Napkins at WDW

[OllieDannyandMe]

Question: Would you be happier if they never added more parks, never expanded the parks that they had, if they had only left all the details in place? Do you think WDW would have as many visitors as it has now if they had not opened more parks and expanded the ones they have?

Maybe they are sacrificing some of the small details such as printed napkins so that they can afford to expand. Or maybe it is done in order to be more environmentally friendly. Or maybe it is done to cut the amount of napkins they go through in a year as now people won't hoard them as souvenirs? None of us know the why. But if you spend too much time in the past (and the past is never what any of us remember it was) then you will miss the great things in the here and now.

Your point is a good one. I must say that my favorite trip to Disney ever was in 1984. And yes, Walt Disney World was a very different place then.

I happen to like both Disney Worlds, though. My second favorite trip was in 2010. Choosing one Disney World over the other is probably akin to choosing a favorite child. It cannot be done.

I do not mind change. In order for Disney to build the Animal Kingdom Park, they needed to bring in more crowds. It was a trade off, and it IS worth it.

But if I had to choose the most important thing that Disney has gotten right over the years, it would be their attention to details.

Fine, do away with the logo on the napkins. I haven't seen it myself yet, but I doubt it will bother me. But please, Disney, do not lose your attention to details. That is something I fear might really happen.

I do not think I am living in the past, but you are right, maxiesmom. I may be too focused on my fear of the future. I have this sinking feeling that Walt Disney World is losing sight of what makes the Disney brand special. And I just want to call attention to it, before it is gone, in the hope that we can keep it around. Cause I like Walt Disney World!

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

It's so funny to see this thread when I signed on, because my husband just got done telling me about his dream from last night and it involved Disney napkins! Here's the dream:

We were on a Disney Cruise Ship and I was ordering a drink at a snack counter. When they handed me my order, my drink splashed all over my face. I asked the man behind the counter if I could have a napkin. He said yes, and gave it to me. I cleaned my face and set the napkin down. Then he told me that the napkin would cost 15 cents. He was very rude and kept insisting that I pay him 15 cents. I asked to talk to a manager. The manager came over and asked what happened, and while I told her that the man was trying to make me pay 15 cents for a napkin, she started laughing at me. I was upset that she was laughing at me, so I asked if there was someone else I could talk to.

Another supervisor comes in and sits me down in a little room, asking me what happened. I explained and she said OK. Then she pulled out a huge binder and asked if we recently stayed at Art of Animation. I said that yes, we did. She opened the book and I could see a picture of the concept art for the Nemo area at Art of Animation. She said, "Ok, here's what we're willing to offer." I got excited, thinking maybe she was going to offer me a free stay. She said, "Now, this is too expensive, so we can't offer you any free nights, but we're more than happy to give you three boxes of Disney printer paper." She pointed at the concept art and in it, I could see the 3 boxes sitting on the ground in the drawing.

I said, "What?" She said, "But it's really good quality paper!" I said, "Well, it's not that I don't trust the brand, but I just don't think that paper is worth anything. Cast members were laughing at me!"

I got out my phone and looked on Amazon and saw that the paper would only cost me $40. Another cast member came over and asked the manager what she was doing. The manager whispered, "I'm offering him paper, but it only costs us $10. Haha!"

I got upset that it only cost $10 and then I woke up.

That is SO AWESOME! What a cool dream! There may be some deep meaning in that, too! Thanks for sharing

 

[KrazeeK120]

"My vacation napkins are too plain."

Talk about FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.

I know...right!!!

I'm just glad I've had the opportunity to visit this place I love so much multiple times, and hopefully multiple times again in the future.

There are so many kids who will never get to go to Disney World.

Heck, there are probably lots of kids around the world who don't even know what a napkin is because they can't even afford basic necessities!!!

I'll take the brown napkins.

 

[bitohoney]

So how about those resuable mugs?

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Whenever I'm thinking "Disney is declining" (which is rarely ever), I just read and write this kind of blog post. http://www.disneyparksplanning.com/apps/blog/show/17250484-new-fantasyland-construction-update

That's a stellar blog post, Andy. So cool that you wrote it! Thanks for sharing

 

[bizeemom4]

So how about those resuable mugs?

Yeah, I love mine. I bring a different one back every trip.

 

[kaligal]

Question: Would you be happier if they never added more parks, never expanded the parks that they had, if they had only left all the details in place? Do you think WDW would have as many visitors as it has now if they had not opened more parks and expanded the ones they have?

Maybe they are sacrificing some of the small details such as printed napkins so that they can afford to expand. Or maybe it is done in order to be more environmentally friendly. Or maybe it is done to cut the amount of napkins they go through in a year as now people won't hoard them as souvenirs? None of us know the why. But if you spend too much time in the past (and the past is never what any of us remember it was) then you will miss the great things in the here and now.

I'd much rather have 20 acres of "amazing and delightful in every way" than the entire state of Florida done "really good."

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I'd much rather have 20 acres of "amazing and delightful in every way" than the entire state of Florida done "really good."

Me, too. Amen.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'd much rather have 20 acres of "amazing and delightful in every way" than the entire state of Florida done "really good."

Maybe you would. But if it was the same 20 acres and nothing ever changed, it wouldn't seem so amazing after a while? And how many repeat visitors would there be?

I guess I don't see the lack of printing on a napkin as the line between amazing and really good. To me, WDW is still plenty amazing. Even without designer napkins. The fact that they are re-doing Fantasyland is pretty darned amazing on its own.

 

[andyman8]

That's a stellar blog post, Andy. So cool that you wrote it! Thanks for sharing

Thank you so much! It really makes my day to see people read these posts

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Maybe you would. But if it was the same 20 acres and nothing ever changed, it wouldn't seem so amazing after a while? And how many repeat visitors would there be?

I guess I don't see the lack of printing on a napkin as the line between amazing and really good. To me, WDW is still plenty amazing. Even without designer napkins. The fact that they are re-doing Fantasyland is pretty darned amazing on its own.

Maxiesmom, did you ever go to Walt Disney World back in the 1980s? It is a place that I would have returned to a million times over, for every vacation, for the rest of my life.

In the 1980s, Disney made customer service paramount. The customer service is good today, but it is nowhere near what it was in the 1980s. When an average person is able to go on vacation and be treated like a movie star, it is an amazing experience. And yes, you find yourself wanting to return.

 

[maxiesmom]

Maxiesmom, did you ever go to Walt Disney World back in the 1980s? It is a place that I would have returned to a million times over, for every vacation, for the rest of my life.

In the 1980s, Disney made customer service paramount. The customer service is good today, but it is nowhere near what it was in the 1980s. When an average person is able to go on vacation and be treated like a movie star, it is an amazing experience. And yes, you find yourself wanting to return.

Epcot wasn't even open until 1982. The Studios didn't open until 1989. Animal Kingdom was barely a thought, if that. Would you still keep returning to the Magic Kingdom if it had never changed, and was still the only park? How many people do you think would? No BTMRR, no Pooh. Only 2 on-site resorts.

While everyone keeps saying how great things were way back then, they keep forgetting that WDW as a shadow of what it is now. One or two parks, no real Downtown Disney until 1989. People are focusing on napkins, when so much awesome stuff has happened and been created. And yet all of the parks and improvement are being ignored, and the focus is on napkins. Napkins!

People seem to be forgetting a lot wasn't there when they look back.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Thank you so much! It really makes my day to see people read these posts

Awesome post, andyman8! Very informative and well written! I have a better picture of Fantasyland now.

 

[JimS4210]

To paraphrase Allen Iverson:

"Napkins! Napkins!? We talking 'bout napkins!?"

I was upset when Mr. Toad closed. Napkins, not so much...

Jim

 

[sharadoc]

Didn't read through every page... so

Maybe they ran out sooner than they expected and are waiting for the next theme to print new napkins, or they're already printed and waiting to deliver.

I just told DH and DD the news. DH said "that's it, we're cancelling!" DD said "we're never eating in a counter service restaurant again!" They were both being facetious LOL.

 

[kaligal]

Maybe you would. But if it was the same 20 acres and nothing ever changed, it wouldn't seem so amazing after a while? And how many repeat visitors would there be?

I guess I don't see the lack of printing on a napkin as the line between amazing and really good. To me, WDW is still plenty amazing. Even without designer napkins. The fact that they are re-doing Fantasyland is pretty darned amazing on its own.

I actually remember the first time I saw WDW napkins. I was impressed with the quality and cuteness. I even mentioned them to my mother when I talked to her one night.

And I took an extra and put it in the scrapbook.

So, it's very ridiculous, but I was a fan of the napkins.

I also was impressed by the themed garbage cans. At the Beach Club I walked around with trash looking for one and finally asked someone where to find it. I'd just been walking past them. I couldn't believe something so basic and icky was dressed up to be so pretty.

It's all those little things that have, over the years, made WDW so wonderful.

But I can totally understand why many people don't care about themed garbage and cute napkins and stuff like that.

I guess it is silly...and TOTALLY a First World Problem.

 

[TheRatPack]

This annoys me to no end. You'd walk off with 20 extra napkins? I don't remember the napkins at all, but if what you're all saying is true, these were nice napkins, right? Have you looked at the cost of a pack of nice napkins?

I don't understand how people who walk off with napkins (why???) are upset that they've gotten rid of the napkins. I've always taught my kids that you only take what you need when it comes to complimentary items like napkins, tea, ketchup packets.

Loading up on napkins as souvenirs just strikes me as somewhat...cheap? Tacky? I'm trying to not come off as insulting, but really, I had no idea people would take more than they needed. I've seen people do things like this at salad bars and buffets. I know parents of young kids might take some extra napkins because young kids are messy, but taking some to take home just seems not cool. It would be the same as taking 20 extra park maps for scrapbooks. Just raises prices for the rest of us. I just think if you want a nice souvenir, you go to a shop and buy one.

Sorry.

Did I ever say that I walked away with them for my scrapbook? I don't scrapbook napkins.....and I never said that. I said that occasionally we'd get counter service and grab 10 napkins before sitting down (we have 5 children) and sometimes we would use them all, other times we might have one or two left. I would NOT leave them on the table or throw them away unused....why would I do that? The CM cleaning the tables is just going to throw them away....but they are UNUSED!!!!! I realize they don't know that....so I take them.

I would put them in a ziplock and carry them for wiping up spills, drying off seats before sitting down to rest (rain storms, sticky kids...etc). At the end of the trip we had maybe 20 left in our ziplock and again I'm not just going to throw away unused napkins.

Sorry that you're bothered by someone not throwing away unused paper products.....I would think that throwing away unused anything would be a LOT more wasteful then what I'm doing with them. Oh and we're not cheap nor tacky.....my children and I spent over 800.00 on souvenirs last year and not a ONE of them took a napkin or other Disney branded paper product home for keepsakes LOL

If you go through a drive thru and they give you 10 napkins and you only use 2....do you not store the others in your car console for spills or maybe extras in case another restaurant doesn't give you any? How is this any different?

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Epcot wasn't even open until 1982. The Studios didn't open until 1989. Animal Kingdom was barely a thought, if that. Would you still keep returning to the Magic Kingdom if it had never changed, and was still the only park? How many people do you think would?

While everyone keeps saying how great things were way back then, they keep forgetting that WDW as a shadow of what it is now. One or two parks, no real Downtown Disney until 1989. People are focusing on napkins, when so much awesome stuff has happened and been created. And yet all of the parks and improvement are being ignored, and the focus is on napkins. Napkins!

I am not focusing on the napkins. I am focusing on the attention to details and the superior customer service.

Everything I needed for 100 lifetimes worth of vacations was at Walt Disney World in 1984.

• The Contemporary Resort was beautiful. The rooms were luxurious.
• The pool, the beach, and the lake area at the Contemporary Resort were meticulously maintained.
• The monorail was an awesome mode of transportation to both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
• The Magic Kingdom and Epcot sported the latest in technology.
• Buses to the Walt Disney World Village allowed me to shop in a variety of boutiques.
• The Gulf Coast Room, the Empress Lilly Riverboat, and Broadway at the Top provided the ultimate dining experiences.
• River Country and Discovery Island were an oasis of joy for me.
• Bay Lake provided recreation, such as the mini-sprite boats, water skiing, and fishing, and I took advantage of all those opportunites.

And, most importantly, every single cast member, every single one--bar none, did this:

• Made eye contact and smiled at me.
• Greeted and welcomed me.
• Sought me out as their guest.
• Created a magical experience for me.
• Thanked me.

Every cast member made me feel like a VIP, because Disney knew customer service. They rocked that boat. They got it right. All that, and Walt Disney World never felt too crowded.

And yes, I miss that. And yes, it inspired a loyalty in me, that even today, is hard to dismiss.

 

[TheRatPack]

Oh and no, they aren't nice napkins.....I would compare them to McDonalds or somewhere like that. They had designs on them, but they were plain brown recycled napkins. I can get a pack of comparable napkins at Target for 3.00 and I think there are either 250 or 500 in each pack. They aren't the nice thick Bounty type napkins.....just the brown recycled ones. The only thing that made them 'special' is that they had the Disney designs on them.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I guess it is silly...and TOTALLY a First World Problem.

I agree. It is silly. But, you know, the first world has a right to our problems, too.

Yes, it is sad that there are children in the world that will never experience the magic of Disney.

And yes, it is even sadder that there are children in the world that do not have basic necessities for survival.

But if someone told you tomorrow that your salary was going to drop from $75,000 per year to $25,000 per year, is it okay to be upset? Of course it is!

Are you lucky to still have a job and a salary at all? Of course you are!

We are all lucky that we have the necessities for survival, but that doesn't mean you cannot feel sadness if you lose some of your luxuries.

Absolutely, keep things in perspective! But there is nothing wrong with you if you experience a feeling of loss, when you lose something. Just because you have more than someone else, doesn't mean you still didn't lose something that had value.