Has Disney dropped the magic ball?

[yooperfan]

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.

Six Flags doesn't cost you what Disney does. I don't think expecting clean restrooms and polite CM's is too much to ask, especially since your paying top dollar for parks that are literally construction zones half the time. I feel for the CMs during busy, hot months and I hold Disney responsible as they need to staff adequately for the crowds.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

First off, you are right. We are all very lucky. I don't think anyone is bemoaning their overall quality of life because a Disney trip is sub-par. That said...

Where do you draw the line?

Each individual has to decide this for themselves. There is no line that we could agree to collectively as different people value different things.

For some, the line has already been crossed. I wish them well as they spend their vacation dollars elsewhere. For us, we are not even close.

 

[cakebaker]

Maybe it's just me, but something has to be absolutely egregious for me to decide to waste any time on my vacation complaining. Disney isn't new to the theme park business...they should know, without relying on guest complaints, how often bathrooms need to be cleaned and whether effects on their rides are broken down. More power to you if you think standing in line to complain about dirty bathrooms--which will probably be cleaned by the time you get through said line and someone goes to check on them--on your vacation.

I have sent emails with comments AFTER vacation. I've received zero responses to any of those emails, other than the auto-reply "We'll respond in 7 days" that they send out to everything. And I know they read them...I also take time to email about amazing CMs we've come across and I consistently get responses to those emails.

Perhaps we disagree on what constitutes egregious.

I have extremely high expectations for customer service at WDW. When those expectations are not met I will either address it in the parks at guest services or once I get home depending on what it is that happened.

I also don't stand in long lines at guest services. At some point in my trip, I'll walk past and the line will be short or I will be in there for some other reason, but I don't take a lot of park time to report a problem. I don't care how much Disney knows about the theme park business- if they don't know a particular CM is being rude to guests, they can't fix that specific, individual problem. I care enough about WDW and want to be able to continue to enjoy my trips that I will take the time to make concerns known.

I have written them many times over the years we have visited WDW and it has never failed that I got a follow up call except for the times I wrote with only positive comments. I'm not sure why your experience is so different from mine.

At any rate, I think some of the "defending" on these boards is due to the fact that the experiences seem to be so starkly different that it's hard to understand how one person can go and see nothing but filth and rudeness, yet another one goes and finds no issues at all, sometimes during the same time period.

And while you will get people defending Disney on negative reports, you will also see people slamming them on the positive ones...for much the same reason I suspect.

At any rate, to me, if it's worth spending the time while you're on vacation to put up a thread here complaining, it's worth doing it in the parks. I tend to discount reports of horrible conditions and outrageous CM behavior that isn't reported simply because if it were me, and I was there- the first place I would think of to complain to would be WDW- not the Dis.

 

[MrInfinity]

Welcome to DISboards! As Pete Werner of the DIS Unplugged once said, there are two distinct types of Disney fans. The ones that look at everything fairly, keep an open mind, and are open to admit that Disney, like anything else, is not perfect (the vast majority of fans), and the ones who cannot stand to hear anything negative about Disney and will go to any extent to shut the complainer or critic down.

Haha. So there's "rational middle ground", and "extreme view on one side"... but not "extreme view on the other side". ROFL.

It is the extremist who considers HIS view to be rational and fair and those who disagree w him to be closed-minded, just trying to shut the complainer down.

Just sayin.

Might as well just read... There are two types of people -- those who agree with me and those who don't know any better.

 

[socrateze]

At any rate, to me, if it's worth spending the time while you're on vacation to put up a thread here complaining, it's worth doing it in the parks. I tend to discount reports of horrible conditions and outrageous CM behavior that isn't reported simply because if it were me, and I was there- the first place I would think of to complain to would be WDW- not the Dis.

I just can't imagine spending expensive precious vacation time at guest services.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Might as well just read... There are two types of people -- those who agree with me and those who don't know any better.

I am amazed at how many people who I know that feel exactly this way, but would never admit to that feeling. It is obvious in their behavior.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Haha. So there's "rational middle ground", and "extreme view on one side"... but not "extreme view on the other side". ROFL.

It is the extremist who considers HIS view to be rational and fair and those who disagree w him to be closed-minded, just trying to shut the complainer down.

Just sayin.

Might as well just read... There are two types of people -- those who agree with me and those who don't know any better.

Well, in the case of the post you quoted, that's describing Disney fans. So, if someone was on the extreme of the other side, insisting Disney is always terrible, wouldn't they cease to be a fan?

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Not true! I create my own magic at Splash Mountain by focusing on the hundreds of things inside the attraction that DO work, rather than letting non-jumping fish bring me down.

The most amazing things that can happen to a human being will happen to you, if you just lower your expectations.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Are you glossing by all the other details in the park that your so focused on bathrooms and towel animals?

Also consider the cast members are working with TONS of people in crazy hot weather - their not rude by nature perhaps in that moment they were off. You've had no good cast members in your 10 day stay?

Again it's all about perspective I've always seen too much good to let little Details bother me.

Btw the be our guest bathroom is amazing

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The most amazing things that can happen to a human being will happen to you, if you just lower your expectations.

You totally missed the point of that post.

 

[GreatLakes]

Where do you draw the line?

It isn't about drawing a line, it is about always keeping the experience in perspective. For example, nothing that Disney does to you, short of killing or permanently disabling you or a loved one I suppose, is "devastating". It may be unpleasant or below expectations or even a bad experience but there are truly devastating things in the world so don't use adjectives that are far too strong for what happens in a theme park. Inconveniences shouldn't make you "livid". If they do you have an anger problem. The inability to do anything shouldn't ruin your vacation. These are the kinds of things that make what could be legitimate gripes get brushed off as the complaints of an overly dramatic drama queen.

If people made rational complaints without the inflated hyperbole they'd be taken more seriously. It is all about perspective.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I just can't imagine spending expensive precious vacation time at guest services.

That's okay. It'll be a 4th FP+ option before long.

 

[andyman8]

Haha. So there's "rational middle ground", and "extreme view on one side"... but not "extreme view on the other side". ROFL.

It is the extremist who considers HIS view to be rational and fair and those who disagree w him to be closed-minded, just trying to shut the complainer down.

Just sayin.

Might as well just read... There are two types of people -- those who agree with me and those who don't know any better.

I am amazed at how many people who I know that feel exactly this way, but would never admit to that feeling. It is obvious in their behavior.

Really? I have no issue disagreeing with people. I find conversations and argument between two people with very different views and perspectives to be one of things that's fundamental to the progress of society, but what I have a huge issue with is antagonizing people for their opinion. To call someone's opinion "invalid" or "petty" is wrong. If you want to focus on just the positive of Disney, that's completely fine, but don't attack me for wanting to make it the best possible experience by offering it constructive criticism. I'm not dismissing other's opinions, but it's not okay to antagonize others for not sharing your opinion. Mr. Werner's comments were made in response to the absolutely absurd response to some of blogger's not-so-positive review of Maleficent.

I do have to ask how you find a way to judge someone's behavior based on a post on a message board. All I'm saying is that it bothers me profusely to see fans rip other fans to shreds and tell them to go somewhere else just because they are upset about an experience at Disney not living up to Disney's own marketing hype (i.e. "fairy godmother service"). Kinda ironic that you're calling me that.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

It isn't about drawing a line, it is about always keeping the experience in perspective. For example, nothing that Disney does to you, short of killing or permanently disabling you or a loved one I suppose, is "devastating". It may be unpleasant or below expectations or even a bad experience but there are truly devastating things in the world so don't use adjectives that are far too strong for what happens in a theme park. Inconveniences shouldn't make you "livid". If they do you have an anger problem. The inability to do anything shouldn't ruin your vacation. These are the kinds of things that make what could be legitimate gripes get brushed off as the complaints of an overly dramatic drama queen.

So, if a guest went to Disney World and every ride was shut-down without notice, said guest has no right to complain because Disney didn't break their legs? Got it.

If people made rational complaints without the inflated hyperbole they'd be taken more seriously. It is all about perspective.

I guess I missed the hyperbole in the original post. My bad.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

#1 - I think that WDW is, objectively, "magical". It is a place like no other.

#2 - It does have flaws, and it is possible to have a rotten time on any given day (or for an entire vacation). Those are circumstances that are outside the norm in my opinion (based on many trips). But those outside the norm circumstances don't negate #1

#3 - Then their are people who have dropped their own magic ball and become convinced that WDW has somehow "lost it". Usually folks that have been a few times and now are a little jaded. Kind of like when kids grow out of things - there is a feeling that what once entertained you is no longer entertaining. But again, this does not negate #1.

That's how I break it down. Seems to me the OP might be #3.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Kinda ironic that you're calling me that.

I was replying to a single sentence in the post, not trying to suggest anything about you or any other poster here. I think that your posts are among the best on the Dis, so apologize if you misunderstood my intent.

 

[GreatLakes]

So, if a guest went to Disney World and every ride was shut-down without notice, said guest has no right to complain because Disney didn't break their legs? Got it.

That isn't what I said. I said complaints should be kept in perspective, not that they shouldn't be made. I've complained when something was below expectation but it was done calmly and with the realization that it isn't the end of the world.

I guess I missed the hyperbole in the original post. My bad.

My post wasn't about any particular post or thread, just a pattern that comes up here.

It isn't about accepting bad customer service, it is about realizing how bad customer service rates in the entirety of your life experience and reacting accordingly instead of out of proportion. That doesn't mean ignoring it if you don't want to, it means not making it sound as bad as something truly devastating.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I have been to WDW dozens of times - hundreds of park days. I can tell you that I have never noticed a dirty bathroom anywhere on WDW property. Now, does that mean that you would agree that those bathrooms were cleaned sufficiently? Absolutely not.
The reality - we all have different standards, and we all notice different things.

To add to this, sometimes it's also luck of the draw. Of any bathroom we enter, we only get a 2 minute snapshot. That two minutes may or may not be indicative of its condition the rest of the day. And I don't think any of us are going to hang around all day to find out either.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

You totally missed the point of that post.

No I didn't. Ignoring the lack of maintenance and repair (which once set Disny apart) is lowering expectations and this mindset is why they don't do the things they once did. I get some people are happy Disney grants them the opportunity to just enter the gates and empty their wallets but that's not everyone.

 

[andyman8]

I was replying to a single sentence in the post, not trying to suggest anything about you or any other poster here. I think that your posts are among the best on the Dis, so apologize if you misunderstood my intent.

Thank you, and I apologize if I rushed to judgment.