Is the internet making it harder/impossible for Disney to keep providing the "magic"?

[MinnesotaChill]

When we booked Aulani for our 20th anniversary I was so sick of planning and researching that I had my husband make the ressies and then swore off of anything Aulani until we arrived. I didn't look at photos, read trip reports or anything.

We loved Aulani for many reasons, but I think much of it was that we had no expectations whatsoever.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think the cost of Disney these days plays a large factor. Disney is not an inexpensive vacation although it can be done on a lower budget but can also cost $$$$$'s. It's not hard to understand that people want to get the most they can. Disney also built up their theme park brand into kind of the holy grail of family vactions - just think about the movie "Vacation" with Chevy Chase and that was long before the internet was a household thing! Some families make it a once in a lifetime trip (not too many on these boards but some do ) and that can bring a lot of expectations with it. The "Magic" moments weren't exactly unknown when info sharing was word of mouth or printed articles and books. In the early 90's I spent some time figuring out the "best" room to request at the Poly and that wasn't on the internet. And I also knew about upgrades and getting special things for special occasions.

And as Disney increases their attendance each year (24 million in 1986 vs 47 million in 2010 reported for WDW) percentages mean that it will be more people demanding magic. Basically I guess I think there have always been people who are demanding. Is it more of the people that are demanding or is it just because there are more people? I don't have an answer but actually lean more towards the latter - or at worst a combination of the two.

I spent lots of time in the service industry in a tourism area and just don't think it's unique to Disney - or anything new either.

 

[ssawka]

I agree that some people have a sense of entitlement, but in terms of room selection, I think Disney brought some of that on themselves by "stretching" the room categories. For example, when BLT first open, they had third floor rooms categorized as Theme Park View. I know they rectified that now, but when you are paying extra money (or points) for a particular view, you expect that view. There are other examples, such as I have read that some of the Ocean View rooms at Vero do not actually look out on the ocean, but if you are standing on the patio and turn your head you'll see the ocean. I agree that saying "give me the best room" is a bit arrogant, but at least give me what I paid for.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Years ago, a travel magazine had a tip that amounted to using the Swan or Dolphin parking lot to avoid paying for parking at Disney. Well, guess what!
Everyone parking at those hotels has a fee now.

On our first visit to Vero, DH asked if the side rooms were considered ocean view and was told they were. So people booking OVIR should be aware. Maybe there should be a third delineation of room types, but Disney hasn't done it.

I've only experienced a true melt down toward a CM once, and in the end, the brute got what he wanted.

Our extended family HAS been pixie dusted at times, & special occasions have been ignored at others. We still do thoroughly enjoy our DVC WDW vacations.

Bobbi

 

[Ln42]

To me, its an issue of entitlement. Magic is all around and happens when you least expect it. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture or free anything.

I do think as people spend more money on Disney they expect more added on value.

Im thinking the amount of guests that have also treated CMs unfairly is on the rise and its hard to extend yourself when you get a negative response. So as a group- we do it to ourselves. If I see something unfair, I at least try to compliment the CM on how they handled it and say sorry that guest just acted so poorly. We can't fix the prior outburst but we can let them know that they are not alone. I don't see the internet as the culprit. I love sharing info and hearing about the magic. I just don't expect it.

 

[tjkraz]

(you are responsible for your own happiness and enjoyment--it's not someone else's responsibility).

Well, when you're giving thousands of dollars to a company that markets its product as "magic", high expectations are bound to follow.

I'm not so sure that I agree with the general "entitlement" direction some posts have taken. I don't think there's anything wrong with taking reasonable steps to secure your own "magic" as the comment above alludes to.

If a 5th floor BoardWalk view is deemed "better" than a ground floor room, is the guest / member wrong to ask for such a room? Demands and front desk temper tantrums are certainly excessive but I don't think there's any harm in asking. Disney encourages requests.

I hope we haven't reached a point where any instance of requesting personalized service is considered "entitlement."

As for other little touches (birthday cards, balloons, anniversary gifts, etc.) some of the expectations are just human nature. When you read about how others have been treated, it's difficult to not expect SOME acknowledgment.

And really that's a challenge Disney must strive to live up to. If they are going to ask incoming guests to log their birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations, Disney should consistently acknowledge those events. Not everyone is going to get a free fireworks cruise. And yes, those who expect such treatment are guilty of "entitlement." But Disney does bear some responsibility to meet guest expectations in a reasonable manner. That's part of the "magic" we're paying for.

 

[AmyB2006]

If a 5th floor BoardWalk view is deemed "better" than a ground floor room, is the guest / member wrong to ask for such a room? Demands and front desk temper tantrums are certainly excessive but I don't think there's any harm in asking. Disney encourages requests.

I agree and I also pointed out in my post that there's nothing wrong with wanting the best. Asking and making requests, I don't have a problem with.

I think the entitlement comes into play when you expect it, though, and will argue with a CM because you're not getting your way.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

Whatever happened to people being humble and appreciating the fact that they could afford to go on vacation. It's great to hear people's experiences and how their trip was made a bit more magical by the CM's. I do agree that people's expectations are just not realistic.

Growing up, our family only went to Disney twice. Our other vacations were visiting family and maybe some day trips.

I am a DVC member and I do put in requests but have no expectation of getting it. I just drink in the atmosphere!!

I don't think Disney is any more expensive than spending a week in NYC. I have and its just as expensive without ANY magic

 

[ssawka]

On our first visit to Vero, DH asked if the side rooms were considered ocean view and was told they were. So people booking OVIR should be aware. Maybe there should be a third delineation of room types, but Disney hasn't done it.

DVC already has a category that would cover these rooms, its called Garden View. IMHO, anything that is not directly facing the ocean should be a Garden View room. The problem comes in when the mouse gets greedy and wants to up the price of the side rooms and call them Ocean View.

 

[Tiger926]

Well, when you're giving thousands of dollars to a company that markets its product as "magic", high expectations are bound to follow.

I'm not so sure that I agree with the general "entitlement" direction some posts have taken. I don't think there's anything wrong with taking reasonable steps to secure your own "magic" as the comment above alludes to.

If a 5th floor BoardWalk view is deemed "better" than a ground floor room, is the guest / member wrong to ask for such a room? Demands and front desk temper tantrums are certainly excessive but I don't think there's any harm in asking. Disney encourages requests.

I hope we haven't reached a point where any instance of requesting personalized service is considered "entitlement."

As for other little touches (birthday cards, balloons, anniversary gifts, etc.) some of the expectations are just human nature. When you read about how others have been treated, it's difficult to not expect SOME acknowledgment.

And really that's a challenge Disney must strive to live up to. If they are going to ask incoming guests to log their birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations, Disney should consistently acknowledge those events. Not everyone is going to get a free fireworks cruise. And yes, those who expect such treatment are guilty of "entitlement." But Disney does bear some responsibility to meet guest expectations in a reasonable manner. That's part of the "magic" we're paying for.

What does, "...secure your own magic" actually mean? What is magic to you, is different than to me, and probably different to Disney. I have paid Disney to provide the level of magic they see fit to me as a guest.

So, if I decide that Disney should shoot off 200 firework shells a night, instead of the 150 they do (I am just making up numbers here), is this a reasonable idea of 'magic'?

We expect a clean, safe and fun environment, and that is pretty much it. We don't expect any special magic more than anyone else. And we most assuredly don't expect more magic because we have spent countless thousands of dollars on DVC and all accompanying trips to WDW. Everyone who buys a ticket to WDW deserves the same product as the next person.

I think you hit the nail on the head here. The concept of magic and the expectations of said magic are where the issues lie, as well as the fact that people are more self-entitled these days (I see it everywhere...grocery, restaurant, school, vacation, etc.), and to relate this to the Internet is a good point, as people can pretty much see what their entire WDW vacation will be like before they arrive: You Tube videos, Twitter updates, Facebook posts, etc.

Interesting thread, Tiger

 

[anniemck]

I think it takes the spontaneity out of a vacation to the mouse house. Used to be you make a hotel reservation by phone or travel agent, get in the car and drive there and get your tickets and go, show up at City Hall in the morning when you arrive at the park and make reservations for Diamond Horseshoe if that is what you wanted and have fun for the day. Stand in line because fastpasses were not an option yet.
Now it is months/years of hotel decisions, ticket options, dining reservations, stressing because one might not get a particular dining venue on a particular day. Oh, and don't forget the all important fast pass, because NO ONE can wait in line for more than 5 minutes for anything.
I prefer to travel the old fashioned way still, while i do look at wait times on my phone app, the only reason is to decide if I should get a drink or fruit bar before getting in line, or am I going to be there such a short time that I won't finish it before time to ride.

 

[anniemck]

I agree that some people have a sense of entitlement, but in terms of room selection, I think Disney brought some of that on themselves by "stretching" the room categories. For example, when BLT first open, they had third floor rooms categorized as Theme Park View. I know they rectified that now, but when you are paying extra money (or points) for a particular view, you expect that view. There are other examples, such as I have read that some of the Ocean View rooms at Vero do not actually look out on the ocean, but if you are standing on the patio and turn your head you'll see the ocean. I agree that saying "give me the best room" is a bit arrogant, but at least give me what I paid for.

If you can see any of the ocean, even if a glimpse it would be considered ocean view, now if you could sit in your room and see the ocean full on, that is considered ocean FRONT.
Just a tidbit I learned in travel school back in 1987.

 

[dsneygirl]

I don't blame the internet, IMO, we've just become an "entitled" society. DVC certainly has its share of those people.

Personally, I cringe every time I see a thread asking for the "best" room, or the "best view" of the parade or fireworks, etc. Sometimes it seems as though a person's vacation is ruined if they don't get what they believe is the "best" and it's really only the best if it's not available to everyone else, LOL.

Yes totally agree. I see all the time "I want this to be perfect, I want that to be perfect" and it's impossible as so many things are beyond one's control (crowds, weather, where you room is assigned"

 

[bumbershoot]

So many people are showing up with room numbers, maps, etc and DEMANDING that they be given specific rooms or areas.

That has nothing to do with the internet. That sort of thing started the moment people created language. Once the Xerox company came into being it was all over.

And Disney gives us the maps showing various locations, and they don't make us burn them before we checkout.

Whether or not a person "demands" a certain room is on their personality, not the method in which they obtained the maps.



I remember as a child in the later 70s writing away for cruise pamphlets and planning out trips (in great detail) the wonderful trips we would take (with the money we did not have) to see Macchu Picchu and so on. Dang I wish I had kept those materials...

In the '90s I spent HOURS studying Frommers guidebooks at my alma mater's library for my trip to Ireland (who steered me wrong in so many ways, LOL).

My mom in the 1950s used to do the same thing that everyone else in her peer group did with their families (meaning that they talked about it and had plans they followed) of going from Schenectady NY into "the city" to buy their new school clothes and shoes, and have lunch at certain places, etc etc. People talked about the best ways to do those things, and everyone did them.

People have been sharing tips on travel for ages. It's up to each individual what we do with that info.

I agree with this. I have family members who insist on discussing every bad point during their trip (usually saying, "I'm just telling you what happened!") when such things wouldn't even register on my radar after it's occurred.

I think either you log it as a minor annoyance, or it becomes a focal point. Your trip is really all a matter of perspective. No need to stress.

Being a "I'm going to tell you all of what happened" person, and being someone who has lost friends because THEY focused on the negative in my stories, I would HIGHLY recommend you try to focus on the positive they might be telling you. Because they might very well be telling you the whole thing, and you're just missing the positives.

I don't have a large obvious following in my trip reports (scads of views, though), but the people that read and comment often tell me that they appreciate me telling the good AND bad. They are able to see the good and not focus on the bad. They like the honesty.

Also try to be aware if you are cutting them off before they get to the positives, or the funny stuff. I've had that happen too, in person. It makes me appreciate the people in my life who understand me and KNOW that there will be funny stuff coming up, and lessons learned and good stories. So just be sure you're not accidentally causing their stories to be cut off at the negative part. Be sure you're really letting them tell you all of what happened.

 

[minster22]

Sometimes its hard to resist wanting that great room that everyone on here talks about, but my strategy has been to go with the flow because all rooms, views and just travel in general has a lot of magic just built in. I have many stories of this but the last DVC stay started with a couple of nights at Kidani before moving to BW. Our 1st stay we had an unbelievable room , close to the lobby close to the elevator, great animal viewing really loved the whole situation. Of course I am thinking should I make a request, same room? close to the elevator etc and then just decided no, just go with the flow, you never know what the next room will offer up. Well at checkin, how crazy is this, they put us in the exact same room!! It was one of those funny and magical moments you just couldn't ever make happen!! I was so glad I had resisted the urge to try to get the "best"room.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I never request a room because each room offers its own magic.

I've had a room at the BLT Lv that faced the MK and When I watched wishes from there felt it was my own private showing. Fantastic

Another rm at BLT SV 3 floor-direct view of MK ---WOW!! I was cooking dinner one night watching CNBC, sitting in the Living Room watching the monorail go by thinking....this is what WALT was imagining Epcot to be....I felt like I actually lived in Disney....that was beyond magically for me.

BW POOL view 1st floor at quiet pool.... really?? Couldn't we at least get the fun pool? Turns out this was one of our favorite rooms..since it was on the 1st floor we would go out the porch doors to the pool, community hall, picnic tables to eat lunch or dinner and to sit on those nice rockers near the waterway going to DHS. It was also right at the end so we didn't have to walk those long hallways....and I had a great view for 2 nights of the grad nite fireworks from DHS.....what a great surprise!

SV at BW.. loved it cause it was so close to the buses...and so peaceful with the full grown trees shading our balcony.

LV at BLT overlooking the CONT..loved it as it was close to walkway and we got to enjoy things happening at the marina like the pirate cruise....I even picked up a pirate one night

BC Room overlooking the villa's quiet pool...we had a huge balcony right near the elevator...overlooking the waterway...and some beautiful sunsets...very nice

and relaxing..

 

[Granny]

{snip} hope we haven't reached a point where any instance of requesting personalized service is considered "entitlement."

As for other little touches (birthday cards, balloons, anniversary gifts, etc.) some of the expectations are just human nature. When you read about how others have been treated, it's difficult to not expect SOME acknowledgment.

And really that's a challenge Disney must strive to live up to. If they are going to ask incoming guests to log their birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations, Disney should consistently acknowledge those events. Not everyone is going to get a free fireworks cruise. And yes, those who expect such treatment are guilty of "entitlement." But Disney does bear some responsibility to meet guest expectations in a reasonable manner. That's part of the "magic" we're paying for.

Tim...I think you have hit a nice balance between requests and "demands". And the CM's I talked to had no problem doing nice things for guests, but expressed concern that a lot of others would find out something really special and be disappointed if they didn't get the same thing.

By the way, I agree that Disney should do something when they ask what people are celebrating. I guess that's what the buttons are supposed to do. We went once during my daughter's birthday and we were happy to get all the "Happy Birthday" wishes from CM's when they saw her button. We didn't get anything else, and were not disappointed though we knew many others had posted of some amazing things that had been done for them on their birthday.

I would just hate to see Disney pulling back on the really nice things they occasionally do for fear that too many people would find out about it and expect it.

Thanks to all for your comments and insight.