Just back from Christmas visit and it was still "Magic"

[tednvon]

Hello, I am a frequent flyer on the info boards for places to stay, and stuff that a 30 + visitor to Disney can help others with. I watch this board as I feel the really knowlegable folks about Disney insider info hang out here. I would just like to say that our trip to WDW last week was wonderful. I know that Eisner and other stuff at the top level continues to be in a state of flux, but the day to day operations at the parks were wonderful. The Parades, the Fireworks, Christmas around the world, the beautiful decorations in the Deluxe Resorts, the staff most everywhere was just excellent. Someone, somewhere is still doing a great job with what makes these parks so special. I did notice a light bulb here and there, but I saw no real drop in the fantastic day to day interaction with guests. I did have to wait for dinner reservations at times as the operators were very busy, but that was about it. I admit I did not look for problems

Just a note to say it is still a magical place and the people who work there are extra special in thier committment to making the guests feel welcome. ..Grandpa, Ted

 

[lodgelady]

Thanks for sharing your glad tidings of the season! Glad you enjoyed your vacation

 

[dzneelvr]

I'm with you!!
All I can say for those who seem to delight in counting the number of light bulbs that are out is " are you part of the problem or part of the solution?"
I know from personal experience that complaining adults can bring a level of morale and emotion down, down, down, so that others are now going to do their own "negative sorts".

Choose to be positive, look for the wonder and emotion of being with family and friends in a magical place instead of trying to connect how the piece of wrapper lying on the street directly impacts whether the company is sold and when.

Your kids watch and listen to what they hear you do and say. Do you want to ruin their view of the parks around them?

Jeez--haven't we got enought real threat and risk going on right now. Why find it in WDW??

 

[Michael623]

I remember a thread a few months back about people holding Disney to a higher standard. I think that is the issue. Folks might want to stop looking for every nit-picky thing and focus on enjoying their vacation. Honestly.

 

[mitros]

I think what a lot of these people are saying is that they vividly remember a time when you did not see a burned out light bulb or disgusting restrooms, or peeling paint in a lot of places, and trash where you never saw trash before. Disney always DID pride itself in the way they did things, and that seems to be slipping away. Granted, the theme parks are not crumbling down around us {yet} but someone needs to be sure that does not happen. It's the little things that snowball into an avalance.

 

[DisLUV]

Well said mitros.

I personally have never had a bad time in the world. I like other people do not go looking the the light bulbs and the paint but it is because I dont get to go that often and when I do I am in an "I LOVE BEING HERE FOG". But I do agree that little things can cause bigger problems.

I am not a people watcher. It is boring to me. But give me a seat, at sundown, as the park is closing in DEC, by the emporium with a ice cream cone and I am in HEAVEN. I can sit there and just take it all in. I can do that anywhere else except there!

 

[WDWHound]

Many of my posts here focus on the negative aspects of the changes made rearding the parks, but that doesn't mean I dont love to visit them, In fact, we have a trip planned for December of this year. The reason I and many others post about cutbacks and lowering of standards is that we want to sound the alarm before the parks slide into mediocrity. The parks are still a magical experience, but if the cutbacks are allowed to continue the will come a point one day when they will no longer be so.

Do I hold Disney to a higher standard? You bet I do! Thats because Disney used to hold itself to higher standard and the result was parks that no other company could even come close to competing with. In the last 5 years, cutbacks have begun the gradual process of nibbling away at that lead. A lot of that lead has already been lost, especially in Disneyland. Visit Tomorrowland in Disneyland if you want to understand what can happen if cutbacks are allowed to continue. It is a true adventure in mediocrity with most of its former rides shuttered. I want to speak up before this happens to all of the parks.

You would have a hard time finding a bigger Disney park fan than myself. I study history of the parks and the design of the attractions. I have read every book about imagineering I can find. I love the creativity and imagination involved in creating the parks and designig new attractions. I post what I do here not becuase I like to be negative, but because I want to protect something I love that I feel may be at risk very soon.

I now step off my soap box and take my seat in car #3, being sure to slide all the way to the left so that those behind me may be seated.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Hi WDWHound,

Which book (or books) would you recommend for someone just starting to get into the history of the parks and rides?

Thanks!

CD

 

[JimB.]

CarnotaurDad -

Try the book "Vinyl Leaves" by Kenneth Fjellman.

It's not a "picture book" & reads like a doctoral thesis, but is a very good account of the development of WDW & the philososphies & impacts it has had.

Easy to find with a google search.

 

[WDWHound]

Before I get to the books, there a a couple of other resources you should consider. In my opinion, every Disney park history fan should subscribe to E-Ticket Magazine. Its a small, quarterly magazine that contains some of the the most thoroughly written and well researched articles on Disney attractions available anywhere. Back issues are also available, some in print form, some on CD Rom. Here is a link to their site: http://www.the-e-ticket.com/

Also, be sure to check out Bob Gurr's web column, Designer Times. Bob was one of the orignal Imagineers. He designed the Omnimover (best known as the Doom Buggy in the Haunted Mansion), the first monorails, the Autopia cars and just about everything else that moved in the parks. He has been writing the column monthly since May of 2000, so there is a lot to read. Here is a link to a list of all his columns (I suggest you start from the bottom of the list and work your way to the top) :http://www.laughingplace.com/News-Previous-C-GURR.asp

There are several good books out there, though some are a bit pricey.

Far and away the best book on Disney park history is "The Nickle Tour" by two imagineers, Bruce Gordan and David Mumford (who died last year). This book looks at each attraction from Disneyland's opening day till approx 4 years ago and contains more information and inside stories than any other book I have seen . It also contains a picture of just about every postcard ever sold at Disneyland. If you buy no other book on the Disney parks this is the one to own. Amazon has it.

"Walt Disney Imagineering", written by the Imagineers, is a great overview into the imagineering process. It also contains some great photos of models and prototype used in designing attractions. I found the sections on Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Tower of Terror and Epcot to be particularly interesting. Amazon has it.

"Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art of the Show" by John Hench (one of the original Imagineers) is a new book that talks a great deal about the Imagineering process. I just got my copy, so I haven't gotten to far into it, but I like what I have seen so far. Again, Amazon has it.

"Designing Disney's Theme Parks : The Architecture of Reassurance" is another very good book about the process of designing a Disney park. The book was originally a companion piece to an amazing travelling museum exhibition (I spent six hour in Dallas mesmorized by the exhibition) which has since ended its tour. Amazon has this one too.

On last place I recommend with a bit of a reservation. At one time, the premier Disney history mag was Persistance of Vision. These were incredibly well done mags (each was almost a book in itself. usually around 100 pages). However, 3 years ago, the editor just stopped publishing (always promising the next issue would be ready in "6 months"). I DO NOT recommend that you subscribe to this magazine, as I you will most likely never receive anything for your money. However, back issues are available. I highly recommend the Worlds Fair issue (double issue #6/7) and the Haunted Mansion issue (issue #9). I would contact Paul Anderson, the editor of PoV, before ordering however to be sure these issues are still available. Here is a link to the PoV wab site back issues page: http://www.disneypov.com/backissue.html

That should be enough to keep you busy for awhile. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

[manning]

More and more people today don't know what high standards are!

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Thanks for the replys.....I look forward to learning more about the history of Disney.....I find it very fascinating.

 

[donald@home]

"More and more people today don't know what high standards are!"

Good point!

 

[mitros]

I would just like to clarify one point. You said that we should not subscribe to Persistence of Vision since the publisher stopped publishing 3 years ago, and we would not get anything for our money. But then you say that back issues are available. If these back issues are from this same guy that stopped publishing, would we not run the same risk of sending our money in and not getting the back issues? If this guy takes your money,and never gives you anything, what makes you think that if you send him any money that he would send you any of these back issues?

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by mitros
If this guy takes your money,and never gives you anything, what makes you think that if you send him any money that he would send you any of these back issues?

Because he has done so for me in the past. I have ordered both the back issues I mentioned here and took delivery in approx 2 weeks. Mr Anderson still believes that he will publish more issues again, or it least he did last time I e-mailed him, which is why he was still accepting subscriptions. I don't agree with his accessment, which is I why I don't recommend subscribing, but I have found him to relaibly fill orders for back issues he has in stock. I can understand your concern however. Most PoV issues are available on e-bay if you would prefer to go that route.