Is there still a Disney Difference?

[vicki_c]

*
Hey Vicki C!

Yes I know. My bad. LOL! I just seem within the last 3 - 5 years there has even been more of a decline! LOL! But we still go. We have annual passes. We do think that Disney is in a major need of renovation and a real Disney Difference. I have been reading this board since 2004 and I have never seen so many complaints in the last 2 years on this board! I'm just trying to get a so called survey or input from people on this forum. But as I said earlier we still love Disney! Thank goodness for the annual passes!

I don't fall in the decline camp myself. They have yet to change or remove anything too earth shattering for me. Except for maybe the French Toast Loaf at the Main St. bakery. I considered canceling my AP in protest. Obviously you're free to ask whatever you want, but it just seems to end up being a #%^*#fest with people arguing. I'm more the Pollyanna type.

 

[brunette8706]

I don't fall in the decline camp myself. They have yet to change or remove anything too earth shattering for me. Except for maybe the French Toast Loaf at the Main St. bakery. I considered canceling my AP in protest. Obviously you're free to ask whatever you want, but it just seems to end up being a #%^*#fest with people arguing. I'm more the Pollyanna type.

*
I hear ya! That's your right! You're an oldie but goodie!

Brunette

 

[andyman8]

That'll just be one less person in line in front of me and my family.

I'm not trying to point you out at all or anything, but I just wonder why this is such a popular phrase on the DIS?

Anyways, everyone is entitled to their own opinions I guess. As stated in a previous thread, people need to learn to pick their battles.

 

[larryz]

Hey Disers!!

With the downgrade of the Disney Dining Plan, not opening another 5th park, attractions that are in need of repair, Attractions, especially in the Hollywood Studios, that are dated. Tickets and restaurant prices that are skyrocketing. The monorail system that is consistently failing and more frequently if I may add, do you still feel that Disney continues to set the standard for the "Disney Difference"?

Feel free to give examples of recent visits to support your point of view!

I personally think Disney needs to re-evaluate the attractions, the monorail, and the dining experience.

What do you think?

Brunette

All you have to do is visit a Sux Flags park. The difference is night and day.

 

[richard39]

Have you been to another theme park recently? We went to six flags last week and it was HORRIBLE!!!! If you have been to Disney - noting else compares.
- long boring ride waits with nothing nice to look at.
- a long walk from the parking lot
- food service was awful! There was only cafeteria style food. The same thing offered at every station. No place to sit
- food Was not edible, at all. It was served cold and it was nasty. Took forever to get our order. No one knew what they were doing.
- it was very expensive for gross food
- bees everywhere attacking you when you tried to throw out anything
- DIRTY!!!!! A noticeable difference of cleanliness

I am sure that there was more things that drove me insane, but wanted to weigh in on how different the experience was from Disney.

This was very well said, Six flags, there is nothing els eon this earth that compares to Disney all 4 parks and 2 water parks are far and above everything else

if you don't like the dining plan simply don't do it rent a car and go outside of Disney and eat its quite simple... a few maintence issues and the park is going to Sh*t get over it go some place else if you don't like it nothing in life is perfect all the time but Disney is pretty close to it though

 

[jamelynn24]

All you have to do is visit a Sux Flags park. The difference is night and day.

Wow, you're not kidding!! Our Six Flags in Chicago has 'The Cleanest Theme Park in the Country' plastered all over the park. It's definitely cleaner than 10 years ago, that's for sure, but NO WAY is it cleaner than WDW.
When we got to SF this year, at least 5 rides were down for whatever reason and it wasn't even raining. They send out the coasters half empty because they don't have an attendant telling people where to sit. Wonder if they will ever take a lesson from Disney?!?!

 

[Arsenal1982]

Disney is amazing, always will be! Still enjoy going every year...

 

[eacosper]

I love Disney so much that I got married there. Sure there are a few things here or there that are 'old', but they don't bother me!

Disney is my happy place and if it's not yours then don't go. I don't need unhappy people in my safe haven.

 

[FloridaDreaming]

I love Disney so much that I got married there. Sure there are a few things here or there that are 'old', but they don't bother me!

Disney is my happy place and if it's not yours then don't go. I don't need unhappy people in my safe haven.

We got married there, too! This past February at the Boardwalk. Wasn't it wonderful? I miss my wedding.

 

[DisMouse]

I believe in the Disney Difference because I still feel it when we are there. When I walk down Main Street and smell popcorn. When I'm getting ready to ride Pirates of the Caribbean. When I hear the entrance music at Epcot. When I'm doing the wave during the Fantasmic preshow. And when I'm wiping away tear during Illuminations or Wishes. So, in my own personal opinion, as long as I'm still giddy as a little kid when I'm there, I'll continue to happily give them my money. And because I think that they are working on new ideas. Sure, they'll take time. But that's okay because I still plan on being a Disney addict for many years to come.

After reading all the responses I found this one to really touch my heart. Let me start off by saying that I'm glad you still love the Disney parks and you're not fed up to the point of never returning. However many people forget that Disney doesn't just run on Pixie Dust. Humans do make mistakes, too (but I'm sure you know that. Everyone does ). Occasionally Disney Imagineers will make an attraction, live performance, or something to add into the parks that will generally not "sit well" with park guests. Personally for me I have a small list of things I wish Disney would tweak or completely change/update but that is normal because mistakes will happen.

But you can't deny that Disney still holds a difference among the other parks (whether in Florida or acros the globe). There's something about walking down Main Street, U.S.A. and seeing the castle in the distance, eating some of the best food/snacks that are only available in the park, seeing magical and heartfelt shows like Wishes, Dream Along with Mickey, Fantasmic! Cinderella's Surprise Celebration, and many others, and just being in a world where you don't have to worry about every day things like work, school, friends, etc.

Whenever I pass the "gate" when driving into the Walt Disney World area I just instantly smile. Disney does a great job at trying its best at keeping up to date with todays generation's interests while maintaining some of the great classics we've all grown to love like seeing Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and so on.

Just as someone else said, I went to Six Flags Great Adventure earlier this summer and I found myself comparing many things to Disney World. Sometimes I was being biast, but seeing the same exact sorcerer hat that Mickey wears, but with Bugs Bunny ears instead, seeing how dirty many of the dining and attraction areas were, and leaving the park with no show, fireworks, or something "special" makes me wish I could be at the Magic Kingdom or seeing Fantasmic!

 

[prfctlyximprfct]

Such negativity on this board!! I think when something goes wrong people like to vent about it and they all come here!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Laketravis]

Tonight we just got back from 4 days in Vegas. Day after tomorrow, we are spending three days at Six Flags over Texas in Arlington.

We spent $2K in Vegas. We'll spend $500 at Six Flags but that doesn't count the season passes, hotel room paid for with credit card points, etc.

Disney is still the best value dollar-wise. They have some work to do, that's for sure, but the overall experience they provide is better than a Vegas show and the dinner buffet at Belagio - the best that Vegas has to offer.

Six Flags over Texas has better coasters and thrill rides that my 6 year old can ride, and he loves them, but again - that experience is over by 6 or 7pm and is only a few hundred yards from the parking lot. Even he can see that, and Disney is much more of an experience even if the thrills are less.

For now, my money is still on Disney. They still hold the advantage when it comes to bang per buck.

 

[sammielynn]

I think there are more complaints because our society has become a group of entitlement freaks. Everyone feels they are entitled to anything and everything they want. They don't want to stake out a place for a parade, but they are entitled to step in front of you and your family. They are entitled to free stuff and free perks at Disney if the magic is is off just a tad. You name it and someone feels like they are entitled to it. And when you don't get what you feel is due you or someone's entitlement steps on your toes, bang, it's on the boards up for discussion. Yep, our entitled society has made the Disney Difference hard to see.

 

[DisMouse]

I realized my post sounded a little harsh. I don't have children so it is just me and my boyfriend but here is my Disney Difference!

Having 100s of CMs tell you Happy Birthday when you are wearing a birthday pin
Bringing out special desserts for your birthday, anniversary, anything
Seeing children's eyes light up when they finally get to meet the princesses
Watching my little cousin getting revealed after her make over at BBB
Just being in the environment! There could be half as many rides and I would still just love being there.
Acting like a child even though I am 27 before I meet a character
Snow on Main Street in December in Florida!!
Being able to eat dessert with my every meal!

I can definitely recall when I went to Disney during the time where you entered the park for free on your birthday. It was a little weird at first for me (because I'm not used to having complete strangers just call out my name and shout "Happy Birthday!") but while I walked around and continued on with my day I was so happy.

Also, going on with your statement on being in the environment, I have never seen another park that as so much more to it than just an amusement park. What other park is there that has hidden references to it's contributors that have made the park what it is today, a chance to sleep inside the castle (Cinderella's Castle), detailed imagineering from waiting in line to riding the attraction, a fireworks display every night with lights, lasers, and Tinker Bell flying over, and so much more.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't see the need for a 5th park. I usually go for 6 nights and have plenty to do with what is there. I'd rather see improvements to the current parks.

It seems like people always focus on the negative. Like DVC members complain about perks being taken away but forget about new perks. The $149 AP discount is huge and wasn't there when I joined in 1999.

Recent improvements or projects underway at WDW:

New Fantasyland
New DVC resorts (BLT, GFV) - when I joined in 1999 there were 2, now there are 7 with an 8th under construction
AP discounts on merchandise
Addition of AoA
Remake of Test Track coming soon
Additions to AK ready to get started
Rumored changes to DHS

 

[capecodprincess]

I love Disney. Always have always will. Ever company goes through ups and downs and Disney has and will go through them too (look at the not so good movies created towards the end of Eisner.). But I stop to wonder (and I love the disboards so I'm not hating) but have informational websites like the dis given us information overload so that we've become over analytical and critical about Disney? We can hop on the Internet and learn so many of the secrets of Disney magic. Like any magic show once the secret is out, it is still cool but it looses a little magic. They are spoiler alerts after all and do just that. But go and stay at your average days inn, visit a six flags and then book a trip, without, dare I say, turning to the awesome board for all of your planning, and you will see that the Disney difference and the magic is still there. In fact, as a hotel manager, I train my staff on the Disney model of service every day.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[wendylovesdisney]

Compared to other parks... Disney still rules. Compared to the way it used to be though... There HAS been a decline.
I know people can say if you look for bad you'll find it, but the reality is there is a difference from the Disney of the past. However, I love it, and I'll continue to go.

 

[CampbellScot]

I think there are more complaints because our society has become a group of entitlement freaks. Everyone feels they are entitled to anything and everything they want. They don't want to stake out a place for a parade, but they are entitled to step in front of you and your family. They are entitled to free stuff and free perks at Disney if the magic is is off just a tad. You name it and someone feels like they are entitled to it. And when you don't get what you feel is due you or someone's entitlement steps on your toes, bang, it's on the boards up for discussion. Yep, our entitled society has made the Disney Difference hard to see.

YES. Thank you.

if you look for the bad you will surely find it.

that Pollyanna sure does have some great quotes!!!

 

[mjr0483]

I am at WDW not and I am less then satisfied with this trip. The cost cutting is really starting to impact customer experience for us.

We came in a day early and stayed at a Fairfield Inn. The room was new, super clean and bright. It makes 3 times the cost Beach Club Villas studio look dingy.

I never heard of a problem with monorail maintenance until this trip. The first day exiting the MK the express was broken down and they made us go over to the resort which also then broke down. Then again tonight another break down on the EPCOT line. Each time causing hour plus delays.

We have begun to branch out our vacation dollars. We purchased Sesame Place season passes which we also used once already to go to Sea World and Busch Gardens VA which is an awesome park. We are going back to Sea World this trip and going to try Busch Gardens Tampa and also have Discovery Cove booked. In addition to that we are also planning a Kennedy Space Center day.

Watch out Disney, we have started spending our vacation budget elsewhere!

 

[SashaFarce]

I think continually expecting things to stay static and not evolve or otherwise change is a problem that people not only have in regards to the parks but in life as well. I don't expect the company to stick to the same ideas and themes that a guy who has been cryogenically frozen with drunken pirates for 40+ years once upheld. I also think that as the cost of everything rises, and I feel the crunch, Disney is feeling the crunch too.

To memory I've never seen anything in the parks so unforgivably terrible that it has scrubbed the good out of my trip. I've seen people on here say that refurbs on Main Street or the presence of the sorcerer's hat absolutely ruins their trip, as well as people saying Disney hates families. I think those people should get over themselves or find a vacation that meets their standards. Preferably both.

In the end, it's your dollar. If you feel you're not getting your money's worth, there are other trips.