How many of you think Disney is perfect?

[dvc at last !]

Better Question:
How many of you drank the Kool Aid?

Love it !

Free Kool Aid for all !

 

[KellyNY]

Nothing is perfect and everyone is bothered by something but some are bothered by everything.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

love it !

Free kool aid for all !

like

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Not to throw anybody under the bus............but maxiesmom does that. Bless her heart, that woman has never heard a complaint about Disney that she deemed valid. Not even trying to attack, it's not necessarily a bad thing.

There seems to be several, I mean c'mon, can't you ever just say, hey Disney, I don't like that!! LOL

 

[disfan07]

Heck no..I definitely do not think they are perfect. However, I do think a lot of the complaints on these boards are extremely minor, nit picky, and pointless. But, with everything I have been through in my life, I have learned (and made the decision) not to sweat the small stuff and to not complain about the little things.

The perfect trip for us is:
no hospital visits (meaning a week with no asthma attcks, no allergic reactions! and no GI problems)
watching Wishes, Illuminations and Fantasmic
watching the afternoon parade
a hot dog from Caseys Corner
candy shopping around the world at EPCOT
resort hopping
mickey waffles for breakfats (allergen free for me!!)
spending uninterrupted, hospital/doctor free, quality time with my family

So far...every trip has been perfect (except for 1 ER visit!)

This is all what makes a trip perfect for us. Not whether or not we have to wait for a bus. Not whether or not we get the most popular TS restaurant (we're relaly not that picky). Not whether or not we get a certain resort with a specific room location. Not whether or not we get to do every ride we would like to do during our trip.

Rides break down. Weather can be bad. Shows can be cancelled. Food can take a while. CMs can have bad days. Other guests can have bad days. Busses can take a while. For us, this is all just minor things that we don't let ruin our trip.

Maybe its all about perspective. No I don't think Disney is perfect but nothing is and they don't have to be perfect for me to defend them or to say that it is still the best place to vacation (IMO of course).

But for us, they make it safe for me to eat out of the house for an entire week....as long as they keep doing that, we will keep going back.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I have found that sadly this seems to be a frequent occurrance around any forum. Anyone says something bad about whatever the topic (Disney, an actor, a TV show) and they're crucified!

Sadly, the DIS is no difference. Some people like to fight, some people will disagree with you no matter what. Ignore the haters

I was reading the thread about Disney rules (didn't read every single comment, but...) I am surprised how many people always agree with Disney no matter what--ticket pricing, parking fees, ADR bookings, etc.

Don't get me wrong I love Disney, we all do on the DIS, or we wouldn't be on here, right I just think its okay to disagree with some of their decisions. Who's with me? LOL

 

[fla4fun]

No, I don't think Disney is perfect, and I don't think it's for everyone. We wouldn't have Universal and Sea World in the neighborhood if Disney was the be all and end all of the theme park business. We joke in our office that some people are Disney people, some people are Universal people, and some people are Sea World people - but we all seem to get along.

I agree that some people tend to really nit pick and argue though - whether it's here on the DIS, or other internet sites. I think the ability to be anonymous plays into that a lot. I'm more of a go with the flow kind of person, especially on vacation. For me, it's about going on vacation to a place that fulfills all of my vacation needs - and so far, Disney has been able to do that. If at some point they no longer meet those needs, then I will go elsewhere.

There are always going to be decisions made by Disney that I don't like as well as those I do. I don't like that they closed Snow White to replace it with a M&G instead of an attraction. I don't like that they got rid of Horizons and replaced it with Mission:Space. There are other people that might not agree, and that's OK too. I like that they put the ADR's online, and especially things like the Candlelight Processional - much easier than over the phone. But whether I like them, or not, it's Disney's choice to make the changes and I just have to go with it.

 

[Bonnie151]

I don't think it's perfect but it's perfect for us as a holiday destination so while I might not like some changes, rules, whatever, overall it still pulls me back year after year unlike any other destination (and we do take regular holidays to other places).

 

[ireland_nicole]

I don't think Disney is perfect, however with two kids with special needs it's one of the few safe places we can go in vacation. And that's why regardless of current changes it will continue to be our yearly vacation destination for a while at least. Although in 2013 we are mixing it up and going to DLR instead

 

[topmonkeygirl]

I think Disney is the perfect vacation destination for me. This may be down or that may be broken, it'll be fixed the next time. With so much to see and do, and let's face it you can't do everything in one trip, just catch it the next time. I'm hoping that Test Track will be open for you vacation in Oct, but it won't put a damper on our trip if it's not. I'm hoping Be Our Guest will be open on our trip, probably not, something to look forward to the next trip.

It's perfect enough for me.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

I also take issue with many of their decisions, especially when it appears as if it is a money grab, however, they are still able to offer a product like no one else and that is why so many of us tolerate the silly decisions that are sometimes made.

 

[goofy4tink]

We love WDW in our family. For us, it's the only place we can all go to together, where everyone has a good time...even dh. He may leave earlier than dd and I, but he is there for at least part of the stay...and enjoys it. We have tried many other types of vacation, but they just don't work for all three of us.
BUT..there are always going to be those people that want to use their expensive refillable mugs anywhere they want, those that want to swim in any pool they choose, to be able to hold onto 27 FPs with no time limit on them, to get 10 day park hoppers (non-expiring to boot) for $200, and have every park open until midnight. They want buses that get them to their destination directly, with no other stops. They want the monorail for just themselves and others at that particular resort. They want DME to take under an hour, go wherever they want to be dropped off and they want their luggage delivered by the time they get to the resort. They want their room ready now!!! They want towel animals every day.
The list goes on and on. So no, WDW isn't perfect, not by a long shot. BUT...for many of us, it works better than anything else.
Do I wish it were less expensive? Sure I do. I also wish flying there was less expensive as well. Disney is a business..plain and simple. The powers that be make decisions for the cooperation...not for the guests. We all know, going in, what it's going to be like. We choose to go there..no one is forcing anyone to go to WDW.

 

[Planogirl]

Perfection is in the eyes of the beholder.

 

[mmtska]

I don't think Disney is perfect. But I like it. I don't sweat the small stuff, but I figure if there is something I want to complain about-I'm going to because it's something big. However.....I haven't had that issue. :-D I just shrug off the rest of it because it's not really worth it.

 

[ttintagel]

I don't think Disney is perfect but I do think some of the things people complain about are small and not worth getting worked up about. That tends to be when I defend Disney.

I'm wondering exactly how one would define "worked up" in this case. I, for one, have never seen any post on this site that I would classify that way. There's a big difference between noticing something and mentioning it in a discussion, and being "worked up."

 

[disneychic2]

Yes it's also to disgree but we cannot put ourselves in their postion and understand all the factors that go into their decision. All our comments are based on our own limitied understandings.

Disney is renowed for taking and elvaluating the facts to attempt to make the right decision, but please remember they are a for profit business and that is not always consistent with what the person on vacation is looking for.

They are not always right and when they are not they usually will do what is necessary to correct it.

I do not think they are perfect, but I do think many people don't fully understand Disney's reasoning for doing stuff. They often are looking at it from their own perspective instead of looking at the picture as a whole. As such, I often disagree with people on many things that they think Disney is doing "wrong" because I can fully see the business reasons for it.

A lot of it comes down to how you LOOK at things.

In a 43 sq mi resort everything can't be perfect, but when you compare it to other places it really is in a league of its own.

Nothing is perfect and everyone is bothered by something but some are bothered by everything.

We love WDW in our family. For us, it's the only place we can all go to together, where everyone has a good time...even dh. He may leave earlier than dd and I, but he is there for at least part of the stay...and enjoys it. We have tried many other types of vacation, but they just don't work for all three of us.
BUT..there are always going to be those people that want to use their expensive refillable mugs anywhere they want, those that want to swim in any pool they choose, to be able to hold onto 27 FPs with no time limit on them, to get 10 day park hoppers (non-expiring to boot) for $200, and have every park open until midnight. They want buses that get them to their destination directly, with no other stops. They want the monorail for just themselves and others at that particular resort. They want DME to take under an hour, go wherever they want to be dropped off and they want their luggage delivered by the time they get to the resort. They want their room ready now!!! They want towel animals every day.
The list goes on and on. So no, WDW isn't perfect, not by a long shot. BUT...for many of us, it works better than anything else.
Do I wish it were less expensive? Sure I do. I also wish flying there was less expensive as well. Disney is a business..plain and simple. The powers that be make decisions for the cooperation...not for the guests. We all know, going in, what it's going to be like. We choose to go there..no one is forcing anyone to go to WDW.

Very well said! ITA!

 

[ChipnDalebowl]

Nobody's perfect, but Disney does a pretty good job of things given the price paid and what you'd pay at other places. Yeah, maybe I do drink some Disney koolaid every now and then, but they operate as a business and usually there's good business sense behind their motives, even if we don't recognize them.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's a somewhat recent experience. I was trying to check into my BWV studio. It was about 4:30ish, and my room was ready. Well...my room key wouldn't work. I went back to the lobby..they gave me a new room key. Back up we went (my friend was with me). Again, the darn thing wouldn't work..back down we go. Well....I was told a maintainence CM would go up and take care of it. So...off about 10' away from where we were standing, a couple was having a heated discussion with a CM. It seems they were having the exact same issue we were having!!! Well...the man was going on and on about how Disney was going downhill and that he was paying big bucks to stay in this so called deluxe hotel and he wasn't able to get into his villa (I was mortified that it was possibly a DVC person!!! Hopefully, he was paying cash!!)..on and on he went. He then said he wanted to talk to the CMs boss, the manager. So, out comes the manager. Yap, yap, yap...the discussion went on for about 5 mins. Well, the maintainence man called down and said our problem was solved, and the room key should be fine now..there was indeed an issue with the lock. So, off we go to the elevator. And who do we ride up with?? Yep, that yappy couple. And to add insult to injury??? The guy is going on about how if you complain long enough and loudly enough, you get a free meal at Flying Fish!! Seems the manager comped them dinner that night. I was sooo beyond peeved.
One can only hope that karma comes back around and bites guys like that in the behind!!!
So.....what one guest finds to be an awful issue, and wants compensation for enduring it, another finds to be a mere glitch in the day. It all depends on your perspective I guess. What I find to be a minor bump along the way, someone else may feel it's a trip destroyer!!!

 

[North of Mouse]

No, Disney is not perfect, no place is (but they come close, to me), and I do not like to hear the petty complaints of others while there or not.
What other place can give you so much and enjoyment? I cannot even go to smaller amusement parks any more because I constantly am trying to compare them with Disney.
Disney is "huge", yet most of the time, while having to transport, feed, entertain so many people every day there are truly few glitches (considering volume).
We do not "look" for, nor see, burned light bulbs, slight peeling paint, think we are slighted by CM's, etc.
It is our "happy place" and we don't expect perfection, because there is no such thing, and also we try to remember that is is a "for profit" business .
If we found the faults that a lot of people complain about while there and after, we just would not go again, period.
Complainers are the ones that are miserable while there, and let their attitudes ruin their vacations. We've "heard" and "seen" them. Nothing seems to make some people content (but the root cause is not Disney). People bring their attitudes/problems with them.
Ditto, pp poster - we've seen that too!!!

 

[LazyDaisy]

I do not think they are perfect, but I do think many people don't fully understand Disney's reasoning for doing stuff. They often are looking at it from their own perspective instead of looking at the picture as a whole. As such, I often disagree with people on many things that they think Disney is doing "wrong" because I can fully see the business reasons for it.

A lot of it comes down to how you LOOK at things.

That.

I think it's totally ridiculous that my daughter rode on some 40 inch rides in the morning, and then had her itty bitty little heart broken that she shrank to 39.75 inches later in the day and couldn't go on the same exact rides in the afternoon. I don't for a second think she would have been the least bit unsafe. And yet, I would still defend the CM who refused her entry - because he was following policy. Do I think the policy is great and awesome? No. Do I understand that there has to be a cutoff? Yes.

Do I agree that CM's are not paid great wages? I had a CM tell me she had five kids and she couldn't afford to bring her kids to Disney herself because she couldn't afford it. Looking aside the fact that she did spread a little raincloud on the otherwise happy Disney atmosphere by pointing out that bit of reality, I felt for her. I really did. On the other hand... I also don't think Disney is an "evil" corporation because it can't pay its employees six figure salaries. The economy is what it is.

Do I have ideas on how to improve things? Sure. I would make new rides, add in new hotels, add in more monorails... But I'm also not a businessperson working with a limited budget, looking to fulfill regulations, keep investors happy, etc. If I could, I'd go back to the time when they made "classic" animations, too, instead of the fast paced gibberish they come up with half the time.

Bottom line: I think they do a great job making "magic" with the resources they have. But they're not superhuman.