GadgetRick
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2000
- Messages
- 654
So my family and I go to Disney (at least) once a year. We just got back from a trip down to celebrate my birthday. We knew it would be hot as it's in August. We knew we'd have some rain as well. We did get both but it didn't really bother us too much. Just took it slower than usual and welcomed the rain every day as it cooled things off for a little while.
Anyway, there have been a lot of threads lately about how Disney has been changing (for the worse) and how customer service is lacking, etc. I must say, after this trip, I agree with these people more than I used to! This was the first time I've ever been disappointed with Disney as a whole. Don't get me wrong, we still had a great time but there were a lot of things which I noticed this time which really makes me shake my head...
-Refurbishments--ok, I get it. Things need to be refurbished. However, it seemed every time you turned a corner, there were more of those walls in front of a shop, attraction, etc. with signs apologizing for it. I must say, it really ruined the illusion this time. Just too much going on at one time. At the same time, I noticed (for the first time) many things broken, needing paint, etc. Never noticed that much of this sort of thing before. Depressing.
-Mr. Clean--again, never noticed trash bins almost full/overflowing and other things before. Noticed them this time. Saw my first disgusting Disney bathroom I've ever seen. We've made about 50 trips to Disney and I never had seen this before.
-Food is really getting bad--I've been very vocal about how the dining plans have ruined the food throughout Disney. It just gets worse and worse. We don't do the plan--we stay at Bonnet Creek anyway--and I must say, I find myself eating on property less and less each time because the food is just getting so bad. Made reservations at the 50s Prime Time Cafe, had eaten there in the past and enjoyed it and enjoyed the food. This time, we got an ok server but he seemed quite disinterested in playing the game (you know, part of what you're paying for eating there). The food was terribly sub-par. I had the fried chicken--one of the things they're supposed to be known for--it was dry and just not all that great. They give you a tiny helping of mashed potatoes with it. Cost was something like $15 or $16. A bit much for a little chicken. My wife, myself and my two boys (7 and 4) all ate and it cost us almost $80 before tip. Nobody got anything crazy and my boys even shared a child's meal! Ridiculous price. The onion rings were excellent, however.
-Crystal Palace Character Breakie--we usually do (at least) one character breakie while we're there. We like the CP because of where it's at but I think it has the best food for the character breakies. Last time we ate there the food was getting worse. I must say, this time, they got back to their good food status. Was a great breakie...again.
-Others may be agreeing on the dining plan--I found it much easier to get into the CP for breakie than ever before. In fact, we decided to eat there Saturday morning before we left and I stopped by Town Hall on the way out at closing on Friday night and made reservations. In fact, there were a lot of empty tables! This was on a Saturday morning. I found that odd. Could be the price as well ($25 per adult is a bit much for breakie).
-Cast Members--don't mean to offend any CMs here but I have to say, this was the first time I noticed so many CMs who just weren't terribly interested in what they were doing. No, I didn't have any rude CMs, everyone was friendly and helpful but, I saw a lot of CMs who just didn't seem to care. The server we had at the 50s PTC was an example. We rode the Jungle Cruise 3 times and each time the CM was, well, bored with what they were doing. Kinda ruins the cheesy lines they have to give if they're not into the delivery. Also noticed this at many other places throughout DW.
-Merchandise prices--because we go so often we don't really buy souvenirs while we're there. We do check out the shops and I buy a t-shirt or two when I see something I like. I noticed many of the t-shirts are $33 now! Yikes! I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. Why the heck do they have to be $33. Somewhere in the $20 range is a comfortable price for a t-shirt.
-Is it the People Mover or TTA?--ok, I've always called it the PM just because that's what it is to me. Hated it when they switched the name to TTA. Then I hear they're changing the name back to PM. Great. However, now they have signs in certain places which call it the PM but other places still call it the TTA. What the heck? Just very un-Disney like. And I still hate the new recording--even after they added Mr. Tom Morrow back. It's just cheesy--the whole recording. We also had it go down twice while we were on it at different times. Never had this happen before. I know, this could have been because someone was stupid on the ride. Just was strange it's never happened while we were on it before and I've ridden that thing literally hundreds of times. We ride it to relax and cool off.
-What's up with that STUPID stage/show in TL?--Nothing like totally ruining the feel of TL with a big stage blaring stupid music. Who the heck decided that was good for TL? I mean, just takes you right out of the feel. This move towards High School Musical-type crap is ruining DW IMO. That stage needs to go away and go away FAST.
There were other little things which annoyed me but, overall, I really noticed a steep decline in many things. Again, this was the first time I've been there where I was disappointed in DW overall.
I understand profits, etc. and I feel like they're just catering to the family who comes once or twice in a lifetime. They don't mind paying so much for food (or go on the plan(s)) and don't mind paying $33 for a t-shirt. However, those of us who return year after year do mind this. After this trip, it was the first time I've ever seriously thought about not going to DW in December (like we ALWAYS do) because I'm getting tired of their BS to be quite honest.
I'm not saying I want it like it used to be (so much), rather, I want them to give us the quality product many of us have become used to over the years. In reality, they're giving us less quality and charging us more for it. We can debate how true this is but I know this is what's happening just by noticing the things I wrote about here. And there was a lot more of this kind of thing as well. So don't try and tell me it's not getting worse...it absolutely is.
For now, we'll still be back. I just think we may be skipping some trips there in the future if things don't get better. I've never thought or said that before. That bothers me.
Anyway, there have been a lot of threads lately about how Disney has been changing (for the worse) and how customer service is lacking, etc. I must say, after this trip, I agree with these people more than I used to! This was the first time I've ever been disappointed with Disney as a whole. Don't get me wrong, we still had a great time but there were a lot of things which I noticed this time which really makes me shake my head...
-Refurbishments--ok, I get it. Things need to be refurbished. However, it seemed every time you turned a corner, there were more of those walls in front of a shop, attraction, etc. with signs apologizing for it. I must say, it really ruined the illusion this time. Just too much going on at one time. At the same time, I noticed (for the first time) many things broken, needing paint, etc. Never noticed that much of this sort of thing before. Depressing.
-Mr. Clean--again, never noticed trash bins almost full/overflowing and other things before. Noticed them this time. Saw my first disgusting Disney bathroom I've ever seen. We've made about 50 trips to Disney and I never had seen this before.
-Food is really getting bad--I've been very vocal about how the dining plans have ruined the food throughout Disney. It just gets worse and worse. We don't do the plan--we stay at Bonnet Creek anyway--and I must say, I find myself eating on property less and less each time because the food is just getting so bad. Made reservations at the 50s Prime Time Cafe, had eaten there in the past and enjoyed it and enjoyed the food. This time, we got an ok server but he seemed quite disinterested in playing the game (you know, part of what you're paying for eating there). The food was terribly sub-par. I had the fried chicken--one of the things they're supposed to be known for--it was dry and just not all that great. They give you a tiny helping of mashed potatoes with it. Cost was something like $15 or $16. A bit much for a little chicken. My wife, myself and my two boys (7 and 4) all ate and it cost us almost $80 before tip. Nobody got anything crazy and my boys even shared a child's meal! Ridiculous price. The onion rings were excellent, however.
-Crystal Palace Character Breakie--we usually do (at least) one character breakie while we're there. We like the CP because of where it's at but I think it has the best food for the character breakies. Last time we ate there the food was getting worse. I must say, this time, they got back to their good food status. Was a great breakie...again.
-Others may be agreeing on the dining plan--I found it much easier to get into the CP for breakie than ever before. In fact, we decided to eat there Saturday morning before we left and I stopped by Town Hall on the way out at closing on Friday night and made reservations. In fact, there were a lot of empty tables! This was on a Saturday morning. I found that odd. Could be the price as well ($25 per adult is a bit much for breakie).
-Cast Members--don't mean to offend any CMs here but I have to say, this was the first time I noticed so many CMs who just weren't terribly interested in what they were doing. No, I didn't have any rude CMs, everyone was friendly and helpful but, I saw a lot of CMs who just didn't seem to care. The server we had at the 50s PTC was an example. We rode the Jungle Cruise 3 times and each time the CM was, well, bored with what they were doing. Kinda ruins the cheesy lines they have to give if they're not into the delivery. Also noticed this at many other places throughout DW.
-Merchandise prices--because we go so often we don't really buy souvenirs while we're there. We do check out the shops and I buy a t-shirt or two when I see something I like. I noticed many of the t-shirts are $33 now! Yikes! I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. Why the heck do they have to be $33. Somewhere in the $20 range is a comfortable price for a t-shirt.
-Is it the People Mover or TTA?--ok, I've always called it the PM just because that's what it is to me. Hated it when they switched the name to TTA. Then I hear they're changing the name back to PM. Great. However, now they have signs in certain places which call it the PM but other places still call it the TTA. What the heck? Just very un-Disney like. And I still hate the new recording--even after they added Mr. Tom Morrow back. It's just cheesy--the whole recording. We also had it go down twice while we were on it at different times. Never had this happen before. I know, this could have been because someone was stupid on the ride. Just was strange it's never happened while we were on it before and I've ridden that thing literally hundreds of times. We ride it to relax and cool off.
-What's up with that STUPID stage/show in TL?--Nothing like totally ruining the feel of TL with a big stage blaring stupid music. Who the heck decided that was good for TL? I mean, just takes you right out of the feel. This move towards High School Musical-type crap is ruining DW IMO. That stage needs to go away and go away FAST.
There were other little things which annoyed me but, overall, I really noticed a steep decline in many things. Again, this was the first time I've been there where I was disappointed in DW overall.
I understand profits, etc. and I feel like they're just catering to the family who comes once or twice in a lifetime. They don't mind paying so much for food (or go on the plan(s)) and don't mind paying $33 for a t-shirt. However, those of us who return year after year do mind this. After this trip, it was the first time I've ever seriously thought about not going to DW in December (like we ALWAYS do) because I'm getting tired of their BS to be quite honest.
I'm not saying I want it like it used to be (so much), rather, I want them to give us the quality product many of us have become used to over the years. In reality, they're giving us less quality and charging us more for it. We can debate how true this is but I know this is what's happening just by noticing the things I wrote about here. And there was a lot more of this kind of thing as well. So don't try and tell me it's not getting worse...it absolutely is.
For now, we'll still be back. I just think we may be skipping some trips there in the future if things don't get better. I've never thought or said that before. That bothers me.
And then the area where they are doing construction for the park to add on in the kiddo's area -- for me, I looked at the fact that soon, there would be something more fantastic to see and do with my family! 
