Has Disney World lost it's magic?

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I didn't miss the point of the thread, I cannot agree or disagree with losing it's "magic" i have only been once, and plan again to go next year, my point of my whole message (and why I deleted it because I didn't feel it should have been posted in a snit after reading for the 10th time how some people view those who stay at value or moderate as "less then them".) I came to the board for information, and I have found some great information, but the attitudes were starting to sour me on the board. My remarks weren't directed towards the downfall of disney, perceived or not, my remarks were directed towards the sense of entitlement and elitist snobbery I was seeing in some of the messages.

Again, the reason I deleted it, but since it was directly commented upon before I deleted it (all I can say is you must have been responded at the same time I was hunting for the delete command. LOL) I felt I would respond and clarify what I was meaning. I've worked for YEARS in retail, and seen and been effected first hand by the down turn in economy as well as upswings, I know what has to be done to keep people coming in to spend money.

I actually believe if you go back through this thread and read it carefully that nobody, not once, posted that sentiment on this thread.

I think sometimes people look for "elitist snobbery" when in fact what's going on is constructive criticism.

Although I would get a huge kick out of being called an elitist snob. Does that mean I've arrived?

 

[Miaka]

I actually believe if you go back through this thread and read it carefully that nobody, not once, posted that sentiment on this thread.

I think sometimes people look for "elitist snobbery" when in fact what's going on is constructive criticism.

Although I would get a huge kick out of being called an elitist snob. Does that mean I've arrived?

as I said in the first message I wrote, it wasn't specifically in this thread, but spattered about the DISboards in various threads. but also like I said, I decided
to just get rid of the message because it would lead to things like more drama. Nothing meant to offend anyone, and I'm not looking for the elitist snobbery, lord knows I've had my share of dealing with it the 20+ years of bbs's and message boards,
so if I offended, I'm sorry, like I said, it was a snit and I totaly admit the snittery that it was (snittery, is that a word? LOL) Not that it's an excuse but it had been a long day and there was a remark in another thread that set me off, and then some other things kind of built on it.

but again, it's OT, so I will wander myself back to reading and let this one get back to topic...sorry for the digression.

 

[dstevens]

To redirect the subject at hand ( is that a phrase?); if you want some real magic go on a Disney cruise. OH MY GOSH!!!! That is the ultimate in Disney magic. My wife and i renewed our vows for our 25th anniversary last September on the Wonder. The CM's were AWESOME. Our meal mates were AWESOME. Even 99.9% of our fellow travellers were nice. Can anybody out there comment on current and past cruises? I can't imagine they could have been any better unless it was free.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

To redirect the subject at hand ( is that a phrase?); if you want some real magic go on a Disney cruise. OH MY GOSH!!!! That is the ultimate in Disney magic. My wife and i renewed our vows for our 25th anniversary last September on the Wonder. The CM's were AWESOME. Our meal mates were AWESOME. Even 99.9% of our fellow travellers were nice. Can anybody out there comment on current and past cruises? I can't imagine they could have been any better unless it was free.

That magic is too rich for my blood

 

[dstevens]

That magic is too rich for my blood

Same here, but, wifey wants it then wifey gets it. She's my Cinderella, Princess, Jasmine (get my drift) wrapped up in one.

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

To redirect the subject at hand ( is that a phrase?); if you want some real magic go on a Disney cruise. OH MY GOSH!!!! That is the ultimate in Disney magic. My wife and i renewed our vows for our 25th anniversary last September on the Wonder. The CM's were AWESOME. Our meal mates were AWESOME. Even 99.9% of our fellow travellers were nice. Can anybody out there comment on current and past cruises? I can't imagine they could have been any better unless it was free.

Hey there! I've seen your picture on Cruise Critic!

It's a small world after all...it's a small world after all...it's a small world after all...it's a small, small, world!

 

[leighe]

Well -m sure I'll get kicked off these boards for saying this - but I think the dining plan and free dining has ruined eating at Disney! Even the signature menus are bland and basically meat and potatoes. Blah.

 

[dstevens]

Hey there! I've seen your picture on Cruise Critic!

It's a small world after all...it's a small world after all...it's a small world after all...it's a small, small, world!

What's cruise critic? Is it good or bad that you saw my picture there?

 

[dstevens]

Well -m sure I'll get kicked off these boards for saying this - but I think the dining plan and free dining has ruined eating at Disney! Even the signature menus are bland and basically meat and potatoes. Blah.

You won't get kicked off. There is another thread about bad food and service at some Disney restaurants. Remember these are only opinions. No matter what other people feel, your own opinion is never wrong. To you that is.

 

[Tjkane28]

...to join a very, VERY, secret society comprised of visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort. (bear with me)!

As many PPs have stated, and I paraphrase : The magic you get is equal to the magic you GIVE.

So, if you desire, you can join the secret society of Magic Givers (OK, we can work on the name).

As a Magic Giver, you promise to spend at least one hour of your day (or vacation, your choice) spreading the magic of WDW to other guests and CMs. You can do this in any number of ways or degrees:

1. Compliment at least 10 CMs on doing a great job. Really compliment them with very specific details.
2. Buy an extra souvenir (doesn't have to be expensive) and give it to someone else...explain to the parents a bit about what you are doing so not to be thought of as a member of another secret society: The Weirdos of the World. (we'll work on this one, too.)
3. Give your fast passes to Soarin' to a family waiting on that 120 minute stand-by line. Yea, pick them up knowing they are going to someone else.
4. Pick up the piece of garbage you see on the ground. I bet a CM will eventually see you do this and the magic WILL spread.
5. Any place you see the lack of magic, give YOUR magic until it feels good!

This is just a start, and I am sure there are others on this board who have a lot better ideas.

Well, because this is a secret society, and we will never, EVER, have a meeting, please do not feel the need to tell anyone you are joining. Just GIVE the MAGIC!

 

[Pats Dragon]

What a really neat post!! Magic would come back if even a small number of people would follow your suggestions. Thanks.

 

[k5thbeatle]

Well -m sure I'll get kicked off these boards for saying this - but I think the dining plan and free dining has ruined eating at Disney! Even the signature menus are bland and basically meat and potatoes. Blah.

Absolutely agree 100%! Maybe not literally "meat and potatoes" but you're kidding yourself if you don't think the food quality has suffered tremendously over the last few years!

Dining plan is worst idea they've ever come up with.

 

[ppony]

...to join a very, VERY, secret society comprised of visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort. (bear with me)!

As many PPs have stated, and I paraphrase : The magic you get is equal to the magic you GIVE.

So, if you desire, you can join the secret society of Magic Givers (OK, we can work on the name).

As a Magic Giver, you promise to spend at least one hour of your day (or vacation, your choice) spreading the magic of WDW to other guests and CMs. You can do this in any number of ways or degrees:

1. Compliment at least 10 CMs on doing a great job. Really compliment them with very specific details.
2. Buy an extra souvenir (doesn't have to be expensive) and give it to someone else...explain to the parents a bit about what you are doing so not to be thought of as a member of another secret society: The Weirdos of the World. (we'll work on this one, too.)
3. Give your fast passes to Soarin' to a family waiting on that 120 minute stand-by line. Yea, pick them up knowing they are going to someone else.
4. Pick up the piece of garbage you see on the ground. I bet a CM will eventually see you do this and the magic WILL spread.
5. Any place you see the lack of magic, give YOUR magic until it feels good!

This is just a start, and I am sure there are others on this board who have a lot better ideas.

Well, because this is a secret society, and we will never, EVER, have a meeting, please do not feel the need to tell anyone you are joining. Just GIVE the MAGIC!

 

[MissionMouse]

Well -m sure I'll get kicked off these boards for saying this - but I think the dining plan and free dining has ruined eating at Disney! Even the signature menus are bland and basically meat and potatoes. Blah.

Disney appears to be using the TS Dining Restaurant reputations to lure and attract customers under their affordability marketing campaigns. In the process many of these reputations are a thing of the past with many new diners lacking a frame of reference to what was...they initially think it is great...until they dine under these fixed cost plans (variable expenses for Disney) over a period of years when they should start to notice a decline as Disney works to manage the variable expenses to align to the fix revenues they receive in advance from customers.

 

[Tigger_Tina]

Recently i acquired from my local library the book on cd titled "Creating Magic" by Lee Cockerell the former Executive Vice President of Operations for WDW. I am only into disc 2 of 6 but have already noticed were WDW is failing in recent years in creating magic. In the past 2 years my wife and i have stayed at several Disney resorts. I have noticed a lack of upkeep in the area of grounds and maintenance. Bushes desperately needing trimmed, trash around in the morning along with trays and trash outside rooms. I have also felt that the Magic Kingdom was dirtier then previous visits while cast members are not always pleasent. By reading posts concerning the quality of food served around the parks and resorts it's apparent that WDW is sliding quickly down hill in that area also. I understand that certain WDW employees read the dis-boards, so i thought this could be a good way to bring to light areas that we feel are lacking in magic and also offer suggestions to bring back the magic. So please offer up a solution if you expose a problem. Thank you and hopefully we together can restore the magic, if you feel some magic has been lost.

Maybe they might be slacking a little bit but i really dont think that Disney is loosing its Magic! Just because it might be a little bit dirtier than usual doesn not have anything to do with Disney's magic. But whenever I go to Disney it is usually clean since I was there a few months ago, but that might have just been then. But i really dont think Disney is loosing its magic!

 

[Tink_Taylor]

I Do NOT Think Disney Is Loosing Its Magic


Just Because Its Bushes Need Trimming, And Its Not Up To Your Standards Doesnt Mean Its Loosing Its Magic.

Do You Know How Hard It Is To Clean That Park? Its Not Disneys Fault People Litter!

As You Can See. MANY MANY People Still Go To Disney, Without These Minor Details In Mind.

As Long As Families And Friends Are Enjoying Themselves And Having Fun Isnt That All That Matters?

My Family Has Gone To Disney For Many Many Years, I Was Not Even A Year Old The First Time I Went, And Well Before I Was Born My Family Went.

We Still Love It. Just Because It MAY To You And Some Others Be A Bit Messy And Landscaping Etc. Etc....

In My Opinion Its Not Loosing Its Magic.

 

[Zuzu03]

...to join a very, VERY, secret society comprised of visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort. (bear with me)!

As many PPs have stated, and I paraphrase : The magic you get is equal to the magic you GIVE.

So, if you desire, you can join the secret society of Magic Givers (OK, we can work on the name).

As a Magic Giver, you promise to spend at least one hour of your day (or vacation, your choice) spreading the magic of WDW to other guests and CMs. You can do this in any number of ways or degrees:

1. Compliment at least 10 CMs on doing a great job. Really compliment them with very specific details.
2. Buy an extra souvenir (doesn't have to be expensive) and give it to someone else...explain to the parents a bit about what you are doing so not to be thought of as a member of another secret society: The Weirdos of the World. (we'll work on this one, too.)
3. Give your fast passes to Soarin' to a family waiting on that 120 minute stand-by line. Yea, pick them up knowing they are going to someone else.
4. Pick up the piece of garbage you see on the ground. I bet a CM will eventually see you do this and the magic WILL spread.
5. Any place you see the lack of magic, give YOUR magic until it feels good!

This is just a start, and I am sure there are others on this board who have a lot better ideas.

Well, because this is a secret society, and we will never, EVER, have a meeting, please do not feel the need to tell anyone you are joining. Just GIVE the MAGIC!

I LOVE this society and I think we can even push it past the WDW's borders (and boarders, ahem) and perhaps try some of this in our daily lives!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I didn't miss the point of the thread, I cannot agree or disagree with losing it's "magic" i have only been once, and plan again to go next year, my point of my whole message (and why I deleted it because I didn't feel it should have been posted in a snit after reading for the 10th time how some people view those who stay at value or moderate as "less then them".) I came to the board for information, and I have found some great information, but the attitudes were starting to sour me on the board. My remarks weren't directed towards the downfall of disney, perceived or not, my remarks were directed towards the sense of entitlement and elitist snobbery I was seeing in some of the messages.
Again, the reason I deleted it, but since it was directly commented upon before I deleted it (all I can say is you must have been responded at the same time I was hunting for the delete command. LOL) I felt I would respond and clarify what I was meaning. I've worked for YEARS in retail, and seen and been effected first hand by the down turn in economy as well as upswings, I know what has to be done to keep people coming in to spend money.

What I bolded is my issue. I was commenting on Disney's business model and not insinuating they were trying to attract folks who were beneath me to populate their value accomodations.

Having worked in retail, you would be congnizant of the fact that the retail sector has been suffering in the economy despite deep discounts and sales. They are doing what they can to move inventory. Shoppers are in the stores. They are just there wit much smaller budgets.

 

[exit30]

This should end this discussion once and for all: If you think Disney has lost its magic, don't go. If you think it still has its magic, go. Ok admin., you can lock it now.

 

[WDWKOOK]

This should end this discussion once and for all: If you think Disney has lost its magic, don't go. If you think it still has its magic, go. Ok admin., you can lock it now.

I will (wrongly?) interpret your comment to actually mean:

If you criticize or are disappointed in anything at WDW - don't complain.

If you are pleased with the status quo - then you may continue to post.