down there right after the airlines went back in the air with the DEAL of the century..... ($19 airfare, $60 room at a mod etc....) Yes, there were HUGE cutbacks. Heck there were NO GUESTS! People weren't traveling, there was NO deal Disney could come up with to get planes back in the sky for example.

That said, it was a good trip. Yes, things closed earlier. Yes, some of the shows/parades were not running, but.... I had a good time. Yes LOTS of CMs had been subject to HUGE time cuts.....( The CM's were actually estatic to see guests LOL!) The atmosphere was still Disney. The place was running just fine and as the economy and travel picked up things came back.

I figure if Disney survived that, then this is not going to kill them.

The PI issue may drive off some folks, but I think that was happening "recession or no recession" It probably just wasn't profitable. And if it's not "profitable" it's gone... that simple.

To Dburg, Take "wait times" with a grain of salt too. I once got on the bus at OKW with a man who YELLED at the bus driver that "WE WAITED HALF AN HOUR" Hmm... that's interesting. I waited 18 minutes and HE and his family arrived AFTER me. I told the bus driver that and "el jerko" sat down and shut up LOL! So time in your room may be added in some instances LOL!

 

[dburg30]

Yea, I get you, I had a few of those. People behind me were complaining about waiting over 20 minutes and I walked up just as the bus was leaving and I had only been waiting about 15 minutes at that point So I know not to put a lot of stock into what people say, but if they said 10 minutes and a bus came in 10 minutes, well, still adds up to 20, even if they really had been waiting for only 5 minutes. And I'll be the first to admit it SEEMS like you are waiting for HOURS but if you look it's only been like 8 minutes

 

[aristocats_lover]

That was me...and I was saying it to the effect of how ridiculous it is to be looking for/complaining about piddly stuff like this.

Maybe what I said wasn't clear enough...I was trying to express you didn't care about the wallpaper because you were enjoying your room and time with your family. As someone who has waited until after 5 for a room, I would happily take one with peeling paper Sorry if it seemed I meant it in another way.

 

[happybratpack]

Maybe what I said wasn't clear enough...I was trying to express you didn't care about the wallpaper because you were enjoying your room and time with your family. As someone who has waited until after 5 for a room, I would happily take one with peeling paper Sorry if it seemed I meant it in another way.

Not at all. I just didn't want to be known as the wallpaper psycho lady.

 

[2TxAgs]

I would be interested in knowing what percentage of Disney guests are repeaters, and how many are there for the first time.... For those who have visited many times, changes will be noted and commented on. For the millions who are first timers, the changes we comment on here on the DIS will not even be noticed. You can't miss what you didn't know existed.

The diver at the Coral Reef is a perfect example. What percent of guests even go to the Coral Reef - 2%? An what percentage of THOSE guests even know about the diver - 1%? Therefore, we have .0002 percent of guests who MIGHT be disappointed about the loss of a diver. From a corporate financial perspective, deciding to cut the diver is an easy decision.

There are THOUSANDS of things about Disney that make it special - if Disney needs to cut back, they're going to look for those things that impact the fewest number of people. If most customers are first-timers, they'll not notice a few less lights on the resorts at the holidays.

This board is populated by repeaters - in fact, I would venture to guess that some are repeaters BECAUSE of this board. We'll notice changes, and because there are certain things that bring us back, we'll have a tendency to complain if those things get changed/cut. That does NOT make Disney a less fabulous experience for all the newbies - and I'm guessing that's where the money is.... No first-timer (at least those not on the DIS) knows that the Spectro schedule has been changed. From their perspective it's just a fireworks show, and it happens to be on during day X of their trip. Great - they'll schedule that day to see it. They neither know nor care that 6 months ago, they could have seen Spectro on days X and Y and Z of their trip.

OP and others going for the first time - take your trip to WDW with an open mind and a plan to enjoy time with those you love. You'll love it!

TxAg

 

[WDSearcher]

Totally getting that feeling by what is being posted...granted I think we have a tendency to complain more than point out the good aspects. This is my first tim back to WDW in 13 years, My DH first trip to E, DS, MK, & my childrens first trip to WDW ever!!!! WOO HOO!!!
I remember as a kid/teen Disney was all about customer service. If trash dropped on the ground it was picked-up immediately by a cm, Rides were spik' n span, guests were put first (not the worry of a lawsuit), etc. I really hope I can still find a sense of the "original" WDW vision.

You will get out of WDW what you expect to get out of it. It's really up to you and your expectations.

If you expect to meet rude Guests or CMs, you will. If you walk into the parks expecting to see trash on the ground, you will. If you go in expecting to find a dirty bathroom, you'll find one.

However ... it's also true that if you expect to find magic ...you will. If you expect to have that feeling of wonder you had as a kid ... you'll find it. If you expect to see excitement in your kids' eyes ... you'll see it.

I think the people who are the most disappointed are the ones who come into the parks expecting perfection and nothing less. Disney has never been perfect -- even back in those days when you were a teenager. You, however, have grown up and know more about the world and how business works and what the economy does to people and businesses. So you have more information, which changes your expectations. If you worry that you will be disillusioned, I guarantee you that you will be. But if you share your excitement with your kids and see it all from their POV, then you'll be fine.

Enjoy!

 

[SuperTink]

You will get out of WDW what you expect to get out of it. It's really up to you and your expectations.

If you expect to meet rude Guests or CMs, you will. If you walk into the parks expecting to see trash on the ground, you will. If you go in expecting to find a dirty bathroom, you'll find one.

You know, that's not completely true. Many people have experiences that are just the opposite of what they expect. And they are the ones that are most disappointed. And sometimes things (like dirty bathrooms) just do happen. Nobody wants bad things to happen. I think it's better to suggest that people be realistic in their expectations and then to focus on the positive versus the negative.

Disney is wonderful. Like I just posted in another thread, it's hard to have a bad time. While you may encounter less than magical moments along the way, choosing to focus on the positive is always a good idea, and can make your experience and memories much more joyful.

 

[CarolA]

You know, that's not completely true. Many people have experiences that are just the opposite of what they expect. And they are the ones that are most disappointed. And sometimes things (like dirty bathrooms) just do happen. Nobody wants bad things to happen. I think it's better to suggest that people be realistic in their expectations and then to focus on the positive versus the negative.

Disney is wonderful. Like I just posted in another thread, it's hard to have a bad time. While you may encounter less than magical moments along the way, choosing to focus on the positive is always a good idea, and can make your experience and memories much more joyful.

Well....

I disagree with this first paragraph to a large extent.

The ONE thing you can control is your reaction to events. So ... you see a messy bathroom. If YOU let it ruin your trip then the person to blame is YOU. If the rest of your trip is ruined over that.........That's your decision. And to be honest, if it's a women's restroom at Disney... Please look at your fellow guest. I have never seen anything like women at Disney. By the time the poor cleaner gets from one end of the bathroom to the other my fellow women who REFUSE to touch ANYTHING have made a DISASTER of the first stall... SHEESH! I have watched the clearner come out of a stall, leaving it neat and seen it look like a hurricane hit after the next woman went in? And since when was it against the law to FLUSH????

However, I will give another example.

I frequent flyertalk.com (a travel message board) There was a poster on there who says one member of her traveling party's ENTIRE trip was ruined because of a joke the SW Flight Attendant made on the way TO Las Vegas. The poster then said it put a damper on the rest of thier trip because the one member whined about the SW FA for the rest of the trip. The poster wanted SW to compensate or apologize. WHY? Because the poster ALLOWED "negative Nelly" to ruin her trip?

It's the same on here. I have seen trips "ruined" because of ONE rude CM. Poster probably interacted with 100 CMs but "one bad apple" ruined the trip? I have seen trips "ruined" because "I didn't get my room request" (Key word in that sentence REQUEST) I have seen trips "ruined" because one ride was closed. (Heck, things break.) IMHO, the trip was "ruined" because the poster decided to let one thing make or break it....

There are some posters on this thread that I think are going to be unhappy on thier next visit no matter what. They have decided these cutbacks are bad and will focus on them to the exclusion of other things. That's your call. You can go thorugh life with the glass half empty or half full. IMHO Half empty just takes to much out of me.

Now don't get me wrong, I have complained to Disney in the past about at least one CM.. But once I was done I moved on. (I was going through bag check at Epcot. The family in front of me was very abrasive to the CM about the need for this. When I got to CM she used some very "unfamily friendly" language. I decided that it needed to be reported. I did and moved on.) I have also gone to Guest Relations and filled out comment cards for CMs who did great things. So...

I got the room at CSR that had no power..... I did get moved and that was the end of it. The rest of my trip was fine. (I still think the CSR front desk is run by idiots and figure that I will have an issue when I stay there LOL! I am 3 for 3 on major issues with them, but none of them have "ruined a trip")

Disney's not perfect and if you go looking for perfection you won't find it. But until I attain perfection I try to be understanding. (and I have a long way to go LOL!)

 

[rie'smom]

We went to WDW over the Thanksgiving holiday and it was wonderful. Coral Reef is one of our favorites and go every trip. There has only been 1 time that we've seen a diver.

It's a "Is the glass half empty or half full" type of thing. If you go expecting magic, you'll find it.

 

[SuperTink]

Well....

I disagree with this first paragraph to a large extent.

I don't see how you disagree, the rest of your post confirms the point of my entire post.

Things can and do happen. They don't happen because you want them to or expect them to. Attitude can change perception but not actual events. If you choose to focus on the negative, your perception will be negative. If you choose to focus on the positive your experience will be positive.

I think we're pretty much in agreement, no?

 

[CarolA]

I don't see how you disagree, the rest of your post confirms the point of my entire post.

Things can and do happen. They don't happen because you want them to or expect them to. Attitude can change perception but not actual events. If you choose to focus on the negative, your perception will be negative. If you choose to focus on the positive your experience will be positive.

I think we're pretty much in agreement, no?

Guess I read it wrong.

I think we are in agreement.

 

[star sweeper]

I haven't been to Disney in a couple years, but I can say the cleanliness and customer service has seriously deteriorated from when I visited as a child and teen. I first noticed this in the 90s when I went after graduating college. It seems it has lost some of the magic in those ways, but is still the most magical place on earth. People will always complain about hotels, food, etc., but I don't worry too much about all that because I know there are so many things that will be wonderful when we visit, and focusing on those things just takes away from all the great experiences you are having.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I have just returned from a trip and by and large, I was as much impressed as I always am. I have never been over the Christmas period before, so I loved the decorations, but have nothing to compare it with. I never encountered any trash or dirty bathrooms at all and the service at my resort (AKL) and in all the restaurants we ate in, was second to none. I did think that the bus service had deteriorated since last year's trip and the crowds were larger than we expected, but this, by no means spoiled the magic.
It was my DS's 9th birthday on Saturday (6th December) and I had requested a personalized menu and diver for dinner at Coral Reef. I had also booked an Illuminations cruise. We had to be at Y&B Club pier at 8.00pm for the cruise and our ADR at CR was 6.35pm. I had tried to get an earlier ADR at CR but was unable to, so we were tight for time.
When we arrived at CR (at about 6.05pm), we were informed that they were running 30 - 40 minutes late. Needless to say, this would not do at all. I asked to speak to the Manager (Tom) and explained that we were on a very tight schedule, and that I had a personal menu and diver arranged and a gift basket being delivered from Memories by Betsy. Tom was extremely good and said he would do all he could but hecould make no promises. I was almost on the point of saying that we would not be able to eat there as I could not risk missing the cruise. Within ten minutes, we were seated with personalized menu in hand, gift basket delivered and diver holding up a sign for my son. Tom really came through for us and we had a wonderful evening. I really was impressed. The cruise was excellent too, with a decorated boat and the cake I had ordered from private dining delivered and ready and to go. Brilliant!!!!
As far as I am concerned, the magic is alive and well, but,
IF YOU DO NOT LOOK FOR THE MAGIC, YOU WILL NOT FIND IT!!!!!

 

[mmcguire]

As for maintainence, yes things need to be refurbished. But when they are, all we hear is whine whine whine about something being closed or wet paint or workers or hammer pounding and the list goes on and on. HELLO! The fairy godmother cannot wave a wand and fix this stuff. It takes people and it takes time. Perfect example, the person who mentioned a corner with peeling paper. What's worse, the peeling corner that is barely noticable, or having that room not be available for you?

ITA with you that things must be refurbished. I think people aren't necessarily upset that these things must be done, as they are upset about HOW they are done. Disney no longer makes it APPEAR as if the fairy godmother has waved her wand to fix things.

It used to be that maintenence was done discreetly, and major refurbs were done in the slowest times. Up until maybe 10-15 years ago, you NEVER saw a construction crane in a park or someone painting, replacing flowers, etc. during park hours. It was considered bad show, not unlike a maintenence person sweeping the stage or painting during a theatre production.

They also never let things reach the state of disrepair they do now before they fix them. That seemingly unimportant touch was a HUGE part of the magic and allure -- they somehow maintained this aura of perfection by conducting all the down and dirty work outside the public view. Now they just don't care.

 

[CarolA]

ITA with you that things must be refurbished. I think people aren't necessarily upset that these things must be done, as they are upset about HOW they are done. Disney no longer makes it APPEAR as if the fairy godmother has waved her wand to fix things.

It used to be that maintenence was done discreetly, and major refurbs were done in the slowest times. Up until maybe 10-15 years ago, you NEVER saw a construction crane in a park or someone painting, replacing flowers, etc. during park hours. It was considered bad show, not unlike a maintenence person sweeping the stage or painting during a theatre production.

They also never let things reach the state of disrepair they do now before they fix them. That seemingly unimportant touch was a HUGE part of the magic and allure -- they somehow maintained this aura of perfection by conducting all the down and dirty work outside the public view. Now they just don't care.

It also used to be that they had TWO parks and very few hotels...... And a lot fewer guests.

Seriously I think this is one of the things that had to change just because of size. Plus some of it can't be "hidden" but they do a good job. When they redid the Italy pavilion last year they put up a "screen" with a photo of the pavilion on it. But it's hard to had the complete re-do going on at BC for example. (I mean you can't hide the hotel LOL!)

Having taken backstage tours and talked to people who work there, an AMAZING amount of work is done all night long.

 

[bellazachmom]

It also used to be that they had TWO parks and very few hotels...... And a lot fewer guests.

Seriously I think this is one of the things that had to change just because of size. Plus some of it can't be "hidden" but they do a good job. When they redid the Italy pavilion last year they put up a "screen" with a photo of the pavilion on it. But it's hard to had the complete re-do going on at BC for example. (I mean you can't hide the hotel LOL!)

Having taken backstage tours and talked to people who work there, an AMAZING amount of work is done all night long.

I TOTALLY Agree!!!

Also, 10 years ago I don't think that the parks stayed open until 1:00 in the morning followed by 3 Extra Magic Hours!! In allowing us to enjoy the parks for more hours and with less guest Disney has really cut in to the hours available for them to "wave their magic wand"!!

 

[lynn71092]

Things are definitely not the same as 20 yrs ago, but then again NOTHING STAYS the same.I miss certain aspects of Wdw, but it is still a magical, wonderful time when I do go.I have never received a pincode discount, a free resort upgrade, a small gift for wearing the free pin they gave me.But I still go.I have had awful trips,so so trips, and wonderful trips, and yet I choose to go back and remember each fondly..Why?, because I am fortunate enough to be able to go.There are lots of people that have never been and can not afford to.They could probably care less that the Christmas decor this year isn't as great, that Epcot shortened its hours by 1 hour, or that they can't get a free diver at the coral reef.They are just happy to be there, and so am I. I have gone on other trips, but it is not the same.yeah entertaining, but not like disney.I can complain about disney when things go sour,and i do but I still go back.I give praise where it is due.Disney is still magical.A buisness in trying times...absolutely.But Disney is still the best bang for your buck, and the magic is what you make of it.

Here Here!!
Well said!!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I am so glad for this thread. The responses have been great and I agree with the majority of them. I was starting to get really frustrated with all the whining going on around here. And there is a difference between legitimate complaints and whining. If you have a legitimate complaint, you will deal with it appropriately and might mention it along with how it was handled. But when someone just wants to whine, they come here and post a list of nitpicky things against Disney.

I just got lambasted recently for seeing the cup as half full. Apparently, I wasn't supposed to defend Disney against the wave of negativity floating around. And a lot of the negativity comes from posters being misinformed. (For instance, the Family Fun Day Parade is not being cut due to the economy. It is ending along with the YOAMD. A new parade is appearing in its place to go along with the WWYC theme.)

So, I am getting really tired of this "Blame Disney" attitude. Frankly, I wonder why some people return if they clearly post more negative about the resorts than they do positive. It seems like they just return and spend oodles of money so that they can have more to whine about.

I think too that people forget that most of the things that have supposedly been "cut" where never part of WDW originally. Somehow people survived and had wonderful vacations without divers holding up signs, cheesy comedy clubs, and cookie-cutter acapella groups.

 

[seadd67]

You will get out of WDW what you expect to get out of it. It's really up to you and your expectations.

If you expect to meet rude Guests or CMs, you will. If you walk into the parks expecting to see trash on the ground, you will. If you go in expecting to find a dirty bathroom, you'll find one.

However ... it's also true that if you expect to find magic ...you will. If you expect to have that feeling of wonder you had as a kid ... you'll find it. If you expect to see excitement in your kids' eyes ... you'll see it.

I think the people who are the most disappointed are the ones who come into the parks expecting perfection and nothing less. Disney has never been perfect -- even back in those days when you were a teenager. You, however, have grown up and know more about the world and how business works and what the economy does to people and businesses. So you have more information, which changes your expectations. If you worry that you will be disillusioned, I guarantee you that you will be. But if you share your excitement with your kids and see it all from their POV, then you'll be fine.

Enjoy!

Perfectly said,thank you!! every one thats complaing because they seen some dust build up on the room floor borads and swears that disney has gone down the drain should read this and hang it right below your pictures of the MK. Come of folks disney Is not perfect lets treat them like that,lets cut them a bit of slack.