Magic Kingdom - What a Mess!

[jlevis]

So we are back again to the sticking point: People complain when Disney does no work on the parks. And people complain when Disney does work on the parks. What exactly are they supposed to do to make everyone happy?

There you go! Well, I'm happy so the heck with everyone else. Keep up the good work Disney.

 

[North of Mouse]

There you go! Well, I'm happy so the heck with everyone else. Keep up the good work Disney.

 

[goofyernmost]

Well, I did respond to a post, that was "off topic". I merely stated, why i feel, the "mess" is unacceptable.

For the record, I don't work for Universal Studios, my life doesn't have to be perfect, and I don't think, anyone can be FORCED into happiness.

I understand what you are saying, but how can improving a product be unacceptable to anyone. If the buildings were falling down and all the paint was faded and chipped then I might be able to understand what the big fuss is about. The only thing different in MK is the wall, which is hiding 98% of the construction (if one needs to focus on a couple of cranes then there isn't much anyone can do to make one happy) Even when there was no wall there was nothing there to see. The scrim is a bit obtrusive but it is a minor, minor part of the overall experience.

Right now I have a 10 day, park hopper, non-expiring pass. That amounts to $60.00 a day even with that expensive add on. If anyone can tell me where I can go to 4 separate theme parks, of that quality, in any single day and do it for 60 bucks...I'd like to hear it.

There does seem to be a lot going on right now, and I figure it is due to the competition down the road as well as people complaining about the Disney stagnation, but to complain about both is unacceptable.

I know that the favorite thing to call someone that defends what is happening right now is to call them Disney apologists. I am not apologizing for anything...I see nothing to apologize for. They are doing what needs to be done to stay competitive and upgrade the experience for the many that repeatedly go there.

So lets see what the big deal is park by park....

Magic Kingdom...Fantasyland expansion (will be a huge improvement in that section of the park. Doesn't interfere with anything that was active anyway.) Parts of the old Toontown are now open with new and improved double Dumbo's.

The scrim on Main Street...I don't know what is being done to the building but it must be pretty extensive. I'm sure they could have done it without covering it up...but it wouldn't have been very pretty.

BTMR is down for periodic overhaul and fix up. Sorry, but nothing wrong with that is there, other than it coincides with some guests visits. The option is closing the park down completely. Would that be better?

Epcot...Other than Wonders of Life, which has been closed for a long time now, the only other thing that is being worked on is Test Track. An attraction that is sponsored and paid for by GM. They, as far as I can tell, are the ones that want to change it. It won't hurt to upgrade it at this point because most of the stuff there is getting pretty stale. Whatever, I don't think that Disney would have been able to call the shots on that one and still send a bill to GM.

Disney Hollywood Studios...I can't think of anything that is currently being worked on that hasn't been closed for a long time. At least nothing that the public was very interested in anyway.

Animal Kingdom...Yeti's not working. Yes, it would be great if they could get it working again, but it is such a small part of the ride, missed by most people even when it was working, that it isn't even worth talking about. That said, however, if they were to close Everest to fix it...the whining would be deafening.

ITTBAB was closed briefly because of an unexpected equipment failure. That's never happened to anyone in life ever, right? It's open again...so nothing to be concerned about there.

In summary...just what has everyone's knickers in a knot anyway? Pixie Dust really is a figment of imagination, I'm thinking. It won't magically fix everything that needs fixing with the wave of a wand, as much as we would like to believe it.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I understand what you are saying, but how can improving a product be unacceptable to anyone. If the buildings were falling down and all the paint was faded and chipped then I might be able to understand what the big fuss is about. The only thing different in MK is the wall, which is hiding 98% of the construction (if one needs to focus on a couple of cranes then there isn't much anyone can do to make one happy) Even when there was no wall there was nothing there to see. The scrim is a bit obtrusive but it is a minor, minor part of the overall experience.

Right now I have a 10 day, park hopper, non-expiring pass. That amounts to $60.00 a day even with that expensive add on. If anyone can tell me where I can go to 4 separate theme parks, of that quality, in any single day and do it for 60 bucks...I'd like to hear it.

.

Disney maintained the Parks for many years, without this mess. Why is it so different now?

$60 a day..per person, plus the cost for rooms, airfare, dining, etc., adds up to big bucks. A WDW vacation can easily run $1,000+ per day for a family a 5, not counting "the extras".

Honestly, I'd respond, point by point, but I just had surgery and I'm pecking with one hand. Just too much effort right now.

 

[LilyWDW]

Honestly, it's getting to the point where the people who want to be upset will be and those who don't want to be upset won't be. If you are going into the trip that everything will be horrible and look horrible well.... it's a self fulfilling prophecy.

Personally, I refuse to let it make me upset. I see it as work that has to be done and it is being done. It will not ruin my trip or really impact it that badly.

 

[goofyernmost]

Disney maintained the Parks for many years, without this mess. Why is it so different now?

$60 a day..per person, plus the cost for rooms, airfare, dining, etc., adds up to big bucks. A WDW vacation can easily run $1,000+ per day for a family a 5, not counting "the extras".

Honestly, I'd respond, point by point, but I just had surgery and I'm pecking with one hand. Just too much effort right now.

First off...sorry to hear about your surgery...hope everything went well and continues to do so.

#1...what mess are you referring too. I was there three weeks ago and I don't recall any mess. Maintenance is not the only thing going on at MK. It is an expansion that has an investment that comes along with many, many zero's after it. It is the second largest work project ever done there. Second only too the original construction. There is NO mess. There is a wall. A neat clean wall covering it and also covering nothing. There was nothing there to see before the construction started. The repair on the bakery is covered with an almost exact picture of the actual building. So again I have to ask...What Mess? This has been going on for years. I cannot count how many times I have seen those scrims over other places over the years. Nothing new and certainly not a "mess".

#2...I was referring to what you actually pay to get into the parks where all the alleged mess is. The cost of housing and meals are always based on personal preference and can be much cheaper than that, your choice. Certainly not related to what is happening in the parks.

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

Just like everything else, Main Street will never be "done". They constantly rotate work among a handful of the stores and facades. I'm confident in contending that most of my numerous visits included one or more scrims on MS. After a while, you just don't notice it anymore--and that's if you ever did. I think many people's issue with current MS state is that the Bakery facade on the north end sticks out into part of MS itself and blocks that once-in-a-lifetime magical first view of Cinderella Castle. In that case, my best advice is to walk up the left side and soldier on. That's about all you can do.

I agree with you that Disney will never be done, but it may be an exxageration to say there is always a scrim on Main St at one point or another...Ive been to WDW 23 times and that certainly hasnt been the case. I think this one is just the most noticeable because it juts out obstructing the view a bit.

As I said before, we just got back from 10 days there and if it had been my first and only trip to go I would have been totally happy Most of the stuff I hardly noticed, and the earlier poster saying it was sad that this was what children seeing Fantasyland would see their maybe first and only trip was more than I could grasp. I doubt very many children there ever noticed any construction - they were too busy enjoying the park and excitement -

I have to agree with you...My 2 yr old has been 3 times now, twice during the construction. Both times have been beyond magical for her, she doesnt care in the least about the construction. Quite the opposite actually- she was tremendously excited to see that Disney was building a castle for Belle/Beast and Ariel! To see her face when I showed her the building of what would be Ariel's castle was PRICELESS!! Kids react off of their parents, if you make it a negative thing, the kid will see it that way.

 

[mesaboy2]

I agree with you that Disney will never be done, but it may be an exxageration to say there is always a scrim on Main St at one point or another...Ive been to WDW 23 times and that certainly hasnt been the case. I think this one is just the most noticeable because it juts out obstructing the view a bit.

I agree that would be an exaggeration. It is also not what I wrote.

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

I agree that would be an exaggeration. It is also not what I wrote.

Sorry about that, read that wrong! I'm sorry that most of ur trips have included a scrim though

 

[wendyt_ca]

We were just in Disney and didn't find any of this took from our vacation or that we even paid attention to it. I prefer that they improve things.

 

[champ5601]

Walt was always trying to improve things and they are still doing that today with the construction and refurbs. You can let it bother you, or enjoy yourself and look at everything else around you. Like someone said earlier, they are trying to get alot of the work done before the busy summer months. If you book a vacation during the Spring, be prepared for work being done.

Just be glad that you are taking a trip to WDW, I know people that would love to go their with their families, but they cannot afford it. And here are people that go over and over again, and complain about every little thing. Give your money to those families who would give anything to go if all you are going to do is complain.