My Open Letter to Disney.....A Loyal Guest Speaks Out

[sherry8253]

Great letter. I send Disney an email that was similiar but not nearly as well written as yours. I received a phone call back from them telling me that they did put AP rates out and that there would continue to be AP rates as well as discounted rates for the general public. Please let us know what response you received.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Well, let's look at the real intent. Seeing as I expect little to no meaningful response, the true intent was to allow myself to do my part to go on record in an attempt to make myself heard .

Perhaps that should have been written in there too. Oy. It really bothers me that a company that was founded upon guest satisfaction is now reduced to not being able to answer someone who takes the time to write a 2-3 page missive about how much they care about the company!!!!!!

Kidds, I finally agree with you on something! I envy how well you are able to verbalize your sentiments. (Even if I personally CAN'T look past:

the reduced operating hours and the lack of exciting, quality additions at the theme parks ... the decline in maintenance and cleanliness ... the things that have diverted Disney’s attention from its core business ... the many things that have directly affected, in a negative way, the traditions of Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency that Walt Disney founded the Disney theme park business on.

)

I'm anxious to hear what Baron has to say about your letter, and about how his trip there went.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I'm anxious to hear what Baron has to say about your letter, and about how his trip there went.

Our good friend Baron has weighed in once, and claims this letter to be proof of my membership in car 3 . I heard from him about a week ago. I assume that the pixie dust hasn't quite worn off yet, so he is refraining from posting lest he have too many positive things to say. That is what I'm hoping, for the alternative is that he has returned too disgusted to even talk about it. Who knows, maybe he isn't even back yet. We'll just have to wait for that state of the World address.

It really bothers me that a company that was founded upon guest satisfaction is now reduced to not being able to answer someone who takes the time to write a 2-3 page missive about how much they care about the company!!!!!!

I really hope this isn't the case and I do hear something back, but I'm not expecting any great response. The letter wen't out last week and it I'm sure it will take some time if I do get a response. I'll keep you posted.

 

[freediverdude]

I keep seeing these references to "car 1, car 2, car 3" in posts- can someone tell me what that's all about?

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by freediverdude
I keep seeing these references to "car 1, car 2, car 3" in posts- can someone tell me what that's all about?

If you go to the top of the Rumors and News Board, there is an "Important" thread that has the difinitions.

Saying that, there are few people that fit a particular car's profile completely. They don't have to have be my super Pooh size in order to spread between two or more cars.

 

[freediverdude]

Ah, ok, I see. Well I guess I'm reluctantly in car 3 then. I don't think it's the same as it used to be, and I doubt it will ever get back to that, although I still think there's some magic there.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Just to keep y'all posted, I got the "your letter has been received and someone will be contacting you" call from Disney this morning. This call came from Florida. Of the 10 copies I sent I'd say three or four were addressed to Lake Buena Vista and the remainder went to the left coast. Not sure from whom I'd rather get a response. I'll let you know if one is forthcoming (but I'm still not holding my breath for anything all that meaningful - but I have been heard, even if only by the mailroom clerk )..

 

[DisneyJules]

*stands up and cheers* How perfectly written! Everything you stated is exactly how I feel about the company right now. It saddens me that they are throwing away the very qualities that built the Walt Disney Company. It sickens me to see what's happened to the Disney Store. I knew as a child of 8 years of age that Disney was TOP quality, that they wanted the best for their guests. I can't even walk into the store anymore. I haven't been to WDW since 1996 and honestly I'm scared to see what's happened to it.
More of us should be writting letters, we all have to be a bunch of squeaky wheels.

 

[roque]

pls let us know of any response you get
i thought you wrote a great letter and hope they take notice of the fact that you are not an occasional guest but someone who has invested heavily in WDW
cheers

 

[Beachangel]

Posted by DisneyKidds:
but I have been heard, even if only by the mailroom clerk )..

Well, that's just the person to drop it someone's "in" box! LOL!

 

[King Triton]

Great letter!

I sent a letter to Disney awhile back which was similar to that and received a very strange reply. It was a form letter from their legal department stating that they don't accept any suggestions from guests. I couldn't believe it. There is a good chance your letter will not be read. Disney is so paranoid about lawsuits that they stop reading their mail on suggestions to improve the park. Isn't that crazy!

I love Disney and I'm a super fan for life. I have been seeing bad decisions from Michael Eisner that has removed some of the magic. Disney started to get spread out too thin and turned their backs on the theme parks. Expanding in too many different directions only lowered the stock price. Bad moves like removing the original Imagination ride with figment and Dream Finder, World of Motion, and Horizons have destroyed Epcot. Epcot hasn't been the same since. Building a lower quality park, DCA, didn't help either. The quality has gone down over the years. That is sad. Michael Eisner has lost his vision to make real Disney magic. In short, he just doesn't get it. The stock is doing terrible and I feel we need new blood at the top. With Eisner hand picking the board members, it will be very hard to do. Forbes magazine rated Michael Eisner the worst CEO in the country. Now I know why.

I hope the magic comes back soon.

 

[DisneyKidds]

There is a good chance your letter will not be read.

Of the ten+ people I sent it to, I know at least one person (in at least one of the offices) has read it. I got a call from 'Katie' at the WDW Executive Offices in Florida this afternoon. The call was to my home number, so I haven't spoken to her yet. She said the call was in regard to my letter, and she asked that I call her back so we could discuss it. I'll call her in the morning. I'll let you all know what we talk about.

As for your response from the Disney legal eagles, I think that is a pretty standard response nowadays when a letter contains any suggestions as to what Disney should/might do. They can't acknowledge receipt, heaven forbid they actually do something you suggested and sue if they don't give you credit. Seems rediculous, I know - but in todays litigious society they think they are protecting themselves. I think it is a stinky response, but it isn't that strange. My letter didn't really contain any suggestions of any sort, so I guess I passed the legal hurdle . I have to wonder how many departments have to read a letter before they determine it is safe to be read by the intended recipient .

 

[Planogirl]

Good luck with your call. I played phone tag for a while with a nice lady from the executive offices sometime back but I don't recall her name being Katie. She listened to me fuss and soothed me and that was about it in my case. Your letter is so good that you will at least have a lot to talk about.

 

[hopemax]

When I got my call from the WDW Executive office, I talked to the lady for 45 minutes. After the first 20, she finally gave up on the "script" and the last 20 minutes were a fairly nice conversation, but there's not much they can really do. A few days later, a package containing a copy of a WDW pictoral souvenier came in the mail.

 

[Kaitysmom]

I'm dying to hear what they have to say as well.

For me, the magic was in the details. It is painful to watch them cutting and cutting, making the Disney experience just average instead of superior. This goes for the resorts, the parks and the Disney Store. I wonder if we would all be so loyal to Disney if we were introduced to it now and didn't have all of our fond memories of the way it used to be... I am doubtful and I think that that's really sad...

 

[interested]

If you are a vacation club owner, why the need for discounted rooms? Also, I THOUGHT that vacation club owners rec'd a 10%discount on merchandise and extra perks?
One point I would challenge in your letter is the ASSUMPTION that they would be hardpressed to find a more loyal Disney fan. I think there are MANY fans out there with lengthy Disney stay/visits in the computers of WDW. We live in very different times and I would venture to guess that SOME of the cuts had to come with the expansion of the security alone.
I too am an avid Disney fan. Took me a LONG time to be able to accept and understand that in the direction Walt was going we (loyal fans) wouldn't have even had the luxury of the parks as we know them today. Although Michael Eisner may not currently receive rave reviews, had it not been for him and Frank Wells TWDC may not have ever known any substantial financial success.
We live in very stressful times that have changed many things but the one thing that will never change is if you are Disney at heart.
Last year we did the 7 day eastern cruise in January, the 7 day western in October 3 trips to animal kingdom lodge, 1 to the wilderness lodge and this year has taken us back to the eastern carribean in February, Disneyland and the cabins at Fort wilderness. My granddaughter is 9 mos old and has visited the parks and stayed on property 4 times as well as accompanied us on the last 7 day cruise. This is just the past 1 1/2 years- We leave again for the parks and cruise 1 week from today. We do not live near Florida but find it worth the trip every time. I'll bet there are many that have my record beat. We have NEVER missed a year since October 1971.

Goodluck with your letter, I hope it brings to you what you are in search of.

 

[safetymom]

Kaitysmom, I am sure there are people that are just taking their first trips to WDW. After those trips they will want to return just like the rest of us.

They don't know about how the parks and resorts used to be. I still think you can have a great time without knowing how it used to be. If you didn't know that they used to have longer hours or more fireworks what difference is it. I have gone many many times to WDW and this is the first time that I went to MK and saw Spectro and the fireworks. Did it make any difference to me that they don't offer this as much as they used to? No. Because for me at least they are still offering it.

In this day and age of cost cutting all over the country I am glad that at least WDW are trying to maintain what they used to have. Maybe not as often but they still have it.

So I don't like to moan about all the cuts. I just take it as it is a different business climate than it was before.

I still see the Magic every time I take a trip. I will be taking my fifth trip in a year next week to WDW. I can't wait to go back and explore the parks and have a great time.

 

[Kaitysmom]

I agree with much of what you are saying Safetymom - but only to a point. I am not saying that the Disney experience isn't magical. It still is. That is why I keep going back. I am talking about the difference between WOW and great. Used to be a WOW - not so much anymore. Many of the details are gone, those little extra touches.

"In this day and age of cost cutting all over the country I am glad that at least WDW are trying to maintain what they used to have. Maybe not as often but they still have it."

What about River Country, 20000 Leagues, Carousel of Progress, Timekeeper, Disney Club, the really pathetic Disney Stores, etc? As I said, the magic is still there, but diluted. Yes, I will continue to go but I miss the old Disney.

 

[safetymom]

I miss the old Disney. C of P is my favorite. Am I upset that it isn't open all the time? Yes. But at least it hasn't gone away yet.

I look at all this a little differently. We went to a local water park that everyone raves about the lazy river. After going to TL or BB I couldn't believe the difference. I am spoiled forever by Disney. Yes there are things that they don't do like they used to but I am hopeful that they will come out with other things to replace them.

I have the DC card. When they discontinued it did I rush to get the Disney Visa? No. Because that product doesn't suit my needs.

I am still hopeful that Disney will not lose sight of all the people that do plan many trips to the park. I will continue to write letters to Disney when I have a good trip or when something doesn't go the way it should.

I am still hopeful that Disney will wake up and remember what made WDW great and work to return or expand the Magic.

 

[DisneyKidds]

If you are a vacation club owner, why the need for discounted rooms? Also, I THOUGHT that vacation club owners rec'd a 10%discount on merchandise and extra perks?

Even us vacation club owners have occasion to stay in a non DVC resort. Whether it is because we used all our points or just want a change of scenery, it happens. As for DVC discounts, there really aren't that many.

As for loyalty, if you want the title of number one fan it is yours, as that wasn't my point .