If anyone remembers the cars...

[Maistre Gracey]

I was always a Disney optimist, and quite often chastising many here for speaking badly of WDW and the direction it's headed.
I had always assumed Disney would prove you wrong, and at the end of the day would amaze us with quality and creativity. I was bordering on being an apologist. -- A true car #1.

I am now solidly a car #3, and possibly headed for #4.

Why??

-- Pleasure Island, especially the Adventurers' Club
-- The DVC booking fiasco (for those that have been following)
-- The outsourcing, particularly valet parking
-- The land sales
-- Recent cleanliness issues
-- Many other issues

And the list goes on....
One can only deny, apologize, and look the other way for so long.

Not unlike many here, we visit WDW & DLR several times a year for the past 15 years or so.
We own 1100 DVC points, and have stayed at most deluxe WDW resorts for extended stays... literally have spent hundreds of thousands at Disney, and were on track to hit nearly a million by life's end.

I am truly saddened to admit that many pessimists here were right all along...

To use a cliche, I am not leaving Disney,, Disney is leaving me.
It is truly sad...

MG

 

[sassytink03]

I agree. I have been a huge Disney fan since I could walk and talk. I have been there hundreds of times. I collect Disney, have seen all the Disney movies, and even stay on property whenever I can (even though I live 1 1/2 hours away). I have seen the customer service go downhill, though it is still better than most places. I have watched as they take away beloved attractions to replace them with playgrounds. While I haven't noticed a lack of cleanliness at the parks, I have never been more disappointed with Disney in my life. I believe that the decision to close PI was the final straw.

Don't get me wrong, I won't stop going to the parks..I love them to much to do so. But, I feel as if Disney isn't Disney anymore. Gone are the days of feeling like I entered a magical place where dreams do come true. I just hope and pray that Disney will take a second look at what they are doing to Walt's dreams.

 

[Budshark]

Maybe I am part of the new "era" of apologists, but...

I guess I don't have the history to understand what you are missing, or why its gone so far downhill.

I grew up with Disneyland. And it was nice and great. Then I turned 16, moved away from So. Cal. and saw nothing for 17 years. I went to local parks, visited Sea World a couple times, and did some local Six Flags. YUCK. Double Yuck.

Had a daughter and decided we'd fly to Disney for the week when she was 3. Everyone said she was too young. She wasn't. Wife and I looked around and wondered why we never came before. Loved it. We stayed at a Value resort and thought it was "fun", but it looked a bit ragged - but nothing outside the ordinary.

Well we bought DVC resale at Boardwalk, and I fought for a relocation closer to family so we are now in Jacksonville. Since we moved in November of last year we've been to Disney 4 times. We're going 3 more times in the next 3 months. We have kid #2 on the way due next February. And we couldn't be more excited to go again.

There's so much more to explore. There's different styles of vacations. There's new attractions that are coming, and that we hope come (revamping of Fantasyland would be #1). To us, Disney is strong. I think its affected by the outside American decline (poor service, $$$ first, etc) - but it seems to always stay a couple notches ahead of everyone else.

Maybe in 10-15 years we'll be the ones upset at what we've lost, but to us, right now, we follow the boards, read the comments and just shrug

To us, Disney IS magical. Our daughter smiles whenever we talk about it, she looks at her pins at least once a week, she asks when we are going again every other day, she wants to take her friends, and can't wait to meet Tinker Bell.

This isn't a slam to anyone who is disappointed. I know things have changed, and its often sad to lose what you once had. I just wish I could give you a little bit of the newness and excitement we have for it. It saddens me to see someone who says they've lost exactly what it is that makes us excited. Here's hoping Disney gives back a little of what you had and turns the corner. Maybe - just maybe Disney can find a way to fight against the outside culture influences (which I think affect all of us).

Chris

 

[YoHo]

I guess I'm still in Car 3. Only because I hold out for Iger to sell off the parks to someone that doesn't suck.

Plus, living so close to DL, I go a lot. AND DL has become slightly more Disney than WDW.

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

I was the original driver of Car #3. I have since traded in that model for a slick #4. I handles well and drives right past Disney if I'm so inclined!

 

[raidermatt]

Pretty much in car 4. Maybe 3.9. I guess I have a bit of hope left, but it's not really based on anything rational.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Someone should probably look up or summarize the definitions of each car. It would be interesting to see how the allegiances have changed over the past couple of years.

I'd imagine that for those familiar with the cars who were anywhere near 1 or 2 a couple of years ago, it would be hard to say they haven't traded down a model. For those who had been in 3....well, it's a big leap to 4, with 4 basically being you have written the place off and won't give them a dime of your money, willingly at least.

I don't think I could move to 4. Just the fumes of great days past are enough to keep me from a seat in that vehicle. We were just at the World last week and had a great time. The classics will never fade, some of the new stuff is very good (even if disappointing by the high standard of the Disney of old that we loved), we had great meals, very good customer service. A little rough around the edges here and there, but no major knocks to the overall vacation experience. Yes, there are plenty of things I can pick at, choices I can criticize, directions travelled that will leave the place worse of 20 years from now than other, better, more old school choices would have, but I guess I just don't have the moral conviction to write the place off and never go back over those given that it is still, by any standard other than Walt's from the 50's to the 70's, a very good vacation experience.

 

[wdw4us2]

I was in car #3. I am about halfway to car #4 right now, but I can't seem to drag myself into it yet. I still have faint hope that things may get better although logic dictates otherwise.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I don't think things will get better, better being a return to the philosophy and management style that made Disney what it was all the way from 1955, through the 70's and 80's....heck, even the early 90 parks-wise when things were starting to be nibbled. Actually, I don't hold out a faint hope of that. But that doesn't really make one a Car 4 occupant, I don't think.

 

[coltfan]

I am in the car broke down on the side of the road right now. Definitions of the car numbers would be great! Thanks!

 

[YoHo]

Of course, when I say Car 3, I really mean that the big old Harley has fallen back a little.

 

[Cricket2]

This is the closest explination I could find, sorry if it's not accurate.

As for the cars references... Way back near the beginning of time (DIS time), there was a handful of posters on this board who debated the state of affairs of the Disney Company. A few of them referred to "carpools" of like minded individuals, travelling to WDW with a different perspective or take on the future of the company. It was disorganized conversation, at best.

-snip-

If I correctly recall, car one members believed that the Disney Company (WDW more specifically) hadn't missed a step. It was pumping out the same level of quality and customer service as it always had and that business decisions were as solid as ever.

Car two recognized a modest decline, but was optimistic that a return was forthcoming.

Car three believed that the slide had reached a point of no return. They still cared about the company, and would continue to go to WDW, but knew that it would never be as great as it once was.

Car four had had enough. They were done for good.

 

[Honey81808]

I guess I ride car #1. I think they are making a great choice in closing PI, it's the pits. It's not attractive and it's not Pleasurable. If anything they should re vamp it and give it more of a Vegas feel where the night clubs are particular. I think the the surrounding areas are so much more alluring and they are just shops! Once again I live in a city so maybe my expectations are different but I noticed not one piece of litter on the ground and we were there during Fay which had THE worst wind ever. The bathrooms were wicked clean and so were the food counters.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I guess I ride car #1. I think they are making a great choice in closing PI, it's the pits. It's not attractive and it's not Pleasurable. If anything they should re vamp it and give it more of a Vegas feel where the night clubs are particular. I think the the surrounding areas are so much more alluring and they are just shops! Once again I live in a city so maybe my expectations are different but I noticed not one piece of litter on the ground and we were there during Fay which had THE worst wind ever. The bathrooms were wicked clean and so were the food counters.

I'm typing on an iPhone so I'll keep it short... Have you ever visited the Adventurers Club? If not, than you're not truly familiar with PI.

MG

 

[Demosthenes]

I'm typing on an iPhone so I'll keep it short... Have you ever visited the Adventurers Club? If not, than you're not truly familiar with PI.

MG

I have, and it was ok. I'm not a big enthusiast of it, though I get why people like it. What I didn't like was the regulars who would stay all night; that wasn't the point of the club, and it kept the place packed all night with the same crowd.

I agree that PI needs revamping. I don't think anyone can make a compelling argument that the entire place was successful or broadly appealing. I'll say that the Adventurer's Club, while not my cup of tea, is a neat idea that needs better execution to accommodate its fans. I think it should, and believe it will, be brought back in some other form or fashion.

As a DVC member, the new booking system makes sense and is preferable to me, so I have no complaint about it.

I hate outsourcing, including selling land. I think Disney should be the best at what it does, and not put that out to someone else.

I do think that the theme parks are better today than they were 7 years ago; they are cleaner, better maintained, have longer hours, and more special events. I don't like the pay parties, but it is a trend in all theme parks lately, and since they are popular, I may be in the minority here. I don't think Disney can ever be what Disney was when Walt was alive, but I think it is doing better now than in 2001.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Car # 3.2 here. Having been a "Disney kid" since the very early 50's, I've seen so much change!! And at WDW too, since 1975.
But Disney is counting on the hundreds of thousands of folks in car #1 (or perhaps even in no car), who have little or no knowledge of what "used to be". Standards and expectations change and for many them it's all new and exciting--least wise that's what Disney is counting on.

 

[manning]

To those who are in car 3 and still go.

Car 3 and now 4 will still be around if we still go.

I own DVC, but doing other things outside the parks has greatly increased. Eating out is even done outside of Disney.

 

[manning]

I hate outsourcing, .

I had a conversation with an uncle once who was the treasurer of a big corporation. They had outsourced part of there accounting function. He said those functions need to and will be brought back in house because they lost control. It was becoming too costly and the quality slipped badly.

That conversation took place in the summer of 1961.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I do think that the theme parks are better today than they were 7 years ago.............I think it is doing better now than in 2001.

I'd have to agree with you on these particular sentiments. Unfortunately, the same statement can't be made going back 10, 15, or 20 years ago.

Originally Posted By Honey 81808
I guess I ride car #1. I think they are making a great choice in closing PI, it's the pits. It's not attractive and it's not Pleasurable. If anything they should re vamp it and give it more of a Vegas feel where the night clubs are particular.

It's ok that you think Disney is making a good decision in closing PI as it exists. Others feel the same. Perhaps the place isn't working. But closing things isn't in an of itself a problem. It's what they do with it that becomes the problem. As you say, Disney should revamp it, change it to something new and exciting, something different, something that will draw people and wow them. Unfortunately, Disney isn't doing anyting with it........other than leasing out the space to more retail outlets. Where is the imagination and wonder in that? There isn't any. It's the cheap, easy, unimaginitive way out. Sit back and collect rent. Who cares if nobody comes....we have a long term lease. We'll worry what to do about that later when the lease is up but for now we've bolstered our cash flow. It's that kind of thinking, which has now permeated the company, that has me in Car 3.

 

[Demosthenes]

I'd have to agree with you on these particular sentiments. Unfortunately, the same statement can't be made going back 10, 15, or 20 years ago.

I agree, but I've got to give them credit for making recent improvements. I think anyone in Car #3 who thinks that the company has to get back to where it was 20 years ago must acknowledge when good things are happening, and let Disney know. Even if the change is only incremental, or is limited improvement, recognizing the positive encourages more positive change.

One thing I never liked about the cars though is that many people who identified themselves as being in car #3 based part of that designation on frustration over changing classic attractions. Replacing classic attractions with poor quality attractions is bad, but updating old attractions is not, in and of itself, a bad thing, and can often be a good thing.