January Boycott of Disney underway.....

[anniet]

Originally posted by GILTPRDSDM
Just for fun I checked out the web site SaveDisney.com. No way is this Roy Disney's site. A 10 yoa kid from Montana could have done a better job wil the set up and contents.

Uh-oh!

Someone better call the LA bizjournals and Reuters!

http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2003/12/08/daily43.html

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Goofyposter
No....actually this IS a "big whoop".

Other directors of equal age were NOT mandated to step down.......ROY had the designation of 'MANGAGEMENT'....and by defination within the board policy....that SHOULD HAVE exempted him from stepping down due to his age.

IN FACT Esiner's GREED and BLOODLUST to RID the company of a member of the Disney family is what lead to Roy's removal!!!!!!!

Bloodlust? Please. Let's see if we can't get a little more over-dramatic about it. That will definately make people sit up and listen.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Planogirl
Hey, maybe we can blame Roy Jr for those things that haven't gone so well too! After all convoluted logic is always available to fit one's views.

Wasn't Roy at the helm of Feature Animation when "Return to Neverland", "Atlantis", and "Treasure Planet" were developed, produced, and released? I think he deserves a LITTLE tweak for those ....

 

[Mr D]

Today was Universal Studios day, never been there before in my life, both parks have a different attitude than Disney.....at USF the CMs are actually nice!

Perhaps a few more should get laid off. If I was snooping for the company it would have been a major red letter day the last time I was at Disney.

 

[Belle041281]

I applaud those trying to do something to get Eisner out and for those of you who feel like boycotting is not going to get the message out wake up and realize that without us "The Disney Freaks" so to speak Eisner or the rest would not have jobs. I have noticed a big change in WDW and how it has really gone down hill and am very dissapointed. I would like Disney to be around for my children to enjoy just the way I have been able to enjoy it but I am afraid unless something changes it won't be.

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Originally posted by Mr D
Today was Universal Studios day, never been there before in my life, both parks have a different attitude than Disney.....at USF the CMs are actually nice!

Perhaps a few more should get laid off. If I was snooping for the company it would have been a major red letter day the last time I was at Disney.

You must have gone on a good day, every time that I've been I've always encountered rude CM's there with no personality.

 

[Planogirl]

Originally posted by Mr D
Today was Universal Studios day, never been there before in my life, both parks have a different attitude than Disney.....at USF the CMs are actually nice!

Perhaps a few more should get laid off. If I was snooping for the company it would have been a major red letter day the last time I was at Disney.

I'm glad that you ran into nice employees at USF. We did too but I've heard that US hired a lot of the CM's that were laid off. I just wonder how many of the nice ones used to work for Disney? And maybe that includes Management?

Wasn't Roy at the helm of Feature Animation when "Return to Neverland", "Atlantis", and "Treasure Planet" were developed, produced, and released? I think he deserves a LITTLE tweak for those ....

True, except I think that Treasure Planet deserved better. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad either.

Well, whoever is to blame, it simply isn't working most of the time!

 

[Mr D]

I definately back up my statements of the cast members being more polite at USF than the ones at WDW, difference though being that WDW had more senior citizens and of course they were of the most professional and courteous stature, in other words great people (at WDW) but yes the Twister ride is very much still at USF, went on it and everything else with my 9 year old son, he was absolutely thrilled with Jimmy Neutron! Twister really scared him though, Earthquake seemed neat but really outdated, they need to modernize it somehow, and Jaws need to have a review of a sorts in keeping the "illusion" real, the wrecked boat was terribly grimy, something should be changed as its all too obvious its been there forever, but Joey really loved it. Overall I think USF and IOA is a definate winner, they just have a fresher ambience, WDW seems like its stuck in a time warp...ESPECIALLY at EPCOT! where its like going back in time 30 years, everything seems so outdated. Its so hard trying to justify spending over $50 just to go see "one" new ride at EPCOT (M:S) I know its new and it may be two years before I return from Alaska again but in all repect and reality Disney has no magnetism, no "whoopie" no "WOW".

Fundamentally this is a problem that needs immediate attention, there should be more emphasis on "teasers" of future attractions, like the new one at DAK, Walt used to do that over 40 years ago on Its a Wonderfull World, he would do a progress report on current affairs and future ones. Why can't Eisner do that? so stupid to think he can run Disney like a dictator, really thats what it is, like a drug lord, argue you get "removed".

I think when he eventuall does leave he is gonna buy a third world country, criminy he can definately afford it

I can't really find faults at Universal, its like they got it right, the only reason Disney gets all the bucks is because they have the "name" hopefully Universal can get whatever ownership bugs worked out, they got the spirit Disney lost (maybe it IS the CM's after all.... )

 

[RickinNYC]

Originally posted by DawnCt
I don't think that it was wise for Disney to make the cuts that they did, despite "difficult economic times". They suffered in terms of customer loyalty. When I spend my hard earned discretionary income on vacation, I don't want to hear that hours are being cut, restaurants are closed and services are being cut because income is down. The cruise industry didn't cut back, they cut prices, they filled their ships and the business now is more than "afloat". I found that is where we get the biggest bang for the buck. They have built newer and bigger ships, increased service and have cut prices so they are nothing but attractive.
The same is true of other destinations. We were able to get great hotel rates when Hawaii's economy was down. They didn't send the help home and close restaurants. They provided a service at an enticing price. Eisner has squandered enough money on his pay offs for people he couldn't get along with and have placed that burden on the theme park visitors. He should have allowed enough cushion to maintain the level of services that long terms guests were accustomed to. He didn't and he has lost some formerly loyal guests for quite a while.

I'm sorry but can I remind you and everyone else that Walt Disney World, while cutting back on hours an hour here or there, or God forbid close a counter service restaurant that is underused during the offseason, offered the Fairy Tale Package? Did you and everyone else forget? Was I the only one to get such an amazing deal????

They did exactly what the other tourist industry companies did. In order to bring in guests and fill their parks and resort rooms, they CUT BACK the prices.

As for not offering anything new or enticing to the guests, I guess the following don't count at all do they:

Mission: Space
Mickey's Philharmagic
the addition of Nemo to the Living Seas
the Wishes fireworks show
the creation of the new auto stunt show at the studios
the building of Expedition: Everest at AK
Soaring Over California at Epcot
the opening of Pop Century
the building of the Saratoga Springs resort
the renovation of Port Orleans French Quarter
the renovation of the World of Disney store and the addition of Once Upon A Toy in the marketplace

I can go on and on and on with this list. Rather than moaning and comlaining that Disney has forgotten the guests, sit back and really take a look at what they've done in the past few years. They are doing everything they can to keep their guests happy. Without guests, there is no Disney World or Disneyland.

You don't think they know that? Are you for real?

Is this slamming anyone that agrees with the poster. Heck no. But WAKE UP! The entire Disney corporation is losing money and they are doing what is economically feasible and rational to maintain what quality they can afford. And I want to stress that I intentionally used the word CORPORATION. Say it with me folks. C-O-R-P-O-R-A-T-I-O-N! They are a business that operates with the almight dollar. They MANUFACTURE pixie dust and magical dreams. They don't operate with it for cryin' out loud.

 

[anniet]

I know I'm splitting hairs here, and I somewhat agree with most of what you posted, but your list including Saratoga Springs Resorts is problematic.

Disney Resort Guests aren't really getting anything there. DVC is a BIG BIG moneymaker for Disney however DVC members are constantly reminded that the two (DVC and Disney) are seperate entities- especially when looking for park discounts or trying to book at Disney resorts or DCL with DVC points.

While I do appreciate the fact that Saratoga Springs is being built remember it is replacing Disney Institute that failed miserably with what they know is a sure moneymaker.

 

[RickinNYC]

Originally posted by anniet
While I do appreciate the fact that Saratoga Springs is being built remember it is replacing Disney Institute that failed miserably with what they know is a sure moneymaker.

I fail to see where there is a problem with this. The Disney Institute was a flop, plain and simple, you are correct. That said, why wouldn't they close it, renovate it and reopen it in what you said is a BIG, BIG money maker.

DVC notwithstanding, non members are still allowed to rent points or to even stay at any DVC resort as a guest.

My point is that Disney is doing what it can for guests.

Have to also agree that you are indeed splitting hairs.

 

[MasterGracy]

Once upon a time there was a wonderful king who dreamed of building a beautiful kingdom where everything was good. With a little bit of magic, a lot of hard work, and the help of some very smart and talented servants, the wonderful king finally built his beautiful kingdom. The kingdom was full of fairies and dragons, lovely princesses, ghosts, flying elephants and talking animals. There were mermaids and pirates, race cars and submarines, mad tea parties and missions to mars. Everything sparkled. People came from all around to see the beautiful kingdom that the wonderful king and his good servants had built. Everything was clean. Few people ever got hurt. Everyone was happy. Servants served with glee. People who visited the kingdom were treated as honored guests and did not ever want to leave. Everywhere was joy and happiness, the smell of goodies and the memories of childhood.

After the king died, new kings came along. They weren't as wonderful as the first king, but they were good and protected the kingdom. The beautiful kingdom started to get bigger and bigger, and the good kings realized that they could not rule all alone to keep the first king's dreams alive. So the good kings allowed the people to share in the reign of the beautiful kingdom by investing their money in it as shareholders. There were some hard times in the kingdom, but the good kings and their servants made everything better. More and more people came to visit the kingdom because it made them happy to be there and the kingdom got better every day.

But then one day a new king, the Eisnermeister, came who did not know the wonderful first king or his dream. He learned a little bit about the dream, and in the beginning it seemed that he would be a good king like the others before him. He did many good deeds for the people and he expanded the beautiful kingdom even more and made it better. He even enforced equal rights for his servants. But as time went on, the new king didn't want everyone to be happy all the time. He became selfish and did not want anyone else to rule the beautiful kingdom with him. The Eisnermeister wanted to rule it all by himself without anyone helping or telling him what to do. He did not think it was right that money from the royal treasury should be used to pay good salaries to his servants, or to be spent to keep the kingdom clean and safe. He thought that he should have all the money in the royal treasury for himself because he was the king. the king did not want to be king any more. He wanted to be Emperor, and he studied the ways of Hitler and Stalin and Castro.

The Eisnermeister also did not think that it was important for guests in the beautiful kingdom to be treated special, so he began to hire servants who were just like him, who did not like people and were not as happy and gleeful as the original servants. The king wanted more and more money for his treasury, and he became mean and ugly and threatened everybody. The guests became sad. The ghosts and fairies got bored. The submarines sailed away and never came back. The princesses became spoiled children who talked rudely to their parents and wore clothes that made them look like sluts. The king built many new things in the kingdom at very low prices, and the sparkle of the kingdom became cheap and gawdy looking. The beautiful kingdom was not beautiful any more.

Then the good servants who remembered the wonderful king and his dream started to tell everyone how horrible the Eisnermeister was. They warned everyone that if the Eisnermeister did not leave the kingdom, the wonderful first king's dream would be lost forever. The Eisnermeister did not like this. He transformed into a great monster and banished those good servants from the kingdom. Even the relatives of the first wonderful king were not safe from the Eisnermeister's great wrath.

Many guests to the kingdom liked the mean Eisnermeister and agreed that he should have all the money. They did not believe in the dream. Some guests cared a little about the wonderful king's dream, but they didn't care enough about what the Eisnermeister did. But some guests missed the wonderful king and his dream. They missed the days when the kingdom was beautiful and the servants were happy and nice and cared about people. So the good guests, with the help of the good servants who were banished, and the good servants who still secretly served in the kingdom (for they could not let the Eisnermeister and the bad servants know that there was still some good left in the kingdom), and all who loved the beautiful kingdom, decided to save it from the evil Eisnermeister. They began to tell other guests not to give their money to the wicked Eisnermeister, that they should fight against him and convince him that he must leave the kingdom. Some people who cared agreed. But many laughed and said the king was too powerful, that any resistance was futile.

Then all the fairies and magical creatures in the kingdom put a curse on the evil, wicked monster, the Eisnermeister, and he had a massive coronary and dropped dead, leaving all the money in the treasury to restore the beautiful kingdom. The beautiful kingdom was saved. All the bad servants were kicked out of the kingdom and all the banished good servants returned. More servants were hired to make the kingdom clean and safe again. The fairies and talking animals danced for joy. The princesses covered their naked bossoms. The kingdom sparkled again with lights and magic. The bad guests remained as their miserable old selves, but the good guests and the good servants lit the fireworks and celebrated throughout the beautiful kingdom. And they all lived happily ever after. The End.

 

[RickinNYC]

double post. sorry

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Mr D
I can't really find faults at Universal, its like they got it right, the only reason Disney gets all the bucks is because they have the "name" hopefully Universal can get whatever ownership bugs worked out, they got the spirit Disney lost (maybe it IS the CM's after all.... )

I wonder if part of the reason you so enjoyed Universal is that you'd never been there before, so EVERYTHING was new and fresh and exciting.

That's not to say that things aren't wrong at Disney, but you've been to Disney again and again, and have seen things change and have seen things get worse, in your eyes, and so you're totally disillusioned with Disney.

Then, you walk into Universal where everything is new to you. So of course it's better. There's absolutely nothing there that you can go on and say, "This used to be better." There's nothing you can visit and think, "I liked this before they changed it." I'll bet that you walk into WDW looking to find things that are wrong; waiting for Disney to match your expectations from years of visits. On the flip side, you probably walked into Universal with no expectations at all, so it was pretty easy to bowl you over.

Just a thought ...

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
I wonder if part of the reason you so enjoyed Universal is that you'd never been there before, so EVERYTHING was new and fresh and exciting.

That's not to say that things aren't wrong at Disney, but you've been to Disney again and again, and have seen things change and have seen things get worse, in your eyes, and so you're totally disillusioned with Disney.

Then, you walk into Universal where everything is new to you. So of course it's better. There's absolutely nothing there that you can go on and say, "This used to be better." There's nothing you can visit and think, "I liked this before they changed it." I'll bet that you walk into WDW looking to find things that are wrong; waiting for Disney to match your expectations from years of visits. On the flip side, you probably walked into Universal with no expectations at all, so it was pretty easy to bowl you over.

Just a thought ...

My thoughts exactly. I could get into the whole Disney vs Universal debate, but that isn't the main topic here.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by MasterGracy
... and he studied the ways of Hitler and Stalin and Castro.

Look ... whatever you perceive the "Eisnermeister" has done, show me how that even remotely relates to how Hitler, Stalin or Castro ruled. Let's not trivialize the Holocaust or a world war by putting them into a silly fairy tale about a theme park. That just shows incredibly bad taste. And I'll bet even the original king and his nephew would agree.

(Sorry ... it just hit a nerve ... it's a THEME PARK for goodness sake!)

 

[Mr D]

That was a wonderful fairy tale...

BUT, unfortunately it aptly describes the whole kitten n' kaboodle. I really liked it, and do not let these "new" posters sway your opinions.


I sorta took the day off but did go over to Old Towne, rode the G-Force with my son, man thats a blast! We don't have the bravery yet for the mega soarin' thing. Now I've been to IOA twice now and we are going back again tomorrow, how soon do we get jaded, cynical and bitter? 3rd or 4th trip? Or do I have to get a job at Disney first and live my life under the employment conditioning contract? geejus, get a life folks. I work hard in Arctic conditions driving a concrete mixer 9 months out of the year plus being a plant engineer, it pays pretty darn good as most folks coming up from the lower 48 wash out trying to cut it, me I've been doing it for 12 years, nya
I can afford to rent a house for four weeks and go where I want to go.

Yes, USF is new to me, but so was WDW two years ago.
That was the first time in my life to visit back in dec. 2001 and right from the start it was noticeable from the "who cares" attitutude of the CMs in the parking lot to the ticket seller rolling his eyes and giving me the feeling like "so what if its expensive, what you gonna do about it?" on to the clerk at the watch store that had a kajillion cheapo watches and just a handful of batteries, none that would work on my Citizen and could care less unless I bought a chinese Mickey watch. And the notables, like a certain one that i cannot name where he works that was telling me about the working conditions of constantly being appraised and often spied upon by security posing as tourists, but there were gems amongst the gravel, notably all the senior citizens were exceptionally polite and helpful. Maybe thats whats needed, fire everyone under 50 years of age!

Anyhow, I'm off to IOA agin tomorrow, have yet to see the Sinbad show or ride Bluto's barges, Disney isn't going anywhere and that has multiple meanings.

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Originally posted by Mr D
Anyhow, I'm off to IOA agin tomorrow, have yet to see the Sinbad show or ride Bluto's barges, Disney isn't going anywhere and that has multiple meanings.

And Universal is going place also. What's that? They haven't had any major additions since 1999 when IOA opened? What's that? They just sold the huge parcel of land next to IOA and RPH, so there goes any future hopes for a third gate?

I think its great that you are having a wonderful time in Universal, and that you would let a few random CM's at Disney ruin your overall experience. For me the overall experience at Universal is horrible, I just don't get the same "immersive" time at Universal then I do at Disney. Call me crazy, but I actually don't like going on rides and being able to see the backstage areas or the outside world... sorry Universal.

 

[MasterGracy]

If your only focus on Hitler and Stalin is the Holocaust, you've missed about 95% of the history of their reigns. The aspect of their reigns, as pertains to my little story, is their greed for totalitarian dictatorship, which my making mention of is far from bad taste, and which is hardly trivial. If the entire Disney empire is merely "an amusement park" to you, then the entire debate is totally lost on you.

There's always one in the bunch.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by MasterGracy If the entire Disney empire is merely "an amusement park" to you, then the entire debate is totally lost on you.

I said theme park, not amusement park. There's a difference. If you're going to criticize a comment, at least quote me accurately. And, your fairy tale seemed to focus on the parks, unless there are other areas of the kingdom that sport "mermaids and pirates, race cars and submarines, mad tea parties and missions to mars." Your focus was on the parks, hence was mine in my comments.

Originally posted by MasterGracy There's always one in the bunch.

Yes. Yes, there is.