Magic wearing off?

[Williamsfamily7]

Is it me, or does anyone else feel like the magic might be wearing off a little at WDW?

I've been on these boards twice since our return (8/13 - 8/20) and both times have been to complain. Once about our horrible location at CBR (Trinidad SOuth = BAD), and once about how stinky I think the EMH's are. At this point, I really can't imagine going back for our next visit for a long, long time (Read that as when my kids - currently 15 and 16 years old - are grown, gone, and have kids of their own that we can bring!!)

This was our fifth trip in about the past 12 years. I'm sorry, but the Disney experience just is NOT what it used to be. I'm not talking about getting goosebumps from watching the fireworks, or still loving "It's a Small World." We really enjoyed Soarin' and the daredevils loved Exp. Everest. All that stuff is still A1.

It's just the way Disney used to treat you, as compared to how they treat you now. Here are my thoughts:

Other than our first night there (when we had an absolutely wonderful waiter named Robert at Boatwrights), our waiters/waitresses were average at best. The one at the Yachtclub was well below average to be honest with you. And the hostess at the Concourse Steakhouse bordered on rude.

Beside my unhappiness with Trinidad South at CBR, I had (unfortunately) 3 other occasions to call for customer service. The first time was because our refrigerator wasn't working. It took 3 calls to get someone there, and then they basically insisted the refrigerator was working. I think they left another one just to humor us. The bottom line is, the original one (which they left)was in our room the entire week and never worked. It just wasn't what I would call great customer service.

Our second problem had to do with 2 people in our party's luggage being delivered via Magical Express. All I'm going to say is that their plane arrived at 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, and were down at the Custom House at 9:30 a.m. the next morning TO PICK IT UP. (OK - maybe I'll mention the numerous phone calls we made all through the night, each time NOT getting a straight answer.) I did convince a manager that we needed some type of "compensation" to make up for our total inconvenience (EVERYTHING was in the checked bags, including medications!). In the end, I'm not crazy about how they handled the situation in general. In my opinion, it's the manager's job to see that you have a positive feeling after a situation like that. I KNOW it's not his fault, but guess what, it's not my fault either. And I'm the one paying lots of money to be on vacation!!!

Lastly, I did laundry one day. The change machine was out of order. Unfortunately, the $10 in quarters I brought from home was not enough. I called to ask about getting change and they promised to send someone over immediately. Again, 3 calls later, they're telling me someone came and there was no one there to give the change to. I had not MOVED from that laundry room. I was actually sitting reading a book in the laundry room for 1/2 hour. That is really NOT what I paid money for. Finally, I spoke to a manager (seems to be the only way to get anything done), and he did send someone down. It seems the first person they sent was new and went twice to Trinidad North by mistake. Now I understand that even Disney has new employees, but really, that's pretty ridiculous.

I found that very often things at the parks seemed a little more disorganized - especially the handing out of bracelets for EMH. How do they "run out" at one location and then just not know what to tell people as far as where to go. They were leading us around the park like a bunch of cattle at one point!! When we were waiting to get into "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" someone had messed with the ropes that keep the lines in order. There was no one from Disney there at all, and people were just milling all over and totally cutting in line. Right before they let us in they sent some tiny little girl to try to get the line in the right direction, but half the people wouldn't even listen to her. Alot of people were pretty annoyed at how it was handled.

Lastly, on two different occassions I saw totally overflowing garbage cans with all sorts of over-flow trash on the ground. Granted, it was close to closing time, but I just never saw things like that during past visits.

I'm sure many people will think I'm being too critical. Maybe each of these things sound trivial on there own, but put them all together and it does add up. I guess what I'm saying is that I've just come to expect a more "magical" vacation when I'm at WDW. I'm sorry, but I DO expect more from them. I think they have let things slide alittle.

 

[Disfan3]

our luggage arrived 8 hours later on the 13th

the great cm at the Poly told us they were having weather related problems...and the airport was shut down for a while. She said 13,000 people were also looking for luggage that evening. I was scared at first. It was a problem, esp since you are not allowed much carry on now! We packed lightly on the carry on as not to get held up or hold others in the airport but this was awful for us...as our plane in ATL was cancelled and we had NOTHING to wear the next day. They would not retrieve our luggage!

I blame this mostly on the terrorists who are trying to harm us for these problems...not the airport or Disney


as far as customer service...the waitstaff seemed very very busy this time around. our plates were not cleared asap but all in all we had a great time and the food was great


Lizzie in LeCellier ROCKED even though we waited a long time for dessert and our plates sat around and my coffee was not refilled asap but she was a great waitress and happy and thats good too


I was there the same week as you

we went last yr in September

I will be hard pressed to go again in August due to crowds...I think I will stick with late Sept if I can help it!!

sorry to hear about your problems....We loved the Poly again this year. I did not get my request but ended up in a superior location, but no balcony. Its all good tho!

take care!

 

[joliesmom]

I've been going to DW since I was born and I agree that they are letting some of the magic go. I've noticed that the MK especially is not maintained like is was before. I previously was amazed at how clean the park was kept, and that you never saw work getting done. I now notice the chips in the sidewalk or paint and some of the neglect of trash. I was talking to a monorail driver that told me they cut most of the night shift and that's when they use to perform maintenance. It's sad to me to see negative changes.

 

[CowboyCO]

Sorry that some of the shine has come of the Disney apple for you.

We have gone to WDW twice in last two years and had truly magical experiences. Noy that there weren't glitches. ie- horrible, rude waiter at Chef du France-- took two hours to eat, meal timing was horrible, He brought kids meals then adult meals 30 minutes later after kids were done and fidgety. Had to ask multiple times just to get water glasses filled, etc.

However, most of our experiences were fantastic and we are going back just 8 months after our last trip.

I understand your frustration with the room, but somebody has to stay in all the rooms, and unfortunately you got the short straw on this one.

But now that your kids are older and the pixie dust isn't there for you, perhaps places like Williamsburg, Yellowstone, or The Grand Canyon or other adventures might give you great experiences and perspective on Disney.

 

[Williamsfamily7]

I can understand that they had ALOT of checked luggage to deliver on August 13. What I can't tolerate is that basically, they were dishonest on the phone to us. They had a dozen different stories - where the luggage was, where is wasn't, when it would be delivered. When it comes to customer service, don't promise what you can't deliver. The first few times we called, they told us the luggage would be there in an hour!!!! That's just not right and you can't blame that on terrorists!

Also, as far as the restaurants: If Disney wants to attract more people to their resorts with the free dining, they should be prepared to serve them properly. Now, I got my dining free. I would be even more ticked if I were paying for food and got the mediocre service I received.

The funny part is, I didn't think the crowds were that bad. It's just that Disney "manipulates" things so you have to wait in line for just about everything (fewer attractions open, less people working, etc.) I just think if this had been my first trip to Disney, rather than my 5th, I would have no idea as to why people return year after year.

 

[lyzziesmom]

You want to recapture the Disney magic? Take a few trips to other local amusement parks. I don't mean the big ones like Universal or Six Flags, I'm talking the little local places that every state has. It will really make you appreciate how much Disney DOES do.

 

[jamounger]

We were there the same week, We had a great time in the parks, good service in the restaurants and a very disappointing Boardwalk villas stay.We are giving the mouse another chance in 3 weeks at CSR, we'll see what happens.

 

[Williamsfamily7]

Your post is so true. My husband commented that in the past we never saw people doing any kind of maintenance during the day. This trip we saw all sorts of stuff.

Now, if I'm not mistaken attendance at Disney is still rising. I'm sure their profits are too. Why are they cutting the night shift? Hhhmmmm

 

[jonimce]

I understand what your saying. It's not bad, it's just that something is missing. Not the same. I always said that there is no place in the world with Disney's service. From PR to the cleanliness of the parks and even the bathrooms. Something was missing last week. My DH and I kept commenting on it all week. It's like they are letting things slip. Even the little things in the housekeeping dept.

 

[DaisyD]

Not me! I love WDW and think it is just as great this past July as it was 10 years ago!

 

[binky]

Sadly, I have to agree with the OP on this. However, I must say that while some of the reasons for this decline are Disney's "fault", the majority of the problems (for me at least) are due to some of the other guests. Just read the thread "What I learned from my most recent trip" under Theme Parks Attractions and Stratagies. You'll get a lot of laughs, but it's all too true. My family had a great time on our trip this May. It was our 3rd time to go, but I have noticed a difference each time (our trips span about 15 years). We have some wonderful memories, and I want to keep it that way, so perhaps we should go out on a high note! I'm really afraid of what it will be like in a few years. I'm willing to bet I'll take that chance someday though

 

[Kiddeokee]

If you are taking Magical Express, can you just pick up your luggage in baggage claim & take it with you? The idea of them delivering sounds great, but if I end up having to wait a long time... it might be worth it to lug it around... especially since I can't take half of what I normally would take as a carryon. Thanks

 

[dalt01]

not to pick apart your post but i dont agree with asking for "compensation" when there is a problem. example, when i get home from a fast food drive up window and the order is not quite right i call the place and explain it to a mgr. they usually say they will give me my money back or something of that nature. i tell them i did not call for a refund but to let them know that they need more training or supervision for the employees. having been on the other end of that i always felt that the people who asked for "something' were professional complainers and most likely got a lot of compensation by complaining all the time. now,im not saying that you are this type of person.i do take this stand, everybody screws up and a zero tolerance for error is setting the bar way to high for most of us.

 

[disqueen2]

I truly believe alot of the magic is what you make it. Our last trip to WDW, we stayed onsite for the first time in a moderate resort. DH and DD were very disappointed in the hotel. They were expecting more for the money. To me, we were onsite, so it was the best. Our first night it rained, hard. The busses were packed (went mid-June with high crowds). We had paid for an e-ride night. We went back to the resort to get a refund, and the manager was extremely rude to me and told me he wasn't refunding any money (after we had been told earlier that they would). He told me to get back on the bus in the pouring rain and return to MK to get the refund. Needless to say, our first night onsite was not filled with "magic." We returned to the park and ended up staying for e-ride night and had a wonderful time. The next day we told the day manager that we would be checking out a few days early due to what had transpired the evening before. He was wonderful and helped us any way he could. We later regretted our hasty decision, as the next few days turned our views of onsite around. My point is, even CMs are human and have bad days. Things can happen anywhere. And even with the problems we had on our first onsite stay, the magic never left (well, maybe disappeared for a few hours).

 

[Cass]

I keep the magic alive by travelling less often, our last trip was 2 years ago - we are going again this December. Before that we were going every year - and not having the chance to miss things again, and forget things - and appreciate things.

We have always had awesome trips and let the little things roll off our backs, IMO people ruin their own vacations by letting one negative experience colour the whole trip - like anything in life if you let things eat at you it will be a bad experience.

 

[AKLRULZ]

I'm sorry to hear it. For us, it's still as magical as ever - we've been 5 times in 13 months and twice yearly since 1999 - it's still as fresh as ever and yeah, we've encountered a few rude CMs - but nothing that has spoiled our trip. I hope it comes back for you.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

Maybe because we can only go every other year....but I cannot imagine being at WDW and not feeling the excitement. You can allow people to ruin your mood. But I refuse to do that, on vacation, that it. It is my vacation, and I am going to have an awesome time regardless of rude CM's, rude guests (they are everywhere, not just WDW), bad weather, lost luggage, etc. When people are rude, I usually smile at them and move on. Sometimes it softens their mood.

Sorry you had a less then magical trip. When I go next time (hopefully in August of next year), I will go with little expectations. That way I cannot be disappointed. The more expectations people have, the more chances you have at becoming disappointed.

I just want to be at WDW with my family and enjoy being together with the people I love the most. It is still magical to us!

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I'm sorry to hear the magic is gone for you! We've been on 5 trips since 1999 (not a lot but a lot for us) and we've definitely had more magical trips than others. I wonder sometimes if in this type of situation the internet is almost working against us rather than for us. What I mean is our first trip was by far the most magical one and not just b/c we were experiencing everything for the first time. Our room, the weather, the special touches were amazing. I totally went in with no expectations and was blown away. Fast forward 7 years to now and I'm on these boards practically every day reading about special things that happen to others and reminiscing about our own special trips. I also have read all about the hidden things of Disney, how to get the best parade spot, are there free things for birthdays, can I get upgraded for free, etc. I wonder if we know too much for our own good and tend to build up expectations in our minds (me included ) about how special our next trip is going to be and it ends up being an even bigger letdown when things go wrong. I hope that you'll give Disney another chance before your grandkids come. Besides, I didn't have my first child until I was 35 so you may be waiting a while with your own kids!

Laurie

 

[Marie17]

I pretty much agree with the OP too. I truly wonder why people say to go to your local park or go here to remember that Disney is wonderful - WHY??? If I go to the local amusement park - I know what to expect. One of the best local amusement parks I've been to was Hamel's in Shreveport, LA. It was a nice, small, friendly, clean park. We would practically go 5 times a week when we were stationed at Barksdale AFB. Everyone knew us and it was clean and friendly!

I've gone to Disney for years - I know what to expect. UNFORTUNATELY, the standards that Disney has set for DISNEY is not currently being met. When kids can notice things not being done - then it IS noticeable and should be corrected. Little things like this go to your subconscious and put just a little bit of a damper on your next vacation and give second thoughts to spend the money. I might do a "search" and see if someone might have posted pictures to show exactly what sort of maintenance is not being done. Maybe if Disney notices that all restrooms and garbage cans are NOT being taken care of then they might do something to improve the situation BEFORE it becomes another excuse of "it was during a busy time frame" or "it was during the holidays." Excuses won't do when they have made it the DISNEY STANDARD of cleanliness and they are not meeting it. Believe me guests always do not throw their tissues or garbage in the cans - but they USED to clean any trash up PROMPTLY.

 

[figarofan]

I have made several trips to WDW, but it has been years, so maybe I am not qualified to comment, but I sitll would like to toss in my 2 cents.

I have been going to Disneyland since it opened. And I have heard people say the magic is gone there. I didn't notice it missing, but after they pointed it out, yes it did seem dirtier and the cast more curt. But now under new management it is truly magical, again. For me it always was.

I do agree that the Internet may taint our experience. 10-15 years ago I stayed at POFQ and was upgraded to a riverview room. That to me was magical. Here I read of people being upgraded to concierge level rooms at deluxe resorts. Becuse of that I am going to hope for the chance of an upgrade for a Woods view for my upcoming trip at Wilderness Lodge. Point is I would have expected a standard (and been happy with it) before the Internet days. I am still going to be happy (I hope). Sure hope the magic is still there, I wouldn't be spending money if I didn't believe--and I have several trips planned there over the next year (burning up my frequent flyer miles).

But, if the magic is still at Disneyland, after 50 years, there has to be some magic left at WDW