Has Disney dropped the magic ball?

[Fizban]

If the parks are crowded, shouldn't Disney have enough custodial staff to make sure the bathrooms are clean?

They do. They just cant predict how out-of-control tour groups are going to destroy which bathroom.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

$105.00 tickets to Magic Kingdom

$400 per night deluxe resort

Being expected to create your own magic at Disney...Priceless.

 

[loves to dive]

I agree that the boards sometimes make people expect the extra mile all the time instead of enjoying it the rare occasions it happens. We've been going to WDW for over 30 years, has it changed? Yes, is it bad, no. Is it better than 6 Flags or any local park? Yes!!!! Do we run into the grumpy cast member or the less than thrilled cast member, yes. Does it bother us? No, you can't have a good day every day and maybe there was a less than stellar guest earlier that took their problems out on the cast member, it happens. Are the bathrooms pristine? Not always, yes there are toilets that aren't always flushed (women can be just nasty) and sometimes there is TP on the floor (women can be just nasty) and sometimes someone thinks they can hover and they can't so the seat might be wet (women can be just nasty and stop if you can't do it, use the paper seat cover that is provided or sit down trust me you won't die). But that happens in any public place, the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen were in the Atlanta airport of all places but I think there might be an attendant assigned to just a couple of bathrooms each there.

As far as towel animals, I'll be honest, I've never paid much attention to them. I guess DS liked them when he was smaller but frankly I don't remember and now they just kind of get in the way of getting in the bed.

I'm not saying lower your expectations, you did spend a lot of money to go to a magical place and should expect to have a good time. But, maybe try to look for the good things instead of the negative and you will enjoy yourself a whole lot more.

 

[bc7ate9]

$105.00 tickets to Magic Kingdom

$400 per night deluxe resort

Being expected to create your own magic at Disney...Priceless.

I don't really think of "Disney Magic" as something that can be purchased.

Also, what's magical for one family is just annoying for another (towel animals! I just want my towels nicely folded, thank you.)

 

[kj2mom]

We were there in July and my 13 year old daughter actually commented on how much attention to detail Disney has. Every little thing had to be just perfect. We had a great trip (clean bathrooms or a CM in there cleaning, lovely CM's, stayed off site no towel animals but I know the family we traveled with stayed at POR and did different things each day with the tip money which resulted in different towel arrangements each day as well).

Hope today is a better day for you!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

$105.00 tickets to Magic Kingdom

$400 per night deluxe resort

Being expected to create your own magic at Disney...Priceless.

Mastering not sweating the small stuff... Priceless.

I realize that "small stuff" is subjective, and perhaps meditation and age is just making me more Zen, but I think this is a worthy goal.

 

[Fizban]

$105.00 tickets to Magic Kingdom

$400 per night deluxe resort

Being expected to create your own magic at Disney...Priceless.

So the whole "magic" thing has always irritated me. I don't understand how mature adults believe another person can create magic. They cant. There is no way that i can give you that happy funball feeling unless i know what you like and dont like, how picky you are, what quirks you have, etc... Just like some folks get offended if they dine at PrimeTime and are told to get their elbows off the table, but others find that a fun atmosphere. People are different. You always have to make your own "magic".

/stepping off soapbox

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

that happy funball feeling

I feel like this could be the name of a band or something...

 

[3DisneyFanz]

So the whole "magic" thing has always irritated me. I don't understand how mature adults believe another person can create magic. They cant. There is no way that i can give you that happy funball feeling unless i know what you like and dont like, how picky you are, what quirks you have, etc... Just like some folks get offended if they dine at PrimeTime and are told to get their elbows off the table, but others find that a fun atmosphere. People are different. You always have to make your own "magic".

/stepping off soapbox

What creates the magic for me is attractions that actually work. I don't really pay much attention to the bathrooms but I do know when Tigger bounces, the fish jump at SM and a paperboy not selling newspapers down a dark alley. I'm fairly sure I'd get in trouble if I tried to create my own magic by fixing things they've neglected for years.

 

[AlixaLock]

The internet has ruined some of the magic, like towel animals, but I haven't really noticed a lot of the other things you mentioned.

Things like towel animals and other little special things that CMs did from time to time used to be special treats that were done on occasion for guests to add a little something extra. Same goes for an added dessert when it is your birthday or a room upgrade for a special occasion. Unfortunately sites like this, and many others, allowed for people who had those special things to tell everyone about it and over time what was supposed to be special and happen only to a few people a day or week became something that everyone expected. Once that happens it goes from being something extra and special to being expected and starts to eat into the time CMs need to do their tasks. I went to Disney a dozen times without getting a towel animal and then all of a sudden got them every trip. I think they decided for a while that they needed to do them for everyone to quell the complaints until they looked more closely at the time it took and had to eliminate them completely so they didn't hear it from people who weren't chosen that day. What was special became something expected.

This hasn't been my experience, but I don't doubt yours and I'm sorry that things have been less then magical! I agree whole-heartedly with the above. The internet is a powerful, amazing tool, that has changed our world. However, it has also taken some of the magic and surprise out of little things like towel animals, pixie-dust upgrades, a special treat when you were having a bad day etc ... It's a trade-off. I do think we all (not specifically, the OP, but all of us) could benefit from learning to not sweat the small stuff and enjoy the big picture.

That said, filthy bathrooms have nothing to do with the internet. If the bathrooms truly are filthy then I blame Disney for not having enough personnel and PEOPLE for being tremendous slobs, equally.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

So the whole "magic" thing has always irritated me. I don't understand how mature adults believe another person can create magic. They cant. There is no way that i can give you that happy funball feeling unless i know what you like and dont like, how picky you are, what quirks you have, etc... Just like some folks get offended if they dine at PrimeTime and are told to get their elbows off the table, but others find that a fun atmosphere. People are different. You always have to make your own "magic".

/stepping off soapbox

I dunno', clean bathrooms seem like a pretty universal bit of magic ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[ArwenMarie]

Sorry OP! Hope you guys have a great day today.

I dunno, I create my own magic at home every day..I go on vacation for someone else to create the magic for a few days If it's not up to par quality-wise, whether the food, entertainment/rides, cleanliness, room quality, it can be disappointing.

 

[luvdisney73]

My DD and I received a lot of Disney magic during our last trip this past May. We received a free resort upgrade from a manager! Then we received a free complimentary taxi cab ride from the manager at the other resort to get us to our dining reservation on time. We were in tears and so thankful! Also on our last night, I accidentally deleted our Wishes fast pass and on my DE phone app. I was heartbroken. I went to a Cast Member and explained to them and they put it right back on our Magic Bands. No questions asked. It was a Magically trip for us with lots of Pixie Dust. I am sure there are some grumpy cast members to be found on every trip but I have to agree one of the posts that you have to believe it is going to be a "Zip A De Doo Da Day" and keep the day magical!

 

[socrateze]

They do. They just cant predict how out-of-control tour groups are going to destroy which bathroom.

I have never seen a large tour group enter any restroom en masse. Also, the OP and the PP that are there now didn't mention anything about tour groups in their posts.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

My DD and I received a lot of Disney magic during our last trip this past May. We received a free resort upgrade from a manager! Then we received a free complimentary taxi cab ride from the manager at the other resort to get us to our dining reservation on time. We were in tears and so thankful! Also on our last night, I accidentally deleted our Wishes fast pass and on my DE phone app. I was heartbroken. I went to a Cast Member and explained to them and they put it right back on our Magic Bands. No questions asked. It was a Magically trip for us with lots of Pixie Dust. I am sure there are some grumpy cast members to be found on every trip but I have to agree one of the posts that you have to believe it is going to be a "Zip A De Doo Da Day" and keep the day magical!

Probably easier to do after receiving free hotel upgrades

 

[itchin2go]

Wow. Going into a Disney park thinking maybe someone will be nice to me today... How to respond... Just reset? We have to do that sometimes. Remember you're on vacation. Consider where you are and how fast your trip will go. Stop tallying up what's wrong and just go w the day and have fun. Look at things thru your kids eyes... when you were young you had more magic because you believed in fairytales... now you're old so look at what they're enjoying and not what you aren't. Disney has amazing magic for us -- or we wouldn't keep going back. Our kids love it! We love it! I've never seen a dirty bathroom there. CMs we've met have made some of the best experiences ever. One Jungle Cruise crew remembered our son from an earlier ride and stopped to talk to him, take pics, etc. We've gotten a mix of towel animals, but also the CMs took our own kids' animals and set them up in goofy poses. One time one of their bears was doing her nails! Don't be grumpy and expect ppl to be special around you.

I didn't see where the OP said they went into a "Disney park thinking maybe someone will be nice to me today"..

I think some complaints are based on legitimate shortcomings and problems in the parks, with the CMs, with things not working propertly, etc. On the other hand, there are certainly some naturally grumpy people out there who are just going to be peeved at whatever, and could do with an attitude adjustment.

What bugs me is when people assume that the latter is going on, when maybe it's the former. Is is possible that this OP has a great attitude, but is actually having some objectively bad experiences?

 

[JoshuaShaw]

I didn't see where the OP said they went into a "Disney park thinking maybe someone will be nice to me today"..

I think some complaints are based on legitimate shortcomings and problems in the parks, with the CMs, with things not working propertly, etc. On the other hand, there are certainly some naturally grumpy people out there who are just going to be peeved at whatever, and could do with an attitude adjustment.

What bugs me is when people assume that the latter is going on, when maybe it's the former. Is is possible that this OP has a great attitude, but is actually having some objectively bad experiences?

HERETIC

 

[ton80]

Zippity doo dahh zippity day, my oh my what a wonderful day!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Is is possible that this OP has a great attitude, but is actually having some objectively bad experiences?

"Objectively bad experiences"... some things objectively not up to Disney standards, sure, of course that happens here and there. It's subjective how "bad" one experiences an unclean bathroom to be, though... how much that impacts one's day and experience. I'd say "ick -- this isn't typical of Disney!", and move on. Someone else might be REALLY put off by it.

Experiences, by definition, are subjective, IMO. I find that empowering... I have more control over my experience of my day than anyone else has. Works for me.

 

[wdwrich]

I have never seen a large tour group enter any restroom en masse. Also, the OP and the PP that are there now didn't mention anything about tour groups in their posts.

Perhaps, but just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it can't happen. We've seen large numbers of people hit up bathrooms. They weren't tour groups- it was a mass of folks exiting a show. That can easily have an effect on the cleanliness of a bathroom.