I was two years old when I entered Disney World for the first time -- it was the park's opening year and my only memories are the faded photographs and faster fading stories my mom shares about them. Fast-forward to my tween years where i was able to go to the Florida's MK twice--before there was an Epcot and the only resorts were the Poly and the Contemporary. I remember the sheer fantasy of it, the magic, the awesome wonder of being transported to different places and times. It was all so clean, sparkly and fresh. The cast members were bubbly and polite--they truly put on a show--whether it was using a "western" accent at a fast-food place in Frontierland or a costumed character engaging you in a conversation without words, you were immersed in the fantasy.
Fast-forward to now. I brought my own daughter for the first time when she turned three. The complex had grown from that one magical place to 4 seperate parks, 2 water parks, and I don't know how many hotels! How had it gotten so big? I believe it was the dream that it created for all of those families, who, like me, wanted their own children to share the same experience. Sadly, the magic of the monorail was overshadowed by the diesel smoke of buses crawling their way throughout the resort. The spectacle of an evening light parade and fireworks is quickly forgotten when waiting over an hour to climb onto a "standing-room only" bus with a pooped out pre-schooler draped over your shoulder. Certainly Walt didn't intend for his guests to be herded as so much chattle.
One cannot help but notice that the characters barely spend the time for the flash to spark on your camera before they are reaching for the next autograph book. The fun rides that a family can experience together have been replaced with stage shows and circle-vision films--as awe-inspiring as they may be-- the parks need a fresh infusion of family-oriented attractions filled with state-of-the-art special effects and ride technologies, not low budget theater presentations and recycled rides.
We don't want to wade through a sea of TP while trying to reach the toilet, but that has become status quo. When we see the dust-laden audioanimatronics struggling to move in It's a Small World, when the sound is non-existent in the Haunted Mansion, when the paint is peeling, we Main Street is naught but a mound of trash, this is what makes us weep.
Where are those enthusiastic cast-members and energetic characters? Where are the managers who used to bend over to pick up a stray hot dog wrapper? Why would families spend such an exorbitant amount to be treated by cast members just as they would at home by grocery store clerks?
Jaded as i may sound, I still love Disney because it stands for something that has become scarce in this world, but seems to be becoming scarce even at this special place. We have recently purchased
DVC because we want to leave WDW as a legacy for our daughter. My question is, will she still want it then?
